The Element of Surprise

About Face - Part 2

It's wheels up before sunrise the next morning. I only partially recall waking up at 4 AM, getting dressed and grabbing my emergency bag before driving to the airport where the jet was waiting. I arrived at the same time as Emily and Spencer, both looking as tired and groggy as I am. The difference is, while Spence doesn't get much sleep in general and Em's love for going out at night, I'm simply still not used to the early flight schedule whenever we have to leave on a job. This is but my fourth case, it'll take at least ten more before I start forming some kind of adaptable routine.

"How many hours did you sleep?" Emily asks us as we board the jet.

"Two to three hours." Comes the doctor's short reply.

"Not enough," I mutter, "Don't worry though, four shots of clean espresso, and I'll be good."

"For the safety and well being of this team," Hotch says as we make our way through the seats, "I would advise you against that idea. We don't want to repeat what happened the last time in Denver."

Stifling a laugh, I open one of the top compartments to store my bag only to find another one already occupying it. Knowing it doesn't belong to either Derek, JJ, Hotch, Spencer or Emily, I assume it's owner is the dark-haired Italian sitting in the far corner of the jet. Stealing a glance at Agent Rossi, I wonder if he by any chance forgot about my ghost face episode yesterday. Fortunately, he seems lost in a case file and doesn't even look up when I move to the next luggage compartment which is two feet closer to him. Keeping only my travel pillow tucked underneath one arm, I claim the first open seat near a window and prop the pillow against it, planning to catch a few z's before we land in Texas.

Hotch, however, has different plans, "Let's go over victimology. Dave, Estella, would you like to join us?"

"Only if I can have a clean espresso shot," I try to bargain but all I receive in return is the Hotch Look. Taking that as a no, I reluctantly leave my pillow to join them.

"Reid, what have you got?" Aaron opens the stage for our mastermind.

"Uh," Reid opens a case file and quickly scans the contents, "Michelle Colucci was single, lived alone, no boyfriend and no ex-husband."

While he shares his knowledge, I'm excessively aware of Rossi brushing past me to take the seat on my left. He reaches into the front pocket of his dress shirt and pulls out a tiny notebook and pen, ready to take notes the old fashioned way. It also doesn't go unnoticed by my senses that he smells nice, like Old Spice and expensive cologne. Organized and clean, add that the list of new things I learn about my teammates every day.

"Dating?" Emily asks, referring to our latest victim.

"There's nothing in the reports," Derek rules out that suggestion and I catch Rossi writing that down in his notebook.

JJ continues, "She was an architect. Friends and co-workers say she's a class workaholic. Basically a loner who rarely went out of the house."

"She's a low risk target, then," I manage to get my brain to work to be of help, "If she didn't know the killer, then it's possible she was being stalked."

"Interesting."

Turning my head to Rossi, I'm surprised to hear him talk. He hasn't said a word since we boarded the jet, "Come again?"

"Oh, I'm just thinking out loud," he looks up from the notebook to meet my gaze.

"Is there something you'd like to add, sir... Agent Rossi... I mean, Dave, sir..." From the seat beside JJ's, Derek snorts and I send him the Presley Look, although it's not as effective as the Hotch Look - I'm still working on that.