A/N: Thank you again for the favs/follows/review. It's so encouraging to get feedback! Lots of dialogue coming up with a bit more of Parker's back story. Hope you like it x

"I'm just saying, it can't be easy having your aunt as your boss," JJ said to Emily, over the music and chatter of the bar.

"I didn't say it was. But it makes getting the job a whole lot easier," Emily replied, taking a sip of her drink.

"Oh, come on! You're not still going on about Parker, are you?" Morgan exclaimed, returning to the table with another tray of drinks.

"I was just pointing out that it can't be much fun having a relative able to call you to her office on a whim like that," JJ explained.

"You know she's like law-enforcement inbred," Garcia piped up.

"What do you mean?" Rossi asked.

"Well, she's got Strauss in the FBI and her dad's some kind of hot-shot attorney. And her mom's CIA. Not that you'd know from her behaviour growing up – chucked out of two different high schools and…" Garcia's hand immediately flew to her mouth as she realised she probably shouldn't have revealed that she'd been doing some rather extensive background reading on their latest recruit.

"I don't even want to know how you found that out," Hotch responded with a shake of his head. The others laughed and Gracia turned her attention to her extensively decorated cocktail.

"That'll be our former juvenile delinquent now," JJ grinned, as her cellphone buzzed and she saw Parker's name flash up on the screen.

"Is she on her way?" Rossi asked.

"No," JJ frowned. "She says she's sorry but she just wants to get settled into her apartment tonight."

"Well, she has just moved here – she's probably got a lot to do," Morgan remarked.

"Yeah, you're probably right," JJ smiled, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that something was wrong. "I just hope she's OK."

/
/

After texting JJ, Parker headed home, stopping at a 24 hour convenience store for some food, beer and a few blankets for her still bare mattress. She made a mental note to take a proper shopping trip the next day. On returning to her apartment she was greeted by a small, brown package on her doormat. She sat down her bags and crouched down to peer at the familiar penmanship on the front. If anyone had her new address already it would be him.

Parker placed the package on the kitchen counter and found an abandoned bottle opener in one of the drawers. She pulled the top off of a bottle of beer and took a long drink as she examined the scrawl of handwriting once again. Just her name; no address – so it must have been hand-delivered. But she knew the writer couldn't be in Virginia. She took another swig before setting down her bottle and picking up the package. Carefully, she unsealed one end and glanced inside to see a cellphone and a scrap of paper. Take a walk and call me, the paper read, in the same barely legible black ink. She wondered if it had been delivered before he had tried to contact her on her existing cell.

An hour later, after walking aimlessly around the area surrounding her apartment, Parker found herself perched on the edge of a fountain in a largely deserted park. She slipped the cellphone from her pocket and turned it on. As she expected, it was programmed with one unfamiliar number. For a moment she contemplated throwing it into the water – this was all supposed to be in her past. But then she thought of the empty apartment that waited for her, and of the countless lonely nights that lay ahead. And her finger pressed call before she could give the matter anymore thought.

"I knew you'd call eventually," the gravelly voice answered. She could practically see the teasing smirk on his lips.

"Hi," she breathed as the corners of her own mouth curled up. "A burner phone in a mysterious package– nice touch," she remarked. "You really shouldn't be calling me. And you took a risk calling me before."

"You called me." Her mind pictured another smirk. "And I was worried something had happened when the package had been delivered and you hadn't called."

"I was out of town on a case," she explained.

"Oh yes, I forgot the BAU was a travelling show," he laughed.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. Still a free man," he laughed lightly. "How are you?"

"I'm OK," she answered, a little too cheerfully to be convincing.

"I don't believe that. But you're better off at Quantico."

"I know Erin was involved, but did you have something to do with that?"

"I still have a few connections. Your mother had some input as well." The mention of her mother prompted nothing but silence from Parker. "She regrets what she did."

"Is Marie staying?" Parker asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Yes," he responded quietly; almost apologetically.

"It's OK – she's your wife. Is she safe?"

"She's already been interviewed and I've got someone watching her when I'm not around."

"Good. Has he tried anything else?"

"Not to my knowledge. He's been keeping a low profile since…" he trailed off.

"Since my mother covered up his penchant for enhanced interrogation?" Parker suggested dryly. She heard him sigh heavily.

"If I'd known he'd do that…"

"No one knew he had the resources or connections to get away with that."

"As soon as I find enough evidence, we'll get the corrupt bastard and we'll bring down his whole network. Parker, I promise you that what he did will come out. And everyone that was involved will get what's coming to them."

"I'm not that naïve," she sighed. "We both know you'll never get any higher up the chain than him. And even that's looking increasingly unlikely."

"He hurt you!" His raised voice distorted over the line.

"But I'm OK," Parker reassured him. "Promise me you're not going to do anything stupid."

"Parker…"

"Promise me," she repeated. "He's not worth it."

"I promise," he replied softly after a long pause. Parker heard another voice somewhere in the background.

"Do you have to go?" she asked. The silence that followed gave her the answer.

"I miss you," he whispered when the coast was clear.

"I miss you too," she replied, despite every bit of her that wanted to tell him otherwise.

"Keep your head down and watch your back, Parker. This will be over soon."

"Are you going to contact me again?" she asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

"No, I just wanted to say goodbye," he responded sadly.

"See you around," she said, using all her strength to remain upbeat. She'd already cried enough for one night.