As the weeks between Agent Jareau's transfer grew, it seemed as if the team had reached a weird sort of détente with Erin. But one thing that she couldn't get used to was the cool way Penelope treated her. She had known that there would be some fallout from what had happened, but she hadn't expected it to come from someone that she had thought of kindly. And now this case coming up in Detroit, right before Halloween, when she wanted David to be home to take Elise trick or treating, since she didn't want to drag Catherine around the neighborhood. Karen and Bruce had been invited to a party, and Tabitha was going to hand out candy so that she could spend the evening relaxing. But now, that seemed up in the air, and she didn't know how she would deal with everything.

A soft knock on her door caught her attention, and she looked up to see the very woman she had been thinking of standing there, a cautious smile on her lips. "Yes, Ms. Garcia?"

The smile wobbled a little as she entered, taking a seat in front of her desk. "I have to clear the air with you." Erin tilted her head to one side, waiting for the woman to continue. "I really hate change, especially sudden change, because I lost my parents so suddenly and everything changed in a heartbeat. So I needed time to work through my emotions when we lost Jayje. And I think that I inadvertently hurt you in the process, which was not my intent. So, I'm sorry?"

Erin relaxed a little as she nodded. "It was a reaction I was expecting, actually, Penelope. More so from the others than you, but it made sense. I had to take away a part of your family, and that hurts, no matter how you might try to think otherwise. I wish that there had been some other way, but we were all stuck between that proverbial rock and hard place. But I do know that David is going to try and use his connections to get this decision reversed. I don't think that he'll have much luck, given how insistent Director Rosenthal was in getting her away from our team."

"But at least he's going to try." The smile on Penelope's face widened a little as took a deep breath and let out a little sigh. "Now, what are you planning on doing for Halloween? It has to be difficult with an almost one year old and Elise."

"David was supposed to take her out, since I don't feel like walking the neighborhood with Catherine on my hip, but now that's all up in the air. I know they're going to try and get back in time for trick or treating, since Jack wants Aaron to take him out, too, but that appears to be a pipe dream at this point."

"Why don't you ask Jessica to take them out together? Then you could just stay at her place and hand out candy with Cathy while they're gone."

Erin smiled widely as she nodded. "That is actually a really good idea. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, I should probably get back to my office just in case they call needing information. I just…I had to make things right before too much time passed." Erin nodded, watching as Penelope got to her feet. Before she could protest, Penelope was coming around to her side of the desk and giving her a tight, quick, hug. Erin went to say something, only for Penelope to turn on her heel and flee from the room, as if she was afraid that Erin would scold her for being so bold. Instead, she just shook her head a little as she picked up her phone and dialed Jessica's number.

"Erin? Why are you calling from your office phone?"

"I didn't have time to get out my cellphone, and since I call you so much, I have your number memorized. Listen, I don't think that the team will be home in time to take the kids out for Halloween. And I am not feeling too keen on taking Elise out by myself?"

"So what were you thinking?"

She took a deep breath. "Well, since Jack and Elise are so close, perhaps we could go out together? Penelope suggested that I stay at your place and hand out candy, but as I was thinking about it, it would be nice to spend a little time with you."

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea! If they're not home, tomorrow evening, we are going to gather as much candy as possible for our babies."

"Excellent. Thank you."

"You're very welcome." Erin smiled as they said goodbye, glad to have made plans with Jessica, since it truly would be more fun to spend time with the woman. Even if it meant that she would have to figure out a way to carry Catherine around with them. Letting out a small sigh, Erin turned her focus back to her work as she tried not to think about the logistics of trick or treating with her youngest.

"Excuse me, Erin?"

She looked up at Helen, giving her a small nod as she motioned her inside the office. "What do you need?"

"You wanted me to keep tabs on when Alex Blake published anything new?" Erin nodded again, watching as Helen approached her desk, a thick stack of paper in her hand. "Well, this just came out in one of those journals that you had me scour, and I thought that you'd like to read it as soon as possible. Can I ask a personal question?"

"You can, I just might not answer."

Helen smiled as she perched on the edge of a chair, her eyes entirely serious. "Why do you read what she writes, when she has never reciprocated the olive branches that you've extended to her over the years?"

"I have to try. We were best friends for too long for me to just give up on perhaps repairing our relationship. And I know that she has every right to refuse the olive branches, but there may come a day when they're accepted. I have to hold on to that hope."

"You're turning into a better woman all the time, Erin."

She shrugged as she looked at the first page of the paper. "Maybe I'm finally learning from all the mistakes I made along the way. Thank you for bringing this to me." Helen nodded as she got to her feet, another fleeting smile on her lips as she left Erin alone in the office. Erin knew that there was no way she could get any work done with this in her hands, so she instead got up and made her way over to her sofa, curling up in one corner before turning on the lamp and starting to read what Alex had written. Thankfully, over the years that she had kept up with her friend's career, Erin had started to get to know what she was talking about, even if she didn't understand it completely. This paper, though, was extremely accessible to her, and Erin quickly found herself drawn into the lyrical quality of the prose. As she read, Erin felt a yearning ache in her heart, the desire to reconcile with Alex burning brightly as a brand. Perhaps, one day soon, she could find the closure she so desperately desired.