Profilers for Christmas
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds:
'It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise, this is as of men as of dogs.' Eric Hoffer.
XXXXXX
The Seven members of the BAU stood together in the bullpen getting ready to leave. It was Christmas eve. Most of the office had already left. Hotch in particular had his coat on and looked like he was about to dash out the double glass doors.
"Whoa there Hotch, At least let us wish you a merry christmas, you sure are in some hurry to leave." noted Rossi.
Hotch actually smiled at him "I'm eager to get home, Jack is with his aunt Jess. I want to wrap his presents before she brings him back," he explained.
"Ah I see, no other reason?" asked Rossi.
"Yes, It's christmas eve. Really Dave, you're turning into an old lady," He turned to the other members of his team. The rest of you, have a great holiday, See you all in a few days" He flashed them another uncharacteristic smile and dashed out the door.
"Old lady," grumbled Rossi "Like he's fooling anyone."
Penelope, who's ears were adorned with tiny christmas trees was could always pick up on the slightist hint of gossip.
"Rossi, are you saying Hotch might be...bike riding?" Garcia asked.
"I hope so, it's been a long time man, too long if you ask me," Morgan added.
"Well once you ride a bicycle, you never forget." Rossi said wriggling his eyesbrows.
Morgan grinned. "Long as he remembers to wear a helmet."
"You know riding a bike this time of year with the snow and ice on the road can be quite treacherous. What with the low visibility. Statistics show that..." Reid stopped speaking for he noticed the remaining members of the team were staring at him.
"You're not talking about actual bike riding are you?" he said quietly.
"No Reid we're not" said Rossi.
"Oh, and here I was about to tell everyone I used to ride so much I could barely walk," said Reid with wide eyes.
"Funny, me too," said Morgan with a smirk. the three women in the group all groaned at once.
"Oh dear, what stories is my baby boy been telling you now," said a cheerful voice behind them.
Everyone turned around to see an attractive middle aged woman standing with a petite young woman at her side. They were grinning at the surprised look on Morgan's face.
"Mama, Des, what are you two doing here," He said as he went to hug them.
"We ran into agent Hotchner downstairs, he cleared us to come in."
"Everyone, this is my mother Fran Morgan and my baby sister Desiree, theyre staying with me for Christmas. Mama, I think you met everyone except David Rossi,"
His mother turned and smiled at Rossi "The famous David Rossi" she asked offering her hand.
"Please, just call me Dave," He said as he warmly shook her hand.
"Only if you call me Fran," she answered.
The BAU team exchanged looks at the mild flirting taking place before them.
Morgan blinked for a moment, "Ah why you here Mom?"
"Ah yes, well sweetheart, I went to bake my pies this morning and your oven doesn't work. I tried to call a repairman, but no one wants to work on Christmas eve." I'm sorry sweetie but I think we may have to eat out tonight. There must be some restaurant we can go to tomorrow."
Morgan looked aghast. "No,damn that stove, on the fritz again! I put that model in all my properties too. What are we going to do with a 15 pound turkey?"
"Bring it to my house! you can cook it there" said Rossi. Morgan looked at him, surprised by his offer.
"What, don't you have plans?" said Morgan.
Rossi waved him off. "I have standing invitations at four different relatives homes. I go if I feel like it, they know that. So how about it?" He looked back and forth between Mother and son.
Morgan looked less than thrilled but he could see the excitment in his mother and sister's face. Rossi was a celebrity of sorts and he hated the thought of having his mother and sister eating their christmas dinner in a restaurant the first time they come to Virginia for the holidays.
"I guess, if it's not too much trouble." he said slowly while silently cursing all oven appliances in his head.
"Great! would you mind a little Italian flair with it?" enthused Rossi.
"Now Mr Rossi.. I mean Dave, I insist you let me help with the cooking." stated Morgan's mother.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he replied.
Morgan coughed. "Ahem, so what are everyone else's plans?"
"I'm going to spend the holidays with Kevin's family, " said Garcia.
"My mother is coming to stay with Will and I."
"Vegas, Bennington," said Reid.
"Mother's " said Emily.
Garcia narrowed her eyes at Reid and Prentiss.
"They're both lying, Prentiss's mother is in Paris and Reid didn't book a flight" stated Garcia.
The two profilers glared at Garcia, though they were impressed with her ability to know the business of absolutely everyone.
Prentiss was the first to speak, "I'm sorry, It's just that Paris was the last place I wanted to see, ya know," she looked at Reid as if to say what's your excuse brainboy.
Reid didn't hesitate. "Mom's been having a difficult time with her meds lately, I doubt she even knows it's christmas right now. Sorry I lied." Reid said. He looked rather sheepish
"Oh you poor thing," Fran clucked. She had a soft spot for the shy genius along with a fierce desire to feed him.
"Well then, I guess you're coming to my house too," said Rossi.
Before either one could reply, Fran walked over and wrapped her arms around Reid in a motherly embrace; she then turned and offered Prentiss a big smile.
"Oh Derek, this is going to be wonderful, just like a big family, if only youir sister Sarah was able to be here and your Aunt and Uncle too, It'd be perfect." she said happily .
"Yup Perfect," said Derek. feeling more and more like the grinch.
XXXXXX
Hotch shivered, he didn't know if it was from the cold or nerves. He had lied to his team, Hotch had wrapped Jack's gifts ages ago. He had been in a hurry to leave because he had agreed to meet Beth for a quick coffee before she left to visit with her mother. She had been the one that called and made the date, Aaron didn't feel he had the courage to do something like that yet still he was glad she did.
He walked into the warm homey dinner she had suggested. It smelled like pumpkin pie and coffee. The counter and walls were decorated in old tacky christmas ornaments that had seen better days yet somehow managed to make the place seem more charming than sad.
He saw her sitting at a booth. She greeted him with a smile and waved him over. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold. He liked that she looked geniunely happy to see him.
"Aaron, sit down, I ordered you a coffee, I hope that's alright."
"That's fine ," he said.
The two sat for a few minutes in an almost awkward silence. It occurred to Aaron that this was really the first time that they weren't at some sporting venue. They actually had to sit and talk to one another. He felt like a teenager on a first date.
"What are your plans ?" she asked him.
My son and I are spending christmas with his aunt, they're very close." She smiled at him and he noticed how pretty she was and what a lovely smile she had.
The waitress brought their coffee, they spent a minute sipping from their mugs.
"That sounds nice, I mean I love kids at christmas. I'll be spending a few days with my Mom, then I'm free .Actually the gallery I work for puts on a nice party at new years. Lots of good food and not too terrible champagne,"
Now she was nervous. She pretended to find something on the placemat fascinating. She was surprised to find she had butterflies in her stomach, she wasn't usually scared to ask men out but this man was unlike anyone she had ever met.
Luckily Aaron picked up the thread of conversation.
Are you going with someone, to the party I mean?" Hotch asked, his heart beating a mile a minute.
"If you're free and agreeable to going I am,"
"I am," he said simply."free and agreeable, that is"
Beth breathed a sigh of relief, she was happy to have that out of the way with the outcome she wanted. For the next 40 minutes the nervousness steadily fell away for both of them. They found their voices again and began to talk like two people who had known each other for years instead of weeks . he told her about the FBI and profiling. She told him about her work and how important her career was to her.
Both had to leave. They left the diner and after bading each other a merry Christmas they walked away in opposite directions. Hotch felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He looked over his shoulder and sure enough, she was watching him walk away.
TBC? Do you want me to continue?
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