Author's Note:
Just enjoy.
Chapter Eleven:
Okinawa
Prentiss
"We survived because we depended on each other. No team member was a weak link. We all contributed equally."
"Thank you, Agent Prentiss for that very thorough report. I need to ask about Agent Jareau's pregnancy. What happened between your agents isn't generally my business, but you can see why it has to be, in this case."
"As I mentioned earlier, without going into classified specifics, Agent Reid made us aware of the fact that if we were located in certain region in the Pacific, the chance of our immediate rescue was next to zero. His suspicions were confirmed on day thirty-one, when a specific kind of jet flew in formation over us. It wrecked morale among the team. I believe you can see where I'm going with this."
"I can. Were Agents Reid and Jareau romantically involved prior to being stranded on the island?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"You've satisfactorily answered my most pressing questions. You will be involved in a more thorough debriefing at Pearl Harbor."
"Am I going to be punished?"
"Agent Prentiss, no. Your pilots are the ones who decide the flightpath. You may have encouraged them to continue, but they are ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone. It was their choice based on conditions, not your input, that led to the crash. To be blunt, I don't think I could punish you any worse than what has happened."
"Sir, I don't know what else to do."
"Your team is being placed on six months leave. Whoever wishes to return will be probationary for a month after passing a psychological evaluation, and comprehensive testing."
"Six months seems a bit long."
"You haven't considered what is waiting for you at home Agent Prentiss. Your faces have been plastered on magazine stands for months. My office has been fielding interview requests left and right. There is no going back to lives you once led. I'm sorry."
"No, I think understand. Thank you, Director."
"I'll be in touch."
Prentiss ended the communication. Exhausted, she slowly got up and left the room.
A woman of Hispanic descent with long curly brown hair, in a lavender pants suit, was waiting for her.
"Hello Agent Prentiss," she said pleasantly. "I'm Dr. Verita."
"Nice to meet you," she said. "You're here for my psychological evaluation?"
"It's a preliminary assessment, so it is a little less formal. Just relax and be yourself. Follow me."
They walked through the labyrinth building and took the stairs up a floor.
"You knew I didn't like elevators," Prentiss observed.
"You've been outside so long I thought an elevator would too stuffy."
"Smart-thinking."
"That is what I'm paid for," she led her down a hall and opened a door.
"You're in for a treat."
It was a room full of clothes. Everything looked like it would fit. It was all to her taste too.
"Wow."
Verita stepped behind a privacy screen.
"Try as much as you'd like. There's underwear and shoes too."
"I've missed shoes."
"Those navy suits don't look like a lot of fun."
Prentiss just fingered the fabrics.
"What was it like being stuck in only your underwear around your coworkers at times?"
"I stopped being bothered by it, after we had to strip to get our clothes to dry. When you're constantly worrying about having enough in your stomach to survive, you stop caring about how others see you."
"I really liked castaway, but the one thing that bugged me was the pilot putting the oxygen mask on Tom Hanks first."
Prentiss began to pick out tops.
"A metaphor. If you want to take care of others, you need to take care of yourself first."
"A favorite among us shrinks."
She tried on shoes.
"Heels feel too high now."
"You'll get back to running in stilettos in no time."
"Will my team ever be back in the field?"
"That's something you're going to have to ask them. I wouldn't be rushing to hunt unsubs any time soon."
"That's what I want though: Normalcy."
Finding a garment bag, she began to fill it.
"You've been dreaming of what you think normalcy will look like. Now you have to face it."
"I know. I wonder if Rossi has sold the rights to his life story."
"Aside from normalcy, what do you want?"
"Andrew. I want to hug and hold Andrew. Also, a glass of wine."
She layered her favorite work look: Black blazer, pants, and a white blouse.
"Those sound-like solid goals. Anything else?"
"Catch up on TV. Laugh with my team. I'm decent now."
Verita appeared. She smiled.
"A picture of professionalism."
"Thanks."
"I'm not going to ask how you are Agent Prentiss, because I know. What I want to know is, what is the most pressing issue for you personally?"
"The welfare of my team."
"Don't be like that pilot in Castaway. Tell me, what is hurting?"
"Day thirty-eight, I started crying and couldn't stop. My team who didn't see me cry while another member was being tortured, saw me cry. I don't like looking weak in front of others."
Verita gestured to a chair.
"Tell me more."
Day Four
"Reid are there alligators around here?" Alvez asked.
"No, there needs to be shallow water for them to survive."
"Sharks?" Simmons asked.
"Possibly."
"Piranha?" J.J. asked.
"No, and the fact that they gravitate towards humans is a myth."
"Are we going to ask Reid to name every animal that could kill us?" Rossi said.
"I could, starting with—"
"Please don't," Prentiss said. "We should get moving. Reid and Simmons, start working on how to set up a means of fishing. J.J. and Lewis, look around for more plant material we could use for clothing. Alvez, you're on latrine duty today, and we're going alphabetically by last name. Rossi and I will maintain the fire."
"Maybe we'll be rescued before it's my turn," Rossi said.
The team scattered.
"I'd say all things considered we're holding up decently," Rossi said.
"I agree."
Her stomach grumbled.
"We're not eating or drinking enough," she said.
"Emily, we're going to manage. It's going to take time to set up a routine. We've done well enough so far."
"This isn't the BAU David. This is survival."
"And we're doing it! Now is not the time to second-guess yourself."
"I know. I know."
"What does Reid know about this area?"
"Enough to keep us alive."
"That's not what I meant."
"I'll tell the team at dinner."
"Survival is just another unsub. We'll build a profile together and identify a solution."
"You're always good for a pep talk."
"That's what I'm here for. Certainly not to lead or dig latrines."
"You're not getting out of it."
"I had to try."
They watched the fire together in silence.