"B, you've been back for literally five minutes and there's already empty lollipop wrappers and a red bull cans everywhere" Garcia chuckles.

Bailee turns toward her "So....is that your way of saying you missed me?"

"Of course, I missed my little hacker, not the mess you create though"

"I can't tell if that was a compliment or an insult" Bailee states tilting her head to the side.

"Both. B both"

"Ohh Pennie I've missed you" Bailee hugs Garcia "Even Mr sparkles and his crew"

"Can I ask you something personal?" Garcia blurts out, Bailee sighs going back to her seat "I was waiting for this"

"You don't have to answer"

"It's fine Pen what's the question," Bailee asks.

"Have you talked to Hotch.....Like privately.....since"

"Since he kicked me off the team after I just woke up from surgery from being shot, then he tells me he did it for my protection"

"Yeh...that's it" Garcia softly says as she accidentally presses the call button, ringing the team as the two hackers talk.

"We haven't talked, When I see him I run the opposite way, I'm way too scared for what he will say. I couldn't handle it if he talked the way he did to me again, it was like I was a piece of gum stuck to his blazer in the end he threw the blazer away like trash," Bailee looks down at her hands speaking.

"I'm not defending him because we were all pissed at how he dealt with the situation, but he did lose his, family, Hailey and Jack are in witness protection, he sees you as his child B, and he wanted to protect you any way he could" Garcia hesitantly says, her eyes widen when she sees the red light flashing meaning she's on call with the team.

"I get it, but that's the thing Pen, I saw him as my dad, my family, and you guys as family, Jack and Hailey have each other to get through things together, when he transferred me I didn't have anyone. Not one person to get me through the nightmares, the pain, the reality of me getting shot I was so alone" Bailee wipes the tears from her face.

"I think it's best if we just ignore each other from now on, I'll do his orders for cases but other than that I can't let him break my heart the same way my biologicals did I wouldn't survive Pen"

Garcia ended the call quickly and gave Bailee another hug "If he even dares to hurt you, you know Derek will punch him in the face again" Bailee laughs at the threat and smiled glad she was back with her family.

The phone rang which case the two hackers to have different reactions, Bailee wasn't bothered about the call knowing it would be the team asking if they had found anything, but Garcia knew they had heard their conversation and was scared of which members of the team were there. If Hotch was there.

"What have you found?" Rossi asks.

"We concentrated on the last three cases because they've left the freshest e-prints."

"Great" Derek says.

"Not really. Over 100000 cases put through the long island court." Bailee informs him.

"Who had eyes on those files?" Prentiss asks.

"Literally hundreds and hundreds of people." Garcia says.

"Change track. Focus on the enforcer. Mob-related murder trials on Long Island, last 10 years. We're looking for a hitman." Rossi says.

"Okay there are 93 mob trials in the last 10 years," Garcia says.

"Did you know the dark web has a lot of hitmen for hire?" Bailee says.

"Bailee, that is why it's called the dark web" Reid informs her.

"Oh, that makes more sense I just thought it turned your screen to dark mode,"

"Oh honey" Garcia says.

"Bailee the comments you make sometimes concerns me" Rossi says.

"Missed you too Rooster" Bailee smiles

"Pull aside any trials that resulted in a conviction weed out mistrials and arrangements"

"Nineteen"

"Were any of those on trial suspected of being hitmen or enforcers?"

"Three"

"Wowza" Bailee mutters.

"This totally slipped the Net. Tony Mecacci, his case was judged a mistrial, but check out his suspected victim." Bailee sends over to Rossi a photo of the victim.

".22 calibre, right?"

"Bul-eye"

"Cross-match our profile of the planner against all those connected with the trial."

"Prosecuting lawyer Garrett Daniels, Judge Boy Schuller, criminal defence lawyer Paul....."

"Wait Wait did you say Judge Schuller?" Rossi cuts of Bailee.

"Yeah here's a photo" Garcia sends a picture of the judge.

"What's wrong?" Hotch asks, causing Garcia to freeze knowing he heard their conversation.

"You know him?" JJ asks increasing Garcia's inner panic.

"No, but I knew his wife. Two years ago, she was driving home from work and she was killed by a drunk driver." Rossi informs the team.

"That could be the tragedy," Reid says.

"She was the love of his life that's for sure." Rossi comments.

"Twelve months ago, Judge Schuller took a leave of absence due to health issues." Garcia explains.

"He was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has six months to live." Bailee reads from the file.

"And that's when the killing started." Garcia adds.

"Judge chullar is the planner. Fits the profile. Tony Mecacci is most likely Bosola, the enforcer. What have you got on Bosola?" Rossi questions.

"He went off the gird after his last trial."

"JJ pull out a state-wide APB and release Mecacci's photo to the media." Hotch orders.

"Bailee, Garcia Well done" The call ends and the two hackers breathe in relief.

"Have I told you how much I've missed you" Bailee comments causing Garcia to burst out laughing "Nope. I don't think you have B"

"I've missed you Pen" Bailee smiles.

"I've missed you too B"

Back with the rest of the team, they were on the jet on the way home, each of them in their own thoughts. Rossi and Hotch were sitting opposite each other. No one talked about the private conversation between the two hackers, Clearly, they weren't meant to hear what was talked about so they left the subject alone knowing it would also be sensitive for Hotch. Rossi was looking at his pocket watch in deep thought about the call, about his regrets, and decisions he's made in the past.

Hotch glances up at Rossi "She was special to you."

Rossi smiles "I was just thinking. When I first met Emma, I knew I would love her for the rest of my life. We were 12 years old. She always said we were doomed to be star-crossed lovers. Destined to wonder what might have been. I never slept with her; you know. That wasn't true what I said to Schuller. That was just to get under his skin and knock him off his game." Rossi explains.

"I understand," Hotch says.

"I should have married her, though. When I left the marines, I was recruited by the Bureau, spent a few years on the streets, got involved with starting the BAU, and before I knew it, a lifetime had gone by."

"I hear you."

"I missed a life with Emma because I became obsessed with the case with the hunt."

"Dave, he's threatening my family."

"And we'll get Foyet, Aaron." Rossi assures me. Hotch furrows his eyebrows "Okay, then what's your point?"

"You have a family.....Daisy....you have another chance to be her father. When all this is over, what are gonna do to make sure you're not a lonely guy wondering why you let the purest thing in your life get away?"

"Daisy...." Hotch whispers brokenly. 

"I know the call and what she said hurt you, but you can't blame her for her feelings" Rossi gives him a sad smile.

"you have another chance Aaron don't let it go"

-------------------------------------------

Happy New Year's Eve....

Do you think Bailee should forgive him? 

Do you think he will tell her?