Okay so this story is dedicated to JadedSapphireRose who requested a Hotch/Erin pairing. Sorry it's a little late sweetie, enjoy.
…
Criminal Minds
Hotch/Erin
Silver Lining
…
It had been just a little over 2 months since Section Chief Erin Strauss had made her dramatic return to the BAU, she'd just assumed that when she returned that she'd be welcomed back with open arms but she couldn't have been more wrong. She knew there would be some hurt feelings, a little anger but complete avoidance….she hadn't expected. Aside from Aaron Hotchner and Penelope Garcia, nobody else would utter a single word in her presence. Her Family were furious for what she'd done, her eldest Daughter refused to see her.
"Erin….."
She looked up to see Aaron standing in her doorway, she quickly wiped away the few stray tears that had escaped before forcing a smile.
"Agent Hotchner, what can I do for you?"
"Nothing really, I just wanted to see how you are. It's been a few weeks."
"Yes well, I thought it might best if I stayed hidden in my office for a while, given the way the Team feel about me right now."
"Erin, hiding isn't the way to deal with them. You need to stand tall..stand proud."
"I betrayed them all, Dave took extended leave for god sake. He won't even pick up the phone, he wants nothing more to do with me and my Children….I've never seen them so upset. Faking my death just gave Michael my Ex, extra ammunition against me. You and Penelope are the only two who will talk to me."
…
Aaron came further into the room as Erin's tears began again, he moved to put his arms around her as she fell against his chest totally distraught.
"Erin, you must have known it wouldn't be easy."
"But this bad, it didn't take them as long as this to forgive Emily."
"But it did hurt them, what Emily did and you knew that. Too have you do the exact same thing, knowing what they went through the first time…it really hit a nerve with them. They will forgive you in time but until then, you just have to try and carry on with life."
"That's easier said than done." She sniffed.
"Come on, let me take you home Erin."
"You don't have to do t….."
"I insist, come on."
Erin grabbed her belongings and allowed Aaron to escort her from the building. They ran into Penelope as they were heading to the elevator.
"Oh, hey you two. You off home?" She asked.
"I'm driving Erin home, I think she's had enough for one day."
"Oh, okay. Could I have a quick word with her alone before you go?"
"Sure, Erin…I'll be downstairs okay."
"I won't be long."
They waited for Aaron to leave before Penelope suddenly brought Erin in to a hug.
"Oh my…" Erin smiled, surprised by the gesture.
"Oh hunni, I just want you to know that things will get better I promise."
"You can't promise that Ms Garcia."
"Hey, after what we've all been through….it's Penelope now."
"Okay Penelope….I know you're only trying to make me feel better but I really don't see how things can get better. I've been thinking a lot lately and I think it might be for the best if I resign as Section Chief."
"What….no you can't. Erin we need you, the Team need you."
"The Team, they don't feel anything for me anymore. Any bridges I was able to build had been well and truly burned now."
"Please think about it some more okay, don't go making any rash decisions. Please Erin."
"Alright, I'll think about it. I should go, Agent Hotchner is waiting for me."
"Okay…goodnight sugar."
Penelope quickly hugged her one last time before rushing back to her office. Erin made her way down in the elevator to find Aaron waiting by the car for her.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
"Fine, everything's fine." She smiled.
…
Alex, JJ, Reid and Morgan were all sitting in the bullpen when Penelope came striding through.
"Where's Rossi….?"
"Erm, he's not here yet. I left him a message like you said, whether he comes or not." JJ smiled.
"Well he'd better tu….."
She turned when she heard the doors opening and Dave Rossi came storming through, a look of thunder displayed on his face.
"What the hell's going on, I was just about to catch a flight."
"Well my Italian stallion, you're little holiday will just have to wait…sit?"
"What the….."
"I SAID SIT."
Dave took a seat next to Reid, as the others looked on.
"What's up with you Baby Girl?" Morgan asked, concerned.
"We need to talk, seriously talk."
"About what Garcia?" JJ asked.
"Erin…."
"Well in that case."
"Rossi…you so much as move and I'll break your fingers."
"No offence Penelope but I think we're all on the same page where Strauss is concerned."
"Then find a different page, that Woman is a total wreck right now. You think it was easy for her to come back after what happened. She did it for us."
"How do you figure that one?" Alex asked.
"If he couldn't get Erin then he'd have come after us, by faking her own death she made sure that we were left unharmed, even you Alex…despite the way you've behaved towards her since you arrived."
"She made us believe she'd died Baby Girl, just like….."
"I know, just like Emily but you all forgave her, so you should be able to forgive Erin."
"Penelope we…."
"Put it this way, if you lot don't come in here tomorrow morning with so much as an apology for Erin then as far as I'm concerned….our friendship is effectively over and I'll be putting in for a transfer."
"Baby Girl we…."
"I will not work with a Team who are incapable of forgiveness, I won't. I'll leave you with that thought and hopefully, I'll see you in the morning."
They all watched as Penelope walked away, they sat in silence for a few minutes…nobody willing to speak first.
"I don't think I've ever seen Garcia that mad at us before." JJ said.
"She's pretty angry." Alex added.
"Well can you blame her, Penelope's right. We've all treated Strauss badly. Especially you Rossi, I mean the minute Strauss came back, you dropped her."
"If you're asking me to get back with Erin then I can't do that."
"I don't think anyone's suggesting that Rossi, just talk to her."
"Yeah okay."
…
Aaron and Erin entered her house and he followed her through to the sitting room. She flicked the switch and dumped her belongings on the floor beside the sofa before turning to Aaron.
"Thank you for bringing me home Agent Hotchner, I appreciate it." She smiled.
"It was no trouble really."
"Would you like a drink, I'm afraid it's only tea or coffee these days."
"Coffee's fine Erin."
Aaron sat waiting for Erin to make the coffee when he heard a loud crash. He was on his feet in seconds and at her side.
"Erin…."
"It's okay, I just dropped a cup. It's nothing…it was…."
She broke down in tears for a second time that day, he moved to bring her into his arms, her head came to rest on his shoulders until her tears subsided. He pulled back as she looked up at him, he gently brushed the tears from her cheek as he offered her a soft smile. For the first time since knowing her, he looked into her soft green eyes and suddenly realised how beautiful she was. Before he could stop himself, he felt himself leaning in and covering her lips with his own. She let out a small gasp of surprise before she found herself reciprocating the kiss.
"That was inappropriate of me Erin, I'm so very sorry."
"No please, don't apologise. It was nice to have some human contact again."
"You don't deserve what you're going through Erin, it will get easier with time…I'm sure of it."
"I really hope so." She smiled.
"I should probably go, I…."
"Do you have too?"
"You mean you want me to stay."
"Please Agent Hotchner, the last thing I want is to be on my own."
"Well if I'm to stay, it's Aaron."
"Okay….Aaron."
She leaned in and kissed him again, smiling into the kiss as he pulled her closer. For the first time in a long time she felt safe.
…
To Be Continued…