They go over the profile again and again, the one that JTF-12 had put together and the newest iteration of the same. An hour later, they're still waiting and they can all feel the tension and impatience rising up in the space beyond Hotch's door.

"What are we waiting for?" Dave asks, and Emily has to admit she appreciates his anxiousness.

"Metro PD," Hotch answers, though his eyes are on her. She's felt them every few minutes all hour long. It's unsettling and reassuring. She's not sure if he's waiting for her to drop into another panic attack, or hand over the last, vital piece to finding and capturing Ian Doyle. But since she's already sent Tsia away and he refuses to let her lure him out, they're at an angry impasse.

She doesn't understand why he's keeping her so close, why he seems so intent on keeping her chaperoned and leashed. It feels contradictory, the number of times he's told her she is invaluable for her knowledge but absolutely refuses to let her actually use it. The protectiveness is starting to get suffocating.

"Who's going to have the update on roadblocks?" Dave asks and if he's aware of the added tension between his colleagues, he's not picking sides. Neither, to Emily's dismay, is JJ.

"Metro," Hotch answers.

"He has the connections to get in and out of the country," Emily says in desperation. They should be out there already, Metro be damned. They should be making sure Doyle's still within their net because she severely, severely doubts he is. It's the annoying part, really, the idea that Ian must know how desperately she wants to hunt. It's frustrating to think that it's the impetus to Hotch keeping her close. Actually, it straight up pisses her off. "What makes you think he can't get out of the District?"

"It's the best we've got," Hotch answers, crossing his arms.

There is apology in his voice and she hears it loud and clear. She's too busy growling, too busy trying so painfully hard not to push back, to point out that it is nowhere near the best they've got if he'd just let her…. She opens her mouth to tell him that, to make her case again, when Derek steps in.

"Metro got held up by a double homicide at K and Ninth."

Emily's blood runs cold and she just barely manages to lock her knees to keep her from collapsing.

Tsia.

"They want me to take a look."

Hotch isn't looking at Derek. His eyes are fixed on her. He's the only one who'd been in the room when she'd told Tsia to go to Carelli's and from the look on his face, he's made the connection just as fast as she has.

She has to swallow twice before she can ask, "Doyle?"

"Vic's apartment looks like a black market forger."

It's as good as confirmation, about Doyle and about the likelihood of finding Tsia alive. Emilys heart clenches painfully in her chest, her legs shaking hard enough to ache. She barely registers Hotch moving, JJ closing ranks at her back until the warmth of their shoulders pressing against the back of hers. If Derek notices, he refrains from commenting.

"The other victim?" she makes herself ask, digs her nail into her palms. They must know there's something up, Dave and Derek and JJ but it's Derek that answers.

"A woman in her thirties, no ID, outside the door."

This time, her knees really do buckle and it's Hotch, who may have anticipated such a reaction, that catches her, a hand around her waist and one at her elbow. She doesn't get any satisfaction or happiness from the way even Derek, who is still upset, pitch towards her.

"Em-"

"Tsia," she says. "It has to be Tsia."

Biweekly postings start now! Haha.

No, but seriously. No chapter next week. There will be one the week after that.

Thanks for your patience and your reviews! I'm at the cottage for the weekend, but I'll get to replies for the signed reviews on Tuesday or so.