A/N: This will be a multi-part fic. If the beginning comes off a bit anti-Blake I apologize. I just don't quite care for her character, got bored of her the first episode. Besides, I needed to make room for my OC.

I don't own Criminal Minds. I wish I did though.

He wasn't sure how they managed to convince him or how he adhered to the team's wishes but for once in his life Aaron Hotchner went on a three week vacation without turning on his cell phone or checking in with the team. He struggled the first two days, constantly wondering if he was needed but a single message sent to the front desk of his hotel courtesy of Garcia put that to rest. And once he saw Jack's smile wider than he had in years as he stared at Shamu playing in the water, he learned to forget about the job and simply relax, at least for the duration of this rare vacation away with his son. He even forgot to worry that in his absence Rossi and Garcia were left to interview and hire Blake's replacement. He trusted their judgment, and Garcia's skills in performing background checks. But of course, he became far too anxious during his drive in on the morning of his return to not call Dave and find out if he would be meeting a potential new colleague today.

"Do you have any idea how early you're calling?" Dave grumbled, the sound of a breakfast sandwich wrapper clear from his side the call.

Hotch smiled to himself. His best friend was always grumpy when a time crunch forced him to start his day off all wrong on a 'subpar, barely human' breakfast provided by the donut shop around the corner.

"Did you make a hire?" Hotch pulled on his many years of stoicism to keep his amusement out of his tone. It would only set the other senior profiler off on a long tangent he didn't have the patience for. Not today when he would be returning to a mountain of paper work and so, so much to be caught up on.

Dave put down the remainder of his imitation-egg-and-cheese bagel and remembered his instructions from Garcia. She was quite clear on how to introduce the newest member of the team. "We did. SSA Jo Pierce, an expert in group psychology over from organized crime. Has a doctorate and everything. I wouldn't drop the doctor title when you meet today. It's just Jo's preference."

Hotch nodded, a little impressed if he was honest. He hadn't quite warmed up to how much of a know-it-all Blake could sometimes be. Having someone well educated but focused on the job and not their vast knowledge was something he was truly looking forward to in her replacement. He suspected Rossi and Garcia took that into consideration when interviewing the new candidates. "I guess being an agent must mean more then." He stopped himself from trying to profile the new agent any more. It never served to get too far ahead of oneself, especially when they would be meeting soon… "Wait, today?"

Dave snickered, sure that Hotch hadn't been quite so prepared to meet a new agent in the same manner that Morgan and Garcia had met Blake. His need for control was probably spinning him through a whole long list of questions as to how much training has occurred and what not but he knew personally that agent Pierce was perhaps one of the most qualified applicants he ever saw. After all, Pierce joined the bureau at twenty after two years already in the workforce helping a few top 500 corporations get to where they are today. Having earned a PhD at eighteen and already as financially set as Rossi himself, Jo decided public service was a new calling and was immediately accepted into the bureau where seven years in organized crime, including three consecutively spent in deep cover, more than proved the younger agent's worth.

Rossi explained this all to Hotch and was glad the other man seemed to be impressed. And truly, Hotch was. He'd been just as impressed when Gideon brought Reid on board but this new agent had incredible field experience as well, something he truly respected. Three years of deep cover was a lot for any person to handle. Indeed his only concern was how that might have molded Pierce in relation to fellow agents. It wouldn't be the first time someone in such deep cover came to find it hard to relate to colleagues when they came back to the workplace. Going from violent crimes committed by those around you to an office was a tough transition. But, he wasn't going to get ahead of himself. At the very least all those other agents had learned to work well independently. "So I take it we won't need to do too much hand holding then. And agent Pierce already began with the team?"

Rossi withheld comment that some members of the team might actually prefer to hold this particular agent's hand, if he got his drift. Of course, with how his sex life had been the last year Hotch might not get it at all. "Yup. Started at the beginning of last week, worked the last two cases with us and is already fitting in as well as Emily ever did. Especially popular among the women I might add."

Great. Hotch thought. Another Morgan, another Dave. Don't get him wrong, Morgan and Dave were great friends but he didn't need yet another ladies man around.

Dave sensed this, also noticing the sound of the lobby downstairs as Aaron passed through the metal detectors. He knew his worries would soon be obliterated. "Don't worry so much. I am sure you won't have any sexual harassment claims to deal with." He added in a rather sardonic tone.

"Good." Hotch returned, comforted by the feel of the elevator brining him close to his second home of the BAU office. He hated to admit it, but as much fun as he had with his son he really, truly missed his job and the team. "I'm almost here."

Dave got up from his desk and walked to the elevator doors. "See you in a few." He snapped his phone shut and took a few moments to school his humored smirk away from his lips. He really liked agent Pierce and was excited to see how his best friend would view his and Kitten's choice.

Hotch grinned a bit when he saw his friend waiting and joined him in a small hug and some small chat about how well his vacation went, what Jack loved about Orlando and the Disney cruise to follow as they walked to Aaron's office and got him resettled. Hotch unpacked his brief case, took a quick peak at the large stack of files on his desk that was far too small for three weeks of missed work – the team must have all helped- and then decided he really needed a coffee.

Dave followed him there to refresh his own cup and once Hotch got a large gulp of the liquid black gold down he finally asked the question. "So, when does Agent Pierce usually get in?"

Rossi took a sip from his own mug. "Already here. Look in Kitten's office. She had said something about them sampling each other's preferred lattes while she booted up the babies."

Both agents rolled their eyes at Garcia's mother hen instinct turned onto her computers and made their way towards Garcia's office. As Hotch neared he was a bit startled to hear the echoing giggles of two distinctly feminine voices, one not familiar to him, and even more startled to see a younger woman with silk,y long, dark hair and one of the prettiest faces he'd ever seen raise from her seat upon spotting him. He couldn't help but notice her trim but curvy figure, the slight upturn of her lips that he would guess was a permanent fixture and reached to her dark brown eyes and the demure yet striking combination of her black skirt suit paired with a satin magenta camisole and matching high heels. His mind momentarily likened his first impression of the woman to if someone had taken JJ, Emily and Garcia, rolled them into a pile of dough and baked up a new woman.

She held out her hand to him. "You must be agent Hotchner." She smiled, pleased to finally meet her new boss. She'd already really felt like she made a place here among her new team. Penelope even said she was fitting into their 'family' just fine. She hoped her boss, who she couldn't help notice was as handsome as JJ said he was, would approve of her. She'd hate to be transferred away. While always a well-respected colleague she never really fit in well with others in the bureau before this assignment. It meant more than she could say to stick around long term. "I'm Jo Pierce."

He had to take a second to swish everything he'd been expecting out of his mind. "I'm sorry, I had thought—" Lord did he feel like an idiot. An idiot with a boyish grin he wished he could wipe from his face but none the less…

She smirked a bit and stopped him. "That I was a man? Don't worry, happens a lot. It's Josephine but they always called me Jo in college and it stuck."

"Plus," Garcia butt in. "I did give my Italian Stallion clear instructions to not use pronouns." At the Hotch glare shot her way she lost a bit of her smirk. "Sorry boss man, but it was so worth the look on your face."

And for once, surprising Dave and Garcia, Hotch actually chuckled. His long, deep chuckle that no one had seemed to hear since before his divorce, and he retook Jo's hand to shake it more fully. "Well, welcome to the team." He couldn't help but laugh. He was giddy, actually giddy. He couldn't figure out why, but he wasn't going to argue with it.

"There you all are!" JJ poked her head in, happy when she saw Hotch seemed to not be extremely pissed off by Garcia's little prank. The whole team knew of it though she had her reservations as to if he'd take it well. "Strauss called before you got here Pen. We have a case in Tulsa. War room in five."

Hotch let Jo follow Dave out of Garcia's office before he turned to the bubbly blonde. "Garcia?"

"Yes boss man?" She looked up from her babies, getting ready to join the team with the case files to present to the team that Strauss had just asked her to pull via email. "You want the dirt I assume?"

Hotch sighed a bit in relief. Leave it to Penelope, the only non-profiler on the team, to read you like a book. "You know, having you join the team is still one of the best decisions I ever made."

She smirked a bit, knowing that was the truth. "Don't act so surprised mon capitiane, that should be obvious. But to put your curiosity and anxiousness to rest, trust me. She's a keeper."

Hotch nodded and made his way to the war room, glad that deep down he trusted just that.

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