~-~ .P.R.E.T.T.Y. P.R.E.T.T.Y. P.L.E.A.S.E. ~-~
X x . Chapter 4 . x X
.: Dusk Greetings, Not :.
The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, casting an orangey glow across the land. The light filtered through the thick canopy of leaves above as a black SUV drove along a fairly busy side road just outside Quantico, Virginia.
Penelope drove, careful and aware, with Agent Morgan taking up the passenger seat beside her. In the back, JJ and Prentiss sat, whispering quietly. The small group had set out to pick up the newest member of their team, Agent Enningberg, from the local airport. And it was no secret how excited the team had become during the hours they spent chatting about a new member. Within the first hour, everyone was pretty much on the same page. They needed help. And help they would finally get!
"I'm so excited!" Penelope exclaimed, humming quietly to herself. Beside her, Morgan smirked, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.
JJ and Prentiss were not as enthusiastic at that moment. They sat talking about a certain man in particular. Spencer Reid was indeed a doctor, but he was one of the most awkward men they knew, albeit they say this with love. He was also the only man who had remained single for as long as anyone could recall. JJ had stemmed a small plan, but it could only carry out depending on just how their new recruit's personality was in comparison to the doctors. And when JJ had her mind set on something, she would be sure to carry it out.
Emily turned to her coworker, a glint of mischief in her eyes as JJ finished voicing her concerns for Spencer's social life. "What have you got up your sleeve?" she wondered, scoring Penelope and Derek's attention instantly.
"Nothing. Nothing!" JJ sang, turning to stare out the dark tinted window. Emily grinned, quite happy to oblige to anything her coworker had planned, returning to the book in her lap. The remainder of the ride was left in silence, the team all silently hoping the young women would meet expectations in all aspects.
"We're here!" Garcia sang as the black SUV pulled into the airport parking lot. The car was filled with a heavy air of excitement and curiosity as everyone began to shift with slight anxiety. Penelope pulled the car up to the curb just outside the doors, eyes glancing around the quickly growing crowd of people exiting from the airport through her red-framed glasses.
"We'll go and see if we can spot her in this crowd. Penelope, wait here for just a minute." JJ instructed, opening the back door and climbing out with Emily. Morgan followed them, slipping his hands into his pockets. The three glanced around, trying to figure out which of the many young women Agent Enningberg could be. They'd seen photos, but a large number of people made it hard to pick out a single person quickly, even for the group of elite agents.
As the three agents were about to make their way towards the doors, someone tapped Morgan on the shoulder. Pivoting on his heels, he looked down at the young women before him, lost for words in that moment. Prentiss and JJ smiled as they saw their new recruit, quickly throwing expectant and excited glances at each other.
"Hello? I'm Elizabeth Enningberg? Are you Agents Morgan, Prentiss, and Jareau?" for a split second the three agents stared at the women with sheer confusion, nodding.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I was sort of sent some information on the team, so I just assumed," she explained, pulling a few folded papers from her back pocket and flattening them out, handing them to Prentiss.
Prentiss just laughed, nodding her head. "Should have figured! Well, you're correct. I'm Emily Prentiss, this is Derek Morgan and-" she was cut off by the excited media liaison.
"And you can call me JJ! Everyone does, I'm Jennifer Jareau." the blonde explained, resisting the urge to hug the new female recruit. Somehow, for obvious reasons, it was often men they were recruited, so another woman was a very pleasant surprise.
"Welcome to the team, beautiful," Morgan said, smiling.
"It's very great to meet you!" Enningberg said, shaking each of their hands. She couldn't help but blush slightly at Morgan's comment. It was a rare reception on her part. She was a young woman, indeed, about Prentiss' height, with copper orange hair and shimmering emerald eyes. Her porcelain cheeks having a natural light blush, and she wore no makeup, only some mascara. She looked young and innocent, and the three agents before her held small amounts of doubt but didn't voice it.
"Well, come on!" JJ said, leading the way back to the black SUV. Morgan kept glancing at the single suitcase she had with her, wondering why that was so. Moving from your home out to a different state, with only one bag? It was strange, to say the least. And not to mention the fact that she was a girl, too.
As everyone climbed into the car again, Penelope turned in her seat to get a better look at the new agent. "Why hello sweetie! Penelope Garcia, Technical Analysis, always at your service!" she chimed with a broad smile. And with that Penelope started the car up again and they pulled away from the airport.
"So Enningberg, us girls were thinking we'd all go out for a little 'Girls Night', get to know each other. What do you think? You in?" Prentiss asked, shutting her book. JJ looked at Enningberg expectantly, and Penelope was nodding in the front seat.
"Sure! That sounds fun, I'd love to! And you can call me Enn, or Elizabeth." Elizabeth replied, grinning. She leaned back against the seat, a small sigh escaping her lips. She had been slightly worried about joining the top-notch team, especially since they were all older than she was with far more experience. But the girls seemed to have picked up on it and given her a warm welcome. Morgan seemed nice, too. Now, she just needed to hope she'd be accepted by the other three members of the team that wasn't present in the car. She hoped, oh she hoped, they would like her.
When the group had returned to Quantico and piled out of the car, Enn was introduced to Hotch and Rossi. Both older men seemed to be slightly wary of her, but accepted her presence on the team for now. Rossi had been a bit warmer to her than the serious Hotch, but all in all, Enn was not complaining. She'd been briefed on the way things went in the bullpen and shown to her desk, a neat and empty space beside a rather filled but clinically neat desk to her left. No one sat in there today, it was empty.
Enn noticed Emily and Derek shifting papers at their own desks, Prentiss' two away from her own and Morgan's across. She placed the small box of things she had in a drawer and promised she'd get more settled when she actually had things to settle. Having nothing more to do for the time, she made her way towards Prentiss.
"Hey. I'm just going to finish this final file and we can get going. Why don't you go tell Garcia we're gonna head out?" Prentiss said, sitting down and opening the folder. Enn nodded, turning in a circle once to try and get her bearings in the large space. "That way." Prentiss laughed, pointing.
"Right. Thanks." Enn replied, heading in the direction Emily had pointed her in. She'd been given a tour when they arrived, but it was still new, and even Elizabeth could get herself lost in a new place. She spotted the door slightly ajar, "Technical Analysis" on it, making her certain this was Garcia's office. She rapped her knuckle on the door lightly.
"You may enter the lair of the Goddess, but beware," Garcia called, turning as a giggling Enn slipped into the room.
"Hey. Prentiss told me to tell you we were leaving in a few." Elizabeth explained, tugging at a strand of her orange hair nervously. She still felt a bit out of place but hoped that the outing would ease her already diminishing fears.
"Alright! Let me just put my babies to rest," she said, beginning from one side and working her way to the other in her long-lined office, carefully shutting down each computer and mechanical device. Enn took a moment to look around the office, smiling at the bright colors and child toys and knick-knacks all around. It was a happy room in all, and seeming fitting. Garcia, with her bright-colored clothing and bubbly personality matched just perfectly. It must be true, who one's own space reflects them. She took a mental note to be sure to make her own workspace more 'her' when she got a chance.
"Come on love, let's get Jayje and head out!" Garcia said, standing and grabbing her purse in one swift motion. She linked arms with the young agent and sauntered out of the office. Enn had no choice but to follow as she was dragged along.
"JJ! Come on, come on! We're ready! And it's already six!" Garcia sang, spotting Prentiss just rising from her desk and motioning with her hand for her to come on.
"Coming! I just need to give these finished files to Hotch," she said. Enn looked at the women, wondering if she should offer to help. Some people got defensive when they were offered simple help, but finally, she figured if she didn't ask now, she' never know.
"I can give them to him for you if you want. So you can get ready." Elizabeth said, voice even though on the inside she was slightly intimidated by the older women. JJ however, responded eagerly, handing off the stack of yellow folders to the younger agent.
"That'd be great! Office, that direction! Can't miss it! Thanks, Enn!" JJ said excitedly and was pulled away by Garcia to get ready. Uttering a mental sigh of relief, Enn strode down the hall until she came to the Head Chief's office. She knocked on the closed office door and waited for his stern 'come in' to call.
As she opened the door and entered, she couldn't help catching the slight shock on his face at seeing her. "I was just dropping off these files for JJ." she explained, and Hotch nodded, taking the stack and leafing through them.
"Thank you," he said in a monotone voice, paying little attention to her. Taking this as her cue to go, Enn turned for the door. "Have fun with the girls tonight, Enningberg," Hotch called after her, surprising her greatly. She stopped in the doorframe, smiling.
"Thank you, sir!" she replied, shutting the door behind her again and walking back to where she'd seen Garcia drag JJ. She found them quickly enough, and Prentiss had joined them already. She noticed they had changed out of their more formal work attire and wore normal, everyday clothes. She smiled as she stepped into the door.
"Elizabeth! Finally, come on! Let's hit the town, baby!" Garcia said excitedly, pulling the girls out of the room again. They piled into JJ's car and soon enough were all engaged in a heated conversation about recent cases. Enn jumped right in asking questions, having studied many beforehand. They arrived in town and hopped out of the car, ready for a night of fun.
It started with a stroll along the shops, laughing and joking together like they'd all known each other for years. Enn couldn't get the gnawing feeling of being out of place out of her mind, though. Then the huge 'SALE' banners finally got to Garcia and she scurried into a shop, promising to catch up with them. The remaining three women stepped into a quiet café, ordering coffee.
"I'll be up all night after this," Prentiss said, sipping her green tea.
"Actually, green tea has only about 35 milligrams of caffeine in a standard cup, compared to 95 milligrams in coffee," Enn said, drinking her own cappuccino. She wouldn't be able to get sleep tonight, anyway. JJ and Prentiss stared at her oddly or a second, deciding to better ignore the all-to-familiar statistic-running behavior. It reminded them much of a certain genius coworker.
"So Elizabeth, you excited to meet Reid?" JJ mused nonchalantly. Prentiss rolled her eyes at this, knowing where it would turn.
"Uh, I guess so? Sort of nervous, too. It's not every day you meet a genius, from what you describe him as." Enn answered truthfully, a small frown replacing the smile on her face. She was nervous, and there was an ill feeling in the pit of her stomach that something just wasn't right. She kept thinking Reid wouldn't like her and was almost glad to have a few days to get to know the others better before meeting him. He was a bit judgmental, apparently. Maybe if she kept to everyone's good side, they'd be able to convince him she was worth the team if he had his doubts. Enn wasn't really too eager about meeting the man only a few years older than her. He'd been the youngest on the team before her. It just brought back old memories, thinking of someone around her age at all. She's spent so much time alone before she went to college, and it still didn't sit right with her. . .
"You'll love him!" JJ sang, taking a sip of her coffee. Operation Reid/Enn was in play. Just then Garcia appeared, bags in hand. JJ groaned and Prentiss only laughed.
"Don't' say it, don't say it! Just give me my coffee and no one's gonna get hurt." she said, reaching for the cup Prentiss offered her.
"Uh, Half caf extra shot venti two pump non-fat hold the whip caramel macchiato," she recited, and Garcia nodded approvingly.
"So, let's hit the club, ladies!" Garcia sang excitedly, ready to have some real fun.
"Let's do it!" JJ said, and they made their way down the sidewalk again, heading towards a club the older agents frequented. They were literally just outside the doors when JJ's phone went off. She pulled it from her pocket and groaned at the screen.
"Ohhh no. Fun's over ladies. We need to get to the BAU." she groaned out, stuffing the phone back into her pocket. Prentiss and Garcia sighed, disappointment evident on their faces. Enn, however sad she was about their night getting cut short, was also rather excited. She'll finally get to work her first case as a part of the BAU, and hopefully show everyone she was worth their time.
"A case...?" Prentiss asked, already knowing the answer. JJ nodded, and together the group of sullen women made their way back to JJ's car and climbed in.
"Look on the bright side. Enn's first case?" Garcia offered, smiling at the newest agent. Enn smiled back, nodding. Anticipation was evident in her features as they drove towards the BAU once again, the darkness of the sky seemingly only darker as they awaited the next gruesome case to be given to them once they arrived.
X x . Author's Note . x X
So, I didn't realize how long this turned out. But hey, it was coming. XD Better than something short, right? Now you finally meet the new member! Bits of this were taken from episode 05x20 "Exit Wounds." Anyway, hope it's up to par! Please review and let me know what you think, and answer the questions below if you can!