Kudos to you all for the feedback on the last one, it's much appreciated.

This one is tagged to season 3's "In Birth and Death" episode, dealing with the infamous Prentiss resignation. It involves a number of time jumps since it spans the entire episode, so I might humbly suggest reacquainting yourself with the episode if your recollection of the episode is vague. That said, I'm sure you can enjoy it regardless.

Happy reading =)

"Trust is earned, respect is given, and loyalty is demonstrated. Betrayal of any one of those is to lose all three." – Ziad K. Abdelnour

Resigned to the fact that things won't play out the way I want them to, I keep a neutral face as I listen to Strauss go on and on about how I'm making the right choice. Frustration bubbles up near the surface as she suggests heading up a white-collar crime task force because it would get me home at a reasonable hour. I know that I resent the very suggestion because it's true. My long hours are a bone of contention with Haley, and probably always would be.

I hear footsteps and look up to find Prentiss approaching. I know the team is preparing to head to Milwaukee, so her presence here doesn't make much sense.

She shares a strange look with Strauss before beginning to speak. "Sorry to interrupt. Sir, I've decided to resign from the FBI effectively immediately."

"I don't understand," I say, a puzzled expression settling onto my face immediately. She'd fought so hard to be given a chance to prove herself in this unit, and had done just that. She's been settling into the team nicely. Now she's resigning from the Bureau altogether? Something doesn't add up.

"I'm taking the Foreign Service Exam. With my connections, I stand a good chance of landing in the State Department."

I hold her gaze and study her face for clues that might explain why she's doing this. It can't be because she wants to work in the State Department – she's too passionate about her work for that. Worse still, her departure would only serve to disrupt the team. And take her away from the job she loves. Her resignation is a terrible decision.

"Prentiss I think that's a mistake," I say, trying to impress that very fact upon her.

"Well don't try to talk me out of it. Garcia saw my name on the list and she already tried," she says evenly, avoiding holding eye contact for too long. She gives a small laugh and smiles. "If she can't talk someone out of doing something, no one can."

I glance over at Strauss who is doing her best to avoid eye contact. She looks decidedly displeased and unimpressed. My mind works through the possibilities quickly, but only one seems to be remotely plausible. Prentiss is the reason Strauss is calling for my head. She was transferred in under questionable circumstances, and I'd suspected then that Strauss must have had her hand in it. Maybe Strauss put her on the team and in return asked for dirt. If my profiling is correct, then Prentiss was Strauss' ace in the hole and her key to eliminating me as a threat to her career.

But if that's the case, the only reason she'd resign is that she doesn't want to play that game. And given how vehemently she'd argued against politics that day in my office, it makes sense. So she was resigning out of loyalty to the team, and to me. Strauss' expression and the knowing look Prentiss is sending her way both serve to cement that theory. I feel a surge of pride at Prentiss' actions, and a bit of guilt. But Prentiss doesn't know I've put in for a transfer. As far as she knows, Strauss needs the dirt from her to bring me down. So she's throwing away her dream job because of issues between me and Strauss, and that's not fair to her.

"Sorry for the interruption," she says, giving a small nod to Strauss as well as me. She begins to leave but turns around briefly. "But sir, it's good to see you back. The team needs you," she finishes, holding Strauss' gaze. Her expression gives it away to me for certain – she's resigning to save me, and the team. She gives a curt nod toward Strauss and utters a quiet "Ma'am" before leaving.

I blink several times as the consequences of her actions wash over me. I can't back out of my transfer, but I can't just abandon the team.

My thoughts are interrupted when Strauss explains she's going to oversee the case, and I try to impress upon her that more upheaval and instability is the last thing the team needs. With Gideon having disappeared and Prentiss having resigned, the team is left in a state of flux, and my transfer will put it over the top. Maybe I can convince her to let me oversee this one case to try and smooth things over.

But she of course responds negatively to my efforts, and I shake my head subtly as she leaves the office to head to the jet. I sigh and sit down as I try and piece together the puzzle. There has to be a way to salvage the team, or at the very least Prentiss' job. She shouldn't have to take the fall for my dispute with Strauss.

I look down at the file Garcia had just left on my desk. A new body means the pressure and scrutiny will be in full force from the locals and media. As if having Strauss there wasn't going to make things difficult enough for the team. I hesitate for just a moment before packing it into my briefcase and continuing my previous task of packing up my office. I get through packing a few boxes before my curiosity gets the better of me and I flip open the file and glance over it quickly. Immediately my mind begins to piece together a preliminary profile based on what I see in the notes and photos. I sigh and put the file down when I realize I'm building a profile for a case I'm not working.

It's not that I believe they need me; I'm not so arrogant to believe they can't function without me. In fact, I'm quite confident in the team's ability to work the case – they are after all an impressive group of individuals. But having Strauss there, Gideon being absent, Prentiss' having abruptly resigned, and add in my untimely transfer, and it might just prove to be a bit too much for them to handle in stride.

I stow the file back in my briefcase and resume my task of packing up my office. Within an hour I've packed most of the books and trinkets, and an inherent sense of sadness comes over me. In just an hour it feels like I've undone what took me years to build. With a final look around the room I grab my briefcase and head home.

The argument with Haley over my decision to go to Milwaukee and meet up with the team is still fresh in my mind as I throw my bag onto the passenger seat. I take the briefest of moments to lock it away in the back of mind and get my mind focused back onto the case. Morgan hadn't sounded confident in their ability to catch this unsub when I spoke with him on the phone, and he needs my head in the game. I begin driving toward the airport but realize that even if I'm there, the team's still incomplete. Gideon's probably at his cabin and that's too far out of my way and he probably needs the space anyway, but Prentiss...her place is on my way to the airport. And if everything I've learned about her over the months she's been with the team is correct, she hasn't given up on this job entirely. She wouldn't be able to so quickly. And I'd bet money that her ready-bag is still packed and by the door.

I change lanes and turn at the next lights to alter my route and head toward my new destination. Like I'd told Haley, loyalty isn't something you can just switch off, and Prentiss had shown where her loyalty lies. She apparently wasn't willing to give up on us yet, and that was something I was going to take advantage of for the team, and for the victims of this unsub.

"When's the next flight to Milwaukee?"

"One just left," the representative behind the desk says as she clicks through some screens on her monitor. "And the next one is scheduled for takeoff in an hour."

"We need two seats on that flight."

"I'm sorry sir, but that flight is completely booked."

"We're federal agents," I say, flashing my badge, hoping it'll give us a bit of leeway.

"Understood, sir, but I can't give you seats that aren't available."

"Is there another flight we can take?"

"There's another one scheduled for takeoff in just over 90 minutes, with two connections."

"When would we get there?"

"Total flight time, plus stopovers would get you there in a little under six hours."

I can't help my stunned reaction. "SIX HOURS?!"

"Yes, sir. Would you like to book two seats on that one?"

I just blink in reply.

"Sir?"

"This is a major airport, right?"

"...Yes sir."

"Then I don't understand how you don't have more flights to Milwaukee."

"We have several sir, but they're booked up. You should generally try to book a trip a bit further in advance to ensure the best possible flight for your travel plans."

"Are there any flights that would get us to Milwaukee sooner than 8 hours from now?"

She takes a moment to click through a few screens. "No, sorry sir."

"We're federal agents," I repeat.

"You mentioned that, sir."

"You can't get us on a flight?"

"Not anything taking off sooner than...87 minutes from now," she says with a quick glance at the time.

"Which would probably get us there after he's killed another woman," I mutter under my breath.

"I'm sorry, sir?" she says, her eyes growing wide at my words.

"Never mind," I say shaking my head.

"Did you want to book those seats, sir?"

"What's the point? I could probably drive there in less time than it would take me to fly there, apparently," I say, my frustration having bubbled over long ago.

"Would you like me to point you toward the rental car services?"

"No. No, I do not want to be directed to the rental car services! What I'd like is to be on the next flight to Milwaukee that doesn't take 8 hours to get there."

"Flight time for that particular flight is a little under six hours, actually, as I said before."

"Look, I appreciate that you're just doing your job, but it's of the utmost importance that I get two seats to Milwaukee. Lives hang in the balance."

"Hey, buddy! Do us all a favour and drive over to National Airport and catch a flight there. They fly direct to Milwaukee," someone from behind yells out.

I take a calming breath. "Is that true?" I ask the rep. "Do they fly direct to Milwaukee from that airport?"

"I can only speak for this-"

"Do they?" I repeat, my tone leaving no room for discussion.

"I believe so, sir." I let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, sir, but unless you'd like to actually book some seats, I cannot help you."

"No luck?" Prentiss says as she appears beside me.

I shake my head. "Nothing. Everything is booked solid, unless we'd like to get there 8 hours from now."

"There aren't any other flights?" she asks, turning to face the rep.

"Just one that's completely booked that leaves in...84 minutes."

Prentiss continues talking to the rep, but I begin to rub my eyes in an effort to distract myself from the utter stupidity and inanity of the situation. My mind begins to comb over the details I'd managed to work out about the case, hoping to find a link, or a key factor of some kind that I could give Morgan and the team to work with.

I'd intentionally drowned out the woman's irritating tone after Prentiss began to speak with her so as to save some shred of my sanity, but my ears perk up when I hear her say, "Here you are, ma'am. Two first class tickets to Milwaukee. Your flight is scheduled for departure in approximately 52 minutes. Have a nice flight."

I blink several times, my mind not wrapping around how Prentiss had managed to snag us seats. "First class? How did you..."

"Don't worry about it, Hotch," she says with a mischievous smile. "Let's go, you can catch me up on the case while we wait."

"You know, now that I've put in for a transfer, you don't have to leave the team," I say as we take our seats.

"Hotch, this is your team. I didn't give her what she wanted so she's back to square one and you can rejoin the team. You need to stay with this team, they need you."

"The team needs both of us," I correct.

"Well, there's no way in hell Strauss lets us both stay, so after this case you can rejoin the team and I'll go."

"Prentiss-"

"No, Hotch. This is your team. We both know Strauss will just have me transferred out if I try to stay. I've enjoyed my time with you guys, really, but it's your team. I've just been a visitor."

"You're more than-"

"Hotch," she says softly. "It's okay. This is your home, it's what you do and who you are." I'm reminded vividly of my argument with Haley before I left. My dedication to my job and my need to do this job is just something she's never understood. No one outside of the team really understands it.

"And it's not who you are?" I counter.

Something flashes through her eyes before she responds that I can't identify. "No, it's not. Not like it is for you."

"That's a lie," I accuse. "You're in denial."

"Or maybe I'm just trying to do the right thing. Let it go, Hotch," she implores. "Let's go over what we know one more time," she says, changing to subject.

I narrow my gaze but relent. Pushing the issue won't accomplish anything but pissing her off. Maybe waiting until we're with the team will be advantageous. Surely they'll be able to convince her to stay.

After stowing the paperwork and files in my briefcase, I look up to find Prentiss staring out the window of the jet. Her expression is thoughtful, though I don't miss the occasional wince of pain when she thinks no one is looking. Though I'd understood her actions to save the team, I never got a chance to thank her, and so I get up and head toward her.

"How's the head?" I ask, repeating my question from earlier when she was being treated by the paramedic. I take a seat in the empty seat across from her. My eyes are drawn to the large bandage covering the nasty head wound from being hit in the head with a 2x4.

She grimaces as she leans forward a bit. "Hurts like a bitch," she admits. "But I'll be fine."

"Thank you," I say after a moment.

"For what?" she asks, confusion settling onto her face.

I blink slowly. Is she really asking me that? I shoot her a look in reply.

"Right," she says, realizing my meaning. "Anytime, Hotch."

"You're an important part of this team, you know that, right?"

She nods. "Important enough to get whacked in the head with a 2x4," she grouses.

"And to convince that rep to give us two seats on an overbooked flight. First class, no less."

She grins widely. "First class has nothing on this jet. If I'd been able to procure a private plane, then maybe I'd be able to snag that VIP designation."

I shake my head and chuckle lightly. Typical Prentiss, downplaying her contribution and shying away from flaunting her success. But as much as she tries to hide it, the whole team knows the role she plays on this team. She's slowly begun to fit in and find her niche among our unique group of people. She's proven herself a capable profiler and agent, and demonstrated her loyalty to the team. The hard part now for her will be fighting off the questions of why she resigned in the first place, because if I know her at all, I know she won't want to give away the real reason. She's probably going to be loath to admit she was put on this team to gather dirt. And quite frankly, given our line of work and our tendency to see the worst possible outcomes of situations, I don't blame her one bit.

So...what'd ya think? Like it? Feel Hotch's pain in dealing with flights and airports? Curious as to how Prentiss snagged those seats? Let me know, I always love to hear from you all!

Still more conversations to come. There's still more of the story to tell.