Disclaimer: as always, I own nothing, no copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: I had this idea after the episode JJ aired the first time. After seeing last night's episode, I was inspired to actually set it down. I may incorporate the Doyle story line at some point as we go along.

It was unusual for Spencer Reid to go to Chief Erin Strauss's office. He was more than happy to avoid the administration and bureaucracy of the FBI whenever possible, but he felt this was inevitable, so he might as well get it over with. He had dropped his things at his desk in the bullpen, had a brief conversation with Hotch, and came to Strauss's office. He waited patiently until her secretary let him know the Section Chief for the BAU would see him.

Once he was in her office, she asked, "What is it that I can do for you, Agent Reid?"

"I just wanted to hand you this in person." He handed her an envelope.

"What is this, Agent Reid," Strauss asked, not even bothering to open it.

"It's my resignation, ma'am."

"Excuse me?"

"My resignation. I am resigning from the Behavior Analysis Unit and the Bureau."

She sighed. "Does this have anything to do with Agent Jareau?"

"In part, ma'am."

"Agent Reid," she began," I was expecting some reaction from the rest of the team, but this is melodramatic. If not infantile."

"No ma'am. Just vanishing like Jason Gideon did was infantile. I'm acting responsibly."

"Does Agent Hotchner know about this?"

"Yes ma'am. I talked to him about this before I came over."

"I see. Agent Reid, why are you leaving? Just because Agent Jareau was transferred?"

"No. Because you chose to transfer her."

"I didn't choose that. The Pentagon chose for her to be reassigned."

"And you chose not to fight it. Just as you have continually chosen to try to remove Agent Hotchner from the BAU. Can you tell me, ma'am, who's next? Which one of us will be taken away next? Morgan? Garcia? Rossi?"

"Agent Reid, this is how the world works."

"No. This is how your world works. I understand that. I don't like it, but I understand it. So, I'm choosing not to stay."

"If you leave, Agent Reid, there will be no coming back."

"That's fine with me." And with that, Spencer Reid walked out of her office. As soon as the door closed behind him, Strauss was on the phone with Aaron Hotchner.

A short time later, the team was gathered in the conference room for their daily briefing of cases. They were all gathered around the table, waiting for Hotch to come in to start the briefing. As soon as he did, Reid spoke up.

"Uh, actually, Hotch," Reid said," I have something I need to tell everyone."

"Why don't we talk in private first, Reid."

"No, I don't think that will change things."

"What's gong on, Reid," Rossi asked.

"I submitted my resignation from the Bureau. In two weeks, I will no longer be a part of either the FBI or the BAU."

Everyone was quiet.

"I just thought everyone should know. I think we've all had enough surprises to last a while. Now, do we have a case that requires travel Hotch?"

The briefing continued.

A few days later, they were on the BAU jet coming back from a case, when Morgan sat down next to Hotch and Rossi.

"What are you going to do about Reid?" Morgan asked Hotch.

"What do you mean?"

"You can't let him leave."

"I can't stop him Morgan."

"You know he's just leaving because of JJ."

"It's his call, Derek," Rossi said.

"That's it?"

"Look, I'd like for him to stay, but it's his choice and I'm not going to interfere. Like it or not, he makes his own choices."

"And you're okay with this?"

"I respect his choice."

"Hotch," Morgan said," you're okay with this?"

"I don't want to lose him, but I'm not certain we can change his mind. I've talked to him several times, but he seems to have made up his mind. If it makes you feel any better, Strauss doesn't want him to leave either."

"She knows?"

"He gave her his letter of resignation in person."

"Is he that pissed about JJ?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

"I tried. He won't talk about it."

"Give him time," Rossi said.

"We don't have much time to get him to change his mind."

"Don't approach it like that. Just ask him why he's leaving. If there's one thing Reid is always willing to do, it's explain things."

In another part of the plane, Prentiss kept looking at Reid, who was reading a book. She couldn't stand it anymore.

"Are you going to talk about it?" she asked him.

"About what?"

She grabbed the book out of his hands.

"Hey, I was reading that."

"Answer my question and I'll give it back. You know damn well what I'm talking about, so stop pretending to be oblivious. Why are you leaving? Is it just about JJ? Or something else?"

"Does it matter?"

"It does to me. Look, I just want to understand your thinking."

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend and I care about you. Because I'm interested in understanding human behavior. And because I'm going to miss you."

"I'm sorry Emily."

"Look, if you feel you need to leave, I understand. Do you want to get something to eat when we get back? Maybe at the Indian place you always want to go to?"

"What for?"

"To talk. If you chose to do this, then I know you gave it a lot of thought. I just want to understand, that's all. I promise not to try to talk you out of it until I understand it."

"And then?"

"No promises." She handed him his book back.

"Fair enough."