A/N: Well guys, this looks like the final chapter(s). I realize it's taken me about three months to finish this since my last update, and I'm really sorry about that. I also realize that this next section is a little…weak. I'm hoping to go back and do rewrites but I needed to get this finished before it drove me completely nuts.

A/N 2: As always, all mistakes are my own, no one's read this yet, no beta or anything.

A/N 3: Thanks for reading along and sticking with me through the whole thing. *love*

A/N 4: Yes... I had to come back like 2 hours later and post a fourth Author's note. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! Seriously, it's awesome and it makes it such much easier for me to find inspiration to write more. You all are awesome!

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

XXI.

A short while later the team members were gathered around the conference table once more. This time, each individual was consumed in their set task before them, JJ and Sam were the only ones out of the room, and they were sat at Sam's desk in the bullpen, going over details for the press conference. Both blondes were bent over the notepad on Sam's desk, circling and highlighting key points to include, while furiously crossing out details that should be kept from the public. They were determined to keep to the previous plan of warning the villagers, without inciting them to any form of vigilante violence.

Neither woman mentioned the fact that the longer they sat together, working on JJ's statement, the closer they moved towards each other. They had decided that JJ would make the statement to the public and the press later that afternoon, but in a show of solidarity both the Chief and Sam would be standing with her. They were putting the finishing touches on what JJ needed to say, with Sam's hand innocently resting on JJ's thigh, tracing light designs across the fabric of her slacks, when Morgan stuck his head out the conference room door and called for them, "Penelope's on the phone, and I think you two might want to hear this."

With a nod of agreement, the blondes rose slowly from their seats, moving away from each other for the first time in hours, and moved into the conference room to join the rest of the team. As soon as the women were seated, Morgan switched the phone onto speaker, "Alright baby girl, we're all here."

"By all, do you mean alllllll, my beautiful man?" The smile in Garcia's voice was audible and easily detected by everyone in the room. Almost as one they turned to smile at Sam, knowing that Garcia was really interested in the detective at the moment.

Morgan could barely hold back his chuckle when answering Garcia,"Yes sugar, Sam's here too."

"Well hello there luscious." Sam bit her lip to keep her laughter back at Garcia's greeting. "Well hello there Goddess. It's always a pleasure to hear from my favorite deity." Sam winked at Morgan, "Speaking of my favorite deity, I'm still working on my plans to lure you out here to me."

"Is that so? Well my lovely MctemptingMuffin maybe I'll just have to come out and visit you." Sam couldn't resist smiling at Garcia's lightheartedness, a drastic difference from the rest of the day, "I'll make sure to clear my schedule for you. Now I hear you've got some information for us beautiful?"

"Well my lovelies, I do have a couple things for you. Not all of it good, most of it decidedly not so. Hold your groans – I do have a little bit for you. Numero Uno, I couldn't get anything more from the video. The lighting was too poor and there was nothing I could do to improve the photo." Garcia paused, anticipating the collective mutterings from the profilers before continuing with her discoveries, "Numero deuce, the phone call from when victim three was taken… unfortunately it was to an automated credit card line, she was trying to pay her bills. On the upside, turns out that this company records all calls, for internal purposes. I'm doing what I can to get my hands on that recording, I'm not sure it'll pick anything up, but I'll try and should have that back to you soon."

Sam banged her forehead against the edge of the table, letting out a frustrated groan. "Thank you Penelope." The group ended the call and settled back to go over the evidence and the profile once more.

Back at Quantico, one Penelope Garcia frowned at her computer systems; frustration was sinking in for everyone involved with the case. If Garcia knew anything it was that frustration made patience run short and tempers flare, with no other alternatives, she reached for her phone. For the first time in three days a true shining smile broke across her face, after all, there were plans to be made.

XXII.

With Garcia scheming away the rest of the team was left pouring over the evidence, or the lack thereof, crime scene photos and everything they knew about the Unsub. They toiled long into the night until finally, seconds stretched into minutes, minutes to hours, and finally hours built up until the team finally called it quits at just a quarter past 2 in the morning. Yawning and stretching Sam rose from the table, shaking out the stiffness in her shoulders, silently thankful that Hotchner had finally decided to call it a night. No words were spoken while Emily and JJ gathered themselves and their belongings and made their way slowly to Sam's jeep. Sam settled into the driver's seat, resting her forehead against the steering wheel and doing her best to convince herself to stay awake. She sighed audibly, turning her head to look at the blonde in the seat next to her, "I never did get to take the two of you out for lunch, what with everything that happened today. Any chance we can make a rain check?"

Emily leaned forward from her seat in the pack, pressing her palm gently to the detective's cheek, "Of course, we'll hold you to that."

Sam smiled, pressing a kiss to Emily's palm lightly, locking her eyes on JJ's. "Let's go home."

XXIII.

When JJ and Emily woke in the morning it was to an empty spot in the bed between them and a note on the dresser. JJ reached across the brunette and looked at the letter while rubbing the exhaustion from her eyes, sighing, she read the letter aloud,

"My lovelies… I'm sorry for not being there when you woke this morning. An idea came to me and I needed to head back to the station. A couple of my guys are sitting out front in a cruiser, I asked them to cover the house, just to be on the safe side. They'll bring you to the station when you're ready to come in. Take your time. I spoke to Hotch before he left and he said everyone needed some extra rest, we aren't meeting until this afternoon.

yours, S."

Emily looked at the letter thoughtfully before turning to look at the clock on the bedside table. Shrugging she laid back in the bed and pulled JJ down with her. "It's only 8 and she did say we had till this afternoon… a couple more hours of sleep won't hurt." JJ smiled and snuggled into the brunette, absently missing their detective.

In the center of the Yellow Spring police department Sam was already on her third cup of coffee as she listened to the incessant chatter of the other officers. Even as she heard her name being called from the other end of the room her head sank closer and closer to her desk as exhausting caught up with her.

When Sam woke up a short bit later, it was to the sound of her name being called by a rather bubbly personality she hadn't yet met. Yawning, she stretched and looked up at the lovely figure sitting on the corner of her desk.

"Hello there McBeautiful."

"Garcia?"

The tech nodded from her perch on Sam's desk. "I was going crazy back at Quantico, I figured I could still do all my work from out here. And it'd give me a chance to take a look at the devices controlling the generators."

Sam stood and stretched, grinning for the first time in days at the Technical Analyst, "I'm glad to have you here. How about I give you the nickel tour?"

Sam led Garcia through the halls of the department, finally stopping at the conference room, "Everyone else should still be getting some rest, but this is where we've been working the past few days. Come on in and make yourself comfortable."

Garcia unpacked her laptop and settled in with a few additional computers on loan from Sam and began setting up. Sam leaned against the counter, starting another pot of coffee and watched the Tech Guru get herself settled in to work. "I'm glad you're here Penelope… if for no other reason then I know the rest of your team will be thrilled to see you today."

"Thank you Sam, now how bout you go curl up for a bit. You're exhausted and I'm sure you could use the sleep."

Sam nodded and dragged a pillow and sleeping bag out of a cabinet. She smiled sheepishly at Garcia before curling up to take a nap in the corner. She was still there when the rest of the team finally arrived, JJ and Emily leading the way in their quest to find the diminutive detective. Garcia hushed each agent as they entered the room, nodding towards the sleeping woman before rising and greeting each of her friends with a hug.

The men stepped out into the hallway to hear what Garcia had found since she'd arrived while JJ and Emily crept over to the woman that had imbedded herself in their hearts. JJ leaned down, pressing a light kiss to Sam's forehead while Emily whispered her name softly. Both women watched in a quiet trance as the smaller woman slowly roused from her slumber. "Hey lovelies…"

Emily smiled, "Hey yourself." JJ couldn't help the slight grin that crept over her face, "Hi you."

Sam basked in the simple joy of being with the other women for a moment, finally having her fill she started to sit up, "I guess it's time to get back to work huh?" Looking between the women and taking in their matching nods, Sam climbed up from her sleeping bag, reaching out quickly to pull both women into her arms for a lingering hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up this morning…" Any further conversation was cut off with the return of the rest of the team.

"So I just got the audio file from the credit card company. I'm going to work on it and see what I can pull from it," Garcia looked up at the members of her team.

Hotchner nodded, "Sounds good. The rest of us have a press conference to attend. You keep working on that while we're gone? I want to be able to hear whatever you can pull from it by the time we get back."

Garcia nodded, letting her gaze travel over the members of the BAU and one Detective Sam Stewart as they left the room.

XXIV.

JJ stood on the steps of the Yellow Spring Police Department, flanked on either side by members of the investigation. Looking fondly at JJ, Sam stepped up in front of the crowd to begin the Press Conference.

"Good Afternoon Folks. I'm Detective Stewart of the Yellow Springs Police Department. I'm just up here to thank you all for coming and hand you over to the capable hands of Agent Jareau of the FBI."

JJ couldn't hold back her grin as she stepped up, trading places with Sam. "Hello everyone, as you're all aware there has been a series of murders here in Yellow Springs. In connection with the Yellow Springs PD members of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit have been working to build a profile of the unknown subject. I'd like to share a few of those details with you today."

Sam stepped back closer to the doors, hoping for an escape into the building. She enjoyed watching JJ work, but the profile that was being released was nagging at her brain. She took the opportunity when a few reporters began asking questions and slipped back into the building, looking for something productive to do.

Sam headed back to the conference room, another cup of coffee wouldn't hurt anything, and she could take the chance to check in on Garcia. Stepping into the conference room she stopped to watch Garcia work, the Tech Analyst had headphones on and was clearly lost in deep concentration over her current project. It wasn't until Sam stepped into her line of sight that Garcia even noticed someone else was in the room.

"I got the audio from the credit card company."

All thoughts of coffee suddenly slipped from Sam's mind, "Did you get anything from it?"

"Have a listen."

XXV.

Emily, JJ and the rest of the team were just walking back into the building when Sam rushed past them in a hurry. Sam was too caught up in her rush to even notice the looks of confusion on the faces of the FBI agents.

Morgan watched as Sam raced out the door, "Where's she going in such a hurry?" Reid just shrugged his shoulders while Emily and JJ shared a look of concern.

"Where's Sam?" Garcia questioned her team members and she walked down the hall from the conference room.

Hotchner looked at Garcia, "She just rushed out the door. Is something wrong?"

"I got the audio from the credit card company. I did my magic and pulled a voice other than the victims from the tape. Sam had a listen and then just got this look on her face before darting out the door."

"She knows who the Unsub is," Reid looked at the others. "Something in that recording gives it away."

Morgan nodded, "If she's gone after the Unsub then we need to figure out where she's going, otherwise things are going to end badly."

In that moment Emily needed control, she needed to now what was going on, she needed to protect the detective. "JJ and I are going after her, she can't have gotten far, we know her car and we have a better chance of finding her. Morgan and Reid… listen to that audio, see what you can get from it? Garcia… work your magic, see if you can locate Sam with the GPS in her phone." Emily paused and looked up at Gideon and Hotchner, she just shrugged and grabbed JJ's hand before running out the door.

A few miles away Sam's battered jeep was jerking through the streets, she knew who their Unsub was, and she'd be damned if she let him hurt anymore innocent lives. Cursing and muttering under her breathe she had eyes only for her destination.

Back at the police department Garcia finally got wired into the GPS on Sam's phone. Picking up her own phone, she dialed Emily's number, hoping she wasn't too late.

Down the hall the men listened to the audio from the credit card company… as one they looked at each other and grabbed car keys, dashing out the door.

Emily and JJ looked at each other after hearing Garcia's news. JJ flipped out her phone, dialing the blonde detective, Emily flipped on the lights in the SUV and raced through traffic.

Finally reaching her destination Sam jumped out of her car, dashing into the building and up the stairs. Answering her phone as she rang, "JJ?"

"Sam … we know who it is, don't go into this alone."

"I have no choice JJ. He's hurt too many people. I won't let him hurt anyone else. I won't let him near you."

"We'll bring him in together."

"No Jayje… this ends now… Tell Emily I love her. And JJ… I love you."

Sam flipped her phone shut as she drew her sidearm. Stopping, she pulled her phone out again, dialing a number before putting the phone back in her pocket.

XXVI.

Across town the phone in Chief Jacobs office rang, he answered it, just in time to hear Sam's voice filtering through as she burst into the office she'd been looking for.

"Why did you do it James?"

"Sam? Sam is that you? Sam what's happening?"

"Detective Stewart I promise you I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm not 12 anymore Mayor, I won't fall for your lies. I know it's you. You're the one killing the villagers."

"Don't kid yourself Samantha, they weren't villagers, not real ones anyway."

Realizing what was happening; Jacobs put the phone on speaker, so the rest of the officers could hear the confrontation. Garcia, using her technical genius, connected the call to JJ's phone and Morgan's. No one was walking into the situation blind.

"How can you say that? They belonged here, they were your people. You were their mayor."

"They were imposters, fakes, scum!"

Sam advanced on the Mayor slowly, her gun drawn and level.

"They voted for you, trusted you. They welcomed you into their homes, their families, their lives."

"They betrayed us all!"

"Why the children?"

"Really Samantha? The great Detective Stewart hasn't figured it out yet? THEIR PARENTS DESERVED TO SUFFER!"

Half a mile away Emily gripped the steering wheel, trying to avoid pedestrians as she raced towards the scene. JJ looked out the window frantically, worried about the woman she had come to care so much for.

"You're not god James. You can't make those decisions. Now I'm asking you, please step out from behind the desk and put your hands behind your head."

"I'm not going to let you arrest me."

"I'm not sure you have much of a choice Mayor. I'm the one with the gun."

"Would you really shoot an unarmed man Samantha? Such a respectable member of the community at that?"

"Maybe I won't shoot you. But I will use force if necessary."

The mayor backed up slowly against the far wall, turning to examine a map of the village.

"Look at this village, look at this map. This place exists because of me, because I ran it the best."

Sam stepped closer, "No. This village exists because we're a family. We protect each other and fight for each other. This village existed before you, and we'll exist after you're arrested today."

James turned around quickly, pulling a shotgun from it's hiding spot beneath the map, "Now I'm afraid that's where you're wrong Samantha." Across the village and in the SUV occupied by Emily and JJ the pump action of a shotgun seemed deafening. All bets were off as police officers and FBI agents raced to the location, desperate to get to their coworker in time.

"Just give it up James. You know you can't win."

"Oh Samantha, see that's where you're wrong. Once I shoot you, and you fire at me, I'll be able to claim self defense. You'll be too dead to argue, and the world will believe you were killing the villagers, blaming them for your own inadequacies. I'll get the credit, the reward, and most importantly no one will ever challenge me for my position as Mayor. I'll own this town Samantha, and everyone in it."

"Bastard."

"Say good bye Sam."

Spurred by the idea of Sam in trouble Emily and JJ raced up the stairs towards the Mayors office, having arrived at the building just in time to hear shots fired.

Bursting into the office Emily leveled her gun at the Mayor where he stood with the barrel of his shotgun pressed against Sam's temple.

"Hello Agent Prentiss, Agent Jareau. I believe I've found our murderer."

JJ leveled her gun at James as well, standing beside Emily, trying to hide her concern for Sam. "Put the gun down."

James just shook his head, "Why would I do that? She killed all those people she deserves to die."

"We know the truth Hennessey, so put down the gun before anything worse happens."

"I don't think so. Now ladies, why don't you put down your guns before the little detective here ends up with her brains serving as the newest paint in my office."

As the Mayor pumped new shells into his shotgun and positioned his gun back against Sam's head, time seemed to freeze as a series of shots rang out through the room and 6 shots were emptied into the man.

As Hennessey hit the ground JJ and Emily holstered their weapons and turned their attention to Sam. She was sprawled out on the ground, her gun clasped tightly in her in her right hand, blood seeping out beneath her left shoulder and her right thigh.

JJ hit her knees beside Sam, frantically trying to stop the bleeding from her leg. Emily dialed for help with one hand while trying to put as much pressure as possibly on Sam's shoulder.

After firing her two shots at Hennessey, Sam began falling into unconsciousness, desperately trying to keep her senses, she found herself at the mercy of two angels. Emily and JJ were the only connection she had to the world at the moment and as blood seeped from her wounds and coldness began to overtake her, she wondered if they would know how she felt, if she died. For all her pain and all her worrying, Sam couldn't cling to consciousness, and as feet pounded up the steps outside the office, Sam lost herself to oblivion, knowing only of the weight of Emily and JJ against her and their voices in her ears.

XXVII.

Six hours later Emily and JJ sat side by side in a waiting room at the hospital, fingers entwined they whispered softly to each other, words of encouragement and consolation. The rest of the team was at the police department, finishing up details on the case, and doing what paperwork could be done so far from the BAU office. The women were lucky, Hotch and Gideon seemed to understand their need to wait for news on the blonde detective. Though they weren't the only ones waiting, pacing up and down the hallway was Tasha, she'd been pacing the same pattern into the floor since she'd arrived 5 hours earlier. Emily was fairly certain she could see the visible marks of Tasha's anxiety on the floor.

It wasn't long after Emily returned from her third trip for coffee that they finally heard news about Sam. A doctor in worn medical scrubs made his way down the hallway, approaching the three women.

"Natasha Kent?'

Tasha's pacing stopped suddenly and her face turned a white shade of pale, Emily and JJ were immediately at her side, wrapping their arms around her, supporting her. They all paled as they listened to the doctor's report. Sam had lost a lot of blood, she'd received multiple transfusions, but the blood loss still worried the surgeon. The bullet to her shoulder had been a clean through and through, but the damage was to the point Sam might never gain full mobility of her arm. The second bullet had down severe nerve, muscle, tissue and even bone damage to her leg. Frankly, the doctor would be surprised if she ever managed to walk without a limp.

Tasha slumped against the other women, and they lead her to a seat. All three were anxiously waiting the moment they'd be able to see Sam.

Emily honestly didn't know what image has frightened her more – Sam on the floor bleeding with a shotgun to her head, or Sam, here in the hospital, pale against the white sheets. She knew enough to realize that neither image would allow her to sleep well any time soon.

Sam still hadn't woken up from her surgery but JJ was determined to still be there, holding her hand when she did. Really, she was worried about both of the women she held in her heart. Emily hadn't said a word since they got to Sam other than when it was necessary. Glancing across the still form in front of her JJ caught Tasha's eye and smiled reassuringly. Tasha smiled back half-heartedly. She glanced up at Emily and then back JJ, concern evident in her voice, "Is Emily okay?"

"I don't know," their conversation was whispered, "She hasn't said anything since..." Tasha simply nodded. "I'm worried about what will happen, to Emily and Sam, when you two go back to D.C."

JJ frowned, looking down at the pale hand grasped in hers, "I haven't really thought about it. I don't want to think about it. It hurts too much."

"I know," Tasha sympathized, "but you've got to go back."

"I don't know if I can… but I have to. We have to, our jobs, our lives are there. But…"

"But?"

"Sam's here."

"You're serious about her, aren't you?"

"About both of them. And I don't know what to do."

"Go home." Both women looked down in surprise at the raspy voice coming from the woman between them.

Sam's words were ignored in the burst of excitement that flowed through the room at seeing her awake.

"Welcome back Sammy!"

"James?"

"He's dead honey. Between you and Agents Over and Kill here, he's well beyond it actually."

"Good."

"I'm going to go let the nurses know you're awake. I'll be right back."

As Tasha stood, Emily slipped in and took her place, taking Sam's hand in hers, placing a light kiss on the fresh bandage covering the wounds from the window.

Sam's eyes flicked between the two women slowly, JJ looked stoic and lost, and Emily seemed to be fighting back tears.

Emily's voice broke the silence first, "I thought we'd lost you."

"Right here."

"No more getting shot."

"Do my best."

JJ sat, watching the exchange between the two and felt her heart settle into place, "Come back to D.C. with us. We'll take care of you while you recover, and then we'll figure things out from there."

"Can't."

Emily had been thrilled at JJ's suggestion, but now she frowned, "Why not?"

"Belong here, you two – go." Sam paused, fighting for energy, "belong together."

"Sam," Emily began, "the three of us…"

Sam just shook his head slowly, "Two."

JJ could feel her heart breaking and knew Emily felt the same, "It won't work without you."

Emily nodded, "We belong with you, and you belong with us. The two of us can't make it on our own."

Sam looked up, meeting their eyes again, "Try." Then her eyes closed and she fell back, succumbing to unconsciousness.

JJ let out a muffled sob before reaching for Emily. In a heart beat the two were up and in each others arms, craving the support and comfort of the other.

Tasha poked her head in the door and frowned at the pained expressions she found, "JJ? Emily?"

JJ turned to the detective's friend, "We're going back to D.C. Tasha. Sam doesn't want or need us here."

"I'm sure that's not true."

Emily just nodded her head slowly before pulling a business card out of her wallet and jotting a few things down before handing it to Tasha. "Our phone numbers, cell, work and home. And our email addresses," meeting Tasha's gaze for the first time, her pain showed through, "Let us know how she's doing?"

Tasha took the card and reached out, hugging the other two tightly, "Of course."

A few hours later, when Sam woke up, it was to the glare of her best friend.

"Why'd you do that Sammy?"

"It's better this way."

"Why?"

"They shouldn't have to sacrifice for me. Shouldn't have to take care of me. And let's face it, I'm damaged goods."

"They love you Samantha!"

"I know. And I love them. That's why I had to send them away."

Yes, that's where I'm ending it.

Thanks for sticking around. And I do have ideas for 2 more stories to continue this series. So… it's not the final end for our gals.

THANKS!