A/N: This is the story of my OMC Matt Taylor in the "100" story arc. I knew I had to write this one sooner or later. If I'm going to make a viable OMC, and put him into the position in the BAU that I have, then this story has to be written to explain some things. Yet I know I can't send CM canon into oblivion. It gave me a bit a daunting task which I sorta loved. A writer needs to be challenged.

To all the CM FF readers out there that takes a glance at this story: if you don't know who my OMC Matt Taylor is, the first chapter should explain enough to help you and make this a standalone story.

And yes, you get my promise again. This story is completely written before I start posting. FF posting demons be dam*** you will get a chapter a day.

All rights belong to CBS, ABC Studios, Mark Gordon Productions and the wonderful CM writers that contributed to this whole story arc. I will be borrowing from them extensively throughout this story.

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

Matt Taylor stood in front of the patio door in the kitchen of him and his wife's home, looking out at the now covered pool. His was wearing only his boxers, deep in thought at 1:30 in the morning.

He felt her light touch. Abbey knew him too well. He was wrestling with something. She gently rubbed his back, her warm hand sending shivers up his spine as he was getting cold standing in the cool of a September evening in their home. Yet the cold he felt always made him alert, with his mind whirling with thoughts.

Abbey wrapped her arms around her husband and rubbed his chest while snuggling to his back. Matt put his hand on top of the one that was lovingly rubbing his chest. "Matt, I'm here."

He softly smiled into the darkness. "I know babe," he said, pausing. Abbey gave him the time. She knew he would talk. They had a solid marriage, based on being able to talk about their deepest troubles to each other. They were the perfect partners.

Matt took a deep breath. Abbey, while not a profiler like her husband, had learned a bit from their talks and read her husband. He was going to share. He bowed his head a bit. "I'm really worried about Aaron."

"I know he's having trouble with Jack and Haley being gone. He's got to be worried sick."

"It's more than that babe. Strauss is using the situation to get his ass. She's micro reading every report line for line, looking for anything to send up the chain that he's losing it. And the brass is starting to back her. I got an email from Tom yesterday morning, asking my assessment. The brass is worried, compliments of Erin Strauss sending up red flags she shouldn't be."

Abbey knew that Tom was Tom McLaughlin, Matt's TAC officer from the Naval Academy and the person that recruited him into the FBI, away from the Marine Corps. He was an Assistant Director; the division he headed was Counter-Terrorism. His word carried weight with Director Mueller. "What did you tell him?" she quietly asked.

"The truth; Aaron is more than capable of running his unit, even with the personal issues he has." Matt paused and lowered his head again. "I also included that I think Aaron is working on something with the Foyet case; he's doing it alone; and he has an end game. I owe Tom that." He shook his head. "And after what happened today, I'm damn sure."

Abbey rubbed his chest again. "Come back to bed with me where it's warm," she said, taking his hand, gently leading him to the stairs. "You can tell me all about it."

Matt smiled and kissed the best damn thing in his life. The three children they shared together, as much as they both loved them, were the frosting on the cake of their relationship.

As they curled together in bed, Matt shivering a bit, getting the warmth back in his body, shared his day with his wife.

-CM00-

The team was in the office, diving through their normal avalanche of white, as in paperwork. They all hated it. But it had to be done. Yet, Aaron Hotchner had much more on his mind, and decided to take action.

He walked down the catwalk above the bullpen, past Dave's open blinds and door in his office and took a deep breath. He knocked on Matt Taylor's open door and stuck his head in. "You gotta minute?"

Matt Taylor looked at his one of his best friends first, his partner second, and knew Hotch had something big on his mind. The profiling training he had received at first from Hotch, when Aaron selected him to be Assistant Unit Chief over five years ago, followed by what he learned from the man that shared the office next to him told Matt that something was up. And it was huge.

"Always Hotch," Matt smiled, waving at the two chairs in front of his desk. When Aaron entered, shut the door and sat down in one of the chairs across from his desk, the profiler in him wasn't the only one on alert. The Marine re-con commander of Matt's mind made his guts churn. "What's up?"

"I'm getting a lot of static from the higher ups," Hotch simply said.

Matt shook his head. "I know." Hotch looked at him. "I've sorta been in Strauss' loop on this one. Please know I've backed you a thousand percent." He smiled. "And I ran that up the flagpole big time at JEdgar."

Hotch slightly smiled, knowing his partner and his friend did exactly that. "Thank you; it's appreciated. I don't know who your contact is, but I know he has to be up there."

Matt smiled back, sending the message I've got your back partner. "Aaron, you can fight Strauss. Dave and I will back you." He looked for a reaction from Hotch, and seeing none, knew his partner's mind was already set.

"I'm getting too much heat from the higher ups and I'm afraid they will tear apart this team. I can't let that happen."

"You're giving up?" Matt stared into his partner's eyes.

"No, I'm trying my goddamn best to keep this unit together," Hotch said, rising out of his chair to pace. Matt profiled that immediately. That was the most uncharacteristic move he had seen Aaron Hotchner make.

"Aaron, I'm going to give the best advice right now that I can. Sit back down in that chair," Matt pointed, "and just talk to me." Hotch glared at him. Matt shook his head with a smile. "My blinds are open and there are very probing eyes in that bullpen. Do you really want to start the rumor mill?"

Hotch sat down. "No, I don't. And you read me too well."

Matt smiled. "I learned from the best of the best."

Aaron looked at his hands and then looked him in the eye. "Matt, I'm afraid with what's happening in my life Strauss is going to use that to execute her end game with me."

"Her end game being removing the person that she sees as a threat to her career," Matt said, boring a look into his partner's eyes.

Hotch looked at his hands again and then directly into Matt's eyes. He owed his partner that much. "Exactly," was his response.

"Aaron that is bullshit; you know it; and if I got Dave into the loop, he'd tell you the same thing. Fight her Aaron."

"Matt, if I do, she has enough power to take this team apart. I won't let that happen."

Matt thought for a second. "I don't think she has a much power as you think," he said pausing, already assessing the situation. "However, I can see your point." He already profiled that in his partner.

"I need to resign as Unit Chief. That's the only way I can keep this team intact."

"You're leaving the Unit?"

"No, I'm just stepping down as Unit Chief. However, I need someone I trust to lead this team. That's you; you've done it before. And with me stepping down as Unit Chief, I can keep this team together. We're needed," Hotch said, nodding out the windows. "Out there; helping stop the monsters. Will you help me?"

Matt, in all his years of experience, never thought he would hear that from a line officer; the person in command. He shook his head. "My gut response to you: I'm gonna have to think that one over Hotch." That got him the Hotch glare.

Matt matched it with his Irish temper flaring a bit. "Don't give me that goddamn glare Aaron. I don't have complete buy-in on what you're doing. Oh, I know you want to keep the team together, given the pressure you are receiving. I get that. But partner, I know you too well. There's more going on," he said, matching Hotch's glare. "There's another plan working."

"No, Matt," Hotch defended, "there isn't. I've got to protect this team."

Matt looked at Hotch and ran things through his mind. He looked at his partner, and best friend, in the eye. "I don't buy that."

"Damnit Matt, I need you to buy that."

Matt looked at the only man that was capable of leading the BAU. He quickly made his decision.

"Aaron, I'm sorry. I need to think this one over." Hotch looked at him. "I'll give you my answer tomorrow morning."

###

A/N: As always, I use this part of my FF writing world to explain things to my readers, especially my awesome international ones. If there is something that I've missed and you would like an explanation or clarification, please drop me a PM.

That said, JEdgar is the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington DC which is the FBI headquarters.