The briefing with the director is really just a preliminary profile delivery. JJ gives the background on the 2001 attack before you and Hotch outline the level of education the unsub would have.

It's weak, but it's something. The director makes Hotch promise to call him directly when they learn anything.

"Going back to Garcia?" Hotch asks on your way out of the meeting.

You shrug. "She kicked me out. Said to come back when we have more specific criteria."

"You can help Rossi and I with the Fort Detrick interviews."

The two of you walk back to the bullpen and up to Hotch and Rossi's offices, where the interviews have been taking place.

He pauses outside of his office door.

"What do you know about the 2001 anthrax attack?"

You were an expert in adolescent psychology. Counter-terrorist strategies weren't exactly on your class list in college.

"Just what JJ presented."

"No, that's good. The BAU has...bad blood with General Whitworth."

You raise your eyebrows.

"We profiled the attack and one of his men fit the profile. We ruled him out, but an arrest was made anyway. People were hungry for justice. Whitworth has never let it go." Hotch explains.

"Where do I come in?"

"He's met Rossi and I, and he's hostile to both of us. But he hasn't met you- there's a chance he'd open up more. You're not a threat."

"Because he hasn't met me or because I'm a woman?" you snort.

"You know how guys like this operate." he points out. He's right, of course. You've met more than enough misogynists to know how they are.

He preps you for the interview: where to sit, how to act, what to say. The list of questions was helpful considering how out of your field you were, but eventually, you have to assure him you know how to conduct an interview.

He nods at you.

"The General is currently working in the boardroom on the other side of the floor. Think you've got it from here?" you nod. "I'll be conducting interviews with Rossi in his office. Let us know if you need anything."

You knock on the boardroom door as you open it.

"General Whitworth?" you smile at him, ignoring the officers buzzing around him. "I'm from the Behavioral Analysis Unit-do you have a few minutes for some questions?"

"Go ahead." he says, barely looking up.

"Sorry, we're supposed to conduct these in private. Policy from the director." you shrug. "If you'll follow me, we can speak in a private office." you try your hardest to give him a sympathetic look. He gives a heavy sigh, but he does get up to come with you.

You're 18 weeks along, and showing it. Whitworth certainly picks up on it.

"Is this your first?" he asks.

"It is." you confirm.

"I've got two at home, well, at college. A boy and a girl."

You didn't exactly love talking about your personal life with people who were rude to your coworkers, but establishing a rapport with interviewees was often part of the job.

"I'm due with a girl in november."

"Congratulations. Got a name picked yet?"

"Not even close." you snort, leading him up the steps to the offices.

In Hotch's office, you have a seat in the chair across from Whitworth instead of the desk chair.

"What can you tell me about your lab's involvement in this investigation?"

"My scientists are decoding the strain. The additives used to strengthen the bacterial capsules do not exist at our research labs."

"Are there any other labs using these substances?"

"No."

"Could I get a list of all the scientists in your anthrax program?"

"We don't use those additives." he repeats.

"Sir, we can rule out your lab samples, but not your people."

"The last time this team looked into my people-"

"General, I wasn't here in 2001. My only interest is solving this case. The sooner we can rule out your scientists, the sooner we can find who did this."

He leans back in his chair. "You really believe in this stuff?"

"Sorry?"

"Profiles. Do you think they work?"

"I've worked on this team for two and a half years. Before that, I was a psychologist with the crimes against children unit. I've seen a lot of lives be saved by psychological profilers. I believe in them."

"Well, I hope they do save lives. I'm outranked by someone who believes in your profiles. I'll get you your list."

The office door creaks open. Garcia hands you a manilla folder.

"Here's the files you asked for." she tells you, making intense, unblinking eye contact with you. It's unnerving, so you assume it's her way of telling you not to say anything. You thank her and flip the folder open. On top of what looks like a transcript is a hot pink post-it reading "ASK HIM ABOUT DOCTOR NICHOLS. SEE HIGHLIGHTS."

"General, are you familiar with a Dr. Nichols?" you try to sound natural.

"He worked at Fort Detrick."

You try to scan the highlights as fast as you can. It looks like a senate hearing transcript.

"Can you give me an estimate of when that was?" you ask, trying to buy more time.

You don't hear his answer because lines at the end of the transcript begin to jump out at you. "You people are in denial!" "This country should be panicked! We should live in utter fear of being attacked!" "I will not sit down. We live in a time of war and WMD proliferation. If you continue to be blind To our lack of preparedness, Then Americans will die, And I will have no problem In pointing the blame at you!"

"Are you aware that he testified in front of the senate in reference to national security?" you cut in.

"Yes."

"Are you aware the committee said he was becoming unstable and fanatical?"

"That's why they removed him from Fort Detrick and railroaded from other prominent positions. Dr. Nichols is well-respected in our community. He believes in preparedness, not proliferation."

"It appears not everyone believes in preparedness. The senate committee dismissed his concerns. He could have valuable insight to prepare for a possible second attack." You don't dare throw around that he's a suspect. Whitwork would probably implode if you did.

"Do you know where he is now?" you ask.

"He works for a company called bio-design technology. We subcontract them. They don't work with anthrax. They deal primarily with the flu."

You try to give a friendly smile. "Well, hopefully he still remembers the information he presented to the senate. Thank you for your time."

"He didn't do this. He went through a rough patch after that senate hearing. His wife divorced him and he left the army. He's been busy putting his life together. I don't know who was behind those attacks, but this guy is not a threat. Nichols is just a guy who worries too much. He didn't do this."

"Thank you, General."

On his way out, he wishes you good luck. Whether it's for the case or the baby, you're not sure.

Once you see him leave through the bullpen doors, you rush to Rossi's office.

Hotch and Rossi are both flipping through the same pages you were given.

"Whitworth remembers him. After the senate hearing, he was demoted in the army. Recent divorce and job change. The company he works for now is subcontracted by the army. They work with the flu." you give them the bullet points.

"Ask Garcia to send us the addresses." Hotch tells you. "We'll check his lab and residence. Y/l/n, JJ has a speech writer from the White House in her office right now. The hospital is considering announcing the C.O.D., and the president might have to make a speech tonight. Go ahead and update her."

You poke your head into Garcia's office.

"Hey, Penelope."

"Hey, friend." she says in the gentle tone she uses during particularly tough cases.

"Got an address for Nichols and Bio-design technology?"

"Just sent them, sweet thing."

"Remind me to buy you a drink when this is over." you grin and head to JJ's office.

A/N: Enjoy!!
I know this is the worst kind of note, but I move into my dorm tomorrow and one of my roommates is dumping her boyfriend so we're going to get trashed on friday, so I'm not sure when the next ch will go up. I'm hoping to write some tonight and hopefully squeeze some in tomorrow, over the weekend for sure!