Discerning

A Criminal Minds Story

"Oh heavenly warmth," Agent Emily Prentiss cried rubbing her hands together before buckling her seat belt, "Never leave me again." She had been waiting outside in the frigid air for her tardy colleague to come pick her up and Emily was sure she was going to receive frostbite when the familiar car sped to a halt in front of her.

JJ laughed as she looked over at the defrosting profiler and handed over a thermos full of hot chocolate and a granola bar, "Here you go. Sorry, I'm late. And it's hot chocolate, I was in such a rush it was the first thing I grabbed."

Emily shrieked in delight as she took a sip and ripped open the package of food, "All is forgiven. All is forgiven. But Strauss is going to have a fit."

"We'll be on time," JJ said taking a turn, but sighed, "I guess I used to have better excuses for being late." Emily nodded. When Will and Henry were… around, JJ hardly ever got in trouble for being late because Hotch understood. The rest of the team used to think it unfair and would tease JJ mercilessly about it.

"I think I have forgotten what it is like to live a single life. It's horrible."

"Hey- it's not that bad," Emily defended herself.

"Next thing you know. I'll be buying a cat," JJ stated neutrally.

"What's wrong with a cat?"

"Well," JJ paused as she looked over at Emily, "you know what they say. If you're single and buy a cat, you're one step closer to becoming a cat lady and having hundreds of furry cats running around."

"Who says that?" Emily asked incredulously. She couldn't imagine having hundreds of little Sergio's running around. It would be awful. Was she really destined to become a cat lady?

"No one, but I'm sure you'll be the first," JJ laughed aloud, earning a punch in the arm, "Hey! Though I'm sure Spence can give us some statistics on how likely it is for older single women to have more than one pet."

Emily shook her head and looked at the clock, "I am so blaming you for being late. And please say we are going somewhere warm."

"Stop worrying, we're going to make it. Plus we're almost there, and nope we're staying right here in twenty degree Virginia," JJ stated as her hand gripped the steering wheel tighter. They only had ten minutes.

"Oh fantastic… I'm going to be suspended, or transferred… I mean she has just been looking for a reason to get rid of me. Now she has one."

"What about me? I'm going to be in trouble too and besides we're going to make it."

"She'll just fire you," Emily continued dramatically as she downed the rest of her hot chocolate, "We'll both become elderly cat ladies after all."

"We'll be on time," JJ added, "And look we're here now, but we will have to run for it."

Emily nodded as JJ quickly turned into the parking garage and into her regular space by several other already parked cars. Some she recognized with a glum understanding that the rest of the team was already there.

Flying down the hall by the empty front desk the two agents rapidly pressed the elevator button. Nothing happened.

"To the stairs," JJ yelled as they took off. Each of them thanked the heavens that they were in good shape as they bolted up the several flights. Crashing through the door of their floor the two women tumbled out, out of breath and breathing heavily as the slowed their pace to a labored walk.

Emily slowly opened the glass door and peeked inside. Spotting Strauss she held her hand up with a fist to stop JJ. "We're not going to make it."

"What's happening?" JJ whispered back as she poked her head over Emily's shoulder to see Strauss stepping out of her office. The main floor of the BAU was empty despite Anderson who was reading calmly at his desk.

"Anderson!" Emily squeaked loudly, he didn't look up, "Anderson!"

The young man jumped as he turned towards the noise to see two of his fellow agents crouching by the entrance door. Emily immediately began giving him hand signals, ending with a furious jab at Strauss. Nodding, he quickly stood up picked up a file off of his desk and scurried over to their Section Chief. Praying that this wasn't how his life was going to end.

Breathing a silent sigh of relief the two women half walked half crawled towards the stairs. They were nearly at the bottom when JJ's phone vibrated. And it was like time stood still. They froze in their tracks as the phone continued to buzz loudly.

"Turn it off!" Emily screamed in a hushed tone as JJ fumbled in her purse and silenced the untimely device. They held their breath as they slowly turned their head towards Strauss who was still talking to Anderson.

"Let's get to my office we'll throw our stuff in there," JJ stated, that way Strauss wouldn't see that they just got there, Emily nodded as JJ pulled out her keys.

"Thank you Ma'am, but I actually have one more question," They heard Anderson say loudly; letting the two agents know their time was up.

"Well hurry up and you don't need to yell," Strauss cold tone echoed across the hall.

"Quickly, Jayje," JJ unlocked her door and they thrust their coats and purses inside.

Strauss was ending the conversation with Anderson.

With unbelievable speed the two friends raced down the hall swung open the BAU round table door, rushed by their team mates and sat down in their respective seats with a loud exhale of air.

Agent Morgan looked at his two colleagues with an amused smile as he opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted as Strauss stomped into the room. Muttering something about a stupid question and a waste of time, Emily looked over at JJ.

They owed Anderson big time.

Erin Strauss looked around the room taking a mental count to make sure all of the agents were there. Looking down at her watch it 4:03. She huffed in disappointment; she had expected one of them to be late.

"Glad to see you're all here and on time, as I said to Agent Jareau this case is urgent and local."

"Is it about the shooting at the park the other day?" JJ asked, as if she had been sitting there all morning. Strauss nodded grimly.

"There's been another shooting. At a gas station, the victim is a nine year old boy." Everyone lowered their gaze for just a moment.

"From a seventy five year old grandmother to a young child that is not much of pattern," Emily added, "Could we be looking at a different shooter?"

"Not likely. Ballistics match those from the other crime scene," Hotch added, "Quantico Police Department thinks we have a serial shooter."

"I'm inclined to agree," Rossi stated his hands folded across his lap as he leaned back in his chair.

"Me too. It is very unlikely for there to be two spree shooters at one time, actually statistics say that…" Reid started, but stopped at the cold glare Strauss was currently giving him.

"Still there is no discernible motive or pattern with this guy…," Morgan continued, "This is going to cause mass panic."

"That is why you are here. Quantico Police Department wants your help," Strauss paused to give JJ a sympathetic/ almost apologetic look, "They want you at the crime scene now. A press conference has been set for nine. I'll be keeping in touch."

"Thank you," Hotch stated as he turned to look at his team, "Okay JJ and Reid I want you to head over to the latest victim's house and talk to the parents. The rest of us will go to the scene. I know you're tired, but we need to focus. We all know the kind of panic that serial shooters can create. Look after each other and be diligent."

And with a slight nod of his head they were off and ready to face whatever may come.

So that chapter didn't really move the story forward at all. I just really wanted to put that scene in there. I hope the next chapters are better, I am really excited for this story and I think that it is a good idea. But I guess that is why most of us write on here because we want to share the stories we think should be shared. Or would like to read ourselves.

Anyway thank you for reading! I really appreciate it. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or criticisms.

Thanks!

-HCB