Hello! This is my first ever Criminal Minds story. After re-watching season 6 I couldn't get this question out of my head, why Strauss or someone higher up didn't hire a new Communication Director for the BAU. It seemed crazy to me, so this story idea basically came from that. I don't really know what where this story will go, I have a vague idea, but truly it's where ever the characters take me. This story starts after the events of "JJ" and Season 6 episode 3 "Remembrance of Things Past", but that doesn't mean I'll follow every episode. Also note this chapter is unedited, so if you see grammar or spelling errors be kind when pointing them out. Once again thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the first chapter of PUBLIC BEHAVIOR.

|| PROLOGUE: "TURNING POINT" ||

"Are you fucking serious?" Quincy "Quinn" Burnett exclaimed her loud voice catching the attention of several people around us in Plume, an upscale restaurant in D.C.'s downtown. The restaurant was populated by many of the wealthy, upper class in Virginia, and since it was around brunch the place was full.

"Could you be any louder," I asked her rolling my eyes. I took a quick glance around with just my peripheral vision, to not draw anymore unnecessary attention to our table, which would've, had I turned my head. Most of those around us had turned back to their food which was a relief, excusing the outburst, however I did notice a few older women siting a few tables away turned their nose up in disgust at the language Quinn used.

"I could be," She smirked running a hand through her brown locks pulling it back from her face, "but that's only for my boyfriend."

I closed my eyes, and breathed in through my nose, deciding to ignore that comment. After several years of friendship with Quinn I had become quite comfortable with her sense of humor which at times was slightly inappropriate.

"It's not like I'm getting a promotion or anything. It's just a meeting." I stated, taking a bite of my Belgian malted waffle, savoring the taste of strawberry and whip cream (damn my sweet tooth).

"Yes, but it's a meeting with Section Chief Erin Strauss," she gushed, "I mean the woman has a lot of power in the BAU, my superiors have even spoken of her."

I wasn't the least bit stunned that Quinn knew of Chief Strauss. Quinn worked in one of the many Crisis Management Firms in D.C., expressing Scandal was accurate would be an understatement.

"She's only a Section Chief, Quinn," I said stirring to my tea before taking a sip. Yuck, whoever brewed this needs to be fired this is awful.

"But isn't she the superior to the BAU team that's caught the Boston Reaper?" Quinn asked while cutting into her omelette.

"Yeah," I murmured. The Boston Reaper was a huge case around the FBI, especially after his escape, like most of the FBI, myself and my colleagues were told the Reaper had been killed while being apprehended. Though I knew there was more to the story then that.

"But like I said this could be a promotion, cause that women who was the Communication Director left. Didn't she?" She asked lifting the cup of coffee to her lips.

I nodded my head while taking another bite of waffle, "From what I understand she's at the Pentagon."

"See, they need a media liaison. I would just see it as a job interview and be dressed to impress, and be ready to turn on the Codie Charm." Quinn wiggled her eyebrows.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't do that." She wiggled her eyebrows again. "Stop it, I'm to get up and leave you with the bill."

Quinn laughed, "You love me."

"You are right, I do love you. But it's more because you make me look short then your personality." I said smiling. Quinn was extremely tall, when not wearing heels she was a towering 6 foot, but since she never went anywhere without heels she was normally at 6'4. And for me, a girl who always seemed to be called tall, it was kind of relaxing to be considered short next to her.

"Uh huh, keep lying to yourself. I think this would be good for you, no offense but when I found out you went to work for the FBI I was slightly worried."

I pulled a lock of strawberry-blonde hair behind my ear, "I told you, I was offered the positon. I needed a break."

"Most people when they decide to go on break, don't quit their job and go work for the FBI. They go on vacation to Bali or Hawaii." Quinn said staring me down.

I looked away clinching my jaw, I didn't want to discuss my reason for going and working for the FBI.

"Listen, I'm not trying to judge for your choices. I just saying…" I heard her sigh, and turned to look at her again as her green eyes met my blue ones, "you're working with people who study behavior for a living. They just might be able to see through you a lot better than you think."

"I'll keep that in mind." I replied through tight lips.

"Alright enough serious talk, have I told you that I'm think of getting a dog?" Quinn said excitedly.

I quickly relaxed my features at her clear change of topic. "Quinn, you sometimes forget to feed yourself what makes you think you can take care of a dog."

And with that little statement all tension between us dissipated as though it had never been there to begin with.

|| PUBLIC BEHAVIOR ||

The walk, the following day, to Strauss' office was nerve-wrecking. Although I had nothing to hide, this meeting could possibly change my career. I had told Quinn I didn't think it was an interview, I had been lying. The timing of this seemed too coincidental for my taste. The unit's Communication Director/Media Liaison has only been gone a week, and then I'm asked to meet with Chief Strauss the woman in charge of said unit. It was hard not to think of it as an interview.

I straightened my black pencil skirt one last time before walking up to the open door way, with Erin Strauss written on the name plate of the door. I let my face relax into a neutral look of indifference and knocked on the open door.

"Come in Agent Kane."

Maya Angelou once said, "Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman."

So that was the first chapter. I hope you guys in enjoyed that I'll hopefully I'll be updating soon. Please review, it would mean the world to me. And I'll see you guys next time!