Playing Games by JuliaBC

"Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we're proud of. We are what we chose to be." Graham Brown

Kate Callahan walked out of Hotch's office with a heavy heart.

So this was it. She was leaving.

She saw JJ standing in the doorway to Rossi's office, and their eyes met. Kate swerved to greet her.

"I keep meaning to say, it's so weird that we're both pregnant," Kate said, sliding her arms around JJ in an awkward hug.

"I'm glad you're back at the office," JJ said. "It's good to see you in here again."

Kate felt a lump rise in her throat. "About that..."

Rossi, seated at his desk, saw them standing there and rose. "Kate! You're back? How's Meg doing?"

I'm not. I'm not back.

"She's doing okay," Kate reassured him, as the Italian came over to join in the hug. "Penelope has done a lot for us both."

"She keeps talking about it, too," Rossi said, squeezing Kate's shoulders. "So, back on the job already? Even with this?" He poked at Kate's belly and she giggled.

"I should talk to you about it," Kate said. "Um, I'm leaving."

The two were silent, and then JJ sighed. "I might've known."

"You had that look in your eyes, dolce," Rossi said. "But my hopes rose when I saw you here."

"Are you leaving permanently?" JJ asked, looking down at the floor.

"No, just for a year," Kate said. "Well, I shouldn't make such promises. Who knows what can happen in that time." She shook her head. "I want to take a year to be with this one. I did it for Meg, and I need to do it again."

JJ nodded. "That's a brave choice," she lamented. "One that I certainly couldn't make. We'll miss you, Katie."

Kate snorted. "You're the first person to call me Katie in twenty years," she said.

"What happened to the last one?" Rossi asked curiously.

"He got left on the dance floor alone," Kate said. "I'm going to miss you, too. If baby #1 wasn't knocking at the door, you couldn't pry me away."

"But what about Spence?" JJ asked. "Have you told him yet?"

"No," Kate said. "Any advice?"

"He loves easily," JJ said. "He hides it, but he attaches to people really quickly. Still, I think he'll be okay. Just tell him the truth and don't beat around the bush."

"Stay safe," Rossi said, and Kate slipped away again.

She didn't see Spencer in the bullpen, but that was okay. She had a few more stops to make.

Penelope jumped to her feet when Kate entered. "What are you doing here? You're sooooo pregnant!" She gave Kate an enthusiastic hug, then pressed a hand to her belly. "Is he kicking?"

"It could still be a 'she', you know," Kate joked.

"You know, it's really rude that you aren't finding out," Penelope grumbled. "I could've stocked up on tons of stuff for you by now but I have to wait."

"I like gender neutral colors anyway," Kate said. "Yellow and green."

"I'm not buying a girl a Thomas the Tank Engine beach towel," Penelope said. "Not to be sexist or anything."

"I know," Kate said. "What are you hoping for?"

"A girl," Penelope admitted. "Please?"

Kate laughed, sliding into a seat as Penelope returned to her own chair. "I'll try my best, but I think whatever's going to be will be, at this point."

"It's too bad you aren't having twins," Penelope said. "Then you could have both."

"Yeah, it's too bad," Kate said.

Penelope suddenly sobered. "I have a feeling you didn't come in here to discuss Angelina Ballerina themed birthday parties," she said. "And I don't think you came back here to work."

"I came back to hand my resignation in to Hotch," Kate confessed.

"Oh, chica," Penelope said, squeezing her hand. "I understand."

"No, it's just for a year," Kate said. "To spend time with my little one, boy or girl."

"Oh, it better be," Penelope said fervently. "It's crazy how fast y'all leave lately. Emily left and Alex left. JJ came back."

She reached out to give Kate a tight hug. "Listen, this doesn't mean you are let out of your obligation to make me godmother."

"Well, we're Catholic," Kate said. "Loosely, I'll admit, but still kind of practicing. You could be a witness, though. Which is kind of the same thing."

"Were you planning on doing Meg?" Penelope asked.

"She's not old enough," Kate said. "You have to be sixteen."

"That really limits your options," Penelope said. "Whatever. I can still be the fairy godmother, right?"

"Oh, definitely," Kate said. "You could wear wings to the baptism."

"I'll start shopping now," Penelope said and they both started laughing.

"Actually, I have been thinking about it," Kate said. "I'm not sure who to ask. Previously, I'd always just thought I'd ask Liz. That was a no-brainer growing up. And after 9/11, I never thought I'd have kids of my own. It just wasn't one of my goals, you know?"

"So you have no idea who you're picking," Penelope said.

"Pretty much," Kate admitted. "Andi's Catholic, in an even looser sense than I am, but I don't think our priest will ask questions."

"Yeah, but are you close to Andi?" Penelope said. "It should still be a close friend."

"Ugh, I know," Kate said. "Chris has been talking about it. We're going to ask his brother to be godfather, and he's Catholic. So the second godparent doesn't need to be Catholic if the first one is. And that's you, possibly."

"Or JJ," Penelope said. "It would mean a lot to her."

"Would it?" Kate asked. "Sorry, that's not what I meant." She stood up. "Ah, I have other goodbyes to make."

"Derek already knew, didn't he?" Penelope suddenly asked.

Kate paused. "How'd you know?"

"Sometimes you don't have to be a profiler to read people, chica," Penelope said. "Good luck."

"I'll take what I can get," Kate said.

She wandered down the hall to Morgan's office and knocked before slipping inside. He was on the phone and looked pleased to see her.

"You did come to say goodbye," he said, referring to a text she'd sent him earlier.

"Yeah, I called a friend to ask for a ride," she joked. "That would be you."

"It would," Morgan said. "Sorry I had to get Savannah to do it."

"Don't apologize, I adore Savannah," Kate said. "I just felt guilty at interrupting her day like that. But Chris was on shift and I don't feel comfortable driving."

"She was happy to see you again," Morgan said. "In slightly better circumstances."

"Well, can you thank her again when you get home tonight?" Kate asked. "It meant a lot."

"How are you getting back home?" Morgan asked.

"I don't know yet," Kate admitted. "But I'll figure it out. And if I wander around here long enough, Chris will be off, at any rate."

"Why'd you be wandering that long?" Morgan asked.

"I can't find Reid," Kate said. "I've walked all over and he's just nowhere. Did he have something today?"

"I don't think so," Morgan said. "I was certain his schedule was clear. We were going to get something after work since Savannah's out late."

She frowned. "I guess I'll call him," she said. "Derek, thank you for everything. You've been a great friend to me."

"I say the same back to you," he said. "It was good having you here. I do hope you return."

"Oh, please, you've already speed dialed Agent Prentiss and begged her to replace me," Kate joked.

"Well, maybe that too," Morgan said, his eyes glittering and they both laughed.

"I'll see you again soon," Kate said. "Promise me that."

"I'll check my schedule," Morgan said. "Oh, wait, I don't really have one. Maybe we can land the jet on your roof sometime."

Their laughter followed her out the door and into the hallway, where she stood for a long moment.

She slid her phone from her pocket and tried to compose a message.

Hey, I'm at the BAU. Where are you?

She hit send and waited for a long moment.

She went to the ladies' room and washed her hands. There was still no reply.

As she left, she collided with JJ. "You're still saying goodbyes?" JJ asked, surprised to see her still there.

"I can't find Spencer," she admitted. "Did he have something today?"

"I should told you, it slipped my mind," JJ said. "Shoot. He took the day off, actually. Some last minute plans. He called me and asked me to explain to Hotch."

"Do you know where he went?" Kate asked.

"There are a few places you could check," JJ said. "But I think he wants to be alone today."

"Okay," Kate said. "I guess I'll wait for another day."

"You could try him later?" JJ asked.

"Morgan said they had plans for dinner, since Savannah's working late..." Kate trailed off. "Do you think he has a date?"

"With who?" JJ asked, then snapped her fingers. "Dorian. Agent Dorian Loker. He connected with her after that congressman's wife was kidnapped."

"Wow," Kate said. "Maybe that did happen. It's a nice day, after all."

"It is," JJ said. "And he was reading Charles Dickens again yesterday."

"Did he ever speak to you about starting a book club?" Kate asked.

"I think he said the first book to read would be War and Peace," JJ said. "I declined."

A/N: Next time Kate will find Reid. I got caught up in the team's goodbyes and decided to split it up.