Like A Hero
Summary: His death shattered their lives, but they at least knew that he died a hero.
Notes: Entry for "The Dearly Departed Challenge" over at CCOAC. I got Derek Morgan assigned. Warning: CHARACTER DEATH!
Disclaimer: Not mine, but maybe I should ask Dave Rossi for some financial assistance to change that…
Prologue - The Last Time
The team was ready for some well-deserved downtime, after they spent the majority of the last seven weeks hunting unsubs all over the country, with only short stops in Washington to change the contents of their go-bags. When they came back to the office after closing the last case in Oregon, Section Chief Erin Strauss was already waiting for them.
"Chief Strauss, is something wrong?" Aaron Hotchner asked.
"Yes, agents, it is." She paused a moment, taking in the mixture of exhaustion and anticipation in their faces. "I have a new case for you", she said, only to be met with a chorus of groans.
"Erin, you know that we practically had back-to-back cases the last few weeks?" David Rossi was probably one of the calmest persons she ever had met, but now she saw a fire blazing in his dark eyes.
"Yes, Agent Rossi, I know. But this case can't wait, it comes from very high-up."
"Alright, Chief Strauss, what's this case about?" Aaron spoke up again, his voice laced with tiredness.
"Actually, it's not a case, it's an order. You all are ordered to stay away from this office for the next two weeks for some resting." She had to suppress a smile upon seeing their faces light up. "What are you waiting? Get home!" Erin said, the smile finally blossoming out on her face, belying the hard edge in her words. Not waiting for her to repeat the commando, the team turned and practically fled out of the bullpen, not knowing that this would be the very last time they would be together as the "magnificent Seven" of the BAU.
None of the team members wasted time to get out of Washington. JJ drove up to Pennsylvania with her boys to visit her family. Spencer flew out to Las Vegas to pay a visit to his mother at her new home. Blake took off to Paris to meet as well with some friends who lived there as well as her husband James between two of his tours as a doctor. Aaron decided to take Jack down to South Carolina for some lessons in family history. David drove up to his cabin, mostly to work on the next chapter of his latest book, but also to do some hunting. Pen went to New York to attend a comic book convention, and Derek went to Chicago to spend some time with his mum and his sisters.