Chapter 190: Arriving at Quantico

Back in Los Angeles, Jack quickly got busy. First, he completed his resignation procedures, returning his badge and service weapon.

Next, he attended his graduation ceremony, receiving his bachelor's degree. Finally, he went to Angela's wedding. Thanks to the Wolf brothers' bombing action, there were no disruptions from D-mob this time, but the eve of the wedding was still incredibly chaotic.

Angela's original wedding venue was seized by the FBI for money laundering, forcing everyone to find a private garden that was closed for repairs late at night.

Everyone pitched in, especially the capable John and Jack, who used old connections to contact contractors. In just two days, they and the workers repaired the broken pipes in the garden.

Then, everyone worked together for another day to set up the wedding scene, finally completing the preparations before Saturday.

"Why am I not excited about the wedding at all? I'm so tired," Hannah lazily clung to Jack's back, watching him decorate a twelve-layer cake.

"I'm the one doing all the work. Why are you tired? Are your arms sore from clinging to my back too long?"

Jack tapped her head with annoyance. After Angela's wedding, he was supposed to report to Quantico. Perhaps because they would be apart for nearly six months, she had been especially clingy lately.

"Flowers, music, the officiant—I handled all of that, okay? You have no idea how troublesome a pregnant Angela can be," Hannah rolled her eyes adorably.

"What round is this?"

Jack sighed helplessly. This wedding was more about everyone helping Wesley entertain a pregnant Angela. 

This tough lady cop, now pregnant and getting married, had become emotionally erratic. The usually carefree detective could now cry at the drop of a hat, and even Jack's expert-level psychology skills were no help.

"I've lost count. If it weren't for my godchild in her belly, I'd strangle her."

Hannah adjusted her head for a more comfortable position on her lover's shoulder.

"Your dark circles have come out. Let's take a hot bath together. I'll help you relax."

Jack suddenly turned, lifting her in a princess carry amidst her screams and walking into the bathroom.

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The wedding proceeded smoothly without any hitches. Jack suspected he might be the only one secretly armed at the wedding.

It was quite a sight to see a group of handsome men and beautiful women attending a wedding together. Even Superintendent Gray, or rather Chief Superintendent Gray, looked more handsome in his high-end tailored suit.

It seemed the wedding had an extra stimulating effect on the female attendees. That night, during his tryst with the two elder ladies, they seemed particularly enthusiastic.

Three days after the wedding, Jack packed a small bag of clothes, entrusted his little house and beloved car to Hannah, and boarded a flight to Richmond.

Upon landing in Richmond, he headed straight to Quantico.

Quantico is a small town with less than a thousand residents. The FBI Academy he was to attend is located near the town, alongside the Marine Corps training base and a university exclusively for Marines.

Of course, he couldn't go there on his own. He found a nearby motel for the night and arrived at the reporting point early the next morning, taking a bus into the forested FBI Academy.

Interestingly, he was the only person on the bus because it wasn't the formal training season.

The FBI Academy's official training starts in August each year, bringing hundreds of young people aged 23-37 to this place.

Jack wasn't sure if his situation was special. Rossi hadn't told him much, just urged him to report quickly.

The bus drove through a wooded path, soon passing the academy gates and stopping in front of an old red-brick building. Jack politely thanked the bus driver, grabbed his luggage, and jumped off the bus, immediately spotting Rossi, impeccably dressed as usual, standing on the steps.

"Welcome to the Academy."

Rossi warmly opened his arms for a hug, leaving Jack a bit overwhelmed. From his beaming smile, it was clear he had been in high spirits recently.

In a hall, staff led Jack to his assigned dormitory to drop off his luggage. He changed into the standard polo shirt and khakis before being ushered into an office.

There, he saw an unexpected person: Maureen, wearing professional attire and gold-rimmed glasses.

"Uh, Professor Cahill, why are you here?"

Luckily, Jack's brain worked quickly, almost calling her by name.

"A little surprise. How is it? Are you surprised?"

Maureen smiled brightly, immediately clarifying Jack's confusion.

Due to the special nature of the BAU, their behavior analysts are usually recruited from experienced agents or senior officers, typically possessing degrees in psychology or related fields of crime study.

Jack, a rookie in the LAPD for less than a year, was chosen because a BAU team had been decimated in a Boston bombing, losing six investigators.

This led FBI higher-ups to question the role of BAU's field teams. Some suggested that with technological advances, the BAU should entirely withdraw from the frontline, making way for criminal forensic science.

The original BAU teams, focused on psychological profiling, were deemed unnecessary. They should stay in the office as support, not conduct field investigations, essentially recommending more CSI-style teams.

Jack suddenly understood.

Rossi, a BAU founder, had delved into prisons in the 1980s with former FBI negotiator Holden Ford and Ford's partner Bill Tench, interviewing numerous severe criminals.

This included some notorious serial killers. They used statistical analysis, psychological insights, and behavioral studies to identify patterns and apply them to new cases.

In these turbulent times, Rossi, who had retired to write and lecture, returned to the FBI. Leveraging his upper-level connections, he aimed to restructure the BAU, establishing a new model for field teams.

Rossi valued emerging forensic technologies, forming partnerships with anthropological research labs like those led by Dr. Temperance Brennan.

He also had new requirements for team members, no longer limited to psychology backgrounds. 

The team would include forensic experts, computer network specialists, and combat experts with field experience and outstanding combat skills.

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