Finally, The next chapter. Thank you all for being so patient :)

Agent Todd listened as Karen repeated her story, occasionally questioning a few details before he finally released then. Rossi had to do some rather fancy talking, including a little name-dropping, in order to be allowed to take Karen from the site.

"I honestly think it would have been easier to purchase uranium than it was to let them release you into my protective custody," he muttered as they walked toward a heavily guarded car

"David, they are just being cautious," she said as she squeezed his hand

"I realize that, but don't they realize that we DO work for the same agency, you know the one sworn to protect and defend?" he said with a slight smile

"They have their orders, and this time, everyone is watching so they are just crossing their T's and dotting their I's," she said as they reached the car

"So where are we going anyway?" she asked as they got in

"Back to the office. The sooner we get through the introductions and the shock, which will undoubtedly follow, the sooner we can get on with finding out who is behind this," he said as he turned the corner, glancing in the rear view mirror and grimacing

"What's wrong?" she asked as she turned back to see a full, and not very discreet escort behind them

"Well, I'll say this, they are definitely making their presence known" she said with a slight and yet nervous laugh

The escort disappeared once they entered the parking garage, causing Rossi to let out a long sigh of relief

"Feel better now?" asked Karen as she rubbed his arm

"For the moment" he said quietly as he reached out and covered her hand with his. "I need to prepare you for what you are about to walk into up there" he said as he turned and searched her face for some sort of comprehension of the gravity of the situation

"I know" she replied quietly "But, you will be there and so will Agents Reid and Blake and Hotchner..."

"But..."

"David, once the shock wears off, they will be fine," she said reassuringly

"Let's just hope you're right, for your sake" he said as they got out of the car and headed toward the lift.

The office was buzzing with extra agents due to the location and apparent target of the attack. Information was streaming in on every available phone, computer and fax machine keeping everyone distracted from the door. As David and Karen exited the lift, she felt him tense a bit as he motioned for the door to the BAU.

"Relax David. Everything will be fine" said Karen as she leaned against him and squeezed his hand.

"We'll see," he said rather pessimistically as he opened the door

Agents Blake, Reid and Hotchner had been bombarded with information and details from the attack the moment they entered the office and simply hadn't had the time to explain to the rest of the team about Karen, so it was no surprise that JJ and Morgan stopped dead in their tracks when they looked at who came thru the door with Rossi. David gently put his arm around Karen, led her to the bullpen, and waited for the team to join them. Hotch motioned for the team to head to the bullpen as he called for Garcia to join them and update them with the latest information regarding the case. JJ and Morgan exchanged confused and angry glances as they picked up their files and headed up the stairs.

"JJ...What the hell is going on?" asked Morgan angrily, under his breath

"I don't know," she said with her eyes wide as saucers

"How could Hotch do this to us again, after the whole Prentiss Fiasco?"

"Derek, I swear I have no idea what is going one" she replied, angry at the insinuation that, once again, she was keeping secrets.

Alex and Reid followed behind with similar expressions, and even though they knew who was with Rossi, there was just no way to explain it to the rest of the team without sounding like complete idiots.

JJ and Morgan stood outside the door, staring in at Rossi and Karen while Alex and Reid entered and took their seats.

"We should get in there," said JJ apprehensively

"You go ahead, I'll wait for Garcia. If she walks in there and sees that woman, she will have a heart attack on the spot," said Morgan

Penelope came down the hall with her I pad and an arm full of files, stopping briefly as she approached Morgan.

"What's wrong Derek?" she asked as she noticed the odd expression on his face

"Nothing Baby Girl" he said taking the folders from her "It's just that..."

Penelope glanced pas him into the room and saw Karen with Rossi and her expression went from concerned to shock in less than a second

"Hhhhhhow is this possible?"she whispered as her eyes began to fill with tears

"No idea Baby Girl, but I intend to find out! Come on" he replied as he escorted her thru the door.

The team stood together against the far wall, each staring at Karen and Rossi as Aaron closed the door.

"Everyone..."

"Hotch...What gives?" asked a nearly irate Morgan as he motioned to Karen "I would have thought you would have learned your lesson after Prentiss

"Is it really you?' asked Penelope in a tone just barely above a whisper as she looked at Karen in disbelief

Karen knew the team would be in shock, but she was not prepared for the obvious animosity and anger that radiated from nearly every member as they stared at her. Rossi could sense the panic and fear in Karen and put his arm around her as he guided her to the nearest chair.

"It's not what you think!" he said flatly, as she took a seat and he stood behind her with his hands protectively on her shoulders

"Then just what is it exactly?" asked Morgan as he narrowed his eyes

"I would like you to meet Karen. Karen Hayes-Buchannon" he replied coolly "She is or at least we suspect that she was the intended victim in this crime."

"But she looks so much like, doesn't she look just like...Erin?" said Penelope as she turned to look at the rest of the team for confirmation that she was not out of her mind

"I understand that I look like Erin Strauss," said Karen quietly "But I can assure you that we are not one and the same"

"Well you could have fooled me!" replied Morgan sarcastically

"She's right" said Spencer "I did some checking, no offense Ma'am, and she really is Karen Hayes-Buchannan, former National Security Adviser and former head of Homeland Security, and she really does just happen to look like Chief Strauss"

"You knew? And you didn't tell us" said JJ in an almost hurt tone, as she turned and stared at Reid

"We found out about an hour ago when Spencer and I met her, we just didn't have time to tell you before they arrived" replied Alex apologetically

"Don't you think you should have made the time to at least say "Oh by the way the victim looks just like Chief Strauss!" or was that too much to ask?" said Morgan

"Oh I think I need to sit down," said Penelope as she took a seat across the table from Karen

"Look, I know this is a shock, but the fact remains that we have an unsub or unsubs out there that are out there trying their best to harm her, so can we put aside our anger for the moment and concentrate on the case" said Aaron sternly as he motioned for the rest of the team to take a seat. Rossi took a seat next to Karen putting his arm protectively around her as he turned his attention to Aaron

"Alex, what have you and Reid been able to find out?" asked Aaron

"The threats were all written by the same person, suggesting that there may only be one person involved. The syntax suggests that this person is educated, highly organized and is fond of metaphors..." said Alex before being interrupted by Reid

"Given the condition of the two other victims I believe it is probable that there is a third body that has yet to be discovered. You have all heard the old adage Hear no Evil, See no evil, Speak no Evil. Well the first two victims fit the hear and see part given their injuries, but we don't have the third which is speak no evil" he concluded

"What were the injuries?" asked Karen quietly

"The first victim discovered was Lesley Horton, age 26. Her boyfriend reported her missing last night. She was found this morning, fully clothed, in one of the city parks. She had been suffocated, and ligature marks on her wrists show that she was restrained. There was no evidence of sexual assault, however both of her ears had been removed postmortem. The second victim was Paul Mitchell age 29. He was reported missing this morning by his wife. His body was discovered in an alley near a downtown restaurant. He was fully clothed, with the same ligature marks on his wrists, and he had also been suffocated. The only difference is that his eyes had been removed" said Morgan

"Why would someone do this?" asked Karen, who by this time was looking rather pale

"Obviously someone is trying to send a message, the question is what message?" replied JJ

"The threats also said something about letting the dead stay dead. Does that mean anything to you?" asked Alex

"No" replied Karenwith a look of total bewilderment etched across her face

"I think that is enough for now" said Rossi, as he looked at Karen and noticed how pale she had become. It was obvious that the shock of the day was beginning to take its toll on her. "I'm taking Karen home. If you need us you know how to get me"

"But shouldn't we stay here and... I don't know ...help?" said Karen as she looked at David

"There really isn't a lot we can do right now, and I think it would be better if we get you home so you can rest" he said as he rose from the table

"David, I'm fine," she said defensively

"Look. I know that you've been around these types of situations before, but you're not used to being on the other side of things and it can really take a toll on you if you're not careful" he replied

"I guess we are leaving," she said quietly as she rose from the table "It was nice meeting you all, I just wish it could have been under different circumstances."

After Rossi and Karen had left, the team sat in silence, waiting for someone to acknowledge the elephant in the corner. Reid was the first to speak.

"She seems very nice," he said quietly as he played with his pencil

"Yes, very level headed and calm," replied Blake

"Ok crime fighters...Did any of you notice that she looks exactly like Chief Strauss, right down to the beautiful green eyes?" said Garcia in her usual anxious tone " and did you also happen to notice how Rossi never took his eyes off her or how he kept his arm around her the entire time?"

"Yeah, we noticed Baby Girl," said Morgan as he continued reading the file in front of him

"Alright, enough chatter," said Hotch in his usual monotone voice "Garcia, I want you to research Karen and see if you can find anyone in her past that may hold a grudge, specifically while she was a National Security Adviser. Look for anyone who might have a reason to not want her back..."

"Yes boss" she replied as she scooped up her pad and headed toward her office

"JJ, Morgan, local PD has another body. I want you to get over there and see if it has anything to do with our other victims. Blake, Reid, I want you continue working the leads we have and keep me informed" he said as he rose to leave the room

"Hey Hotch. what about Rossi?" asked Morgan

"Rossi will be available by phone if we need him. Right now, I think its best he stays with Karen. He may be able to get more from her once the initial shock of today's events wears off"

"Let's just hope, for his sake, that he can remember that she isn't Strauss," replied JJ under her breath

Aaron nodded slightly in agreement, then turned and left the room.

To Be Continued...