Erin sat in the car and tried to control her breathing. She knew that the shallow, harsh, breaths she was sucking in would soon lead to a panic attack on her part, and that was the last thing she needed on this, of all days. David put the car in park, turning it off before turning to look at her, reaching out for her hand.

"We need to go in there, bella. Aaron is expecting us, and it would be better if we just ripped this bandage off. The pain will be less if it's done quickly, rather than drawing it out." She nodded and unbuckled her seatbelt, opening the door and stepping into the parking garage. Still, she found herself so apprehensive about heading in. Soon, Spencer would know the truth of everything, and she had the feeling that this would not end well, no matter how David tried to convince her otherwise.

"Good morning, Erin!"

She turned to see that Karen Arnold was rapidly approaching her, and she nodded a little, the feeling of butterflies becoming worse as one of her friends acknowledged her. "Hey, Karen. You're running late today."

"So are you. Late night?" she asked with a broad wink, glancing over at Dave. Erin blushed a little as she shook her head, allowing the woman to start guiding her over to the entrance. Dave followed close by, his hand brushing against hers as they walked.

"I wish. I've been a little under the weather, and I think I'm still feeling the effects."

"That's not good," she said, swiping her badge and letting them all inside. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Erin shook her head slowly as they stepped into the elevator. There weren't very many other people on it, but she still, instinctively, stepped close to Dave, fishing for his hand as she turned to look at Karen. "I just need to take it easy today, but I don't think that's going to happen. I'm going to have to face a hard situation in Alpha team, and I don't think that it's going to go well, no matter how I couch my words."

"So if I hear anything through the grapevine…?"

"Take it with a grain of salt. And if you really want to know the full story, call me later." She gave her friend a strained smile, welcoming the gentle pat of her hand on her upper arm. They shared a small wave when Karen got off at the fourth floor, leaving them alone on the car. Dave pulled her close to his side, and she sighed a little as she slumped against him. "I really don't know if I can do that, David. I know that I have your support. I know that Aaron is trying to remain a neutral party. But I also know that Spencer is going to hate me, straight off the bat. I, I think I'm going to be sick."

"You'll be fine, Erin," he whispered as he pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her head, wrapping his arm around her waist as he held her close. All too soon, the doors opened, and they were stepping out into the hall. No one else was milling around, which told her just how late they were, and she drew in a shaky breath as Dave nudged her towards the bullpen.

"Can't I even put my purse down in my office?" she asked, trying to stall for time.

"If I let you do that, bella, you wouldn't leave it again. I know you." He squeezed her side gently, and she nodded as they started across the hall. Looking through the glass windows, Erin could see the hustle and bustle of the day was fully under way, and that calmed her heart a little. The routine of it, the mundanity of it, lulled her into thinking that perhaps everything would go better than she feared.

And then, the milling throng cleared enough to reveal Spencer's desk. It seemed like the entire team was gathered there, listening to some story that he was telling, and Erin felt the bottom of her stomach drop out. Heaving a little, she turned to look at Dave, pleading with her eyes to allow her to escape, even if only for a moment, so that she could gather her thoughts. "David…"

"If you don't face this now, it will only get harder. Think about everything that's happened, Erin. I know that you can do this."

Another shaky breath left her mouth as she nodded. "Okay. Okay." She gave him a tremulous smile and he smiled brilliantly down at her. That look gave her the strength to open the doors to the bullpen and step inside, allowing the noises of people working to bolster her a little as she made her way over to Spencer's desk.

Alex noticed her first, and she cocked her head to one side, frowning slightly. Erin tried to ignore the way that she frowned at her, knowing deep in her heart that whatever good will she had regained after Curtis had tried to kill them would disappear with this revelation. She tried to smile, but felt like it was more of a grimace. This caused Alex to slip off Spencer's desk and touch his shoulder almost protectively.

That move caused her to blanch, and she backed into Dave, feeling the intense need to escape from the situation wash over her. And she might have turned and ran from the bullpen had Aaron not approached them, resting his hand on her shoulder and giving her a patient, gentle, look. "Good morning, everyone. I'm glad to see that Erin and Dave are here."

"Why's that, Hotch?" Penelope asked, giving her a tentative smile, which Erin tried to return.

He looked down at her, and she shook her head a little. "I've arranged to have a little meeting between them and Reid."

Penelope's friendly smile slipped from her face as she looked between them all, as if she was trying to figure out what was going on. Jennifer and Derek were frowning deeply, looking ready to protest anything that was going to happen. Spencer just looked confused, which tore at Erin's heart, and she had to struggle to not reach out and smooth his hair, offer him comfort, to react like a mother would.

Alex, though, she was the one to speak up, a look of sheer disbelief on her face. "If you think I'm going to let you railroad him out of a job after everything that's happened to him in the last year, you have another thing coming, Erin. I thought that you were changing. Or do I need to take this up with Director Sheppard?"

Erin blanched a little, shaking her head as she shrank back against her lover. Too quick tears burned in her eyes, and she blinked them back, determined not to cry in front of them all. "Where is this meeting going to be held, Hotch?" Reid asked flatly, not looking at either of them, which cut deeper than she had thought it might.

"In my office. And it would be best if we got it over with sooner, than later."

Alex looked ready to protest once more, and Spencer shook his head at her. "That's fine by me. I know exactly where I stand with the Bureau. After you." He gestured up towards said office with his hand, and Erin gave a sharp nod as she made her way up the stairs, listening to the harsh buzz of voices behind her back. "I'll be fine, Blake, just wait here, and I'll explain everything as soon as I know it." That was all it took to crack her heart wide open, and the first tears slipped out of her eyes as she went into the office, not certain if she was ready to tell Spencer but knowing that there was no backing out now.