A/N: Thank you for reading and for the reviews! I'm really excited to be writing a fic set in current time. I'm going to try to match it with canon as much as I can for the rest of the season, so we'll see how that goes. Please review and let me know what you think!

The next day, Emily held it together through telling the team they would be going to New Orleans without her, through wishing JJ good luck for her first case as Unit Chief, and through a long day of grueling interviews with Barnes. Well, she mostly held it together during the meetings. She wasn't going to play doormat with that woman and she certainly wasn't going to turn on anyone in the BAU. Those agents were nothing less than her family, except closer than family because she chose to let them in and keep them close.

She didn't let go until she was in her car, driving to the home of her former partner and greatest confidante. On the drive, she let herself break down and cry from the frustration and exhaustion. Seeing Derek Morgan and his family was exactly what she needed. Emily managed to stop crying by the time she reached Derek and Savannah's house.

Savannah greeted her at the front door with a warm hug. "Hey, Emily. Derek's upstairs putting Hank to bed, but he shouldn't be much longer. Can I get you anything? We had lasagna. I can warm you up a plate if you're hungry." If she noticed Emily had been crying, she didn't say anything.

"I'm not hungry, but thank you so much." Emily followed Savannah into the kitchen and took a seat at the island.

Savannah finished loading the dishwasher and started it. "Wine, then?" She knew Emily Prentiss loved her red wine.

"As much as I love that Derek finally lives in a house with wine, I'll pass. I had a whole bottle last night."

"Alone?" Savannah looked curiously hopeful.

"With JJ."

"Oh. You know, I have a friend from college coming in this weekend. She has a job interview here, so may be moving soon. She's beautiful. Blonde. Good kisser." Savannah grinned as if reliving a memory. "We had some good times. Anyway, we are going to take her out to dinner on Saturday, so you should come. I bet you two will hit it off."

"Uh..."

"If you're not on a case, that is. I hope you don't mind Derek told me."

"About my suspension? Of course not. It won't be for long, hopefully."

"That's not what I meant."

"Oh, yeah," Emily blushed. "No, that's fine. I figured he would."

"So you'll come? Meet Joss?"

Savannah looked so excited at the prospect of setting Emily up that she couldn't say no. "Okay. Yeah, I'll be there."

Derek came down the stairs then. "Hey, Princess," he said with a hug. "How you holding up?"

"Okay, I guess. Barnes has to let this go sometime. Savannah invited me to dinner with you two this weekend. And her college friend?"

"You don't have to do that!" Derek shot a sideways glance at Savannah, who shrugged and headed up the stairs, looking sheepish. "Seriously, Em. She just wants to help, but don't feel obligated to meet this woman."

"It's fine, Derek. A night out with you and Savannah will be worth it."

"How's JJ doing with all this?"

"She's worried."

"She should be."

Emily raised her eyebrows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just be careful, Em. That's all I'm saying."

"I'm always careful."

"Are you?" Derek tried to keep from sounding like a nag. "I just thought you said things would be different when you came back."

"A lot of things are different. I missed so much."

"I missed you. I'm glad you're back."

"Being back is so different without you. Without Hotch. It's weird."

"You like Luke and Tara though, right?"

"Of course. They're great. And Simmons has been a great addition. It's just hard not to get sentimental about my start at the BAU."

"I get it. I'll always miss the team. And the action. But this," Derek gestured to the home around him, "Savannah and Hank. It's all worth it."

"Family man is a good look on you, Derek."

"You think you'll ever want this?"

"I don't know. I don't think it's in the cards for me."

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

JJ sat with her team in a New Orleans police station, trying to piece together what had happened to the ten bodies, burnt and drained, found in a crypt. Well, that's what the other agents were doing. JJ's thoughts were of Emily and this whole messed up situation with Assistant Director Barnes.

"JJ!" Reid said her name in a way that let her know it wasn't the first time. She knew she needed to snap out of it. She was supposed to be leading her team and it felt more like they were leading her.

"Sorry. I just can't stop thinking about how ridiculous this whole thing is!" Maybe if she vented to the people closest to both her and Emily, she could feel a little better.

"The case?" Luke asked.

"No, Emily and Barnes." JJ did have to be cautious about what she said. Emily called her the night before to tell her she'd been suspended indefinitely, but no one else knew. Emily wanted to tell them herself when they got back. "She should be here."

"It's going to be a mess, in all honesty," Simmons said. He was likely the only other person who understood the magnitude of what could happen here, though Emily had spoken to Rossi several times the previous day, but Simmons had been through this with Barnes before.

"Agent Prentiss is tough. She'll get through this," Tara said.

"And she won't give up on us," Reid added.

JJ wanted to believe that. Yeah, Emily was tough, but she was also tired. No one knew just how this job affected Emily, not the way she did, but JJ couldn't do this without her. She'd had to learn to do it twice in the past and it couldn't happen again. Each time she lost her best friend was more difficult than the last. They'd been through JJ's move to the Pentagon and Emily's faked death and move to Interpol. She couldn't do this anymore. She'd seen Emily the previous morning and would see her again within a matter of days, but right now, she missed her more than she ever had.

A/N: Did anyone get the reference to the name of Savannah's college friend? (Hint: It has nothing to do with Criminal Minds.) Review and let me know if you did!