Back with another chapter. I know it's been a couple of weeks, but I'm getting back into the groove. The end of the school year is approaching with that comes relentless testing, but after that period I'll have much more time to write.

Right now, I'm working on a couple of requests so stay tuned for more! And as always, leave me a review if you can!

It had been almost two hours since JJ had left the conference room. As much as Elle had wanted to go after her, others thought it was best to give her a while to cool down.

So instead, Elle shoved down her worry for JJ and tried to reconnect with the team. She told them what she had been doing all the years she had been away. Since she was financially stable, Elle had spent much of her time testing out different jobs, experimenting with them to see which ones she liked the best. But she had become restless lately, and the odd jobs here and there just weren't enough anymore.

That's when she decided to make the call.

The team listened in closely, not missing a detail. Every once in a while, someone interjected with a question.

"Elle, we know why you left and we understand. But why didn't you ever make contact again?" Hotch asked, not being rude but sounding curious.

She sighed and hung her head slightly. "After I left the way that I did, I was a mess. When I had finally gotten back to normal, it had been almost a month and I was just too embarrassed to talk to you guys. In our line of work, we're expected to handle the trauma that comes with the job, and I couldn't.

There were so many times that I had my phone in hand with my finger on Hotch's number. But at the same time, so much time had passed, and I guess I was afraid of what had happened since I had been gone. I couldn't bear to know that you all hated me for what I had done." Elle took a deep breath. "Okay, so you know my side of the story. What about you guys? What's happened since I left?"

She didn't fail to notice the collective looks of uncertainty and sadness that crossed everyone's faces simultaneously. This wouldn't be good news.

"You have to understand, Elle, you've been gone a long time, almost ten years. A lot's happened since you've been gone." Morgan told her, settling heavily in the chair next to her.

Elle nodded. "I know, Morgan. This is part of the reason why I called. I had to make sure you all were alright. But I need to know what's happened since I left."

Hotch studied Elle; she appeared completely confident in her choice. After a moment, he acquiesced. "Alright. You all should sit down. This isn't going to be easy."

The remaining team settled around the table and thus the stories began. They started with Morgan, and how he confronted his abuser who was later killed in prison. Elle's eyes drifted over to him. He sat up straight, his shoulders back as he met her eyes confidently.

His reaction told her that he was okay now. She was glad for that. Next, came 2007 and Reid's abduction. Hotch described the circumstances of the situation, and when he mentioned JJ, Elle immediately felt sorry for her. Not for the abduction, but because she hadn't been there to help her through it.

As the details of Reid's torture was unveiled, as well as his struggle with his addiction, Elle couldn't help but notice how the events had made Reid stronger. He seemed so much more confident than he was when she worked with him years ago. It suited him well.

Gideon's departure from the team came up as well. Elle suddenly realized that she hadn't even noticed that Gideon wasn't with them. "So what's he doing now? I can't imagine that'd he be able to stay away from the BAU for long." She asked, curious.

Uneasy glances passed around the team members. Elle scanned their faces. "What?" She asked, initially confused until realization came upon her. "No." She almost pleaded, looking around frantically.

The looks on their faces confirmed what she was thinking. "When? How?" Reid spoke this time. "Last year. The unsub had connections to one of Gideon and Rossi's old cases. He was shot in his cabin."

Elle sat in shocked silence for a moment. "You caught him?" They team collectively nodded, even Kate, who was present during the case.

Elle suddenly recalled something that Reid had mentioned. "Rossi? As in David Rossi?" Hotch nodded. "He joined the team in Gideon's place. He's still with us, he's just on vacation right now."

She nodded, and soon the dreary conversation continued. Garcia told her of how she was shot. She made sure not to leave out the part where JJ killed the unsub.

Elle looked worriedly over at Garica. "You're okay, though?" Penelope smiled at her, almost sadly. "I am. It was a long time ago.'

Elle had noticed when Garcia had said that JJ killed the unsub. "Was that JJ's first kill?" "Yes." Morgan said before a smirk formed on his face. "She's a hell of a shot." Elle smiled at his remark, but inside she was beating up herself for not being there for JJ when she took her first shot.

The talking ensued, and eventually JJ's pregnancy was mentioned. "She has a child?" The mention of Henry lightened the mood as Garcia skipped over to JJ's desk and grabbed a frame off of it. "She has two, as well as a very, very hot husband."

Elle took the frame in her hands and studied it. It was a family picture of JJ and her two kids. One was substantially older than the other. A very attractive man was hugging JJ's shoulders in the picture. They looked happy together and her heart lifted; JJ had found someone to build a life with, someone who understood her work and how much it meant to her.

Staring at that picture in her hands, Elle's heart began to ache. She's missed so much of JJ's life, of the whole team's lives.

It was in moments like these that Elle wished she had never left.