I would like to thank to Quille and csinyfan28 for their amazing support and awesome reviews. I'm always happy to read your reviews.

Again, I'm sorry for all the mistakes you'll find. But nobody is perfect, right? :-)

Jo took a moment to gather her thoughts before she started to speak. Then she told Mac everything. Back at the FBI they were working day and night when the first killing hit Washington. But they couldn't find anything. It looked like the killer knew well what to do not to leave any trace behind. Even though on this case were working people from Washington police and FBI, they weren't more successful than Trenton police before.

"It was crazy time because he was killing young girls. Everyone was pushing hard on us to catch him. I was single mom with two kids to take care of and to handle this case. It wasn't easy but Ellie and Tyler were amazing. Tyler helped me with Ellie and she found new friend, Melisa. She was few years older than her but it seemed they understood each other well. Melisa was very friendly and kind girl."

Jo felt silent for few moments but Mac didn't say anything. He knew how hard it must be for Jo to rememer everything, even though he was sure she was thinking about this since she found out that this case is related to the Trenton one.

After a moment of silent Jo continued. One Saturday morning woke her up a call from Russ. He was already on the crime scene. When Jo arrived and saw Melisa, she felt terrible. Apart from the fact that she was young girl, she was also Ellie's friend and above all Jo knew her, so that ment she wasn't supposed to work on this case. But she didn't tell anyone she knew the girl. More than ever she wanted to catch him. She owed it not only to all the families but more importantly to her daughter and she didn't want to dissapoint her.

"But when the killings stopped they told us to let it be. Can you understand it? How we were supposed to let it be? To tell parents of their dead daughter that we won't catch him? How could I tell this to Ellie?" Jo was frustrated and she had to gather all her strength not to speak loud.

Mac sighed. He had to do a big decision now. Jo wasn't supposed to work on this case because she was emotionaly involved, on the other hand she knew about this case more than any other team member. Mac was thinking what decision would be the best. When Jo would continue working on this case and their boss would find out, both of them would have a big problem. But he wanted to solve this case as much as Jo.

"Is there anyone who knows that you knew this Melisa?" Mac asked her finally.

"Nobody, Mac. Well, only Ellie and now you. I haven't even told Russ about it," Jo assured him.

"Could anyone find out that you knew her?"

"Ellie and Melisa weren't at the same class. Someone has to know the two knew each other and to proove I knew Melisa well enough to be emotionaly affected. It's almost impossible."

Mac fell silent for a moment. He actually didn't have to ask those questions because he already made a decision, he just wanted to be sure it was the right decision.

"I will let you work on it but you need to inform me about everything, alright? When I will see your feelings are affecting the work I will need to take you off this case. Are we clear?"

"Crystal clear, Mac," Jo assured him with smile. "Thank you so much. I promise you won't regret you left me on this case."

She sqeezed his arm thankfully and left his office ready to continue on the evidence that was waiting for her. Mac was looking at the door what closed behind Jo and rubbed his forhead. He liked Jo and was wondering if it had clouded his judgement.

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Russ interogated all the families but he didn't hear anything what could help him. Nobody knew anything and that made him frustrated because it reminded him so much of the case he was working on in Washington. He has hated it before and he hated it now too. When they told him to stop working on the case it made him furious. Now he swore to himself he would do everything he could to finally catch this bastard.

He remembered how frustrated and furious looked Jo when they told them to stop investigate this case in Washington. Now they were working on it together again. He saw in her eyes that she was determined to solve this case as much as him. Russ hoped that this time they would be successful.

After interogating Melisa's parents and her sister, he had some feeling beyond description. He was sure Melisa's younger sister Danielle knew something but she didn't want to speak about it in front of her parents. Maybe she even didn't want to tell him because he was a guy. It wouldn't be for the first time this happened to him. Russ knew there was only one thing he could do. Ask Jo for help the next day. Not only that she knew how to handle kids and teenagers but she also had a daughter in Danielle's age.

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Jo has been working on the evidence when Russ came up to her. She still felt a bit unconfortable when she had to work with him, but she remembered she promised to Mac it wouldn't be a problem to cooperate with Russ so she did the best not to show anything about her feelings.

"Jo, I need your help," Russ said when he came into the lab.

'What's going on?" Jo asked and put an evidence she was holing in her hands on the table.

Russ explained her about his feelings he had when he interogated Danielle. He told Jo everything he could, hoping she would agree to help him and interogate Danielle again. Russ was sure Danielle was holding something back.

Jo run her hand through her hair. Russ didn't have to persuade her, she wanted to help him. On the other hand she needed to work on the evidence too. She really hoped Mac would give her another team member but it looked like everyone else was too busy to work with her.

"You help me and I'll help you. In return for your help you can send the evidence to bureau's lab," Russ said when he saw her face.

Before Jo had the opportunity to answer sombody knocked on the door to the lab. Jo looked behind Russ' back and saw Mac coming through the door.

"Do you have any problem, Jo?" Mac asked her.

Jo explained him that she was working on the case alone and she needed help because the case was huge and she couldn't do everything at the same time. Jo told him she wanted to interogate Danielle but at the same time she wanted to continue on the evidence and she didn't want to send the evidence to the bureau's lab even through she should cooperate with the FBI.

"Go and talk to Danielle, I will be working on the evidence. I finished everything I had to do and now I'm free to help you," Mac said.

Jo smiled at him. Mac just saved her. Now she could help Russ without sending the evidence to the bureau. And above all of it she would be coopearting with Mac.

"Alright Russ, lead the way and show me where Danielle lives. I will do my best to get from her everything she's holding back," Jo said with excitement.

Mac was glad he could help Jo. He always liked when he saw her smiling and was glad when he was the reason what makes her smile. Luckily he finished everything he was working on and he didn't have another case to work on. He decided to help Jo because he knew her case was huge and she wouldn't be able to do all the work alone. Even Russ' help couldn't be enough. Besides he wanted to be sure it wasn't difficult for Jo to coopeate with her ex-husband.

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