Erin stretched as she sat up in the bed. There was something so decadent about being able to sleep in on a work day, and she sighed a little as she thumped back against the headboard. The morning sun was streaming in the window, and she felt so renewed by her ability to sleep uninterrupted by thoughts of home or calls from a team needing assistance.

Finally, she slid out of bed and padded over to her bag. On top was her copy of The Four Loves, and she smiled as she grabbed it before heading downstairs. Erin hummed under her breath as she started brewing a pot of coffee. While that was dripping, she opened the fridge, pulling out the carton of eggs that she had bought before reaching the cabin.

It didn't take long to make up a quick breakfast, and she plated it before pouring a large mug of coffee and heading into the sunroom. The light there was almost majestic, and she felt a deep peace invade her heart. Settling into the rattan chair that David had bought for her, she rested her feet on the low table so that she could put her plate on her knees. As she ate, she watched the sun rise high in the sky, thankful to be able to relax in this manner.

Once she had eaten the last bite, she took a small sip of coffee before picking up her phone. Scrolling through her notifications, she saw that she had received numerous calls and texts from Penelope. Sighing, Erin tried not to roll her eyes as she ignored the messages. She wasn't going to cave so easily, not after Penelope had hurt her so, but she knew that the woman would be persistent beyond all measure if she didn't take some steps to ensure that she didn't continue to disturb her.

Drawing in a deep breath, Erin scrolled through her contact list and found the Director's number, pressing it without hesitation. Bringing the phone to her ear, she listened as the call connected, hoping that she wasn't too early. "Good morning, Erin. I was wondering when you were going to be calling in. Ms. Garcia has been sending me almost hourly texts, emails, or calls to see if I had heard from you."

"That doesn't surprise me, since she's been doing the same with me. I just, I needed a few days to regroup and recharge my internal battery. I've been run ragged trying to figure out who this mole is, and I'm finding myself at the end of my rope. Thankfully, I was able to convince David to offer me the shelter of his cabin for a week or so, and then I'll be back, and able to put my whole being into tracking down this unsub."

There was a short pause, and Erin wondered what was going through the man's head. "I'm honestly surprised that it took you so long to ask for a short break. I know that this has been harder on you than it would have been on another Section Chief, given that an inordinate amount of the blind items seem to revolve around you. Take your week, Erin, and I'll have Helen work with Penelope to collate all the data while you're gone."

"Thank you so much, Sir. I wish that I didn't need to take this time…"

"But we want you healthy, after everything you've been through. Do not worry, I'll keep the wolves at bay until you're ready to come home."

"Again, thank you. And I'll let you know if I come home any earlier."

"All right, sounds good."

She was going to say more, but found her words dying in her throat. Instead, she just murmured a goodbye, letting him hang up first. Then she turned her phone off, throwing it onto the coffee table as she stretched out in the chair and picked up her book. Though she had read it numerous times, every time she found something new to her. And instead of starting at the beginning, she decided to delve into the section on friendship. There was something about it that called to her, and she read eagerly, trying to ignore her discomfort with Lewis's casual dismissal of homosexuality in regards to friendship, since that cut too close to the bone for her at the moment, given her predicament with Penelope and Alex.

Normally, she read quickly, trying to get as much in as possible, but now that she could relax, she found herself carefully reading over the paragraphs, taking time to ruminate over them and think about how they applied to her life. And then, she realized that she was crying, and Erin knew that it was time to set aside the book and find something a little less introspective to read.

Standing up, she padded over to the bookcase that stood in the corner of the room. A wide smile spread across her face when she saw that she had left some books here, ones that she had forgotten about, and she tugged out a Ben Bova book. Her former lover had never breathed a word about her love of science fiction, and for that she was most grateful for his discretion.

It didn't take long to get lost in the story, and the next thing she knew, her stomach was growling loudly, letting her know that it was time to get something to eat. Setting the book over the arm of the chair, she unfolded her body, reaching her hands up to the sky as she stretched, a low groan of pleasure tumbling from her lips. Padding into the kitchen, she grabbed some fruit from the bowl and then poured herself a glass of water before making her way back to the sun room. There was something about the light of the room that helped to settle her soul, and she wondered if her back would let her get away with sleeping in the chair that night so that the sun would kiss her awake in the morning.

"You're getting romantic in your sorrow, Erin. David would say that you're inner Byron was slipping out," she said as she collapsed in the chair, popping a grape in her mouth as she made herself comfortable once more. "And if I squint hard enough, I can imagine the lawn is the Moors of England."

Shaking her head a little, Erin picked up the novel once more, delving back into the story with relish. By the time she was finished with the book, the sun was setting, and she felt more relaxed than she had been in weeks. Setting the book on the coffee table with a satisfied sigh, she stood and made her way into the kitchen, making a sandwich before pouring herself a glass of milk. Taking her meal to the living room, she curled up on the sofa and turned on the television, trying to avoid watching the news.

That proved to be a losing battle, since every fibre in her being called her to check in with what was happening in the real world. As usual, it was nothing good, and she heaved a deep sigh before finally convincing herself to switch to something a little lighter. It didn't take long to find Whose Line Is It Anyway? and she smiled as she settled into the sofa, letting her mind be entertained by the onscreen antics of the cast.