CHAPTER 4: Bloodline (Season 4, episode 13)

Character(s): Prentiss, Todd

A/N: Again, more spoilers for this episode, as well as references to the episodes "Normal" and "52 Pickup".

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." - Dalai Lama

"Brothers…" Jordan Todd shook her head slowly, the disbelief still evident on her face. "He had brothers." She leaned back in her seat, staring out the window of the jet.

Emily Prentiss nodded in agreement. "I know," she said, letting out a heavy sigh.

"You know what I couldn't help wondering?" Jordan continued after a moment, her voice quieter. Emily furrowed her brow and tilted her head questioningly.

"Okay, so these women were kidnapped and then went on to have sons, right?"

A small nod.

"Well…what would've happened if they had daughters instead?"

Emily's eyes went slightly wide as she contemplated this. "I don't know," she said finally after an uncomfortable moment of silence. "I don't think I want to know."

Jordan shook her head again. "I honestly don't know how you guys do this job every day."

"You work in counterterrorism," Emily pointed out. "That job isn't exactly sunshine and flowers, either."

"Yeah, but…I just…the kids. I still can't get the images of the Hill children from that 'road warrior' case out of my mind." She shuddered as the horrific memories came flooding back.

Emily's mouth set in a grim line. "Cases involving children are always the toughest."

"But you were able to be sympathetic towards Kathy. The crime photos – you didn't blink –"

"Kathy had been controlled by her husband for years," Emily cut in. "What she did was wrong, yes, but she didn't really know better."

"You were much kinder towards her than I think I might have been."

"Jordan." Emily's tone caused Jordan to look directly at her teammate. "Don't beat yourself up over this. It's good that you care so much. We get caught up in being professional, but don't confuse that with not caring. We just find our own ways to handle the bad stuff more easily." She looked down at her hands for a moment before continuing. "You were right about the crime photos, though. The rest of the team's made note of my ability to compartmentalize before, too."

Jordan gave Emily a sympathetic look. "I didn't mean to imply that –"

"I know. I know. But I think that's why I do things like talk to Cate or Kathy. It's my way of trying to deal with all of that."

She placed one of her hands on Jordan's. "You are good at what you do. You did a great job filling in these last few weeks. JJ would be proud."

Jordan smiled shyly. "Thanks, Emily."

Just then a small, sudden thump caused Jordan to turn in her seat. She looked across the aisle to see Rossi, sitting in one of the small jet seats. His head had dropped onto his shoulder, his mouth open slightly. His arm was bent out at an awkward angle, and the cup of coffee he'd been drinking was now lying on the floor. Jordan turned back to Emily, and the two of them tried to stifle their giggles at the sight.

"You know, I will say this team is the one thing I'm going to miss when I go back to my old job."

"We'll miss you, too," Emily said. "Especially me. What'll I do if I run into another scuzzball like Viper?" They both immediately broke into laughter at the memory of their encounter with the sleazy pick-up artist. "Seriously, thank you so much again for helping me out with him."

"Thank you for letting me help."

"Anytime. And hey, if you ever want to hang out sometime or something, let us know."

Jordan nodded. "I will."

Warm smiles spread across both women's faces. There was a momentary pause. Then…

"So I gotta say, Hotch kinda scared me a bit when I was watching the two of you in that interrogation with Kathy," Jordan admitted.

Emily laughed. "He was practically yelling right in my ear…"

The two of them felt the tension slowly lifting as they continued to chat the rest of the way home.

"Good friends have a way of bringing out the best in you by their caring and the interest that they take in all you do." - Emily Matthews

As usual, reviews, comments, all that stuff is welcome and appreciated!