Day 2 of the Love & Carbonite Labor Day Surprise!
Now Karen is involved. What do you think happens next? Read and find out.
It was 8 am Sunday morning, and Aubrey was sound asleep as Skinner stood on his chest and stared at him. Hearing his phone buzz, he ignored the cat walking on him as he reached over to grab it. He groaned softly as he saw who the message was from.
Where were u last nite?
Aubrey knew Karen was annoyed because he hadn't answered any of her four phone calls last night, but he didn't care. It really wasn't any of her business where he'd been. He thought about not answering her text, but decided it would be easier to get it over with.
Out w/ friends. Back late.
Feeling Skinner head butt his ass, the agent got up to feed him and make some coffee. After filling the bowl, he heard his phone buzz again. Reading it, he shook his head in frustration.
Who were u out w/?
Aubrey wasn't going to lie, but he wasn't going to drag Jessica into his drama either. Typing a text, he sent it.
A good friend of mine.
Hoping she would take the hint, Aubrey got out the coffee beans and cinnamon from the cupboard. As he finished grinding the beans, he heard another text come in. When he saw the message, he quickly graduated from frustrated to very annoyed.
Any 1 I know?
"Take a fucking hint, Karen.", the lanky man muttered to himself before sending a simple message.
An old girlfriend.
When the coffee was brewed he poured a cup before taking the box of Lucky Charms down from the cupboard. That's when he heard the phone again. Picking it up, he read the message.
Got back from WA last nite. Sorry unavailable last wk but FBI needed me more than u.
"Hmmmm, nice try but sorry, no guilt.", Aubrey said before turning to his cat. "Skinner, I think that Karen lady you don't like is pissed at Daddy."
The agent smiled as the orange tabby's fluffy tail started flicking hard back and forth before he ran off to use his litter box. Chuckling to himself, Aubrey sent another message.
It's OK. I managed all rite. Bureau comes 1st.
Aubrey ate his breakfast quickly, knowing he had chores to do before going to Booth and Brennan's. After putting his empty bowl and coffee cup in the sink, he jumped in the shower and got dressed. When he brushed his teeth, he got another text.
How about dinner Satay Sarinah? A date w/ pigeon & u could b fun.
Aubrey took a deep breath. She knew the significance of that place for him and Jessica and it infuriated him that she was playing this game. Needing a break from her, he replied with the following:
No thanx. Have plans l8r.
Satisfied, he got his laundry together before turning to his bed. Coming around, he stripped the sheets that had been there since he broke up with Jessica.
He had a strong hunch she would be with him in that bed again one day in the near future.
Karen saw Aubrey's last message and fumed. She'd left for a week to teach him a lesson, but it obviously went over the agent's head. However, remembering his reaction when she was blatant about her intentions, the profiler knew she needed to keep her cards close to the vest.
She thought she would have him when she suggested dinner at Satay Sarinah. He loved their pigeon. Yeah, he had a date with that flaky forensic anthropologist there...big fucking deal.
The profiler recalled Jessica's attempts to get her boyfriend to have a healthier diet. She laughed as she remembered that the redhead bimbo had wanted a virile man like Aubrey to survive on black kale chia smoothies. How stupid was she to think her boyfriend would permanently drink something like that?
Then the bitch interrupted her diner time with the agent by bringing in healthy meals like vegetarian lasagna and American goulash with lean sirloin 2 or 3 times a week. Because of that, Aubrey wasn't going out as much, even for his morning coffee time, which she had learned to time for her 'accidental meetings'. The few times she was able to join him for lunch when Jessica, Booth, or that holier than thou Dr. Brennan couldn't be there were now gone.
Suddenly, it came to her. To win him over, she had to use his love of food. To her knowledge, there wasn't anything he wouldn't eat, so she'd bring him lunch like Jessica used to and that would get his attention again. Of course, he would whine about that flaky redhead, but Karen knew she had to be his friend before she could get him into bed.
'After all, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.', she thought to herself, smiling as she remembered her grandmother's words of wisdom.
Then he'd know what he'd been missing while he was with that graduate student. From what she found out through the grapevine and from talking to Aubrey, Jessica graduated from Michigan State on full scholarships with two bachelors and one master's degree, all summa cum laude and at the top of her class. What pissed Karen off even more was that the redhead got a full ride while she'd had to struggle to get grants and other types of aid. Of course, she now had mountains of student loan debt but the FBI was paying $10,000 per year of it for the next six years.
'Child prodigy, huh?', Karen bitterly thought to herself. 'More like probably fucked her way to her honors. Wonder who she jumped to get her internship at the Jeffersonian? Probably that Angela Montenegro so she would put in a good word with Dr. Brennan. Rumor has it she used to swing both ways before marrying that crazy Dr. Hodgins. I could totally see Jessica doing that.'
Wanting to make sure Aubrey would be available for her call, she sent him a text message.
Making you chicken 4 dinner. Come by around 5:00 PM :)
Grabbing her laptop and coffee, Karen started researching recipes to make for Aubrey. He said he was busy, but no way would he turn down a free meal.
Aubrey played with Christine while Booth and Brennan were making dinner. Tonight they were eating garlic shrimp Alfredo and he was salivating at the wonderful aroma. As the agent was ready to take his turn in Candy Land, his phone rang. Seeing who the caller was, he ignored it and set it down.
"Uncle Aubrey, your phone is ringing.", Christine said.
"I know, Christine, but I'm busy having fun with you right now. They can leave a message and if it's important and I can call them later. After all, I don't to miss my turn in the game..."
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Thirty minutes later, Aubrey was sipping his wine with dinner when he heard his phone buzz. Concerned it might be work, he checked it, but when he saw who the caller was, he set it back down without answering it.
"Aubrey, you can get that if you need to, especially if it's work.", Brennan said.
"It's not important, Dr. B. They can leave a message.", the agent said before looping more wheat linguine onto his fork. "My mother always said that answering a phone call during dinner, unless it was truly important, was rude."
As he ate, he finished his comment to himself. 'But of course, my father had a different definition of important than we did.'
"You would rather eat dinner with us than talk on the phone?", Christine asked in surprise.
"Most definitely, Mini Booth number one.", Aubrey said, smiling as he popped another shrimp in his mouth.
Jessica was incredulous. "So she called you how many times today?"
"Four or five, Jess.", Aubrey said as he sat in his living room watching the Simpsons with Skinner. "That's not counting the text messages she sent me starting at 8:00 this morning pumping me for info on who I was with yesterday."
"What did you tell her?", Jessica said as she opened her fridge.
"After she hounded me, I told her the truth...that I'd gone out with an old girlfriend.", Aubrey said with a laugh. "She deserved it after that nasty text she sent you about our supposed date Saturday night. Then she replied with….here, let me forward it to you."
Aubrey forwarded Karen's text to Jessica and waited for a moment. He didn't have to wait long for a response.
"Ouch…that's some hot shade she shot your way, Superman."
Aubrey took a drink of his beer. "Even after I told her I had plans, she sent me a message that she was cooking chicken for dinner and I needed to be at her apartment by 5:00. She called twice while I was at Booth and Dr. B's, and that was her who tried calling me a few minutes ago. Obviously she didn't like that I didn't show up for dinner."
"Well, we need to ask the all-important question, Superman.", Jessica said as she grabbed carrots and cream cheese before kicking the door shut. "Does Skinner approve of her?"
"He hates her guts.", Aubrey said with a chuckle. "You're his favorite. He misses you, Jess."
The redhead set her things down on the table with her laptop. "I miss him, too. Let him know I'll see him soon."
"Okay.", Aubrey said with a smile.
"Listen Superman, I have to get back to my dissertation. I know you were going to call me, but I couldn't wait to talk to you for a bit."
"I'm glad you did.", Aubrey said. "Are we still on for Wednesday night?"
"Uh, yeah, Aubrey. I haven't seen The Thing From Another World in a while. Barring a case, you're taking me to that movie, buddy, so don't bother trying to weasel out of it. Especially if I'm buying dinner at the diner beforehand. A date's a date."
Hearing the word 'date' made the agent feel warm and fuzzy all over. "That it is. I'll call you Tuesday, all right?"
"Cool.", the redhead said as she dipped a carrot in her cream cheese. "Night, Superman."
"Night, Jess.", Aubrey responded.
The agent ended the call and smiled. Last Sunday he was recouping from a hangover and one of the worst nights of his life. Tonight things were definitely looking up. Talking to Jessica always made him feel good, especially when she set aside time from working on her dissertation just to talk to him.
Then another feeling made its presence known and he couldn't ignore it. Aubrey lifted Skinner off his lap as his phone rang again. When he saw the name, he groaned.
"Sorry, Karen, I've got better things to do right now."
The agent got up and walked into his bathroom. Skinner followed him and pushed the door open before entering.
"Skinner…can't a man do some things in peace?"
Thoroughly annoyed, Karen threw her phone down. She'd made extra chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans to accommodate Aubrey when he came by for dinner. She told him 5:00, so why didn't he come by for dinner? Surely, whatever plans he had didn't take precedence over a free meal.
The profiler considered the situation as she put the food away. "He was probably busy with work. He is the SAC of the Major Crimes Division and handling a major joint case with Booth's Homicide Division. Yeah, that's it."
After she finished cleaning her kitchen and put the leftovers away, Karen found the recipes she discovered online. Getting the needed items out for Monday's lunch, she got started on the vegetarian lasagna. Tonight she would prep it and tomorrow she could bake it at Quantico in the break room oven one floor below hers. Aubrey will be so excited to have a hot, fresh meal and of course, he'll ask her to join him.
That flaky anthropologist wasn't the only one who could charm James Aubrey out of his pants with food.
Monday morning, Aubrey got up early and arrived at his office at 7:00 to finish payroll and other administrative tasks. When 11:30 arrived, he grabbed his jacket, phone, and overcoat before leaving to have lunch with Booth at the diner.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Karen arrived at the Major Crimes Division at her usual time of 12:15 with an insulated bag containing the lasagna. Walking straight through the bullpen, she arrived at Aubrey's office and was surprised to see the light off and door closed. Turning the knob, she was surprised again to find it locked.
Seeing an agent walk by, Karen flagged him down. "Excuse me, where's Agent Aubrey?"
Agent Baker shrugged his shoulders. "He left to go to the diner for lunch with Agent Booth."
"Great.", Karen said. Thrusting the bag toward the agent, she couldn't hold back her annoyance. "Make sure your boss gets this and let him know it was from me."
"Sure, Dr. Delfs. Any message?"
"No, Agent. Thank you.", Karen said before walking away, her spine stiffened.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
When Aubrey returned about 12:45, Agent Baker greeted him with a present. "Boss, Karen Delfs from the BRIU left this for you."
The SAC took the handles and twirled the bag around. "Anyone know what it is?"
"Not sure, but I think it's supposed to be lasagna.", Baker said. "She seemed annoyed you weren't here."
"Well, I'm entitled to go have lunch with Agent Booth or any of my other friends.", Aubrey said before going further to dispel any more rumors. "It's not like she's my girlfriend or anything. Whatever she wanted to discuss I'm sure we'll talk about later. I'll put this out in the break room. Between us, Homicide, and International Operations, I'm sure someone will eat it."
Aubrey carried the bag into the break room. Opening it, he looked at the platter and the sauce, which smelled like it was burned. Taking a fork, he poked through it and saw some very mushy carrots and peppers. As he got it close to his nose, he made a face. Not only was the sauce burned, but it smelled like she used some sort of cheap grated parmesan and cheddar cheese. However, the cheese also looked funny.
Then it hit him...Karen had used soy cheese. Soy cheese was bad...very bad.
On the other hand, when Jessica made Vegetarian lasagna, the sauce was made with fresh grated Parmesan mixed with Asiago and Romano cheeses. The vegetables were crisp and she put Portobello mushrooms in it. One time she made it with an Arrabiata red sauce with just the right amount of bite in it. What was on the plate in front of him didn't even come close.
Not wanting to hurt the woman's feelings, he left it out on the community counter and passed the word around that it was for everyone.
Tuesday Aubrey was gone from Major Crimes the entire day. He had arrived at the Hoover at 6:40 for the DC field office's quarterly meeting, which started at 7:00 in the 6th floor conference room. Here he was joined by Booth and the Special Agents in Charge from the other divisions along with the Assistant Deputy Director, Deputy Director, and Director. The agent remembered how much Booth dreaded these.
At 9:00, they broke for a few minutes and Booth introduced Aubrey to the other SACs as he munched on his early morning snack. An hour after that, he almost fell asleep while Hacker talked about the progress of the Human Resources department.
To get through the windbag's lecture, Aubrey walked up to the cart in the back of the room. Pouring two cups of coffee, he gave one to Booth, who expressed his gratitude silently. Sitting down, he drank before he quietly sent a text message to Jessica, who was attending an anthropology lecture with Brennan and Daisy at American University's Hamilton building.
If u think u may need zzz aid in future, I can rec'd Hacker talking about HR
Feeling a buzz, Aubrey checked his phone when Stark and the other directors weren't looking and almost cracked up laughing.
All set. Guest lecturer made me & Daisy doze off. Almost put Dr B 2 sleep 2.
When Booth inquired, Aubrey showed him the message and both agents snickered until they saw a warning look from Stark, who looked ready to pass out himself. About thirty seconds later, Booth sent him a message.
Did any 1 eat your gf's food in break rm yesterday? It looked nasty when I saw it.
Keeping a straight face, Aubrey responded to Booth's text.
Maybe 1 or 2. Put the rest in fridg enjoy later.
Booth sent a simple response, which he qualified with an emoji of the middle finger.
Fuck U Aubrey.
Aubrey bit his lip to hold back another laugh as the two SACs turned their attention back to Hacker and his explanation of Human Resources' new system of filing.
Lunch couldn't come fast enough.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Karen arrived at the Major Crimes division of the 4th floor around 11:30, this time with bags from the Royal Diner. She'd gotten Aubrey his favorite triple bacon cheeseburger, fries, onion rings, fruit salad, and a chocolate shake. Determined to get to him before he left for lunch again, she rushed to his office, only to see the blinds drawn and the door locked.
"Grrrr.", the profiler growled in frustration.
Walking back into the bullpen, she came up empty until she found Agent Genevieve Shaw in her office eating at her desk. "Excuse me, where is Special Agent Aubrey today?"
Genny was not Karen's fan at all. The woman always rubbed her the wrong way and she knew the profiler was stalking her boss. It was obvious he still loved his former girlfriend, but she realized she had to be professional.
"He's at our field office's quarterly meeting with the various directors on the 6th floor and will be gone all day. I'm Acting SAC today. Is there something I can help you with?"
"You're in charge of his division today?"
Genny kept a straight face. "Yes, Dr. Delfs. I'm the ASAC for Major Crimes and part of my job is to run things when the current SAC is unavailable. Agent Aubrey said all inquiries were to go to me today and I would make the final call on whether to pull him out of his meeting. Now, what can I help you with? If it's in regards to the profile you are doing for us on the Vacchio case, no new evidence has come in from the Jeffersonian yet. However, if we require your services for another case, we will call you at the BRIU immediately."
Karen didn't like the younger woman's condescending attitude and intended to have a discussion with Aubrey about his second in command's lack of respect. "I have his lunch. What time do they break for lunch?" Karen asked impatiently.
It took all the patience Genny had to remain professional. "I'm not sure when they break for lunch, Dr. Delfs. What I do know is the Bureau usually feed the department heads a catered lunch at these meetings."
Karen took a deep breath. "Well, I'm sure he will sneak away for a while. Can you unlock his office for me so I can put this in there?"
"I don't have keys to my supervisor's office, Dr. Delfs." Genny said with an easy smile. She was lying because Aubrey gave her his spare office key if someone needed to go in there but the profiler didn't need to know that.
Karen kept her cool. "Fine, I'll just send a text that I'm in the break room and I brought him lunch."
'Did she not hear what I just said about the catered lunch?', Shaw thought, but decided not to argue with the woman. "Sure, no problem. Have a good one, Dr. Delfs."
Recognizing she was being dismissed, Karen walked back to the 4th floor break room. Spreading everything out, she sent a message to Aubrey. Pulling out her briefcase, she took out files to work on while she waited for the agent.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
As Aubrey was listening to SAC Burns talk about the latest system change in International Operations, his personal phone buzzed. Turning it, he read it before groaning inwardly.
I've brought u lunch from RD. In break rm w4u.
"What is it?", Booth whispered. Aubrey showed it to him and Booth shook his head. "What the hell is that last one?"
"Waiting for you.", Aubrey whispered back before they read it again.
Pulling his phone back, Aubrey tried to be discreet as he sent a response. He then sent a message letting Jessica, Genny, and the lab know to reach him on his FBI phone or email the rest of the day before turning his focus back to the meeting.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Karen was reading over some notes when she heard her phone buzz. Reading the message, steam came out of her ears before she dropped her phone hard on the counter.
Thx but FBI serving lunch shortly. U can have what u brought me.
James Aubrey was trying her patience.
She had brought him lunch almost every day since that twit Jessica broke up with him and let him pick her brain on how to get the bimbo back. Next, she agreed to be his friend after Daisy's wedding even though it ruined the plans she made for him. The least he could do was not accept the lunch the FBI paid for and instead come down from his meeting, have the meal that she purchased, and spend some time with her.
In a pique, she shoved all her work into her briefcase. When done, she grabbed her lunch and stormed out of the break room, leaving the rest behind.
"Aubrey better learn to appreciate me or we're going to have some major issues."
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
The rest of the day was quite informative for Aubrey. Booth asked Charlie Burns to join them during lunch and they compared notes on cases before the second half of the day began. When the meeting concluded at 4:30 PM, he walked out with Booth.
"Wow…", Aubrey said. "Talk about overwhelming…"
"Yeah. A lot of good information mixed in with some crap.", Booth said. "You did good when you had to present for Major Crimes, Aubrey."
"Thanks, Booth. I was really nervous.", the younger man said before switching gears. "Hacker was long winded, but I liked what was coming out of International Operations, and the Finance and the Cyber divisions both have some interesting stuff in the works. With Vacchio working for the SEC, that could come in handy."
"Good idea, Aubrey. I'll call Agents Ross and Elias tomorrow to set up some meetings if that works for you. I'll suggest lunch meetings if it fits with their schedules."
"Thanks, Booth.", Aubrey said with a smile. As the two arrived at the stairwell, he opened the door. "By the way, how's your niece?"
A minute later, the door opened at the 4th floor and the two men entered the hallway. "Hayley is responding well to this new antibiotic. Russ said the doctors are very optimistic for her."
"I'm glad Hayley is doing well, Booth."
"Me too, Aubrey.", Booth said as they arrived in the middle of the floor. "Are you free this week to go over what our departments found with the Vacchio case?"
"I'm meeting with Angela and Genny tomorrow for a lunch time meeting to go over the Rhodes case. I'm free for lunch Thursday and Friday, but I can move some stuff around if your schedule sucks."
"Thursday, Bones and I are going to Richmond to talk to a witness in the Weeks case, so it maybe be an all day thing.", Booth said.
"That's the one where the IT worker was found in the US Botanical Gardens, right?"
"Yep, Bones and Hodgins found some particulates on the remains that Hodgins said this witness we're talking to has experience in.", Booth said. "How about Friday?"
"Sounds good. Karen is supposed to have the profile done by Thursday morning, so that will give us both time to go over it. If we get a major break we can meet sooner."
"Want to do it over lunch at the diner?", Booth said.
"Most definitely.", Aubrey said.
Booth looked at his watch. "Well, I've been here since before quarter to seven, so I'm out of here."
"Me, too. Bye, Booth."
The two men parted and Aubrey headed through the bullpen to his office. After unlocking the door, he went in to check his voicemail messages before leaving for the day. He wasn't long into his task when he heard a knock. Looking up, he was grateful to see Genny.
"So Acting SAC, how did things go today?"
"Smooth. Oh, the lab called about the Vacchio case, but Angela said she would just email it to you since you were in a meeting."
"Yeah, I read it when I checked my email during the afternoon break.", Aubrey said. "It's not much, but right now any lead is a good lead."
"Here's your spare key, Aubrey.", Genny said before giving it to her boss. "Dr. Delfs left your lunch on the counter in the break room today."
"Seriously?", Aubrey asked, incredulous.
"Seriously.", the woman said. Pondering what she wanted to say next, she decided to just be honest. "Thank you for trusting me today. Halko didn't trust anyone to run his division if he was gone. I was promoted to be his ASAC in April and he wouldn't show me how to do payroll or anything."
Aubrey was dumbfounded. Based on the short time they worked together and Booth's opinion of her, Agent Genevieve Shaw would make an excellent SAC after more experience. "Well, then we need to make time so I can show you payroll, case audits, and other fun administrative jobs that an SAC does. A couple months before Booth retired, he started showing me that stuff and let me do them occasionally so I got some practice in."
"I'd like that, Aubrey. Thanks."
The agent felt bad for his second in command dealing with Karen today. "Genny, if you've got nothing pressing, go ahead and take off for the night. It's the least I can do for you covering for me today."
"Thanks again, Aubrey.", The woman said. "Have a good night."
"You, too. Bye.", Aubrey said before the young woman walked out the door.
After checking his messages, Aubrey gathered his stuff, walked out of his office, and he locked his door. As he walked down the steps to the parking garage, he hoped Karen would get the message that she needed to back off. He didn't want to embarrass her because she was a friend to him those first few weeks after he and Jessica broke up.
Part of him wanted to tell her that he and Jessica were friends again and working towards resuming their relationship. However, he didn't want to get the intern involved in his mess. Besides…he enjoyed having his time with the redhead to himself. He felt confident that when the two of them were able to get past their issues, they could work on being together.
He was in no rush.
Wednesday, Karen arrived at the Hoover 12 noon with an extra-large Meat Lovers pizza from DiAngelo's. No way would Aubrey be able to resist this.
As she was waiting in line to walk through the metal detector, she realized that she forgot her badge and security refused to let her through without it. After running back out to the car, she was forced to wait in an even longer line as some idiot kept tripping the detector, cleaning out his pockets and shoes before showing he had a metal plate in his head. She appealed to the security guards to try to sneak through because they knew her but they stuck to their protocol.
Finally getting through, as she got to the reception desk, she saw a woman delivering what looked like Chinese being given a pass and directions to a location. She waited impatiently as two more people were being issues visitors' passes as Aubrey's pizza started to cool off. It took over ten minutes to finally get signed in.
Finally arriving at the 4th floor, she first checked the break room, but only found two agents she recognized from Homicide and International Operations. Heading out of the shared room, she walked straight ahead towards the Major Crimes Division. She tore through the bullpen before finally arriving at Aubrey's office. Today, the door was open and the light was on. However, the agent was nowhere to be seen.
Looking on the other side of the bullpen, she spotted Aubrey in their conference room. As she got closer, she saw that Angela Montenegro in between him and Agent Shaw showing them something on a laptop. On the table was a box and several files.
Opening the door without knocking, she greeted everyone. "Hello, Aubrey. Ready for some lunch?"
"Hi, Karen. I didn't know we had plans for lunch." Aubrey said with a raised eyebrow.
The profiler noted several open Chinese boxes and three cans of Sprite together on the table. By each person were the missing cans from the six pack. "Actually Aubrey, I decided to surprise you since we keep missing each other. So I'll grab some plates from the break room and you can grab a couple of those Sprites before we meet in your office-"
"Actually, Karen, I've already ordered Chinese for the three of us because Agent Shaw, Angela, and I are having a lunch meeting to go over one of Genny's cases."
"Now Aubrey, I took time from my busy day to bring you your favorite pizza from DiAngelo's.", Karen said like she was talking to a petulant child. "I doubt these ladies need you here the whole time so let's go to your office so we can have lunch."
The agent took a deep breath. "Karen, I appreciate the fact you made a special trip for me and that you brought pizza, but I am needed here for the whole time. Angela has a doctor's appointment later but was nice enough to make time to come here and help us. Plus, as I've already said, we already have Chinese since we are working through lunch."
Not ready to give up, Karen pressed forward, knowing that if she pushed hard enough, Aubrey would come around. "Maybe I can come by after my meeting in the Cyber division around 2:00. That should give you plenty of time with this stuff here."
Aubrey didn't want to embarrass her, but his hints weren't getting through. "Unfortunately, after this lunch, I'm going to read the profile you emailed me an hour ago. Then I set aside 2:00 on to train Genny on how to do case audits for when I'm out of the office unless something emergent comes up. I'm sorry that you went to so much trouble, but I can't have lunch with you today. You should have called first."
Annoyed at the atypical resistance from Aubrey, Karen pressed forward while keeping her smile on her face. "Well, there's can't be too much need for Angela here. I've completed the profile for the Vacchio case and no one has sent me any updated information. I'm sure she would welcome the chance to rest up."
"I'm pregnant...not dead. Besides, I'm here because we're going over one of Agent Shaw's cases.", Angela said, wanting to get a dig in after what the profiler did to Jessica. "You probably didn't know this, but the Jeffersonian assists with multiple cases at a time in different divisions, including International Operations and the Financial Division. This one in particular required my computer expertise, but not a profiler, Sweetie. However, if you want to join us for lunch, there's plenty."
"Well, Chinese is nice when you're in the mood. However, I've brought this agent his favorite pizza for lunch.", Karen said insistently. "Come on Aubrey…let's sneak a slice in your office. I miss our lunches together."
The profiler's words reminded the agent of what Booth warned him about regarding the rumors about him and Karen. Aubrey knew he had to be firm to squelch those rumors. Before he could follow through, Karen spoke again.
"James Aubrey, come on. It won't kill you to step away from this meeting for a few minutes. Now get up and have some pizza with me.", the profiler said in an overly sweet tone, with a hint of impatience slipping in.
Annoyed with the woman's inability to understand the concept of 'No means no.', Aubrey clenched his jaw. He used to give in, but not anymore. He had too much to lose.
"Karen," Aubrey said a little more forcefully, his patience running thin. "For the last time, I can't join you for lunch today. As Angela said, the three of us are going over Agent Shaw's case right now and I have a lot of things going on today."
"Oh, I see.", the profiler said primly. "What's your week like?"
'Doesn't she ever quit?' Aubrey thought. "It's pretty full this week, Karen. I'm consulting with the Cyber division during lunch tomorrow. Friday I'm meeting with Booth over lunch to go over your profile for the Vacchio case and make a plan since we're sharing the case. On top of that, I have a meeting with Deputy Director Stark tomorrow as well as a meeting with Booth and Charlie Burns from IO on Friday to start brainstorming ideas for a new orientation system for incoming agents from Quantico. Stark asked the three of us for suggestions by the end of the month with the hope of it being in place by December to implement for 2017."
"Wow, they must think really highly of you to ask you to do that.", Karen said to flatter Aubrey.
"Thank you, but Booth, Charlie, and I are going to be working on it together. Now, if there's nothing else-"
"Just that it's time to partake in this pizza I brought you for your lunch. It's getting cold, Aubrey.", Karen said in an almost whine. "You don't want that…"
"Just put it in the break room, Karen. I'm sure some of the other agents will eat it." Aubrey replied before taking a sip of his pop, frustrated that Karen wouldn't leave him alone.
"But I got this pizza just for you, Aubrey-"
"Karen, open your ears!" An irritated Angela scowled at the profiler. "Aubrey's busy, much like you should be. Now, I have a lot of information to cover with these two in the next 45 minutes, okay? After that, I have a 1:30 ultrasound appointment and I have to chug three cans of Sprite before I get there. I'm uncomfortable because I can't pee and I'm irritable because I'm really hungry, so is there anything else you need to stalk Aubrey for or can we get back to work?"
"I'm not stalking my friend...Angela." Karen said, her face red with embarrassment. "I'll leave this pizza for you in your office, Aubrey. I'll call you later."
After Karen walked out, Genny burst out laughing. "Boss, I think she's a bit cray cray…"
"Shit...quit making me laugh or I'll wet myself." Angela said before she controlled herself. "Watch out for Skinner, Aubrey."
"Hey hey hey…enough.", Aubrey said before taking a bite of his Princess Chicken. "Let's get back to work."
"Wow…she really expected you to stop working just to eat some pizza with her?", Jessica said as she drank some of her shake.
"Yeah. I told her I was busy, plus there were six open cartons of Chinese on the table and we had files spread out all over. She still kept pushing until Angela embarrassed her enough to make her leave." Aubrey said before grabbing a French Fry. "Karen thought the pizza going cold would change my mind."
"She doesn't know you well enough to know that cold pizza isn't much of a deterrent for you when it comes to food.", Jessica said as she stole one of his fries and dipped it in his garlic mayo. "I've seen you eat a pizza sitting out all night and the fact you didn't get gastroenteritis is a miracle in itself."
"I have an iron stomach, Jess. I've never had an issue with food poisoning."
Jessica munched on her fry. "Well, you will and when that day comes I'm going to say, 'I told you so.'"
"I'm thirty-two years old, Jess. If it hasn't now, it will never happen.", Aubrey said.
Thirty minutes later, Karen Delfs was walking down the street when she decided to get a cup of coffee from the Royal Diner for the rest of her walk home. As she was almost to the crosswalk, she saw her object of affection sitting alone at a window table.
'Oh, he's eating by himself. I guess I could save a phone call and swing by to keep him company before convincing him I shouldn't walk home alone.'
As she got to the crosswalk, she saw a familiar person with red hair walk up to his table and talk to him. 'That bitch is trying to steal back what she threw away. Not on my watch.'
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Aubrey was checking his phone when Jessica came back over to the table. "I've settled the bill, Superman. You were a cheap date for me tonight. No pie...very unlike you."
"Hey, we're going to the movies. However, I'm going to stick to popcorn and less junk food because someone convinced me that I should try to eat better..."
Jessica's face turned beet red with embarrassment. "Thank you."
"...but I'm still not drinking any more of those nasty Black Kale Chia smoothies, though. They smell like toxic camel butt."
The couple shared a chuckle as Aubrey helped Jessica with her coat. After getting his own on, he placed his hand on her back to guide her to the door. Acting quickly, he held the door for Jessica to exit.
"Such a gentleman."
"I aim to please, Ms. Warren." Aubrey said before following her.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Karen watched as the couple left the table. When they walked outside the diner, they linked arms before walking towards the opposite direction. Realizing she was grinding her teeth, she struggled to controlled her anger.
"Time to play hardball. This is my time with Aubrey, you little redheaded bitch."