A/N: Sorry this has been so long coming. I'll try to have another chapter up sooner, but with everything going on right now I make no promises.

Spencer walked into the conference room to see JJ talking with Detective McGee.

"Who's that," Derek asked, coming up behind him.

"Detective Cal McGee," he answered. "He showed up last night just after you left and pleaded his case to JJ."

"Clearly he won," Derek replied. "So did she tell you anything about the case last night?"

"I barely saw her," Spencer said, frustration barely seeping into his voice. "I went to an NA meeting and by the time I got home she was already in bed. I tried asking what went on in her office, but all she told me was the detective's name and that I'd find out today what the case was before she went back pretending she was asleep."

"You're not jealous are you," Derek asked, looking the younger man over.

"No," Reid answered.

"But of something is bugging you," Derek prodded.

"She just seems really invested in this, that's all," Reid sighed. "And the fact that she doesn't want to talk to me about it does seem a little suspicious."

"Let's just hear the detective out. It'll probably explain a few things."

"You're right," he said as everyone else started filing in and taking their places.

After the briefing he was waiting for JJ in her office. He overheard her telling Hotch she'd meet him at the elevators. She didn't seem surprised to see Spencer sitting in her office when she walked in.

"I've got to meet Hotch so we can get going," she said quickly moving behind her desk. "So I don't have time to talk Spence."

"Look, JJ," he tried.

"No, Spence I really don't want to hear it," JJ interrupted as she rushed behind her desk and started stuffing things into her briefcase. "I know what you're going to say, and I'm sorry if you think I'm too invested in this case and this might be nothing, but with 63 potential victims we can't take that chance."

"You're right," Spencer said, trying not to look hurt. "I just wanted to tell you to be careful. If this guy is a house cleaner, who knows who his next victim could be, or what condition the bodies are in, if we ever find them."

"Look, Spence, I'm sorry I snapped at you," JJ said with a sigh. "I just think that there's really something to this and I hate feeling like I have to justify myself to everyone."

"You never have to justify yourself to me."

"I know. My gut's telling me there's something to this, I'm just scared I might be wrong…"

"I don't think you're wrong," he interrupted, standing. Spencer placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and said, "And even if we are, there are 63 potential victims on the line. How can we ignore that?"

"I really needed to hear that," JJ sighed as she slipped into his arms for a quick hug. "I gotta go, but I'll call as soon as I have any news."

"We'll get started on the profile while you're gone."

"Thank you," was all she said before smiling and slipping out to meet Hotch.

She hadn't explored the entire slaughterhouse, her stomach hadn't let her. She'd seen the furnace and the room where the victims were killed, and then had to quickly run out so the others wouldn't see her throw up. To their credit, they didn't question her when she started to quickly leave the room. Spence was the only one who watched her go before turning his attention back to victim they almost weren't able to save. She was sitting outside letting the cold air help calm her stomach when Spencer came and sat next to her. He didn't say a word, giving her time to compose herself.

"Why did I have to be right," she finally said, still gasping to regain composure.

"We were able to stop him..."

"Not before he killed 63 people, that we know of."

"And because of you, a little girl will be able to see her mother again. If you hadn't pushed, we wouldn't have been able to save that woman."

"How do you handle all this? I always stay as removed as I can, doing whatever I can to avoid most of the details. Then there was Tobias..."

"Don't go there," Spencer pleaded. "That wasn't your fault."

"There are times I can barely keep it together and I'm at arm's length. How do you deal with all this?"

"I have you," he stated simply.

"You say that like it's the most obvious answer in the world."

"Isn't it?"

"Have I told you recently how much I love you," JJ asked, throwing her arms around him.

Emily watched Reid quietly hold JJ while she cried. She could blame her for crying, although it did shame her to admit she did feel a bit of jealousy that the blond had found a shoulder to cry on. Emily sighed at the depressing thought that she'd have to hold her tears in until she returned to the silence of her apartment. She was granted a reprieve from her depressing thoughts when she heard Hotch walk up.

"What's going on with those two?"

"JJ had a hard time dealing with the crime scene. She's not alone in that," Emily quickly added. "She knows enough to make sure she's out of view of the cameras and Reid was making sure she was alright."

"I needed her to make a statement to the press, but since she's in no condition, would you mind? I'll walk you through what you need to say."

"Sure, just give me a minute."

As soon as Hotchner walked away, Derek walked up and said, "Thanks for that."

"For what? Agreeing to deal with the reporters or helping those two keep a secret I'm not supposed to know?"

"Emily..."

"Look, I'm a profiler too, it's pretty easy to tell, and Hotch is just playing dumb for their sakes."

"Thanks all the same," Derek said with a sigh.

Emily started to walk away before turning around. "Despite what you all seem to think of me, I'm not a spy sent by the Director, you can trust me."

Derek watched her walk to their boss and talk to him for a minute before addressing the multitude of press that had appeared. He heaved a final sigh before heading back into the slaughterhouse.