Discerning

A Criminal Minds Story

Jason Rupert perked up excitedly as he watched the group of agents and officer exit the diner. The blond came out first and seemed to be making a beeline for the cars, followed quickly by the darker haired woman. Looking through his scope he chuckled at their forlorn expressions as they were called back by their boss. The brunette quickly trotted over to the rest of the group while the TV agent slowly trudged over. Her hands stuffed in her pockets.

Smiling, he trained his gun on the one agent he most wanted to shoot. The Agent Morgan, whose back was turned away from him. Oh, he could already see the desperately, fearful and pained faces as they watch helplessly as their friend falls to the ground. He could almost hear the scared screams as they wonder wildly wondering where it had come from.

Then he would shoot again.

Perhaps he'd continue with Williams, he never liked the man. Even though he was his mother's friend and had given him another chance.

"But you could have saved my mom and you didn't," Jason seethed as he flashed the red dot on the unsuspecting Agent's backs.

He was done being underestimated and taken for a fool. He was done being treated like the lesser person, being told he would never amount to anything. Well look at him now, he was about to take down the FBI.

"This is for you Dad, because you were right. I am just like you."

Then he took the shot.

"Here we go," Jennifer Jareau muttered as she wrapped her coat tighter around herself. They had been at the last crime scene for two hours while they discussed their strategy and now they were about to head to the station, so that they could arrive before the Unsub did.

JJ was the first to exit the diner, her keys in her hand as she prepared to dash to her car and the blessed heater it contained. She cringed as the cold air blasted her while she settled into a fast walk. The Media Liaison groaned quietly as she was stopped just before the midway point by a harsh call from her boss.

"Shoot," A disappointed voice called from behind her as JJ turned around to see Emily only a few steps back. They both shared a glum glance before Emily turned and raced back to the group while JJ took her time wondering what in the world they still had to talk about.

Stuffing her hands into her pocket, JJ continued slowly towards the group who were already deep in discussion. Most likely finalizing the whole plan, in which JJ's part was to sit by Garcia and wait until she was needed to inform the public that they had caught the guy.

Exciting.

Sometimes she just wanted to be part of the action, part of the takedown, and she wonders if her colleagues forget that she is a FBI Special Agent, fully trained and able to take care of her own. A ridiculous thought really.

Maybe, she was just really ready for this case to be over.

And to return to her bed.

Her nice, warm, comfortable bed.

What the-? JJ gasped slightly at the sight of a red dot dancing between Derek and Emily's backs. Fear overwhelmed her as she whipped her head around searching for the shooter.

Nothing, she couldn't see anything.

JJ turned back to see the dot come to a rest, a steady red beam signaling coming death.

She started running.

And she wondered if she was yelling anything.

Yet the team still seemed unaware.

And just as the gun shot sounded, she leaped.

A strong force struck her as she fell into the targeted backs of her friends, taking them down with her.

And for a moment she thought he had missed.

Just for a moment.

But then she heard Emily scream.

And JJ watched as her face appeared in front of her.

A look of desperation in her eyes,

And JJ knew it was bad.

Morgan rolled out from underneath the object that pinned him to the ground just as the familiar sound of a gunshot sounded. He looked over to see JJ, her eyes closed and not moving.

And for just a second everything stood still.

But then Emily screamed and another gun shot rang out.

Then the panic set in.

Officers and innocent civilians started to run.

Some fell to the ground, hands covering their heads.

Morgan continued to stare at the blond in front of him,

Red blossomed out from her frightening wound.

He was utterly shocked.

Another shot echoed through the air.

"Rossi!" Someone screamed.

It was Reid.

And Morgan still didn't move.

"Morgan!"

"Derek!"

They were all calling for him.

"Derek," Emily called softly as she looked up at the seemingly paralyzed profiler.

And he looked at her, "Go! Derek. I've got her."

Then he turned to see Hotch sprinting across the street, Williams by him.

Morgan nodded and quickly followed.

David Rossi leaned against the Diner wall as he clutched his injured leg tightly.

"I'm too old for this," He muttered as he blinked rapidly, fighting of the growing pain. He looked over at the young genius beside him.

It had all gone wrong so fast.

And it made Rossi wonder how the profile had been so off.

He watched as passing cars sped down the street, hoping not to catch a stray bullet. Screams filled the air as shots still rang out.

Mostly to create fear, not to kill.

For that, Dave was grateful.

"This shouldn't be happening, we underestimated the Unsub," Reid told him as he continued pressure on his leg.

Dave agreed silently as the window above them shattered.

Aaron Hotchner sprinted across the street.

The image of Derek Morgan and Emily Prentiss rolling out from underneath a bloody JJ flashed through his mind.

The cry of pain as Dave was shot rang through his ears.

And it was hard for him to believe that anyone could find that appealing.

Or addictive.

They had grossly underestimated the Unsub.

And Hotch was afraid.

Hotch put up his fist as he heard a loud sound emanating from ahead of them.

It sounded like laughter.

Cackling laughter.

Hotch grimaced as he neared the Unsub who was lying behind a bush, his face red with amusement.

"Jason Rupert," Hotch called out, "Come out with your hands up."

"Alrighty Agent," Rupert answered happily, "I give in."

It had been three minutes and twenty seven seconds since the shooting had stopped.

Reid hoped that meant the Unsub had been caught.

He looked down at his bloody hands.

Then he looked up at Rossi.

"Hey Rossi," Reid snapped, "Stay awake."

Rossi opened one eye, "I'll be fine Reid. Go help Emily."

Reid glanced over at Emily, the side of her face smeared in blood as she kneeled beside JJ.

He desperately wanted to go over there,

But Rossi was at risk of bleeding out too.

So he stayed.

Reid wondered where the ambulances were.

They needed help,

And they should have been here by now.

Maybe they were scared,

He didn't blame them.

Reid's heart nearly exploded as the heavenly sound of sirens filled the air.

Emily Prentiss was crying.

She rarely cried.

But then again it wasn't often that her best friend was dying in front of her, her life bleeding out through her hands.

"Do you think I'll see Henry?" A whispered voice asked.

Emily choked back sobs as she looked down at the blond.

"Yes, but not now. Because you're going to be okay," Emily told her.

This couldn't be happening.

"I miss him."

"I know you do," Emily nodded, "Just hang in there."

"I think there must be," JJ added weakly, she wasn't feeling much pain anymore.

"Must be what?" Emily wondered where the ambulances were.

"A heaven."

Emily didn't reply, she had never been much of a religious person… but as she looked at the distant blue eyes of her dying friend she nodded.

Because there had to be.

Because JJ didn't deserve anything else.

"Hey," Emily stated as JJ's eyes began to flicker, "Stay awake for me."

"Emily-," But Emily shook her head.

"So I'm thinking about buying another cat," Emily told her.

JJ gave a slight smile, "No, you're not."

"Well, if you and I are going to be cat ladies after we retire then we probably should get started. We'll be the two sweet old ladies that the entire neighborhood loves."

"Making cookies and lemonade for the children," JJ choked, blood spurted from her mouth.

"You mean milk?" But JJ didn't reply. Sirens filled the air, "Hey Jayje. Stay with me. Help is here."

Emily sent a fleeting look of worry towards Rossi and Reid as the ambulance screeched to a stop beside them.

And she prayed they weren't too late.

Do you think JJ will die? Will Rossi? What do you think should happen?

Anyway, Thank you all for the reviews and for reading and for sticking with this story. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or criticisms.

Thanks!

-HCB