I don't own Criminal Minds! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 6

"Clouds, leaves, soil, and wind all offer themselves as signals of changes in the weather. However, not all the storms of life can be predicted."

-David Petersen

A light powdery snow coated the roughed landscape, the temperatures were dropping quickly, the wind was picking up and JJ was glad that they weren't on the mountain anymore.

She watched how the SUV drove pass the snow-covered trees, and how the wind blew the snow as if it were sand; it had a soothing effect managing to gently lull her asleep. It had been a long time since she'd truly rested. For the last three months her nights had been plagued by violent nightmares, reliving the worst moments of her life.

"C'mere, Jay take a nap, I'll wake you up when we get there," said the brunette pulling the younger agent to rest on her lap. Emily was at a loss; she couldn't comprehend how things had gotten so bad so fast. She was a little upset at the rest of team, how could they not have noticed, they're profilers for god's sake. Why did things have to get so out control?

JJ had been her lifeline during her time in Paris; the young woman in her arms had grounded her, kept her in touch with reality. It's my turn, I'll take care of you now, she promised silently.

JJ's peaceful slumber was abruptly ended by Sherriff Kinney slamming on the breaks, "damn deer, they're like the plague," he said avoiding a second one. The blonde woman reached for whatever she could grab, her brain still trying to wake up.

"Hey, you're ok," whispered Emily pulling her back down. She caught a glimpse of a single large house standing in the distance before giving into sleep for a second time.

By the time they reached the station they were all ready to go, "ladies, let's see what they got," said Morgan before pulling open the glass doors to the station.

"Hey, did you guys find anything?" asked Alex, handing them all steaming cups of coffee.

"Nothing, the dumpsite was clean," replied JJ, following Agent Blake into their make shift operations center, "whoever did this, didn't leave anything behind."

"Ok, boy wonder what have we got?" asked Morgan ruffling Reid's hair.

"First victim Sarah Peterson, 21 years old. She was working to pay her way through college. Parents are both local, married. The ME found ligature marks on both her hands and feet. She was starved and severely dehydrated. Time of death is just a few hours before they found the body. She had several injuries concurrent to torture, all her fingers were crushed and the bite marks happened premortem, we're still trying to identify animal. There are signs of sexual assault, but no trace evidence was found," said Reid reading the information he'd written on a dry erase board.

Picking up where he left off, Alex continued, "Second victim, Maddy Wallop 22 years old, she was here visiting from college, according to eye witness reports she was drinking pretty heavily on the night she disappeared. Same MO as the first victim, once again ME puts time of death a few hours before the body was discovered."

"Who called them in?" asked Hotch.

"Local hunters," replied the Sheriff "the trails are located in very remote areas, not easily accessible to the other folks."

"Hold on, Roy Speer said no one had been up by where the third body was found," mentioned JJ noticing the discrepancy.

"Roy Speer?" asked Rossi.

"We ran into a him up by the dumpsite. He's a hunter, says he's been up in that area for a week. He reeked of alcohol, I don't know, something seemed off about him. We should bring him in for questioning or at least to get an official statement. Very quick to anger and wasn't happy about the FBI being here," said Morgan leaning against a wall.

"I'll send a deputy to his house," replied the Sheriff leaving the room.

"What about the third victim?" asked Emily, "did the ME send the report yet?"

"Leah Osborne, 20 years old. Has a house a few miles out of town, was supposed to meet her parents for Sunday breakfast, never showed up. The mother called it in as a missing person. The body was found ten days later by a hiker, same MO as the last two victims," replied the unit chief, placing Leah's picture on the board.

"There are two different MO's," stated Emily, "I think we're possibly looking at two unsubs, one that tortures and one that kills and poses the bodies."

"Why do you say that Princess?" asked Morgan.

"Well, while the women are in captivity they're tortured, the unsub doing this feels no remorse, he starves them, breaks their bones and rapes them. Now, the stabbing on the other hand is precise, almost clinical, it's what you do to put someone out of their misery, death is quick, they bleed out in just minutes. The second unsub has an emotional connection and he feels remorse, he cleans and poses the bodies. These girls weren't random kills they are chosen because they fit a particular type. A type that appeals to both partners," she replied thinking out loud.

"Then we have better chances to get in through the submissive partner, we have to appeal to his humanity however small, it's there," said Rossi.

"What about the bite marks? All three bodies have them, we have to assume they're part of the torture," added agent Blake.

"Should I put together a press conference Hotch?" asked JJ already writing down the needed information.

"Yes we need to get it out before the evening news. We are looking for two extremely dangerous and motivated individuals, and until we can find the connection between these women, everyone is in danger," said Hotch. JJ fits the profile, he thought knowing that he wasn't the only to notice that fact.

"Garcia should be arriving soon, she might be able to helps us figure out the common link, Morgan I want you to pick her up. It's going to be a long night, keep looking, we're missing something," he finished, heading out to find the Sheriff.

"Wow Princess, you've still got game," said Morgan, putting his arm around the brunette.

"You know Derek, that this what I do for a living. What'd you think? That I sit around reading books and drinking wine?" she said playfully.

All the agents shared a few laughs before focusing on the case. It was stressful day, they had nothing, no leads, no ideas, not even a list of suspects. In cases like this their most important leads usually came when another body turned up or a victim went missing. Every agent in the room was aware of this fact and silently pray that neither scenario would happen.

It was a room full of somber agents that greeted the Sheriff a mere hour later; he cleared his throat making his presence known. Standing next to him was a tall blonde woman dressed in obviously expensive clothing. On one hand she had a basket and on the other she held the leather leashes to two large malamutes.

"Agents, this is Mrs. Cami Davis," he nodded to the woman.

"Oh Randy, I can introduce myself, here won't you take this basket and put on that table," she pointed at the conference table, "Like our dear Sheriff said, I'm Cami, Randy told me the FBI was coming and I just had to come and make sure you were being treated right."

"Ma'am, I'm SSA Derek Morgan, here are SSA's Jennifer Jareau, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Alex Blake and Dr. Reid," they all shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"I brought you some good coffee and treats, I know the station's coffee is just a little better that warm mud," she said pulling things out of the basket. Her sudden movement startling one of the dogs, making him bark loudly.

JJ was already weary of the animals, her track record with dogs wasn't the best and in her current emotional state everything seemed so much worse. At the sound of the bark she jumped, immediately grabbing onto Emily's arm. The brunette turned to look at her, finding nothing but fear etched in the young agent's face. She put a comforting hand over JJ's; reassuring her everything would be ok.

Emily had been so focused on JJ that she'd almost missed the casual dinner invitation Mrs. Davis extended, "Yes, you must come over. Let me show you true Wyoming hospitality," the woman continued, "I'll have dinner ready by seven, Randy can give you directions to my home." Before the agents could even think of a reply she was gone, dragging two barking dogs behind her.

"Who was that?" asked Rossi.

"That right there is a force of nature, Mrs. Cami Davis, she married into an old family, seems to have taken it on herself to be Sheridan's welcoming committee. The lady means well and knows just about everyone in the county, might do you well to take her up on her dinner invitation. Meet old Leroy Davis, he is probably the richest man in the state, lots of sway over the folks in town," said the Sheriff helping himself to a "good" cup of coffee before leaving the agents.

"I don't know, we still have a lot to go through," said Reid, ever the hesitant one, never comfortable in social settings.

"Either way we have to talk it over with Hotch," said Rossi, intrigued by the new character.

"She reminds me of some of the ambassador's friends," commented Emily, "she's new money in an old town," she said, filing the incident away as one of the most bizarre ones.

"What was that?" asked Hotch, giving the treats an appreciative glance.

"Cami Davis, she just invited us over to her home for dinner," mentioned Morgan, "she's married to an old influential family. The Sheriff seems to think that's in our best interest to attend."

Before the unit chief could reply, Rossi commented, "I'm with the Sheriff on this one, call it sixth sense, a hunch, or whatever you want, but I can almost guarantee that if she isn't connected to the murders, she knows the people that are."

Agent Aaron Hotchner had learned to rely on his team; their opinions and insights were invaluable, especially if the insight came from David Rossi. The Italian man was almost always right, his hunches having helped close more than a few cases.

Right now their own case was at a standstill, and any information the Davis' could provide would be welcomed, "Ok we go, but treat this as an interrogation, a gentler interrogation. This isn't a night off; we're still on the job. If Rossi is correct there will be signs in the house and in the conversation."

"Roy's here," called a deputy, interrupting the conversation, "I'll put him in an interrogation room."

"Rossi, Blake see if you can get anything out of him, remember he's not an official suspect," Hotch said ushering the others to the viewing room.

"If he is one of our unsubs he won't say anything," mention JJ.

"He'd be unsub A, the dominant partner," said Reid.

Whatever else had been said was lost on the blonde agent as her phone vibrated in her pocket, dad, she read looking at the caller id.

"Hotch, I'm sorry but do you mind?" she asked showing him the ringing phone.

"No, go ahead JayJe," he said softly cutting her some slack.

"Thanks," she managed to catch a glimpse of a very anger Roy Speer yelling at Rossi before she disappeared through the door.

"Daddy?" she answered a little surprised he'd called.

"Jenny!"

"I'm fine dad, but I'm on a case, I really should get back. How is mom?" she asked wondering why he'd be calling her.

"She's fine pumpkin. I'm calling because I received a strange call from Will a bit ago. He said you two had a argument of some sorts and that you've left him?"

Until yesterday she wouldn't have believed Will would've done something like this, "no dad, you've got it all wrong. Will said somethings and it made me realize that things haven't been right for a while. I was having some trouble with a couple things but Emily's here; she's going to help me. I really can't get into it right now. I'm working, I'll call you when I get back to DC."

"I hope so Jenny, it should really be your husband helping you not Emily, think about your family before you make any decisions."

"Yeah I know, say hi to mom for me," she said.

"Remember Jenny you'll always be my little girl, I love you."

She ended call without a goodbye, "Hey thought you might want your coat," said a voice. Behind her was Emily, all bundled up holding a coat out to her.

"I didn't even realize I was outside," JJ confessed, she gratefully took the garment, and for the first time noticed how cold she really was.

"Yeah, I figured," replied the brunette, "we'll talk tonight sweetheart."

They stayed outside for a little longer, JJ searching for the right words, Emily looking for a way to broach the subject, I'll tell her tonight, thought the blonde.

"Did they get anything from Speer?" she asked, wanting to ease the tension.

"The only thing we manage to do was to piss him off. He did admit to owning a knife that fits the dimensions of the murder weapon. But we're in Wyoming, everyone owns a hunting knife," replied the brunette chuckling at her own joke.

"Let's go back inside, before we freeze," she said pulling on Emily's hand. The snow was coming down fast, there was probably an inch already accumulated on the ground.

Entering the station, they were surprised to find that the previously quiet office was now a picture of chaos. Even the receptionist that had been dozing off earlier wore a panicked look.

"Morgan, what happened?" asked Emily seeing the bald man approaching them.

"We just got a call, a fourth girl's gone missing. She fits the type," he answered, heading outside, "I gotta go get Garcia, Hotch asked me to come find you."

Both women picked up their pace, and headed towards the conference room, "What have we got Hotch?" asked JJ, missing the meaningful look exchanged between him and Emily.

"Another girl's gone missing, Jessica Hackman, her father called it in saying she never came home last night," he said quickly, "Reid and I are heading to the father's house for a statement."

"I guess that means we're not going to the Davis' tonight," murmured Emily, secretly thankful.

"Yes we are, if there's anything information that woman might have, we need to find know, we're also keeping Speer overnight for questioning," he replied.

"He's talking," said Blake peeking her head in the room, "he said he knows the girls, they went to elementary school with his daughter."

"Good work, as soon as Garcia gets here start working that angle, sees if there are any others we might be able to warn. Until then work on putting together a workable profile that we can give to the media," he said following the linguist to the interrogation room.

"Reid are you done with the geographical profile?" asked JJ getting down to business. The busier she stayed the less she thought about Will. Unfortunately that wasn't the only concern she had, the more time she spent reading over files and looking at pictures, the more she identified with the victims, it'd only been three months since her own kidnapping and torture, "we need to find Jessica," she said, emotion coating every word.

While the logical part of Emily's brain worried about the missing her, her heart ached for her friend. You don't have to be so strong, Jay, she thought watching the blonde work. Feelings she had suppressed so long ago momentarily resurfaced as she felt an urge to hug JJ, you gave up on that a long time ago Emily, leave the past where it is. She tried to listen to her mind, but the need to touch the younger agent was too much, and as soon as she took her seat next to the blonde, her hand sought JJ's and she held on not wanting to ever let go.

JJ didn't even look away from her work when she felt Emily's delicate fingers wrap around her own. It was comforting, it felt right. She'd notice the brunette staring at her through out the day, but that wasn't something new, Emily's always done that. She'd always watched over the blonde, making sure she's ok, making sure she's happy; this was no different. Except now she craved the older woman's touch.

R&R!