A/N: I promise these chapters will get longer.
If you want a visual reference for where they are, I can trace the road on a map. Let me know.
"Welcome to Perth. Smooth journey?" were the commissioner's first words as the BAU walked into the Murray Street office of the Australian Federal Police.
"Long, but uneventful," Hotch replied, holding out his hand. "Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner. These are SSA's Derek Morgan, David Rossi, Dr Spencer Reid, Jennifer Jareau, Kate Callahan, and Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia"
"Peter Chamberlain. Nice to meet you all. I apologise for asking you all here so soon after you arrived, I'm sure the jetlag is killer, but we really needed to get a leg up on the case right away. You've been briefed?" the commissioner said warmly, shaking hands with each of the team in turn.
"We have. I understand it's going to involve splitting time between here and Merredin?" Hotch queried.
Peter nodded. "Preferably, we want to send two of you out to Merredin to run point with our base there. We need some of you who have dealt with this before to pass on information and help with insight"
Hotch looked around at the team. "I think JJ and Morgan can run point, if that's ok with them?"
JJ looked at Morgan, shrugging before nodding at her boss. "Doesn't bother me"
Peter nodded with a smile. "We'll get you a vehicle. We would send an escort, but Merredin isn't hard to find. All you have to do is follow the Great Eastern Highway. And we drive on the left in this country," he teased, motioning for them to follow. Morgan turned to JJ, grinning as they followed him into the next room.
Before long, they were on their way, with a quick stop back at the hotel to grab their bags. The GPS guided them seamlessly along the inner city stretch of the highway, through the suburbs of Victoria Park and Belmont, through the Guildford Bypass, and onto the official stretch of the Great Eastern Highway that would take them all the way to Merredin.
"Did the GPS actually just tell you to turn left in 290 kilometres?" JJ laughed as they passed through Mundaring and officially left all traffic signals behind.
Morgan laughed. "Yep. She's specific. Hey, I'll give Perth some credit... it's not as hard to drive here as I thought it would be"
"Compared to gridlock in DC? Yeah, it's a dream," JJ chuckled, settling back in her seat. "It's so weird sitting on this side and not driving"
Morgan grinned, fixing his eyes on the highway ahead of him as they settled in for the long drive.
Half an hour later, they were approaching the turnoff for Wundowie when Morgan looked over at JJ once more. She had been oddly silent, choosing to rest against the window and watch the beautiful Australian bushland go racing by.
"JJ, is everything ok with you?" he asked softly. "You just seem quiet today"
"I'm really tired," JJ replied truthfully. "Have been for weeks"
"Michael not sleeping well again?" Morgan asked knowingly. The youngest LaMontagne's sleeping patterns had been the cause of much stress for his colleague in the last few months, and it was no secret that JJ relished in a full night's sleep when they were away on a case.
"He wakes up screaming almost every night and won't settle unless I go to him. I feel kind of bad that Will has to deal with it for the next two weeks or so... but I kind of don't at the same time," JJ admitted, a look of guilt crossing her face.
"Don't feel guilty for admitting you'll enjoy being able to sleep," Morgan said gently. "You need proper rest to look after your boys, and surely by the time you go home, you'll feel refreshed and ready to handle it again"
JJ shrugged. "I love him dearly, and I would do anything for him... but my god, I just need to sleep"
"Well we have about three hours driving. Try and get some shuteye now, and I'll wake you up when we stop," Morgan offered.
"Thanks Derek," JJ mumbled, resting her head against the window and closing her eyes.
Before long, she was fast asleep, the world rushing by her in quiet elegance as Merredin grew closer and closer.