As the plane touched down in New Jersey a short while later, the weather certainly reflected the mood of the team. The clouds gathered quickly and turned a dusky brown in the sky.
"That's snow", Reid said, his eyes never leaving his file.
"So when did Reid become Al Roker?" Morgan asked chuckling.
"Who?" Reid asked.
"Resident weather man, Kid", Rossi said.
"Oh", Reid said, putting down his paper. "I've just been really interested in it lately. Especially when I hear the saying 'storm of the century'."
Everybody started talking at a once.
"Storm of the century?" JJ wailed.
"Wait like, thunder and lighting and rain?" Garcia asked.
"No. It's more like thunder, lighting, and snow", Reid answered matter-of-factly.
Hotch looked at Reid with a scowl. "You're looking forward it, aren't you?" Hotch said.
"Actually, I am!" Reid said. "I've heard thunder when it snowed, but never seen lighting. I plan it video it."
"So I'm guessing we're losing the bet that we won't get bad weather", Morgan said with a pout. "I do not, I repeat, do not want to be stranded in Jersey!"
JJ nodded. "I need to be with Henry."
"Is Henry going to Will's?" Reid said with a sudden interest. Reid's intentions were getting harder and harder to miss and JJ thought it was adorable. She and Will called it quits a year into the marriage around the same time Hotch and Beth did.
"For now, Spence", JJ said. "Will and I have come to an agreement and we're good. It's just, there's nothing like holding your baby", she looked directly at Garcia, "big or small on the holidays, ya know?" JJ smiled brightly at Garcia and Penelope blushed deeply. But not without Morgan noticing.
The plane touched down in New Jersey, and all the team exited and Rossi pulled Hotch aside.
"You know this case is going to be open and shut, right?" Rossi said.
"I have a feeling; what's this about Dave?" Hotch said.
"Oh nothing. Just thinking it'd be a shame if we did get snowed in, wouldn't it?" Rossi strolled away leaving Hotch calling after him.
CMCMCMCM
The team walked in to the Camden PD station and all motion stopped. The chief of police met them immediately.
"Chief Halter, here", he said shaking Hotch's hand vigorously. Hotch almost got dizzy. "Oh sorry", he said letting go of his hand. "We just never had the FBI here before."
"And we sincerely hope you don't need us again", Rossi said. "I'm SSA Rossi. This is SSA's Hotchner and Morgan, Agents Prentiss, Jareau and Dr. Reid. And our technical analyst, Penelope Garcia."
Chief Halter walked around and shook all their hands.
"Let's get's started shall we", Hotch said as the followed the Chief to the back rooms through a crowd of gawking policemen.
"They really haven't had the FBI here? Reid said. "The probability of that is…"
"Pretty Boy", Morgan said. "I don't think we need a number."
The team got to work immediately, scoping out the latest crime scene and finding his area of concentration. They set up a sting operation where Prentiss and Hotch posed as a married couple leaving for vacation the next day to lure him.
"Are you sure this will work?" Prentiss asked as she got fitted for her wires.
"Absolutely", Rossi and Hotch said together. Hotch gave Rossi a funny look and continued. "We know that he still has the overwhelming need to steal. This is something he can't refuse. The murders are an after thought, but we need to get to him before they become his main course of action." Hotch looked at Emily and winked slightly. "Scared, Prentiss?" he said with a smirk.
"You wish", Emily said, with a narrowed look as she walked away.
"Yeah, that's right Aaron. Charm her by insinuating she's not tough", Rossi said chuckling.
Hotch and Emily set up in the house as the rest of the team, and Chief Halter, who refused to not come and Sergeant Arnold waited in the nearby, inconspicuous cars.
"Uh Prentiss", Hotch started as they pretended to wash dishes together. "I didn't mean anything by that earlier remark…"
"Shhh", Emily said.
"Hey I was only trying to…." Hotch tried to finish, but Emily forcibly put her hand over his mouth. "Shhh", she whispered as she pointed to the basement door. Hotch went and stood on one side of the door and Emily crouched down behind the island. The unsub came in quietly and seeing Hotch's reflection in the window, swung a crowbar at his leg. It just barely hit him but it was enough to cause him to go down. Emily swiftly got to her feet and side swept the unsub, landing him on his back. The unsub reached for his crowbar and Emily stepped on his arm and kneeled down on his chest with her knee.
"I'd stop struggling if I were you", she said.
Hotch got to his feet and called for backup and the team trooped in, grabbing the unsub and cuffing him, making sure they read him his rights.
As they walked out the house, Emily sincerely looked worried.
"Hotch, are you sure your leg is OK?" Emily said.
"I'm good", Hotch said with a small limp. "It was just a touch, but it connected, so I'll feel it in the morning."
"You should ice it right away", Emily said. As she walked away she whispered. "I'll bring the ice."
Hotch was sure he was hearing things. "Did she just say she'd bring the ice?" he wondered aloud.