Chapter 9
As soon as they stepped off the elevator Harry Novak was waiting for them. Shawna was the first to speak to Harry. They didn't have much for Harry to do, but he was keeping this story from getting out. "Where is John?"
Harry pointed to Hotch's office. "He's waiting in there. And Shawna, he's with him."
"Who's with him?" Shawna had no idea what Harry was talking about.
"It's our new agent, Anson Wilder."
Shawna stood with her mouth open. She forgot that they were getting a new agent and she was not prepared to deal with him today. She was getting angry and she went to Hotch's door, she was about to knock when the door opened.
Hotch was surprised to see her standing there her, fist in the air ready to bang on the door. Shawna face made him stop in his tracks. He stepped out of his office and said to John Seechey that he would be right back. He grabbed Shawna by the arm and took her down the hall to Rossi's office. He opened the door and stepped inside. Dave watched from the bullpen but didn't say anything.
Once inside, Hotch let go of Shawna's arm. She stood looking at him defiantly. He watched her, refusing to be the first to talk. She was aware of what he was trying to do and she remained silent. After a few minutes passed she gave up and said, "I can't believe he would bring on someone new in the middle of all of this."
"Agent Flynn, you do not have a choice here. And you need to find a way to work this out." He practically barked the words at her. And Shawna was taken aback by them. She blinked and stared at him as if she had never seen him before. Suddenly she was Agent Flynn to him. She shook her head in disbelief and then she stormed out of Rossi's office.
"Shawna!" He yelled to her.
She slammed the door and everyone in the bullpen looked up. She stopped for a moment before running to the stairwell and heading to the third floor.
Julie didn't hesitate before she walked up the steps and pushed the button on the elevator. She had to make sure Shawna was alright. Once on the third floor she went to Shawna's office and the door was open, but the room was empty. Julie was puzzled about that. She was sure that Shawna would have come here. Julie heard sobs and she followed the sound. She came to the stairwell and she pushed the door open. Shawna sat on the steps her face in her hands, crying. Julie moved towards her and Shawna looked up. She felt embarrassed by the spectacle she was making of herself, and she put her hands back over her face. Julie sat down on the step next to Shawna and pulled her into her arms hugging her friend. Shawna put her head on Julie's shoulder. After they sat like that for awhile Julie said, "Come on lets get you cleaned up." She led her to the bathroom and let Shawna wash her face.
Julie spoke to Shawna's back as she bent over the sink. "You needed to do that. Get it out we all do. Loosing Alex and Hayden…" Julie paused a moment. "And now JJ, it's too much."
Julie didn't mention Hotch, and Shawna was relieved. She was feeling like a fool right now and she didn't need it rubbed in her face that he didn't want her the way she wanted him. He made that clear treating her like an employee a few moments ago. She felt fresh tears well up in her eyes and she pinched her thigh to keep from getting emotional again. The spot she pinched stung, but it did the trick. She blotted her face with a paper towel. And then she turned to look at Julie. "Thank you! I just need a moment to put on some make up and then we will go meet Anson Wilder."
Julie nodded. She left the bathroom and went to her desk. She couldn't remember the last time she sat there. Ten minutes later Shawna came out of the bathroom and went to her office. She spent three minutes in there and then was ready to go upstairs. Julie didn't know how she did it, but she didn't look as if she had been crying. They walked the stairs to the 6th floor.
Everyone avoided looking at Shawna and she didn't care if they did or not. She went to Hotch's office and knocked on the door. Hotch answered and told her to come inside. He asked her to have a seat and she looked at the futon, but avoided it.
"No thank you I'll stand." Once introduced to Anson Wilder she shook his hand and said, "Welcome to the team." She turned and walked out of the office, this time leaving the door open.
John Seechey introduced Anson to the rest of the team. Anson sat with Reid and Julie as they went over the last two weeks events bringing him up to date. Emily was lingering near by and Morgan was talking with Harry Novak. Emily studied Anson; He was 6 foot tall max. He had mousy brown hair cut short on the sides and longer on the top, side part to the left which suggested he was left handed. That was confirmed the minute he picked up the pen to take notes. He had a long thin nose, weaker Jaw line but he was attractive in a semi boyish way. He had dimples but he didn't smile much. Emily could see he had slight indentations on his cheeks but he didn't crack a smile the whole time he was here. She didn't expect one and would be suspicious if he did smile. He looked up and saw her staring at him she averted her eyes quickly. She wasn't being rude she just was curious. Emily's assessment was cut short when John Seechey barked at Shawna.
"Agent Flynn, my office please."
This was the second time someone called her by her title today and she didn't like the tone they used. Shawna followed John to the elevators. He didn't say anything to her until they were inside his office and the door was closed.
Shawna thought, Oh boy here it comes. She was certain Hotch had complained about her.
"I don't have any idea what all of that was about. And really Shawna, I don't give a damn."
Shawna was shocked, she rarely heard John curse or use any negativity. As a matter of fact he was the complete opposite of Hotch, and at times it annoyed her. He was the leader of this team and his optimism could grate on her nerves. All the things they've seen and the awful parts of life they had to deal with didn't make someone optimistic. But yet John Seechey always was.
"You need to pull it together." He continued, and Shawna was drawn out of her daydream.
"You will be running this team soon. And how can I expect you to do that if you can't even show a new agent what we expect from him or her?"
Shawna was about to reply when John went on.
"This spring my son will be graduating from Florida State and soon afterwards he will be marrying his high school sweetheart. Do you know what my wife told me?"
Shawna didn't reply she was aware he didn't expect an answer.
"She told me, with or without me she was going to be living in Florida, awaiting grandchildren! There is only one way I will be there with her. And do you know what that way will be? No, I don't think you do. So let me spell it out for you. You Agent Flynn will be my ticket to Florida. You will run this team and only you, so don't screw it up!"
Shawna was dumbfounded. She did not expect to hear John tell her he was leaving and doing it with her in mind as his replacement. "What will you do in Florida?" It was the only thing she could think of to say.
"Run a Rita's." His anger was spent and the optimism returned. He walked over to her and put his hands on either side of her shoulders, squeezing slightly, his idea of a hug. "You will be fine. I know you can do this, Hell if I am honest you have been doing this job for over a year. My heart hasn't been in it, in a long time. And with Alex, and Hayden… it's over."
Shawna knew he was right and she was happy he could find something for himself. She was a little scared about running it by herself, but yet she was excited at the idea of having her team. This knowledge took the sting off of the disappointment she felt with Hotch.
