Killer Queen

Chapter 10

     "Welcome to the Behavioral Analysis Unit's Yearly Christmas Party!"

Logan grinned at the decorated BAU office, laughter ringing through the atmosphere. There was a Christmas tree in the corner all decorated with presents stacked up underneath the pine needles. There was a table near the door stacked up with all different kinds of food, each of them just as festive as the next. A second table next to it was just for the desserts.

Garcia slung her arm over Logan's shoulder. "So? What do you think?"

"I think this is going to be the first Christmas I've ever actually been able to celebrate." Despite the somber sentence, Logan's smile didn't dare drop. All of her adult friends were already there, each of them either holding a drink or a plate of food as they talked together lightheartedly. Garcia walked up to them with Logan still under her arm.

For probably the first time, Hotch seemed like he was having a good time. He was talking to another agent that Logan hadn't met before a little bit away from everyone else, but Logan could tell he was enjoying himself.

The party was the most fun thing that Logan had ever done. There were games, contests, and even awards for the agents. Someone had thought to give Logan a "Youngest Agent" award. She secretly believed it was Morgan, but didn't make any accusations.

While Logan watched him and Garcia take on JJ and Emily in a gingerbread-making contest, Hotch slid up right next to her quickly. When he spoke, she jumped.

"You look like you're having fun."

Logan looked up at him with wild eyes, her hand on her chest. "Don't scare me like that! Jeez," she muttered. "Sometimes, I think you all forget that I was kidnapped and held hostage not even a month ago."

"How could I forget," mumbled Hotch. "And, just so you know, Spencer told me what you told him."

"I figured," she shrugged, taking a bite out of her donut. "Just don't...make a big deal out of it, okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah, of course. But you are not coming into the field anymore. You stay here with Garcia, understand?"

Sputtering, Logan turned to Hotch. "What? How is that fair?"

"I could have made you go to public school instead of being involved at all."

"On second thought, I think Cia will appreciate my company."

Spencer interrupted their conversation with a wave to bring them over to the tree. "It's time for Secret Santa."

Like children on Christmas Day, everyone gathered around the tree quickly. Logan genuinely wasn't expecting anyone to get her a present, until one was handed to her by Morgan. She looked at it, shocked.

"You guys got me something?" she asked.

"One of us did," Garcia explained. "That's how the game is played. And then you try and guess who the present is from."

"Oh." Logan put her plate down on the desk next to her and took the present. It was small and cylinder-shaped. She didn't know what to expect.

"Open it!" urged Garcia.

Smiling, Logan ripped the wrapping paper off, revealing a velvet black box. She took the lid off and her lips parted in surprise. In the box was a ring, but not just any ring. When she looked closer, it had the words, "Killer Queen" engraved on it. Logan glanced up, looking at the agents gathered.

"I...I definitely know who this is from. The only person who knows how important my rings are to me besides just fidget devices is Spence." Spencer nodded, a faint grin on his lips. "But what does 'Killer Queen' mean?"

Spencer shrugged. "I thought you'd like the alias."

The rest of the night, Logan forgot all about her awful childhood and everything else that had ever happened to her. All she knew was that she had finally found her family. She had found a place where she knew that she belonged. And Logan wasn't going to let it run away that easily.