this isn't goodbye, this is simply see you later.

Chapter 1

It had been a long time since you last found yourself this nervous about a job interview, but here you were, fidgeting with your hands at your side as you waited for the receptionist to finish checking you in before handing you your visitor's badge. The feeling brought you back to the first time you'd stepped inside Interpol as a young intern. You were fresh out of college at the time, ready to prove you could make a difference. Sure you'd got for interviews since then, looking for promotions and changing departments as you found what best suited your passions but it was a different feeling. At Interpol, the people knew you, your strengths and weaknesses and had seen first hand what you were capable of. Now you were starting from scratch, building your career up from the ground again while finally being back home. Sure you had your reputation back in Europe to help you but it felt like once again you were fighting to prove your worth to secure a job so you could a difference in the world.

You were hesitant at first when you heard the FBI wanted to recruit you for the open position, you were happy in your old job with your friends back in London but once you learned more about the work they did at the Behavioural Analyse Unit you knew it was the best fit for you and decided to accept the offer. It was everything you'd wanted to do, the job you'd dreamed of having ever since you started your Criminology degree. You couldn't forgive yourself if you didn't at least give the interview process a try. The first few steps of the interview process had taken place online, emails and video calls back and forward with Section Chief Erin Strauss. She'd analysed your credentials and your compatibility with the team, making sure you were the right fit before she requested that you fly out to officially hold an interview.

You remembered the first moment your nerves truly set in, you stood in your hallway taking in the sight of your apartment, your life half-packed into boxes as you tried your best to prepare for the possibility of moving to another continent, suitcase in hand before you left for the airport. Now you found yourself with that familiar anxiety clawing its way up into your chest as you stood in the busy lobby of the FBI Academy in Quantico. These were the final stages of your interviews and possibly the start of your official transfer. You didn't know much about what was happening today but Strauss had finally arranged an interview with the BAU's unit chief for you.

This would be your first time speaking with their unit chief and you didn't know much about him at all. In fact, you really knew nothing. The time you set aside to research the team members that you would be joining had seemingly become lost in the stress of preparing for this giant life-changing decision and the thought slipped your mind, leaving you now feeling underprepared for this meeting.

The ding of the elevator finally reaching your floor pulled you from your thoughts as the doors started to slide open in front of you. You let your eyes flutter close for a moment, taking one final deep breath before you stepped into the thankfully empty elevator. You didn't think you could handle any awkward elevator small talk right now. Flipping open your notebook you let your eyes scan over the page, taking one final look over your talking points before the interview. As if you hadn't already poured over them for hours on your flight here, at this point you could probably recite them in your sleep. You watched each floor light up as the elevator grew closer and closer to the BAU's floor. Gathering all the confidence you could find - even if it was fake - you smoothed your hands across the front of your jacket, making sure nothing was out of place.

When the doors finally slid apart again they opened out onto a busy corridor, the chatter of other agents filled the hall as they moved past you towards what you presumed was the bullpen and various other offices scattered towards the end of the hallway. It was now you realised you weren't certain where your interview was supposed to be taking place but you landed on the bullpen being your safest option and made your way through the glass double doors in front of you. You gathered your bearings and looked around for the best person to ask for advice, spotting someone who you assumed to be a member of the team. A blonde woman confidently rattled off basic information about a new case as she weaved her way through the desks to hand out manilla folders that you assumed were the case files to other agents.