• 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 •

Chapter 1

" The last thing you wanted, is the first thing I do."

Emily Prentiss, unit chief of the behavioral analysis unit. The title was plastered across every article splayed across your desk in a disorderly fashion. None of them had yet to prove useful to your project, seeing as every article contradicted another. You assumed it was due to the fact that almost all the articles were outdated and written by writers with incredibly different backgrounds. Every male journalist over the age of 30 seemed to have a less than lovely interview experience with the first female FBI unit chief. They were typical responses you'd expect from interviewing a woman with more authority than them, or god forbid, a woman with an opinion.Most of them repeatedly described her as defensive, cold, and dismissive. Others gave you a more hopeful perception, claiming she was a powerful leader of her team and had achieved an inspiring career. Neither perspective gave you enough valid evidence to actually incorporate into your own piece.

Sensing eyes on you through the office window blinds across from your desk, you tapped away at the keyboard in front of you to appear busy, while writing nothing of substance. Regardless of if you had something to write about, the office was hard to focus in anyways. An insufferable boss breathing down your neck in a room that had probably not seen a broom or duster in centuries was not the most encouraging environment. Your options of topics to write about were also extremely limited considering anything discussing any variety of inequality or what your boss liked to call "modern views" would be thrown out the window within a matter of seconds, probably less.

Getting lost in your head, you missed the sound of heavy footsteps approaching behind you until a voice over your shoulder startled you out of your daze. "There's been a change in your assignment."

-

Emily clenched her jaw as a knock on the conference room door interrupted the team's briefing. Her and JJ shared a look as the blonde set down the presentation clicker, knowing their case plans were about to dissolve. Emily's hands dropped to her sides, gripping the side of the table as Barnes strode into the room. " Director Barnes, what can we do for you today?" Emily greeted her less than warmly.
" I need to speak with you. Don't worry about missing your flight as you'll be staying behind. The rest of your team can still go assist the police department and I'm temporarily naming Agent Jareau as your Unit Chief for this case. Agent Prentiss please come with me." Barnes dismissed the team with a wave of her hand and exited the room. JJ kept her head tilted down, hiding her raised eyebrow and pursed lips until the FBI director was out of sight. The other agents gave Emily a look of sympathy as she sighed on her way out, preparing for the worst.

Barnes's office door was left wide open and Emily entered, reluctantly taking a seat in front of her desk. " Agent Prentiss, there will be someone shadowing you and subsequently your team for a few months. I'm aware this is late notice, but they

were also only informed this morning so it will be new for the both of you. I expect your full cooperation."

Emily's moment of silence was the only sign of her restraint. " I'm sorry, shadowing? Is this person a new agent, or intern? Our case files are overflowing at the moment and I still have to sort out next year's budget. Isn't there another team that they can be assigned to?"

" Unfortunately not. And she is not from anywhere in the bureau. She's a journalist and coming to observe you. You've managed to avoid the public eye for quite some years now and that has not been portraying you in the best light. It leaves room for stories, suspicion, rumors. People want to know about the woman who's supposed to be protecting them."