Philophobia

Twenty-Four; Nervous

July 19th, 2010
6:26 am
The Bullpen of the BAU
Quantico, Virginia

Eliza was sitting in her office filing cases into her file cabinet. Strauss had given her a stack of information files on each of the team members, which Eliza had been told to locked up due to an incident with Garcia and a shooter.  Separately, she'd finally gotten that locked drawer open. There wasn't anything interesting in there, just some snacks and empty baby bottles JJ had kept in there and never gotten a chance to remove. Apparently, Anderson had made a habit of stealing snacks, so JJ had locked the drawer. JJ sat in Eliza's office as she worked, musing at the newer agent. 

"You're better at this job than I was," she complimented. Eliza smiled returning to her desk chair.

"Thank you. Is there a reason you stopped by? Other than to give me the key to the drawer, obviously," said Eliza. JJ, Eliza, and Hotch were the only ones in the office, as everyone else was going to come in around ten. She was meant to briefing Hotch on potential cases, and there was one, in particular, she wanted to talk about. She'd forwarded it to him the previous night.

"I just wanted to check-in. Let you know you had a friendly face outside of the BAU." Eliza didn't like JJ's tone. Something told her she didn't normally act this way, at least she hadn't the first time they met. Now alone, she worried JJ didn't like her. "It must be hard working with such a tight-knit group."

"Well, Blake joined just before me. I'd say we've accumulated pretty well," Eliza informed the blonde. "It's a very welcoming team."

"I just worry about them, you know with all the personnel changes in the past six months. I'm trying to make sure anyone who joins is in it for the long haul." JJ raised an eyebrow, while Eliza furrowed hers.

"Not to be blunt," she began, "but do you have a problem with me? I thought we got on well at the party. I know...I know I took your place on the team but I thought you recommended me for the position."

"I did, and I don't. I'm just protective of them, especially Spence. It seems like the universe has something against him." JJ gave Eliza a suggestive look.

Eliza shook her head, laughing softly. "Everyone keeps mentioning that. Guess it's the reason we get on so well."

"I know you have a case to present, and I don't want to hold you up. I've got to get going, but let me know if you need anything." JJ grabbed her purse and stood up, stopping at the doorway. "And let me know if Spence needs anything." She didn't get a chance to leave as Hotch came in looking for the case file.

"Have you created a presentation for the team?" He asked her. She looked at him confused. "The case you gave me last night."

"Oh...ya, I thought I was running it by you first," Eliza replied. "It's more a rumor than an actual case at the moment."

"Not anymore," Hotch said grimly. "JJ, you may want to stick around. We've got to call everyone in early. Blake won't be working this case, she's in Boston." He looked grimly at the two, instructing the two on the next steps. Eliza moved to follow Hotch from the room, allowing JJ to use the phone on the desk.

July 19th, 2010
7:10 am
The Lobby of the BAU
Quantico, Virginia

Reid, Rossi, and Morgan watched the elevator doors open, wondering why they were called in early. Reid was more worried than the other two, especially after Eliza specified that no go-bag was needed for the case.

"The case must be local," Reid commented, "Eliza told us not to bring a go-bag." They walked out of the elevator only to see people in Army uniforms swarming the building.