When Alex Blake woke up, she was in a hospital bed. Hotch was standing in the doorway of her room, arms folded, looking out into the hallway.
He wasn't wearing a jacket, she realized a bit slowly, and felt around for the button on the bed that would push her up to a seated position.
"Am I okay?" She asked, as he heard the sound of the bed's mechanisms and turned to see her awake.
"You're fine," he replied, smiling warmly and striding forward. "Good job, Alex."
She smiled back. "The drug...?"
"Not lethal or lasting. Reid can get you the name and everything you need to know, but we didn't even have to have your stomach pumped." He smiled again. "You threw that drink out just in time, Alex."
He was calling her by her first name, she realized. How sweet.
"Garcia called," he continued. "She's waiting for news very anxiously. I can smuggle a phone in here if you need to call her."
She nodded, thinking that it would probably be a nice touch. After all, it couldn't be easy to always be behind on cases; to always be the last to know when someone was injured or recovering.
"Maybe later," she said. "Where's the rest of the team? I'd almost expect everyone to be hovering around my bedside."
He smiled again. "I think we all wanted to," he said, unfolding his arms. "But Morgan and Rossi are back at the station, getting Craig to crack, and Reid and JJ took a car over to Craig's apartment to search it."
"Ah, never any rest," she commented.
"No," he said. "But I took my rights as Unit Chief very seriously and decided to stay behind with you."
"Well played," she told him. "Um...Hotch, thank you."
"For what? Sending you into a life threatening situation and almost getting you killed?" Hotch asked lightly but she could tell that he was dead serious in this moment.
"For trusting me," she said. "For having confidence that I could get the job done. I've only been on this team for a few months. I...it meant...it means a lot."
His gaze softened. "I do trust you," he said. "I always did. Why else would I hire you?"
She burst out laughing, and he laughed with her, and then they were both just thankful.
"Need a phone?" He asked again, holding his out.
"Sure," she said.
"I'll let you call Garcia in private," he told her. "And you're good to go, as soon as JJ and Reid return from Craig's apartment. I told JJ to bring your go bag over as soon as they were done; your clothes from last night are here but we didn't think you'd want to put them on again. The doctor will probably have discharged you by the time she gets here."
"Okay," she said, the weight of his phone in her hand as he strode out of the room, closing the door behind him.
He was so sweet. Such a good man. He actually felt guilty about sending her in there. She thought of other bosses she'd had in the past and knew that most wouldn't have batted an eye.
And yet...
She crinkled her nose in puzzlement, carefully hitting the speeddial for Garcia.
Yes, she and Penelope were on much better terms than they used to be, but...
Why did he think she needed to call her first? And in private?
"I'll just go in and get Alex's bag," JJ said, opening the door of the SUV.
"Okay," Reid said, already fishing in his bag for a book to read. She paused before closing the door, looking at one of her closest friends.
"Spence?" She questioned.
He glanced up, immediately focusing all of his attention on her. "Yeah, JJ?"
"Do you think Garcia and..." She trailed off.
Reid waited expectantly. "And who?"
"It's none of my business," JJ sighed. "You like Alex, don't you?"
"She's great," Reid said.
"She's so private. What else do you know about her?" JJ hedged, not wanting to end their conversation but not wanting to ask the real question. Do you think Garcia and Alex will be happy together? Do you think they're serious, mutually exclusive? "Are she and her husband actually together anymore?"
"She hasn't worn her ring in all the time I've known her," Reid said. "I think it was more that they never took the time to divorce, because they've found no reason to."
"Huh," JJ said.
"If you're worried about whether Alex is cheating, I certainly wouldn't count it as that," Reid continued. "I wouldn't be surprised if she and James have some sort of agreement."
JJ flashed a glance at him, surprised. "Okay. I suppose what matters is that Garcia and Alex are happy, right?"
She closed the door and walked into the hotel, not noticing when Reid rolled down his window to call after her.
"Wait, JJ!" She was already inside the hotel, and unbeknownst to her, Reid sank back down in his seat, puzzled. "Garcia? What does she have to do with it?"
Alex's go bag was next to her bed, neatly zipped and packed. JJ smiled at the sight and picked it up; it was light.
She remembered what Alex had said, about having three outfits...if she was remembering correctly (and she knew she was) Alex had already worn two. So what was the third?
She had no reason to check. No reason at all to snoop, especially since Alex would be wearing the third outfit later, presumably.
But regardless, JJ unzipped the bag, making the excuse that she was double checking that everything was still inside.
What rested on top...she hoped Alex wasn't wearing that to the office. Was that...silk? Lace? Black lace...see through...
JJ's eyes widened and she zipped the bag shut again, her cheeks bright red, and her heart beating at a rapid fire pace.
Why would Alex have packed that for this trip?
She remembered the night before; Alex's lips against hers. She remembered kissing her back, and the utter shock afterwards when she tried to process what Alex had said and what it meant for herself...and for Garcia.
Garcia wasn't on this trip with them.
"You're okay," Reid said delightedly, coming into her room after a careful knock and wait period to make sure she let him in.
"I am!" Alex exclaimed. "It's so good to see you. Did JJ bring my clothes?"
"Yeah, she's talking to Hotch," Reid said. "Have you been discharged yet?"
"The doctor was just in here; as long as I get this filled," she said, holding up a prescription order. "Then I'm good to go."
"I guess we're going home then," Reid said.
"Yeah, I'm glad we wrapped it up so neatly," Alex replied. "And quickly. I didn't expect that."
"It was mostly you," Reid told her.
JJ came in behind him, holding out Alex's bag. "Hey, I brought your bag," she said.
Alex studied JJ carefully, wondering why JJ was avoiding looking at her. She took the bag. "Thank you. I'm a bit tired of wearing this gown, I can tell you."
JJ smiled a little stiffly and walked from the room.
"Did I do something?" She asked Reid.
"She's been acting a bit off ever since she and Hotch got to you and Craig," Reid said. "Do you want me to—"
"No, stay, I'll change in the bathroom, I want to keep talking," Alex said, wondering if she'd have been willing to do this a few days ago. She really did owe Garcia a lot. "Did I do something then?"
Reid paused. "You don't remember?"
"No, the doctor explained it all," Alex said. "It's just a bit fuzzy. I remember Craig taking me, and me attacking him...Hotch and JJ coming through the door. Then it's just a blur." She shrugged, remembered that Reid couldn't see her and pulled her hospital gown off.
"Well, I wasn't there," Reid said. "To state the obvious. Maybe you said something then. It could be worth it to ask her."
"I guess," Alex said, pulling a pair of skinny jeans on. Damn it, these were tighter than she remembered. But when she looked in the mirror, she decided it was worth it. She honestly looked younger, just by putting on a tighter pair of jeans.
She turned, glancing at her ass, and then remembered that she'd spent the whole day yesterday parading around in leather pants so the damage was already done; the BAU and indeed the entire town had already gotten an eyeful so whatever.
The top was soft and a very light yellow. She'd hesitated at the store, but looking at herself now, it did lighten her up, make her look less severe.
Remembering Garcia's words, she pulled her hair into a loose bun and left the bathroom, sitting in the chair to pull her shoes on; brown booties with a zipper going up the side.
Reid was standing there, staring into space a little.
She followed his line of vision and saw Hotch through the window; he was talking to JJ, and the Unit Chief seemed more animated than usual; he was smiling and moving his hands.
He wasn't wearing a jacket.
She glanced back at Reid, noting something in his gaze. Hmm. That would be interesting.
But it was probably just like her and JJ. Just a harmless crush.
She placed the bag of clothes from last night inside the go bag, wondering if she'd ever want to wear leather pants again, and if she'd ever find an occasion.
"What do you think of leather, Reid?" She wondered, slinging the bag over her shoulder.
"It's not very practical," Reid said, paying attention to her again. "Why?"
She chuckled, knowing that of course Reid wouldn't notice what pants she'd worn yesterday. His mind was on a higher plane.
"It doesn't matter," she said. "Let's go."
Morgan and Rossi were waiting at the airplane, and they greeted Alex with big hugs; something that surprised but pleased her. Did she mean that much to them, already?
Feeling oddly warm and cozy, she boarded the plane and curled into a seat, picking up her file so she could get it done before they got home. Due to some various paperwork and kinks, it was already afternoon, and she knew that if everyone got their files done Hotch wouldn't require anyone to go into the BAU (excepting himself, of course).
JJ was still avoiding looking at her and Alex was wondering why. She wanted to ask, but Rossi and Morgan had settled in across from her, ready for a laidback conversation filled with innuendos, mild digs and jokes.
Speaking of odd behavior, Morgan was looking at her strangely too.
What was this?
Rossi was jocular and teasing, talking about her leather pants yesterday.
Alex couldn't really concentrate on the conversation, tuning it out as she gazed at JJ.
The blonde was steadfastly looking out the window, hiding away from the world, it seemed.
JJ's face in profile seemed to be reminding Alex of something; there was something niggling at the back of her mind. Had something happened?
She had a vision, memory, wisp of JJ leaning over her; of them kissing.
Gah, dreams.
Alex dismissed the thoughts quickly, not wanting to be sporting a blush in front of Morgan and Rossi.
She noticed that Morgan seemed to have disconnected from the conversation as well. He'd picked up his phone and was staring at the screen. She made an excuse and stood up, saw that it was Garcia's face on the screen.
Why would he hesitate to call her?
What was happening in the BAU? Alex wondered. And why did it all seem to have started when Alex changed her wardrobe?
A/N: So now people are starting to piece together things, and we learn that Reid might be the most intelligent member of the BAU after all. Not that anyone had any doubts :)
Sorry that it's been almost a month, but I do know where I'm going next.
MiladyGirl, I promise fireworks next time to make up for the wait.