Erin Strauss quotes from Criminal Minds

Erin Strauss

I put you in the BAU. I knew how badly you wanted it. Everyone did. You were never exactly shy about letting us know. But there were those who didn't think assigning you to the BAU was a good idea. They thought you were too reckless... I believed in you, however. It's time to pay back the faith I had. Your team is in trouble. They've lost sight of the big picture. I believe they are reckless and, at times, out of control. It's time for Agent Hotchner's career to come to an end. And if you want to stay in the BAU, Agent Prentiss, you're going to help me make that happen.

Hotchner

You've not seen what I've seen.

Erin Strauss

You chose the BAU.

Hotchner

True. I enjoy my work, even when in the pursuit to understand why a person feels the compelling need to brutally torture, murder, and dismember a child. Mother, father, entire family. The unsubs devoid of any morality, humanity, remorse, when caught often come to believe we're the only ones who understand them. And they're right, we do. Otherwise, how could we catch them?

Hotchner

Once again, the team had battled a monster; and won.

Erin Strauss

The future of the B.A.U is not in the balance here. The residual impact as a result of the investigations into the crimes and criminals you pursue is. Every cause has its effect.

Hotchner

You think I don't know that?

Erin Strauss

I believe you are no longer effective in your post.

Hotchner

The modern furniture, the strategically placed magazines, the framed diplomas, the art on the wall, are all in conflict with your family photos. You have three children, but you favor the middle one, your son.

Erin Strauss

What do you think you're doing?

Hotchner

Of course, you love all your children; but not like your son.

Erin Strauss

That's enough.

Hotchner

The bonsai you obsessively nurture is to compensate for feelings of failure as a mother.

Erin Strauss

Agent Hotchner! I said that is enough. My position is not in question here. As your superior, I am questioning your ability to lead your team.

Hotchner

My team? Let me tell you about my team. Agent Morgan fought to protect his identity from the very people who could save him. Why? Because trust has to be earned, and there are very few people he truly trusts. Reid's intellect is a shield which protects him from his emotions and, at the moment, his shield is under repair. Prentiss overcompensates because she doesn't yet feel that she's a part of the team. She needn't worry. Every day, Agent Jareau fields dozens of requests for our team and every night, she goes home hoping she's made the right choices. Garcia fills her office with figurines and color to remind herself to smile as the horror fills her screens. And Agent Gideon in many ways is damned by his profound knowledge of others. Which is why he shares so little of himself yet he pours his heart into every case we handle. I stand by my actions and by my team. And if you think that you can find a better person for the job, good luck.

Erin Strauss

Agent Hotchner...

Hotchner

How do I know you favor your son? I'm good at my job.

Erin Strauss

Did you actually allow a disturbed college student to meet with a man you believed to be a serial killer?

Hotchner

We didn't know who, but we knew the meeting would take place.

Erin Strauss

We?

Hotchner

I, ma'am. It was my decision.

Erin Strauss

And now, that student is dead.

Hotchner

She committed suicide, yes... after killing the Unsub.

Erin Strauss

How could you let this happen?

Hotchner

It was not the outcome we had hoped for.

Erin Strauss

It wasn't the outcome you had hoped for? That's your answer to me?

Hotchner

Yes, ma'am.

Erin Strauss

Give me your badge.

Hotchner

Ma'am?

Erin Strauss

You're suspended for two weeks without pay, pending an investigation of your conduct. And Agent Hotchner, if it were solely up to me, you would never get these credentials back.

Hotchner

Always a pleasure.

Garcia

[answering the phone] Talk dirty to me.

Erin Strauss

This is section Chief Erin Strauss!

Garcia

Ma'am, I think it goes without saying that I expected to be someone else.

Erin Strauss

Call in S.W.A.T., secure the perimeter, wait for him to come out.

Morgan

Ma'am he's holding a woman inside.

Erin Strauss

We don't know that for certain. We don't have probable cause.

Hotchner

She's right.

Erin Strauss

If he's got her he waits 48 hours, he's not gonna kill her yet.

Morgan

He's changed the pattern of the dump sites, now he's changed how he abducts them. Do we really want to gamble that he's sticking to the rest of the model?

So let's pound on the door! Maybe he'll panic.

Hotchner

But he could spook just enough to kill her early.

Prentiss

I want to go in alone. The boy's in the family room, he'll answer the door.

Erin Strauss

No.

Prentiss

We need to get invited in that door. He's looking for female authority figures. If he lets me in I can signal as soon I see anything that gives us cause.

Erin Strauss

Technically you're not even in the FBI.

Hotchner

All the better.

Erin Strauss

She's interfering with a federal investigation!

Prentiss

Well if I'm no longer in the FBI then you have no authority over me. I'm just a civilian knocking on a little boy's door.

Morgan

Prentiss. [hands her a gun]

Prentiss

Thanks.

Hotchner

As soon as you have probable cause, give us the signal and get out of there.

Prentiss

Okay.