Chapter Text
The team had been struggling since they lost Agent Prentiss, as much as they didn’t want to admit it, they needed someone to fill the empty seat at the round table. The caseloads were piling up, the emotional state of the team was dreary and the BAU was feeling the full effects of losing such an important member of their team.
SSA Aaron Hotchner hadn’t told the rest of the team, but he had been accepting applications for a new team member for the past few weeks, but unfortunately none of the applicants seemed to have what the team needed. That was until on a drab, grey Monday morning, a new CV came across agent Hotchner’s desk. Reluctantly he opened the file, a special recommendation from Clyde Easter, the former friend and colleague of the late Emily Prentiss. Aaron trusted Clyde’s judgement and investigated the agent's file; Charlie Day, British, from Scotland Yard. Scotland Yard, maybe Kate Joyner knew her, it was worth a look.
The file read as follows; Charlie Day, 35 years old, a special agent from Scotland Yard, recruited after working for Kent Police, where she served for 3 years whilst gaining her PhD. Charlie Day attained a degree in Criminal Justice and Social Policy at the University of York, followed by a masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Forensic Psychology at the University of Kent. Agent Day had an impeccable arrest rate, special task force training, profiling experience, alongside knowing multiple languages, Charlie Day seemed too good to be true.
Agent Hotchner had a lot to think about, but before he had chance to close the file, Penelope Garcia knocked on the door with a new case for the team to tackle.
“Everything okay, Sir?” Garcia asked. She was always well tuned to the moods and expressions of her team, well, family at this point, so she could recognise the look of intrigue on her boss’ face after their many years working together.
“Yes, nothing for you to worry about Garcia, so what’s the case?” Hotchner quickly replied, deflecting any curiosities that would start spinning around in the technical analyst's head. She always did a deep dive into anyone who even came close to her work family, and Hotch didn’t need her to get carried away just yet.
The new case took the team to New Orleans for the kidnapping of a young boy, the team had been called into help as this was the third in a string of boys going missing in the same month period over the last three years. Agent Hotchner made a mental note to look into Charlie’s file again upon their return.
The team worked the case, and in keeping with their track record, they found the unsub and were there in time to bring the young boy home, and reunite him with his parents and younger sister. Cases involving kids were always tough ones, and took a toll on the team's emotions, but Hotch and JJ felt especially taxed after this case, both having young boys themselves.
Hotch pulled JJ aside after they got back, he needed her advice on the new hire, as they both knew the full details of the ‘Emily situation’, unlike the rest of their team.
“JJ, do you have a moment, I’d like to ask your opinion on something,” asked Hotch, from the open door to his office as the team were packing up to go home.
“Yes of course, I’ll be right in,” replied JJ as she texted Will to say she would be home shortly.
JJ waved off the rest of the team before walking up the stairs from the bullpen and into her boss’ office. Hotch had pulled out the seat in front of his desk and was sitting in his own chair, waiting for JJ, who closed the door as she entered and sat down. The closed door raised suspicions of the rest of the team who lingered by the elevator, but after the case they were all too tired to bother thinking to much about it.
“So, I have been receiving CVs of potential replacements for Emily in recent weeks, and on Monday I had an interesting file dropped off from one, Clyde Easter,” started Hotch.
“Clyde Easter? From Interpol?” questioned JJ, eyebrow raised, her head full of questions.
“Yes, I thought it was odd he had this sent over but, here, take a look,” Hotch handed the file over to JJ with a furrowed brow.
JJ read through the file, running her hands through her long, blonde hair as she read over the impressive list of accomplishments.
“Well,” she stated as she handed the file back to her boss, “She certainly would make an impressive addition to the team, and her skillset would help to fill some of the gaps left by Emily, but how does Clyde know someone from Scotland Yard?” JJ remarked as she looked up from the file now on the desk and up to meet the eyes of Agent Hotchner who was eagerly, but nervously awaiting the response from one of his most trusted colleagues.
“I’m not sure, he must have had some dealings with Scotland Yard through his work and she may have stood out to him, or maybe she’s been recommended to him and he’s put the good word in, knowing the loss from the team more personally,”
“With those skills, she would be sought after by everyone so I’m surprised he’s handing her to us, surely she would make an excellent Interpol hire,” JJ pondered.
“Well, if we do interview and hire her, and she takes the offer, then we can count ourselves lucky,” Hotch smiled as he stood up to open the door for JJ.
They both exchanged a brief goodbye before JJ headed out of the office and home to Will and Henry. Agent Hotchner stayed back for a few hours mulling over the decision before sending through a request to Scotland Yard to arrange an interview with Agent Charlie Day. He then headed home, the post case write up could wait until the morning, well later in the morning. He needed to get some rest and give his son Jack a hug after the long few days he had been away.