Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. No profit is being made. (Don't own Dairy Queen, either.)
(This chapter is dialogue-heavy. I don't anticipate the story having many chapters like this, but if you care one way or the other, drop me a review or a PM and I'll try to keep that in mind when I let the muses loose.)
Better for Everyone
Chapter Three
"Aaron, I had a lot of fun tonight. Thank you," Jayezma said as she stood up from the table.
"May I see you again?" Hotch inquired, standing up as well and helping her into her coat.
"I don't know that you'd want to."
"I would."
"I have baggage, and I'm not looking for a casual relationship."
"Everyone has baggage. I do, too. I was reluctant to come tonight because of my aversion to casual relationships. Now I'm glad I did. If you want to see me again, just say so. Pay no regard to what you feel is holding you back. If you can honestly say that you want this to be it, then walk away right now."
She stayed where she stood. "You can be very persuasive. Anyone ever told you that? Although I don't know if I should be wary of you now or not... After all, it isn't necessarily safe to meet up with people you find while out clubbing..."
Hotch laughed. "Very astute conclusion. If I showed you my badge, would that put your mind at ease?"
"I knew it! Right on the nose. Law enforcement!"
"How'd you know?"
"You should know. I bet you're a detective... no, a Fed. And I'd almost be willing to bet you're a profiler."
"Should I be concerned?"
"No. I'm just perceptive. I once considered a career in law enforcement."
"Past tense?"
"Life got in the way."
"Hmm. Care to guess the agency?"
"All federal agencies have profilers."
"Is that a 'no', then?"
"But... your friends over there appear to be more of the same, so I'm guessing y'all work in a group unless there's a new Profiler Convention that meets for weekly outings, which I highly doubt. So, I'm going to take a stab at it- and it also helps that my guess is the largest employer of profilers, raising my chances of being right- and say FBI."
"Very good!"
"And, since that was right, and I'm still operating under the assumption that y'all work together often since you've developed enough of a rapport for you to trust them to drag you out to go chasin' women, I'd say all four of y'all are with the BAU. How'd I do?"
"You really should've been a profiler."
"I've still got time."
"How does morning coffee sound?"
"Just fine. When?"
"Would tomorrow be too soon?"
Jayezma laughed good-naturedly. "I'll see what I can do. What time?"
"Nine?" Seeing the grimace cross her face, he gave her a questioning glance. "Too early?"
"Oh, goodness no! It's just... In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you now: I have two kids- twins. Tomorrow, I've got to hit the road at nine-thirty for a Little League game. Coffee at nine would be cutting it a bit close."
"Is that all? Really, it's nothing to worry about. I have a son myself, and honestly, I was afraid that would deter you. I can do earlier. How about eight?"
"Sounds good."
"What coffee shop do you like?"
"I've never actually been in one. I'm not a big coffee drinker. If I get coffee out at all, I get it iced, from a drive-through," she admitted sheepishly.
"Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who's never been to a coffee shop. I just drink mine black; don't need anything special to drink it that way. There's a Dairy Queen right next to a nice little park off of Jefferson Davis near Dumfries. We could get coffee, then go over and sit at a picnic table or something. Would that be too far for you?"
"Oh, no, I know the place you're talking about; I live in Joplin. It's right down the road from me! Sounds great. Eight, then?"
"See you at eight, Jayezma."
"Goodbye, Aaron."
Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I enjoy writing, and I hope y'all enjoy reading this. Constructive criticism is welcome. I hope to get Chapter Four up sometime tomorrow, but I apologize if updates are sporadic after that; I start a part-time job Tuesday, so that will limit my opportunities to write. I promise to keep writing, though, for those of you who want to keep reading.
More to come!
~Dixie
