Prentiss shifted nervously in the chair as she watched the only person currently in the room pace. She followed him with her gaze carefully and flinched a bit each time he stopped. Finally, he slowed to a standstill and took the seat in front of her.

"Prentiss. I'm not upset."

She looked up, startled. "You- your not?"

Hotch shrugged. "No. I'm not. I'm sure that you had a good reason for taking it. Yet, a reason that cannot go unknown."

She nodded slowly. "I never confessed to taking it, you know."

He peered at her carefully. "I know that, but when you said you hadn't you looked at my forehead." He paused. "The only time you do that is when your lying."

She let her shoulders droop as she snatched the bag out of her pocket and slid it across the table to him. "Hotch, please trust me. Just- trust that it was for a very good reason." She stressed the word very.

He frowned. "Prentiss-"

"Please Hotch. We all have our demons and- one of mine might be closer than I'd hope."

He looked up harshly. "Is that person behind this?"

She shook her head hard. "Absolutely not. The only reason that person would be here is to mess with me for an entirely different reason. I promise."

He looked uneasy as he rubbed his hand over his chin. "If this gets in the way-"

"It won't!" She jumped in, immediately biting her tongue.

"But if it does, im taking you off this case and your telling me every single detail. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir." He nodded at her and rose to his feet. "Thank you." He glanced over his shoulder, taping one hand on the table before walking out.

She collapsed back in the chair and squeezed her eyes shut, only to open them moments later.

"Emily?" JJ called softly, taking Hotchs seat.

"Jayge. Are you alright?" Prentiss squeezed her arm across the table.

"Yeah. We're fine. What happened?" She brushed her blonde bangs back.

"I- do you remember when I said I-"

"Secrets?" JJ smiled, interrupting her. "It's okay. It's none of my business."

Prentiss smiled and placed her arm around the JJ's shoulder as they walked out towards the other agents. "Look!" She whispered harshly, pointing at the front door where Meghan had thrown herself at Reid.

"How long do you think it's going to be?" JJ asked, smirking.

"You mean before we see baby genus' running around?" Prentiss pretended to rack her brain. "Hard to tell."

"Excuse me?" One of deputies called across the station, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"What's wrong?" Rossi stepped forward.

"Is this- did you bring this with you?" He held up a brown, open package.

"No. Where did you find that?" Hotch rushed over.

"It was on the front desk. Sir, it's a got a broken vile in it."

Out of instinct, Meghan lifted her hand to her mouth. "Too late for that." Reid mumbled.

"What was in it?" Another deputy asked from her desk.

"Don't know." He frowned. "But whatever it was, it's been released."