BAU Life
"You are doing what?" The question came out as a disbelieving squeak from one very shocked SSA Spencer Reid.
"I'm stepping down as unit chief. I will be giving my official transfer request to Cruz later today but we have already discussed it," Aaron said evenly, making direct eye contact with his agent.
"I heard you, Aaron. What I really meant is why are you doing that? You love your job, you love the BAU! What the hell, Aaron?"
"Dr. Reid, may I remind you that we are in the office. Please try to control your reactions."
The glare that Hotch got in return for that would have caused a lesser man to shrink back in fear. Knowing and loving Spencer though, Aaron held his own. He knew that this was a big change for him, his family, and the team. It was exactly for that reason that he wanted to tell Spencer first, before he even handed in his transfer request to Section Chief Cruz.
"Oh God, what if they bring in someone like Strauss to be the unit chief? I know Rossi misses her, but she was utterly toxic for this unit. This is a disaster! You can't leave, you can't! We are practically a new team trying to work together! Tara, Alvez, and Simmons haven't been with us but for a few minutes, and JJ is still trying to get her feet as profiler rather than media specialist. We are more or less short handed as it is. We can't lose you!"
"Spencer, breathe! I know all of this. After everything that has happened recently, I am tired. I want to spend more time with Jack, I want to spend more time at home. Scratch reminded me that I need a break. I need something different."
"Then take a break! Use some of your vacation and comp time to take some time off! You don't need to leave the BAU completely," Spencer countered.
Aaron shook his head, "No, I'm done. I've lasted as long as I can in this unit. I don't want to burn out like others we have seen. I want to leave on my terms and these are those terms."
A tense silence fell between the two men as they each recalled their former teammates who had left under less than ideal conditions. Aaron resisted the urge to fidget as Spencer stood before him, angry and confused.
"You said transfer paperwork. You didn't say retirement or resignation paperwork. What aren't you telling me?" Spencer demanded.
Aaron stifled the urge to sigh in relief, if Spencer had calmed down enough to ask questions on the subtle clue that Aaron had given him, then he was already on his way to accepting the first part of this change. "I've been offered a position to teach at the Academy. It would be regular hours with a lot more freedom to take time off. I might actually get to use some of the comp time I have saved up! To start, I'd be teaching a class on profiling and eventually they have plans to move me into a position covering additional classes and training evolutions."
"You would be a good instructor," Spencer nodded. "You were wonderful when teaching me marksmanship years ago."
"I'd be happy to help you with your weapon or let you handle mine any time," Aaron leered at Spencer causing both of them to dissolve into a fit of giggles.
Laughter easing up, Spencer flopped into the chair across the desk from his husband. "So what happens now? You give your transfer request to Cruz and he approves it. Then what? We are probably going to be stuck here until we get a new UC. Like I said, I hope it isn't someone like Strauss. Think Rossi will put in for it? He obviously knows the job but I can't imagine him wanting to deal with the paperwork and politics of the position. I can't think of anyone else though that they would bring in to the position."
"And that was something I wanted to talk to you about, Spencer," Aaron began.
"That sounds ominous, Hotch."
"I wanted to submit your name for consideration for the UC position," finished Aaron.
"I...I don't think I heard you correctly. You want to put MY name in for consideration?"
Aaron smiled at his husband. Since his declaration of intent to get him a promotion, Spencer had straightened in his chair, shock and disbelief etched in his features. "Yes. Aside from Dave no one else has anywhere near the amount of time with the unit as you do. You realize that you have been here at the BAU for over 13 years already? While JJ was here slightly before you, you are correct that she doesn't have the profiling experience and she had an extended leave from the team while working with the State Department."
"And what of my extended leave of absence? Aaron, I'm still in the Navy. What will the team do while I'm drilling or heaven forbid, I deploy again? Hell, what local agency is going to take me seriously as the UC? I'm too skinny, too nerdy, too damaged...I can't be the UC!" Spencer ranted. "It has barely been a year since I've come back as a full field agent!"
"Ah, but you are a full field agent. Spencer, you are more than capable of this. You are good at what you do,"
"Yes, geographic profiling, linguistic analysis, and overall subject matter expert. I'm not UC material," Spencer interrupted.
Unphased, Aaron continued "You are good at paperwork and politics even if you don't enjoy them. I know I never did but you know and can understand the system faster and better than anyone else. I also know that you are a far better leader than you give yourself credit. As for the Navy? Well, when you are doing your training the team is usually in a stand down period as it is. Having the UC out will mean your second will have additional work for the time being."
"And deployment?"
Aaron levelled his gaze at Spencer, "First, you are currently in your dwell period from your last deployment. Second, while I know you do not like to consider yourself a wounded veteran, you are exactly that. Honestly, what are the odds that the Navy will actually force you to deploy again given the injuries you incurred during your previous deployment?"
Spencer looked down at his lap, letting his hand run up and down his left thigh, feeling the solid weight of the prosthetic under his hand. "Valid. They are unlikely to deploy me unless I volunteer and they are unable to find any alternates. My days of deployment are over." Spencer sighed, "Maybe I should have taken the retirement."
That had Aaron laughing outright, "You never would have been happy with yourself if you had done that. You have to admit, it isn't so bad being back in a drilling status, is it?"
"No, no it isn't. The first few weekends were difficult but I do really like this unit. I've gotten to do a lot more traveling with it than I anticipated."
"Speaking of units, have you heard from your friend, Adam, lately?"
Spencer's eyes narrowed at the innocent question. "I know what you are doing, Aaron. You can't change the subject that easily. Although, I did get a completely inappropriate text message from him the other day. I swear that I don't know how that man does it. He makes me feel like a blushing virgin even though you and I both know I am far from that."
"For which I will continue to be eternally grateful," Aaron smirked.
"Pervert," Spencer grinned. "Now, when are you going to tell the rest of the team? Before or after Cruz approves the transfer for you?"
"After. I don't want to break this kind of news and then have my plans not come to fruition."
Spencer nodded, "That makes sense. Aside from your asinine suggestion to promote me to UC, I don't see why Cruz would disapprove the transfer. He has seen enough people burn out here already that he wouldn't take any chances on that happening to you."
"My suggestion is not asinine. It is well thought out and logical."
"If you say so, Boss."
Aaron smirked, "Not for much longer."
BT
"No. You can't be leaving Bossman. You absolutely cannot be leaving," Garcia proclaimed.
Around the room, similar statements echoed the disbelief. Aaron raised his hands, quieting everyone with that simple gesture. "I am. I have spoken with Section Chief Cruz and he supports my decision. I am not retiring completely, I will simply be transferring to teach at the Academy. I am thinking of this as my way to train the next generation in the basics so that you as a team can mold them into proper profilers."
"Who is going to take over as UC?" JJ asked, ambition glinting in her eyes. "Has Cruz said anything about that yet?"
"No, not yet. We have discussed it in length but no formal offers have been made to a prospective UC. I won't be transferring for a few months. Until then we will still be taking and working cases as normal. It is my intention that during that time I will be working with my replacement and there will therefore be no down time for the team when I leave."
It didn't escape Rossi's sharp gaze the way that Aaron focused his attention on Reid when he spoke of a replacement. For a man that so many had trouble reading, Aaron really didn't have much of a poker face if you knew him. He smiled indulgently at Aaron and Spencer. "Well, let it be known that I have zero desire to move up to that position. "
"So noted, Dave," Aaron said fighting a grin. "Now, with that out of the way, Garcia? I believe we have a case?"
"Yes, Sir, Bossman! This one is a doozy. Well, they always are but this one especially," she said flicking a button and bringing the screen to life. "You can see all the gory details on your tablets."
"How bad could it be?" Alvez asked as he grabbed his tablet and started to pull up the file.
Garcia leveled a stare at the agent. "You will all soon be on your way to sunny Florida, Newbie. It's Florida bad."
A collective shudder went through the group.
"Garcia, give us the highlights, we need to get to the airfield," Aaron said.
"Right-o," she responded and proceeded to give everyone a rough outline of what brought the case to the BAU's attention. In almost record time they were dispersing to gather their go bags and meet at the jet.
Making their way down the catwalk to the bullpen, JJ turned to Tara, "I'm going to miss Hotch but I think it is exciting that we are getting a new Unit Chief. It has been an old boy's club for far too long."
Tara gave her a questioning look, "How do you know that the new UC is going to be a woman?"
"Well, of course it is! I'm sure I'm being considered for it. I've been here longer than anyone other than Rossi. He said himself he doesn't want it, so who else would do it? They never like bringing in outsiders to be unit chief. Besides, I've worked with Cruz before, he knows me."
Listening in, Simmons interjects, "I thought Spencer had been here just as long as you?"
"Spencer? No, he hasn't been here as long. I was here for about a year before he was. Besides, he was gone for so long playing Navy that I definitely have seniority over him," JJ scoffed.
"Is that true?" Alvez said quietly to Spencer who was walking next to him.
Spencer's grin could only be called predatory, "Almost, but not quite. Yes, she was here for about a year before I was. However, during that time she was the media liaison. An important position, but not one dealing with the actual profiling nor the running of the unit. As she has only been a profiler since she returned from the state department, she absolutely does not have seniority over me. While we are on that subject, she too took an extended time away from the BAU to go 'play military'. How conveniently she forgot that."
Alvez whistled low, "Damn, she does have some balls saying that in front of you."
Spencer shrugged, "She wasn't like this before. The State Department changed her. Unless it is something that's going to cause problems with the team or a case, I just ignore it. Hopefully one day she will snap out of it."
"You are a better man than I am," he said. "It's going to be weird not having Hotch around. I'm having trouble picturing this place without him."
"You and me both, Alvez, you and me both!" Spencer said as he grabbed his bag from under his desk.
BT
Once everyone was safely on the jet and it was winging its way towards everyone's favorite state in the union, JJ got up from where she had been reviewing the case file to corner Aaron in the small galley.
"So, Hotch, you said no formal offer had been made yet for a new UC. I just wanted to let you know that I, as the most senior member of the team next to Rossi, that I'd love to step up to the position. You know I'd be great at it."
Aaron wanted to say that he was surprised when JJ came up to him and put herself forward for the role of unit chief. He wasn't all that surprised though. Since she had returned from the State Department, she had been different, harder and more aggressive were some of the nicer terms to describe her new attitude. While at times it was a benefit to the team, more often than not it created friction. He had been trying to subtly guide her into channeling her more off-putting tendencies into productive profiling and team building. It was looking like he had not been as successful as he had thought.
"You are correct, no formal offer has been made. However, both Section Chief Cruz and I have already talked with the prospective UC and he seems very receptive to the position," he replied neutrally. "While it is true that you have been with the team for a number of years, you have only been working as a profiler for a very short period of time comparatively. While you are excelling given the short time in this position you quite simply aren't ready to step into this role. I do, however, hope that you will continue to support the incoming UC just as you have me. You are a valuable asset to the BAU."
While he spoke, Aaron watched as JJ's eyes narrowed and her gaze turned from him to beyond him where the rest of the team were sitting and reading.
"I see," she said tightly before excusing herself to go back to her seat.
From the galley, Aaron watched as she flopped into her seat and glared at Spencer. While he hadn't said it in so many words, enough clues had been dropped that she had put them together and come up with the very accurate answer of Spencer being the prospective UC. Aaron sighed, he knew that the transition wasn't going to be easy for any of them, but this was not a good omen of things to come. Thankfully, Tara, Luke, and Matt all seemed to be on board with the transition. Then again, none of them had been with the team for very long in comparison to Spencer, JJ, Dave, and Penelope. Yup, this was going to be an interesting transition.
