Erin yawned for what seemed like the tenth time in as many seconds, but she hoped that she had been able to hide that fact, since she didn't want to be seen as dead weight with the team right now. After all, she and David had been able to extract some useful information from the man who had worked with John to frame Sean for a crime he hadn't committed. Still, these were long days that she didn't normally experience, and she longed to return back to the hotel and curl up in the bed next to her husband. Sleep would cure a lot of ills, she knew, but she didn't want to rest when she knew that the others weren't going to take those same breaks.

Just as she felt another yawn coming on, her phone began to vibrate against her hip and she pulled it out of her pocket, smiling to see Jessica's name on the display. Meeting David's eye, she made her way over to a corner of the room before answering. "Hey, Jessie."

"Erin! I have two little girls who very much want to say hello to their mama. Do you have a few minutes?"

"For my darlings? Always."

Jessica laughed warmly before she handed the phone to one of her girls, and Erin felt her heartbeat wobble for a moment before she heard Catherine start to babble at her. "Mommy, when are you coming home?"

"I don't know, princess. I'm still helping Papa and Uncle Aaron find the unsub. But we managed to get one step closer to him earlier, by catching one of his friends. Have you been good for Auntie Jessica?"

"Yes! But Karen is being really bossy. I don't like her right now."

"She's your sister, Cathy. You don't have to always like her, as long as you love her."

"I do, Mommy! But she tried to tell me that I couldn't have two bedtime stories tonight, even though it's Friday, and Papa always reads us two stories, because we don't have to get up so early on Saturdays. Can you tell her that it's okay? She has to listen to you, because you're Mommy."

Erin chuckled a little as she glanced at her husband. "I will tell Jessica that she may read you two stories tonight, if that's what you want, sweetheart. Now, can I talk to Leelee?"

There was a rustling pause as her daughter passed the phone around, and then she was hearing her next youngest child's breathing on the line. "Mama, don't listen to Catherine. We're okay with just one story. As long as it's a long one."

Her chuckle was a little longer this time, as Erin recognized her own political leanings in that statement. David came over to her side, wrapping his arm around her waist as she drew in a short breath. "You will have to take that up with Jessica."

"Fine. How's Jack? It would be better if he was here, because when we're together, we're able to convince Aunt Jessica to do what we like."

"Well, we might have to have a talk about that when we're home, dumpling. And Jack is doing well, Beth is taking care of him while we try to find the unsub. Make certain that you ask Karen or Bruce to take a lot of pictures of your lesson tomorrow. You're working on bigger jumps, yes?"

"Uh huh, and we're doing it by ourselves. I'm ready for this next step, Mama, but I really wish that you were here to see me."

"Well, when I get home, how about I take the day off from work, and you can take the day off from school, and we'll ask if one of the people at the stable can help you show off your new skills for me?"

"I would love that, Mama! Oh, Karen's home! Do you want to talk to her, too?"

Before Erin could answer, she heard Elise take off towards the kitchen, and she rested her head on David's chest as she listened to Elise run over to her oldest child. "Hey, Mom. The munchkin said that you're close to catching this bastard?"

"Karen, language. I don't need Elise or Catherine using words like that in school."

"Sorry! But I'm just so frustrated with that jerk! You should be home with us, not hunting down some psychopath that wants to hurt our family. And before you say anything, yes, I know that Cathy is upset with me, but they got two bedtime stories last night by feeding Aunt Jessica a load of hogwash, and I wasn't about to let them get away with it once more."

Erin laughed as she shook her head a little, not realizing just how much she needed these brief moments of levity. "They're little, Kare bear, you have to allow them to find their own way of building boundaries with everyone around them. They're going to have to learn that it's okay to be told no, along with when it's okay for them to get their way. And yes, I did give permission for two stories tonight. Why don't you see if you can read one with them, too?"

"I suppose. They're just lucky they're so cute."

"That's what little kids are very good at. You'll learn that more when you have your own kids, if you want them." She yawned widely once more. "I hate this."

"Hate what, Mom?"

"Being so tired. I feel like I'm running on fumes, and am unable to pull my weight with the team. They're all still going strong."

"Well, you're not used to that sort of frenetic pace, are you? And I know that you're also more stressed out because that bas…that jerk is targeting us specifically, so that is draining on your energy, too. I know that we've all felt that strain, since we're trying to keep things together for the kiddos."

Her mirth fled as quickly as a summer storm when she heard that from her oldest child. "I'm so sorry, Karen," she whispered as she felt a hand spread out on her back. Looking up, she saw that Aaron had joined her, a somewhat hopeful look on his face. "Would you put Elise back on the phone? Aaron would like to speak with her."

"Of course, Mom. I love you."

"I love you, too, darling." Before she could break out sobbing, she pressed the phone into Aaron's hand and wrapped her arms around her waist as she took a few long breaths, feeling like she was coming apart at the seams.

"We're all running on fumes, too, Erin. We're just a little better at hiding it." She glanced over to see that Alex had also joined them, a sad smile on her lips as she rested her hand on Erin's shoulder. "And you've had to bear the burden of this case for a lot longer than we have. It is okay to say that you've hit the wall and need a break. We all need a break at some point."

"I know, but I still want to pull my own weight."

Aaron cleared his throat, and she looked up to see that he had finished his conversation with Elise and was holding her phone out to her. As she slipped it into her pocket, she continued to look into his eyes. "I'm sending you back to the hotel, you need to get some sleep so that you're less likely to make mistakes. We're going to tough it out for a few more hours here and then call it a night as well."

"Aaron…"

"No, this time I'm going to make the executive decision and say that this is how it will be. Blake, you go with her, and she is not to leave your sight until Rossi gets back to relieve you. Do I make myself clear?"

"As crystal, Hotch. Come on, Erin."

Knowing that she was fighting a losing battle, she nodded in defeat as she made her way over to her husband's side. "I'll keep the bed warm and waiting for you, David," she murmured, giving him a small wink in an effort to feel better, but it still felt hollow. He nodded as he leaned in and kissed her cheek softly before rubbing her bad shoulder.

"I look forward to slipping in next to you. Keep her safe, Blake."

"I will," her friend replied before they left the room, and Erin tried not to feel like she was disappointing everyone there by bowing out early, feeling like John was close at hand.