Chapter Text
Erin Strauss, despite working with numerous mutants in the bureau, had never appreciated or trusted mutants, but especially not ferals. There was something inherently wrong with permitting someone so closely tied to baser animal instincts to achieve any position within they agency. It was one thing for their abilities to be exploited by the bureau for specific projects for as long as they were useful, and entirely another matter to let them hold any long standing position, much less rank.
Not only did ferals have a poor understanding of when political concerns took precidence over day to day operations, but ferals tended to think in terms of pack, and it inhibited their ability to use their team members to the best of their abilities in instances where a respective team member might be put in the line of danger. Two prime examples of this could be seen the BAU, a behavioral analysis unit: Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner, an Alpha-feral, whose seemingly strict control of his animalistic urges and abilities often made Erin wonder how he might have fixed the mutancy test to get a toe-hold in the agency... and Dr. Spencer Reid, who tested as a feral, but whose latent traits and talents - at least in terms of a feral classification - never manifested and whom - were it not for his high intelligence and multiple doctorates - would not have even been considered for an analysts position, much less a field position.
What was more vexing yet, though, was that despite being almost an animal, Hotchner, was well-respected throughout the agency and had risen without any evidence of political favoritism, held a position - just below her own. He was literally just one political misstep away from having her job, and as yet, she hadn't been able to uncover any defense against his taking her position.
Despite having his past dealings investigated from as early as his service in the special forces to his later service as a public prosecutor then an up and coming agent, Erin had never been able to discover the slightest hint of dishonesty, poor judgement, or immorality in the man's public or private life. Add to that, when Erin had arranged to have her ally's daughter placed on the BAU to help her uncover potential points of leverage to use against the unit chief, the damn pack-mentality interfered again and the feral had in less than three months won the daughter's loyalty as firmly as he'd won the loyalty of the rest of their team. It was an obstacle she had, repeatedly, run into, when trying to thin his support by offering various members of the BAU more choice assignments or promotions - offers, which failed against the possibility of staying on the feral's team.
Hotchner was almost untouchable, without having ever garnered any political favors to owe later or be used against him when convenience suited. If he ever started to garner those favors, and particularly if he did so carefully, her days would be numbered.
Dr. Reid, despite his unsuitability as a field agent, was close enough from an operating stand point to be a threat as well, not for any leadership ability or argument of experience, but for the fact that - whether he recognized it or not - the doctor possessed a very strategic manner of thinking well suited to operational planning, at Erin's level, as well as a so-called 'quirky' nature that lead people to overlook his social awkwardness. While Erin doubted that he would ever have the ambition for her position, he was a viable alternative to partner with someone if the Director ever decided to eliminate her position and divest her responsibilities among multiple people.
In short, Erin Strauss would be a much happier woman if Aaron Hotchner and Reid Spencer somehow were caught persecuting an innocent suspect, fraternizing with criminal elements, or committing some other career ending folly.