"Okay, wheels up," Hotch said, "JJ, Prentiss. You're both staying in Quantico."
JJ nodded, Emily and I both looked up, then looked at each other and back at Aaron.
"Sorry. Maya, you're staying. Emily's coming with us," he clarified.
Emily is my older sister. We were really close, practically attached at the hip since the moment I was born. I mean we are close, there was some ups and downs between us along the way but we're doing good now.
"Why do I have to stay?" I asked.
JJ shot me a quick look but looked away once I noticed.
"Chicago P.D. asked for a profile on a killer they have. You're gonna do it and you'll be consulting on the case over the phone with JJ. Everyone else, you have half an hour," he said.
I sighed and left the room. I went to the kitchen to get my coffee first, no way I'd start working without it. I felt someone standing behind me so I turned around.
"Need something?" I asked.
"Maybe for you to not be such a grump," Emily said.
"Sorry, I haven't had coffee yet. And you know how much I love New York," I whined.
"I do. But you sure this has nothing to do with you having to stay behind with JJ?" She asked with a frown.
"Seriously? Emily, I'm not five," I said.
She had a point though. Jennifer is not my favorite person. Though it wasn't always like that. There was a time when we were friends.
Jennifer and I met in the academy. I was climbing my way up the ladder and was soon to be unit chief of the BAU. I needed her to back me up with the director, a letter of recommendation at least.
Unfortunately all of this was taking place while Emily was "dead". I can't say I was in the best place, thinking my sister was dead but I was handling it. Which JJ didn't seem to agree with me on, so she told the director I wasn't in the right mind for the job.
She was my teammate so they took her word and I didn't get the job. We were never close after that and if it wasn't enough, Emily came back and I found out JJ knew she was alive the whole time.
I get why I wasn't allowed to know, but I don't get why she went and said I wasn't fit for the job if she knew Em would come back. The only reason I can think of is she didn't want me to get chief because she was aiming for the job herself. We can't exactly avoid each other given we're on the same team, but are conversations are strictly work related.
"No, but you can be unforgiving," she said.
"I don't have to like the girl to work with her. Besides it's been a long time, I don't care anymore," I told her.
"Then why aren't you talking to her?" She wanted to know.
"So your nosy ass can have something to obsess and make theories about," I said.
She chuckled, "I am quite nosy, aren't I?"
"Yes you are. Now go, you'll be late," I pushed her out of the kitchen.
"Okay, I'm going, I'm going," she said walking out, "I love you."
"I love you too. Don't die," I said waving.
"Wouldn't be the first time," Garcia said, walking in with JJ.
I chuckled, "Yeah, it'd be nice if we kept the count at one though," I said, going back to making my coffee. Or three of them.
"Woah, little Prentiss. Save some for the rest of us," Penelope said.
"Sorry. It's just gonna be a long day," I said, looking at JJ.
She scoffed and looked away. I took one of my coffees and started sipping on it.
"And why didn't you go?" I asked JJ.
"I asked Hotch to let me sit this one out," she said.
"Why?" I asked, squinting my eyes.
I was profiling her. We agreed not to profile each other on the team but it's bullshit. It's human nature to figure one another out, especially in this line of work.
She scratched her nose and looked up. She was going to lie. And if that wasn't clear enough she fidgeted with her necklace, which was her tell.
"I have a thing tomorrow morning, I need to be in town," she said.
I just nodded and looked to Garcia, "I need to get to work. Don't miss me too much mamas."
"Oh, I miss you already, hot stuff. Come and save me from my misery later?"
"You bet I will," I winked.
I took my three mugs of coffee and went to my desk. I called the P.D. to get the files on their UnSub. When I got them I started to build the profile.
I couldn't help but wonder why JJ would lie. And what the actual reason for her staying back was. I don't really care though. I'm just nosy, like my sister.
By the time the team got to New York it was already late. It wasn't a long flight but looking at the crime scenes, talking with the ME and getting settled at the P.D. takes time.
I was almost done with my profile and my coffee was gone so I packed the file in my bag and locked my desk. I went to Penelope's cave and knocked three times.
"It's your knight in shining armor, open the gates princess," I said.
She opened the door with a smile, "You're supposed to break through them," she whined, "You're leaving?"
"Yeah, don't stay here too late. I'll see you tomorrow," I said.
"See ya," she said and closed the door.
I went to my apartment. I took a shower and splashed myself on the bed. I took my phone and texted Emily.
Maya
Everything okay?
Emily
Weird, cause you're not here. But yeah everything's cool
Maya
Dude, you're like, obsessed with me
Emily
And you're way too cocky
Maya
No man, that's just my trauma talking. How's the case going?
Emily
Hopefully it'll go better tomorrow. Why aren't you sleeping?
Maya
I had three coffees in a short amount of time. No sleep for me tonight
Emily
I on the other hand am looking forward to my eight hours. Talk to you tomorrow, I love you
Maya
I love you too, goodnight Em <3
I put my headphones in and listen to some true crime stories the whole night. I didn't realize it was morning until Charlotte started stirring. She's my friend, I let her crash in my apartment when I go on cases sometimes.
"Hey," I smiled.
"Mm, when did you get back?"
"Late. Hotch benched me so I didn't go on the case," I said.
"Benched? What did you do now?" She asked.
"Oh no, it's not like that. I just got a different assignment, so now I'm with Penelope and Jennifer, we're consulting over the phone," I said.
"So you're back tonight too?" She asked.
"Indeed I am. Now, I gotta get to the bau before I get demoted now or whatever," I said.
She chuckled and I gave her my keys before getting up and getting dressed. I drove to the bau and walked up to my desk pulling the file out from my bag. I planned to finish it at home last night but I didn't feel like it so I was doing it right now.
When I was done I sent it over and went to get my coffee. I saw JJ sitting on the counter. I walked up to the coffee machine and put my mug in, waiting for it to be done.
I looked at JJ and watched for a solid thirty seconds before she noticed.
"What?" She asked.
I shrugged, "Nothing," I turned back to the coffee machine.
"No, what? Why were you looking at me like that?" She wanted to know.
"I wasn't looking any certain way, I was just looking," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Okay. Why?"
"Just wondering why you stayed here the whole night. Which also means you didn't go to that thing you had in the morning," I said.
"I- How did you know I was here the whole night?" She asked.
"You're wearing the black fbi jacket. We don't take these home, only the navy ones. You had fresh clothes in your go bag but today is colder than it was yesterday so you didn't have a hoodie or whatever with you. So you're wearing the black fbi jacket," I said.
"Why are you paying attention to that?" She asked.
"I'm a profiler, Jennifer. Or maybe I'm just waiting for my chance to rob you of a job so I'm watching you," I shrugged, "Take your pick," I said taking my coffee and went to my desk.
It's not the job I was mad about. It was the betrayal of trust, she could've told me she didn't think I was okay enough to do it instead of going behind my back.
I sat there for a while texting Charlotte before going to Penelope's cave. We were on the phone with the team consulting. They were solving what they initially thought were hate crimes.
"The victims were all gay men. They were all spotted in the same bar the night before they were murdered. Reid's built a geographical profile, but for now we're stuck," Hotch said.
"Are we sure these are hate crimes?" I asked.
"What are you thinking, Maya?" Emily asked.
"They look different but they can still be surrogates for someone, they fit a certain description," Rossi said.
"No, it's not that. Do they have someone in common in their friends circle? I bet you all my year's supply of coffee they do," I said.
"I'm gonna ignore your addiction for a moment, because I'm not following. What's your theory, little Prentiss?" Hotch said.
"You find the guy they have in common, then you find his boyfriend and you have your UnSub," JJ said.
I looked at her for a second and back at the phone, "Yeah, what she said."
"How do you figure?" Reid asked.
"See how the bodies were positioned? It's like he's sending a message. Cross me and see what happens but at the same time they're faced down. Like he can't look them in the eyes. He's not targeting these men because they're gay, he's targeting them because he's threatened by them and wants to establish dominance," I said.
"Dominance?" Derek asked.
"Threatened?" Emily asked.
"Oh god, you guys are slow. He's jealous, the victims are his boyfriend's friends, or guys he knows. He's threatened by them so he wants everyone to fear him even though he's lacking self-confidence. He's toxic, controlling and probably abusive, if not physically then verbally. You find his boyfriend, you find him," I said.
"His boyfriend probably won't realize that our UnSub is toxic or abusive, he'll say they have some issues but are working through them. They'll be on again off again. One day everything is perfect and the UnSub is the best boyfriend ever and the next they fight because he can't keep his act up. Hot and cold, making it hard for his partner to leave him because once it's good it's so amazing," JJ said.
"That's right," I said nodding.
"We need to talk to some of the guys from that bar. They'll know who we're looking for," Emily said.
"Good luck, crime fighters," Garcia said before ending the call.
"Okay what was that?" She asked.
"What was what?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"The mutual breakthrough, the finishing each other's sentences. You guys were basically one brain in two bodies," Garcia said with a smile.
"We're just good at our job," I shrugged.
JJ nodded, "Excuse me," she said and got up before leaving the cave.
Garcia looked at me, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Never. You can do no wrong, pretty girl," I said and she smiled, "I need coffee, I'll be right back."
"What you need is help. One of these days you're gonna have a heart attack," she said.
"Ignorance is the key, Penelope Garcia," I said and left.
I lied though, I wasn't going to get coffee. I went to look for JJ. She wasn't in the bullpen so I figured bathroom would be a good start.
I walked in and closed the door behind me. She was standing in front of a mirror, leaning on the sink, head down.
"What's this about?" I asked.
She jumped a little, "Jesus," she said turning away from me for a second before bringing her hands to her face. Wiping tears maybe? I wasn't sure though. She turned back to face me.
"I didn't mean to scare you," I said.
"You didn't. I'm fine," she said.
"Don't look fine," I replied bluntly.
"Okay, then it's none of your business," she said.
"Alright, sorry for checking on you then. Won't make the same mistake again," I said.
"So suddenly you care now?" She scoffed, "Or are you gonna take your chance and report that to Hotch now?"
"I didn't mean what I said. I just don't think before I speak, but okay," I put my hands up in defense, "Not my business."
She looked at me. I saw the wheels turning in her head. She was confused. Probably didn't expect me to come here. I didn't expect it either so it's fine.
"Can you go, please?" She asked.
I nodded and left. I don't know why I went to check on her, something told me that I needed to do that but well, I was wrong. Either way, no one can tell me I didn't try anymore.
I went back to my desk to check emails, see if they got my profile over at the P.D. in Chicago. After that I gathered my things and locked my desk. I debated staying and waiting for the team but I was too tired for that. I texted Emily first.
Maya
Going home now, when are you getting back?
Emily
Should be home sometime tomorrow morning. How did you figure that out?
Maya
The case? Like I said, the crime scene photos. Then the victimology and I had what I needed
Emily
And JJ? Sounded like she knew what she was talking about
Maya
She did. She's a profiler
Emily
So are you, but I swear you can be so blind sometimes
Maya
Not blind, just oblivious. There's a difference. I'm waiting, love you
Emily
Love you :)
I locked my phone and went to the parking lot. I drove home and spent the evening with Charlotte. I tried to be with her with my mind too not only my body but I couldn't help but think of what Emily said.
Jennifer did sound like she knew what she was talking about. Then all these feelings in the bathroom. There's something going on there. But like she said, it's none of my business and I shouldn't care. Not that I do.