Chapter 10

We wrapped up a few things at the police department and called Hotch on speaker. “Hey Hotch, JJ and I are finished here.”

“That was rather quick. I’m glad you were able to assist them. Listen, we may have a case in Alaska. As soon as you guys land, head towards headquaters and we’ll brief everyone. I’ll ask Garcia to book you guys your tickets.”

“Understood,” JJ replied. “We’ll head straight there once we land.”

Hotch hung up, and JJ glanced at me. “From New York to Virginia, and the to Alaska. This is going to be a long one.”

“Tell me about it,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Garcia sent our tickets. Looks like we won’t leave here until 12:30. We have about 1 hour until we have to get to the airport.”

JJ nodded. “Good idea. Let’s go get something to eat and rest. We’ve earned at least one decent meal before this whirlwind continues.”

We packed up our things, thanked Olivia and her team, and headed out of the precinct. A small diner caught our eye on the way to the airport, and we decided to stop there. The place was cozy, with the smell of coffee and fresh-baked pie lingering in the air.

As we sat down and looked over the menu, JJ sighed, “You think this Alaska case will be as difficult as this one?”

“Could be,” I replied. “Something about the timing makes me think it’s serious.”

We ate, sharing stories and laughing about the craziness of the past few days. By the time we finished, it was time to head to the airport.

As soon as we landed we made our way to my car. While we were waiting for my car to warm up, I kissed the back of her hand while looking at my phone.

JJ smiled at the gesture, her cheeks flushing slightly. “You keep doing that, and I might start thinking you’re trying to charm me.”

“Maybe I am. Is it working?” I said smirking.

She chuckled softly, leaning to kiss me on the cheek. “Maybe.”

The engine purred as the car warmed up, and I shifted gears, steering us out of the airport parking lot. The drive to Quantico was quiet but comfortable, the occasional exchange of smiles and lingering touches keeping the atmosphere warm. JJ rested her hand on mine as I navigated through the familiar roads.

As we approached the headquarters, she let out a soft sigh. “Back to the grind.”

“Yep,” I said, parking the car.

JJ’s eyes softened, and she gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “We’ve got this.”

We walked into the building, and I went to my office while JJ went to the bullpen. As soon as I got to my office, I laid down on my couch and had the lights dimmed. I dozed off, suddenly feeling the couch dip and soft lips on mine. I opened my eyes and saw it was JJ.

A sleepy smile spread across my face as I blinked up at her. “Well, this is a nice way to wake up,” I murmured, my voice still heavy with sleep.

JJ grinned, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “You looked too peaceful to wake with words, so I figured this might do the trick.”

I chuckled, sitting up slightly to meet her halfway. “Mission accomplished.” I reached out to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “What’s up? Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” she assured me, her eyes sparkling. “I just wanted to check on you before the briefing. And maybe steal a moment.”

“Steal away,” I whispered, leaning in to capture her lips again. This kiss was slow and sweet, a quiet moment in the chaos of the past couple of days.

As we pulled back, she rested her forehead against mine. “I needed that,” she admitted softly.

“Anytime,” I said, my hand gently squeezing hers. “Now, we better get back out there before Hotch starts wondering where we are.”

JJ laughed lightly, standing up and straightening her blouse. “See you in the conference room?”

“Mhm.” I stole one more kiss before she opened the door.

I made my way to the conference room, sliding in just as the door closed behind me. Penelope was the first to greet me, pulling me into a quick hug. I returned the gesture with a smile before heading to my seat next to Spencer, who greeted me with a fist bump.

“Welcome back, JJ and Y/N,” Hotch said, a faint smile on his face as he glanced at us. “Let’s get started.”

Garcia took her cue, stepping forward with her signature energy, holding a remote in her hand. “All right, team, we’ve got a tough one. Anchorage PD has reached out about a series of murders in Franklin, Alaska. There’s three people dead in less than a week.”

“Given the population of the town, that’s fairly significant.” Spencer chimed in.

Garcia clicked through her slides, giving us the details of the victims. We went over the possibilities of what was happening, each team member throwing out theories and asking questions.

Hotch leaned forward, his expression serious. “The local sheriff is out of his depth. They’re not equipped to handle a serial investigation, especially in a remote area like this. We’re flying out tonight. Everyone can sleep on the plane.”

Garcia’s hand shot up, waving slightly. “And guess what? I’m coming with you! The satellite connection’s going to be our only lifeline for tech support, so you’re stuck with me.”

Morgan grinned. “Lucky us.”

“Don’t worry, my chocolate thunder,” Garcia shot back with a wink. “I’ll keep you all connected to the magical world of data.”

Hotch continued, his tone commanding. “This case requires all hands on deck. Be prepared for harsh conditions and limited resources. Dress for the cold, and make sure your gear is ready..”

We filed out to gather our things, the weight of the case settling over us. JJ nudged me as we walked to the lockers. “Looks like we’re in for an adventure.”

We boarded the jet and everyone settled into their seats. The flight was about 7 hours, so we spent some time discussing the case further, trying to piece together the inconsistencies in the killer’s behavior.

“This guy is all over the place. Crosses sex and race, changed the way he killed the victims. Very disorganized.” Prentiss said while looking at her tablet in her hands.

“No prints at any of the crime scenes, and he isolated his victims,” Rossi added, his tone thoughtful as he looked over his notes.

I furrowed my brow, thinking about the details. “He shoots the victims that are less agile, but Brenda is young and fit. She was able to put up a fight, why stab her with an arrow and shoot the others?”

“When we land in Anchorage, Morgan and L/N work the crime scene. Reid and Prentiss, the bodies. The rest of us will work up victimology and the town records.” Hotch said while scanning over us.

“I’m giving everyone satellite phones for communication since there is no cell service. I’ve already got everyone’s digits into the speed dial.” Garcia added.

We landed and then switched over to a seaplane. We landed in the small town where the deputy greeted Morgan and I. Since Brenda Bright was killed on the docks we immediately got to work while the others drove into town.

We canvassed the area, asking people about Brenda. Seems like everyone knows everyone, routines and all. The night that she was murdered, she walked to town by herself, and the next morning, a fisherman found her.

We headed back with the deputy to the tavern, where we would be based for the duration of the investigation. The moment I stepped inside, the warmth of the fire hit me, a welcome contrast to the cold Alaskan air. The team was gathered around the lounge area, sitting in comfortable chairs, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the flames.

“So what did we find at the M.E’s?” I ask looking at Reid.

“Pretty much everything we already know or assumed.” Reid sighed and looked up from his coffee. He looked tired.

“I should have all background checks done by the morning. Everyone that I ran through CODIS came up clean.” Garcia added.

“Perfect,” Hotch said, standing up from his chair. “The rest of us should get some sleep and start fresh in the morning.”

“I’ve got four available rooms upstairs.” a lady called out, holding a coffee pot. She must be the owner, Carol.

“It looks like we’ll have to double up,” Hotch continued, glancing around at everyone. “Prentiss, Garcia together, Reid, Morgan, together and JJ and L/n together.

As we walked up the stairs, JJ was a few steps ahead, her pace quickening as we reached the door to our room. There was a brief pause when she turned the key in the lock, and as the door swung open, she stepped inside.

I followed her in, the room small but cozy. The soft lighting from the bedside lamps gave the room a warm, intimate feel, and I noticed JJ’s eyes flit around, taking in the space.

She dropped her bag by the bed and let out a soft laugh, breaking the silence. “Well, this is… cozy.”

I smiled, my eyes meeting hers as I closed the door behind me. “Yeah, it’s not much, but it’ll do.”

I started changing into my pajamas while JJ brushed her teeth in the bathroom. When she came out, her hair was slightly damp from splashing water on her face, and she was wearing an oversized shirt paired with flannel shorts. She looked comfortable and effortlessly beautiful.

As she walked past me, she paused, a playful glint in her eyes. Without a word, she leaned in and quickly kissed my lips. It was soft and unexpected, but enough to make my heart skip a beat.

I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at her. “You’ve been waiting all day to do that haven’t you?”

She sat on the bed, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Mhm, maybe,” she teased, tilting her head slightly. “And I’m not even sorry about it.”

I went into the bathroom, brushing my teeth and washing my face. When I back out, she was sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling movies that I had downloaded on my laptop.

“What’d you pick?” I asked, drying my hands on a towel.

She glanced up, “I’m deciding between Madagascar or like a romcom.”

I started to laugh, taking my seat on the bed. “Those are two very different vibes.”

“I know,” she admitted, shrugging playfully. “but I’m not really tired yet because I slept on the plane,so I could get a full movie in.”

I couldn’t help but lean over and kiss her, then pulled away. “I have three romcoms; Imagine Me and You, Maid in Manhattan, and Mamma Mia. These are the options.”

“I haven’t seen the first movie you said. Is it good?” Her expression flickered with curiosity.

I nodded enthusiastically. “It’s one of my favorites.”

We both got comfortable, the warm glow of the laptop screen casting a soft light around the room. It was quiet, peaceful moment, on that felt perfect in its simplicity.

Twenty minutes into the movie, she looked up at me and teasingly brought her lips close to mine. I could feel her breath against my lips, a teasing, electric warmth that sent a shiver down my spine. She held her gaze on mine, her lips just a fraction of an inch away, making it impossible for me to concentrate on anything other than her.

“Do you actually like this movie, or are you just pretending to be interested?” she whispered, her voice soft and playful.

I couldn’t help but smile, my heart racing a little. “I’m enjoying it… but I’d be lying if I said you weren’t distracting me.”

Her smile widened, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Good,” she murmured before closing the gap between us, capturing my lips in a slow, soft kiss.

The kiss gradually became more heated when we both sat up from our positions on the bed. I placed my hand on her waist and moving it down her thigh.

The moment was interrupted by the loud knock at the door, both of us froze for a moment. My heart raced, a mix of surprise and frustration flooded me, but that last thing I wanted was an unexpected visitor right now.

I quickly got up, running a hand through my hair. “Fuck. Who could that be?” I muttered.

JJ sighed, clearly as frustrated as I was, “I don’t know but they have a very terrible sense of timing.”

I walked to the door and opened it, it was Emily.

“Is everything ok, Em?” I noticed a troubled look on her face.

“Not really, we have another victim and Garcia witnessed the murder, he was right outside of the motel.” Her voice was steady , but I could see the concern in her eyes.