After 3 weeks of being with the team, everyone had noticed that Y/N wasn't around. Spencer was sad, knowing exactly why she was gone. She had warned him 3 days ago that her time with the BAU was going to end, seeing as she needed to return to the program.
"Where is our young Probationary Agent friend? I haven't seen her at all today!" Penelope exhaled as she walked into the bullpen.
"She's gone back to the training building. Her Probationary Agent period is up." Spencer explained, feeling exactly the same as Penelope. They were both sad to see Y/N go, although, their reasons were different. While Penelope missed her new friend, Spencer was saddened because he wasn't going to see the woman he was falling in love with as often. It only saddened him more to think about the possibility that she'd be assigned to a different division once she graduated from the Training Program.
"BAU team, conference room." Hotch called out as Spencer and the rest of the team nodded, making their way up. They knew that seeing Strauss either meant that they had done something very well, or something very wrong.
Everyone sat down, watching as Strauss clasped her hands together, exhaling. JJ, Prentiss, Derek, Penelope and Spencer eyed Strauss.
"For the past 3 weeks, you have been joined by Cadet Y/L/N on your cases. She joined you on your cases, because I had felt that she could be a good asset to your team, and I wanted to see how she did on your cases on a trial basis. Now, I have already received a performance review from Hotch about Cadet Y/L/N, but I think it would be beneficial for both me and the Brass to get your opinions as well. As much as I believe that my opinion counts, it's not me that she'd be working with if she were to join the BAU after she graduates. She'd be working with you all." Strauss explained.
"What do you want from us?" Rossi asked.
"I want your honest opinions. I would like each of you to create a list of everything she did well, and everything she needs improvement on. I will take those lists and send them to the Brass. I will also be conducting recorded interviews with you all to get your honest opinions." Strauss replied to Rossi's question.
"Any questions?" Hotch asked. Not hearing any responses, Hotch and Strauss prepared to leave.
"I will be talking to JJ, Derek and Rossi today. Spencer, Penelope and Prentiss will be interviewed tomorrow." Strauss insisted before leaving the conference room.
Rossi, Penelope, Derek, JJ and Prentiss all stood up. Spencer? He didn't. He remained seated.
"Spence, you coming?" JJ asked, confused. Spencer smiled and shook his head, letting her know with only glances and gestures that he needed some time alone. Soon enough, the entire conference room was empty, except for one chair that was occupied by Spencer.
Spencer had found himself in a difficult situation. The 23-year-old woman that he had met when she attended his first lecture was currently training to become an FBI Agent. She had made it clear that the BAU was her intended unit to join. Ever since he met her, he couldn't keep her out of his thoughts. Just the image of her in his head made him smile.
He was falling in love with her. He couldn't deny that. He met her just over 2 months ago and in that time, he had become friends with her and he had started developing feelings for her. He wasn't certain if she felt the same way, but he wasn't too keen on finding out right away. He'd at least wait until after she had graduated to find out if she felt the same way toward him.
He was worried. Worried that he might slip up and say something that would tell Strauss that he was falling in love with Y/N. The last thing that Spencer wanted was for his feelings to possibly ruin Y/N's chances of joining the BAU after she graduated. He cared about her too much to let her future be ruined because of his clouded judgment.
Spencer wanted to increase Y/N's chances of joining the BAU after she graduated, but in order to do so, he needed to prevent Strauss from figuring out that he had feelings for Y/N. He hoped that he could keep his feelings in check, as he was the profiler, not Strauss.
———
With no new cases landing on Hotch's desk, he reassured the team that they could go home.
When Spencer put his bag down near his locked front door, he grabbed a pen and paper from his desk drawer and sat down, starting write a list of things that Y/N did well when she was working with the team. The list was very long, and Spencer genuinely believed that he'd run out of room. But then he realised that the amount of good things she did would set off a red flag on Strauss' end, so he grabbed another piece of paper and wrote down only half of the list, feeling a bit relieved that by reducing the list, he was reducing the risk of Strauss becoming suspicious.
———
Walking into the BAU bullpen the next morning, Spencer noticed that Penelope and Prentiss were sitting at Prentiss' desk, talking.
"You guys excited to talk to Strauss?" Spencer asked, smiling.
"I'm not the least bit excited to talk to Strauss, but if it means that Y/N has a better chance of joining the BAU, then so be it." Prentiss smiled.
The day went on, Penelope and Prentiss both speaking with Strauss before Spencer. Eventually, Spencer was called into Strauss' office. He handed her the lists that she wanted, and she spent the first few minutes of the interview looking over the lists.
"Very detailed, Dr. Reid. Thank you. But, as much as I love lists, this interview is more about your honest opinion of Y/N, then the things she did right and wrong." Strauss smiled.
"I only have one request when you give me your performance review on Y/N. Please, be honest with me. I can't have Agents lying to me. It messes with the system and Agents aren't put in the divisions and units that they belong in." Strauss asked, smiling. She pressed a button on the machine in front of her.
"This is the BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss, talking with Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid. Today's topic: Cadet Y/N Y/L/N's Probationary Agent Performance Review." Strauss spoke with a clear voice, eyeing Spencer, who shifted in his seat. She nodded to Spencer, who straightened himself up before opening his mouth to speak.
For the next 15 minutes, Spencer talked to Strauss, answering the questions that she threw his way. He would stay silent before answering her questions, as to avoid revealing his true feelings about Y/N. In order to better Y/N's chances, he needed to think before he spoke, which is something he often struggled with, whenever he was at work and on cases.
"My final question for you, Dr. Reid, is this. Do you believe that Cadet Y/N Y/L/N would be a good fit for the BAU? Or is there another division that would be better suited for her?" Strauss asked, leaning back in her chair.
"You may not be aware of this, Agent Strauss, but Y/N is actually one of my students. Just over 2 months ago, we met when she attended my first lecture on Behavioural Analysis. I truly believe that she is very much suited for the BAU. She has learned a lot in my lectures and she has put a lot of what she has learned into practice. She was very helpful on our cases within the last 3 weeks, and I do believe that she has the capability of becoming an amazing profiler." Spencer explained, trying to see how Strauss would react. He mentioned the lectures and how much she's learned, but didn't go too far and blurt out that he had feelings for her.
He felt confident that he had just increased Y/N's chances of joining the BAU after she graduates, without compromising his feelings for her.
"Thank you, Dr. Reid, for your honesty." Strauss smiled before ending the recording.
10 minutes later, Strauss was standing in front of the whole team in the conference room.
"I will get theses lists and the recordings to the Brass, so that they can review Cadet Y/L/N's file and make an informed decision. But please be aware that from now, up until the Training Program graduation, every single division and unit will have their eyes on whoever they'd like to add to their teams. While Cadet Y/L/N's performance review from this team was very positive, there will be other divisions and units that will want Cadet Y/L/N on their team as much as you want her on yours." Strauss warned the team before exiting the conference room.
"We all understand what Strauss just said, right? We need to just wait and see how things turn out. As much as we'd like Cadet Y/L/N to become a profiler and in turn part of the BAU, it might not happen. So there will be no editing files or interfering with the Brass' choice." Hotch gave a stern look to Penelope, who nodded but frowned. It was clear to everyone that Penelope had made a friend - that friend being Y/N - and she didn't want to lose her friend to another division or unit.