"𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵"
-𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗦𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁

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𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝘅 - 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀

"Yeah, I'm really liking it at the bau" Valentina said, answering Ophelia's question. Right now, her and her fellow comrades were enjoying their last night together before they went away on tour once again.

It's been a few weeks now since she's been in the FBI and they were already like her second family. The person she had clicked with the most was of course Derek. Anyone could see that and that's why Hotch and Gideon liked to partner them up on cases. She also made fast friends with JJ, Garcia and Prentiss. She liked being around them and felt like she could trust them with anything. Well mostly anything.

While Valentina's relationship with Spencer was like a brother and sister bond. Just like her bond with Aaron. And Gideon was like a father figure to her, like he was to everyone on the team.

"I'm gonna miss you guys" Val let out. While she was here in Quantico, they were getting stationed in Afghanistan again "Your all going to be so far away and-" She was cut off when Matt brought her into his chest, his arm snaking around her waist and a beer clutched in his other hand. She was going to miss his hugs.

"Cmon Val don't get all emotional on us now. We're gonna be just fine and we'll be home before you know it" She nodded into his chest as his hand caressed her hair. In a matter of seconds she was already falling asleep, something she hadn't had for the past few days. Nightmares were a bitch.

"You think she's going to be okay?" Ophelia asked no one in particular as she chewed on her bottom lip.

Noah nodded with a small smile on his face "This is Vee we're talking about here. She's going to be just fine"

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"I love you" Valentina said as she hugged Ophelia goodbye "I love you too. Hey call me when you and that Derek guy get together"

"And I already told you we're just friends"

Ophelia chuckled "Yeah and Owen isn't on his third girlfriend right now. Don't lie to me Val, I can see it in your eyes. Your falling in love" She sang the last word with a teasing smile on her face.

"Excuse me, I'm the profiler not you" She shoved her arm playfully.

After hugging and saying goodbye to Matt, Owen and James. There was just Noah left "Be safe okay?" You could say Valentina and Noah had some kind of chemistry because of their past relationship. But life ended up getting in the way and they just didn't work out however they still remained close friends. Fortunately for them, not even a breakup could mess up their friendship.

"I will just for you" Noah teased as he held his duffel bag in his hand "It's only three months Vee and if we do need to stay back, we'll let you know" She then hugged him once more as soldiers all around them were saying goodbyes to their loved ones and sections were getting ushered onto the plane by the officers.

But this time it was Valentina who felt sick to her stomach because she wasn't going with them. At least when she was out on the battlefield, she could protect them the best she could but from here? She couldn't do shit and it was really starting to sink in now.

"Hey, I'll come back for this" Noah took off a ring from his finger and placed it in her hands. Valentina smiled when she realised it was the promise ring she gave him when she had to go on tour without him and her exact words were "I promise you I'll come back for this."

"You promise?" Valentina asked, clutching the ring tightly in her hands. She couldn't believe he kept it all this time.

He nodded, a small smile on his face "I promise" Noah watched as Val took off her army tag and slid the ring onto it before clasping her tag back around her neck. She held the tears back and smiled at him when the shouts of a little girl made her turn around, the voice sounded very familiar.

"Noah! Vee!" Was the voice of a five year old girl running through the airport with her parents close behind her. Or more specifically Noah's little sister, Gabriella. What five year old is this energetic on a Monday morning at 5:00 AM?

"Hey sweetheart" She picked up the girl and a smile grew on her face while Noah went to say goodbye to his parents "You come to say goodbye to your brother?"

The girl nodded as her arms went around Valentina's neck and her legs clung to her waist "Yeah, daddy was the one who let me come here. Is Noah gonna be okay?" The little girl asked, playing with the strings on Val's hoodie.

"You see that man over there?" Valentina asked Gabriella as she pointed to were Captain James stood talking to some officers "He's the one who will keep Noah safe and then before you know it, he will be back" The little girl nodded her head in approval and Valentina then left Noah and his family to say goodbye when her phone rang.

She smiled slightly when she read the ID "Hey Special Agent Morgan"

"Morning to you too mama. You on your way to the office yet? We got a case"

Val groaned "This early? I haven't even had my morning coffee"

She heard Derek laugh on the other end "You know crime doesn't wait for no one, Val. Now get your good looking self over here" Val chuckled and went to say something before there was a noise on the other side of the phone and hushed tones "Derek? You still there?"

"You can have it back in a minute! I just need to talk to her" The voice was no other than Penelope Garcia "It's important Derek!"

"Your important is never actually important, baby girl. Hey!"

"Garcia?" Valentina couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as Garcia started to speak "Hey gorgeous, since you're on your way here. Would you mind picking me up a coffee from Starbucks?"

Valentina chuckled and nodded even though Penelope couldn't see her "Of course my love, I'll get some for the whole team. Just send me your coffee orders"

"Will do, my sweet. Now I'm gonna pass you back to hotstuff over here before he has some kind of meltdown" Valentina smiled and shook her head, Garcia could put a smile on anyone's face.

"Really Garcia, Starbucks? How is that important?" Derek asked in a joking tone.

"Do you want me to take your order off the list because I will do it. Don't push me Derek!"

"Yeah listen to the women here, Morgan" Val teased and after their conversation was over, she said one final goodbye to her former team before they picked up their bags and made their way towards the plane.

Valentina had promise Noah's parents that she'd come over for dinner one night after work and even take Gabriella out on her days off. She was quite close with Noah's family so now that Noah was away on tour, she wanted to help out any way she could.

"Okay, sorry I'm late" Val had just finished tying her hair up in a loose, low bun like always as she rushed into the conference room and handed everyone their coffees "Traffic from the airport was ridiculous"

"Airport? Why would you be at the Airport?" Derek asked what everyone was thinking and Valentina mentally cursed herself, totally forgetting she hasn't told anyone about her former team leaving and she wanted to keep it that way. Too late now.

"Ophelia and the lads got sent back on tour so I went to see them off" Val brushed it off like it was no big deal but she was in a room full of profilers meaning they could see by her body language that she cared and them going on tour was already having an affect on her.

"Where have they got stationed?" Spencer asked as he thanked her for the coffee just like everyone else did.

"Afghan again. It's just a short tour, only three months so they should be back in no time" She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked over at JJ "So JJ, what you got for us?"

"Right. Um, yeah, so we've got a serial killer in New Orleans who killed at least three men pre-Katrina. Until now, the New Orleans Police Department believed that the serial killer died in the storm" JJ got everyone up to speed.

"What's happened to tell them otherwise?" Derek asked, glancing over at Valentina for a second.

"A fourth body was found in the French Quarter last night. Same M.O, another male. Throat slashed, eviscarated" JJ continued.

"A year and a half? That's a long cooling off period. Are we sure this is the same unsub?" Valentina asked as she took a few sips of her coffee.

"He claims to be. He sent a letter to William Lamontagne, the head detective on the case" JJ told them.

"Does Lamontagne have any leads?" Gideon asked.

"He died in Katrina. His son is actually leading the case now" Now that's rough, Valentina thought.

Derek hummed "Hmm. That can't be easy"

"We need to look over evidence from the first three murders and determine the pattern" Hotch informed.

"Katrina washed everything away. The three victims we know of, their autopsy reports, witness statements, DNA results"

"So basically, all we have to go off is the latest victim?" Spencer asked JJ and she nodded with a sorry smile "Yeah"

"Until he kills again" Hotch stated, standing up from the table "Alright, wheels up in thirty"

"He always does that" Valentina said, referring to Aaron as she walked out the conference room with Derek by her side.

Derek frowned "Does what?"

"Ya know that dramatic walk out after he says 'Wheels up in thirty'." Valentina looked up at Derek with a smile as he chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"And we love him for it" Val nodded and leant her head on his shoulder.

"Oh we do, now I need to get this coffee to Garcia before she hunts me down for it"