A/N: Here's next chapter. I hope you all like it!
Special thanks to jenny crum, HotchRocks, Jareau37, lovecm, Chirstiangirl and GottaLoveCM!
I don't own criminal minds!
Chapter 63: Burned Target
On the plane, JJ and her associate had gone over the mission several times. It was going to be quick, in and out. JJ would probably be back in London with Ward's associate within a day, and she couldn't wait for the moment to actually someone close to Ward. It would be the first moment she might finally be have a chance to be free from everything. Her life would be about freedom, and she'd be able to return to Hotch. Thinking of him, caused her to touch the ring around her neck. And as always the thought of actually putting it on her finger one day sent chills down her spine. The excitement and hopes for the future were the only things that kept her from falling apart. And even though missing him was extremely hard, she knew being strong had become her only option. Being strong brought her to that moment in time, and she was now closer than ever to getting her life back.
After the plane had landed the team was split off into different groups. Jill had insisted on keeping their presence limited so they wouldn't tip off CIA or even NSA. SOD was a black-ops and its existence was a secret. So if JJ ever got burned by another agency, she would be on her own. She knew that the moment Jill had told her she was involved with black-ops. JJ knew all the rules of the game. She had been living it for a few years now and the life had become normal to her, but it was no longer what she wanted. She had been blessed enough to find a different kind of life. And now she was about to fight to get it back.
JJ took off in a car on her own and quickly drove through the familiar streets of DC. Being back in DC was certainly emotional for her, but she was able to compartmentalize. So she was on her way to the hotel were the target had last been seen by satellite surveillance. JJ looked to her right and saw all of her equipment and clothing laying on the seat beside her. And when she finally pulled up a few blocks away from the hotel, she jumped out of the car and took her belongings out of it. She glanced into the car one last time to make sure she had everything. She crossed the street with the keys in her hands when she signaled one of the other agents to take the car away. It was his duty to wait for JJ in the alley behind the hotel and drive her and the target to the safe house. When he passed her on the street, she slipped the keys into his hand and made her way towards the hotel. It was a short walk for about three minutes. And as JJ walked into the hotel with poise and grace, she knew she fitted in exactly. She was wearing expensive clothing, her hair had been pulled up in an updo, and her make-up spoke volumes. She looked like she belonged in the expensive setting, and the doorman even greeted her on the way in. She turned to the left and sneaked her way into the employee's entrance. She used an ID card one of the techs at SOD had manufactured and to her surprise it actually worked. She closed the door behind her and slipped into the women's restroom. She had memorized the blueprint of the hotel and fortunately knew her way around to make her mission easier. In the restroom, she opened up her bag and pulled out a maid's uniform. She changed it into within seconds and then proceeded to wipe down most of the make-up that was smeared on her face. Changing uniforms was a way of hiding in clear sights because the chance of being caught on surveillance tapes was great, and she didn't want to tip off anyone who was looking for her. Not to mention that a maid actually had access to the hotel and that made everything so much easier. When she was done, she walked out of the restroom with the bag swung over her shoulder and she walked up to a wall with keycards to several different rooms. To her luck she noticed that the number she needed was still hanging there and no maid was working there, which meant her plan A was finally put into motion. She made her way to the back and opened the door to the supply room where she passed by several people, but no one found her to be suspicious so she continued on. In the room she took on the carts with supplies and put her bag underneath towels to hide it. She pushed the cart in front of her and hurried out of the room and towards the elevators. She pushed the button and waited patiently for the elevator to arrive. Once it did, she went inside and leaned against the back wall when the doors closed. She breathed in deeply, focusing all of her energy on the mission. She stepped from the elevator with ease when it reached the floor and within a few seconds she walking down the hallway with one hand going to her side to check if the gun was still there. When she was a few feet away from the room her heart finally started to race. That was it. Her defining moment. Not only was she trying to save her future, but she was proving herself to SOD as well.
She pushed the cart forward for another few steps and then she set it aside against the wall. She took the keycard from her pocket as her other hand went to the gun at her side. She stopped right in front of the door, trying to catch a sound. And as she listened closely, she caught the faint sound of a TV. So she knocked on the door. ''Housekeeping!''
When there was no response after a few seconds, she swiped the keycard and opened the door. She walked into the room with her gun drawn and her heart beating loudly. She immediately cleared the closet that was connected to the hallway and then she proceeded further inside, noticing that the TV had suddenly been turned off after she had announced her presence.
She kept her back to the wall, knowing someone could be waiting for her just around the corner. And just as she expected when she reached the far end of the wall, someone with a baseball bat leaped forward. As JJ managed to move away from wall, she put her gun in the waistband of her outfit. She turned around and was faced with the man from the picture, causing the hope and joy to spiral throughout her being. She kept herself together and avoided each attack he made with the bat at her. He took another swing at her head, and JJ quickly stepped aside as he crashed into the wall behind her. She quickly swung herself around and delivered a roundhouse kick to his side. He fell to the ground from the force of her kick. JJ grabbed the bat from his hand and threw it across the room. She retrieved her gun and pointed it at him. ''Get up!'' she ordered, but he didn't respond. ''Come on, get up!''
He finally began to move when she pointed the gun straight at his heart, and the look on her face convinced him to obey. He got up from the ground and JJ forcefully turned him around started to take out a pair of flexi cuffs.
JJ opened up her line of communication with Michael. ''Target is in custody. Ready for extraction.''
''We copy.'' Michael said over the com. ''Extraction is put into motion.''
JJ put the flexi cuffs around his wrists and then pushed him to sit down in the chair while they waited for another agent arrive. She was surprised at the fact that her target had obliged that easily. She had suspected more of a fight, but he seemed to be realizing there was no way of fighting her. As a few minutes passed by, JJ kept her eye on him at all times. And when she heard footsteps in the hallway she thought that her colleague had arrived. But the sound of the door bursting open told her differently. So she pulled the target with her to the other side of the room and she pushed him to the ground behind a couch, knowing there was no possible way to go. So she opened up her line of communication again. This time with the entire team to inform them all, even SOD in London. ''I've got company.'' she whispered. She kept the line open so the agents were able to communicate with her. She had her gun at her side when the hairs at the back of her neck rose at the sound of an all too familiar voice. She immediately got up from the ground and pointed her gun in the direction of the voice, while someone from SOD started talking to her through the com.
''Agents are on their way.'' she heard.
''ETA two minutes.''
JJ kept her focus and composure as she watched the other man with his gun close the distance between them. His face was filled with joy and professionalism. She somehow managed to keep her cool and keep the gun pointed at him.
''Why am I not surprised to see you here, JJ?'' he asked. ''Back to your old ways again. Oh, and I see your shoulder has healed.''
JJ's face was filled with distance and a healthy amount of hatred. ''Owen…'' she whispered as she watched four other agents step behind him, but she kept her gun raised. ''What are you doing here?''
''I'm here for you of course.'' he responded. ''Just drop your gun and come with me. It'll make this all much easier for everyone involved. Even your friend behind you.''
She stepped right in front of the man behind her, but the sound of a gun going off caused the man behind her to fall to the ground, and as she watched across the room she realized Owen had shot him without reason. She kneeled down to check his pulse, but she couldn't find the slightest trace. He had been shot dead instantly. So she got up, the gun still pointed at Owen as her anger began to boil. Owen had just taken away her shot at coming closer to Ward, and she was ready to take him out if it came down to it.
''JJ, what happened? Are you okay? JJ?'' she heard Adrian yelling through the com. She instantly realized her chances of getting out of the hotel room were slim.
''You son of a bitch!'' JJ screamed at the top of her lungs and she lunged herself at Owen. Within a matter of seconds she had him on the ground and was hovering on top of him with the gun pointed at his head. She let the cold metal of the barrel rest against his chest as the other agents were now pointing their guns at her, but it didn't scare JJ off. ''If anyone makes a move, I'll kill him!'' she warned in anger. She suddenly had a feeling that she had nothing left to lose, and she no longer knew what she was capable off in her moment of rage.
''Guys step back!'' Owen ordered, his ego still shining through as the blonde hovered on top of him. ''She won't kill me. She never could pull the trigger.''
In response, JJ dropped her gun to the ground and began her attack on Owen. She slammed her hand against his head at least three times. The blood started gushing from his nose, but it didn't stop her. She felt Owen roll them over so she was with her back against the ground. She slammed her knee upwards into his stomach and managed to roll out from underneath him. But within a matter of seconds she was being pulled away from him with force and thrown back to the ground.
''Abort. Abort mission!'' she yelled into her com to warn Adrian and the rest of SOD to leave her behind and not make their presence known at her cost. She pulled the com from her ear and threw it onto the ground and smashed it with her foot to leave no evidence for Owen. She looked back at Owen who was coughing as he had one hand on his stomach. And all JJ did was stare back at him, showing him she was no longer the same person he used to know, not even the agent he trained. She had been through too much to stay the same. ''You have no idea what I am capable off.'' she whispered as she finally looked away from him, knowing the CIA was about to take her into custody for god knew what.
''You just made a big mistake.'' Owen said as he got up from the ground. He stepped towards JJ and pulled her up. He stepped right behind her and put the cuffs on her. She hissed out in pain when he did it with force and almost a certain degree of rage, but she kept herself from giving him any satisfaction. Even when he stepped back in front of her and looked at her with a wide grin as if it was the best reunion of their lives.
''It was a pain to find you for these past couple of months. Collins actually tasked me to find you and bring you in.'' he began to explain. ''That's how important you are, JJ.''
All JJ could think about was the dead man laying in a pool of his own blood. Her one chance had been taken from her, and the anger that was racing through her seemed to be getting to the surface. Her target had been burned, and probably her job with SOD as well. Which meant the end in her search to find Ward.