Anote: I am still experimenting with the amount of dark and light to have in a chapter. This time I am going with two cups fluff and one cup angst. Let me know if I should change the recipe.
Chapter 8- Shall we discuss this over tea?
'Sir, are you alright?' Garcia queried worriedly, 'I heard shouting'
She and Hotchner danced for a few seconds after having colliding at the top of the stairs.
'Where's Emily?' he asked instead settling the blonde woman securely on her feet, 'I need her'
Whoa, I need her, Penelope thought in wonder fanning herself vigorously in her mind.
'Ammm…she's resting' she replied to his back as he stalked off.
She lengthened her stride to match his. She may not be a profiler like him but her intuition said that something was amiss.
He had one hand on the door knob when he turned to look at the anxious woman, 'Why don't I sit with her a spell and you can…take a shower and get ready for bed'
The young technician wrung her hands nervously as she uncertainly turned away.
'I'm fine' he lied.
Hotch waited patiently until she had disappeared into the bathroom before entering the room. Just being able to see Emily's face was like a balm to his suddenly troubled mind. She slept peacefully, thank god, and her face was free from any lines of strain and worry. Like a puppet that had its string cut, the older agent sank to the floor close to the bed head so that he could be near her face. He listened to the rhythmic sounds of her breathing allowing the sound to carry him into a meditative state. At one time he would have questioned when, how and why Emily had become so vital to his existence but of late he decided it was just best to go with the flow.
'I gave Morgan the team's keys' he confided to her quietly.
She of course said nothing, sleeping the deep sleep of the heavily medicated.
'I mean he's the team leader he should have them, right?' he questioned, his finger tracing the patterns in the bed spread.
His mind darted restlessly from one thought to the next. If she was awake she would say…well he didn't know what she would say only that it would be the just the right thing to say.
'I should have given it to him months ago, but it's …He's a really good leader, don't you think?' he added almost bitterly.
He listened a moment to the muted sound of Garcia singing 'Silent night' and turned around so that his back was against the mattress and the uncomfortable metal bed frame.
'When Rossi had come back to the BAU I had asked why and he said he was here to help. He didn't care that he didn't have seniority'
It would appear then that his mentor and old friend was a far better person than he was and as Aaron covered his face with his hands he was glad that she was asleep. He had lost his dream of family and his position on the team; he couldn't lose her respect too.
After her quick shower, Garcia tiptoed down the corridor and paused to press her ear against Emily's door. Hearing nothing she opened the door and peeped into the room.
'Sir?' she whispered into the dark.
Aaron started out of his trance when he heard her voice but clambered to his feet beckoning for her to come in. As he placed a comfortable seat for her near the bed, his eyes popped as he took in her colourful dressing gown. Only Garcia could pull of a garment that was decorated with skating penguins all wearing festive Christmas hats.
'Sir, I bought some tea and I was going to make a cup. Can I make you one?'
Hotch patted the back of the chair invitingly, 'No I'll make you one, any preference?'
Gracefully she seated herself pleased at his more calm and friendly behaviour, 'whatever you are having is fine'
She was startled when Hotch's arms surrounded her from behind as he bent to place a light kiss on cheek.
'You're the best, Garcia' he commented warmly.
He rolled his eyes at her cheeky, 'I know'
As he padded down the stairs he began switching off the unnecessary lights until he hit the kitchen where a nasty shock awaited him.
The bunch of keys was still on the counter.
They looked almost sinister as the harsh metal lines glinted in the strong overhead kitchen lights. He braced himself on the counter frowning down at them, wondering what this meant.
'Hotch?' a sleepy voice said.
The lead agent raised his head and could just make out a shadowy figure lying on the couch.
'Reid, where's Morgan?' he inquired swiftly, cautiously wending his way around the furniture.
'He's driving JJ home, and Rossi's following in his car to bring him back. Jack fell asleep, so JJ said she would take him for the night' the young profiler replied as he struggled to rise.
Aaron's eyes widened in fear as he looked at the pillows propping up the young man's leg, 'Are you in pain?'
'It's all stiff' he admitted, clutching the limb fretfully.
Reid smiled and snagged the hand Hotch was helplessly waving over the affected region, 'the pain will go away on its own. Are you going to make something to eat?'
'Garcia wants some tea' he said absentmindedly still worried about Reid's state. Lying down the way he was, made the thin young man look even more fragile.
The genius' eyes lit up at the mention of caffeinated drinks and Aaron hurried into the kitchen to put the kettle on.
Rummaging thorough the plastic sacks on the table he called, 'peppermint, citrus, raspberry or holiday spice?'
Reid narrowed his eyes at the unfamiliar selections and tentatively decided on the holiday spice. As the water boiled noisily, Hotch assembled cups and searched for milk and sugar.
'I don't know how Garcia takes her tea' the older man said out loud, berating himself for not asking.
'One sugar, two milk' the genius supplied.
He was about to ask his friend if he was sure but stopped himself just in time, 'and you?'
'Three sugars, no milk'
Hotch smiled down at the counter but said nothing as he mixed the requested ingredients.
A wonderful scent filled the air, and for a moment the holiday sprit washed liberally over them. Raising the young man to a sitting position, Hotch handed him his cup and generally hovered as Reid blew on the hot beverage to cool it.
'I am fine, Aaron' Spencer said patiently dropping the formality in the hope that the older agent would remember that he was not two years old.
He had toughed up considerably in the last couple of years but no one seemed to notice that.
'It's the cold weather that is making my leg cramp up' he explained, 'I am not going to die!'
Reid almost dropped his spice tea. Panicked he looked over at his friend, horrified at his callous and thoughtless remark.
Hocth slowly turned his head, nailing him with a frigid stare. The tension between them could have been cut with the proverbial knife.
Reid couldn't believe that he had done this twice in one night! Inwardly he cringed not knowing what to expect from the cold man at his side.
A teasing 'GOTCHA!" grin spread over Hotch's face, causing Reid to throw a couch pillow at him in amused frustration.
Laughing, the older agent easily sidestepped the missile and patted the genius' shoulder asking him to send Morgan upstairs when he came in.
Anote: Thanks to my reviewers and hello to 'House broken' who never fails to drop a line. The character Dave Rossi has just alerted me to the fact that he has no lines in this story so far and I have to admit I don't know what to do with him, any ideas?
