chapter one ━━ forced commitments
( time stamp : 2008 )

THE RAVEN HAIRED girl rudely walked into the office, she didn't have time for pleasantries. Jade Nguyen found it hard to believe that the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit needed her in any way. Her years of work with the Unit was in the past and she had long hoped for it to stay that way.

But nobody actually ever leaves the FBI for good.

She knew that was true because even years after leaving she found herself writing books, attending lectures, even finding herself teaching incoming recruits. And now she was in the Federal building where they were, once again, trying to tie her into the horrendous job.

"Strauss," and with a curt nod she placed herself in the seat that was placed neatly in front of the Section Chief's desk.

"Agent Nguyen, I'm glad to see nothings changed,"

"It's not Agent, I haven't been Agent in years, it's Doctor or just Jade," there was a slight edge to her tone. Jade had places to be and important things to do, yet here she was wasting her time with someone who she at one point considered competition.

"No, it's still Agent seeing as I have the paperwork here, completed and signed, to bring you into the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit." There seemed to be a slight smirk as Strauss said this and within her she knew that she was only angering the woman who sat before her.

"Excuse me?"

"I've requested you, specifically, to return because I need someone completely responsible and devoted to the well being of the BAU," Strauss stood from behind her desk and briskly walked towards the window, staring out into the distance she continued, "You've known Aaron Hotchner your whole life haven't you?"

Confusion flooded Jade's mind at the question and the relevance the answer would have to the situation, "Ma'am I don't understand?" Within, Jade cursed at the formality, but there seemed to be worse matters at hand.

"It's a yes or no question, Agent." Strauss then turned around, crossing her arms before her with a pointed look, demanding, "Have you or not, known Aaron your whole life?"

"Yes I have, ma'am."

The look of satisfaction caused Jade to burn in her seat with an anger that had to stay silent and coerced to settle. And then she began to string together all the possible reasons for the question and what good the answer would do. Jade then realized that whatever situation she was being thrown into was not good, for neither her nor Aaron.

"I need you to be a part of Aaron Hotchner's BAU team," Jade sensed it the moment she was requested to visit Section Chief Erin Strauss. Sensing it the moment she realized that Aaron Hotchner was in the same building, working in the same area as the Chief. Jade Nguyen knew now that Aaron was in trouble, either mild or extremely worrisome, trouble.

It didn't show this newfound knowledge nor the lifelong worry for this man, a sharpness in her tone as if she were a blade, just sharpened, "For what." It wasn't a question, more a demand.

And Erin Strauss burned.

"There has been certain," Strauss falsely pondered her next choice of words, but Jade knew that the woman was always prepared; it didn't matter how hurtful her words were or if she were wrong. "Hm, certain issues occurring in his team. I'm sure he hasn't reported any of them in fear of his team being disbanded."

A moment of silence broke out, the two glared at each other neither faltering. Strauss always held her enemies closer than even her own family, that explained why Jade sat here before her — it also explained why Strauss chose her, out of everyone she knew, to be the next member of the team. Jade Nguyen has been a threat to Erin Strauss since the moment they met, seeing as the FBI was contemplating giving Jade the Section Chief position.

Humming, Jade examined her fingernails, "If you know this much then you don't need me."

"Well without someone from within the team how else am I going to receive my concrete evidence?" Strauss broke her shield of confidence a little bit, she needed to convince Jade no matter what it took. Her pride? In the moment it didn't matter. "I've failed with a previous Agent, Emily Prentiss, you're my last chance."

"Alright," Jade stood up and leaned onto the Chief's desk, palms laying flat, "If I do this I can quit right after?"

Strauss was quick with her response, and quick with a quick glare at Jade leaning on her desk, "No."

"And why not?"

Moving her hand up, Strauss removed her glasses then pinched the bridge of her nose — this was beginning to become more complicated than it had to be, she thought, but then again it was Jade Nguyen whom she was speaking to.

"Because, yes, I requested you, but someone else that I can't reveal, because it's confidential, has been requesting that you join." Strauss despised explaining, what was in her opinion, more than necessary, "And well the FBI is requiring you to stay until they decide you may leave. Now I'm an extremely busy person, you're dismissed."

There weren't enough words in Jade's vocabulary, nor in the world, that could explain the amount of anger she felt at the quick dismissal. Instead of leaving, Jade sat herself back down into the chair as defeat weighed her down. Then, Chief Strauss went to sit back at her desk, returning to the never ending stacks of files. And when she looked up once more there she found Jade, still planted in her seat but now glaring straight ahead.

"Agent Nguyen, the team is waiting for you," Strauss gave her a pointed look.

"Of course ma'am, always a pleasure." And with that she was only a recent memory as she fled to her new occupation.

༻❁༺

ALTHOUGH ADMITTING SHE was utterly lost irked her, Jade Nguyen knew when she indeed was in need of help, her pride torn and ravaged. And to her luck a blonde woman — who seemed as though she were moving faster than time itself — trampled into her, all the files in her arms scattering across the Bureau floor.

"Oh I am so sorry," Jade rushed to grab at the papers, the blonde following suit, as she began to explain, "I'm new here so I don't know where I'm going, sorry again for being in the way."

Shaking her head, the blonde replied, "No, no, it's okay! I can help you, where are you headed?"

Jade grabbed the last file on the floor and handed them back to the owner neatly, "Well I'm actually looking for SSA Aaron Hotchner?"

"Uh, well, he's actually going to be busy," the blonde quickly checked the time on her wristwatch, "at this very moment, is there something you needed to tell him? I could relay it to him, if you'd like?"

"No it's okay! Maybe, perhaps I can walk with you?"

The woman looked at her confused, "I'm sorry ma'am, but the meeting is only for the agents."

"Yes I'm aware, sorry for not explaining to begin with, but I'm a new member for your team of profilers, Agent," Jade searched for anything that possibly displayed the woman's name, but instead found the woman herself answering.

"Jennifer Jereau, ma'am."

"Agent Jereau, a pleasure to meet you, I'm SSA Jade Nguyen," they shook hands before Jade then continued, with her hand pointing into the direction Agent Jereau was headed towards, "Now I'm sure the team is waiting for us, if you may." And the duo found themselves in fast strides toward the room the others were waiting in.

Before they entered, glancing to the side, Jennifer Jereau smiled, "I've read a lot of your work ma'am, it's a pleasure to work with you. By the way you can just call me JJ, as the rest of the team does."

"The pleasure's mine, JJ," and although her nerves seemed to be eating away at her mind and soul, Jade smiled back at her, thankful for the kindness. They then entered the room where inside was, all seated before a round table, a group of four.

And there he was.

For the past loves, future loves, or loves that never truly had the opportunity to bloom like the beginnings of spring; the moment their eyes meet the world stops, it's just them. But instead of the world disappearing from around Jade and it just being her and Aaron, it was the opposite. Everything grew louder, more difficult to concentrate on her very own breathing, a headache grew and she began to worry.

This was it. Jade Nguyen and Aaron Hotchner meet again.

The world laid heavy on Jade's shoulders — it seems nothing would ever be easy. She fought the urge to step backwards as she watched Aaron stand up quickly from his seat, before he had the chance to speak JJ began placing all the files around the table, "Hey guys, this is SSA Jade Nguyen, she's joining the team."

Surprised looks spread like a wildfire in the room, it wasn't quite surprising to Jade she understood that the team had long ago created an extremely strong bond. That was why Erin Strauss found it such a difficult task to get dirt on Aaron Hotchner.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Jade waved and leaned towards an empty seat, thanking JJ with a nod as she passed her a file, "Sorry for the late notice on a new member, it was just confirmed earlier today."

JJ now stood before a screen with a remote at hand, beginning to name everyone with a quick point, "That's Derek Morgan, Dr. Spencer Reid, Emily Prentiss," and Aaron, "and our Unit Chief, Aaron Hotchner."

Then he smiled, looking directly at her with a more mature confidence compared to when they were younger, "Jade Nguyen, I didn't know you were planning on joining the BAU."

Sighing she looked down, deep down she knew the real reason she couldn't meet his eye was because her face was slowly beginning to tint red and she refused letting him see her that way, not now, "I wasn't, sorry but this isn't my type of gig anymore, I enjoyed teaching high school students."

"It's odd of you," Dr. Spencer Reid was quicker than Hotch, seeing as his mind worked quicker than anyone else's in the room. Jade quirked an eyebrow, she was curious after reading a short file about the young man, "I mean of course you specialize in several things; science, criminal justice, you've even written a few books. Why teaching?"

"I'm sure she'd gladly answer any question you have," JJ interrupted, smiling softly, "but later, Spence. We have a case to work on."

Jade Nguyen was back in the FBI much to her dismay. Yet a part of her was glad to see Aaron again, to see him smile. And so with her newfound team, she didn't waste a moment more, "Alright then, let's get to work, shall we?"