THE CRIMINAL FILES ~ Mona Lisa's Murder

F O U R

/Where are you, Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away? Where is the laughter you used to bring me? Why can't I hear music play? My world is changing, I'm rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes too? Where are you, Christmas? Do you remember the girl you used to know? I'm not the same one, see what the time's done. Is that why you have let me go/ ~ Faith Hill {Where Are You, Christmas?}

Landon's Perspective

The snow fell around the car slowly, drifting in the air and landing in the windshield. The wipers had to be put on - and had to stay on.

The team was crammed into May's van, each of us sitting awkwardly and not talking. May drove because, well, she didn't trust other people apparently at driving "her baby". Owen, the new guy, or the old guy - whatever people recognized him as, sat in the seat beside her and the two talked among themselves.

I sat in the seat in the next row to the left, while Lily sat in the right seat. I smiled at her, offering to help get her coffee mug from the cup holder in front of us, {it was the gentlemanly thing to do} but she just seemed to ignore me. Well, no, she didn't just ignore me...she glared at me, pretty sure growled once or twice too and then ignored me.

Behind us was Jack, Kris and Delilah, while Jessica was squished into the small spot beside D. But, neither of them were sitting comfortably. Jackson had to sit kind of sideways, while Kris had to be squished up beside him, while Delilah was up against Kristen and Jessica - who was small in general - sat pleasingly beside D, scrolling through her phone.

About an hour before Charity and Joan explained the case to us. And...explained the whole Owen situation. Which, I was pretty sure was more difficult and confusing than what they described it as.

Apparently, he was one of the founding members of our team but he left for a year, and now he's back. And while everyone was still kind of stunned, no one hated the idea of him joining the team as much as Kris...

Kristen's Perspective

"I hate this," I mumbled, my arms crossed over my chest and my eyes looking all around the car. May definitely didn't have to turn the heat on in order to heat us up.

Jackson laughed lightly beside me, continuing to stare out the window. "What's so damn funny?"

Jack shook his head, his one eyebrow raising in sync with his shoulders. "Just that a year ago you would've gave anything to have him back, now, can't even say hi." Jack said. "It's just...funny," I sighed and looked down at my hands, bouncing my leg up and down because I couldn't go two minutes without fidgeting.

Charity had introduced Owen to Landon and called me over to her office before we left. I wasn't too happy about her proposition...

"No." I told her, glaring out her window at Owen who was laughing along with Jackson at his desk.

How was he okay with this?

Sure, before Landon, Owen was the only other guy on the team and I guess that made it easier for Jack and him to get along. But after Owen left, Jack didn't have any other guy's to talk to. So when we recruited Landon I thought that maybe Jackson would be happy, he wasn't. Oddly enough, he wasn't very fond of him.

He would always glare at Landon. And if he were to give him a task, Jackson would do anything and everything in his power to make sure that the task was difficult and nearly impossible for a newbie. Of course, other members of the team liked Landon...but that was before Lily caught Landon flirting with me.

Ever since then, she became oddly possessive - just like everyone else. When Landon had bought me a coffee for the first time, I decided to drink it anyway even though I'm not a fan because the gesture was nice and he went out of his way to do it. But, Jackson had to butt in and announce loudly that I hated coffee, before taking me by the arm and dragging me away over to the rest of the team.

I had a pang of guilt stuck inside me. I apologized to Landon for my teams actions, and I pleaded for them to stop, but no one had. Now, it was silent but deadly.

Lily would have endless glaring moments at him, Jackson would make sure he had to talk to me about something "important" whenever Landon came over to talk to me. May just silently sat in her seat, staring at him, studying his every move. There was no intent of being a glare, but she sure as hell made Landon uncomfortable. And then there was Delilah and Jessica. Those two would distract Landon whenever he tried to make a move on me, giving the others enough time to usher me away so I could "fix" something. Although, the majority of those times involved having to fix absolutely nothing or, if not that, then something very small and very stupid. Charity had given Landon orders and things to keep him occupied and away from me, and it was becoming annoying. I had to live with that for nine. Months.

The only person that didn't really mind Landon was Joan. And I use "didn't mind" very loosely. She would always end up distracting the others so I could talk to Landon without anyone {Jackson most of the time} breathing down my neck. There was even the odd time where she mentioned that I blushed whenever I was around Landon. I tried to ignore it, but she continued to tease me about it, and push me over to him.

"I'm sorry," Charity replied, flipping through the last of the papers in Owen's file before closing it back up. "He's a wonderful Agent, and friend...you out of all people should know that," she added. I was still staring out the window. I shook my head lightly and took a seat. Charity gave me a sympathetic look and slid the file over to me. "I'm giving you an order, but I'm letting you decide where he stands in the team."

"Fine," I whispered, getting up and throwing the door open walking down the steps, across the room to my office.

Owen's eyes were on me the whole time. I noticed this, and motioned for him to join me in my office. He walked over and closed the door behind him.

"What's up, Kris?"

"First of all to you it's Agent Walker," I began. He nodded and I continued. "Charity wants you on the team, and because she is the boss, and what ever she say's goes - and although I voted against it - you're in. However, I'm still the leader of this team, so I decide where you're placed." He watched me as I opened up the folder, paper-clipping the papers to the file and handing it to him. "Agent Faraday you're going to start back from the bottom, and eventually work your way up to where you were placed previously. You work half-time, as an assistant, and Agent. This means that -"

"I get everyone's coffee, I clean up and set up the work stations - I know. I did this before. Like you said, I was at the top of my game. I had to work my way up to get there. I assure you Kris - Agent Walker, you have nothing to worry about." He took the file and held it in his hands. I nodded and opened up a drawer pulling out his badge and gun. "These are yours, and welcome to the team Agent Faraday."

"Thank you," he began - but he didn't finish. Both of us felt awkward. Of course Owen was one of the best and to some, he should've been placed where he started. But he left for a year...and it wasn't because of a medical issue or anything - it was just him. And if there was one thing I knew he hated, it was special treatment. In high-school, that made him every parent of a daughter's dream. He had good grades, he was a jock, he was fair, and a gentleman. Owen Faraday didn't believe in special treatment, and neither did I.

He opened the door and walked back over to his new desk. Landon had now inhabited Owen's old desk. And now, seeing Owen back, everything looked and felt different. It's almost as if someone had just had surgery, and while they're recovering they get an infection or something and then they have to go through the entire process again. Nothing seemed right anymore. Landon looked out of place, and the new desk Owen had was a little too small for his liking. I knew it just but the way he reacted after sitting in his chair.

He had set up his desk the way he liked it, arranging the picture of his father, mother and him standing in front of Quantico for his FBI- Academy graduation. I couldn't help but let out a small smile. His parents were always so proud of their child. It was contagious.

Funny...I don't know what that feels like.