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𝑇𝑤𝑒𝑛𝘵𝑦–𝘰𝑛𝑒.
Melanie's heart was in her stomach. Hotch lowered his gaze as he realized the root of her sudden change in demeanor. She didn't even know about the letters. The man who murdered her sister had been trying to get into contact with her for months on end and she had absolutely no way of knowing.
The inner workings of Melanie burned with rage, hot seething rage that consumed her. Had she known that Cadell was attempting to get into contact with her in order to provide the team with additional information that would help them catch the rest of the network he was a part of, she wouldn't have ever thought about leaving the country at all, let alone staying away for four entire months. She thought about Penelope and how her life had been put at risk because of the decision that Spencer made of not informing her about the letters. Melanie realized that this problem exceeded her domain. It wasn't only about Louise anymore. It was about every victim involved. It was about bringing those assholes to justice and ending the eternal suffering of every being they had ever touched.
Melanie, for the first time in two minutes, raised her eyes to meet Hotch's. "Make your phone calls," she announced, confirming that she'd be returning back to the team. She stood, taking a deep breath in through her nose and releasing it through her parted lips.
Hotch stood, shaking her hand firmly from across his desk with a single nod. Melanie exited his office only to be met with the five sets of curious eyes belonging to Penelope, JJ, Emily, Derek, and Rossi. She smiled to herself, realizing that the team hadn't changed too much while she was gone, they were still just as nosy as always and didn't even attempt to hide it. Melanie descended down to the main floor to be eye level with her team, holding a straight face until she was standing at the head of their group. They all looked at her with worry and anxiety crowding their systems. Penelope's hands fell to her sides, JJ began to bite on the nail of her right thumb, Emily touched the pads of her fingers together in front of her stomach, Rossi swallowed the lump forming in his throat, and Derek leaned back ever so slightly while awaiting the news.
Melanie smiled, causing each of their demeanors to lighten up. "I'm coming back," she beamed as she relayed the message. Her own grin widened as she was met with the gasps of surprise from her teammates, Emily immediately pulling Melanie into her arms and locking her into a tight hug.
"Oh my God," Penelope laughed as Derek rubbed her back. "Our prayers have finally been answered!"
JJ nodded with a newfound smile of her own, hugging Melanie once Emily stepped aside. "It's so good to have you back, Mel," she said as she rested her chin on Melanie's shoulder. "You have absolutely no idea."
Penelope stepped forward. "My turn!" she exclaimed, holding her arms wide with a toothy smile on her face. She embraced Melanie with the warmest hug imaginable, a hug that they both desperately needed. Garcia rubbed her back before pulling her away to look at her, reeling in the fact that this was a real event. Melanie was back for good. Both Rossi and Derek took their turn to embrace Melanie with a tightly locked hug, almost as if they were ensuring that she wouldn't be able to get away ever again. Luckily for them, she wasn't. France was her escape from reality that allowed her to stand firmly on her feet again, but it was time to come back.
