Disclaimed!

I'm really sorry for such the long delay, this last chapter has been a pain and now I have to split it in two because it's too long, so I'll probably update either later on today or tomorrow!

I've written a few alternative endings and drafted this one several times and I'm still not sure whether or not it was the right decision but I've decided it'll have to do!

Thanks to everyone who has been reading, reviewing and alerting, you're all awesome. Let me know what you think.

...

BAU Team evaluation 7-5-2011

After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the first team, led by SSA Aaron Hotchner, of the Behavioural Analyst Unit of Quantico, Virginia, should be terminated in effect immediately. The circumstances surrounding case 132H-22A-5F has caused an irretrievable rift of the team members in the unit which has made them inoperable together. This is not to say the individual's in the BAU team are ineffective as federal agents, those who should be credited have been mentioned earlier. It must be underlined that my opinion is only to taken under deliberation of those whom it concerns.

Dr U.K Lauder

...

Hotch looked up from the last part of the official report to the psychologist and then towards Strauss, who was staring back at him intensely. "Agent Hotchner, I agree with Dr Lauder's assessment"

"You're breaking up my team?" Hotch nodded in acceptance, closing the file as Strauss continued to speak.

"I want Agent Morgan and Technical Analyst Garcia to stay with the BAU and head up a new team however I am transferring you and the rest of your colleagues" The section chief slid a folder filled with the team's new assignments over the desk towards the unit chief. "I'm sorry Aaron but I believe there needs to be a change in the BAU before it's ruined forever"

Nodding, Hotch stood from his chair before answering. "Yes Ma'am"

"I thought I would get more of a fight from you" Strauss pursed her lips, looking at the unit chief in wonder.

"I'm pretty sure arguing would do none of us any good now. Thank you for your time" Hotch stood and nodded politely before leaving the room with the file in his hand.

Stepping off the elevator, Hotch's head automatically turned to see if the media liaison's door was open or not, seeing it was closed he sighed, noting she wasn't in the mood to be disturbed. He held the glass door open for two agents that greeted him politely before walking through the bustling bullpen. Hotch made a mental note of where the rest of his colleagues were.

Rossi's office door was closed, probably with him in it. Garcia and Morgan were in the briefing room, laughing at something she had on her laptop while Prentiss stood in the kitchenette making her third or fourth cup of coffee of the morning. Reid sat in his swivel chair, intently reading through his stack of case files on his desk, ignoring the rest of the agents that fluttered around him.

Keeping the file in his hand, Hotch walked up to the briefing room, and frowned when the laughter suddenly ceased as they saw him. "Sir, we were, erm, just..."

Morgan chuckled before looking up to the unit chief as he shut the door behind him. "What's up Hotch?"

"I need to talk to you both. Can you please shut the door Garcia?" Hotch indicated the other door and waited until it was shut and she had taken her former seat.

"Hotch... did we do something wrong?" Garcia asked almost childlike

"No Penelope you didn't" Hotch smiled softly as he sat down opposite them. "I've just had a meeting with Strauss. She's breaking up the unit"

Garcia's jaw dropped, her surprise evident but Morgan just nodded in acceptance, the news he was ultimately expecting. "Those our new assignments"

Hotch looked down at the thick folder in his hand. "Yes. I'm going to talk to everyone individually but I didn't think you two would mind..."

They looked between each other, nodding in acceptance. "Go ahead" Morgan stated with a tint of sadness as Garcia's hand found his forearm.

"Strauss wants you both to stay on in the BAU" Hotch smirked when both of their eyes widened and their jaws dropped. "What?"

"Garcia is to stay in her current position but Morgan, you're getting the team" Hotch announced proudly before Morgan's face fell at the news.

"What about you and the rest of the team?" Morgan asked in concern.

Hotch smiled thinly as he stood. "The team and I have our assignments"

"It's not fair" Garcia stated as she watch Hotch walk slowly to the door.

Turning, the unit chief tilted his head as he watched the technical analyst tighten her grip on the profiler's arm. "But it's time. I'd appreciate it if you kept everything quiet until I've spoken to everyone else..."

Morgan answered first seeing his supervisor's uncomfortable stance. "Sure Hotch"

Leaving behind Morgan and Garcia sitting at the roundtable, Hotch took a breath before he knocked on Rossi's office door and entered.

Rossi's chuckle bounced off the empty walls, "Your meeting with Strauss went that well huh?" Hotch looked around Rossi's office, half of his personal belongings were already wrapped in bubble-wrap and the experienced profiler sat on his soft brown leather couch looking towards the unit chief from his newspaper.

"What's going on Dave?" Hotch saw that Rossi's expensive renaissance pictures that once hung on the wall had disappeared also.

"Bill Harmen gave me a call yesterday, told me he would email me his class schedule, for the next few weeks" Rossi watched as Hotch closed his eyes in confirmation.

Rossi smirked smugly "Bill has the right idea huh. Did you know he's opening a fishing shop in Hawaii with his wife? Can you imagine old Bill Harmen in shorts, never mind in retirement?"

Hotch shrugged before taking a seat opposite his mentor. "Dave..."

"Strauss is the one breaking the team up Hotch, not you" Rossi stated before he was interrupted. "I agree with her. I'm tired Dave, the team deserve..."

"The team don't deserve anything. You don't owe any of us. I screwed up Aaron, I'm sorry I went behind your back, but it's done. I don't want you to hate me, believe it or not Aaron you and this team are my family, just like Garcia said the other day. And she was right, we'll get passed this"

"I'm sure we will one day, but the team is still being dissolved. Morgan and Garcia are staying on but the rest of us..."

Rossi nodded as Hotch stood up. "Yeah, I never thought I'd be teaching again but I'll give it a go for a few months or so"

"Then what, another book?" The unit chief enquired politely.

Rossi chuckled hoarsely. "Maybe I'll work on wife number four"

"God help us all" Hotch muttered before leaving to shut himself in his own office, away from the rest of the unit for a few minutes. After a while of sitting staring at his cluttered desk he began to make a start packing away his own office.

...

Reid hovered at the door, watching as the unit chief packed some of his many law books into a box. "Erm, Hotch can we talk?"

Looking up from the box, Hotch continued to pack his books away. "Sure"

"I'm sorry" Reid spluttered as Hotch blankly stared at him as they stood facing each other. The clock on the wall seemed to be the predominant noise in the room while neither moved from the spot they were standing.

"I messed everything up" Reid admitted quietly trying to get a response from his supervisor

"Yeah you did" Hotch replied dryly before picking up the full box to place on top of another filled brown box.

Reid nodded grimly "I never wanted to hurt anyone"

"I know Reid. We should of... I should of never have put so much pressure on you. Your intelligence shouldn't define you. You've had to handle a lot over the years and it's not right" Hotch indicated that they both take a seat the profiler could see the young doctor was struggling with something as his eyes darted around the room. "What you did was stupid and reckless and Morgan and JJ could have been killed but inevitably, we have to move on"

After a few moments sat in silence Reid met the older man's tired eyes. "I nearly relapsed. I didn't but nearly..."

"When?" Hotch asked in concern

Inhaling deeply, Reid ran his hand through his thin long hair. "After the case in Baltimore a few weeks ago"

"But you didn't?" Hotch firmly pressed, needing an answer.

Reid shook his head in confirmation, rubbing his darkly shadowed eyes. "No but those kids died and..."

"It wasn't your fault Spencer" Seeing Reid wasn't accepting his well meant words, Hotch sighed quietly. "How's your mom?"

"She's..." Not managing to answer Hotch changed the conversation suddenly. "Strauss is taking you out of the field and into the criminal statistics research department in the DC field office. I suggest you take a sabbatical, clear your head. Try and catch up on the life you've missed out on, maybe travel and relax"

Reid cleared his throat sharply before giving a slanted thin smile. "I don't think I know how too"

Hotch nodded before standing once more. "You're smart enough, you'll figure it out"

"I'm sorry Hotch" Reid reiterated and Hotch nodded, "can you ask Prentiss to come up?"

"Sure" Reid answered quietly, looking back into the office through the blinds as Hotch continued to take books off the shelves.

...

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