"You'll do fine, Erin. I promise," David said as they entered her office the next morning. Again, she had wanted to arrive early, to collect her thoughts and calm her spirit before heading into the meeting with Agent Jareau and Aaron. "He's already here, waiting for you in his office. But just be warned, the rest of the team does know that there's something going on."
She was just about to answer him when Helen rushed in, her eyes wide. "I am so glad that you're both here. Director Shepperd just called with a case in Maryland, and he wants you there, as soon as possible. I'm printing out the details for you, Agent Rossi, and I've already sent everything to the rest of the team. I know that you're meeting with Agent Jareau and Agent Hotchner, ma'am, but it's a young woman gone missing, and the clock is already running."
Erin nodded as she took a deep breath. "All right, let's get this done." David nodded before leaning in and kissing her quickly. "Really?"
"A kiss for luck is not pushing the rules of good taste in the office, Erin," he replied, giving her a cheeky grin as he took the folder from Helen's hands and left the office. Erin stared after him before setting her purse and bag on top of her desk.
"Wish me luck, Helen. I do not anticipate this going well."
"Just remember that this was out of your hands before you even knew about the situation. You're just the executioner in this case."
Erin nodded as she reached out to squeeze her assistant's elbow. "That strangely gives me more comfort than I thought possible. Thank you." Leaving the office, she headed into the bullpen, unsurprised to see that most of the team was already gathered around Doctor Reid's desk, giving her baleful looks as she approached the stairs and made her way up to Aaron's office, as if they knew that she was about to tear everything apart. Straightening her spine, Erin lifted her chin and slipped into Aaron's office, a flat look on her face.
Agent Jareau instantly turned to face her when she heard the door close, and she tried not to show any emotion at the desperate, dark, look that she threw her way. Erin drew in a deep breath and went over to the chair closest to the window, taking a seat as she brushed her skirt down around her knees. "I take it that Agent Hotchner has been filling you in on why I've asked to meet with you this morning?"
"He has told me a little of what to expect, yes. And I am going to preemptively turn down any offer that you make me, ma'am. The BAU is my family, and I have never made any plans to leave here. You can tell Director Rosenthal as much when you meet with him later today."
Agent Jareau had the same tight, closed off, look on her face that Erin was certain she currently wore as well, and she glanced at Aaron, only to remember that he was going to play the neutral party in this meeting. Taking a deep breath, Erin blinked a few times, trying to control her breathing as she turned her attention back to Agent Jareau. "Would that I could tell him that, Agent Jareau. I am just the messenger in this case, and you are not really being given the option of turning this opportunity down."
Agent Jareau turned to look at Aaron, everything about her body language screaming that she was looking for help from him. "Aaron, tell her that this can't happen! I still have a choice in my job!"
"She does have a point there, Erin. She shouldn't be forced to accept a position that she never requested consideration for."
"I know that, Aaron. However, my hands are tied. And think of it this way, Agent Jareau. It's a nine to five position. You'd be home with Henry at the same time every day, you'd have your weekends with him. I know how much your child means to you, because I know how much mine mean to me. And I do have regrets about not being there enough for them as they continue to grow older. Especially my Catherine."
That elicited a scoffing huff of breath from Agent Jareau's nose, and Erin winced a little before stiffening her spine as she arched an eyebrow at the woman. "That's rich, coming from you. Especially given how you kept Aaron's child away from him for so long. Don't talk to me about regrets. And I am not going to take this job. That's final."
"I am afraid that it is not final. You may work this last case, but come Monday, you will be starting at the State Department."
"Over my dead body!" Agent Jareau glared at her before storming from the office, slamming the door shut.
"That could have gone better, Erin."
"Don't you think I know that? She listens to you, Aaron. Please, work on her during this case and get her to see that this is the only choice. For all of us." They got to their feet and Erin let out a deep sigh as Aaron maneuvered her into a spot where they couldn't be seen through the window. "What?"
"I will make the only promise that I can, Erin, and that is that I will try. I know how much is on the line for you, and for our team, believe me. I just can't make her decision for her." She nodded sadly, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "Hey, everything will be all right. Even if things go the worst direction, Dave will take care of you. And I can pick up any slack, too." Before she could respond to him, Aaron pulled her into a tight hug, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. "Wait here until I text you to let you know it's all clear. I'm almost certain that the rest of the team is going to want your head on a pike for this."
"I know," she murmured as she stepped away from him, giving him a sad look. "Try to mitigate any fallout, I'll deal with the rest." He nodded as he slipped out of the office, and Erin let out a deep sigh as she took a seat on his sofa to wait for the text. She knew that that could have gone better, that she should have used more control to get Agent Jareau to see to reason, but the younger woman had seemed intent on just being as contrary as possible, without truly listening to Erin. She knew that the truth of Elise's parentage had clouded their view of her, but until that moment, she hadn't realized just how much that was true.
You're all clear she read a few moments later, and letting out a deep breath, she rose to her feet, shook out her shoulders a little, and made her way to the door, heading over to her office with as much dignity as she could muster, trying not to allow the whispers she heard behind her back get to her too much as she went. Still, by the time she arrived back in her sanctuary, Erin found herself trembling, wishing that she could see David before he headed out, but knowing that that was a pipe dream. Instead, she allowed Helen to press a warm cup of tea into her hands as she sank down onto her sofa and had a good stress relieving cry as she imagined having to find a new job at her age, when all she knew was the BAU.
