Hello everyone. Be warned that this contains season two spoilers, especially from the season finale. I really wanted a story about how the team, especially Prentiss and Hotch, dealt with Strauss. This idea developed in my head, and I decided to go for it.

This story is a branch out for me. It's written in first person point of view, but the point of view will alternate between Prentiss and Hotch chapter by chapter. I will always make it clear though which person we are looking through. As this is a new method for me, I would really, really appreciate feedback about how I'm doing.

A little chapter note: this is a shorter chapter because this is somewhat of a prologue.

As always, I don't own any part of Criminal Minds. I borrowed characters, plots, and a few complete lines from the real CM, but they're not mine.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Answers

POV: Prentiss

"Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple." Theodor Geisel

"I put you in the BAU. I knew how badly you wanted it. Everyone did. You were never exactly shy about letting us know. But there were those who didn't think assigning you to the BAU was a good idea. They thought you were too reckless. I believed in you, however. It's time to pay back the faith I had. Your team is in trouble. They've lost sight of the big picture. I believe they are reckless and at times out of control. It's time for Agent Hotchner's career to come to an end. And if you want to stay in the BAU, Agent Prentiss, you're going to help me make that happen."

I don't know where it was in her whole speech that it suddenly became hard to breathe. Maybe it was when she told me that I didn't really earn my way into the BAU. Perhaps it was when she accused my team members of not doing their jobs correctly. But if it wasn't any of those moments that caused me to almost quit breathing, then it definitely was when she revealed that she wanted me to ruin Hotch's career. Somewhere in there though, I swore Erin Strauss began to invisibly suffocate me.

My brain was reeling from this avalanche of information. Answers to questions, some pondered and some not, had presented themselves uninvited. Now, I was filled with horrid feelings.

Shame flooded my insides as I realized how naïve I was. Why didn't I look into it more when Hotch and Gideon were confused about how I got in the department? Was I just so happy and excited that I didn't take the time to consider that maybe something strange was happening? Or too scared to consider that maybe I didn't earn it?

Reckless appeared to be Strauss's favorite word to describe my team. Anger pulsed through every vein in my body from those statements. How could this woman accuse my team members of being reckless? Out job is to catch criminals. We do so in the best way possible. Sometimes it's not pretty, sometimes there are mistakes. But reckless? What is Strauss playing at?

Then her final thoughts reentered my mind, and suddenly, all my anger and shame was replaced by fear, nervousness, and apprehension. I can't pick what is worst about it, considering she stated that she wants to take Hotch down, wants me to help her to do it, and was so desperate that she was willing to threaten me.

I want to run, run away from this room and the person in it. But I didn't want to quit running when I was away from this office, but until I was off this floor and out of this building. I didn't deserve to be here. I didn't deserve to go back to the BAU. Someone else had placed me here to harm those who had rightfully earned their spots.

I looked into Strauss's eyes. She was waiting eagerly for my reply to her horrifying request. Fear and dread were my companions as I started to gather my courage to say something, anything to give me more time.

"Agent Strauss," I began carefully. "I...-"

"Agent Prentiss, why don't you take a little bit of time to think about this?"

What? Her expression was soft, almost caring. It disgusted and confused me.

"Come back tomorrow morning with your answer. You're dismissed."

Strauss was firm this time. It was a command.

Once the shock of my escape wore off, I was able to habitually reply "Yes Ma'am". As I slowly got to the door, for some inexplicable reason, all I could think about were the other members of the BAU.

My mind first raced back to memories with Reid, his crazy facts and theories, physics magic and peas creating love among them. I wanted to smile, but the memory of him snapping at me erased that. Reid had changed and changed again. While he was no longer completely innocent, he now resembled much more the first Reid I met.

I then went to Morgan, the BAU protector. When I first met him, I thought he was only a guy with a lot of muscles. Now, I knew better. Morgan was brave and kind. The person who would do whatever he could for a victim, he had been among the first to accept me, even when I wasn't ready to accept him. Our friendship, while new and unexpected, had helped me immensely.

I jumped to JJ. Memories flooded me as I recalled the times we shared as being the two BAU women. Her confidence radiated on the news screen, and more than once it had aided us in capturing another unsub. While we don't spend much time together because of her position, I admire her for her strength and compassion. Our friendship was slowly blossoming.

My mind arrived at Garcia. I don't believe it's possible to have a bad memory with Garcia. Always ready with a comeback and information for us, Garcia brought light into the very dark hole that we sometimes found ourselves in. She had quickly welcomed me and been my friend.

Gideon, he had been one of the harder ones to win over. Quiet but passionate, Gideon was an unknown subject of his own kind. Little was revealed, and little was known about this experienced profiler. Surprisingly, he accepted me into the BAU, even though he knew about my shady entrance into the department. He started to trust me and what I could do. Now it felt like I had betrayed him.

And then, there was Hotch. Natural born leader was about the only way to describe him. However, Hotch had been the hardest to win over. Most confused about my arrival, it didn't help that he knew of my mother. There were times I had bitter feelings toward him because of his lack of trust. But, I had to remember that he did give me a chance to try the BAU. He also made it clear that if I didn't live up to the expectations that I would be taken out.

I was to the door handle when I stopped in realization. Time had flown since that night in Hotch's office. Days, weeks, months had passed, and yet, I was still here. Never was I supposed to be in the BAU, but I still was.

The weight of the decision I was facing finally hit me at full force. It felt I was back in school. Only this time, there was no teacher with a kind smile saying that there was no wrong answer.

A: Yes. I was in debt to Strauss. She was attempting to make me feel even more in debt to her by giving me more time. Also, my career was important to me. But was it important enough? Especially now that I knew the truth?

B: No. I couldn't help her. That would go against every code of ethics I possess. I learned from my mother; people who get mixed up in these sorts of things always get burned. Of course, it was my job I was putting on the line.

C: Both. I don't see this happening anytime soon. How could I say yes and really mean no? Or vice versa? It's just politics, all nasty, awful politics.

D: None of the above. I wish. Running seemed like the best way to accomplish this. Of course, I don't think I could run forever. Someone would hunt me down.

Teachers always said that two answers would seem totally off, and the other two would seem right. One was always more correct in the end. A or B? A or B? I turned to face Strauss again.

"I won't."

Did that just come out? Was I thinking it, or did I actually say it?

"Excuse me, agent?"

Okay, I actually said it. I took a deep breath. My eyes were on Strauss's face, but it wasn't what I was seeing. Visions flashed before my eyes, from one case to another, one memory to another, one team member to another.

"Agent Strauss, I'm ready to answer your request now. I won't help you."

Tension flooded the office. Her facial expression gave off the appearance that she was struggling to control her anger.

"Agent Prentiss, have you been listening to me?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"And you still say no?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"I'm very sorry to hear that. I think you'll regret that decision. You are passing up the opportunity to be safe."

I couldn't stop myself.

"Safe from what?"

Strauss heaved a sigh.

"Agent Hotchner is going down, and there's no guarantee that he's going to be the only one. Turmoil is coming to the BAU."

So, what did you think?