As the team flew home after their case in Portland, all of them were absorbed with thoughts from home. Between Emily's death and Penelope's attack to the most recent news of Kevin's suicide, the flight home. which usually is a place to detox and relax, was one of tension and frustration. Each of the worried men stared out of their windows, lost in their own sea of regrets and concerns.
When they landed, they all bit back a groan as their phones buzzed in alert. Each had received notice from Chief Strauss stating that they were needed for an immediate meeting in the conference room. Derek had wanted to call Penelope, but he didn't know what they were coming home to. He had the phone ready, his eyes focused on the picture of the two of them as his backdrop. Instead of dialing her familiar number, he shut it closed and slipped the device back in his pocket, shaking his head as he followed his team back to the Bureau in his truck.
Aaron sat in his parked Suburban as he waited for his team to get to the parking garage. He opened his center console and pulled out a picture of him and Jack. He had just hit a home run and Hotch jumped in pride and surprise. The entire team had made it for his game. After the loss of Haley, each of the team members made it a point to be an active part of Jack's life. Hotch had run toward the home plate as he watched his little boy speed toward the plate. When Jack approached the plate, he crossed it while jumping into Aaron's loving arms. Swinging him about, both Hotchner men had bright smiles on their faces that Saturday morning.
Emily had taken the photo. Aaron tried to ignore the longing in his heart as he thought of her kind smile and infinite generosity. Looking at the photo, he wondered who she was now, if she was safe, if she was healing, if she was happy. He doubted the last thought, knowing that she would want nothing more than to be with them.
His focus was shifted as Rossi's headlights made their way into his rear view mirror. As he put away the worn photograph, Hotch thought of his friend and mentor's life. Aaron knew that losing Emily was like losing a daughter. In many ways, the two of them had the most in common. Both were motivated by ambition and love, while neither knew how to express their love to the fullest. They bonded over European luxuries and rising above internal politics. While Dave may have lost a daughter of sorts, he continued to act with professionalism and esteem.
Aaron stepped out of the SUV and moved to the back of his vehicle to wait for his other two team members. Rossi had moved beside him and said, "The Ice Queen summons."
"I miss Garcia too," Aaron said looking toward the approaching vehicles.
They studied both men as they parked their very different cars. Spencer drove a 1989 Honda Civic that was banged up and small. He looked trapped in a box each time he drove the sedan. When they asked why he kept that car, he would rattle off a list of economic and safety features that the little car had. However, this evening the man look exhausted and haunted. Emily was the sister, cousin and hidden crush that kept Spencer grounded in the field. She was his confidant when it came to his medical concerns. The team had noticed the increase of headaches and ailments to their youngest team member, but Emily was his outlet of sanctuary. Penelope, on the other hand, was the fun older sister and cousin who kept him on his toes. With love and consideration, Penelope taught him to trust in others, even in the darkest of realities. Now that she was attacked, no one knew how Reid would handle it. As they looked at their young intellectual, they saw the dark rings beneath his eyes and sadness that loomed there. The last thing he needed was a meeting with Strauss, but both men knew there was no escaping it.
Derek parked his hold truck. The two team leaders looked at the troubled agent as he rested his head against the head rest. Both knew that Derek was dealing with Emily's loss. He was sharper with the team and even sharper with Penelope prior to the attack. He was the one who felt Emily's life leave her. Rossi knew that Derek needed to deal with the fact that it wasn't his fault that she had died. It was Doyle's fault. Derek was angry that she had lied to them about her past as an Interpol Agent. He was made that she would give her body to an Irish arms dealer for the safety of the United States. He was living in a mentality of anger and betrayal, as well as disappointment.
Though Derek's anger was justified, Penelope's attack threw him through a loop. Both Rossi and Hotch felt that they could write a book about the roller coaster love and friendship that existed between the two of them. However, their moment after Emily's funeral created a permanent shift in their relationship. Both Penelope and Derek were devoted to one another. However, Derek leaving solidified buried insecurities within their wounded analyst, while Derek was haunted by regret and love.
Once all four men were joined, they walked toward the conference room. Their heads were held high while they walked in fiercely and determined.
They were all surprised when the Cooper's team was sitting in the conference room along with a very angry looking Strauss. Hotch's team took their normal spots around the table. Aaron moved to stand beside Strauss, but her laser like gaze directed him to the chair.
Once they were all seated, Aaron beside Sam, Erin shut the conference room door and began speaking in anger. "Do you agents know what a direct order is?"
No one dared to reply, knowing this rant would go on for a while.
"You were all instructed not to be involved with Analyst Garcia's case. It would be the responsibility of a different division. You all allowed personal investment to drive you toward inappropriate actions of the Bureau."
Erin focused her gaze toward Aaron and Sam and had to count to three before she could speak in fear of losing her professional platform. "You have pulled this on me before. I was able to commend your teams for work with the San Francisco case because you were successful in catching Bell while assuring safety of the McBrides. But you have all gone too far this time. Analyst Lynch is dead. He was a beneficial asset for the Bureau. He was determined and focused. His loyalties to the Bureau ran so deep that he turned down an opportunity out of the country."
Derek's growl was heard across the room before he slammed his fist down upon the table and stood fast, his arms having his body rock in an angry passion. "That piece of shit beat his girl friend and sent her to the hospital where she is on leave for a minimum of 8 weeks!"
"Agent Morgan, sit down," Erin ordered.
"No, he is right," Aaron said speaking up. "Analyst Lynch was an alcoholic that used excessive violence toward another analyst of the Bureau. Not only is Penelope Garcia an outstanding analyst, but she is used for two very active teams for the Bureau. Kevin Lynch acted in rage and allowed alcohol to control his actions. Instead of confronting Penelope civilly, he beat her and abandoned her at the nearest hospital while fleeing Quantico. We know you ordered us to leave the situation alone, but Penelope treated us all like family. Each of us are a different matter of importance to her. It would have betrayed the foundation of our units as well as ourselves not to continue the investigation."
"With all due respect, Agent Hotchner, your involvement led to the death of a needed analyst. That isn't going to bode well with review boards," Erin commented.
"It was not Agent Hotchner's actions that led to Lynch's death," Sam spoke. "We followed necessary protocol. One of our agents spotted Lynch at a cafe. When he realized he was spotted, Lynch ran and we pursued him. It was a dangerous car chase. We called upon all possible resources to help us trap Lynch. Lynch must have realized he was not going to get out of our chase. He swerved and sent his car off the side of a cliff. There was nothing we could do once we realized he was dead."
All the agents were heated with passion and anger. This case was not ordinary for any of the members. Penelope was their heart, and they would all justify their actions with this case.
Erin took detailed notes in her note pad as she pushed up her glasses. "That may be true, Agent Cooper, but that does not excuse the fact that both teams ignored direct orders from Administration to keep you from involving yourselves in retrieving Lynch. For that, both teams are temporarily suspended while internal reviews are being conducted. You all must under go psychiatric evaluations and be cleared before you can see time in the field."
"That is bull shit, Erin," Dave said shaking his head in anger.
"Save it, Dave. This is mandatory. While Cooper's team has seen less loss than yours, both need to embrace help before you go out in the field. While traveling work is suspended, you are required to go to conferences and lectures to authorize clearances in the Bureau."
Both teams were angry, but knew that this was justified punishment. Cooper's team knew that they would be back in the field within a week if all their psych clearances passed. It was Aaron's team that looked most in jeopardy. Just a year ago, Hotch had lost Haley to Foyet. Then Morgan was attacked by Flynn. After that, Emily's tragic death surrounding Doyle was going to tear into the emotionally battered team. They would learn to move forward from Penelope's attack, but each could understand how senior executives would be apprehensive of clearing the emotionally damaged team.
After Erin gathered her things, she stood and made her way toward the closed door seeking her escape. "You will all be receiving your appointment times to meet with the psych units within the next 48 hours. If you have any questions, go to my office and my secretary will schedule you with highest priority. Have a good evening."
Aaron and Sam watched as she walked through the elevator doors. Once they closed, they turned and saw the exhausted and tormented expressions of their teams. Each looked saddened and defeated. They were lost in frustrated thoughts and feelings.
Mick was first to break the silence as he said, "That didn't go over well."
Prophet chuckled softly while the rest of the agents rolled their eyes.
Spencer asked Cooper, "How did Garcia sound when you informed her of Lynch's death?" All eyes looked at the team leader with saddened curiosity.
"A mixture of relief, defeat and sadness. She sounded nothing like the blonde bomb shell we all know and love."
"She isn't going to handle this suspension well," Rossi commented.
"Do you think she knows?" Spencer asked.
"Certainly. Erin is never good about sensitivity," Dave replied smartly. Hotch gave him a warning look to stand down from his political tirade.
"Have you heard from her?" Sam asked Derek, who was standing in the corner ready to leave when he was granted escape.
"No," Derek replied.
"We can only move forward from here. Erin knows our outstanding records. The senior executives wouldn't eliminate our teams without more grounded reasons." Aaron reasoned.
Everyone nodded as they gathered their things and started exiting the conference room. While Hotch waited for everyone to leave before him, Sam stayed behind. Looking at him with grounded compassion, he said, "For what it is worth, we are sorry about Agent Prentiss. She was an outstanding agent and a wonderful woman. She will be missed."
Hotch nodded in gratitude and shut off the lights. Their team was going to make it passed this. However, in the moment, Hotch couldn't see how.