Thanks for the reads and reviews. You all are top drawer readers. Honest.

We're jumping back in with the boss man for this one. This one should tie together a few previous conversations for you. :)
Slight reference to season 2's "Revelations" because I heard that line and simply couldn't let it lie.

Happy reading =)


"There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go." – Tennessee Williams

"Hey, Hotch."

I look up from my seemingly endless mountain of paperwork to find Prentiss in my doorway, holding a thin folder. "Prentiss, what can I do for you?"

"We need to discuss this," she says, holding up the folder. So she's finally submitting the paperwork for her departure from the Bureau. I had wondered how long it would take her to make the actual step after our chat.

I nod in understanding and gesture for her to take a seat. "Are you sure you want to do this here?" I ask after closing the door, looking pointedly toward the bullpen where JJ and Morgan are staring unabashedly through my window at the two of us. You would think profilers would be a little more discreet. Yet even after all these years, I'm still being profiled through my window.

She shoots me a confused expression and then follows my gaze to the window. She shakes her head and lets out a quiet chuckle before sticking her tongue out at them. I hold back a groan and resist the urge to compare her maturity to my son's. I watch with hidden amusement as they react to her antics. Morgan's eyebrows shoot up in surprise for a split second before he returns her gesture in kind, while JJ's gaze narrows and her face scrunches in concentration as she tries to piece something together.

"It's fine," she answers, turning her attention back to me.

"Do you want me to..." I trail off, giving a small gesture toward the blinds.

"Maybe only halfway," she suggests with a mischievous grin.

"Prentiss," I warn, shooting her an unimpressed glare.

"Aw, c'mon Hotch. I'm not gonna be around here much longer, let me have a little fun," she says playfully, but I can sense underlying seriousness in her words.

I exhale loudly but close the blinds half way, earning a wide smile from her for my efforts. I make my way quickly across the room and sit down, resting my arms on the desk.

"So you do have a sense of humour," she notes with an amused expression.

"Occasionally," I admit with a small smile.

"Didn't you once admit that you had no sense of humour?" she asks as her brow furrows in thought.

I mirror her expression, trying to locate the memory.

"I'm not a narcissist," I state plainly.

"Aw, c'mon look you can't take anything-"

"That's not what I'm talking about. No, stop, stop," I say, interrupting Gideon's reassurance. "All right, everybody, right now, what's my worst quality?"

Silence ensues as they all shift awkwardly, unsure how to answer the question. But time is of the essence, and I have to make them understand.

"Okay, I'll start: I have no sense of humour..." I trail off, prompting them to contribute.

"You're a bully," JJ finally admits.

"I'm a bully," I repeat in agreement, encouraging them to continue.

"You can be a drill sergeant sometimes," Morgan contributes.

"Right," I agree.

"You don't trust women as much as men," Prentiss says quickly.

"Okay good, I'm all these things but none of you said that I ever put myself above the team because I don't, ever."

"I suppose I did," I say, having finally located the correct memory.

She offers a half smile in response and seems to shift uncomfortably in her chair, clearly unsure of how to proceed with our conversation.

My curiosity ultimately gets the better of me now that the memory had resurfaced, and I decide to take advantage of the silence and ask, "Do you really think I trust men more than women?"

"I'm sorry?" she says in confusion.

"When I asked everyone what my worst qualities were, you said that I didn't trust women as much as men," I clarify.

"Clearly Reid is not the only one with an annoyingly accurate memory," she quips while arching an eyebrow in amusement.

"You're the one who brought up the conversation in the first place," I remind her.

"Oh, yeah. I guess I did. But I don't think that Hotch. At least...I don't now."

"But you did then..."

"I'd just joined the team a few months before, and you didn't exactly roll out the welcome mat," she offers. "What was I supposed to think? And you can't honestly sit there and tell me it wasn't true at the time, at least for me anyway."

"I didn't know you then like I-"

"Hotch, it's- it's fine," she says, waving off my apology. "Your suspicion was completely fair, and given what Strauss was trying to do, I can't fault you for not trusting me. Besides, I'm not really in a position to point fingers."

"What do you mean?"

She takes a deep breath and leans back in her chair. "I lied to you from the start. I hadn't been in the Bureau for ten years; I hadn't been in the Bureau at all."

"True, but that wasn't your decision. You lied because you had to, not because you wanted to."

"Well, that's not entirely true."

"It's not?"

She pauses before responding, taking a breath and licking her lips first. "Yes, I lied because I had to, but a part of me wanted to as well. I wanted a fresh start after things with Doyle. That op was just one of the dozens we handled over the years we operated and by the time Doyle was locked up, I'd burnt out. We all had to some extent and Clyde knew it, so JTF was disbanded."

"And then you took some time to recuperate."

"After I sorted out everything with Declan, yeah," she says with a nod. "I had to try and figure out who Emily Prentiss was again. I'd played so many roles that the lines between them and my own identity had started to blur."

"You could have gone anywhere with your skill set, why choose the BAU?"

"Clyde suggested it, actually. He had a friend who had some pull with the Director, and somehow convinced him to fabricate my history and assign me to the unit."

"Easter wrote quite the letter of recommendation."

She lets out a knowing chuckle. "He's very good at what he does. He would have known exactly what would convince them I was a good fit for the unit."

"If you were assigned straight into the BAU, what did Strauss use on you to get your help in bringing me down?"

"Politics are politics," she says with a shrug. "I had to stay close to Declan and I knew she still had the power to have me reassigned or destroy my career, so I played along. But I never had any intention of giving her what she wanted. I told you, I hate politics."

"I see. Well, I certainly don't hold any of that secrecy against you."

"Thank you," she says with a tired smile.

"So," I say in an effort to bring the conversation back to its original purpose. "You wanted to discuss your departure from the unit."

"Right, sorry," she apologizes as she leans forward. "There's been a slight change in plans," she says cryptically, pushing the folder toward me. I pick it up and open it, my eyes scanning its contents.

"A transfer?" I say in confusion. "But I thought you-"

"I've had a change of heart," she says quickly, interrupting me.

"Dave wouldn't have had any part in this sudden change of heart, would he?" I ask knowingly, recalling his smug grin as he sauntered past my office after Prentiss had sat down.

"He might have," she concedes. "But it's not all because of him." I watch as her eyes subtly dart to the bullpen, where Morgan and JJ are still profiling us through the window.

"Is this something you want? Dave can be quite persuasive when he wants to be."

She laughs lightly. "That he can. But it's something I've given a lot of thought to. It's the expectations that came with this job, not the people in it that I want to escape. I thought that they were intertwined, but Dave managed to convince me that I could still get the change I need without leaving everyone behind."

"Expectations?"

"Either to be the exact same agent I was before everything with Doyle, or to be a fraction of the agent I was. Both crippled me and reminded me of what I couldn't have and didn't want," she explains.

"So you're transferring out of the BAU, but staying here?"

"Exactly. I'm hoping a change in job is going to relieve that pressure to be the agent and person I was before Doyle, but still let me keep you guys in my life. I spoke with Strauss and she confirmed that there are a few teaching positions available in the Academy."

"You spoke with Strauss?"

"Before the briefing on Monday, yes."

"And she approved this, despite the paperwork not being filed?" I ask, confusion settling in. Erin Strauss was generally not one to overlook proper procedure, even if she had changed slightly.

She shrugs. "I guess I caught her at a good time. She was actually rather good about it all."

I shift my gaze back to the form in the folder. I scan it quickly, making sure she hasn't missed filling out anything. "Well, this looks to be in order," I note as I grab a pen to sign off on it. With a quick glance up, I lock eyes with her. "You're sure?"

She meets my gaze once more and in that moment it really sinks in what the team is losing with her departure. She's a highly intelligent and more than capable agent and profiler, yes, but her role on the team is so much more than that. We all bring something different to the table. Morgan is the undisputed protector. Dave is our mentor - the voice of reason and experience. JJ is the maternal figure of the team, and the glue that holds us together. Reid is the precocious little brother who never ceases to amaze us. Garcia is our heart and our constant reminder of the good and innocence in the world. I am, as Garcia affectionately describes, the "fearless leader" of the team. And all of those roles are important and completely necessary to the success of this team, but Prentiss brings something important to the table as well. Prentiss is our rock. She's the one who holds it together in the face of things long since fallen apart, the one who patiently listens while we talk and passes no judgment, and the one who lends a shoulder to lean on and reminds us we are not alone. She is our reminder that this is a family. Over her time on the team she'd softened Morgan's tough exterior, become a trusted source of comfort and camaraderie for Garcia and JJ, become something of a daughter to Dave, a sister to Reid, and a trusted friend to me. She'd proven wrong every stereotype and dismissive attitude thrown her way, and had done so with class and dignity.

"I'm sure," she says as she nods slowly.

My eyes shift back to the form and with a small flourish I sign my name, replace the form in the folder, and push it back toward her.

"Thank you," she says sincerely. It doesn't take a profiler to know she's talking about more than just signing off on her transfer.

"It's been an honour," I say honestly as I stand and hold out my hand. She rises to her feet, her wide eyes never leaving mine, and takes my hand. I place my left hand on top of our joined hands and try to convey just how much she means to me and this team in a look and a handshake. "I'll miss you. We all will."

She nods weakly and smiles as she releases my hand in an effort to cover up the emotion building in her. "I'll miss you too, Hotch. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me," she says in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.

"It's what family does," I say simply.

My words seem to shock her. Her eyes widen and I swear I can see the faintest trace of tears appear, but she immediately erases any evidence by blinking quickly. "God, I'm sorry," she says after a moment of silence. "I didn't think this would be so..."

"Overwhelming?" I offer.

"Yeah," she agrees with a half-hearted laugh and a gentle nod. "This is ridiculous, I'm not even leaving the building. Hell, according to Strauss it's a very real possibility that I'll still work some cases with you guys."

"It's still a change, and a pretty significant one at that. Frankly, I'd be concerned if you weren't a bit overwhelmed by all of this given the year you've had."

She offers a smile small and picks up the folder from my desk.

"Thank you, Hotch. Really. It means a lot."

"You've done a lot for this team and for me over the years, and I'm not sure I ever thanked you for it."

"Hotch-" she says, waving her hand dismissively.

"You stepped up in a big way after the initial Foyet attack. You held the team together and made sure they still got the job done. You were an excellent leader. It's the reason I very seriously considered appointing you interim unit chief when I needed to step down."

Her eyes widen considerably, asking the question she can't seem to verbalize.

"I went with Morgan because Strauss was more familiar and comfortable with him as unit chief, but I had real concerns he wouldn't be able to set aside his emotions, or deal with the politics of the job. I knew you would be able to, and you'd proven yourself a strong leader. I have no doubt that if you wanted to, you could climb the ladder and be in a position of considerable influence in a short time. But I know that's not what you want. And I do think you'll do well at the Academy."

"That means a lot that you'd even considered me, Hotch. Thank you," she says, her eyes still wide in surprise. She sneaks a glance to the window and sees JJ and Morgan still unabashedly staring at my office, Garcia having joined them at some point. "How long do you think before they accost me with questions?"

"If I know Garcia, she's already started scouring the databases for hints, so I'd think as soon as you close this door behind you."

She smiles faintly, but it falters quickly as she likely realizes what it is she has to tell them.

"They'll understand, Emily," I say reassuringly. "And if they give you too much trouble, let them know about the alternative," I add thoughtfully.

She cracks a wide smile. "I suppose the Academy is a lot closer than London."

"Indeed, it is. Are you going to tell them today?"

She glances at her watch. "Probably not. We're not in until Monday, right?"

I nod in confirmation. "Right."

"I'll file the paperwork at the end of the day, and I'll tell them Monday. It usually takes a few days anyway. Besides, Rossi already knows, I'm pretty sure JJ's worked out that I'm leaving, and Garcia will find out as soon as the paperwork gets inputted into the system."

"What about Reid" I ask.

She frowns for a moment. "I'm pretty sure Reid saw the form on my desk on Monday before I could hide it. He and I have our coffee and chess date tomorrow, so I'll make sure to bring it up then."

"And Morgan?" I admit her answer to this one intrigues me. Something had shifted between the two of them since JJ's wedding and if my suspicions are correct, her transfer is going to save me a rather large headache.

"He knows I'm not going to London," she answers simply, her posture and tone telling me that's all I'm going to get. "But I'll let you get back to your paperwork. Thanks again, Hotch."

"Of course. And good luck with fending them off," I say with a small smile, my eyes shifting pointedly to the window.

And with that, she turns and exits my office, closing the door behind her. I watch as Garcia's questioning takes only seconds to begin and Emily begins shaking her head, offering quick reassurances. I shake my head at the collection of characters on this team - somehow we make it work, despite our quirks. The balance would be upset for a while after her departure, but at least it was an exit by choice this time. Yes, we were losing a fine agent and team member who would be next to impossible to adequately replace, but at least we weren't losing our friend and family member this time around.


Reviews are always welcomed. I love hearing your thoughts and ideas.

FYI, you've got a few more days to vote in the Profiler Choice Awards for those stories that tickled your fancy, so I suggest you head on over to do so! If nothing else, it's a fantastic list of wonderful stories for you to peruse.