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With the streetfinally free of news vans Jake decided to get some air. Collar popped against the unseasonable chill, he took a seat in one of Dana’s rocking chairs, trying to gather his thoughts. He sipped on another cup of coffee, having lost count of how many this made. They all tasted the same; bitter and agitating. He needed the caffeine, but it did nothing to quiet his concerns. Even adding a shot of bourbon didn’t help. So, he added one more.

Jake had a lot on his mind—Dana, Claire, his mother, Wade, Jenkins, his father, his career. The endless wheel of worries tumbled inside him at all times. It was exhausting and it wouldn’t stop until he came to a decision. Where was he needed most?

As much as he’d hassled his attorney, Jake knew his suspension would be resolved soon, which only added pressure to make up his mind.

He was still on the front porch wrestling with his thoughts when Richter pulled up. Seeing his old friend pulled a smile out of him. Jake stood, greeting Richter and Dana at the door.

“Richter, I would’a thought you’d be in the five-sided puzzle piece by now,” Jake ribbed his old C.O.

Richter smirked. “They keep trying, but I keep tellin’ ‘em there’s too many old bullet-catchers in the Bureau that need my attention.”

“Hooah!” Jake bellowed as they clasped hands.

Richter echoed the Army sentiment and patted Jake on the back as Dana joined them.

“You didn’t tell me you knew each other from the Army,” she said, glancing between them.

“It was implied,” Jake said with a wink.

Dana rolled her eyes at him as Richter nodded to Jake’s coffee mug. “You got any of that for me?”

“Plenty,” Jake said, opening the door for them. “Come on in.”

Richter walked in first and Jake caught Dana’s hand, holding her back. “Hey,” he said, lowering his voice as she stared up at him. “You okay?”

He could see from the heaviness in her normally bright eyes that she wasn’t, but she nodded anyway. Jake squeezed her hand, letting her know he was there, nonetheless. “Come on, it’s freezing out here.”

Inside they gathered in Dana’s kitchen, Jake and Richter over coffee, Dana with a cup of freshly steeped mint tea. Jake watched the way she stared into the tendrils of steam, lost in thought as he and Richter reminisced about their Army days.

Jake studied the furrowed crease between Dana’s eyebrows, resisting the sudden urge to kiss her there. He knew better than to interrupt when she was working through something, but he hated seeing the toll this case was taking on her.

Claire padded into the kitchen, her arrival a welcome interruption. “I thought I heard you,” she said, grinning at Dana, but she froze when she saw Richter.

Dana jumped into action. “Claire, this is Agent Richter with the BAU. We’ve been working together on the Reaper case.”

“Oh,” was all Claire offered.

“Hello, Claire,” Richter said, offering a kind smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He extended his hand and Claire took a step back. Richter did the same and the room stilled to a strange standoff.

“Why are you here?” Claire finally asked.

Richter answered honestly. “To speak with you.”

“About what?”

“The case we’re working on. I’d like to ask for your help.”

“Why me?”

Richter looked at Dana who nodded. “Because we think you’re the only one who can get us the answers we need in time.”

“In time for what?”

It was Dana who answered. “To stop the Reaper from killing the next victim tonight.”