Kate changed on the plane, as did Jareau. Before they landed, Hotch shot off assignments rapidly. "JJ, you're with me at the station. Reid, go with Morgan to the medical examiner. Kate, you and Dave can go to the latest disposal site." He met her gaze, as if okaying that.

Kate nodded. "I think that's a great idea," she said, for she couldn't help herself. She knew it was crossing a very fine line, but she could see the way Hotch's gaze caught hers. He turned away, without a flicker of emotion, but she could see that his jaw had clenched.

Maybe this profiling thing was going to come easier than she thought. She almost choked at her own train of thought. Come.

She needed to get her mind out of the gutter.

The team looked between herself and Hotch, gazes mildly curious, and then turned back to their work. Kate wondered again if any of them had seen her leave The Benjamin with him, and she buried her nose in her file until they landed.

Rossi kept up a lively conversation the whole way to the disposal site. He asked about Seaver and Swann, going slightly more in depth than Morgan had earlier. Right before they reached the site, he turned to her. "You were at the Benjamin the night it closed, weren't you?" He asked. "I saw you at the beginning with Seaver, you guys rocked that song."

"Thanks," Kate said, trying not to flush. "Seems like I made a lasting impression on more than one agent. Garcia and Reid also remembered."

"Reid doesn't surprise me," Rossi said. "Kid's got an eidetic memory, he's quite literally the resident genius."

"Kind of figured that," Kate said.

Rossi smiled at her in the rearview mirror. "Hey, you've got nothing to worry about with this team," he said. "I don't know if this placement is official yet or if you're still thinking about it, but we don't bite. Much," he added, shrugging his shoulders.

Kate burst out laughing.

"Honestly, the only person you didn't make a visible impression on was Hotch," Rossi continued. "But believe me, he wouldn't have offered you this position if he didn't have the utmost faith. I know he's a tough guy to read, but he's really not the robot he pretends to be."

"Duly noted," Kate laughed again. She remembered her night spent with Hotch, and again had to suppress a deep blush. He was definitely not a robot.

They'd reached the site, and Rossi climbed out. Kate followed his lead, trying to not flinch against the harsh California sun. It had been a long time since she'd come this far west.

"You were on the Ludwig investigation," Rossi noted. "I admit, I did a little research on the plane."

"Should I be offended that my name wasn't superglued in your mind?" She teased. "But yeah, I was. He was a nasty piece of work. Since you just read up on it, however, you might be able to tell this story better than I."

"Lots to tell," Rossi said. "He was all busted up in the arrest photos."

Kate shrugged. "That's what happens when you try to knife a federal agent," she said. "Backup didn't make it in time, and I had to use drastic measures."

"That must have hurt," Rossi said. "You seem just fine."

"I heal quickly," Kate shrugged. "And I've been on the wrong end of a knife a few too many times now. And I looked a lot better than he did."

"Nicely done," Rossi noted. "But you know, that case couldn't have been easy."

His eyes looked a little too closely at her, and Kate didn't want to be treated like this. Whatever her reservations about the BAU were, they didn't include fearing that the cases would be too dark. Nothing was darker than sex crimes.

"When you find one that is, let me know," she said. "I never expected easy."

"Of course," Rossi said. They walked inside the disposal site, switching over to talk about the case. She could see Rossi's silent respect every time she nailed a theory, and resisted the urge to sass him again. She'd been working sex crimes for eight years, the majority of that spent doing undercover work. You couldn't do that much for so long without learning a little too much about how the world worked.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Rossi chuckled as they left Cowles' home. "We all did. I'll remember that the next time someone questions women in authority."

"You mind if I do the honors arresting that guy?" She shot back. "It's not the sexism I mind so much as the murder."

"Too true," Rossi cracked. "But we might have to flip for it. Let's radio Hotch, see if we can draw this creep out."

Back at the station, Hotch and JJ were already vested up. "We've got an eye on Cowles," Hotch said, tossing her a vest. She caught it, glad she'd changed on the plane. Jackets were definitely not vest proof, something she noted even more deeply since Hotch was in shirt sleeves now.

They rode separately to grab Cowles; Kate ended up in the same car as Jareau with the other woman driving. She privately noted that Hotch had still gotten out of teaming up with her; she hoped that wouldn't start a trend. This could just be the one case, but it wasn't going to be doable if he treated their situation like a restraining order.

Once they'd nabbed Cowles, Kate and Rossi were the ones questioning him; Cowles' degrading marks questioning the validity of Kate's degree got old very quickly.

At least it gave them an in. Misogynists were always the quickest to crack.

Kate finally got to sit down, not in a moving car, or with a suspect, almost twelve hours after they'd gotten off the plane. It had been a long day. Undercover work just didn't move like this. She'd spend months tracking one target back at base, on the computer. Then she'd spend anywhere from a few days to a few months in a hotel in their hometown.

Having an arrest within twenty four hours of landing just wasn't something that happened in her work. She felt like it should already be over...but truth was, it was just beginning. This dark website was the most disturbing piece of information they'd gotten yet.

She looked through the files again, privately noting that now the differences in victims made sense. It was multiple perpetrators doing the kidnapping, and multiple sellers who'd purchased these people.

It was disgusting to see. Kate shook her head, tuning back in to hear how odd Morgan's phone call was. "I need baby kitten pics ASAP," Garcia's voice filtered through the phone; she didn't seem like someone who was speaker phone safe but Morgan was unabashed.

She spoke up without even realizing she'd interrupted Morgan. "Have you seen the baby hippo ones?" Kate asked, pointing with her pencil.

"What?" Garcia asked, soundly truly shook to her core that someone was contributing to her tangent.

"Sleeps with a blanket, gets massages, eats better than I do," Kate continued.

"Where is that?" Garcia demanded.

"South Africa," Kate said, and that launched Garcia off onto a wholly new topic about her arsenal of cuteness.

Reid cleared his throat. "Maybe we could get back on topic," he said, as Kate and Garcia cooed over baby chicks. Kate raised an eyebrow inwardly; they'd been doing shop talk all afternoon and the first time they'd strayed off topic Reid had immediately made them jump back. She wondered if he was always so rigid.

Kate also felt a bit conflicted at how quickly they made the leap to going after the anatomy professor on sabbatical. Surely that was a bit rushed, and going out to his place confirmed her theory.

He wasn't the murderer; he was the victim. He did, however, lead them to the murderer.

Steven Parkett.

Kate ended up in the backseat with Jareau as they drove out to Parkett's. Hotch was driving, and Rossi was riding shotgun.

This lead felt more real, and it made more sense to her. Parkett's history all lined up with the profile. It was eerie how closely the pieces lined up.

"Genetics," Jareau shrugged. "He didn't have much of a chance."

Kate silently agreed, tensing up as they got out of the car. Midnight raids never went well, but they couldn't afford to wait on going after him. Morgan and Reid had already run into another victim, so that meant time was short.

She and the others combed through the house, all ending up in the kitchen. "It's all clear," Hotch frowned. "Time to go out then, I'd place money that he's still here. JJ, take the back door. Kate and I will take the front."

The first time he'd placed them together. Kate frowned, almost wondering why he doubted her ability to go alone, but she decided not to second guess it. Hotch was just taking care of the newest member; it made sense for him to not send her off alone, plus he and Jareau had worked together longer. There was more trust beneath them.

Kate headed outside with Hotch, staying close, until she turned a corner and he wasn't there. She wanted to call his name, but stayed silent. She wasn't used to working like this. When she caught someone, she was the one calling the shots; usually coordinating with local law enforcement to finish the job.

And now, Hotch had disappeared, and she was crossing past unused farm equipment. The night was pitch black, and Kate crept towards the barn. She pushed the door open with a loud creak, flinching at the sound, and knew she'd just outed her location.

Parkett took her off guard. She felt like a damn fucking fool, the way she met his eyes in the reflection of an old pickup's mirror. He'd knocked her off her feet before she could register what was happening, and her gun flew from her hand two feet away. She grunted, realizing it may as well be two miles.

She didn't have backup. Where were Jareau and Hotch? What was the point of being on a team if they disappeared? Yet she couldn't call out without revealing her location.

She really fucking hated night operations. She knew timing was sensitive, but if she fucking died on this barn floor, she wouldn't be okay with this.

Parkett had her leg, and Kate knew that the only thing that would save her now was reaching her gun, but he was pulling too hard, and she'd seen the glint of his machete.

She didn't want to end up like the dismembered arms inside.

She threw her entire body weight into twisting over, and his hand slipped on her leg. She scrambled away, had just reached her gun, when a shot rang out.

Parkett fell to the ground, and Hotch stood in the doorway, his flashlight giving him away.

"You know, I had it covered," she panted, standing the rest of the way up, gun in hand. Hotch advanced, and Kate was surprised that no one followed him.

"So have we scared you away yet?" He asked kicking the machete away from Parkett, but the man was dead. Jareau came running into, gun raised, and lowered it once she saw the scene.

Kate shrugged, grabbing her arm, and felt the sticky moistness of blood. Great. He had gotten her. Hotch gently took her arm after she had, turning it so he could see the damage. She couldn't see the expression in his eyes, but she did see him shake his head.

"You know, agents don't usually get almost maimed their first day at the BAU," he deadpanned. "I promise."

"I don't," she said. "Promise, that is."

She heard Jareau's comment as she left the barn. "Is she staying?"

"I'm not sure," Hotch replied.

Kate sat away from everyone on the plane home, and she was surprised when Jareau came up. "Hey," she said, sitting down across from her. "How many stitches did you end up getting?"

"Ten," Kate said. "Honestly, it's not the worst I've been through."

"I'm sure," Jareau replied. "I've seen some of hell myself. Vitamin E oil," she nodded at Kate's bandaged right arm. "Helps with the scarring."

"I've always been a fan of cocoa butter myself," she said, and leaned against the chair. She just didn't feel like talking. She'd spent this whole case feeling like she had something to prove, to herself, or to Hothc, or to the team, even. But the truth was, she didn't. She'd felt like a puppy dog on Rossi's heels, and she couldn't wrap her head around what had happened in the barn. Plus something just wasn't adding up about the abductions. She needed to reread those files.

Jareau could see her silence; hell, she was probably reading Kate's mind right now. "Listen, Callahan, for what it's worth," she began.

"Might as well call me Kate," Kate replied.

"Call me JJ," JJ said, smiling. She leaned forward. "We needed a seventh pair of hands on board, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that I would really like to work another case with you."

"Really? Because earlier I couldn't talk without you correcting me," Kate said. The words were out before she could stop herself. "I'm sorry, I'm cranky and that was unnecessary."

JJ leaned thoughtfully back in her seat. "Don't apologize. Thanks, for being honest. Um, I tend to overdo it sometimes. I was the media liaison for a long time and sometimes I still feel like I have to prove myself as a profiler, especially to new agents."

"I get it," Kate said. "And I'm the newbie. You were right to correct where I was wrong."

JJ smiled. "I seriously appreciate your honesty," she said. "You called me out on something I didn't even realize I was doing, and not many people are capable of that."

"Thanks, I think," Kate said.

"So are you staying?" JJ asked, and Kate paused.

"I'll let you know," she finally spoke, and JJ nodded.

Morgan walked over, plopping down next to them. He nudged at Kate's arm. "First time getting stitches?"

"Not even close," Kate scoffed. "Guy got through the tendon last year on my left."

"Oof," Morgan said. "Well, first time with us. Welcome to the team, Callahan."

JJ started to speak, but then just shrugged, settling back into her seat.

Kate smiled faintly, and let Morgan's rumbling voice lull her into a light doze until the plane landed.

She was at the round table when Hotch walked in, and he raised an eyebrow. "What's up?" He asked, nodding at the piles of files.

"Well, I didn't want to take over someone else's desk," she said. "But something has been seriously bothering me about this case."

"Try me," Hotch said, sitting down.

She hesitated, but she could tell that he was purely being the boss right now, and nothing else. She admired that, she really did. Maybe he was the robot Rossi had mentioned earlier. "Did Parkett's last victim mention anything?" She asked. "About her abduction?"

Hotch shook his head. "She was out for a jog, got hit over the head, and she woke up with Parkett," he said.

"And she was from Bakersfield," Kate stated, but she already knew the answer.

"San Diego," Hotch corrected, and she inwardly shook her head at the news.

Silence. "Say it, Callahan," Hotch said. "I can see the wheels in your head turning. What's up?"

"It doesn't add up," she said frankly. "That's way outside of Parkett's comfort zone, for one. For two, he doesn't have the social skills to pull off that kidnapping."

Hotch bit his lip, and now Kate was the one waiting for him to say what was on his mind. "We finished the case," he finally said. "Our job is done until we're called back."

"That's not how I work," Kate said, shaking her head. "I can't leave that open end sticking out. Parkett couldn't have pulled it off. Not all those hours alone in the car with a live victim."

"Listen, if we hear anything else," Hotch began. "We will be flying back out there. But we caught him, Callahan."

Callahan. The word sounded wrong coming from his mouth.

"There's no doubt he's guilty," Hotch finished. "Nothing in the behavior points to a partner."

"I just wish...we could ask him," she said. "I don't think the answer would be that he was the one to kidnap her if we asked. He would have passed the buck on, like Cowles."

"Listen, this is how we have to operate," Hotch said. "We have to leave it at the office. That's how we don't take it with us everywhere. Let it go."

He looked at her, seriously looked at her.

"That's easier said than done," Kate said. "I don't leave open ends when I finish my undercover cases."

Hotch bit his lip. "This sounds like a dealbreaker," he said.

Kate started to put the files together, trying to clean up. She didn't belong here. She wanted to go back to sex crimes where it was comfortable.

But comfortable didn't get you anywhere.

She looked up, met his gaze. She was vividly reminded of another very early morning, when she'd kissed him goodbye.

"It's not a dealbreaker," she said. "I want the position, if you'll have me."

"The job is yours," he said, and stood up. "Now it's time for you to get some sleep."

"Yeah, I'll leave soon," she said, but he raised an eyebrow, and she reluctantly stood up.

"Just leave the files," Hotch said. "No one but us meet in here. You can take care of it when you get back. By the way, the desk on the edge that's empty...that's yours."

She nodded, and followed him to the elevators.

"Listen, Callahan," he said. "You're the first agent I've met who stayed longer than me their first case."

"Is that a good thing?" She asked, as they got into the elevator.

"It means that I finally have someone on the team who's just as much a workaholic as I am," he said shortly, and she laughed.

"Well, I've got no one to go home to," she admitted.

The words seemed to hang in the air. She glanced up at him, and found his gaze squarely on her.

"I've got a son, but he's usually with his aunt," he said, turning his face away. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. "Callahan, I meant what I said. Leave it at the office."

She took a deep breath. "You have a good sleep, Agent Hotchner," she said simply, and walked away.

Notes:

I have always been bothered by how much the team talked over Kate. Personally, I don't view her behavior in this chapter as OOC so I didn't tag it as OOC, but I will say I'm writing a different flavor of Kate. It is canon that she does get less "nice" when tested, so this story is just pushing her harder, and stretching her limits. Canonically, I know she was pure sunshine in X, which I love, but I wish she'd called people out more. And I did start out with Kate trying to be super positive, and like the puppy dog she was in the show, but at the end of the episode, she's been pushed past her limits, and Hotch utterly dismisses what was a very valid concern, plus we have a little added drama because of their first meeting.

Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed. 3 ~Meowser