Disclaimer: Not Mine

A/N – This is something new for me. I'm actually trying to write someone other than Hotch and JJ (GASP). I try to do different things but it never quite works out the way I think it's going to. (Warning - Don't be surprised when my main ship shows up.) This is for my Beta who wanted me to write a Demily pairing. Happy Belated Birthday.

Emily Prentiss sat for a minute in stunned silence at the request being made of her before looking up, convinced that this somehow had to be a joke. The rest of her team sat looking back at her. She scanned their faces. Alex looked sympathetic. Rossi looked positively giddy. Reid, well honestly, who knew what went on in his mind? Penelope was having a hard time containing herself. She most likely wanted to volunteer for duty. Derek looked slightly amused but Hotch? Hotch had his sincere face on and it hit her, "You're serious."

"I honestly don't have any other ideas." He admitted frankly. "We've got a very small window here, we know that he's going to hit again, we know he likes tall, dark haired women…"

"Cut the crap. He likes strippers, Hotch!" Emily growled.

Hotch silenced Rossi's chortle with a look before calmly stating. "You've gone undercover before."

Emily looked down at the file in front of her. "These women are at least ten years younger than me. The oldest was barely over thirty."

"I don't really think our guy is paying all that much attention to their faces." Rossi told her. "Besides, it's dark in those places he won't know that you're older than his usual fare."

Hotch shot the older man a silencing glance. "Emily, I won't be sending you in alone. Morgan will be there at all times as a bouncer."

She just bet he hated that assignment. "You're not even sure he'll hit this club."

Reid took that moment to speak up enlightening her on what went on in his mind. "Actually there is a very high probability that he will. He's running out of places to hunt. So far he hasn't hit the same club twice. We know he has a very specific body type. Plus we've been working with the other clubs to tighten their security and advise both the owners and the girls to stay away from featuring any brunettes with the specific hope that we could lure him to the 'Kitty Kat'."

Hotch watched as she processed the information. "Emily, I'm not asking this lightly and if you feel that you can't do it we'll go back to the police force and see if they can't look harder to find someone in their house to go undercover."

"I don't dance." She finally blurted out. "Let alone strip." She mumbled as two strips of scarlet blossomed on her cheeks.

Penelope's enthusiasm could no longer be sustained. "Don't worry, I know just the thing, they have a class, me and Jayje took one before the wedding…"

At the mention of JJ's name Hotch barked, "Garcia!"

"Sorry, Boss Man." This time both Rossi and Morgan chuckled when their fearless leader turned a bright hue. Penelope continued slightly less exuberant, "It's really great exercise."

Not able to let it go Rossi commented, "It obviously yielded great results."

Penelope deliberately missed his meaning. "It totally did, I bet JJ would even be willing to go back there with us. If she were still with the team she could totally do this. I was really impressed with how well she could work the pole."

That comment had even Alex and Emily chuckling. Hotch just dropped his head into his hands as Morgan and Rossi howled with laughter even further as Penelope finally realized the double entendre and began to apologize profusely to Hotch.

"Oh, sir, I didn't mean… That is, I never meant to imply… All I meant to say was JJ picked it up fast and she was really good, but I'm sure you know that." She shook her head. "That really didn't come out right."

"Please shut up, Penelope." Hotch requested, growing increasingly more mortified by the minute.

"Yes sir."

Emily smiled at her boss. She liked him most when his human side showed through. "It's too bad JJ couldn't liaise with the team on this one."

Reid looked at Emily in confusion. "Our unsub doesn't appear to have a predilection for pregnant women."

"Yeah, that's not… Never mind, Reid." Shaking her head she turned back to Hotch. "I should have been more specific. I cannot dance. Have you ever seen Elaine from Seinfield? I make her look graceful."

"Please that is not true!" Garcia disagreed, having been to clubs with her before.

Morgan chose that moment to join the conversation. "You're missing the point. It's not really about dancing. It's about seduction. You could learn a few moves, easily. It's not any different than learning basic self-defense steps. Or one of those exercise routines you women are fond of." He favored her with a linger glance. "Your body moves well."

"That's coming from a connoisseur of women." Rossi informed her cheerfully. "You'll be fine. Although," He said, sparing a scoffing glance at Morgan, "I have to disagree with my pal here on one thing. It's all about T&A, not seduction." He leered at Emily. "In either case you'll still do fine."

"Oink, Oink." Uttered Garcia, both Blake and Emily nodded in agreement at her assessment of Rossi.

Hotch started to say something when his phone vibrated. He winced as he looked at the message and rapidly stood. "I'm sorry, I have to run and do this…thing. I'll be back in…" He froze. "Later, I'll be back later. Continue to work the case. Morgan, you've got the lead. Emily, you need to have an answer for me when I return. I'll support whatever you decide." He was barely out of the room when they heard him begin to speak into his phone. "I'm on my way. I'll be there as soon as I can."

As soon as he was out of the room they all turned to Emily.

"What do you think, Prentiss?" Derek asked.

She frowned. "I think this is crazy. I can't do this." She growled in frustration. "I know that I've done undercover work before but this is…" She drew a deep breath. "I can't do this."

Derek made eye contact with the team as Prentiss studied her hands and with a nod of his head sideways he indicated they exit the room so he could continue to speak to Emily alone. "Why would you think you couldn't do this?" He asked softly. "I've seen some of the stuff you've been able to do. This should be a walk in the park for you."

Emily lifted her head and was surprised to find they were the only ones left in the room. "Play a tough arms dealer, flirting with a low life? That I can do. This? This is something altogether different."

Morgan shook his head. "It's just another role, Princess."

Emily shook her head in disagreement. "I'm not a seductress. Pen could totally get into character and do this but I can't get up on a stage and dance and strip for a bunch of drunken men that want to throw money at me, or worse, touch me." Her face gave a clear indication of how distasteful she found that idea.

He studied her for a moment then gave a nod. "Okay, if that's the way you feel then I'll support you. I'll let Hotch work with the locals and I'll see if I can't find someone in our house to work the assignment." He searched his mental banks for women that might fit the profile. "Hey, I think Allison could probably play the part." He didn't know why she didn't come to mind earlier.

Morgan was referring to the leggy brunette that was part of the C Team. The leggy brunette that made it a habit to take any and every opportunity available to flirt with him. The one who gave every indication that she would be ready and available to him, all he had to do was give her the come hither sign.

Derek studied her reaction to his suggestion. Even without saying a word he could tell she wasn't happy with his choice. "You have a problem with that?"

"No." She began, only to quickly back pedal. "But you know there is a reason she's part of the C Team." She commented caustically.

He blinked at the unexpected comment. "Wow, meow." Derek laughed and was relieved when Emily did the same.

"It's possible I don't like her." Emily admitted hesitantly.

"I'd have never guessed." Morgan scoffed.

Emily shrugged her shoulder. "You know she wants to sleep with you."

Derek's grin grew at the implication that her annoyance was directly related to that fact. "Yeah, I was pretty clear on that. She doesn't exactly beat around the bush. She's been pretty vocal about what she'd like to do to me." He narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't mean that I'm interested in what she's offering. My suggesting her for the job has only to do with the fact that she meets some of the prerequisites, not that I'm thinking of taking her up on her offer."

Emily studied him for a second before asking bluntly. "Why not?"

Derek paused then went for broke. "I'm holding out for the leggy brunette from the A team." He told her as he gathered up his files. "Let me know if you're interested." He gave her a cocky wink as he exited the room.

Emily was still sitting in the conference room when Garcia stuck her head in an hour later.

"Hey, JJ wants to know if you want to grab some lunch." She looked at the empty room. "Why are you just sitting in here?"

Emily blinked up at her surprised to realize that she hadn't moved in over an hour. "Have you ever really wanted something but were afraid to go for it?"

Penelope frowned. "Me? All the time. But you're fearless, you're not afraid of anything."

"Oh Pen." How she wished that were a true statement. She sighed. Lunch with JJ might be just the thing. JJ probably understood taking risks better than both of them. Emily stood from the table. "Where are we meeting JJ?"

"She's on her way here now." They both heard the commotion coming from the bullpen. "Sounds like she's arrived."

Sure enough as they walked out towards the floor they found their previous co-worker surrounded by the team. The last time JJ visited the office she'd been considerably smaller but as her due date loomed near she looked ready to pop. She was holding court from her old desk as they walked up.

Yeah, JJ knew a thing or two about taking risks.

Thanks for reading!