The clock ticked slowly through Friday afternoon. Aaron Hotchner stood in front of his window observing his team in the bullpen below his office. The last several months had brought a consecutive string of horrendous and vile cases to his team. They were worn out, and it was starting to show in their interpersonal relationships.

David Rossi strolled into the Unit Chief's office and stood next to him watching the group below. Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Kate Callaghan, Jennifer Jareau and Penelope Garcia were all gathered around the group of desks belonging to Reid, Kate and JJ, talking amongst themselves. Their usual lively banter and friendly teasing was gone. The weariness of their minds not allowing them the normal familial affection they always showed each other. In it's place was solemn small talk.

Even Garcia was affected by the last several months. Typically, her natural happiness and ability to see the good and light in everything – and ability to tell a filthy, dirty joke - permeated the group and kept them above water when things got tough…. but not today. Today she seemed just as melancholy as the rest of them.

Rossi spoke, breaking the silence of Hotch's office, "You think it's time?"

"I do. I'm not sure they can keep going as they are right now" Agent Hotchner responded.

Leaving the office, Rossi told Hotch, "I'll make the call."

Garcia leaned against JJ's desk trying to make small talk and clear her mind of the horrible images of the last 3 months. "Any big plans with my sweet godson this weekend, Jayje?"

"No. Will took him back to New Orleans to spend some time with his family. They left yesterday." She responded plainly, but the sadness of missing her son and husband was evident. You didn't need to be a profiler to see it.

"Awww, sug! When will they be back? I know you must miss them terribly! Will does have everything he needs to video chat, doesn't he? I made sure I set it up so it would even be easy for Henry to use… and before you say anything, the only person Henry can call is you. I'm certain you couldn't get through my security, let alone that sweet little boy!"

JJ used Garcia's deep breath to break into her ramble. "Yes, sweetie. I've already talked to them a couple of times. They will be back in a couple of days. I just wasn't sure if I could get the time off with the caseload we've had lately, so I just told them to go without me. They will be back on Tuesday. I know I've been away from them longer, but I'm normally in a crappy hotel missing them and not in my own bed."

Garcia reached out and grabbed her friend's hand. She knew how hard these separations from the team were on herself. She couldn't even imagine being away from your husband and child. "We should totally get together this weekend. Sam and I haven't made any plans. We haven't done girl's night in a while… well, you know…. Since the last time… you know…." A small smile crept across Garcia's face as she trailed off.

JJ let out a hearty laugh. "I'm not sure I'm up for…. You know…., but a girl's night would be fun."

Hearing JJ laugh so heartily, Kate stopped her small talk with Reid and Morgan to ask what was so funny. Garcia looked up with a twinkle in her eye and a Cheshire cat grin "oh… you know!"

At that, the three ladies started to giggle. Yes, giggle. Three grown women, employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were gasping for air as their giggles took over. Morgan and Reid just stared at them. "Do you have any idea what is going on?" Morgan asked Reid with a completely confused look on his face.

"Me? You're asking me about women?" Reid balked.

"I'm guessing they share a secret that is very entertaining." Rossi smirked at the group as he walked up behind them.

"You could say that. I was just suggesting to Penelope that she, Kate and I have a girl's night this weekend." JJ tried to cough out as she regained her breath from their hysterics.

Before Morgan could add his two cents, they heard a very distinct and familiar throat clearing from the walkway above them. "Round table room… now." With six sets of eye trained on Hotch's stern demeanor, the light mood that had finally just entered the building was quickly sucked out of the room.

"Oh no… no no no… It's FRIDAY!" Penelope whined.

"Come on, momma. You know unsubs don't take the weekends off. Let's go put on our capes." Morgan winked at Garcia as he wrapped his arm around her waist, and they trudged towards the round table room.

"You're right, Hot Stuff. I'm just tired." He pulled her closer and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

He realized as he relaxed into her closeness that there was no real reason for their closeness. He just needed it. The thought of another case so soon wore on him and he was looking to her for comfort, as he always did.

The last several months had put a deep strain on his relationship with Savannah, but even in their prime, he still found his most comfort and peace in the arms of his best friend. Even after 10 years, he wasn't sure he understood it. He knew the FBI didn't understand. Their mandated sexual harassment seminars were proof of that. He just knew he needed her. To him, it was as simple as that.

Garcia sighed contentedly as Morgan pulled her in tighter and kissed her head. His fingers tightened into her hip, his strong arm pulling her closer and his face nuzzled into her hair. Her pulse picked up as it always did when he was this close. If it had been anyone else in the FBI, jaws would go slack and eyes would bulge at the public display of affection and intimacy. However, it was just Morgan and Garcia and without their usual verbal flirtation, this action seemed somewhat tame.

The team didn't even blink. It WAS tame for Morgan and Garcia. The rest of the BAU was growing weary of their denials. There had to be something going on between them. Their love was obvious to everyone but themselves. It was so obvious, the rest of the Bureau was taking bets on when they would actually get together or if they already had. Agent Anderson was the creator and administrator of a VERY large, complex spreadsheet keeping track of possible scenarios (past, present and future) and wagers made. Section Chief Mateo Cruz good naturedly turned a blind eye to the whole thing, but even the Director had placed his bet. He knew it took a very special group of people to do what SSA Hotchner's team did for the FBI, and he was not going to be the one to mess with it.

Unconventional? Yes. Working? Absolutely!

Morgan and Garcia were the last to enter the room. Penelope spoke up right away, "Sir, is there a case? I wasn't given any notification."

"No, Garcia. There isn't a case. Everyone please take a seat." Hotch started. The room was eerily quiet.

Before Hotch could start, Morgan spoke up. "Hotch, man…. What's going on? I'm fairly certain I speak for everyone here that we're a little freaked out if this isn't a case. At least I speak for Garcia because she's getting ready to break my hand she's squeezing it so tight."

Garcia gasped and dropped his hand, not even realizing she was holding it, let alone that she was hurting him. She whispered "sorry" as the blush flushed across her cheeks. At this, the corner of Hotch's mouth ghosted a tiny smile.

"Actually, it's come to my attention that our recent caseload has started to wear fairly heavily on our team. So after clearing it with the Cruz and the Director, we are on a stand-down for the next 2 weeks." The tension in the room was gone immediately. Smiles slowly started to form around the room.

Reid was the first to pose the question. "That's great, but there has to be more, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have your bad news face on."

Kate cut in, "His bad news face? Ugh… I know I'm the new one, but how can you tell the difference, Reid? You know… in case I need future pointers." The corners of her mouth slowly turning up as she looked back and forth between Reid and Hotch.

JJ answered for Reid, "Work with him for a decade… you'll know it. So what's the catch, Hotch?"

With his arms crossed across his chest, Hotch dropped his chin down and let out a brief huff of laughter and smiled. "Actually, it's only a small catch… well, two small catches. The stand down isn't pure vacation. We will be required to be here catching up on paperwork, but all new cases will be diverted to the B Team. The second catch is that we will be taking part in a mandatory team building weekend this weekend in an effort to boost morale."

Groans came out from around the room. "Seriously? This weekend? JJ, Kate and I were making plans for a girl's night!" Garcia started the complaints.

"Yeah, man… I've got tear down going on my newest property." Morgan added.

Reid knew there was no point in objecting. Kate didn't want to rock the boat as the newest team member, even if she had been there going on a year. JJ knew that her plans weren't really ruined as she really didn't have any yet. Rossi had no objections, because he actually knew what was going on. He took this opportunity to try and settle the room. "Why don't we let Hotch tell us exactly what we have to do before we complain too terribly?"

"Thanks, Dave. As I was saying, our mandatory team building weekend is this weekend, but I was given leeway in what activities we have to participate in. The only rule I was told to abide by was that it was strictly team only – no spouses, no dates, no kids. And I actually picked this weekend because I knew that Will & Henry were out of town, Savannah was on call, Meg in on her school field trip to Williamsburg, and Jessica has Jack. Penelope, I'm sorry if you had plans with Sam. I was unable to obtain his schedule."

"Oh no, sir. It's fine. We didn't have plans set in stone, but it was very considerate to think of us. Thank you." She smiled, even if her heart did clench slightly at knowing that Sam had not really found his way into the group yet. The team was always nice and cordial, but even Kevin Lynch had mixed more easily with them and that's saying something.

Morgan seeing the smile didn't reach her eyes, gave her hand a squeeze. He leaned to her and whispered "you ok, baby girl?" She turned to look into his eyes, their faces so close only the barest of whispers was needed to communicate "yeah, hot stuff… I'm fine." And as she looked into his eyes seeing them flooded with concern, her smile did reach her eyes.

Hotch cleared his throat and snapping Morgan and Garcia to attention, "As I was saying, tonight we'll meet at the bar at 8 pm – dinner, drinks, dancing, merriment. Tomorrow at 1 pm, barbeque at Rossi's house. No need to worry about food, it's taken care of. Saturday night, movies at Dave's as well. Tonight, cabs will be provided home, so I suggest you take them to the restaurant. Tomorrow night, there is plenty of room at Dave's house if someone has too much fun and can't drive home. Any questions?"

Reid was the first one to speak up. "So is this the whole thing... um, mandated merriment? This is all we have to do? And what if we don't want to dance?"

Hotch's expression became serious again, "Yes, this is the whole thing and dancing is mandatory, even myself. We will have fun. We will be carefree. We will enjoy ourselves, even if mandated by the FBI. Cruz has informed me that he will be checking in on us, although I'm not sure when. So I guess we should just go and enjoy ourselves and relax during a night out knowing we won't be called in."

Rossi could hardly contain his laughter as he looked at the faces around the room. This group of young people has just been told that they have a weekend of mandated partying and frivolity, and they have no idea what to do with themselves.