Age: 'Tis Only A Number

Chapter Two: Jade Meets the Team

AN: I'm sorry this took so long (literally a year) to get published. I have no real excuse, and I'm not trying to give you one. That being said, I am forcing myself to update this more regularly. And, in the meantime, feel free to check out my story "The Sheriff's Daughter" if you're a fan of The Walking Dead. (The kind of love it gets from me is the same amount I'll be adding to this story once I get past all the chapters I've written already.)

"You're telling me that someone related to Hotch is gonna be working with us?" Derek Morgan looked up at JJ, a light frown on his face. "I thought family members couldn't be on the same team?"

"They're not supposed to be," Reid replied, frowning as well.

"It's a special case - she won the right to be here, thanks to her studying hard and performing well in class," Rossi spoke. He nodded to JJ, telling her to take over.

"She, originally, wasn't supposed to come to this team, thanks to Hotch being on it. But she was out sick when they assigned the teams and we were the last one left available the next day." JJ explained to the team, who all nodded, deep in thought.

"When do we get to meet her," Emily questioned.

The door opened behind them, and Hotch's voice split through the silent air: "Now."

The team looked up, each staring at the girl beside Hotch. Emily managed to blink, knowing it was inappropriate to stare at someone.

The profilers in the room locked on to her hands: one was fidgeting with the necklace around her neck (Spencer noted that it was a miniature TARDIS from Doctor Who) and the other was shoved deeply into her front pocket, as if she were clutching something.

"Team, this is Jade," Hotch spoke. "Jade, this is my team."

Jade gave a small smile, "Hello."

Jade's POV

I was very nervous, and I knew that they could tell - but, to be honest, I didn't quite care. It was natural to be nervous.

"Team," Uncle Hotch began, "This is Jade. Jade, this is my team."

I managed a small smile. "Hello."

The room almost instantly became full of life.

"Welcome to the club, Jade," a black man smirked. I could tell that I was going to like him.

"It's nice to see you again," Rossi smiled at me. He had been there when I spoke to Uncle Aaron about being on the team.

"Hi, I'm Jennifer. Feel free to call me JJ - all of my friends do." The blonde woman smiled at me, giving a wave. I returned it.

"Nice to meet you, JJ."

"I'm Emily Prentiss," The girl with black hair smiled politely. I nodded, smiling. I wasn't as nervous as I had been.

"Derek Morgan." The black man held his hand out for me to shake, which I did so.

"Hi," the last person in the room said, somewhat awkwardly. "I'm Dr. Spencer Reid. I like your necklace. The TARDIS."

I instantly beamed. If me and this guy didn't get along, I was going to be greatly upset.

"Thanks. It's my good luck charm." We exchanged a smile before Uncle Aaron's phone went off.

The room instantly became quiet as he excused himself from the room, his face deadly serious.

"So, you're the second in your class and related to Hotch," Derek asked.

"Er, yeah."

"How are you two related," Emily questioned.

"I'm his niece."

"I feel bad for you," Rossi smiled, proving that he was joking.

"You're not the first to tell me that," I grinned.

"So, you're Sean's daughter?"

I frowned. "Yes."

I knew they could tell something was wrong - I hadn't exactly bothered to hide it. But I didn't quite care. They'd find out eventually.

The door opened and Uncle Aaron walked in again, placing his phone into his pocket.

"Who was it?"

"Haley."

The team ended up splitting up, going to their different desks.

Uncle Aaron and I stayed behind for a bit longer than the others.

"Are you ready for this?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No, I suppose you don't."

Third Person POV

When Jade and Hotch left the room, Hotch instantly walked over to Rossi, who was grabbing papers from a fax machine with a strange look on his face. Jade instantly recognized that the man was thinking and, by the looks of it, reading something he'd rather not.

"You got something," Hotch asked once he was close to Rossi.

"I'm not sure. It's an old storage unit."

Spencer looked up from his desk, focusing on Rossi's words. Jade, too, was focused on the older man speak.

"An agent from the Philli Field Office sent it to me." Rossi handed over the papers to Hotch. Spencer rose from his seat, moving to go towards the two men. Jade stood firmly in place, unsure of what to do.

Was this going to be her first case?

"Somebody you know?" Hotch asked, looking down at the papers.

"She knows me, you know," Rossi replied, slightly unsure.

"Ah. A fan. It's a very crowded place, isn't it?"

"You'd be surprised."

"This is detailed," Hotch commented, looking through the papers. Jade walked forward slightly, hoping to get a quick look at what Hotch held - but he shifted his weight, moving just enough to block her glance. Jade was sure it had been on purpose.

Spencer walked straight up to Hotch and leaned over his shoulder to see what Hotch was looking at. Hotch tilted the paper slightly, allowing Spencer to see it better.

"Future tense," Spencer noted. "These are fantasies."

"That agent thinks it could be more than that." Rossi's words instantly caught Hotch's attention, who looked up at him, his sharp eyes practically demanding for Rossi to continue.

"There's more of this?"

"A few boxes in the Field Office," Rossi breathed heavily. He didn't like this. "I'd like to drive up there; look at the rest of the material. We could judge them from that."

Hotch nodded, looked back at Spencer (who was still looking at the paper), then turned back to Rossi. "Take Reid with you. Oh, and Jade."

"Road trip, nice! I've got books on tape with Peter Coyote reading the entire Foundation Trilogy." Spencer practically ran back over to his desk to grab his things.

Rossi showed an exasperated expression to Jade as he lightly shook his head and walked away. She silently followed after him, Spencer not far behind her.

Jade had one final thought before walking out of the building:

This is my first real case.