I Love You, Emily Prentiss

Chapter 1: Meet the Team

TW: ADDICTION, SPOILERS

     Lathering the soap into your scalp, you go deeper into your thoughts. What would your first day at the BAU look like? You've worked for other divisions of the FBI, but you knew this experience was bound to be drastically different from others. Would this family be willing to accept you as one of their own? Questions regarding the closeness of the team have been at the forefront of your mind ever since you got transferred to the unit. The team you were previously on collaborated with the BAU with some cases, so you were already familiar with their dynamic. You left a team where you were all considered family to each other, which in turn made the experience of joining a new team like this one a bittersweet experience.

     Looking at yourself in the foggy mirror stuck to the shower wall, you whisper your mantra. "I am clean, sober, and right where I'm supposed to be." This was something you made yourself say every time you looked into a mirror. It was in order to make yourself value the hard work you've done and the addiction you have been working to overcome. You always knew that you had to remind yourself of your struggles often or you would lack the ability to be thankful. Taking a few deep breaths, you carried on with your morning routine.

     You liked to take your time in the shower, so it wasn't unusual that you ran out of hot water. It was fine though because then you had been able to say that you started off your morning with an ice-cold shower. It was good for your skin and hair follicles. You brushed your hair and teeth, applying lotion all over your body. Throwing on the outfit that you had planned to wear for your first day at the BAU, you received a call from your brother.

     T: Hey, Spence.

     S: Hey, Theo.

     T: What's going on?

     S: What? Nothing's going on, why do you ask?

     T: Well it's 7 am on a Monday morning before work. You never call this early, especially since we'll be seeing each other in less than an hour at work.

     S: Aren't I allowed to check up on my baby sister before her first day at work?

     T: What aren't you telling me?

     S: Nothing, I just wanted to check in on you is all.

     T: Goodbye, Spencer. I'll be at your place at ten.

     You eagerly hang up the phone, making your way into the kitchen. You take out your favorite travel mug, preparing your classic iced coffee. This is a way you help yourself save money on coffees because after all there is no way to stop yourself from having a minimum of three coffees a day. You twirled your hair between your fingers and scrolled through your mail while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. Noticing an email from Aaron Hotchner, your unit chief, you start to panic.

     Looking at the date and time that the email was sent, you let out a sigh of relief, noticing it was only sent about ten minutes ago. It was just wishing you luck on your first day, along with a few other important slips and documents that were associated with your transfer to the unit.

     You grabbed your go bag that you had prepared the night prior, along with your coffee, threw on a coat and some shoes, heading out of your front door. Locking your apartment door behind you, you felt a presence around you. This wasn't unusual for you, as the feeling of someone watching you had become almost like a regular occurrence.

     Taking the stairs to wake yourself up a bit more, you climbed down to the garage from the third floor. You hopped into the car and drove rather erratically to Spencer's complex. You were nervous but excited for the day that laid ahead, not knowing if today the team would be setting off to another state. Finally, you reached your brother's place, where he waited in front of the building. That's what you loved about him, that he was always early everywhere. It was a family trait, you presumed.