As expected, news of the rescue of the abducted woman caused a media sensation. The news services labeled them "The Alphabet Survivors", and began demanding interviews and additional information. Each of the women issued an initial statement through their husband's office and then, after several weeks in seclusion, the four issued a joint statement thanking their well-wishers, and requesting continued privacy for them and their families. The press initially pursued the rumor that there was a fifth survivor but, as that information was never verified, they soon dropped it.
Hotch's team fought hard to be assigned the responsibility of interviewing the rescued women.
"I'm sorry, Aaron," Strauss told him. "But, the Director feels you are too personally invested with the case."
"With all due respect, Ma'am," Hotch replied. "Maybe that personal investment will work to our advantage. We know Christine and how she thinks and we can use that to our advantage in discovering how she was able to manipulate this monster into allowing these women to live. It will help us obtain information to better train other team members in the future."
"That does make some sense," Strauss admitted. "Let me go back to the Director with that argument."
In the end, JJ and Blake were assigned to handle the interviews, with the rest of the team observing via webcam from another room. Hotch fought to keep Reid away, arguing he could watch the tapes later when he was by himself. But, as Hotch knew from the beginning, it was a losing battle.