At 10:01 the next day Emily suddenly rushes into the conference room. Everyone is surprised to see her.

"Sorry I'm late," she mumbles as she takes a seat…but not the one she normally takes between JJ and Morgan.

"Uh, no problem. We were just getting going," Hotch states.

Emily studiously avoids looking at anyone and the tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife. Hotch just looks down at his paper to get things rolling. He picks up a folder and shakes it.

"Okay, first up, I've been notified that the Secret Service is putting together a joint task force to investigate what they consider a viable threat against the Houses of Congress."

"So that's what that ridiculous Hogan's Alley drill was about?" Rossi surmises.

Hotch nods. "Yes. I know it's a fireball's chance in Hell but they would like one of us to volunteer to join the- -"

"I'll do it," Emily says interrupts.

All eyes turn to her. She still doesn't look at anyone, just holds out her hand for the folder Hotch still holds in his hand.

"You what?" the chief asks.

"If one of us doesn't volunteer they will just make one of us do it. I've done a task force before so I'll do this one," she explains.

Rossi leans onto the table. "That last task force nearly killed you, Emily. More than once."

"So? This team has nearly killed me more than once. It's just the job, Rossi."

JJ frowns. "Emily, that's not right to say."

"Why not? You know, I didn't mention the two times Hotch nearly got me raped. Because there's those, too."

Hotch sits back as if pushed. "Emily…I never…what did…"

Emily finally looks at him. "Where the hell was my security in Long Island? You had a guard for Victor but not me. And we know how that worked out, don't we? Do I need to describe in detail what that fucking bastard did to me?" Tears of fury and shame rain down her cheeks. "Do you want to know every fucking place he touched me? Do you want to know what he promised to do to me? Want to know how he got hard just imagining it? And then this fucker in the woods! Should I tell you about feeling his hard dick on my stomach while he sat on me? And how helpless I felt as he started to fucking cut the clothes from my body? What do you need to know, Aaron, to know why I want the hell out of this unit for a little while?"

Brown eyes are locked together. One set is filled with anger; the other with remorse. Hotch slowly hands her the folder.

"Report to D.C. this afternoon."

Emily just nods and places the file in front of her. She is shaking and clamps her hands together to try to regain control of her emotions. Hotch slowly looks over at Garcia.

"Distribute new cases. Split up the ones for Prentiss among the others."

Garcia nods. "Yes, sir," she says nervously.

Hotch gets up, grabs his things and leaves the room. As soon as he is gone, all eyes go back to Emily.

"Emily…that wasn't fair," JJ says softly, trying not to disturb her wife anymore than she already is.

"Yeah, well, life isn't fair." She stands. "Guess I don't need to be around for this."

She takes her things and leaves the room. All remaining eyes turn to JJ, who looks to be in shock.

"I can talk to her, Jayje," Morgan offers.

"Uh, no offense, Derek, but she's pissed at you, too. She's pissed at all of us but you and Hotch are at the top of her shit list."

"Want me to try?" Garcia asks.

JJ shakes her head. "She's got to work through this on her own. Guys, I'm going to tell you something she never told you. The brand…from Doyle…he…shit…he didn't make his men get tattoos or brands to show loyalty. They were signs of possession. The brand on Emily was to remind his men who she belonged to…while they had their way with her."

Morgan leans forward. "You mean that bastard was setting her up to be raped?"

JJ nods. "Yes. Add in a couple close calls while she was Lauren Reynolds, that time in Denver when she was pregnant, and then what's happened now and in Long Island I think she's having a breakdown from all of it. She blames us for the last couple of times. She doesn't trust us right now and until she gets past the anger, the fear and the resentment she can't start to heal."

"Please tell me she's at least seeing your shrink?"

JJ shrugs. "Went to see her yesterday but got mad and stormed out. I can only pray she goes back."

"Where is she living?" Reid asks.

"I have no idea," JJ admits. "Probably a hotel, I guess."

"What about Rocky and Henry?" Garcia asks.

"I made her promise to call them regardless of how she feels about me. I trust her to keep that promise." She shakes her head and looks at Garcia. "I can't talk about this anymore. If you guys want to go ahead. Pen, just give me my cases so I can get to work."

Garcia quickly hands over the files she had flagged as JJ's as well as one from Emily's pile. JJ takes them and leaves. She sees her wife sitting at her desk, staring at the electronic picture frame on it. JJ glances up at the chief's office and sees him at his desk staring into space. JJ shakes her head. She goes to her own desk and drops the files off. She then walks over to Emily.

"Good luck with the task force."

Emily slowly looks up at her. "You're not pissed at me?"

"A little. Mostly for the way you treated Hotch and the rest of us but not for accepting the task force assignment. Maybe it's what you need to get your head back on right."

"My head is fine," Emily snaps. She stands. "I need to go drop off a couple things then I'm heading to D.C. May as well get started."

"Emily…" JJ says. Emily pauses. Finally JJ just shakes her head. "Never mind. Talk to you later."

Emily just nods and goes to turn in her expense report for the Winslow case as well as her case report. She'd finished both the night before at the hotel she is staying in…temporarily? When she returns to her desk she packs up her briefcase. She notices Hotch's office is dark and the rest of the team, minus JJ, is still in the conference room. She looks over her desk and reaches for the electronic picture frame. She lifts it up, watching as pictures of her wife and children morph across the screen. She finally turns it off and slides it into her briefcase, grabbing the charger cord for it. Satisfied she has all she needs she chances a glance towards her wife. JJ is staring at a folder on the desk but Emily knows she's not really reading it. She approaches the blonde profiler's desk

"I'll…call them both tonight before the kids are in bed, Jen. Promise."

JJ slowly looks up. "Okay. Can you at least tell me where you're staying?"

"The Ritz."

"Ah, of course."

Emily frowns. "What does that mean?"

JJ smiles and it's actually genuine. "Just should have guessed you wouldn't be at an hourly rate place, you know?"

Emily gives her a small smile. "Yeah. I, uh, called Westfallen this morning. I'm giving her another shot. What you said last night…I heard it. I just want you to know that."

"I'm glad." She stands and stares into her wife's eyes. "Anytime, Emily: Promise me you will call me anytime you need me."

Emily nods. "I promise. I love you, Jen."

"I love you, too."

Emily looks like she wants to say something more but doesn't. She walks back to her desk and grabs her briefcase. With a last glance around the room she walks out of the BAU…

…perhaps forever.