At the sound of a knock, SSA Jason Gideon, Unit Chief for the Quantico based BAU team, looked up. He was a little surprised to see Agent Aaron Hotchner standing there as he hadn't been expecting him. Still, he was glad to see his friend and fellow agent. He had missed him the last few months while Aaron had been on temporary reassignment. A reassignment that Gideon had arranged.

"Have a seat," Gideon said, indicating the chair across the desk from him. " I see you managed to get yourself away from the trainees for a while. I think you've been putting more time in while assigned to the Academy than you do when you're here."

"Haley would agree with you. I have my reasons though."

"That trainee you've been giving extra help to?" Gideon asked, receiving a nod from Hotch. "How's he doing anyway?"

"Not bad. The firearm scores are the question mark. He's got one more attempt on both the handgun and the shotgun to pass. He's going to have to score high enough on the last round with the handgun to bring the total for the three attempts above eighty. I'm going to actually work with him again tonight on that. I think he's going to make it though."

"Good. Wouldn't want all your extra time to be for nothing," Gideon said. "And I'll be glad when all of those trainees graduate and you're back here."

"You're the one who managed to get me assigned as a field counselor."

"What choice did I have? You threatened to resign on me, I figured you'd spend some time at the academy, take some time to reevaluate things, and then come back here ready to do your job again," Gideon said. He looked across the desk at his friend and fellow agent trying to read the expression there. As good of a profiler as he was, Gideon couldn't get a reading from his friend's face. "You are coming back right?"

"Yes, I plan on coming back," Hotch told him. The unit chief's plan had worked exactly as he had wanted to. What Gideon didn't know, was that the whole reason he was going back to the BAU was the trainee he had been working with. Going into the twenty-week training program for new agents, Hotch had every intention of resigning after the assignment. Meeting Trainee Spencer Reid had changed that. Had put him back in touch with why he had joined the FBI in the first place. "Heard there have been some changes here."

"Yeah, I had to let Robbins go for starters."

"Things with him and Morgan finally come to a head?"

"You could say that," Jason Gideon said. Morgan and Robbins had been at odds with one another since the latter had joined the BAU shortly after Morgan. Gideon had gotten approval for another team member and had brought Robbins on board from his current position in the Laboratory Division of the FBI. Before joining the FBI Robbins had been a New York City Police officer spending time in both ESU and on the Crime Scene Unit, two experiences which Gideon had thought would be beneficial to the team. What he had not anticipated were the two agents clashing. At first Gideon had just chalked it up to their competitive natures, and both of them trying to find their place within the group. He figured the two agents would work things out on their own. It hadn't happened that way. Morgan had joined the team in January and Robbins in February. Even after about five months of working together, there was still an underlying hostility between the two agents that had never gone away, though both agents conducted usually conducted themselves in a professional manner that allowed them to work together. Or at least Gideon had thought it did. "Robbins came to my office about two weeks after you started over at the Academy. Told me that he couldn't work with Morgan and that it was either him or Morgan. I don't like ultimatums. I told him he was free to explore other options."

"It was the right choice. Morgan's still a little rash at times but he's come a long way in a short time. Robbins, though a capable agent, still hadn't seemed to quite get the team concept dynamic of this group."

"Right, though I will admit I'm going to miss the expertise he brought to the table when it came to investigating a crime scene."

Hotch nodded. "But I think we've all learned a lot from him in the time he's been with us, despite his lack of teaching skills. We'll get by. This team can't operate if one of its members refuses to work with the others."

"You're right. I just recruited SSA Fred Hudson from the NY office a few weeks ago. He's applied several times for the BAU, and I thought I'd give him a chance. He's settling into the team fairly well. Then last week Collins decides to resign out of the blue."

SSA Beverly Collins had been with the BAU since before Hotch had joined the BAU from Seattle. She had worked Counterintelligence Division before coming to the BAU, recruited into what at that time had quite literally been a "boy's club," as Collins had been the first female member of the BAU. That was back before the "team concept" of profiling. The profilers worked mostly solo back then, some in pairs, talking to each other when need be. It had been Gideon and Collins who had pushed for the idea of a team of profilers. A concept that hadn't been well received at first. Before going into early retirement, Agent Rossi had informed Gideon that he thought he had gone off the deep end.

Off the deep end or not, Gideon had proceeded with the idea. Hotch had been a part of that trial team, having been asked to join by Gideon. Following Rossi's departure, the man who had been responsible for bringing him from Seattle to the BAU, Hotch had figured it wouldn't hurt to try something new. Unlike his mentor, he thought the concept had merit. That first team had been completed by Agent Harold Franklin, who had retired at the end of last year, and Agent Chad Nichols, who had been a member of the FBI's Cyber Division at the time of his recruitment by Gideon for his computer expertise. In recent years, the fourteen-year veteran of the bureau had been helping out with the Technology Services Unit which was also housed at Quantico.

"I heard. What happened?"

"She sailed away into the sunset," Gideon replied with a straight face. Seeing the confused expression on Hotch's face, he elaborated. "She met this guy. A millionaire. He got his money from inheriting Daddy's business from what I understand. He proposed and she accepted. They were married down on Virginia Beach and for a honeymoon they were taking a sailboat down to the Keys. Which reminds me, she sent you a postcard," Gideon said, opening the top drawer of his desk and taking out the aforementioned postcard. "She sent each member of the team one. I thought about leaving it in your office but I had a feeling I'd see you first."

Hotch took the postcard and read through the brief note. He smiled. Collins sounded happy and he hoped her marriage would be a good one.

"She sounds happy," Hotch said, placing the postcard picture side up on the desk in front of him. "You can't begrudge her that."

"And I don't, but that does mean I've got another vacancy in this team to fill. I was dreading having to fill your spot too."

"Well, stop dreading it. I'll be back in a week," Hotch told his boss and friend. "As for the vacancy, I've got a candidate for you to consider." He held the file he had brought with him out over the desk toward Gideon. The other agent took the file and without a word opened it.

It wasn't long before he spoke up, "you're kidding right?"

"No, I'm not."

"This is that trainee's file, right? The one you've been working with?" Gideon asked. Hotch nodded. "So you're suggesting we bring a brand-new agent into the team dynamic. Someone who has no field experience to draw on. And even if I was to consider it, what makes you think the higher ups would go for it. There are plenty of agents with experience that want into this unit. What can he bring to this team that they can't?"

"An IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, and the ability to read 20,000 words per minute, for starters. Not to mention he seems to have a natural affinity for profiling. Just ask Agent Jericho, who is currently teaching at the academy."

"Agents are supposed to have two years experience before they can be accepted into the BAU."

"The FBI has already waived the age requirement for this kid. I have a feeling we could find a way to get around that technicality."

"That sounds like the lawyer in you talking?"

"Perhaps it is."

Gideon looked back down at the file. The list of degrees the kid had was impressive."Definitely not much of a marksman."

"Profilers aren't required to carry a gun and like I said, I'm working with him tonight to get him through the academy," Hotch told him, making Gideon realize he had said that last thought out loud. "Besides, I remember someone telling me that I didn't need a gun in order to kill someone back when I first joined this team."

"Sure, just throw my own words back at me," Gideon muttered, the trace of humor softening the words. "I'll have to talk with him myself before I make any decision," Gideon finally said, looking up from the file.

Hotch nodded. "I'll tell him to call you tomorrow to set something up."

"You do realize if we bring him into the team, either you or me are going to be required to be this kid's probationary agent? I've got the team to worry about, I can't be giving special attention to a new agent and still effectively do that job."

"I realize that, yes," Aaron Hotchner replied. He had been a probationary agent for one other agent back when he was out in Seattle. He hadn't cared for it and had tried to avoid it since then. Still, with the potential this kid had, it wasn't going to be long before he made his mark in the bureau and once he did, all the units would be trying to get him into their division. "I'm willing to do it. I think he could be a productive member of this team."

Gideon nodded. He respected Agent Hotchner's opinion and had often consulted with him on personnel decisions in the past. "I'll consider it. Tell," he glanced down at the file, "Trainee Reid that I'll be expecting his phone call tomorrow morning."

"I will," Hotch said, as he got to his feet. He glanced at his watch. "Want to go grab something to eat. I've got an hour before I told Reid I'd meet him at the range."

Gideon tossed the file onto his desk with the others that were there. "Why not. I think its about time I call it a night anyway."

The two agents got to their feet and headed out of the office. Reaching the door, Gideon flipped the lights out and followed Hotch out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

"When you come back, think you can work on writing up a proposal for that idea of bringing a media liaison onto the team? With all the personnel issues I've been dealing with, I haven't gotten anywhere with it." Gideon said as the two headed for the elevator. The floor was empty, though a light in SSA Nichols office told them that the team's tech specialist was still at work.

It had been something the two of them and Collins had been discussing for the last couple of months following some tense moments with both local law officials and the media on several cases. Though all of them had experience playing diplomat with both types of people, no one on the team liked doing it nor was in any way particularly skilled at it. Not to mention, in the middle of a case, they were sometimes too wrapped up to think about other things. It had been Collins who had originally suggested bringing in another team member to specifically deal with that kind of stuff.

"Yeah, I'll handle it. You do realize though if we get it approved that's another position you're going to have to fill?"

"Don't rub it in," Gideon told him as the elevator doors opened. "Besides, maybe that's another responsibility that I'll just delegate to you."

"'Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out, '" Hotch said, quoting Ronald Reagan, as they stepped into the elevator.

"Words everybody in a leadership position should live by," Gideon commented, hitting the button for the ground floor, as the doors closed.


"It was good to meet you, Spencer," Gideon said, reaching across the desk to shake the young man's hand. He had asked for permission to call him by his first name at the beginning of the interview, hoping to put the young man more at ease. It had seemed to work a little, as the trainee's words had flowed more easily toward the end of the interview. "You'll of course find out our decision when you get your first assignment after graduation."

"Of course, sir," Reid said, shaking the BAU unit chief's hand.

"Good luck tomorrow," Gideon added. The trainees would be going to Hogan's Alley the following days to complete the final training exercises there.

Gideon had hoped to be able to be on hand to see how things went but it looked as if he would be headed for Mississippi for a case this afternoon. When the case had come in this morning, he had been glad Reid had a break in his morning class schedule and had been able to come in. The break had coincided with the team's normal briefing time, but that had been easy to push back.

"Thank-you, sir. It was a pleasure to meet you."

As Reid left the office, Gideon gathered the files for his team. He added the one he'd had Reid look at, having wanted to see what the trainee's thoughts on the case were, to the top of the pile. The agent then ripped the notes he had taken on what Reid had said, off the legal pad. Reid had some good insights on the situation, and the BAU unit chief planned on sharing them with the team.

~Of course I don't think I'm going to tell them where it came from until later. Somehow, I don't think they'll take the ideas seriously if I tell them it came from a twenty-one-year-old trainee, ~ Gideon thought, as he headed for the door.

"Morgan, Hudson," Gideon called out as he stepped into the main area of the unit. Off to the side the elevators were just closing on Spencer Reid. From their desks in the bullpen area, the two agents looked up at their boss. "Briefing room in ten minutes," he told them.

The two agents acknowledge their boss as Gideon walked toward the office of his last team member. SSA Chad Nichols was where he could normally found when not out in the field, in front of his computers. Gideon knocked on the open door, but didn't wait for an answer. Nichols had a way of tuning things out when he got into his work.

"Hey, Nichols," Gideon said as he walked into the room. The team's tech specialist didn't look away from his computer screen until Gideon placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Oh, hey Boss," Nichols said, finally looking up at Gideon. "You need something."

"Briefing in ten minutes."

"Got it. I'll just save what I'm working on and I'll be there."

"What are you working on?"

"Logging data for VICAP," Nichols replied. "Not exactly the most fun-filled task, but I guess someone has to do it."

"Well, I think this case might take you away from it for awhile. If we take it, with us being two agents down I am definitely going to need you in the field."

"Then my vote is for us to take the case," Nichols replied. As much as he enjoyed his computers, he still enjoyed getting away from Quantico for time to time. He hadn't joined the FBI to sit holed up in an office all of the time, and while he didn't mind putting his computer knowledge to good use, there were times when he wished he had never major in computer science. Times when he would rather be out chasing the bad guy then the one searching for information that may or may not be useful.

~Though if it wasn't for my computer skills I never would have gotten involved with the FBI, ~ Nichols silently reminded himself.

"I thought you might say that," Gideon told him. "I'll see you shortly," he added as he turned and left Nichols' office.

Having informed the three members of his team, whom were currently active with the BAU, Gideon headed for the conference room himself. He wanted to get things set up and be ready to start as soon as everyone had gathered.

~Perhaps something else we could have the liaison do. Lord knows the more functions the new position is able to provide, the more likely we are to get it approved, ~ Gideon thought as he stepped into the conference room. It was something he would need to discuss with Hotch as soon as he was back with the BAU.


Dr. Spencer Reid walked back to the dormitory he was staying at while at the Academy following his meeting with SSA Jason Gideon. He wasn't at all sure how the meeting had gone. The young trainee did know he hadn't given the best showing of himself. He had been nervous about the meeting and he knew the BAU Unit Chief had been able to tell that. The BAU was not a typical assignment for a new graduate of the academy and if Agent Gideon didn't put in a request for his posting there, Reid knew he would be given an assignment elsewhere.

Unfortunately for him, the day didn't show any signs of getting better anytime soon. His last handgun qualification started in twenty minutes. Reid knew he had to pass it and not by just the required eighty percent either. Though he had passed the last two, he had only scored a seventy-five on the first attempt at qualification. In order to graduate, this meant he had to score high enough to bring the average of the four attempts to at least an 80 percent.

It was a simple enough calculation for the young doctor to make. ~I need to score eighty-four percent on this qualification attempt in order to graduate on Saturday. Which means, this has to be the best session I've ever done. No pressure, at all. Not to mention, if I fail this, it's not just about making it through the academy anymore. If I don't graduate, I'm letting down Agent Hotchner.~

The veteran agent had put a lot of extra time into helping Reid with not only the shooting part, but with the self-defense and raising the physical fitness scores too. It was also because of Agent Hotchner that he was getting a shot at being a part of the BAU right out of the academy. Most agents had to wait two years in order to even be considered for the unit.

~Absolutely no pressure at all, ~ Reid thought as he unlocked the door to his dormitory and walked inside the room.

Dropping off his bag, and making sure he had what he needed, he quickly left the room again and headed for the Academy's indoor range.

If by some miracle he made it through the handgun qualification, the final qualification for the rifle was this afternoon. No, the day wasn't going to get any better any time soon, though Reid was already wishing it was over.