This isn't what I want

chapter 21

** The BAU ** 

** Emily's POV **

Reid rushes in just as Aaron is about to start.

"Sorry, I'm late, there was traffic by the hospital."

"That's quite alright, Reid. Please, sit." Aaron answers calmly before turning to the screen.

"Will has been reported to be raping and stabbing women in Baltimore, Maryland. That's only one state over, so we'll drive there. However, I need one agent to stay here."

"Why?" I ask innocently.

"To keep an eye on JJ. In case Will crosses the border again. We need to be safe. She's gone through enough."

I nod and volunteer to stay. The rest of the team boards the jet and I drive to the hospital. I'm nervous about what JJ will say when I tell her. I don't know how I'm going to tell her. I can't even tell myself.

** Hotch's POV **

As we drive to Baltimore, I think of Emily. I think of JJ. I think of my team. I know how dangerous the job is. I know how much it changes people. Reid is barely in his thirties and he's seen more reality than most do in a lifetime. JJ's lost out on two years of her life, and I worry that she won't ever be able to forget. Emily hasn't had a night off in the past year, and it's starting to show. Morgan keeps smiling but inside he dreads each case as he sees a new victim on the board. Rossi's seen a lot in his youth, but nothing compares to what you see on the job. Garcia smiles through her voice whenever we ask her to delve into the online world, but she hurts whenever someone gets hurt. See feels whatever everyone else feels. And me? I don't know.

We arrive at Baltimore PD and we set up in their conference room.

"Sheriff, what can you tell us so far?"

"Five victims in the past three days. Almost two a day. The last victim was on a video call when she was attacked. The person on the other side saw the attacker. We asked for a sketch, and the man resembles Detective William LaMontagne Jr."

"Alright thanks."

"The ME is waiting for your call, and the victims' families are here."

"Thank you, Sheriff."

The team gathers round the board, with the pictures and the victims' names. Kimberly Shire, Mary Hanham, Diana Green, Libba Sutton and Ashley White. All blonde, skinny, good girls. Low risk victims. How did he do it?

"Hotch?" Morgan asks me. "Is something up?"

"You tell me. All five girls from good families. They didn't drink, smoke, do drugs, no records and were all graduating to good colleges. I don't understand how he did it undetected, or how he chose them."

"What courses were they going to study?"

"Kimberly and Diana were studying psychology. Ashley was studying dramatic arts. Mary and Libba were joining varsity girls soccer."

"If it is Will, then I think I know the connection. Their resemblance to JJ. Think about it, all good families. All blonde, thin, blue eyes. All were going to college. Two girls even playing soccer. That's how JJ got into college. And psychology? That can't be a coincidence."

"You might be on to something, Derek. Call Garcia. I have a hunch."

"About what?"

"You remember her sister? Rosaline? I think there's another connection between those five girls."