Golden Girl

Seven

Gideon is missing. I'm trying to stay calm for the team, for Spencer. Who by the way, seems to be getting worse. After the incident where he missed his flight, I thought he was going to be okay, but now it's deeper than that. He's irritable and pale and he always looks like a sad puppy. It's breaking my heart.

And on top of all of this, Emily and Hotch are leaving. Our team is falling apart. I don't know the reasons to which Emily Prentiss resigned, but I know it's killing me. Hotch, I'm assuming, is leaving because of his wife. I've heard bits and pieces when he was talking to Gideon, Haley hates how the job takes him away from her and Jack. Which I suppose I understand, but he's amazing at it. The best.  We need him.

Losing Elle was hard, and when Prentiss joined the team we were finally becoming a family again. Now, we're being ripped apart one by one. Who's next? Morgan? Spencer? Maybe even me, I'm not sure if I can do this without them.

"Mhm, we'll be there as soon as we can," I say, hanging up the phone. We have a case.

I battle with my thoughts for a moment, flipping back and forth as to whether I should call Hotch or not. I do. I can't help it, we need him.

A sigh of relief releases from my body as Hotch tells me he's coming. Thank God.

I stay in my office, putting together the case presentation, which I'll have to present on the jet per Hotch's request.

I hear the elevator door open around thirty minutes after my phone call with Hotch, footsteps following closely after. I leave my office, and a smile spreads across my face as I see who's in the bullpen. Emily and Hotch. They're both here.

Instinctively, I wrap my arms around Emily. She hugs me back, and shortly after, I pull away. "I'm so glad you're back."

"Thank you, JJ, but I may not be back back."

I frown slightly, eyebrows furrowed. I nod.

"Strauss is coming with us," Hotch says sternly.

"What, why?" Morgan asks.

"To supervise."

He means to supervise him, not us all. This is such bullshit.

Soon enough, all seven of us are piled into the jet and I'm presenting the case. 5 females were killed in Milwaukee.

Strauss looks incredibly anxious and uncomfortable in her seat as the jet is aflight. She's not used to flying. Maybe she shouldn't have come.

Emily is staying. Hotch is staying. Gideon is gone for good.

Two wins and one loss isn't so bad, but this will take a toll on our family. Especially on our youngest. Spencer is heart broken.

Gideon left a note for him, knowing he would be the one to find it.

My heart breaks for my best friend, all I can do is hug him and hope I'm being somewhat comforting. I know he's thinking about how this is the second time someone left him. He can't not take this personal. His father left when he was just a kid, leaving a note behind for him.

This is all so weird. We're losing one of our own again. What if Gideon's replacement is someone we end up hating? What if he or she's an asshole?

I'm trying to calm my mind as I lay in bed, worrying my ass off.

572 words. so i don't actually remember how this episode went lmao