Chapter 3

"Hello Rebecca." Aaron put out his hand, it's good to see you."

Rebecca smiled as she took his hand in hers, "Hello Aaron. It's good to see you again."

"You look well, may we?" he nodded in the direction of the two chairs in front of her desk.

Rebecca motioned for the two men to sit as she closed the door. Gentlemen that they were, they waited until she sat down behind her desk.

"Before you start," Rebecca opened her briefcase and took out a folder. One of eight with the large Presidential Seal, and the only one not marked "Private". Each agent had a file; each file held more background, more skeletons than even the FBI background check uncovered.

She slid the generic folder across the bare desk at Aaron, and watched as his eyebrows climbed upward.

"You're here on Presidential orders?" Aaron opened the folder, scanned the first page and glanced over the file at her.

"What?" David looked at his friend before he turned to her. "What do you mean, Presidential orders? The President calls and you abandon Magnolia Ridge?"

Rebecca kept a silent mantra in her head. Be professional, be professional, be professional, she reminded herself over and over. She looked a Aaron. Time had scared the man she'd once known. He was more reserved, guarded and distant than when she'd first met him. Of course then he had been newly married, the new kid at the BAU and had a world of possibilities spread out before him.

"Yes, Aaron. The president is looking at the FBI, and in particular the BAU with..." she couldn't tell him the exact words that were used in the oval office without giving away the reason for her visit, "let's just say he's looking at things with fresh eyes."

Aaron snapped the folder closed, "We've been through a Senate review already."

Rebecca nodded, "This has nothing to do with the Prentiss/Doyle situation. The BAU was cleared in that matter and as far as the President is concerned, it's over."

Although she kept him in her peripheral view, Rebecca was aware of every move David made. His agitation was growing by the minute.

"As for Magnolia Ridge," she looked into David's eyes and held his gaze, "I'll never leave Magnolia Ridge." She kept her voice firm, but the pain of those exact words she'd said almost twelve years ago still pierced her heart. " This is just a temporary assignment, David. As soon as I'm done, I'm going back to Georgia."

Rebecca watched his face harden and for a moment she thought she saw something else there – longing? No that was probably more wishful thinking on her part.

"I guess I'm just surprised you didn't tell him to go to..."

Aaron coughed, and David sulked in his chair.

"Come on, Hotch you know her as well as I do. She may look sweet and innocent, but there's a barracuda underneath that southern belle charm."

Aaron smiled at her and winked.

Rebecca wondered if there was some lucky woman somewhere that was enjoying the benefits of Aaron Hotchner's smile. She hoped so.

"How are things at Magnolia Ridge?" Aaron asked quietly.

Rebecca took a deep breath and released it. "The same. Your team may slay the monsters but mine picks up the debris the battle leaves behind."

"It's a great idea. Creating a safe place for those who escape the violence of serial killers, psychopaths and sociopaths. It's easy to say they were lucky to escape, but that's not always the case ." Aaron paused and Rebecca could almost see his thoughts. "Is Mark still...there?" He asked.

Lucas Skinner had been Aaron's second solo case at the BAU and he'd taken a special interest in Mark's recovery. Rebecca caught a shadow of the same look that she'd sometimes seen on Mark's face.

She nodded slowly. "He practically runs the place. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Rebecca waited as Aaron put the pieces of the day he'd found Mark back in place. If she'd learned anything from the patients at Magnolia Ridge, it was how important compartmentalizing what happened to them actually was. It was always the first part of the healing process.

She cleared her throat, "Well, barracuda or not, I have a lot to do before I get started."

Aaron and David stood, turned to leave, but David paused in the doorway.

"I'm glad you didn't turn this job down." David propped himself in the door as he waited.

Rebecca smiled. The man knew her too well. " I believe the first thing I said, was 'Mr. President, will all possible respect, there's no way in hell I'll do this.'"

David grinned, and nodded his head, as he turned to leave, "That's close enough."