Dear dad,

Another week had come and gone and I'm still kicking. Ten point for all of us here at the BAU. You have no idea what it's like to think that you could be staring at the end of a gun. But here I sit being able to tell you I'm alive. Not that you'll ever see this letter. I could never send it to you.

If you knew half the things I saw you'd have me committed to the nut house and then sign yourself in right along side me. Dad the things we see. Everyone in this place suffers from the horrors of the cases. Some still people. I've had my share. But I manage through them.

I'm sorry you don't get to know that I'm really out there in the field chasing criminals and not in some office. We saved a little kid with our last case. She was grateful to all of us and hugged us. But there are some that come a little to close for comfort. An unsub had locked my supervisor, the almost victim and myself in the house and set it ablaze.

I'm still alive if I'm writing this. We made it out okay. Little bit of smoke inhalation but it's all behind us now. It's hot by the way. Can't stand it one bit

Dad you have no idea how it feels to get that from someone you just saved. She was happy to be back with her family. I'll keep you posted and see you soon.

Love Franki

Franki sealed the letter put an address, name and stamp on it. "Franki come on it's time for lunch." Emily said hurrying the woman. "Okay coming." Franki grabbed her wallet leaving the letter on her desk without realizing it.

While everyone had been gone to lunch the mail man came in and collected whatever mail needed to go out. Franki hadn't realized what she did. The mailman took the letter and it went off with the rest of the mail.

When everyone came back Franki looked for the letter but didn't find it. "Guys have you seen my letter?" she looked at her friends. "You mean the one you write home but never send?" Morgan asked. "Yeah.

"No." He told her. "What's Franki looking for?" Hotch asked. "Her letter home that she never sends. "Mail came and picked up everything with a stamp on it." Hotch in formed them. "I'm so dead." Franki turned pale and sat down at her desk. Her father was protective of his daughter. He had lost his wife and nearly lost his little girl. If he knew the job she worked he would be up to the BAU in a heartbeat.

~.o0o.~

One week later a man walked into the BAU. He had stunning blue eyes black hair. He combed it back. His features reminded the woman at the desk of someone she saw often. He was tall and had a bit of a belly from age. During his years when he had just started his family is had been flat and strong. The man walked into the bull pen and saw who he was looking for.

Franki brought her shoulders up to her ears as she saw her father walk in. "Franki Beatrice Pantino." The man growled. "Sir who are you?" Morgan asked. "Hi Daddy." Franki said standing up. "What's going on here?" Rossi asked. "I'll be back in a bit." Franki said getting ready to face the music.

"She wasn't kidding when she said her father was going to be pissed off." Emily said. "but Reid you went to her place for Thanksgiving." Morgan pointed out. "An I was bound and gagged into secrecy. If her family asked Franki would say something and
I would follow her head. They didn't notice that we were lying." Reid told them.

~.o0o.~

"I'm not leaving my job. Rant and rave all you want but I'm making a difference in people's lives." Franki told him. "You could get hurt. I've lost your mother don't make me lose you to. It let you come down here to work because I thought you would still be safe."

"You let me come down here? I'm a grown woman I don't have to ask for your permission anymore. I can do whatever I please and this is it. If you were so worried about losing me you would have said so when I said I would move down here. Mind the fact that I live alone. I'm not mom I'm not going to just dye. I've faced death before and come back from it. Oh yes that's right I've been to the hospital with my job and I'll do it all over again if it means that another killer is off the streets. I'm staying whether you want me to or not." Franki told him.

"Don't do this to me Frank. Please don't do this. I can't lose both my girls. You and your brothers are all I have left. I need the four of you. If I have to put you in the ground before myself Franki you'll regret it when I die and come for you. Try not to get hurt alright." Nick said kissing his daughter's forehead. "Stubborn ass."

"Just be careful for me okay? Write me more often but not so much detail." The man smiled as he hugged the woman to him. "I gotta go I'm leaving in the morning and you have to return to work. Call me and take care." Nick hugged his daughter and left. He knew she'd be home for Christmas and that she had to get back to work.

Nick pulled his wallet out and looked at the picture of his late wife. "She's just like you in so many ways. Stubborn to boot." Nick smiled as he walked away

~.o0o.~

This case had taken them to New Mexico. Oh goody. In late august the Heat was soaring and the sun was relentless. "He'll be unarmed and we'll be able to get him quick and easy." Hotch said. When they entered the they were prepared for anything. "He's out the back." Reid called as he and Franki made a run to go catch him. Reid Stopped in the door but Franki who had been on his tail didn't stop in time causing them both to fall.

Twin cries of pain could be heard as the agents pulled themselves out of cactus needles. The unsub hadn't gotten Far his suit was failing him and he was becoming covered in the needles as well. "Ouch." Morgan cringed behind his hand. "Pretty boy you alright?"

"Do I look alright I've got cactus needles in my back Morgan. Does that sound like okay." Reid said trying to get up. "Well he isn't going anywhere but how do we get to him?" Hotch asked. "This is going to hurt like hell." Franki said limping back to the patio door. They had fallen three feet into a yard full of cacti. "Frank I'd ask but if Reid is taking it out on Morgan I don't want to know what you'll do to me?" Rossi said. "Smart."

At the hospital cries of pain curses could be heard as the two youngest agents were de-needled. It was long and grueling process. Both agents stepped out of the rooms looking extremely pissed off. "698 needles." Franki growled.

"732." Reid glared.

"I'll stop complaining next time my doctor wants blood work." Rossi said.

When they arrived home Soren was waiting outside the BAU for his woman. He was the sweetest man and just right for her. Soren did little things for Franki. Bringing her flowers at random times and showing up with a pick me up after a long case. Franki returned it in her own way. Making his favorite meal and washing his hair for him.

"Baby what happened to you?" Soren looked at his girlfriend with concern. "Reid and I fell into cactus bushes and got covered in needles. Hurts. Still hurts." Franki smiled as Soren moved the strap of her shoulder to kiss it. "Kisses make everything better." He smiled.

"Just get out of here before we're subjected to anymore mushy crap." Emily shook her head. "No problem." Soren took Franki by the hand and whisked her away. "That's one down. No the rest of you go home so I can leave." Rossi said.

~.o0o.~

The weather was growing cold and the seasons changed from summer to fall and from fall to winter. It was bitter and it bit at you at every which way it could. Christmas had come and gone the New Year along with it. The team had returned from a case two days ago and were waiting for the next one but in the mean time they had to do the paper work wait for them.

Everyone was a little bit bored sitting around at their desk waiting for something to happened. Reid was Reading a book and nearly done. Morgan was nodding off and Emily had gone to talk to Garcia. Rossi and Hotch were in their own offices looking at a few things.

Franki stood up and stretched. One of the really good ones where you stand on your tippy toes and point your finger to the sky. She then did a cartwheel and smiled. "What is wrong with you?" Reid asked. "Nothing." Franki admitted. I could melt right now but that might be bad." Franki said. Her joints were no longer screaming for relief.

"I should look into going back into gymnastics again." Franki said sitting down again. "Is that how you can climb trees so well?" Reid asked. "Yup. I started at a young age because my mother was a instructor and I always wanted to learn so."

"You got to turn yourself into a pretzel I was fishing." Morgan said them. "You couldn't do half of what I do." Franki told him. "You wanna put that to a bet?" Morgan smiled. "Your gonna lose Chocolate." Franki smiled at her friend. "100 bucks says I won't." Morgan told her. "Alright." Franki got up and walked up the steps to Rossi's office. "Wanna witness Morgan lose a bet?" She asked.

"What bet?"

"Chocolate thinks he's more limber then I am. I'm going to prove him wrong and someone has to hold the camera." Franki smirked. "I'm in."

"Humiliation time." Franki said some time later. She was dressed in sweats and tank top. Morgan dressed in much the same thing. "Morgan you're going to lose. Just save yourself now." Franki smiled.

At the end of thirty minutes the two had so far kept up with each other. "Your going to make me do something I truly hate." Franki frowned and shook her head. "Admit defeat?" Morgan asked. "No." Franki walked to the end of the matting and did three flips two cartwheels and ended with a split. Franki got up and walked over. "Give up now." Franki said.

"Never." Morgan did the same thing but when it was time for the split Morgan admitted defeat and handed over the hundred bucks while Franki handed over a bag of ice. "Next time think before you take on a bet." Franki told him. "Don't gloat." Morgan winced. "She doesn't have to the look on your face is enough." Emily said. "If it makes you feel better I'll buy the first round of beers." She smiled.

~.o0o.~

"You let me die. You didn't stop him." The face said. "I tried. I did. I tried to save you He moved." Franki said.

"What about me. My mother was waiting for me. You failed us." The girl said. "But we found him. He can never hurt anyone again." Franki closed her eyes.

"You didn't save me. I had a daughter to raise. I had so many things to see and do. My life is over because you didn't move. You didn't save me. You failed and you know it."

~.o0o.~

"Franki wake up." Soren shook Franki awake. Franki's eyes snapped open. Franki sat up and put her feet to the floor her head in her hands. "Come one baby you need to try and sleep. You've just gotten back from a case and you haven't closed your eyes for more then five minutes." Soren told her.

"I'm fine. Go back to sleep." Franki got up and went downstairs. Franki sighed as she sat in the kitchen reading and thinking. It was becoming a new thing all over again. The nightmares had clamed until she saw the face Evan. He was dead and she knew he was.

But during mid-January a victim suffered cuts and stub wounds much like her own. She would at times see Evan's face. His evil smile and that bloody blade in his hand. When morning came Franki got dressed for work and left. Soren made his first call of the day.

It was Thursday and JJ came to them with a new case. This would not be as long but it still took them a few days. Three days to be correct. But in that three days Dave found it heard getting a chance to talk to the youngest agent. The dragging of her feet and the bags under her eyes. They were on the jet and Dave could see Reid ready to claim the couch. Dave threw a quick glance to the tired Franki who took it.

'She okay?' Reid mouthed. 'Nightmares.' Rossi told him

Franki was fighting sleep and sort of losing at it. "Put the phone on speaker." JJ said. She was talking to Will who was trying to get their song to go to sleep but wasn't giving in easy. JJ began to sing a lullaby to Henry getting the attention of the others and by the time she had finished it Franki had turned over and gone to sleep.

"Reid cover her with a blanket." Hotch said looking at the sleeping woman. Hotch looked to Rossi. If anyone could fix someone on nightmares it was Rossi. He had saved Hotch from his.

'You take care of it.' Hotch mouthed. Rossi nodded. Half way through the flight Franki woke up and looked around her. Everyone was sleep including Hotch. Or at least they looked sleep. No Morgan, JJ, Reid, Hotch, and Emily were all sleeping. Rossi on the other hand was hard to tell. "You're a terrible actor." Franki said sitting next to him.

"You should go back to sleep." Rossi said. "No I've had enough. I'll sleep in my bed at home." Franki said. "Is that a promise?" Rossi asked. "I hate profilers." Franki said going back to her seat. Rossi did go to sleep and Franki stayed up till they landed. When they landed Rossi made Franki ride back with him. "Hotch is giving us the weekend off. No on call." He said. "So what does that have to do with me?" Franki asked. "You are coming with me to my cottage for the weekend." Dave said. "What? No way. I'm going home." Franki protested. "Either you go or you get suspended for two weeks." Dave said.

Gotta love having authority, Dave thought.

"Pack for the weekend." He told Franki as she went up stairs. "I have to call Soren and let him know." She said reaching for the house phone. "He's the one who told me you were having nightmares." Dave said. "He's worried about you. He said you wake up screaming most nights. That you toss and turn saying how sorry you are. That once your awake you won't go back to sleep. He's worry about you." Dave said.

"That's hardly fair." Franki said.

"Hotch's son ratted him out if it makes you feel slightly better. Jack was the one who told me about Hotch refusing to sleep most nights and how he would wake up screaming." Dave said. "Come Frank." Dave said.

The ride to Dave's cottage was quiet. His dog sat in the back seat. When they arrived at the cottage Dave let them in. It was three in the afternoon soon the sun would be going down. "Lets go." Dave told her. "Let's go where? It's nearly dark." Franki protested. "We got flash lights." Dave told her. Dave had them hike till they needed the flashlights which by that point they turned back.

"Come on tell me what the point in all this is." Franki called after the elder man. Franki was to tired to go any further. Four days no sleep and the hike had done it. "Come on Franki not much further." Dave told her. "Not till I know what the point in this is." Franki protested. "See how you're sitting on that log right now. You've reached your limits. You cannot go any further so when you finally lay down to go to bed tonight your mind will be to tired to do anything but rest. Now lets go not much further." Dave told her.

Franki got up and climbed the rest of the way to the cottage. Dave led Franki to one of the spare bedrooms and watched as she dropped onto the bed fully clothed and fell asleep.

That had been at around six yesterday. It was three in the afternoon before Franki finally woke up to the smells of cooking. "Come sit down it's nearly done." Dave said. "I'm starving." Franki said. "I figured that much. Sleep well?" Dave asked. "Yeah. Best I've slept in over a week." Franki said. "Good. But from now on you have to tell someone. Don't keep it to yourself. You've got the whole team and you even have Soren who will listen to you." Dave told her.

"Thanks." Franki said as Dave set a plate in front of her. "Does it have something to do with Evan?" Dave asked.

Franki though about it. It was close to that date. Almost a year ago Evan had broken into her house and tried to kill her. "It is isn't it? That's what triggered it isn't it?" Dave asked.

"Yeah. It's just all the pain he caused." Franki frowned.

"Franki he's dead he can't hurt you anymore. But I guess that when you've suffered that much then you hold it to remind yourself not to fall into the same trap. Soren isn't going to do that to you Franki." Dave told her. Franki got up.

"Where are you going?"

"To make a phone call." Franki told him.

Dave sat and waited for the woman for a good half hour before going to the porch to see her sitting in the swing talking on the phone. "I love you Soren and I'm sorry that I'm so screwed up." Franki told him.

"Your not screwed up. Like I told you A woman in ennobled by her scars. I don't think anything less of you I still love you baby." He said. "When I get home I vote spending a day in bed doing nothing but sleeping. Maybe a movie or two. But I just want to be close to you." Franki smiled.

"I like that idea." Franki smiled. "I gotta go before Dave comes looking for me. I've been here for a while now." Franki said. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Soren hung up.

A/N: hello my readers. Please all I'm asking for is reviews please. Don't torture me. Also if you have any suggestions as to what can happen with the team please. Maybe a scenario for ladies night.