A/N: Well, folks, we meet again. So, yeah, it's a sequel to my first story, "Actions Speak Louder than Words". It's somewhere in the pages if you go back a ways. I would suggest at least skimming that first, (I know, it's long) although you could probably figure out most everything from context. Oh, and I promise, this one is not nearly as long! One other thing, some parts of this may seem sort of similar to other stories on here, but it's not copied. If it seems that way, that's a coincidence.
And the last thing, gosh darn it, I don't own the awesome show, Criminal Minds. CBS does, sue them.
Hotch stared down at the stack of files on his desk. They didn't look any different than the other miscellaneous files on his desk. The FBI insignia was there. What made these files different was what inside these. These files weren't case files, but Hotch almost wished they were.
Hotch sighed. He didn't want to start looking at them, but he knew he had to. Instead, he stood up, and walked over to the window.
In the bullpen Garcia had stolen Morgan's chair causing Morgan to lean against his desk. They were talking to Reid, JJ and Prentiss, whom were all at Prentiss's adjacent desk. Hotch chuckled to himself. The younger agents were all smiling and laughing at a story that Morgan was telling.
Hotch was glad they were happy. The last few weeks had been rough with case after case after case. They had been in Quantico for three days catching up on paperwork which was good. Members had begun to get snippy at each other on the last case due to lack of sleep with the add-on of jet lag. Hotch almost considered telling JJ to just not take another case, but so far he didn't have to. Now everyone seemed back to normal.
A knock came to Hotch's door.
"Come in."
"Hey." Gideon responded after closing the door.
"Hey."
"What's going on?"
"Isn't it amazing?"
"What?"
"That even though we're profilers, and we know every trick about lying, that we still don't use them ourselves?" Hotch asked with a light smile.
"Where's this coming from Hotch?"
"Look at JJ."
"She's telling a story."
"She's lying."
Gideon peered through the window a little harder and laughed.
"Eyes are up to the left as she is fabricating details." Gideon noted.
"Prentiss knew all along. I think Garcia and Reid just figured it out." Hotch stated. Everyone but Morgan was trying to look clueless, but they were failing. Reid, trying to hide his smile, took a sip of coffee, and Garcia had her hand over her mouth to disguise her smile.
"She's trying to trick Morgan."
"It worked." Hotch agreed a moment later. Morgan threw his hands up in the air when he realized what had happened. Everyone laughed at him. Morgan started laughing as well, and Gideon and Hotch shared their own chuckle.
"Be thankful Hotch. They don't need to be profilers all the time."
"Yeah."
"Hey, why don't you take off early today? It's Friday after all. Go home, spend some time with Haley and Jack." Gideon suggested.
"As much as I want to, a new assignment unfortunately came in." Hotch said as he returned to his desk. Gideon took notice of the files, and promptly opened one up.
"New agent profiles? Hotch, is someone leaving?"
"JJ"
"What?"
"She came and talked to me two days ago. She said that she sent in an application to work as the assistant to the head of the Press Corp for the Quantico office. The current head, Linda Connens, is retiring in six weeks. Her current assistant, Natalie Whelden, is moving up. JJ made it to the second phase with interviewing, and she wanted me to know. She asked me not to say anything though because she didn't think she would get it."
"But I take it she did."
Hotch nodded.
"Well, that's great for her." Gideon replied.
Hotch nodded again. Gideon walked over to the window again.
"She isn't acting unusually happy or excited. The others aren't acting as if she's not going to be here in a few weeks." Gideon commented.
"She doesn't know."
"And you do?"
"One of the agents who helped with the application process is a friend of mine. I talked to him this afternoon. They told all the applicants that nothing would be announced until late Friday. He said that they didn't think the decision would be as easy as it was." Hotch expressed with a proud smile. "They're getting ahead on the official paperwork. He also sent these over, said I'd better get started."
Gideon looked out the window once more as the news sunk in.
"Been a while since you've had to do this." He continued to which Hotch concurred. "How long exactly?"
"Well, let's see. If you count when I had to do it for Reid when he went into rehab, that was March '07; it's August '08, so almost a year and a half."
Gideon considered this for a moment. His gaze returned back to Hotch, whose face was sullen.
"Hotch, what's up? You look like someone stole your puppy."
"Be careful with what you say."
"You don't have a dog."
"Haley's trying to change that now that Jack's older."
"Still, what's eating at you? Is it this?"
"It's...it's why JJ's leaving. Well, actually, I don't know why JJ is leaving."
"She didn't tell you?"
"Well, I asked her. JJ said that she wanted a change."
"That's a legitimate reason." Gideon said calmly.
"Yes, but it was the way she said it."
"Was she lying?"
"No. Well, not exactly. Jason, do you think we ever push anyone on the team too hard?"
"What?"
"Well, take JJ for example. She works between us and the local authorities. If they're unhappy, they run to JJ. Do you ever think we're too demanding of her? We just got off three cases in a row. One of them, she had to call security because a victim's mother almost hurt her. We barely stopped to make sure JJ was all right. Did I ask too much of her?"
"Aaron, you are a great team leader. You know what your team members are capable of and what they aren't. You don't push them any more than they can handle." Gideon stated, astounded by Hotch's insecurity. Hotch didn't seem to believe him. "Why are you doubting yourself so much? JJ wanted a change, so she found a different job. That doesn't mean that it was because of anything we did."
Hotch stared at Gideon for a moment before sighing.
"I know that you're probably right. But, something's just unsettling in the way she said it. My gut's telling me something else."
"Hotch, did you ask her about being too demanding?"
"Yes. She immediately said no, but-" Hotch rattled.
"Hotch, Hotch, Hotch," Gideon exclaimed almost completely throwing his hands in the air, "trust her. She would have talked to you, you know that. Let her spread her wings, go to new places, experience new things. In the meantime, you have a few weeks to find a new agent to replace JJ."
Gideon returned the file that he had taken moments before. He then turned and opened Hotch's door. Morgan's voice floated up into the room.
"What you got JJ?"
"It's...uh... a text message. I have to go."
"Where?" Reid asked.
"To, uh, talk to a press buddy." JJ called back excitement in her voice.
Hotch and Gideon shared a look. Both of them were pretty sure that JJ's eyes had once again been up to the left.
Hotch leaned back in his chair and smiled at that memory. It was four weeks ago that JJ had told everyone else that she was leaving the BAU. At first everyone had been as surprised as him, but now they were all warming up to it. Instead, everyone was incredibly happy for JJ. Today was her last Monday and her last week.
Name: Jessica Lynn Raguse
DOB: 07/19/84
Sex: F
That was what the top of the file for Jessica Raguse, JJ's replacement, read. Hotch didn't need to read it again. He had done so dozens of times. It had been harder to replace JJ than Hotch had originally thought. While it was easy to find someone who could fulfill the duties that being a press liaison presented, Hotch wanted to bring in someone like JJ who went above and beyond. Three applicants stood out, and Hotch interviewed every one of them.
Jessica reminded Hotch a lot of JJ. Just from spending a little amount of time with her, Hotch could tell that Jessica had the ability to go from compassionate to a grieving family to being able to take no prisoners in the press war. She was also very intelligent and eager to take the job.
A gentle knock came to the door.
"Come in."
"Agent Hotchner, good morning." The young brunette entered
"Jessica, good morning. How are you?" Hotch greeted her with a handshake.
"Good. Excited."
"Excellent. I'm happy that you've accepted my offer and have decided to join the team. However, Agent Raguse, I want to make this clear. Although you have a different position than the rest of us, I still demand that you give your very best to this team. This is a difficult job, and it takes a lot of strength to do it. Only a few people can handle it."
"Are you saying you don't think I can handle it?" Jessica asked with determination in her voice.
"No. I'm preparing you for what's ahead."
"Thank you Agent Hotchner. I understand that the BAU can be a challenging job at times, but I want to accept that challenge. I am more than ready to join your team and to begin."
Hotch gave one of his rare smiles.
"Welcome to the BAU. Let's go meet the rest of the team."
A/N: So that was my little prolouge. Please review! I really want to know what you guys think.
