A/N: Procrastination is over with; let's get this party started!

Like always, this is a completely written FF; you will get a chapter a day. *gives FF gremlins Jedi Knight stare*

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios. Any mention of previous unsubs that have appeared on Criminal Minds are the creation of the writer of the episode that the unsub appeared in.

Chapter 1

With the New Year came the usual pattern for unsubs that David Rossi noted years ago. Taking the holidays off, they had to make up for lost time. January of 2015 was pretty much a blur to the whole team; which slid into the first part of February.

Just when the team thought they had caught a break with some down time in the office, Donnie Mallick murdered Jason Gideon. Gideon's death not only hit the team hard, but their support staff of agents in the BAU bullpen. All hands were on deck to bring that case home. Chief Cruz immediately ordered them all on a two week stand down, with Cooper's team filling in as number one. Cruz even made sure that Kevin Lynch was Cooper's team technical analyst, giving Garcia a break as well.

And then Cruz got promptly called away to put out a major fire involving the Bureau and DOD. That left Hotch once again filling in for the Section Chief.

To help Hotch out and get him out the door by five to spend time with Jack each evening, Matt Taylor took over the day to day operations of the team. "Yes Aaron," Matt promised, "I'll send you a daily update." Hotch nodded his acceptance of the deal. Getting up to leave, Matt added over his shoulder, "After Jack goes to bed," quickly heading out Hotch's door.

With the team on stand down, it was pretty easy: get them to clear their reports for the first cases of the year. He gave them all a week to get caught up on the case backlog; they all finished in three days. That earned the entire BAU one of Raquel's famous chocolate cakes and two rounds of drinks on Matt at Murray's; their favorite after work Irish hang out. Hotch even showed up for that, buying a third round. Yet, they all walked into the office the next day to an email from Matt handing out the assignments on the consults that needed attention.

The Monday of the next week, Prentiss knocked on the doorframe of Matt's open office door and stuck her head in. "Hey," she said. "I just got an email from Hotch; he's getting heat from the Houston COD for my consult. It needs your sign off."

Matt waved her into one of the chairs in front of his desk. "God damn big city bigwigs that think they need an official sign off on a consult," Matt complained. Emily smiled at him. I'm just finishing it; give me a couple." Prentiss sat down. Matt finished reading and signed off on the consult. "Spot on as usual," he smiled, handing her the file. He got up from his desk and went to close the door to his office.

"God damnit, not you too," Prentiss complained. "I've already got the sermonette from Hotch and Rossi.

Matt sat down, shaking his head with a smile. "Prentiss, I qualify for the clergy at a level a little under Dave. Hell, I couldn't even be a choir boy." Emily lightly laughed at the comment. "But I know what Hotch and Rossi have said to you. We all talk, remember?" Prentiss looked at him. "In a way, they're right; you don't need to be here, playing second fiddle. You could lead your own team; anywhere."

"I don't want that," Emily said.

"Prentiss, for once, let me finish," he smiled. She looked at him. "They're afraid you might be getting bored." Prentiss shot him a look. "And for the record, no, they have not noticed that in your job performance nor have I." Matt gave her the Irish smile with a bit of his boyish shrug. "We're on stand down; that means the two of them put on their Mother Hen aprons." Prentiss smiled at the comment. Matt looked directly into her eyes. "I get it; and I've got your back."

Before she could open her mouth, Matt continued. "Hotch told me what you said when you rejoined the team and he was doing your final assessment for the Bureau head shrinkers. This profiling job is clean for you; you don't have to play dirty or under the table." Prentiss nodded. "But it's more. You've finally got what you've wanted for your life."

Matt smiled as she eyed him closely. "You've got roots; something you never had growing up with your mother's varied overseas assignments. You've got your own home in an area that you consider home; and you've got Declan living with you."

"You forgot Sergio," Prentiss snarked.

"Oh let's not forget the damn cat," Matt snarked back. Matt was well known around the BAU as not being a total cat lover, given his days on his grandparent's farm where cats were only used in the dairy barn as mousers. He, however, highly supported all those with any type of pet and respected their choice.

Prentiss looked at him. "I thought we had an unspoken rule to not profile each other."

Matt smiled. "It doesn't take a profiler to see that you're happy and content. I wouldn't give that up either."

Prentiss smiled back. "Being the boss isn't all it's cracked up to be."

Matt laughed. "Don't I know it; I feel the same way. That's why I've very happily sat number two around here for nearly ten years. And ding dong next door," Matt motioned to Dave's office, "is very content being senior profiler, not having to deal with the politics. It's less headaches and grey hair."

"And you know how I feel about playing politics," Prentiss added.

Matt nodded. "Emily, you and Morgan provide this team with a middle layer of experience that is almost unprecedented in the Bureau. And part of what makes this team so successful. That's why Hotch could pick and choose for Blake's replacement. He didn't have the urgency to find someone that could step in and profile like it was when you were gone. Thank God Dave recognized that JJ was a perfect fit for that role." Emily smiled her acceptance. "This time, and because the Bureau wasn't making the call, Hotch had the luxury to look for someone that would fit in with this team and could profile. Off the record," Matt said, burrowing a look into her eyes that she was not to repeat the next. "His first choice was to bring Anderson up; with you and Morgan around, along with JJ doing so well, he could have started out profiling for real. But with Brian married now and Julia expecting a baby, he turned it down. He didn't want to travel."

"That's why Hotch promoted him to senior support agent," Emily smiled. She got the patented Matt Taylor point in response.

"And why Callahan has fit in so well," Matt added.

Emily smiled and got up from the chair. "Thanks Matt; I needed to hear all that." Matt smiled, as she reached to open the door. "And for the record, you do qualify for clergy," she snarked, pulling the door open.

"Get the hell out of my office," Matt growled with a smile.

Prentiss walked out with Morgan barreling up the steps past Reid's desk towards Matt's office. "This isn't good," she commented.

"No it's not princess," he replied, continuing towards Matt's door. He walked in without knocking. "Cob, remember the case you sent me for the consult with the Bloomington, Minnesota PD?"

"Yeah, the one with the woman abducted from the Mall of America that was sexually assaulted and had her heart cut out. It's pretty textbook Morgan; I give you the easy ones since you help Hotch and me with the after case paperwork."

Morgan shook his head. "It was and I sent it."

"So," Matt asked.

"I just got a call from the detective on the case. They've got a second body with the same signature; and no leads."

"Shit; do we have the invite," Matt asked.

"Signed by the department chief," Morgan nodded, waving the fax sheet at him.

Matt reached for his phone. "You let Hotch know and get the case details to Garcia. I'll get Chuck and Angie going. We'll brief the case on the jet." Morgan turned to leave his office. "And Morgan, we'll need Garcia along with us on this one. Let her know; Hotch and Lynch as well. Kevin's pulling double duty."

"Got it Cob; so much for being on stand down." Matt just shook his head, dialing Chuck.

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A/N: I just thought this continuing story with my OC needed a bit of refreshing and catching up with things in the BAU.

DOD is Department of Defense. COD is Chief of Detectives.

This chapter is an early birthday present to my Dutch Delight. ;)