"How do you do it, ma'am?"

Erin looked up from the file she was working at to see that Agent Todd was standing in front of her desk, looking as if she was about to burst into tears. Gesturing for her to take a seat, Erin pulled off her reading glasses and let out a deep breath. "Do what, Agent Todd?"

"Look at all that horror each day and still keep a cool head. I know that the rest of the team is trained to deal with the horror and how to compartmentalize it all, but you also just take it in stride, as if nothing can ruffle you. Why is it that I feel like I'm going to claw my way out of my skin after seeing so much horror in such a short span of time?"

She licked her lips as she thought about how to answer Agent Todd. "There have been times when I do wonder if I can adequately separate my feelings from the facts of things. Especially when cases deal specifically with young girls. Having three of them of my own, it makes those cases just stab at my heart. And then I remember that I do have children, that they cannot afford to have their mother fly off the deep end. I would love to turn to alcohol to bury all the feelings that come with some of these cases, and it would be easy enough to do, given that I am a section chief, and don't have much immediate oversight. So, I take out my frustrations and sorrows in a probably just as unhealthy manner as drinking."

"Oh?"

"I go to the shooting range and fill as many targets with holes as I possibly can in the space of an hour. Any longer, and it would be overkill, any shorter, and I'm still left with the feelings of rage and impotence. But you have to have dealt with this in your work in counterterrorism."

"Not really. A lot of my job is done behind screens, so I'm removed from the blood and horror. And I hate to have called Agent Jareau back from maternity leave early, but I just couldn't handle these cases any longer. I'm sorry that I failed the team, and you."

Erin let out a deep sigh as she shook her head. "You didn't fail anyone, Agent Todd. You were put into a situation that tested your skills, and the cases that were given to you were far more serious than some of what we have seen lately. Don't leave here with your head hanging low in defeat. Leave here knowing that you did good work, work that I'll make certain is highly spoken of in your file."

Agent Todd gave her a small smile as she nodded. "Thank you, ma'am."

"You are most welcome. And if you need any references in the future, I will see that they are just." The woman nodded as she rose to her feet, taking a deep breath before tilting her head to one side. "Is there anything else, Agent Todd?"

"You're not nearly the ice queen that the others tend to make you out to be."

"Like in all things, Agent Todd, what we see is colored by our perceptions. At least you are able to see through the veil that I wear at work. Others are not so eager to be reminded that we're all human behind the masks we wear."

Agent Todd nodded once more, the sad look back on her face. "I hope that I get to work with you and Alpha team at some point in the future, Chief Strauss." Erin gave her a small smile in return as she nodded, watching the woman leave before she tried to regroup her focus and get back to work, but it seemed like her focus was gone. Letting out a long breath, Erin rose to her feet and walked over to her window, gazing outside as she tried to hold her emotions inside. She had known that there were people in the BAU who viewed her as a bit draconian, especially given how she had acted after having Elise, but hearing that confirmed by Agent Todd had hurt more than she had expected. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she stared out into the grey January sky in an effort to keep from crying.

"Stellina, what out there has your attention?" David asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest as he rested his chin on top of her head.

"I was just thinking about something Agent Todd said to me as we talked about her return to counterterrorism. How many people in the bullpen call me a bitch behind my back?"

His arms tightened around her, as if he didn't want to answer her, and that was almost answer enough to tell her that it was too often and he didn't want to let her know just how frequently it was said. "There are people who don't understand you and your leadership style. And yes, four of them happen to be on my team. Kitten and I know the truth of who you are, and Hotch has started to lighten up a little, too. It will take longer with the others, because they can't quite make your private self and public self mesh into a cohesive unit."

"That's sweet, David, but that doesn't make it hurt any less." She turned in his arms and looked up at him. "I thought that I had developed a thicker skin over the years, especially with Elise's birth, but I guess that I'm still too tender at times."

"There's nothing wrong with being tender, Erin," he replied softly before leaning down and kissing her gently. Though she normally didn't like him kissing her when they were at work, but she was willing to make the exception that morning, since she was feeling so off kilter. As he deepened the kiss, Erin snaked her arms around his waist and held him tight to her. "If it weren't the middle of the day, I'd lock the door and continue kissing you."

"If we weren't at work, I'd allow you to do that now. There are some boundaries that we need to keep, unfortunately."

He nodded before pressing his lips against her forehead, breathing in deeply. "We could steal away for a few hours and get something to eat. Or we could feed another hunger. I mean, the team is home for a few days to catch up on paperwork, since JJ isn't slated to start until Monday."

Erin chuckled a little as she turned her face in order to rest her cheek on his chest. "An extended lunch break with you sounds like heaven on earth to me right about now. And seeing as how I don't have anything to fill up my afternoon, I believe that I could make that happen. Let me grab my purse?"

"You don't need it, Erin. I'll drive and pay, so all you need is your phone."

She frowned a little as she left his arms, heading over to her desk and grabbing out her purse anyway. "I would just like to have it on hand, just in case there's an accident. All right?" He gave her a small nod before taking hold of her hand and guiding her out of the office. "Helen, David and I are going to take a long lunch. If anything important arises that needs my immediate attention, please call my mobile, otherwise, I'll see you when we get back."

"Of course, Erin. Enjoy your lunch." Erin gave her a small nod before following David out into the hall, eager to spend some much needed time with him.