~-~ .P.R.E.T.T.Y. P.R.E.T.T.Y. P.L.E.A.S.E. ~-~

X x . Chapter 2 . x X

.: All Clear :.

As the word quickly spread, the team filed into the conference room one by one. Hotch stood at the head of the table, a stack of paperwork at his fingertips. Morgan stepped inside and stood beside Rossi as the remainder of the team filtered in. JJ moved to stand beside Hotch at the head of the table, while Prentiss and Garcia took their usual places. The expressions on everyone's faces were of determination, excitement, and simple fear.

Hotch glanced around the room as if searching someone out, but quickly recovered and opened the folder in front of him. His eyes darted up momentarily at JJ, who gave him a reassuring look before he tugged the papers from the file. "Now, I'm sure we all know that there's a vacancy in our team." he began carefully, watching the reactions on the other team member's faces. No one's poker face subsided just yet.

Morgan was the first to utter a sound as the head chief began. "Sir, doesn't it seem wrong to have this sort of conversation without Reid present?" he interrupted, uneasily already clear in his voice. The two men were close, like brothers. Morgan was just looking out for the best interests of everyone in this family.

"I'm aware that Reid has taken his number of personal days, agent. Life goes on, and we do have telephones." Hotch shot back a little too quickly, turning back to the entire team. "So, as I was saying. I've gotten a number of resumes in the past few weeks, but there was one in particular that stuck out." he handed the file folder to Rossi, who was closest to him. As the older man thumbed through the paperwork, Hotch continued. "I've been in contact with Agent Strauss and this is the only cadet she has approved willingly."

Rossi raised his left hand for a moment. "Sir, it says here that she's twenty-two?" he confirmed, and Hotch nodded. Murmurs of 'she?' and 'so young' fell on the team, quickly hushed by Hotch once more. He instinctively smoothed down the jacket of his suit as he continued.

"I know. I looked over all the other applications again and again, but kept returning to this one," he admitted. Rossi, having gone through the file, passed it on to Morgan who began flipping through it, eyes eagerly taking in the information inked into the crisp white sheets of paper.

"I did send in a number of other resumes to Strauss, but surprisingly only got an okay on this one," he added, watching his team carefully exchange glances. Hotch placed both hands on the table, trying to figure how to continue with this. "I know it's not protocol." he began, but Rossi cut in.

"Not protocol? Agents aren't even allowed training until the age of twenty-three, at least," he growled, leaning forward in his chair. "How is it she's already had training and gotten both gun and badge on the account of the US Government?" Rossi demanded, clearly slightly unsure of this entire thing.

Hotch sighed, shaking his head lightly. "I have no honest to god idea," he admitted quietly. "She turns twenty-three in a few months, but read the files, she's... I don't know, it's just that there's something about her and her resume is impressive. Strauss says go, so why not put her on at least a probationary term." Hotch turned towards JJ, who nodded with approval.

"Alright. If Strauss sees promise in her, I do too. It's a go for me." Rossi finally said, leaning back in his chair and turning to the others. Hotch gave a curt nod to the man, thankful for some support at last. Now, the remainder of the team needed to agree in a majority vote.

"I agree with Rossi. Not only has she had proper training as a cadet, but she also seems to have valuable skills to us in being a profiler." JJ piped up, giving her thumbs up to the chief. She exchanged a glance with Garcia and Prentiss, all figuring Hotch indeed was not aware of this Elizabeth's... heritage.

"Hmm, looks good to me from what I see," Morgan added, handing the file to Prentiss, where she and Garcia looked through it together. "So yes." he finally managed, a smug expression on his face. Probably at the idea of having a new woman to hit on. Garcia's eyes bore into him for a second.

"Yes." both Prentiss and Garcia finally said at the same time, nodding to Hotch with their approval. "Age is, but a number," Garcia added in cheerfully.

Hotch seemed both relieved and thankful for his team's support. "I'm glad you all seem to be for this. Because I actually interviewed her last week. She should be flying in within the next few hours." he added quickly, already taking back the file and quickly fixing the papers within to an almost obsessive amount.

Everyone seemed taken aback by this, but they knew better than to argue with Hotch unless absolutely necessary. He could be quite intimidating when he needed to be, and such a fight over the circumstances was just not one of those times. After all, they had all approved her, so the small detail of when she started seemed a silly thing to question now.

As the team filed out of the conference room again, Garcia held back with Prentiss and JJ. "Can we please take her along with us tonight?" Garcia pleaded, referring to their girl's night outing. The women didn't do it often because work would not permit, but today seemed it would be in the clear and they'd arranged to head out into town for a bit of fun. Hit some stores with sales, grad dinner or coffee, maybe head to the bar for some late night fun, the works.

Emily rolled her eyes with a smile, shrugging. "Why not," she said, earning a quick hug from Garcia before the women happily sauntered out of the room. JJ and Emily exchanged glances, both rolling their eyes before they too followed suit. Everyone returned to their normal day-to-day activities, shifting through cases, answering phone calls, and awaiting their newest team member's arrival. No one held the simple idea of calling an MIA agent to inform him of the news, though...

X x . Author's Note . x X

Sorry that it's short, but it needed to be done. XD Just preparing the plot and applying some major filler, but trust me it all goes together. Bear with me. Next chapter you'll officially meet the newest recruit, and off to girls night they go! Then we can finally bring in Spencer!

Hope you enjoy, please review! ^^ Whether you love it, hate it, or just want to say my grammar sucks, review. Crits and ideas accepted!