Another chapter edited :P I have decided to make my Hotch/Emily ship a bit more prominent in the re-edits. PLEASE do not go read the other story to find out what happens next- the story is being completely changed in certain parts so it will not make sense! I am just using the other story as a base for editing. Thanks!

JJ sighed as her eyes opened for what seemed the millionth time that night and she cast a glance at the clock, groaning. It wasn't even midnight yet. She had been lying in bed for hours, waiting for the sleep that would never come. It was their third day on the case and they were still coming up blank. Paul's remains were still missing, Garcia wasn't finding anything important and they didn't even have a suspect. Her gaze was drawn across the room to Spencer as he grumbled something, rolling over onto his stomach and sprawling out. They had drawn straws to see who would end up sleeping where and she was paired with the young genius. Hotch and Emily were in the room to her left, Morgan and Rossi across the hall.

The hotel wasn't spectacular, but it was better than some of the situations they had been in. Her thoughts drifted to one situation where they were all crammed in one room with pallets and she shuddered; the walls were leaky and the entire place smelled like mold. At least this place was clean and smelt good, even if it was smaller. The lobby had a nice fireplace and a area where you could just sit and read. Unfortunately there wasn't a WiFi signal within range and that meant she hadn't been able to talk to Henry; Will's phone was temporarily shut off so she had been skyping with Henry whenever he wanted to talk. She wondered if he was ok and if Will had put him to bed at a decent hour.

JJ's wild thoughts finally got the better of her and she sat up, running a hand through her hair as she reached for her pony tail that sat on the bedside table. She pulled her hair up before grabbing her over sized sweatshirt, slipping it over her "World's Toughest Mom" t-shirt that Garcia had bestowed upon her. She glanced at the gun that sat just under the bed before leaving it where it was. She shut the door as quietly as she could before turning down a random hall, mindful of the sleeping people around her. She wasn't sure how long she wandered before finding herself sitting in front of the fireplace, starring out the window as the rain fell, the drops snaking their way down the smooth glass.

Thirty minutes passed, than an hour, and she still wasn't any closer to sleep than she had been before she left her room. Her thoughts were still running wild and she couldn't seem to get a hold on them. Thankfully JJ was used to the lack of sleep; after Henry was born she learned to work on just a few hours of sleep. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt someone sit down beside her, the couch sagging under the person weight.

"What are you doing up?" She turned to find Spencer sitting beside her, his hair sticking up at odd angles.

"I could ask you the same thing," He raised an eyebrow.

"True," she sighed before starring into the fire, watching the flames crack along the logs.

"What's up?" Spencer asked, leaning against the arm of the chair and studying her.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"I know that, but something is bugging you...can I guess?"

"Go for it," she said dryly.

"Henry and the case," He smirked when she raised her eyebrows. "I know you too well JJ."

"I guess you are right," She smiled slightly.

"Want to talk about it? Might be more helpful than starring out the window."

"Maybe. This case...something isn't right. We have never came up this blank before. The only evidence we have are two metal plates, which we still know nothing about and the locals aren't very talkitive. If anyone has any ideas on who did this, they aren't sharing. Then there is the High School...after the priest from the local church talked to them we haven't heard a peep from the boys. It is a small town, word normally travels fast, yet there aren't any rumors, no speculations."

"Maybe the town is a part of all this...small knit community, everyone grew up together; there aren't a lot of outsiders. For all we know the Sheriffs Department could be in on it."

JJ snorted, rolling her eyes. "Please, Rex Humphrey doesn't have the brains to pull something this cunning off. He barely has the brains God gave an mule."

"I thought you two were friends?"

"Barely."

"I see...So what's up with Henry?"

"I guess I just miss him. I am used to being able to see him every day," JJ shrugged. "I miss him, Spence, a lot. Nights like tonight I feel like a bad mom; Will put him to bed, not me. I wasn't there to give him a kiss and I wasn't even able to tell him goodnight."

"I am sure he will forgive you. He loves you a lot. Whenever I take him out for icecream or something he always talks about how cool mommy's job is," Spencer smiled. "You are his hero."

"Still...he is growing up without a father and I feel like that is partially my fault. If I had stayed at the Pentagon things might've been different between Will and I. I wasn't working long hours, I was there for them every night, Will didn't have to worry."

"Don't blame yourself for Will's stupidity JJ. He let a good thing go and that was his fault- the minute he talked to that woman he made a choice and you didn't have anything to do with it. Even if he was feeling lonely he could have talked to you about it instead of jumping into bed with the neighbor. "

"Why did you come back?"

"For Emily… but I felt like I belonged here, Spence. Y'all are my family. I love my job and always will. But I just wonder what would have happened if I made some different choices. Look at where you are now and ask yourself if you are happy."

"I am," JJ replied quietly before turning to smile at him. "Thanks Spence."

"No problem," he draped his lanky arm over her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. "I'll always be here for you."

"I know," she smiled, watching the fire pop. Her eyelids soon drooped and she fell asleep against Spencer side, her thoughts temporarily appeased.

. . . . . .

Emily yawned as she rolled into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She scanned the room, her eyes landing on Hotch as he pulled a black t-shirt over his head, rolling his shoulders. She raised an eyebrow as she watched him smirk into the mirror, his eyes landing on hers. "What?" She questioned.

"Got caught sneaking a peek, did we?" He turned around with a smile, grabbing his gun and belt from the table.

"You wish," She smiled. "I was just waking up and you just happened to be putting on a show."

"It was hardly a show. There wasn't even a pole."

"Ah, I see," Emily laughed. "Does the rest of the team know about your er, special set of skills?"

"I was kidding," Hotch said a bit more seriously.

"So I was," She grinned before getting out of bed, pulling a sweatshirt on and grabbing her phone.

"Hey, Hotch," Morgan called through the door, banging on it.

"Yes?" Hotch opened the door, giving Morgan a questioning look.

"Did JJ or Reid check in with you?"

"No, what's up?"

"Neither of them are in their room- JJ's gun in gone."

"Did they check in with you?" He turned to Emily.

"Like I said, just woke up," she frowned. "We do not have any leads, there is no reason for them to run off."

"We'd better find them- something could be up," Morgan crossed his arms.

"Wake Rossi up- you two check out the weight room and the pool area, Emily and I will take the lobby and laundry rooms."

"Got it," Morgan jogged back across the hall to his room.

Emily pulled on her shoes before following Hotch towards the elevators, worry gnawing in her stomach. What had the two gotten themselves into this time?

.

.

"Well, would you look at that?" Emily smirked as her and Hotch rounded the corner, catching sight of their two friends. JJ was curled up against Reid's side, her hand laced through his. Reid had his arm drapped over his waist, his mouth hanging open as he snored.

"That is against protocol."

"And we aren't?" She raised an eyebrow, nudging Hotch.

"That, Special Agent Prentiss, is an under the table ordeal."

"Right, Special Agent Hotchner," She rolled her eyes before dialing Morgan numbers. "We found them?"

"Where? I am going to kill the kid."

"Downstairs in the lobby. You've got to see this."

"Be there in a few." Emily hung up the phone before discretly walking past Hotch, lightly slapping him on the back of the head.

"Hey, what was that for?" He demanded.

"For the under the table remark."

"I was kidding!" He fumbled over the words, shock on his face. Emily smirked- she loved being able to throw him off his game.

"And so I was. You are just fun the mess with."

"Oh, am I?" Hotch raised an eyebrow. "Don't make me fire you."

"I'm sure you would," She smirked as Rossi and Morgan came around the corner.

"What would he do?" Rossi questioned.

"Oh, nothing," Emil waved her hand, dismissing the question. "Take a look at that."

"Well, damn," Morgan muttered. "Kid has some game after all."

"Right," Rossi snorted. "Game."

"What are you doing?" Hotch questioned as Morgan pulled out his cellphone.

"Garcia is going to want to see this," Was his only explanation as he snapped a picture, smirking. "Plus I can use it to torture him."

"You are awful," Emily laughed. "So who is waking them-"

"Not it," Morgan turned on his heel.

"Nope," Hotch smirked at her.

"Not-" Emily couldn't finish before Rossi backed out as well. "Well isn't that nice," she glared at their retreating backs before crossing the room to the two sleeping agents. "Jayje, it's time to wake up."

"Huh?" Her eyes snapped open then she blinked a few times. "Oh. Spence," She nudged him in the ribs. "Wake up." Emily laughed when he groaned, making a face.

"No." He grumbled.

"Yes." JJ smiled, wiggling away from him before stretching. "Time for work."

"Don't care," he started to snore again.

"Let's go," JJ rolled her eyes. "He'll get up in a few minutes."

"Alright," Emily laughed, following her towards the elevators. "So?"

"So?" JJ frowned.

"What was all that about?"

"Oh…I couldn't sleep. We talked, then fell asleep on the couch."

"Together," Emily grinned.

"Yeah, together." Even JJ smiled. "Do NOT tell Pen, alright?"

"What? Why?" Emily complained. They had been musing about the two agents for forever.

"Not until this case is over. I don't want my phone ringing every ten minutes."

"Well, Morgan might beat me to it. But the big question is if this case is ever going to be over?"
. . . . . . .

"Hotchner," Hotch answered his phone.

"Hey superman, It's Garcia. I have news."

"I'll put you on speaker."

"Hello lovelies. I have news- I ran the plates and found a match, and boy was it hard! But alas, I prevailed. Our plates our from the state's prototype department. The are used on the bottom of tack strips to help stabalize them- keeps them upright and therefor causes more damage."

"That would explain what shredded Paul's tire," JJ mused.

"So who has prototypes."

"Every sheriff and police captain in the state," Garcia sighed. "Including Rex Humphrey."

"Guess we need to make some phone calls to establish alibis. Rossi and I will take the sheriffs, Emily and Morgan the police captains. JJ, Reid, can you handle Humphrey?"

"Of course," JJ rose from her chair.

"Remember, one of these men is a killer, so try to play it cool. Let's go."

.

.

"So when is Rex supposed to be back?" Spencer he sat with JJ on the steps outside the Sheriff's Department, waiting for the Sheriff to return.

"I'm not sure. His deputy said he went to eat lunch." JJ shrugged.

"So were you and him…" He let the question hang as he thought back to the first day the had arrived.

"Spence," She rolled her eyes. "Please. The guy has always given me the creeps."

"I thought you were friends?"

"I was friends with his sister, so I was always nice to him. But he would follow me around school, follow the people around that I liked, namely guys. It was weird."

"Wow."

"Yeah. It got kind of crazy. But then he graduated."

"I don't really blame him," He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

"What?" He eyebrows rose in surprise.

"N-nothing."

"No, what? Why?"

"I, er, just mean that um, only an idiot wouldn't like you." He swallowed, flushing. She laughed, smiling at his awkwardness.

"Thanks, Spence." She leaned against his side with a sigh.

"JJ?" He asked softly and she turned to look at him. "About last night..."

For the first time in a long time she couldn't find anything to say as she stared back at him. The sounds of town melted away, the bustle on the streets no longer registering in her mind. All that mattered was the fact that their faces were inches from each other. He closed the distance and JJ found herself kissing him.

A throat cleared behind them and they tore apart, blushing. "Heard y'all were lookin for me?" Rex at the bottom of the steps, glaring at them, his face red.

"Yes, we were. We need to ask you a few questions." JJ cleared her throat.

"Well, if you're done sucking face, I'll be in my office." Rex brushed past them, nearly stepping on Spencer's hand.

"Well, this ought to be a walk in the park."
_

"His alibi isn't checking out Hotch," JJ frowned as Hotch entered the conference room. Everyone was there now except Spencer, who had went to get some coffee and use the restroom.

"Kurt established that he was with some friends at the time, not at dinner with his dad. He has admitted more than once that he doesn't have a good relationship with his father," Emily added.

"What about the other stations?"

"Alibis place them at work or with a partner. Only other person who doesn't check out is a Sander Mclain, but turns out he died of a heart attack that evening on his way to work. So that leaves Kurt. But why would he target Paul?"

"I may have the answer to that," Garcia's face appeared on the screen. "Paul was looking to buy one of the largest houses in the middle of town. He was planning on converting it into a resort type thing for people coming out of halfway houses and icky backgrounds. Rex has been sheriff for ten years and during that time, countless number of creepers have moved away- The bad kids dropped out and left the High School, the gang members moved, the scum left. But the thing is they all fell off the face of the planet. There was no paper trails left behind, no forwarding addresses or anything. No one has seem them since."

"So he is creating a utopia. The perfect imagine of a small town; no crime, no "bad" guy. Just a little town thriving in the growing world."

"We need to go pick Rex up. Where is he?"

"He left nearly an hour ago," JJ commented. "He was mad after we talked to him and said he didn't have to take this crap and left."

"Guys, where's Reid?" Emily frowned, noticing the youngest agent was still missing.

"I haven't seen him in a while. He said he was going to get a cup of coffee and clean up a bit," JJ frowned.

"Garcia, can you try to call him?"

"Already did, no answer. Let me check the security tape for the break room," the others heard tapping as she typed away on her keyboard. "Oh...oh no."

"What?" JJ demanded, bitting her lip.

"I… You need to see this."

Spencer sighed, walking into the break room. He ran a hand through his hair before pouring himself a cup of coffee, staring out the small window, lost in thought. Rex walked up silently behind him before snarling.

"Dr. Reid?"

"Yes?" He didn't have time to turn around.

"You're little office fling is over." Rex growled before hitting him over the head with his gun. He slumped to the floor, out cold. "You should have never came here. You should have stayed away from her, away from here." He grabbed a paper towel, wiping the butt of his gun off before tossing it into the trash "It's time for this to end."

"Crap," Emily frowned.

"Dammit! Come on," Morgan snatched a pair of keys.

"He has Spencer," JJ sounded shocked.

"Come on, JJ. Let's go get him."

"Is there going to be anything left to get? We saw what he did to Paul," Rossi frowned.

JJ let out a strangled sound and Emily wrapped her in a hug. "Smooth Rossi, real smooth." But she had to agreed. Would they find the young agent in time, or was it too late for Spencer Reid.

. . . . . . .

Sirens wailed as black SUVs screamed to a halt outside a large two story house. The lights were all off and the shutters closed. JJ tore herself out of one SUV, lunging for the house before Morgan and Emily caught her arm.

"Stop! You know you can't do that," Emily dragged her back.

"I have too! He is in danger, again, because of me!"

"JJ, calm down." Hotch thrust a bullet proof vest as her chest. "I need to know if you can do this?"

"I can Hotch, just let me go. Please."

"He knows we are here," Morgan commented, watching a shade open briefly. "Check it out, near the bushes. There's a window down there, probably a cellar."

"Too obvious. Check out the far room on the right," Emily pointed. "The shade keeps moving. He is in there."

"Alright. Morgan, Prentiss, take the back door. Rossi, you and I will clear the house then JJ can get up there."

Everyone padded off, guns drawn. Hotch leaned against the door from and Rossi nodded. He kicked in the door and everyone filed in, checking their corners.

"Clear," Rossi called from the living room.

"Clear here," Hotch said from the kitchen.

"Clear," Emily shouted from somewhere in the back.

"Bottom floor is all clear," Morgan yelled. "Upstairs….where is JJ?"

"Dammit," Hotch cursed, running up the stairs. "She's going to get herself killed."

.

.

JJ ran around the corner, hardly blinking as she busted the thin door in and entered the room. Rex looked up with a sneer and JJ froze. Spencer was tied to a chair, his arms tied behind him. He had a gag in his mouth, blood smeared on his cheek. Rex sat on the floor around him, working on something.

Spencer struggled against his ties, glaring at Rex. That's when JJ noticed the floor. Explosives were rigged around the chair and covered the back of the wall. Rex held another in his hand, his eyes full of anger, as he pulled a lighter from his pocket.

"You shouldn't have come here with him! You should have picked me!" He yelled at her, a wild light in his eyes as he took a step towards her. This ends now."