*Sorry it took way longer than usual for me to update. I've been really busy (although aren't we all?) and/or might have dropped my laptop down the stairs. Anyways, I'm sorry this chapter is so short but I'll be updating much more frequently soon because I'm on vacation now (yay.) Thanks for reading!*

Emily Prentiss yawned loudly, glancing at the clock. It read 5:37; she smiled briefly. Her internal alarm clock had woken her just in time.

That was when she realized that she was lying upside down; it was not 5:37, as she had originally thought, but rather 7:35. She was supposed to be at work in 25 minutes.

Groaning, she got to her feet and nearly tripped over her cat, Sergio, who let out a hiss of protest. Mumbling apologies to her cat whilst groping around in the dark for her socks, Prentiss finally managed to be out the door in seventeen minutes flat. She was at the BAU ten minutes later; only two minutes late and rather proud of herself.

However, she stopped short when she noticed that she was the only one in the bullpen; where were Reid and Morgan? Rossi appeared to be in his office, but Hotch's door was closed. Frowning, she sat down at her desk and started on her paperwork. Several minutes later, Morgan emerged from Hotch's office. She raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth to greet him.

"Hotch is calling a meeting," Morgan said.

She yawned. "Good morning to you, too," she said jokingly. "Do we have a case?"

Morgan didn't return her smile. "No," he said shortly, and turned and walked into the conference room. Prentiss blinked slowly, yawned again, and started towards the conference room.

They were soon joined by JJ, Garcia, and Rossi.

"Where's Reid?" JJ wanted to know.

Morgan said let out a sigh. Then he said, "Reid quit."

There was a pause. Then…

"When?"

"Why?"

"What happened?"

"Where's Hotch?"

Morgan put up his hands to stop the flurry of questions. "Hotch is in his office," he said, "And Reid told him he was quitting last night."

There was pause as everyone mulled this information over. "Did he say why?" Garcia asked eventually.

Morgan shook his head.

"How do you even know he was serious?" Prentiss asked, the entire situation feeling like some sort of practical joke. She glanced towards the doorway, half-expecting Reid to burst through the door with a coffee cup in hand.

Morgan held his arms out. "Do you see him here?"

"Well, no," she admitted, "But it's only 8:15. He might just be—"

"There's something else," Morgan said, "Reid mailed Strauss his resignation two days ago. She received it this morning."

There was another silence. "Why wouldn't he tell any of us he was leaving?" Garcia asked.

"He was so excited to come back to work," JJ said, "Why would he quit in the first place?"

"I don't know," Morgan replied, "But since we don't have a case, I think it would be better for us to just keep on working." He then started for the door.

"What's wrong with Aaron?" Rossi asked suddenly.

Morgan whipped around. "What?"

"I mean, why are you running this meeting? Where is he?" Rossi asked. Morgan cleared his throat nervously.

"He's busy," he said shortly, and exited the door.

The four of them just stared at each other in shocked silence. Eventually, Rossi spoke.

"What the hell?"

"What aren't they telling us?" Prentiss asked, staring after Morgan.

"What do you mean?" Garcia asked, her voice rising slightly in alarm, "Why would Derek hide anything?"

"Or Hotch, for that matter," JJ muttered, staring out into the hallway.

Morgan ran his hands over his head, anxiety pooling in his stomach. He reopened Hotch's door; his boss was staring at his computer screen, motionless, and didn't look up when Morgan entered.

"Sir?" Morgan prompted. Hotch started, then narrowed his eyes at him.

"Did you tell them?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

Hotch nodded, then returned to his computer screen. Morgan scooted around to glance at what his boss was doing; but then he noticed that the screen was completely black.

"Hotch," Morgan said eventually, "I think you should talk to the team. Everyone's a bit confused."

"Did you tell them to continue work as usual?"

Morgan nodded. "Yes, but Hotch—"

"Then I don't need to talk to anyone. Leave me alone, Morgan, I'm very busy."

Morgan raised his eyebrows. "You don't look busy."

Hotch fixed him with such a stare that Morgan had no choice but to retreat, raising his hands defensively and backing out of the office. After he closed the door, Morgan saw his boss return his gaze to the dark computer screen.

Morgan reached into his pocket and dialed the same number he had been dialing since late last night; however, like usual, the young doctor didn't answer.

"This is Dr. Spencer Reid. I appreciate your call, but unfortunately cannot come to the phone. Please leave an informational voicemail message and I will return your call at my earliest convenience."

Morgan sighed. "Reid, this is Morgan. What the hell is going on? If you're in some kind of trouble, the team can help. Anyways, call me back, man. We're worried about you, and I think there's something wrong with Hotch."

Morgan sighed, staring despondently at his phone. He really hoped that this would all be over soon. They had enough to worry about.

Suddenly, he was almost smacked in the face by the door as Hotch flew out of his office.

"Where are you going?" Morgan demanded. Everyone in the bullpen was staring at them.

"Nowhere! Just keep working!" Hotch said breathlessly.

"But, sir—" Morgan broke off as his boss disappeared down the hallway and out the door. Morgan stood there for a moment, unsure whether or not he should follow.

Finally he returned to his desk, shaking his head. Maybe he should let Hotch and Reid figure their problems on their own—for now, he had paperwork to do.