The case had quickly gone from bad to worse, and as Alex crept down the stairs to the basement of the unsub's home, she couldn't shake the cold feeling of impending dread. JJ threw a desperate look back at her, and she nodded, knowing that the woman felt the same way she did. And then she heard the reactions start from Morgan and Hotch.

"Seriously, Hotch, this is fucked up."

Those words lent wings to her feet, and she barreled down the rest of the steps, counting on the others to have cleared the room. Once Alex was able to take in the photographs hanging around the room, she felt the blood drain from her face, and she pressed a hand against her mouth as the heavy weight of just how much they had been monitored crashed down around her shoulders. JJ turned to her, tears sparkling in her eyes, and Alex nodded as she stepped closer to the woman, needing to offer her some form of comfort in that moment.

The move forward brought different pictures to the forefront of her eyes, and she gasped when she saw that these people had managed to capture pictures of her on Erin's doorstep, of Erin caressing her face. There could be no denying their relationship, such as it was, now, and she knew that Erin would bear the brunt of the scrutiny, if those pictures came to light. Even though they hadn't done anything more than some kissing and heavy petting at that point, the pictures painted a lurid image of what was between them.

Alex couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks as she stepped towards the series of images of them, her hands itching to tear them down and hold them close to her chest, not allowing anyone else to view them, to draw false conclusions from them. A gentle hand on her upper back caused Alex to jump, and she whipped her head around to look up into Hotch's eyes, seeing the look of concern there. "We're not sleeping together, not yet, but these pictures make it look like we're lovers. Who hates us so much that they're seeking to destroy us?"

"I wish I knew, but these pictures make it clear that the Replicator has more reach than we all thought possible." He gave her a sad smile, patting her back before he turned to look at the rest of the team gathered there. "All right, everyone, gather up these photos, we'll bring them back to Quantico for further studying. There's not much more we can get done here. I'll call the pilot, so that he can get the jet ready for us."

He then turned his gaze back to Alex before discreetly leaning his head towards the pictures of her and Erin. She discreetly nodded in response before starting to take down the photos closest to her, making certain that the worst were on the bottom, so that she could secret them away once she was alone. It didn't take long, between the six of them, to get all the picture off the walls, and then they were trooping back upstairs.

"All right, we'll head back to the hotel and pack up, and once we're in the air, we'll go over these pictures and how they impact the Replicator case."

"Are we going to head back to the bullpen, or go home?" Morgan asked, and Alex hoped beyond hope that their leader would say that they could go home, since she desperately wanted to be with Erin, to have the woman hold her close and tell her that it would all be all right.

"I think that we need to go home and sleep on what we've seen here. I am deeply unsettled by these pictures, and it makes me wonder just how many people he has working for him. And the fact that he has pictures of my son and Beth, it just makes everything worse."

"Anyone who targets our families deserves to be taken down as quickly as possible. I just hope that this is enough evidence for the Director to put this case on the front burner," Morgan said, an angry scowl on his face.

"We can only hope." Hotch once more patted Alex's back before he started up the stairs, Rossi close at his heels. Morgan and Reid gave each other a look before they went up, which left her and JJ alone in the basement.

"He took pictures of me at Henry's practices. And I saw that he took pictures of you and Erin. We have to find him. We have to take him down. I won't let him hurt Henry, not after what happened last year."

Alex could see that the younger woman was close to her breaking point, and she took a deep breath before holding out an arm to her. JJ nodded and stepped into the protective arc of her arm, resting her forehead on her shoulder and taking a few shuddery breaths. The tender moment only lasted a few seconds, and then JJ was pulling away to look into Alex's eyes. "I don't like the fac that he came to Erin's home. I don't like the fact that he knows where she lives, and when I would visit, since it's only happened two or three times. This feels so personal, Jen."

"I know. Are, are you headed home, once we land?"

She drew in a long breath. "It depends on what you mean by home. I won't be alone, if that's what you're really asking."

"Good. You need to be with her when you show her those pictures. And if she has a fireplace, burn them. She doesn't need the added stress of those being added into evidence, not when we have so many others that can help build the case against this monster."

"Thank you," she murmured as they started up the stairs, and Alex rubbed her lips together as she thought about the evening ahead of her. A quick glance at her watch told her that they would likely be home around midnight, but she knew that she couldn't surprise Erin just by showing up on her doorstep. As soon as she was in the SUV with Hotch and JJ, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Erin. We're coming home tonight. I have something to show you, and then we're going to fall into bed. I need you to hold me. I love you.

Once that was sent, she curled up against the window and watched the scenery pass by, trying to figure out who could possibly have such a huge vendetta against them. There was only one person who she could think of that would have that level of vitriol, and she also knew that he would have shown his face long before this, if he was truly intent on seeing them destroyed. Shaking the thoughts from her brain, she let out another long breath as Hotch pulled into the parking lot of their hotel.

"We'll meet back here in fifteen."

JJ and Alex nodded in unison before following him into the hotel and up to their rooms. It was easy for Alex to pack up, since she hadn't really unpacked, but she used the extra time to hurriedly brush her hair out from the ponytail and let it hang loose around her shoulders. She saw the odd look JJ gave her and smiled a bit before answering the unspoken question. "She likes my hair, and has promised to braid it the next time we're together."

"That is so fucking sweet," JJ whispered as she finished packing with Alex's help. "Will likes giving me massages."

"Those can be nice, too." JJ gave her a brief smile as she nodded, and then they were heading back down to the lobby, turning in their keys to the clerk before heading outside and stowing their bags while they waited for the others.

From the moment they were underway once more, until the moment they were touching down in Quantico, Alex found that she was just going through the motions of attention, and that Hotch knew her attention was divided. He didn't call her out on it, but from the look he gave her, Alex knew that she would have a little explaining to do come Monday. "Do you need a ride home?" he asked once they were off the jet, and she nodded. "Home or home?"

"Her home," she whispered, and he nodded, no judgement on his face. That soothed her troubled soul, and she tossed her bag into his back seat before getting into the passenger side of his car. The ride was quiet, but a part of her felt like she was being supported by his quiet strength, and she was grateful for that. "Thanks for the ride, Hotch. And I promise, we'll talk Monday, if I have more concrete feelings."

"I'll hold you to that, Alex. Find your peace tonight."

"That's the plan." She smiled wanly at him before grabbing her bag and heading up to the front door. It opened in moments, and then Erin was giving Aaron a small wave before she pulled Alex into the house and slamming the door behind her, pushing her back against the wood and kissing her fiercely. "Erin."

"You're home," she whispered, and Alex nodded. "What do you have to show me?"

"In the living room?"

Erin nodded and took hold of her hand, pulling her along until they were seated on the sofa. Alex dropped her bag to the floor and unzipped it, pulling out the slim stack of 8x10s and handing them over. "Jesus, Alex."

"I know. Hotch gave me permission to destroy these, since there were more than enough of everyone to hopefully convince the Director that this is a larger problem than he seems to think it is."

Erin nodded as she looked through the pictures once more. "These sicken me, but I sort of want to keep this one? We look so beautiful here, and I have so few pictures of us, thanks to Alan. Can I do that without making you angry with me?"

She held out the picture of them on the front porch, the one that had first caught Alex's eye, and Alex knew she couldn't deny her, as it was a beautifully composed shot of them. "If I didn't know the sinister reason it was taken, I'd think it a gorgeous representation of us. Keep it, but hold it close to your heart until after we catch this bastard?"

Erin nodded solemnly, setting the pictures on the coffee table before turning her body to face Alex. "I can do that for you. And in the morning, we can burn the rest of these. Do you want to head up to bed now?"

"Yes," she whispered before leaning in and capturing Erin's lips in a lush kiss. Vaguely, she felt Erin's fingers scrabble against her chest, unbuttoning her blouse with a frantic need as she deepened the kiss and pushed Alex back against the arm of the sofa. "This isn't bed, darling, and neither of us will be happy in the morning if we make love here."

"Okay," Erin panted out as she stood and held out her hand. Alex clasped it without hesitation, and allowed herself to be guided up to the bedroom. They heavily sat on the bed, and began to kiss once more as she unbuttoned Erin's blouse, slipping it from her shoulders as the other woman unfastened her bra and pulled it from her shoulders. Breaking the kiss, Alex began to press her lips down the soft column of Erin's neck, nipping at her pulse point before continuing down to her chest.

Erin bent backwards, offering up her breasts for Alex to feast on, and she took the hint, drawing the closest nipple between her lips and suckling softly. The low groan that fell from Erin's lips encouraged her onwards, and Alex took the hint, her hand cupping Erin's other breast and tugging on that nipple as Erin finished disrobing them. Once they were naked, it was so easy to push Erin backwards, to let her stretch out on the mattress as Alex straddled her.

"Lexie," she whined as Alex dragged her hand downwards to part Erin's thighs, fitting one leg between them as she continued to kiss and suck on her breasts. Erin ground down against her thigh, trying to achieve her orgasm, and Alex held her close as she finally crested, crying her name before she bit down on Alex's shoulder to keep the sounds to herself. As Alex relaxed her ministrations, Erin used the opening to flip her onto her back, and she looked up at her lover in surprise. "Now I get to love on you," she panted before kissing her lushly once more.

Alex nodded as Erin began to kiss her way down her body, bypassing her breasts, even after she encouraged Erin to lavish attention on them. It soon became clear what her intent was, as her hands tenderly parted Alex's legs before fitting herself between them and starting to eat her out. The sensation of her mouth and tongue on her vulva was so overwhelming, as it was familiar and new at the same time, and she let out a keening moan as Erin nudged her clitoris with her nose as she drove Alex to higher and higher planes of pleasure. All too soon, she was reaching her orgasm, and she clenched her thighs around Erin's head as she let herself go.

"I love you," she panted out as Erin slid up her body until she was cuddled up close to Alex, resting her head on her chest. "I'm terrified about this whole Replicator case, I don't know what I'm going to tell James about this, but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I love you."

"I love you, too, Lexie. And no matter what happens next, we'll always have this beautiful moment to hold on to." She felt Erin's lips press against the swell of her breast, and she smiled as she allowed her hand to start to run through Erin's hair, relaxing herself to sleep.