if you haven't watch past 6x17 i suggest you don't read this.

The next two chapters are going to be based on Valhalla and Lauren. Sorry.

It's been a couple of months since starting on the board. Paperwork has been piling up but you were on top of it for the most part. The only thing that sucked was all the work had been eating into your time with Aaron and Jack. At this point, they were the only things keeping you sane.

Things with the team have been strange. Derek was starting to catch on to Reid and having a girlfriend. Of course, you were the only one that knew because that was how things worked with you and Spencer.

Penelope had found herself another man that was more suitable than Kevin was. Some guy named Luke Alvez. All of the girls approved of him.

Speaking of girls, you hadn't gotten an update on what's going on with Emily and JJ. It was just that one frantic phone call.

JJ was off doing some liaison stuff for the Pentagon. That certainly did tip Emily off her axis for a while.

Emily had been acting strangely lately. Secret phone calls, always leaving early. She hasn't been coming out for girls nights either.

With your access to past cases and extensive knowledge on how to cross-reference, you googled her. Well in the database that is. She had been on multiple undercover cases that were mostly sealed. You were able to get the gist of her assignment. There was no anniversary of any kind or anything that could stress her out, so you left it.

Another day, another case.

"Two DC homes torched, two families, on the same night, last night." Penelope started. You pushed your glasses up as you look at the picture on the tv screen.

"I'm surprised it still hasn't hit the news. it's nearly mid-day." Derek said

"Yeah, all anyone is talking about is this storm that may or may not hit." Penelope waved the remote in the air. "But it gets weirder."

"Ron and Lauren Cosenza and their 10-year-old son were found in the master bedroom of the house," Aaron said.

Why does that name sound familiar.

"Looks like a murder-suicide." You said mostly to yourself.

"Looks like metro P.D's investigation is going that way, but it's still the first 48," Derek said.

Spencer goes on to talk about the other family. They were found in the same place in the home.

Their names seemed familiar too. Seeing their faces hadn't helped place the names.

"I'm just saying the facts and the facts happen to be-" Penelope was most likely making a sarcastic remark to Derek.

"Guys, I'm sorry I'm late." Emily rushed in and threw herself in the seat next to you.

"You ok?" Aaron asked from across the table.

"Yeah, it's just one of those weeks, I guess. I'm sorry. What did I miss? Arsonist?"

Derek explains the theories to her. You watch as she shifts uncomfortably in her chair. Her jaw is clenched which means she's annoyed for some reason.

Before you could come up with a plan of action everyone was leaving the room. You scramble together all the files and move to the door.

"I will make it my life mission to figure out who these guys are-" Penelope was prying into Emily.

"Stop, Just stop. We have enough to worry about already." Emily snapped.

This isn't Emily, she never snapped let alone at Penelope. No one ever snaps at Penelope.

"Why is she being like this all of the sudden?" Penelope asked and watched Emily walk to her desk.

"I don't know sweets." You walk up to her and rub her back.

"She's been at everyone's throats since JJ left." She said.

"Yeah, I know. But I think it may be something more than that."

"Like what?" She asked.

"I'm not sure." You shrugged. You both link arms and start to walk out of the briefing room.

"Aren't you supposed to know everything?" Penelope joked.

"Yeah, but I got a lot of information up here already." You hit the corner of the case file to your head.

Penelope walks back to her office. You turned to see Emily staring at her phone.

"So who pissed in your cereal this morning?" You asked, trying to joke around. Deep down you just want to know what was going on.

"What?" Her tone was still mildly annoyed.

"Why have you been being such a bitch lately?" There wasn't time to beat around the bush. Your facial expression was straight no emotion.

"You know you look like Hotch when you do that." She scoffed avoiding the question.

"Answer me." Your voice stern.

"I haven't been a bitch."

"Really? I have a few people that would disagree with that statement." You were annoyed.

"Just because I've had an off day doesn't make me a bitch."

"Emily you've had an off month, you've been snapping at everyone for no reason."

"Right, and your Ms. Perfect all the time."

"What?" She was starting to pick a fight over nothing. It's what she's been doing all month.

"Just because you above us doesn't give you the right to tell us what to do." This wasn't the Emily you knew and loved.

"Ok first off, yes I have the authority to tell you what to do but I never do. Second, stop acting like a child."

"I'm acting like a child... you are a child. A kid with too much power. Wouldn't we all like to know how you got there so quickly?"

"I don't know what you're trying to insinuate but-"

"I'm insinuating that you slept your way to the top." You felt your face get hot from anger.

"You know what Emily, out of all the people I thought you'd get it."

"Get what?" She rolled her eyes.

"Loving someone you're not supposed to."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying you slept with J-"

"Y/L." Aaron's voice came from behind you. "Emily my office." She rolled her eyes and walked up to Aaron's office.

"I'll talk to you later." He said to you.

When you look back to where Emily was standing Derek was looking at you.

"You gonna tell me about that when we get in the car?" Derek asked.

"I'd rather not."

"We'll you gotta come with me anyway cause you kinda got my partner in trouble."

She got herself there but yeah let's make it my fault. You thought as you walk with Derek to the elevator.

~~~~~

"So what's your take on these guys?" He asked.

"They're contracting themselves, exposing bodies but then going through all of this to hide it." You shrugged.

"Do you think they wanted us on the case?"

"Us, the BAU? Why would they?" You asked back.

"Ego, Control. Some kind of agenda." Derek said.

"I don't even think we're on their radar."

Derek didn't say a word for the rest of the drive. You still had no idea where you were going. He told you to get in the car so you did it.

When you guys pull up to a house all the light were off. You look at Derek and raise an eyebrow.

"You sure this is it?" You asked and looked back at the house.

"Maybe nobody's home, Garica never got an answer."

"Then why did we- never mind." You stopped yourself knowing it was a dumb question. You step out of the car and start to walk over to Derek.

"L/N, get down!" Derek yelled. The sound of guns firing filled the air. You heard the bullets hit the car that you were hiding behind.

You reach for your gun when Derek yells something about going to the back of the car.

A bullet goes through the car window and causes glass to shatter over your head.

The sound of guns going off stopped. You slowly raise to your feet and see the group of people walking to the corner.

There stood a single file, they were wearing some kind of mask on. You lean over the car to see if you had a shot. Once you saw the white of the mask you pull the trigger. Hearing a faint groan you knew you fit him.

Your plan didn't work out so well because your one shot causes hundreds more to come your way.

Being barely covered by the trunk of the car you crouch down as far as you can go.

You and Derek jump from car to car. Firing whenever you can.

Apparently they hadn't run out of rounds yet, cause when they saw your and Derek they let it all rain down on you guys. Ducking down you saw one from the group that had fallen behind.

After having a countdown to yourself you stand up from behind the car and shot. He went down. It looked like you shot him in the leg.

There were two more shots that were fired but they weren't aimed at you. It sounded like a door closed followed by screeching of tires.

You turn the corner guns still raised. The car was too far away so you couldn't see the license plate.

Looking down you saw the man you had shot- dead- on the ground.

"I'll call Hotch." Derek said, holstering his gun. You followed his lead and put your gun away.

Someone must've called in the gun shots because cop cars were pulling up on the street.

"They got the call about the gunshots they'll be here in like two minutes." Derek said when he came back.

You nodded along not being able to find the right words.

"It's not your fault, he was shooting at us." Derek said to you.

"I know, he just can't be more than 25." You said once you removed the mask from his face. "He's just a kid."

"A kid with an assault weapon isn't just a kid anymore." He handed you a pair of gloves.

Derek examined the body and found traces of a tattoo. There was nothing really felt.

"Let's get some pictures to Reid, he's better at putting that kinda stuff together." You said.

"Did you just say Reid is better than you?" Derek smiled.

"No it's just my focus is linguistics." You paused. "It's what got me and Emily so close."

"What's been going on with you two anyway?" He asked and stood back up.

"I don't know, she just hasn't been Emily."

"Yeah, I've seen that too."

The conversation fell short. It wasn't awkward silence, it was more of you two trying to read each other's minds.

"Ok so 3 of the 6 victims are from europe." You started to get the ball rolling for ideas.

"And then mini beryl says they're serious." Derek gestured to the gun that was still strapped to the man you had shot.

"We saw how they move. They've gotta be ex-military." You crossed your arms.

"European hit squad cleaning mouse? It's happened before." Derek said.

"They could've taken us out- easily, why didn't they?" You said.

"What!?" You heard Aaron's voice come up from behind you.

"Shit." You whispered to yourself as Derek laughed.

"We're ok." You turned your attention to your worried boyfriend. "Getting shot at is my best quality."

"Not funny." He was right, no one looked amused. You watched as he scanned your body for any injuries.

"FBI agents gunned down in D.C would have definitely started a war." Derek finished his thought.

"A war this kid wasn't prepared for." Emily came around from your other side.

"He's just a foot soldier, whoever shot him is the leader." Derek looked at everyone.

"Someone must've warned Byron Delaney to get out." Rossi said.

"And whoever it is, is next on the list." Aaron said. You glance up to Emily who was standing next to you. She walks away from the body and you follow.

"Emily." You reached out and grabbed her arm.

"What?" There was still a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Do you know something about this case?" You asked gently.

"If I did don't you think I would've said it by now?" She rolled her eyes.

"Well anything possible."

You let go over her arm and watched as she walked into the house.

Her reaction to new information has been tense. Her body would tighten and she would hold her breath. Like we were getting close to something she didn't want us finding.

"Do you want to tell me what's been going on with you two?" Aaron asked.

"There's nothing to say." You hated lying to him.

"You two were yelling in the middle of the bullpen, you and Emily don't fight."

He was right, for the almost 2 years you've been on the team you and Emily never yelled at each other. Yes there would be time you would argue about something but that would blow over in minutes.

"She just hasn't been...Emily." You couldn't think of another way to put it.

"Do you think it has to do with what's been going on with JJ?" He asked. You completely forgot you had told him about that.

"No, she wouldn't let that affect her work, you know that." Emily's had a lot of stuff go down in her life but you couldn't tell.

He mumbled something about stayed as focused as possible. You weren't really paying attention. You watched as Emily's face twitched when she was outside the house.

You kept your distance from her as much as you could. But since the car your and Derek drove in got shot up you had to ride back with Rossi, Hotch and Emily.

The car ride was extremely silent. Derek forced you to sit in the middle of him and Emily. She pushed herself as close to the door as possible.

When walking into the bullpen you saw Spencer focused on a paper.

"Reid, you got anything?" Derek walked up to him and you sat at your desk that was next to Spencers.

"The damage is pretty extensive, but luckily some of the tatto remains." He continued shading in the picture.

You rubbed your eyes waiting for Spencer to be finished.

"I think I know who dug the hole." Penelope walked into the circle you all had formed. "The journal told me to follow the money, like straight up, that's what he told me, so I did." She keeps tak as she walks over the the bulletin board.

"It turns out "The Gazette" is owned by a multinational global conglomerate- oil, new technology shipping, air and ground transportation, all of which employ the services of one company- CWS."

The sound of the name made your head perk up.

"Clear Water Securities?" You asked looking at Penelope. She nodded along.

"You know them?" Rossi looked at you.

"I've come across them. They're a private counterintelligence group out of Geneva. They're assholes." You added the last part unnecessarily.

"All of our victims worked for them." Penelope added.

"How long ago?" Emily asked.

"7 years." Penelope said.

You thought about all the sketchy things they've done. Most happened before you were on the team. You only heard about it once you joined the board.

"Got it."

Spencer leans back in his chair showing off the finished tattoo. You slightly lift from your chair to look over, it looked like a four leaf clover. But there was something off about it. You sit back down already having the image commuted to memory.

Emily turns around with a scared look spread across her face. She makes eye contact with you

before walking away. Penelope had noticed the same look.

Penelope's eyes drifted to you neither one of you wanting to follow her, because there was a good chance you would get yelled at.

Soon enough Penelope followed Emily to the bathroom.

"We need to talk to the head of CWS." Aaron looked at you.

"I'll call him." You walked away phone in hand. You passed the bathroom and heard Emily's voice. She didn't sound mad, it was something.

You made a quick phone call to the department head. After some arm twisting you got them to come in.

Walking back into the bullpen it was silent. You informed everyone that there will be a meeting in 15 minutes. Hotch instructed Derek and Rossi to meet them.

Hesitantly you walk over to the bathroom to get Emily. The conversation they were having had stopped when you walked in.

"Hotch needs us in the scif." You said. Emily gave Penelope a pat on the shoulder and walked with you.

The scif was one of the meeting rooms that was used for sensitive information. Walls were thick so no one outside could hear. Thick enough so there was no cell service, not like they would let you bring one in anyway.

When you both walked into the room all echoed sounds had been drawn out. You were the first two there. It was pure silence between the two of you. Even her breathing was quiet.

10 minutes and not a word. Yes you had counted the amount of minutes from when you sat down. You thought of apologizing but decided against it.

The door opened behind you. Aaron walked in and took the seat next to you.

You silently prayed that they would be early even though it would only be by 3 minutes. Your prayers are answered when Derek and Rossi walk in with a group of men behind them.

"Exactly why did you bring us here? and why is a BAU interested in CWS?" Stan the department head said.

"Why did you pull that story?" Derek said and he and Rossi took seats that were next to Emily.

You passed him the file with pictures of the victims and how they were found.

"That's how you remember them. And how they are now." Hotch said as they all filled through the pictures.

"You warned your friend Byron Delaney. You knew him the longest. It's too bad you were too late." Derek said.

"I'd you're looking for reactions, this is our business." Stan said. That got a few tilted heads from everyone.

"Business?" Rossi asked. Nothing was said. They all just hung their heads.

"Kerry Fagan, Ron Consenza and Byron Delaney, all worked for CWS." Derek said.

"As do 40,000 other subcontractors all over the world." Stan said.

"So they were subcontracted to you." Dere said.

"If you're looking for answers, Take it up with the main contractor."

He was getting mad and you could hear it in his voice. It didn't take much to get Stan riled up.

"And that would be?" Rossi asked.

"Your government."

"Alright Stan let's cut the bullshit here." You started. "We both know you run operations everywhere and it's gonna take months for you to get that information. But we both also know you already started that search, and that's why you pulled the story."