Disclaimer: Ok everyone should know the deal. I don't own Criminal Minds. Although who wouldn't want to. The people of CBS are lucky to have the rights to this show. Cause if I did own Criminal Minds I'd probably write myself to be Reid's personal love slave.. (oh the possiblities .?.?)
Author's Note: Ok so this story came about after watching like a ton of CM over a 3 day period, with heavy inspiration coming from 3;16 - Elephant's Memory as a key base starter. I'm a 50% Reid girl and a 50% Morgan gurl, but 100% Criminal Minds; so all my love is for them. This is the start of a series that I'm writing. Let me not keep you guys from the story any longer, but just a reminder there is probably more AN's to come.
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It is said that we are all puzzle pieces. Searching for where we fit in life, but like the pieces we find in a box they are out of order, and out of place. It is up to our actions to sort them out, and find their right places. Hoping that like the puzzles we find in boxes; we find the pieces of our lives, and fit them into place.
- Emie_Star
Puzzle Pieces
Chapter 1 : Left Top Corner Edge
Restless. That was the feeling that filled Reid now. Turning once again he sighed, and sat up. He couldn't understand it; with all that he knew he couldn't understand why his mind was failing him so now. A sudden thought of his mother flashed before his mind, and sharp terror pierced him before he could put it in check. Maybe it was starting for him too. No, no, he wouldn't think that way. If he did who knew what his mind might unleash for him to think about. Sighing Reid got up from his bed, and padded into his kitchen. Absentmindedly Reid scratched his arm. Pulling open his fridge he pulled out the milk, and got a cup out. Pouring Reid watched as creamy off white lumps plopped into the cup. Sighing again he looked at the date on the carton, and slumped against the counter. So much for trying the theory of warm milk helping him sleep. If only Reid knew that this was only the start of a day full of surprises.
It was 6:30 in the morning, and SSA Aaron Hotchner was already ready to go home, and try for sleep again. Strauss had demanded that he be in earlier than his 7 A.M. clock in time. Taking a deep breath Aaron knocked on her office door. Hearing the normal shrill come in Aaron walked inside closing the door behind him. Looking over the office as ususal. Hotch stopped his perusal when he noticed the full head of curly hair sitted in front of Strauss' desk. He quirked head when he heard both women laugh.
Clearing his throat Aaron started. " You wanted to see me ma'am." Aaron said in a monotone voice.
" Yes I did Agent Hotchner. As you may not know the Director of the FBI has been trying to decide if adding a 8th member to all BAU teams ... " Erin started.
" If I may interupt what does this have to do with why I'm here." Hotch asked; although he felt he had the answer already.
" As I was trying to say.." Erin began again " .. the Director, and I have both fell that your team would be the best to ... I'm going to say for the lack of a better word 'experiment' with your team." Strauss said putting a sickly sweet smile on her face.
Aaron cleared his throat in an attempt to control his growing anger. " When will the new agent be starting. Plus I'll need to see a copy of their personnel file." Hotch tried not to focus on the fact that Strauss was watching for a negative reaction.
A tinkling laugh went out through out Strauss' office at the watched as the long silent occupant in the room stood, and produced a file from a folder she held holding it out to Hotch.
" Agent Hotchner I'm Charisma O'Connell. I'll be your newest addition to your team. " Charisma said holding out her hand.
" You're ... young." Was the only thing Hotch could get out at the moment.
" Yes I realize that I'm only 17, but my birthday is soon to come. Plus I've been approved for fieldwork. I ask that look over my young age Agent Hotchner, but I'm willing to prove myself." Charisma told Aaron.
" There'll be no need for that O'Connell. Hotchner will make room for you on my and the Director Fornell's orders. If he refuses to do so, he will be severly demoted." Strauss said smugly.
Swallowing the biting retort he had Hotch looked at Strauss, then O'Connell an promptly walked out of her office. Charisma followed after him quickly grabbing her things.
" Agent Hotchner ... " Charisma called out.
Not turning around he spoke out to Charisma " My office now. "
Charisma followed Hotch silently into his office closing the door behind them. She stood waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop. Aaron sat behind his desk, and looked Charisma over. " File." He said holding out his hand. Charisma sat her bag down an handed Hotch her personnel file. She stood waiting as he read. It seemed like long moments passed by while Charisma waited for him to say something. She sighed as another minute ticked by.
" Am I boring you O'Connell? " Hotch asked looking up.
" No Sir. " Charisma responded.
" Your file is very unique, but also quite similar to others I have on my team. " Aaron began.
" You mean most notably SSA Spencer Reid. Age 24; Eidetic Memory. He can also read 20,000 words per minute. He has 3 P.H.D.'s, and 4 other degrees. His file also states that was personally mentored by retired SSA Jason Gideon." Charisma stated from memory.
" Yes that's all true. It is commendable that you have researched my team. Your file is impressive, but you're to young to be on this team. I'll talk to Fornell myself, and see if you can work with another team. Or better yet if you can get more desk time until you're older. " Aaron began to pick up the phone.
" Sir if you'll just give me a chance I know I can be great with this team. I have the desk hours. I've been through weapons training with all the proper clearances. I've learned the books, and the manuals. I've even wrote 4 different dissertations for my degree in Criminal Psychology. Don't let my age be the deciding factor in letting me on this team. I'm good you can see it there, and you know it as well by the simple fact that Fornell put me here with his signature at the bottom of that transfer slip. " Charisma looked Aaron in the eye. " I know you don't want what you think is some kid on your team, but I am a profiler and I can see that Strauss is gunning for your ass. I can see that she'll do almost anything to get you busted down out of her way. I know her type. She's just waiting for you to tell me to walk so she can do what she's been waiting for. Don't give her that satisfaction. " Charisma waited for his response.
Aaron Hotchner could tell that all the words Charisma O'Connell had just said to him were with the intent to persuade him to let her stay, and damn if she wasn't convincing him to let her. Aaron locked eyes with her and spoke clearly. " You can stay ... for now. This is a trial run, and over when I say so. If I feel you can't handle this job, you personally will call Fornell for a transfer. The moment I make my decision its final no matter what may happen. Do you understand me? " Hotch questioned.
" Yes Sir. Thank you Sir. I won't let you down Sir. " Charisma praised him.
" That's enough. The rest of the team will be here by 8 A.M. I'll tell them then, you can wait until then. " Hotch said.
" If its all right with you I'd like to step out till 8AM. I'll leave my cell number. " She asked.
" I don't see a problem with that. An so you know I can't stand someone being late on their first day to work. " Hotch told her.
" I understand Sir. " Charisma wrote her phone number down, and then left. She headed for her car, and drove to the coffee shop down the road that she had saw on her way here.
Meanwhile Hotch continued to look over Charisma's file. He had to find a way to tell the team, and make things work for all of them. In truth he had heard of her, but Fornell had kept her training so serect even other agents really didn't know the details, or if the agent even existed. Apparently the agent did, and it was a 17 year old genius she; that was now a member of his team. If she was trained personally by Fornell than he could only think that she was a good agent. It was exceptable, but that didn't mean he knew her. What truly had he let on to his team?
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The team arrived one by one as usual unknowing of the life altering changes that had been made just a few short hours ago. Hotch read the last page of Fornell's attached letter for him. It was clear that he thought Hotch could be a great teacher, and leader for Charisma, but what would he do with a literal child on his team. Yes his group sometimes acted like children, and gave the not often tantrum but they were all adults. They had all had lives before coming here. What could someone with no real life experience provide a case? Aaron sighed again. It seemed today was a day for sighing.
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Charisma was beaming as she bought her Triple Espresso Vanilla-Caramel Frap, and 9 Ham & Cheese Croissants. It would be 8AM in another 20 minutes. Feeling alittle greedy Charisma had bought 2 for herself. Heading back to her car she drove back now so she could be early for her first day of her dream job. Parking Charisma turned off her car, and pulled out one of the croissants. She began to eat, and drink her coffee. Not knowing that her life was just starting to heat up.
Inside Reid sat at his desk to gather the energy for the day. He had spent a good portion of the night trying to get to sleep. He had in the early hours; which left him with only 3 hours of restless sleep. Sighing Reid opened his desk and pulled out a woren copy of his mother's favorite Majorie Kempt book. He began to just aimlessly leaf through the pages. Reid paid little mind to Emily taking her seat, and barely said good morning to her or the others as they passed by. Reid clutched the book closer to him. Trying to find some comfort in its yellowing pages. He knew what was keeping him on edge. It was the case of Owen Savage. It had left him open, and with all that he knew and had learned he know how to talk to the others about what was going on inside of him. What he did know was that he desperately wanted another fix of Dilaudid. The cravings were so strong right now. It left aches running through him. He felt cold, exasperated, and weary. Reid wondered if he was starting to finally feel the cracks of his mothers mental disease eating its way into him. Suddenly out of breath Reid gasped, and stood from his desk.
" Reid are you okay? " Emily asked looking up at him.
" I'm ... I just need some air for a moment. " Reid said as he walked off ignoring the looks from Emily & Derek.
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Standing outside Reid took in great lung fulls of air. He had felt trapped suddenly the weight of his thoughts in the office but was starting to calm down if only marginally. Why was everything so difficult right now? He hadn't had a problem with the football field incident in over 10 years. Why couldn't he control himself? He had eidetic memory, could read 20,000 words per minute, and recall it all with almost perfect clarity at any given moment. Letting out another sigh & rubbing a hand over his tired eyes Reid missed the curly haired girl with a full smile walk in. Moving his hands to look at the clear blue sky Reid decided that maybe if he talked to someone maybe ? ... no Erin was fishing for reasons to drop Hotch, and the team. If she found out Reid was having nightmares she'd say Hotch rode his team members into the ground till they cracked, and he'd never get anywhere. She'd say that Reid was on his way to breaking point like his mentor Jason Gideon. Strauss was trying to secure the top brass ring for herself by pushing out the best on any reason. No if he talked; she'd find out, and the team would be finished for sure.
Sighing once more Reid dug his hand into his pocket, and pulled out the 1 year sober medallion that was just barely keeping him on track. Maybe a meeting tonight would help him out greatly. Pulling in another deep breath Reid sighed again, and walked back into the building all the while thinking today was a day for sighing no matter what the weather was like.
Charisma stepped off the elevator and headed to Hotch's office. She was still jazzed enough to not notice the looks she was receiving from her new team mates. Stopping in front of his door she knocked and waited to be let in. Hearing Hotch say come in Charisma stepped inside closing the door behind her.
Morgan looked at Emily to gather her reaction on what they had just seen. He was a little taken aback by a teen walking into Hotch's office. He glanced up in time to see Hotch closing his blinds. He turned back to Emily.
" Since when ... ? He never closes his blinds." Emily said out loud.
" What do you think she's here for? " Morgan asked.
" I don't know. " Emily said as she looked to Hotch's windows again.
" She was cute though. " Morgan stated with his usual eye for beauty.
" She was also a little too young for you. She couldn't be more than 18 maybe? " Emily told Morgan.
" So he's what ? Interviewing babysitters for Jack. " Morgan thought out loud.
" I think he would have let Haley do that. " Emily told Derek.
" Not if Hotch wanted to have a full background check done on whoever he keeps. " Morgan looked at Hotch's windows again. " Still gotta wonder. "
Charisma closed the door behind herself, and sat her bag down in one of Hotch's desk chairs. She opened the bag of croissants and held it out to Hotch. He took it with a look of mild surprise, and got up to close the blinds of his office.
" I figured based on the time of our meeting, and the look on your face then that you had foregone breakfast so I picked up one for each of the team. " She told him.
" Thank you Agent O'Connell. I finished reading your file; based on most of your degrees, and the directions that Fornell is thinking of following I'd like for you to be a profiler for the team, but also a psychologist. I trust you can handle these two different jobs. " Hotch asked.
" Of course I can Sir. On what you've asked I'll come up with a working schedule for everyone to have a sessions with me. "
" If you're ready you can meet the rest of the team. " Hotch said standing from his desk.
" I'm ready. " Charisma said.
Hotch opened his office door, and walked toward the conference room. He stopped in front of Emily's desk.
" Gather the team, and meet me in the conference room. " With that done Hotch plowed on with Charisma right behind him, Morgan following in the rear. Once inside the conference room Morgan took his usual seat and waited. He took the time to look over who was with Hotch. She was young, cute, average build, in designer clothes from the look of things, and couldn't keep her hair out of her face. Maybe she was here about a new case as a witness. He stopped his musings as the rest of the team came in, and took their seats. They waited for Hotch to start talking about whatever this meeting was about.
" I want to start off by saying that there have been a few changes to the team since last night..." Hotch started.
" What happened ? " Penelope asked. " Is someone getting transfered? "
" Penelope nothing bad happened. This morning I was informed that a new member would be added to the team. " Hotch told them.
Charisma stood in the background waiting to be introduced to them. Her smile dropped as they started in with the questions.
" Why would they assign someone to a full team? " JJ asked.
" Do you know when this new member is going to get here? " Morgan asked.
" The Director of the Bureau is trying to determine if adding an 8th member would be beneficial to all BAU teams. This new member would serve as a profiler & psychologist to the team. As for when the new member will be getting here. Everyone this is Charisma O'Connell newest member to the Virginia BAU Unit. " Aaron introduced, and Charisma stepped forward.
" Charisma these are agents Jennifer Jareau, Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid, David Rossi, & our technical analyst Penelope Garcia. "
Charisma smiled at the rest of the team. " Hi. I'm Charisma O'Connell, and yes lets get this out of the way I'm young for the job. Just a few things about myself. I was born in London, England , but I do have dual citizenship. I'm 17 almost 18. I have an IQ of 190 with am eidetic memory, that encompasses absolute pitch. I have a P.H.D. 's in Sociology, & Mathematics, with masters in Library Science & Criminal Psychology. I'm also studying for a my degree in Forensic Pathology. " She stopped when Reid spoke up.
" I've read about you. Graduated high school age 11, finished college by 15, and from there you were being looked at to be recruited into an FBI think-tank. Since you're here now I'd say that the FBI was your likely choice. Although I haven't read anything about you in the 3 years. " Reid said to the team.
" My recruitment & training were kept on a need to know basis. Only certain officials knew what I did & where I work. I'm usually profiling from a desk for different cases, but Fornell wants me to have more field experience. " Charisma told them.
" You do realize the field of work you're putting yourself into right? Its not just something that you can jump into after reading a few files, or seeing a few pictures. This job takes away from peoples spirit. The cases we go to, and the things are human nature at some of its worst times. Are you truly ready to see that in person ? " Morgan asked of Charisma.
" Of course I realize that. I know what I'm getting into with being a profiler. I've seen first hand what you're talking about. I know what these people do to others. I've worked crime scenes & assisted in pathology examinations. I may look like a kid to you, but I've worked my ass to get here. I'm not someone to take what I do lightly. I've been working for a long as I can remember, and just because you're older than me, and may have been here longer doesn't mean I don't deserve the respect it took me to get here. " Charisma said. She picked up her bag, and walked out of the room. Barely giving the others a look.
" Hot Stuff ? You really stepped in it. She's young, but she's still a person, and I'd say you just hurt her feelings. If she's here it must mean something. " Penelope said looking at Derek intensely.
" I don't care what you do Morgan, but get this fixed before we get a case. I can assure you if she leaves both of our jobs are on a plate for Fornell. " Hotch told Morgan pointedly.
" She left her stuff. " JJ stated.
Hotch turned and looked at what had in her hand. " Actually O'Connell thought it would be nice if she brought breakfast for team. She even gave me on as well. " Hotch told the team.
JJ stood up and walked to the forgotten bag of food that Charisma had left. She opened it, and gave a small smile.
" She bought breakfast for us. Oh you really need to apologize now my Chocolate Adonis. " Penelope said.
Hotch walked out to find that Charisma had sat herself at Reid's desk, and was flipping through the pages of a book there. " You shouldn't have walked out. If you want the team to respect you; you have to show that you can take the criticism they might give you, and show the level of maturity that you showed Fornell to where you are right now. " Hotch stated sagely.
" I understand Sir. " Charisma says.
" That's another thing I'd like for you to call me Hotch or Aaron. " He tells her.
" Hotch ? You got it Sir ... I mean Hotch. " Charisma said with a smile. " I'll what you said into thought. So do I have a desk or what? "
" In all honesty I didn't know you would be assigned to me so I didn't have an open desk for you, but Strauss knew you would be here. She informed me that she had the office next to JJ's cleared out for you. " Hotch says.
" You mean Agent Jareau right ? " She asked.
" Yes. Some of the team has nicknames for each other. You'll probably pick them up quickly. " Aaron told her as the team came out of the conference room each with a croissant in hand.
Emily was the first to reach Charisma. She smiled when she got to Charisma. " Hi Emily Prentiss. " She held her hand out.
Charisma gave her hand a shake. " Hi Emily. "
" I wanted to thank you for breakfast, and welcome you to the team. " She lifted the croissant slightly. " We all would like to welcome you. "
" Are you sure? " Charisma said while looking at Derek.
" I'm sure we'll work great together. " Emily assured Charisma.
" I'm sure we will too. " Charisma said looking at Derek again who was looking at her as well.
JJ stepped forward and held her hand out as well. " Hi. Its Charisma right? " She asked.
" Yeah it is. " Charisma said smiling. " Jennifer right? " JJ nodded yes. " Hotch told me that my office was next to yours. Could you show me where that is? "
" Sure I'll show you the way. We can even talk later after I get some paperwork of mine finished. " JJ offered.
" I'd like that. I know it sounds weird that I'm going to be on this team, but I do want this to work. " Charisma said.
" I have a feeling this is going to work out. " JJ told her.
Charisma followed JJ to her office. " Thanks Jennifer. " Charisma told her as she stood in front of her office door. She paid no mind as JJ left her there alone.
Charisma opened the door and took her first steps into her new office. She ran her fingers across her desk as she walked around the room. Images of how she could decorate the space flashed to her as she looked around. Charisma flopped into her chair, and sighed as she closed her eyes. This was the start of her career. The start of her life. The start of a future filled with hurt, pain, love, laughter, and more surprises then she could ever imagine. This was the start of Charisma O'Connell Head Psychologist & Criminal Profiler for the FBI: Behavioral Analysis Unit.
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Ending Author's Note: So tell me what you think. I'll take it good or bad. I just want reviews. They tell me if I'm going in the right direction or not. So let me know good people of Fanfiction. You know you want to ;-))
MUCH LOVE TO ALL !