I do not own anything associated with Criminal Minds.

Rated T for mild references to adult themes.

Hi,

I am feeling romantic just in time for the holidays. I have taken more liberties than usual with this story so if you have any flight related insights I am all ears. I was inspired by the fact that in the real world the BAU doesn't have a private jet and a consultant for show said he flew coach over a hundred times. So enjoy. Updates will be sporadic. This is just a fun little project.

Come Fly with Me

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Linda Mason has flown over a hundred times and during her time as regular coach resident she overheard a long range of different conversation topics. She has heard detailed plans of a couple trying to get pregnant, teenagers plotting thefts, and children using colorful language to describe bodily functions. When her job takes her abroad she had heard bit of similar conversation in different languages. But the people sitting behind her discussing ways in which a body could be dissected based on criminal motivation was by far the most disturbing conversation. The people sitting on either side of her had head phones on so she was alone in her misery. Years of persistent ear infections made using head phones difficult. About twenty minutes into the flight to Detroit, she was getting up the nerve to tell them to hush up when she heard something that suggested they might be law enforcement decided against it slumped into her seat to bear it.

The flight seemed to also be wearing on them as she could hear them starting to bicker.

"Rossi could you have sprung for all of us to fly business class at least?" one asked.

"I tried and I was given some excuse about how it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the teams and these budget cuts were designed to lessen costs across the field." The person the question was directed at responded.

"Did you know that studies have suggested that people flying for first class are healthier and have been-"

"Please don't start Reid," the apparent possible bank roller said.

"The wi-fi here is shoddy at best," a different voice said.

"Trying to send a picture of the great unit chief stuck in coach to your son," one of the two discernible female voices said in a teasing tone

She thought she could hear the glare in the silence before he responded. "I am trying to send an email to Jessica that this trip might take longer than I thought."

It sounded like a prime time to find a way for at least one of them to keep their mouths shut without being rude. Linda stood up and turned to face the group of well-dressed people.

"Based on the plane time and trajectory, the wi-fi should be better in about ten minutes," she said confidently.

They stared at her in astonishment. "How do you know that?" the man with the messy hair and crooked tie asked. "I have never studied how flight interacts-"

She got up the nerve to cut him off like his teammates. "I don't know the science, I just know based on the fact that I have flown this route at least a dozen times."

The agent who appeared to be in charge smiled. "If I might ask what do you do for living Miss-"

"Linda Mason. I write articles about junior figure skaters for a trade publication," she said. "Do you mind if I ask what you do for a living?"

"We are part of the Behavior Analysis Unit for the FBI," the man who said "I am Aaron Hotchner." This would have been the time when they would have shaken hands but they were too far away so they just exchanged nods.

It jogged something in her memory. "Are you guys investigating that 'top one percent' string of murders that some hacktivist group is claiming responsibility for?"

"We can't discuss details about on-going cases," he said.

"Okay," she said uncertainly and then noticed that other people on the plane were looking at them.

"Thank you for the advice Miss Mason," he said in a tone of finality.

"You're welcome," she said and sat down.

When she picked up one of her notebooks off the floor she noticed the agent with the crooked tie was staring the back of her seat between the gaps.