Chapter 1
"Please state your name and rank for the record." BAU section chief Erin Strauss ordered.
"Supervisory Special Agent Alex Jareau; Assistant Communications Liaison for the behavioral Analysis Unit."
"And how long have you been in the BAU?"
"1 year."
"And how did you come to be in the BAU?"
"It's a very interesting story, Erin."
"So tell it."
North Versailles, Pennsylvania 1 year earlier:
"I see checkmate in 7 what do you see, AJ?" Cressa Johnson asked.
"I see it in 2." I replied.
"I have 2 pair, 8 over 6's." Emily Urbin said.
"I have Aces over 8's."
"The dead man's hand?"
"Uh, huh." The school bell rang loud in our ears. I picked up my things along with my blonde, tall, down to earth friend, Emily, and my brown haired, doesn't-act-black friend Cressa.
"Would Alex Jareau please report to the principals office?" A voice ordered over the intercom.
"What did you do this time?" Cressa asked.
"Nothing!" I replied defensively.
"AJ," Principal Figgins started.
"Ma'm?" I asked in a sarcastic voice adding a pinch of attitude.
"You're being taken out of school."
"Why?" A blonde haired, blue-eyed woman came into the room with a 6'1" man with brown hair, a stern look and a suit,
"Jennifer!" I exclaimed.
"Hey, AJ. It's time" A smug smiled crossed my face.
So Agent Jareau and SSA Hotchner brought you back to the BAU." Strauss said.
"Yes ma'm."
"And how was the plane ride."
"So from now on, you're Dr. Jareau, since you do have a PhD. "JJ explained.
"Why does it matter, J'j?" I asked.
"I don't want people confusing me with a 13 year-old."
"Come on, Jen, of course they would. You look like you're 16"
"25"
"20"
"Deal"
"And I don't look a day under 16."
"14."
"15."
"Fine."
"She's right you know." Hotch replied to JJ.
"Hotch!" JJ exclaimed.
"Is this Strauss person really as bitchy as I hear?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Wait! Jareau called me bitchy?" Strauss asked.
"Doe that come as a surprise to you?"
"You do know you're being recorded?"
"You o know I'm a genius?"
"Alexandra Jacquelyn Jareau-"
"Do you want to know what happened or not?"
I walked into the bullpen.
"You're office is up those stairs and to the right." Hotch explained.
"Thanks"
"Agent Jareau, I asked you a question." Strauss said.
"The DOW is still going down, but knowing when to get out, that's the trick." I slipped my phone into my jacket pocket. "What's all this for, Erin?"
"So this never happens again."
"Doesn't anyone care about what James Swan did? How many people he killed? All you seem to care about is what Je-...It's just not fair."
"You haven't told them we're loaded?" I yelled in JJ's office.
"I didn't feel it was essential. Are you going to tell them?"
"You only need to know things on a need-to-know basis."
"I need to know everything."
"So that means you need to know things even when you don't need to know them You need to know them, not because you need to know them, but you need to know whether or not you need to know. If you don't need to know, you still need to know so you know that there is no need to know."
"YES!"
"Good that's very clear."