"All right, as best as I've been able to figure out, this is the time and day that the unsub prefers to stalk his next victim. The agency has been instructed that no matter who he asks for, you are going to be the one waiting for him. Aaron, Alex, and I are going to be occupying the room next door, monitoring everything through the camera that is in your pendant. Do not take it off."
"I know, Penelope. We've been over this part a dozen times."
"And I'd go over it a dozen more, if we had the time. I need to do this to ensure that you are okay. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because I didn't do my job."
Aaron watched as Penelope reached out and caressed Erin's shoulder. "And you have the earwig in place, yes?" he asked as he stepped closer to them, reaching out for Erin's hand.
"I do, yes. See?" Erin pushed her hair back and turned her ear towards him, showing him that it was in place. "I know that you two are both so worried about me, and I am grateful for that care. I just need to have this over and done with. Afterwards, we'll unwind together, all of us, at the house. Jessica has promised to take care of me."
He nodded before leaning in and kissing her softly. "We still have a few hours before your meeting with the unsub."
"And in that time, I need to get ready for him. Remember how you saw me the first time?"
He nodded a little, embarrassment causing his cheeks to redden as he glanced at Penelope. She was looking at the floor, a whimsical smile on her lips even as she deeply blushed. "Your makeup was flawless. Is that why I had to bring in such a heavy bag?"
"Perhaps." She tried to smile at him, but it turned into more of a grimace as she stepped closer to him, her arms closing around his waist as she rested her cheek on his chest. "Will you call Alex over here, too? She shouldn't be holed up in that room alone."
Penelope nodded and scurried from the room as Aaron led Erin over to the low couch that was in the corner of the room, pulling her down with him as he sat. "Do you want us to help you get ready?"
"No, I'll put the finishing touches on myself, but I want you all to keep me company. Because I don't know if I can do this. I'm terrified, Aaron."
"I know, and I can't say that I'm not, either. I know that we're right here, that we'll be able to stop anything before you're harmed, but I'm still so worried about what might happen to you." He pressed his lips against her forehead, listening to her sigh a little as she snuggled in closer to him. "I think we both have some paid leave saved up. When this is all over and done, we're heading home to Manderley."
"You've taken him to Manderley, Erin?" Alex asked as she and Penelope joined them. Alex sat on Erin's other side, while Penelope perched on the edge of the bed and looked at them. He could see that she was trying to hold on to her emotions, but that grip was fast becoming tenuous. "Manderley is beautiful, Penelope, especially in the spring."
"When were you there?" he asked, trying not to sound jealous.
"Erin and I used to be close friends. And friends visit each other's homes. Manderley is a haven for the weary heart." He watched as they clasped hands, and Alex looked away from them, as if she had revealed too large a piece of her soul.
"It truly is," he replied quietly, smiling a little. "Are you certain that you don't want anything to eat, Erin? There's still time for me to get something for us all."
"If I tried to eat anything, I'd end up throwing it all up from nerves. What I really want, I can't have, so if any of you want to go down to the bar and do a shot of Drambuie in my honor, I wouldn't mind." She let out a watery laugh as she clutched at both hands she was holding.
"I wish that we could, Erin, but we're on the clock, that might be frowned on by the higher ups." Penelope winked at him before a more serious cast slipped over her face. "All right, now that the four of us are together, I want to go through the plan one more time. JJ and Rossi are going to be in the lobby, watching for potential unsubs, and letting us know when they think they see him. You're going to have the camera necklace to record everything that happens in the room, along with the earwig for Hotch to give you encouragement or direction. Alex and I will be in constant contact with Reid and Morgan, who are in the room on the other side of yours. If anything even starts to happen, we can break down the door in thirty seconds or less. And then, we're going to your home and Jessica is going to feed us while we veg out in front of the tv. I already cleared it with the Director so that our team has tomorrow off to rest and recuperate."
"I don't know what the team would do without you, Penelope," Erin whispered as she rested her head on Aaron's shoulder. "Any of you, really. I'm so blessed to have you in my life."
"You're going to make me cry, Erin," Penelope retorted, blinking rapidly.
"That's not my intent, Penny. Oh, Aaron, I hate to ask this of you and Penelope, but I need to do this with just Alex. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Erin," he replied as he squeezed her hand, giving her another kiss before standing. "All right, Garcia, we'll get the command center in our room more organized while we wait for Blake to join us."
She nodded, frowning a little before bouncing up from the bed and going over to Erin, hugging her tightly before joining him at the door. As they went next door, Penelope glared at him, as if she couldn't believe that he had left so easily. "What the hell, Hotch? You should have fought to stay with her! What if, what if…"
"Nothing will happen to her, we are going to keep her safe, and her friendship with Alex is going to be stronger for this." He went over to the laptops that Penelope had set up and took a seat in front of his, making certain that everything was in place for their op. "I can't lose her."
"We won't, I promise." She came over to his side and sat, leaning back in her chair to stare at the ceiling. "I would be in that room right now, I hope you know. I would put JJ in that room before any of us, though. She can kick ass without breaking a sweat. Erin? She's not accustomed to being out in the field. She's so good at her job, but it's not what you all do on a daily basis. Why do I feel like we're sending a lamb into the lion's den?"
"Because we are. And she's my lamb." Penelope made a soft cooing sound and he turned his head, lifting his eyebrows a little. "I am unapologetically in love with her."
"I'm glad that you've found each other. You both deserve some happiness with this life we lead. And she's beautiful, you know. Truly."
"I know that full well." He leaned back once more, staring at the ceiling as he pictured Alex helping Erin get ready for what she was about to endure. And a selfish part of him wished that he could be there instead, even though he knew that this was the better option in the long run. Neither of them could afford to become distracted at this critical juncture, and he wanted to remain focused just in case she needed his help in the near future.