It was evening at the BAU and it seemed like everyone might just make it out at a decent time tonight. Morgan had already taken off to meet some "honey" and Emily had been nearly behind. Spencer remained at his desk, finishing up a few more papers while Penelope and Aitana discussed potential cases in the latter's office. Rossi and Hotch had been in Hotch's office for the past half hour discussing, though judging by the day that was tomorrow, Spencer had a good suspicion about what the topic of that conversation was about. He would prefer to stick his nose in his paperwork than be a part of that conversation. He only looked up when he heard Penelope's voice carrying out. She was leaving Aitana's office with her usual solo-rambles about the 'to do list' she apparently had going on.

"You're still here," Penelope said once she caught sight of him at his desk. "Course you are. You're Boy Wonder, you don't need sleep cos you're super!" Spencer smiled as she raised a fist into the air. Penelope stopped by with a decent sized pile of papers in her hands.

"Lots of cases?" Spencer noted.

Penelope drummed her fingers along the edges of the papers. She hummed. "Something like that. Sprinkles over there couldn't keep her attention on this for more than 5 minutes. That's really unlike her."

Spencer glanced at Aitana's opened office. "Really?"

Penelope nodded. "I wanted to ask her what was wrong but I didn't want to go poking my nose this time. I'm trying to stop that with her right now."

A light smile came to Spencer's face. "Really?" Penelope pointed at him, eyes narrowed and warning him not to go using that sarcasm on him. His smile may have spread. "Sorry."

Penelope decided she was too tired to continue with him. "Have a wonderful night."

"Bye," Spencer gave a weak wave as the blonde hustled out of the bullpen. He spent a minute thinking about what Penelope had said about Aitana. He looked over to her office. He could see her putting things in her bag, getting ready to leave. She was in a hurry but even from his spot, Spencer could see her grim expression.

Ever since the case with Seaver, Aitana had been at opposite sides with herself. One moment she was confident about what she was doing, whether it was another press conference or an interview, but then the next moment she was back to doubting herself. She requested supervision when she interviewed families. Even talking to the local precincts became harder. It was a sight to see considering how far Aitana had come since her arrival to the BAU.

He was startled in his seat when Aitana came out of her office in a hasty walk, much like Penelope had earlier. Soon as she saw him, her lips curved into a smile; always polite she was.

"Have a good night," she said just as she walked past.

"Hey Aitana?" Spencer called before he even considered how he might go about his next words.

She stopped to look back. "Yeah?"

"Uuh, are you...are you doing okay?" That may not have been the best question he could have formed. He made a face once he realized how incredibly dull and vague it actually was.

"Yeah, of course," Aitana still went ahead and answered him anyway. She even seemed confused that he'd asked her. "Are you?" If anything, he might be starting a conversation because he wasn't entirely okay.

"Good, yeah," Spencer awkwardly cleared his throat. If he didn't say something quick and smart, he was going to lose the opportunity. Being 'smart' is what he did best! "I was just wondering if you were still upset...about the case with Seaver?" Clearly she was, he just needed a way in.

Aitana's shoulders shrugged awkwardly, like even she wasn't sure what to feel. "I, um, it's been a week."

"Yeah but you haven't exactly been yourself since that case."

Aitana sighed. She walked back to the desks and stopped by Emily's. "Is it that noticeable?" Spencer could only half smile at her. Yeah, it was. She sighed again. "I'm sorry. I know you guys must be getting tired of me and my weird mood swings."

"No, nothing like that. On the contrary, we're just worried," shrugged Spencer. "Penelope was just telling me about it too. You know it's only a matter of time until she starts asking you too."

Aitana chuckled. "I'm actually surprise she hasn't already."

"She's trying."

Aitana laughed again though it was short lived as it ended with a long sigh. "I don't know, Spencer."

"What's wrong?"

"Me, what else?" She lifted a weary gaze from the ground. She let her bag drop on Emily's empty chair then sat on the edge of her desk.

"But what does it have to do with Seaver?"

"It's not her personality, it's just the fact of what I missed around her."

Spencer cocked his head at her, for once not understanding at all.

"Before Seaver came, I thought that I was actually getting a good handle on this job. You know — finally. I still needed a little help but...I was starting to do good all on my own. But then I missed things that led Seaver to Drew Jacobs' house."

"Wait, wait," Spencer started waving a hand once he realized where this was going. "That wasn't on you—Seaver didn't follow the instructions Hotch left her with."

"I should have realized that the laptop was missing earlier," Aitana said, "If I had, we would've gotten to her far earlier than we did. I missed it, Spencer, and it just makes me think that maybe no matter how much I try to push through, no matter how much I think I've progressed since Witness Protection, I'll just end up right where I started." She swallowed hard. "Maybe I won't ever move on from everything I lived with Witness Protection. I can't be normal anymore."

"Aitana, you're doing a good job," Spencer said, hoping that he wasn't sounding snappy. He was making a fact, something he simply knew. "You were doing great before we met Seaver and you're still doing a good job now. You don't have to have supervision for every interview that you do and I doubt that you need any help to do press releases. You have the attitude for it."

Aitana found a moment to smile in her grief. "Remember Morgan's dubbed me 'Spicy sprinkles'?"

Spencer laughed. "You're doing good. Stop being so hard on yourself and most of all, give yourself a break. Everybody makes mistakes but you know what? That whole case—it wasn't on you. Seaver's still learning too and the mistake she made was hers, not yours."

Aitana nodded. "Yeah." She liked to think that way too. Her family had said the same thing. She couldn't be so hard on herself and expect herself to do everything perfectly.

"You gotta say it like you believe it," Spencer remarked, making her chuckle.

She agreed with him. "I'm going to try."

Spencer made a motion for her to wait. He then pulled his right drawer open and pulled something out. "Hope this helps." He held out a chocolate marshmallow lollipop to her.

Aitana laughed with the clown face wrapper. "Thanks," she took it from him. "I can't believe you actually keep these in your drawers."

"You did say that I was missing out on them."

"Well, thanks," she pointed at him with the lollipop. "You know, you should add 'therapist' to those multiple degrees of yours. And maybe start charging me."

"Actually, I have B.A. in psychology but you need at least a master's to be a therapist," Spencer said, nodding until Aitana's other words struck him. "Oh, and I would never charge a friend."

Aitana pointed at him with her lollipop again. "Gotcha, you can't be your friend's therapist. Not ethical at all." Spencer thought about it for a few seconds and realized she was right. Aitana smirked as she slid off Emily's desk. "I just got Dr. Spencer Reid!"

Spencer would admit his defeat where it was due (but if it'd been Morgan who bested him, it would've been a completely different ending). Aitana still kept her little game going with him and it was frankly fun.

"Ah, now it's a goodnight," Aitana grabbed her bag from the desk chair. "And, just so we're clear, exactly how many degrees do you have?"

"Uuh, B.A.s in Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy. I have Ph.D.s in Chemistry, Engineering, and Mathematics."

Aitana blinked at him, almost looking like she expected him to take back a few of them. In the end, she exhaled deeply and nodded to herself, "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"It does?" Spencer gave her a look for her odd response.

Aitana shrugged. "Don't know. I never met a genius before." She slung her bag over her shoulder again. "But I'm glad I did. See you," she waved with a smile.

Spencer waved goodbye then smiled to himself afterwards. He was glad he met her too.

~ 0 ~

The next day, the BAU would find themselves one Unit Chief short. Only Aitana would question why since she wasn't aware what day it was.

"What do you mean anniversary?" she followed Emily towards her desk. "Anniversary for what?"

"No one's told you what happened to Hotch's ex-wife?" Emily knew the answer to that before asking it. It wasn't exactly something that was shared so easily.

"No, what?"

"A year ago, she was murdered by an Unsub we were tracking. It was a whole case and it was bloody and terrible," Emily would really rather keep the details out of the story. Besides, Aitana got the gist of it.

"Oh, how terrible," she swallowed. "Doesn't he have a son?"

Emily nodded. "Jack was there too. It's a bad time for them both. Hotch's going to be out for the next couple of days."

"Oh God," Aitana mumbled. "That's completely understandable."

Emily moved around her, gathering some papers in her hands to meet with Rossi. "I'm hoping that even though Hotch is out, Rossi will let me get this through."

"What is it?" Aitana curiously asked. She couldn't see anything defining from her pile of papers.

"Seaver requested for her remedial training to be here."

"Oh," Aitana's eyes flickered to Rossi's open office door, "I thought she was only clear for one case."

"Yeah but I was hoping that they would give her a second chance. I'm willing to supervise her."

"That's nice of you," Aitana smiled.

"She wants to prove herself and, really, everybody makes mistakes when they first go into the field."

Aitana could agree to that. She wished Emily good luck and hoped for the best concerning Seaver. As it turned out, Rossi would give the all-clear for Emily to bring Seaver for a period of time. And she would even get a crack at a case early on. Lucky for them, it was right at home so they could stay right in their neighborhood.

"Agent Serrano?" A woman she had yet to meet called her just as Aitana had gone into the bullpen. She was an older woman with shoulder length blonde hair.

"Uh...yes?" Aitana slowly came back to the doorway to meet the woman.

"Erin Strauss," the woman introduced herself, leaving it as that because Aitana should know very well who she was.

Yes, she did. Hotch was very detailed when it came to Strauss and the overall message Aitana had received was that she should be cautious. "Ma'am," she nodded dutifully.

"Given light of the situation with Agent Morgan's reputation on the line, I have opted for my office to handle the press."

"Oh, um, okay," Aitana said. The case was already tetchy due to the fact the primary suspect was the very criminal Morgan gave a positive review for parole. Morgan was under fire and if she could help in any way, she would do it. Plus, a break from the press was never bad. "I will put all my attention on the profiling then."

"Yes, about that," Strauss raised a finger, suddenly making Aitana feel like she was about to be told off by a teacher, "I understand you're tackling a liaison and a profiler job and while it's admirable, I feel like it would be best if you stayed off the case."

Now that took Aitana by surprise. "What? You-you want me off the case?"

"Nothing personal, you just need the experience and this case is life or death for this division. I'm also pulling the remedial agent you have here."

"Seaver?" Aitana could care less what else Strauss was doing but she could really do without the pity assurance that all was fair. "No, that doesn't make me feel better at all. How do you expect us to gain experience if you keep us off the cases?"

"Calm down, agent, it's only one case," Strauss shrugged her shoulders. "Feel free to use this time to go through what I assume must be a heavy load of potential cases for the future."

"But—"

"That will be all," Strauss cut her right off. "It was nice meeting you." She turned away, leaving Aitana with her cut up words.

"But I...what…?" The brunette spun around towards the bullpen, eyes wide and soon to be filled with anger.

She stormed into the bullpen, making a beeline for her office without so much of a glance at the others. She assumed her position at her desk and grabbed a pile of cases, not even taking the care to see which ones she had gathered. It would only be half an hour later when someone dared to knock on the open door.

"Potential cases?" Rossi asked with a knowing look on his face. Aitana's smile was rather sour but at least he knew it wasn't directed at him.

"Something like that. Apparently, this is my only job today."

"Strauss told me what she would do," Rossi came in with a caution to his steps, as if Aitana would explode at him for his confession. "I'm sorry that I couldn't stop her."

"Rossi, I really doubt you are at fault for any of this." Aitana closed the file in front of her. "What's her problem with me? I never even met her."

"It's not a problem towards you," Rossi clarified. "This case just blew everything out of proportion, especially for Morgan."

"I know," sighed Aitana. It was the only reason she hadn't made a scene about this arrangement. Morgan was desperately trying to find out whether or not the man he helped get on parole had murdered again. She could only imagine Strauss was breathing over his shoulder. "How is he?"

Rossi gave a shrug of his shoulders. "You can imagine by now what Morgan is like to know the answer, right?"

A small smile marked Aitana's face. "Yeah, I think so. I'd love to help but Strauss took me off completely. This—" her arms gestured to the piles on her desk, "—is what I'll be doing today. For a liaison, that's fine but this isn't exactly what I studied to be."

"Do you not like it?" Rossi asked.

"I do," Aitana nodded. "I mean it was really challenging at first and, yeah, I still have some problems but I can see why JJ liked what she did here. The only problem is that being a Liaison isn't really what I studied to be. Being this full time...I wouldn't be able to handle it. I wanted to be a full time profiler."

"So let me ask you this, if you hand this liaison job over to someone else and stick with the profiler side, would you?" Rossi posed a good question and he could see the conflict in Aitana's eyes to answer it.

"Oh, Rossi, why do you have to go and do that?"

Rossi laughed lightly. "That's my side of the job, you know." He got a small laugh from Aitana in return. "Tell you what, kid. Why don't you grab a pile of these cases and go home."

Aitana raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you telling me to go?"

Rossi's hands went up in defence. "Absolutely not. But I also think maybe having a nice glass of wine—do you drink?" Aitana nodded, barely able to keep her chuckle in. "Excellent. Go home, have yourself a nice glass of red wine. Peruse the files and when we're done here, you'll have our cases."

"Is that an order?" Aitana half joked with the question. Rossi had yet to make it clear.

He bobbed his head, making noises of thoughts. "More like a suggestion, an alternative that brings you more comfort."

Aitana couldn't help but chuckle. "I commend your talent with your word choices."

"Thank you," Rossi did a mock salute. "Seriously, take the day off, kid."

Aitana relented any disagreements. Who was she kidding? She'd rather be at home than be stuck inside her office all day. "Will Strauss give you any heat for it?"

"Nah," Rossi said. "I think right now, you're the least of her worries."

"Then off I go!" Aitana resolved. She grabbed a few piles of cases to take home with her, at least to have something when the case was done, and deposited everything in a larger bag. She grabbed the last of her things then headed out.

"Hey, where are you going?" Emily called as soon as Aitana came down the steps into the bullpen.

At her question, Spencer looked up from his desk to see the decent bag slung over Aitana's shoulder. "Are you going home?"

Aitana nodded at the pair. "Yeah, Strauss wants me and Seaver off the case because of the situation so Rossi has been kind enough to give me the day."

"What? She wants you off the case?" Emily's face scrunched with utter confusion. "Why would she want that?"

"Because she thinks I'm not experienced enough, she doesn't want to take the risk."

"What?" frowned Spencer. "That's not true. You've proven yourself many times."

Aitana smiled at him. "I can't blame her. The case is really tough and if it'll help Morgan in the long run, I'll do it."

"But—"

Aitana raised a hand to stop him. "I'm fine, trust me." She was sure that he was thinking about their conversation the other day and while it was sweet of him to be that concerned, she'd rather not delve back into that in front of Emily. Fortunately, Spencer seemed to get the message and said no more.

"I'm sorry," Emily said, seeing there was nothing else to do for the moment. "We'll keep you posted, though."

"Please do," Aitana nodded. "Because if you guys really need me, I'll be here whether Strauss wants me or not. I hope Seaver takes it well."

Emily made a face. She'd check in on the woman later on. "What are you going to do?" she curiously asked. "Because if I'm sent home without pay, you sure as hell can bet I'm not doing work."

Aitana laughed. "Well, I don't know about the pay thing yet but, I don't know. I think Angel has the day off or something so...maybe we can do something together today."

"Oh," Emily's eyebrows raised at the mention of that name. As soon as Spencer saw her glance heading his way, he dove his face into his paperwork. He wanted absolutely no part in the conversation now. Emily was good at keeping her expressions in check with Aitana. "Well, sounds good then."

Aitana agreed with a nod. "Mhm, I'll see you guys." She headed out afterwards.

"Oooh," Emily sank back in her chair, this time letting her full gaze land on Spencer. "Have we verified if that's the boyfriend?"

"I don't know and I don't care," Spencer promptly said. "And neither should we. It's her life and we have no business prodding it."

"I wouldn't say 'prodding'..." Emily did quotation marks in the air, "...just…"

"Emily," Spencer said, motioning to the quotation marks, "That pretty much says it's wrong. Let's leave it alone." Emily agreed with a sigh. They did have a lot of work to do anyway.

A/N:

P.S. As always, I have a tumblr account dedicated to my fanfic works! It's a place where anyone can comment about a story or even just talk to me! I often drop aesthetic work belonging to my stories too! Feel free to check it out, my URL is "saiilorstars"

For the reviewer: Wow, I had no idea notifications switched off automatically? That's good to know xD.