The Beautiful Break

by BlytheConner1

Have you ever wondered about the pieces of their lives that the team at the BAU keep hidden? The secrets they don't share, even with each other? This is a story about secrets and what happens when they are exposed. With the help of some original characters, you will get into the minds of these famous criminal profilers.

1. Chapter 1

A/N: This is kind of just an introduction rather than a first chapter. The rest of this story will be written in third person and from a different perspective for the most part. I hope you like this idea, as it's a pretty different take than most I've read or written. I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters, but I do own Blythe Conner and Alexandra Steele.

My name is Blythe Conner and I am here to tell a story. I have been studying Forensic Psychology on my own for quite some time, but my true passion is investigative journalism. I thought forever that I was going to be a true crime writer, and though the criminal mind still fascinates me, I stumbled upon another story while doing my research that I believe needs to be told.

I was reading a book by a man named David Rossi, a Supervisory Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is a criminal profiler and member of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. Slowly, my interest started to shift from the criminal mind to the mind of the criminal profiler. These people are bound to be affected by their jobs and I really wanted to know how they were able to deal.

I made a few phone calls over the course of several months and finally got through to a woman named Erin Strauss, who is apparently the BAU's section chief. She was completely turned off to my idea at first and wouldn't allow me access to any of her agents. I was persistent, though, and kept on her, telling her the benefits that my story could have for the kind of work her section does. She finally gave in, but still reluctant to let me into the lives of her senior agents, she set me up to meet with the BAU's newest member.

All I have from Strauss is a name. Alexandra Steele. I was slightly disappointed that my interviews would be with a woman, as I tend to get along much better with men. I meet with her today, though, and I'm actually pretty nervous about it. This is a really big opportunity for me and I'm going somewhere no true crime writer has ever gone. Into the minds of the profilers.

A/N: Let me know what you think!