Watch over Derek while you're in Chicago. The last time the BAU was there with him, it was a horrid case for him personally. He might not open up to you about his past, so I don't feel comfortable divulging his personal business, but just give him as much support as you can. I know that things are still rough between you, but I also know how soft your heart can be for those who are hurting. I'll talk to you soon.

Alex smiled at the text from Erin, grateful to have a better insight into what Morgan would be going through on this case. By the time she reached the airfield, Reid and Morgan were boarding the jet already, and she shouldered her go bag as she locked her car and went to join them. After handing the bag to the pilot, she got on the jet as well, taking her usual spot near the galley. As she scrolled through her emails, sending a few responses to her students, JJ plopped down next to her, and she gave the younger woman a quick smile.

"This is going to be a difficult case."

"Erin intimated as much in a text. Something about Morgan's history with the city?" she said lowly as she set the phone aside to look at JJ.

"His dad was a cop there, and he was killed in the line of duty. There's also a personal history with the police force we'll be working with, and I don't think that seven years is long enough to heal some of the wounds that were received. Ultimately, it's Derek's story to tell, though I'm certain that you could find any information you wanted on Google."

Alex nodded as she watched Hotch and Rossi boarded the jet and then they were taking off for Chicago. The plane ride was more subdued than she had previously experienced, and she found it hard not to look at Morgan sympathetically as he talked about Carl Buford and his connection to this case. A part of her heart ached for the younger man, as she couldn't begin to imagine the horrors inflicted upon him at a young age by someone he'd trusted.

The day passed by in a whirlwind of activity, though they didn't end up any closer to the unsub by the end of the day, which seemed to cause Morgan to deflate a little. Hotch picked up on the atmosphere that surrounded them all, and gave Dave a look. The man nodded in return, and then Hotch cleared his throat to get their attention. "All right, we're going to regroup and unwind by having dinner together. Do we want Chinese or pizza?"

Everyone looked at Morgan, as if they knew that he should be the one to make this decision, and he grinned at Hotch, though the expression didn't quite reach his eyes. "Chinese. It's our tradition, after all."

"All right, let's head out then, and come back to this fresh in the morning." Hotch led them from the precinct, and Alex noticed that Gordinski tried to talk to Morgan once more, though Morgan ignored him. The bad blood was understandable, but she still hoped that there could be some sort of reconciliation between the two before they left the city. That thought caused her to swallow the giggle that inappropriately rose up from her belly, and JJ gave her an askance look.

"I just had a thought that is pretty hypocritical, given where I came from at the start of my second tenure here. Reconciliation takes time, we can't force it on other people."

JJ nodded with a soft chuckle. "You are correct. Though given the way that you and Erin have come back together, I suppose that hope is possible in any situation." Alex nodded in return as they stepped outside and over to the SUVs.

"So, where are we going?" Rossi asked Hotch as Alex closed the door, and she looked at their leader expectantly.

"I vaguely remember this good Chinese place that Gideon brought us to last time. Here's hoping that it's still open." Alex arched an eyebrow as she settled back in her seat and once more began to scroll through her notifications, answering a few of the texts from her colleagues at Georgetown before checking the news happening in James's current location. She was so glad to see that things appeared to be getting a bit better, which meant that he could be coming home soon. She needed that to be true, as she wanted to tell him face to face that things had shifted once more, and she had made her final decision.

Hotch was pulling into a parking spot by the time she was finished, and Alex let out a little sigh as they got out and headed inside. She was a bit shocked when Morgan took a seat next to her, since they still weren't as close as he was with others on the team, but she still went with it, since she knew there needed to be harmony, especially on a case like this. "How are you holding up?" she asked quietly as they picked up their menus.

"It's rough, but I'm glad to be back here, helping others find the closure that they need. And Gordinski is being surprisingly decent. I suppose he feels like he has to make up for his mistake the last time we were here, though. Thanks for not prying into things, though. I really appreciate that."

"You're welcome. I know how it feels to have people dig into your history and not have any regard for how you feel." They shared a look of understanding, and then he was chuckling as he nodded. "Now, what's good here?"

"The egg rolls are off the chain," he remarked as he looked at the menu. "And I'm always partial to chicken fried rice. But really, anything you get here is delicious."

She nodded and looked over what the restaurant had to offer, hurriedly deciding on honey chicken and a few egg rolls. Once their order was in, Rossi began to tell stories about his hometown, obviously trying to put them more at ease. This led to Hotch telling them stories about Jack and how he was doing. Those stories were a little painful to hear, as it made Alex think about Ethan, and all she had lost with his death. Still, when it came time for her to share, she found herself reluctantly sharing impersonal anecdotes of her childhood. She didn't really want the others to know deeply personal things about her, so that seemed the safest course of action for her to take. Morgan seemed to pick up on her reticence, as he jumped in and began to expound on something she had talked about, and Alex gave him a brief smile as she tucked back into her food.

They spent a good few hours unwinding, and then Alex noticed Hotch glance at his watch. "Well, it's getting late. We should probably get back to the hotel."

He gave her a small smile, and she nodded as Rossi paid for their meal before they went out to the vehicles and started for the hotel. When Alex glanced at the time on the clock, she saw that it was nearly midnight, and they should be in their rooms before Erin called her. The thoughtfulness of the gesture touched her heart, and as they walked over to the elevators, she gave his elbow a soft squeeze as they stepped inside. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Is she doing well?"

"Yes." They met eyes as he pressed the button for their floor, and she flushed guiltily as she shrugged. "As well as can be expected. There are things that I can't say, because of the situation with the Director."

"I'm in a similar boat. It's difficult to be open and honest when your hands are tied. But if she ever wants to get together for lunch and talk in circles, let me know."

Alex chuckled as she nodded. "I'll make certain to let her know that." They were quiet for the rest of the ride up to the eighth floor and then turned separate ways to their rooms. JJ was just unlocking the door when Alex caught up to her, and the younger woman smiled as she let them inside.

"Just in time for your call!"

"Yeah, that was really kind of Hotch," she replied as she went over to her bed and plopped down on it. Just as she settled in, her mobile began to vibrate against her thigh, and she pulled it out to see Erin's name on the display. "Good evening, Erin."

"Good evening. How are things going in Chicago?"

Alex watched JJ grab her night clothes before heading into the bathroom and then answered. "They're going well, but Morgan seems to be distracted, which I completely understand. He has opened up a little to me during the day, which has seemingly led to a better working relationship between the two of us. I know that things aren't going to be perfect right away, but at least we're making those inroads."

"That is exactly what I like to hear about my teams," Erin said and Alex preened a little at the gentle praise she heard in Erin's voice. "And how are you doing?"

"Would you be upset if I told you that I don't know?"

Erin made a soft sound of distress in the back of her throat, and then she was switching the call to Facetime so that she could look at her. Alex took a deep breath before she accepted the change, giving her lover a weak smile. "What's unsettling you?"

"Knowing that there's a madman out there, hellbent on destroying us? And knowing that you and Hotch are trying to take the burden of finding him all on your shoulders without letting us help out."

"I'm sorry, what is Aaron doing?"

Alex frowned at her as she shook her head. "You would think that you weren't a profiler at one point, Erin. Of course, he was going to do his own research into the Replicator and see if he can figure anything out. He told me to tell you that if you want to talk in circles with him over lunch, you're free to do so. And maybe we should take him up on his offer."

"And then I would lose two of my brightest talents to a suspension or worse. I didn't ask Ron to invite you back just for you to foolishly run headlong into a danger that is probably too great for one person to handle. You're also making connections to the team, which is wonderful, and you need to continue growing those relationships unhindered."

"Erin…"

"Lexie." Erin gave her a sad look as she rubbed her lips together a few times. "I want you to be free to work on the cases that come across my desk. I want you to bring closure and peace to those victims and their families. I have a desk job, there are a lot of days where I have nothing more to do that sign off on a few reports and try to look busy until the next meeting. Helen can help me remain furtive about my actions, she's done it before. I will be fine, but I cannot have my attention divided in three ways to include watching over you and Aaron. And yes, I will be speaking with him when you return, to give him the same tongue lashing I just gave you."

Alex felt a blush creep over her skin at those words, and Erin shook her head. "I'm sorry! Sometimes I have a one track mind, especially when it comes to you. I, I can think of another sort of tongue lashing I'd like to receive from you."

A soft gasp caught her attention, and she looked up from the phone screen to see that JJ had joined them without her hearing, and had overheard their last exchange. "We're not alone anymore, are we?" Erin asked, and Alex nodded heavily. "Tell Jennifer that I hope she has a good evening. I'll deal with you when you get home."

Erin ended the call before Alex could say another word, and Alex gave JJ a sheepish smile as she set the phone on the nightstand. "Well, I guess that answers a few of my unasked questions," JJ quipped as she flopped backwards onto her bed. "Though I can't say that I ever wanted to picture some things."

"Once more, I'm going to ask you to keep that to yourself, as neither of us want our private business to become public knowledge."

"Of course, Alex. I'll see you in the morning." JJ made herself comfortable on the bed and was soon fast asleep. Alex rolled her eyes a little as she got off the bed and grabbed out her pyjamas. Once she was changed and had washed her face, she padded quietly back over to her bed and slipped beneath the covers. For some reason, she decided to check her phone one last time, and saw a text from Erin. If you come home to me after the case, I can see about giving you the tongue lashing that you want. Love you

Alex grinned at those words and nestled into the mattress as she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts decidedly happier than they had been before leaving for Chicago.