She was late to work already, something she despised; she was always early. She had a blow out on the way in to the office and it was pouring down rain. It was a cool fall rain, she was drenched by the time she got her tire changed and was back on the road. She had sent Aaron a text to let him know she was running late, but didn't think to send another telling him about the flat tire. She was a hour late and looking like a drowned rat when she walked into the BAU bullpen.
She was shivering, she sat her purse on her desk and looked around. The rest of the team was huddled in Aaron's office, they turned around when they saw her.
Aaron came storming out of his office. "You're late Cooper!"
"I sent you a text, and told you I was running late."
"That was over a hour ago!"
"I had a blow out on my way in. Can I go change clothes please?" He noticed for the first time she was soaked from head to toe ans shivering.
"Go."
She went to the locker room and dried off as best she could, changing into some dry clothes. JJ and Garcia came in behhind her.
"Why is Hotch, so bent out of shape this morning?"
"He told us about the weekend. About Jack's car accident, about the men breaking into your townhouse." JJ said.
"Are you all right?" Garcia asked.
"I'm fine. Really."
She walked out into the bullpen to Morgan, Reid, and Rossi waiting for her. "What now?"
"You could have called one of us to change your tire." Rossi said.
"I appreciate it, but I've been taking care of myself for awhile now."
She never got rid of the chill from that morning, it rained all day. Aaron was in a foul mood and was short with her all day. The team noticed it, she was over this day and ready to go home.
"Izzy, want to go out for drinks tonight?" JJ asked.
"Sounds good to me." She didn't feel like dealing with Aaron's mood tonight. "Is P going with us?"
"Of course, so is Morgan and Spencer."
"Great!"
They left and went to the bar down the street together, Aaron watched her leave.
XXX
He felt angry at himself for being short with her all day, he let his worry turn to anger and he took it out on her.
"How long have you and Cooper been seeing each other?"
He turned and looked at Rossi. "What are you talking about?"
"I saw the brief look in your eyes when she got here this morning when she was late. I see the way you look at her, the way she looks at you."
"For several weeks."
"Are you going to tell the rest of the team?"
"We haven't discussed it."
"Secrets and lies Aaron, they can be dangerous."
XXX
"One drink, then I'm heading home. Bossman is already pissed at me! I can't be late tomorrow!"
"Come on Cooper!" Morgan begged.
"Sorry!"
"Well at least dance with me."
"Fine. Show me what you have." She let him drag her on the dance floor, she kept up with his moves, for the entire song.
"Not bad! You've got some moves!"
"I volunteer at the Y, teaching dance."
She had the one promised drink, waved good bye and left the bar, she didn't notice the man following her from the bar. She got in her jeep and headed home, the streets were crowded. She looked in her rear view mirror and noticed a truck coming up fast on her tail, she sped up and tried to out run the truck. The light turned red and she had to stop, the truck plowed into her. She flew into the intersection, she floored the gas to keep from getting hit from oncoming traffic.
The truck followed her, she pulled her phone from her purse and called the police giving them her information. She continued on through the streets, she was trying to lose the truck. It came up along the side of her and ran her into an over pass, she reached down and pulled her gun from the lock box under the seat. She scooted over to the passenger side, opened the door and rolled out. She crouched down and took aim as the driver came towards her, aiming a gun. She could hear sirens coming towards her. The gunman fired his gun, she fired back, he retreated to his truck and drove away.. She stepped out into the street and took aim at his tires hitting one and hitting the tailgate. He fished tailed and kept on driving, she was surrounded by dozen of police cars and FBI vehicles.
She leaned against the hood of her jeep to catch her breathe, rainy days and Mondays really sucked.
"Agent Cooper are you okay?" The officer asked.
"I'm fine."
She heard running towards her and looked up, Rossi, Morgan, JJ, and Reid were there.
"Cooper are you okay?" Asked Rossi.
"I'm fine."
"Have you called Hotch?" Morgan asked.
"Not yet."
"What happened?" Spencer asked.
She told them what happened and assured them she was fine. She promised to call Hotch and tell him what had happened, Rossi gave her a ride home. She had her jeep towed to an auto body shop.
"Where to?" Rossi asked.
"My townhouse." She said looking at him funny.
"I thought you might want to tell Aaron in person."
She closed her eyes for a moment. "What gave it away?"
"I can just tell, call it experience." She smiled at him. "So where to?"
"You know him better. How will he take it better a phone call or in person?"
"I'll take you to his apartment."
XXXX
She was drenched again and shivering when she got to Aaron's, she knocked on the door. He opened his door and saw her standing there looking like a drowned rat and shivering.
"Izzy?" He pulled her into his apartment and started pulling off her wet clothes. He picked her up and carried her to his bathroom, grabbing a towel he dried her off. He helped her put on a pair of his sweats and a t-shirt, he picked her up and carried her to his bed. Pulling her in his arms to get her warm.
"I have to tell you something."
"Me first. I'm sorry about today. When you were so late, I was worried..."
"Aaron! When I left the bar tonight I was, I was rear ended and pushed into traffic."
"Are you okay?"
"They followed me, ran me into an over pass. He got out of of the truck with a gun. I had mine with me, I got it out. Got out of my car. He fired at me, I fired back. I had already called for back up. He jumped in his truck and I stepped out into the street. I shot one tire out, and shot his tailgate." She felt his arms stiffen around her.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I didn't want you to worry or drag Jack out. The locals called FBI agents in, the team got the call. Rossi brought me over. My car is at the shop."
He kissed her, cupping her face and looking into her eyes. "Will you now, please let someone guard you?"
"Aaron..."
"Please?"
"No, I will be fine. I let my guard down. It won't happen again." She cuddled up against him for warmth and fell asleep.
XXX
"I'll take a cab to my house and get ready for work, then take a cab to the office."
"No! If you won't let an Agent stay with you, then I'll take you home, and wait for you to get ready."
"Aaron, and when we show up together at work?"
"I don't care! Your and Jack's safety is the most important thing to me." He had a hold of her shoulders, looking into her eyes. She had slipped her clothes back on from the night before.
"Fine!" She rolled her eyes and started to walk away from him. He grabbed her and kissed her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
They got to her townhouse, she ran up the stairs and jumped in the shower, she came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. He was sitting on her bed, he smiled at her.
"I think it's a little to casual for the office, but I like it!" She walked by him pushing him over, she threw the towel at him as she walked by. "Keep it up Cooper, and we're going to be late. Then they'll really talk." He heard her laugh in her closet, she came out wearing ice blue matching bra and panties, carrying a pants and a shirt. She lay them on the bed.
"Now, you're asking for it." He pulled her on top of him and started kissing her.
"Really? It won't look good if the boss is late!" She started to roll off of him, he rolled on top of her.
"I think I need to search you m'am!"
XXXX
They were five minutes late to work, they walked off the elevator together, no one looked twice. Aaron went up to his office to sort thru some mail, Izzy went to get a cup of coffee. Morgan followed her in, he looked at her, with a smile on his face.
"Why are you so smiley for Morgan?"
"I know your secret!"
"Oh?' She was hoping Spencer hadn't told.
"I know you and Spencer are seeing each other." She choked on her coffee.
"Excuse me?"
"He was all sorts of worried about you last night. Was upset because you never came home! Better smooth it over with Prince Charming!"
"Did you go and tell everyone else my secrets?"
"No, I'll keep it for now. Just don't break his heart." He walked out of the break room, she was sipping her coffee. Reid walked in and sat down at the table.
She sat down next to him. "What's on your mind Spenc?"
"Where'd you go last night? I was worried about you."
"I went to my boyfriends last night. I started seeing someone in the last week or two."
"Is it Morgan?" She choked on her coffee. Damn, twice in ten minutes. She looked around, they were alone, she got up and shut the door.
"No, it's another one of those big secrets."
He looked at her. "You know you can trust me!"
"I'm seeing Hotch."
"I won't say anything."
"Thanks Spenc."
They got up and went out into the bullpen and sat down at their desks.
XXX
Aaron opened a manila envelop and several pictures fell out. There was one of Izzy at the hospital holding Jack in the exam room, there was on of them at the zoo, on their picnic, there was several of just Izzy on the streets, there was one of her in the bar from the night before, and the final one was of her by her jeep with her gun drawn. The last one of Izzy had written across in Sharpe:
Almost had her last night. Your son and your lover can you keep them both safe?
He looked out at the bullpen and saw her laugh at something Morgan whispered to her. He sat back in his chair and picked up his phone, she was going to be pissed but it had to be done.