Note:

I apologize for the horrendous formatting from the last section. Assumed for some reason that I would be able to separate the chapters by page when I uploaded it, but alas, no such luck. Will start off here at Chapter 4, but it will be done correctly this time. Again, sorry if the formatting was distracting. Thanks for reading, and reviews are like rays of sunshine through the cloudy horizon of this story…

Chapter 4-

"I'm told that you offered her this job prior to Agent Prentiss' departure."

Erin Strauss raised her eyebrows pointedly at this inquiry. In her shameless way, the Section Chief answered affirmatively.

"And there were specific times during which the job was offered…" Hotchner pressed on, barely able to keep a hold on his disappointment, "You have to realize that picking replacements for my team is meant to be left up to me, and only when I feel that it is an appropriate time." Hotchner was surprised that Strauss held her tongue at this statement; it was true… disrespectful, albeit true.

She breathed out a mildly frustrated sigh before responding to the man in her guest chair, "I understand that this has come at an inopportune time, but there was an opening, and it needed to be filled."

"I find the disregard for Bureau regulations very difficult to believe on your part," he added quizzically.

"You expect an ulterior motive," she replied, feigning disbelief.

"I expect several."

There was a pause between the two. Withholding answers to withheld questions.

Erin folded her hands in front of her on her desk.

"You've read Costigan's file?" She requested curtly.

He nodded in the same fashion.

Erin inhaled sharply, squinting her eyes, and opening them again on the exhale. Aaron tilted his head to his left and slightly backwards, gazing down his nose.

"She's never actually been arrested, as you can see by her paperwork. She's never been caught doing anything that is actually illegal. What she has done is criminal only by default." Erin seemed frustrated at the lack of proper legal terminology for the whole scenario.

"You mean she has coerced." Aaron supplied.

"No. Coercion is illegal."

Aaron rolled his eyes slightly. "So she's manipulated…"

"No. She has profiled, interacted, and by default, acquired several hundred thousand dollars in European currency and stocks."

"And by acquired, you mean stolen."

"No. Stealing is also illegal."

Hotch rolled his eyes again. "Are you joking?" He asked in all seriousness.

"No," replied Erin, likewise in all seriousness, "Marie Costigan is squeaky clean."

Reid POV:

She had settled into her desk rather quickly after formally introducing herself, and was now leaning back slightly in Emily's old chair, long legs stretched out before her, hands folded behind her head, mussing her massive hair. Reid found himself smiling stupidly at the sight, jumbled words bubbling up to his lips.

"Soooo…." She beat him to it. "What exactly does one do on an off hour at the B.A.U.?" Each letter of the acronym was exaggerating, much to Morgan's amusement. Once again, Reid was beat to it.

"Work," Morgan replied in the same exaggerated tone, "Ever done it before?" His question was meant to be mildly biting.

"Not really," she replied honestly, "Wait, you mean like, paperwork, like work on paper?" She asked in a surprised tone. Morgan couldn't tell if she was joking or not. He nodded carefully. Marie made a face and a slight "ew" sound, her lips twitching… cutely? Clearly not wanting to think about work on paper, she turned to Reid, locking eyes with him once again, resulting in a dialogue-impeding lump in his throat. Was he supposed to say something? The enormous dark green eyes looking up through Marie's lashes were incredibly piercing, and unabashedly curious. After a while of staring into her with his mouth hanging open they became amused.

"You alright in there?" She asked in a soft, throaty tone, a little smirk playing at her full mouth. He wanted to answer, but couldn't seem to find the right words. Her smirk turned into a grin. A very understanding grin.

"Uh… yeah, yes, I'm alright, in…here. I'll be right back." Before losing complete control of his motor functions, Reid stood quickly from his desk and hurried toward the men's room. He hated the feel of eyes on his back, and berated himself for feeling and behaving like a juvenile. This was a little silly, but he felt elated as well as embarrassed. The look in Marie's eyes had been decidedly flirtatious. That was impossible. No, yes, it was unlikely, but no, not impossible. Yes, impossible! What?

Marie POV:

It's mildly flattering. He'd stopped talking. He looked like he'd stopped thinking.

Okay, quite flattering, really. I turn my short attention back to the files given to me an hour ago containing copious amounts of paperwork to be signed and initialed, insurance and liability, yada yada yada. I check the box for the $500,000 life insurance policy offered with the name of my cat as the beneficiary. I snicker as I write in his name with the surname Costigan, and male for sex, my actual home phone and address for contact info. These things really should get more specific. I make my emergency contact my tax guy, whose card I still have in my shoulder bag, and add a dental insuree by the name of Oswalde Crimpsommers, relationship: butler. In the section for my home address, I list a crack house apartment near Regent Circle. I wont need a W-2 form for another eleven months anyways. They cant say its not on file.

Slapping the file closed, I stand up from the desk and notice a pair of large brown eyes gazing up at me. A suggestive wink causes his face to flush very lightly and for him to find his own papers suddenly interesting again. I don't bother to try to smother my grin as I bound up the steps to the boss' bat cave. He really is very charming.