Disclaimed!
This story is just a few drabbles put together. So some chapters are going to be longer than others. I'll probably upload two chapters at once when I do update. This story is complete so hopefully there won't be much delay between updates, unlike my other fics that I've hit a wall with.
Let me know what you think...
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Quantico, October 2004
JJ sat frozen in her seat in the Quantico's Section Chief's office as the stone-faced Erin Strauss read over her personnel file.
The silence was deafening.
Twenty fours earlier, the younger blonde reminisced, she was in New York working a roomful of reporters so they wouldn't report on a series of hate crimes that her supervisor had wanted kept out of the public eye.
Now, the liaison was sternly summoned to Virginia, to sit in front of the newly promoted Section Chief, a woman renowned for her frosty and ambitious demeanour.
"You're 25?" Erin Strauss asked abruptly.
JJ nodded once. "Yes."
"You're younger than I thought." The older woman mused. "When I was your age I was assigned to a desk in St Louis."
"I've been lucky in my postings." The liaison retorted with a small shrug.
Strauss tsked. "Don't undersell yourself, Agent Jareau. Your previous Supervisors were very complementary. I've seen some footage of you in action. You're good."
"Thank you Ma'am."
Strauss's curious eyes met the younger agent's for the first time since they sat down. "Have you heard of the BAU, Agent Jareau?"
"Of course, they're an elite team and they've been all over the news the last few days." JJ replied with a soft nod.
"Unfortunately the leading team ran into some trouble in Boston." Strauss leaned back in her seat.
JJ interrupted with a frown at the older woman's nonchalance. "Six people are dead."
Strauss nodded decisively. "Yes and the BAU are under extreme heat not only from the press but from the top bureau administration too. The remaining three members of the first team returned from Boston this morning. I asked Agent Harris to send you here because I need you to clean the mess up."
"The mess?" JJ raised an eye at the woman's lack of sympathy.
"Agent Gideon is being asked to step down as Unit Chief and the team is going to need rebuilding. The second in command will be taking over and he'll need to hit the ground running, so I need you to make sure the BAU does not slide in standards." Strauss pursed her lips tightly.
Processing the new arrangement, JJ blinked a few times and nodded. "Okay. Can I ask why you've chosen me to do this?"
"This is temporary but you appear to be very sought after by other field offices and agencies after your involvement in many high profile cases. I know you've only been out of the academy a few years, but being stationed here in Quantico is highly desirable. This post could further your career immensely as the BAU is, as you say, an elite team to be a part of. I see no reason why this position won't become permanent if I see results." The elder blonde flicked through the file before closing it.
"I never really saw myself in Virginia." JJ stated slowly as they both stood.
Strauss extended a hand and they shook, before she motioned for them to leave her office. "Welcome to Quantico, Agent Jareau."
"What happens now?" JJ asked as they made their way to the elevators at the end of the hall.
"I'll take you down stairs to meet your new Unit Chief." Strauss informed cordially as the waited for the elevator. They made their way to the twelfth floor in silence, neither speaking until they walked through an empty bullpen and up to an office.
Seeing the name plate on the office door, JJ froze suddenly, not realising Strauss had already stepped into the office in front of her. Strauss looked at the younger woman in confusion. "Agent Jareau are you coming?"
JJ snapped out of her daze and entered the dimly lit room and met her new unit chief's eyes worryingly.
Hotch's eyes widened as JJ stood opposite him trying her best to remain composed. "Agent Jareau."
"I believe you two worked together in Seattle not too long ago." Strauss queried as she looked between the two tense agents.
"I worked with Agent Jareau's team when they came to help us on the Beaumont case." Hotch answered while JJ remained silent.
"Well, Agent Jareau will be working with your team until they're back to full strength. I'll let you two get reacquainted." Strauss passed Hotch the liaison's personnel folder and left the pair in uncomfortable silence.
"How are y..?"
"You look go..."
JJ cleared her throat at their awkward interaction before she met Hotch's confused gaze with an icy stare. "I had no idea you were in Quantico. I assumed you'd be in the DC field office."
"The former Section Chief asked me to come back to the BAU." He replied quickly.
JJ nodded. "I see."
"Did you ask for this transfer?" Hotch asked as he motioned for them both to sit.
"No. I can see the shock on your face, so I guess you didn't ask for this?" JJ shook her head as she sat opposite his desk as he struggled to find a response. "You were in Boston?"
"Yes." Hotch looked down at his hands briefly as he frowned. "You look good Jayje."
"Don't. Please, this already messed up. We need to remain professional." JJ took a deep breath and met his eyes determinedly.
Hotch nodded his agreement quickly. "My unit isn't fairing too well. I'm being walked over with the press and Strauss isn't really helping matters. My colleague Agent Gideon is taking a lot of heat..."
"I saw the news." JJ interrupted.
"If you don't want to do this, I'll find a way..."
"Chief Strauss seems pretty determined to keep me here for the time being. I get the sense that she doesn't trust you." The media liaison countered quickly.
Hotch scoffed lightly. "I wasn't her choice for the job. She was overruled."
"I see."
"If you're staying, maybe you can get started with some of the press requests? There's an office free down the hall." Hotch suggested as he glanced to the pile of boxes in the corner of his room, relenting that they were stuck with each other for the time being.
JJ smiled thinly. "Sure."
"I don't want this to be awkward, JJ." Hotch stated coolly.
JJ rolled her eyes briefly. "I'm only here temporarily but I can remain professional if you can?"
"Of course." They sat in momentary silence before the profiler broke the uncomfortable quiet. "But I need you to know that I'm sorry JJ. I never got a chance to apologise."
"I didn't want to hear it then and I still don't." JJ replied harshly.
Hotch smirked at her stubbornness. "That's fair."
"If you show me to the office, I'll be out of your hair as soon as possible." JJ stood and straightened her blouse.
He chuckled quietly as he stood. "You've never been a nuisance, JJ."
'Speaking of nuisances' she mused silently. "How is your wife?" JJ rebuked as they stared at each other.
Hotch's gaze fell to the ground guiltily as he whispered his guests name in hesitance. "JJ..."
"I should get to work." JJ announced quietly, watching the supervisor tense slightly as he realised she was here to work and for no more.
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Thanks for reading!