One chapter update this week. Probably from now on. Two chapters is very much a hassle.
Chapter 11
When we return from the hike I'm worn out. We didn't go very far but I had to climb every cliff we got to…just because I'm an idiot. JJ scolded me a couple of times, when she saw me, for climbing too high but I begged her not to tell Dave about it and after a 1001 pleases she finally broke and agreed not to tell.
"You guys have fun?" Aaron asks as I flop down on the couch on my stomach.
Derek laughs and says, "Yeah. The baby here, though, thought he was Spiderman through most of the hike. I think he's about ready for bed."
"Not before dinner," Dave says coming out of the kitchen. As soon as the door opens I smell the sweet aroma of delicious Italian herbs and seasoning. I hop off the couch and speed-walk into the kitchen beating everyone else.
"Hey, hey now," Garcia says coming in with the rest. "Don't you start without us, you little bottomless pit."
As soon as I flop down in the wooden chair, I shoot straight back up.
"Ah, shit!" I scream rubbing the hell out of my ass.
"Language," JJ warns and I blush. I turn even redder when she puts a pillow in my seat but I don't complain. I sit down, slowly. It helps to alleviate the pain a little.
I block out all sound as I dive into my somewhat huge – could've been bigger – pile of spaghetti. When I finally come up for air it's to ask for seconds.
"No, Alex," Dave says plainly.
"But…why not?" I whine taken aback. Dave never denies me food.
"Because if you eat too much now you'll want to go run it off and we don't have time to go on a midnight hunt for you again. You need to go to bed earlier tonight because we have an early morning tomorrow. And I don't want you grumpy at the bull pen."
I fold my arms and sit back in my chair. "I'm not a little kid, Dave. I know when to go to bed. And I won't be grumpy tomorrow."
"I said no, Alex, and that's final."
"I'm an adult."
"Then act like one."
"Alright," I stand and pick up my empty plate. "I will."
"Alex, I certainly hope you're not planning to deliberately disobey me while you have a sore behind."
I pause in mid-step just stand there for a while. Then I feel tears pool the sides of my eyes. I set my plate back down and turn to Dave, saying, "You're-you're being un-unreasonable. I am still an a-adult."
Dave exhales and shakes his head. When he stands up, I begin to quake in fear. "Let's talk in private, Alex." He says.
"N-no way. The-the last time you wanted to talk in private, I ended up being spanked by seven people."
"Alex," His tone is yet again warning and I decide not to test him. I leave with Dave, still fearing for the state of my ass. He doesn't stop in the living room. We continue upstairs to our bedroom.
Dave walks over to my bed and goes through my bags until he finds my extra set of PJs. He sets them beside him as he sits on his bed. I stand awkwardly in the doorway awaiting further command.
"Do you want to tell me what that was about?" Dave finally asks.
I look down to my feet and say, "You-you were treating me like a child in front of everyone."
"Alex, I treated you the way I always have. You tend to make the wrong decision and I'm there to correct you. That's the way it's always been with us."
"Yeah…but usually we're alone and no one's around to witness me being treated like a toddler."
"Oh…I see. I embarrassed you in front of your peers."
My cheeks take on a hint of pink as I nod yes.
"Come here son," Dave says patting the spot beside him. I go over to him immediately and sit down. Then he draws me into his arms and says, "I didn't mean to embarrass you…although I don't understand why you still believe anyone would think little of you after already seeing you at your worst."
"Don't remind me," I groan.
Dave gives my shoulder a gentle shake. "Go shower and change into your pajama's son. I want you in bed early tonight."
I sit up, once again offended. "But…it's barely nine o'clock."
"It's nice to know you can tell time. I still want you in bed before nine thirty so go on and hit the shower. It's obvious you're tired or you wouldn't have been so disobedient today."
I fold my arms and furrow my brows. "You're treating me like a kid again, Dave."
"If I were treating you like a kid, I'd re-warm you bottom and send you to bed right now instead of giving you thirty minutes of leisure time. Would you rather I do that?"
I blink back tears and pout. "N-no,"
"Then go,"
"But…but everyone'll think…they'll think I am incompetent; having you always making decisions for me and stuff. I can't even pick my own bed time. Can't I just…can't I just stay up a little while longer. I promise I won't cause any more trouble and I won't be grumpy tomorrow."
Dave looks as if he's about to make the biggest mistake of his life. "Alright…go shower, put on your pajamas, and then come down stairs. You can stay up until 10. And then bed."
"11," I try to bargain.
"10, Alex,"
"10:30,"
Dave sighs and says, "10:30. But then I want you in bed, no protests."
I smile from ear to ear. "Yes sir."
When I make it to the living room no one is there. I continue to look until I find JJ, Hotch, Derek, Spencer, and Emily in the library. JJ's looking through some magazines. Spencer's reading a book, of course. Emily's playing with this weird looking wooden puzzle. Derek is playing with a deck of cards on a small table. And Hotch is setting up this weird old camera looking thing. The fire burning in the room causes beautiful shadows to dance across the wall and floor. Everything seems so peaceful, like nothing I've ever seen before.
"What's that?" I ask walking over to Hotch.
He turns to me and looks me up and down (obviously noticing how childish I look in pajamas while everyone else is still fully dressed). "It's a projector." He tells me before turning back to it. "Were you heading off to bed?"
"Uh…no, not yet."
"Then why are you in pajamas?"
"Uh…because they're comfortable, duh,"
He continues playing with the projector, pretending to ignore me, and I go over to Spencer.
"Hello,"
"Hi," He responds, not looking up from the book. He's moving so quickly through the pages, I wonder if he's even really reading it.
"Whatcha reading?"
"Ulysses." He replies drily. "I haven't read this copy yet. There's a typo on page 59."
"Is it good?"
"The typo?"
"No, dumby. The book. Is it a good book?"
He finally looks up at me and I can't help but feel a little dissected.
"I don't really think you'd be interested in this. But if you're looking for a recommendation, I know of ton of other books."
"How do you know I won't be interested in it if you don't tell me what it's about?"
"Well…it's kind of a complicated read,"
"So you're saying I'm not smart enough to read your stupid book?"
"No…I-I didn't mean it like that."
I smile when Spencer starts to cave under my scrutiny. "I'm kidding," I say. "You're right, that book is way over my head. It has no pictures. Anyways, I'll just leave you to your boring book."
I then turn my attention to Emily.
"Whatcha doing?" I ask in my sweetest voice.
"I'm still trying to get the hang of this star puzzle," She says. Then she starts giving me the origin of the thing and, of course, I zone out.
"Hey," I look around the room. "Where's Penelope?"
Emily laughs and says, "She's in our room on her laptop."
My eyes widen. "But I thought we couldn't have electronic devices."
"Garcia's the exception," Derek offers. "Jason allows her two hours of internet time stipulating that she also participates in all family activities as well."
"Well that's not fair," I fold my arms and stick out my bottom lip. "I like the internet too. Why can't I have an hour or two?"
"Alex," I turn to the library entrance at hearing my name. Dave stands there looking not the least bit happy. "I sure hope you're not initiating trouble in my absence."
I quickly lay my arms to my side. "N-no sir,"
"Good. Now then, we're about to watch a movie on the projector as a family. Please sit down,"
I readily obey, rushing over to the sofa to sit beside JJ.
Penelope soon comes in as everyone makes their way over to the sofa and the two big chairs sitting off to the side.
"I'm not sure if I've said this before," Penelope says. "But two hours on the internet is like, almost no time at all."
"Yes, Garcia," Jason laughs. "I believe that has been brought to my attention on mulitple occasions. Almost every weekend as a matter of fact."
"Well, as long as my grievances are being heard." She says sitting down on the sofa with JJ and I.
"Hey, baby boy," Derek smacks the side of my thigh. "On the floor."
"No way. I was here first."
"Yeah well, there are not enough seats for everyone. And since you're the youngest, you get to sit on the floor."
"That's not fair."
"It's never fair being the youngest." Spencer chimes in. I look over to him and he's smiling big. "That's why I'm happy I'm not in that position anymore."
"Well I refused to be bullied." I say folding my arms.
"Alex, just get on the floor," Aaron groans.
Reluctantly, just to keep the peace (and a non-stinging bottom) I crawl down to the floor.
"Internet, movies," I groan unhappily. "We seem to be breaking a lot of rules tonight."
"Watching movies as a family is fine, Alex." Jason says sitting in one of the big chairs. "The point of not having other devices is because they tend to preoccupy our time and we'd never spend time with each other. Now then, let's start shall we, with no more talking"
Hotch starts the projector and on pops a black and white movie. I sit with my back against the couch and try not to look so bored. Then JJ starts to rub the side of my head and I lie against her lap. I don't remember what movie came on. The Sound of Music?…Gone with the Wind?…something old. I'm fast asleep before the beginning music ends.
"Alex," I open my eyes to Dave, fully dressed. I look around and notice I'm in our room.
"How-how did I get to bed? I-I don't remember anything after the movie."
"That's funny; because I'm pretty sure you were knocked out before the movie started."
I laugh awkwardly.
"Hotch carried you here when you started snoring."
"Hotch…?"
"Yep, now get up and get dressed. It's an hour drive back to the bureau."
I look over to the clock hanging on the wall and scowl. "It's five thirty. I never get out of bed any sooner than seven." I flop back down in bed and cover my head with the covers.
Dave smacks my ass and sends a stinging pain through it. I jump up and cover it.
"Get up, Alex." His tone is enough of a warning for me. I get out of bed with little more resistance.
"Ugh," I groan sitting at my desk in the bullpen. When we made it to work, I realized I still had piles of paperwork to do from last week's suspension. I've been working on it all week and it seems as if the more work I knock out the more work someone else piles on my desk. It's Friday now, almost noon, and I've managed to knock out almost all of this paper work. As long as no one else comes and stacks something else on my desk, I should be fine.
"Hey Marco," I glance up from my desk to Morgan. "I'm ordering lunch. You want something in particular?"
"Uh, an Easy button would be great right now."
Morgan laughs and says, "One Philly Cheese Steak it is."
I'm mentally exhausted when quitting time rolls around. I just want to do something mind deafening and stupid to get the sound of turning pages and scribbling pens out of my head. I make a hasty retreat from the bullpen.
"You're in a hurry." Emily says waiting for the elevator beside me.
"Oh yeah," I say rocking on my heels. "This week was sooooo boring. Tonight, I need to do something to get some excitement back into my life before I start getting grey hairs."
I take notice of the look she's giving me from the corner of my eyes but I pretend to ignore it. I know what she's thinking but I don't plan on getting too crazy tonight. I just want to party until my mind's no good, or dive into a freezing cold lake with a couple of co-eds, or jump off a freaking bridge with a bungee cord that stretches to just six feet from the ground. Anything to make me feel alive again.
"Do you have anything special planned?"
I shrug and say, "Uh…no, nothing special. I'll probably hit a club or two tonight. Don't tell Rossi though. He has this thing about me going to nightclubs. I guess he thinks I'll get too hyped and start drinking again or something stupid like that."
"Uh, well…I don't have anything planned. Maybe I could join you."
"Yeah, sure, why not. I need a ride anyways. But uh…in the case of me hooking up with a hottie tonight, I'm going to need for you to, you know…skedaddle."
"Of course. Gotcha. I wouldn't want to do anything to throw off your game." I can tell she's being sarcastic but it's too funny and I'm in too much of a good mood to take offensively. "Hey, uh, maybe we should invite the others."
"Sure, anyone but Dave and Hotch. They'd totally throw off my mojo."
So it ends up just being me, Emily, Derek, and Garcia at this loud, brain numbing club. I look over the floor for any potential sexy guys and I spot one across the bar definitely checking me out. I leave the crew on the dance floor and make my way to him.
"Hey," I say sitting on the stool beside him.
"Hey yourself," He says sexily.
"I'm Alex," I say holding my hand out to him.
He takes it and says, "Neal,"
"You, uh, come here often?" Okay, that was lame. So very lame. The lamest line anyone has ever invented and I come right out the cage with it.
He smiles the brightest smile. "Not really. This isn't really my scene. I'm just here with a friend."
"Oh really, then what is your scene?" I say trying to stay cool.
"That depends. Do you have protection?"
A one night stand. That's just the thing I need to get my mind off of this week. Especially since I haven't had sex in a month.
"Nope, but I can get some." I reply slyly.
"No need. We can just go to my place. I have condoms."
"Really? So you were expecting to pick someone up tonight?"
"Something like that. You never know."
"Hmm, interesting. Well…let me just go tell my friends and we can go."
"Alright. I'll be right here when you come back, cutie. But first, I have to go to the bathroom. Don't leave without me."
"Of course not," I say feeling like a schoolgirl talking to her crush.
When he stands up, I feel heat radiating from his sexy body. Oh yes, this guy will be fun.
I practically run to the others, not wanting to put off this sensual experience for even a moment.
"Hey guys, so I met this hottie and so, now we're leaving."
"Hold on," Derek say, not looking happy. "Leaving where?"
"To his place."
"To do what?"
I roll my eyes. "Do you really have to ask?"
"What's this guy's name?" Emily asks.
"Neal."
"Neal what?"
"I don't know. We haven't really made it to formal introductions."
"So you're just going to go off with a guy you just met without knowing anything about him?" Now Derek seems pissed. "How do we know Neal is even his real name?"
"Listen, Derek, cool your jets, okay. I don't plan on marrying the guy. I don't even plan on seeing him again after tonight. So knowing his name and birthday and social security number and whatever else you want me to get from him is really not necessary."
"Alex, if you leave out of here with that guy, how do we know we'll ever see you again?" Garcia says. I just now noticed how frightened she looks about the whole thing.
"Guys, I'm an adult. A grown man. I can take care of myself. Trust me, this isn't my first rodeo."
"Yeah well, it's your first with us and I forbid you go anywhere with that guy." Derek says sounding extremely like an overprotective…big brother. But right now, I don't want him to be my big brother. I want him, Garcia, and Prentiss to mind their own fucking businesses.
"Fuck. You." I say. As I turn around, I feel Derek's wide hand covering my shoulder in a death grip.
"Alex, I refuse to let you leave with a total stranger. If you walk out that door with him, I will follow you to this guy's house, I will crash whatever party you two plan on having, and I will take your bare ass over my knee in front of him. Now, if you don't believe me, try it."
I'm mortified by Derek's proclamation. But I don't put it past him. I yank my shoulder out of Derek's grip and walk back to the bar so very pissed. Neal is back and waiting for me when I get there.
"Ready to go?" He asks.
"Uh…no, I can't. My…my friends don't want me to go."
I surf through my repertoire of lies trying to think of a good story as to why I couldn't sleep with him, when Neal says, "I guess it's for the best. I was beginning to think this was moving a little too quick. I've never gotten someone to agree to come home with me so easy…not that you're easy or anything."
I laugh and say, "No, I was being a little too easy."
"Listen, how about we exchange numbers and, uh, we can see where it goes from there."
That statement is enough to bring back all my feelings of giddiness. We exchange numbers and then we just sit and talk. I'm surprised to find out that Neal is also an FBI Agent but he works for the White Collar division. That makes me even more excited. We start talking about our jobs and when it gets to the heavy stuff, I want to change the conversation. He's surprised to find out I'm twenty four.
"To be honest, the sole reason I was reconsidering taking home tonight was because I thought you were too young for me." He admits.
"Yeah, you're not the first person." I say a little down and annoyed at always being accused of being younger than I am.
"I mean, I didn't think you were all that young," Neal tries to reconcile. "I would've given you nineteen or twenty at the least."
"Gee, thanks," I laugh. "So how old are you, anyways?"
"Twenty-five,"
Oh, they're going to eat you up. I think to myself. Even Spencer's older than you.
"What are you thinking?"
"Nothing," I reply smiling.
He smiles back unsure and I think it's too cute. Those beautiful blue eyes of his pierce into me as if he's prodding for the truth but I don't offer it. It's nice to watch him sweat.
We talk for a while longer and then I feel the presence of a set of looming eyes. I turn around to Derek.
"Hey, Alex. Wanna introduce me to your friend?"
I contemplate saying no but fight the urge.
"Introduce yourself," I spit back. Derek ignores my anger and reaches out for Neal's hand.
"Hi, I'm FBI Agent Derek Morgan," He says and I turn crimson. It was totally unnecessary for him to say the FBI part.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Agent Morgan," Neal says shaking Derek's hand as if he wasn't the least bit intimidated by him.
"Derek's one of the friends who talked me out of going home with you." I decide to throw in.
Neal smiles and then Derek sits on the stool behind me. I become completely and totally annoyed. How dare he invade my personal conversation like this.
"So, Neal, what do you do?"
"He's an FBI Agent," I answer quickly and angrily.
"Really? Do you mind showing some credentials?" I turn pale at Derek's continued prodding.
"Uh, I don't really have 'em on me. I went home after leaving the bullpen and changed. I didn't really think I'd need them tonight."
I can tell Neal's feeling uncomfortable with Derek dissecting him so I quickly say, before he can ask any more questions, "Derek, could you please give us a moment? We were kinda having a private conversation. Y'know, getting to know each other like you insisted."
Derek looks as if he wants to say something about my last sentence but bites his tongue. "It's getting late, kid." He opts instead.
"It's Friday night," I insist feeling a little embarrassed by his implication.
"Did you forget about our plans for tomorrow night?"
"That's tomorrow night, Derek." I want to yell. "I'll be plenty rested by tomorrow night."
"Yeah well, Emily, Penelope, and I have plans in the morning so we're trying to be in bed before midnight."
"The fun doesn't start until midnight," I protest.
"I could take him home," Neal says and my heart flutters with excitement.
"No way," Derek quickly shuts down my joy.
"Why not?" I demand.
"You know damn well why not,"
"I don't need you permission, Derek," I'm trying my hardest not to yell but it is hard not to when he's embarrassing me like this.
Derek glares at me and says, "Alex, I'll give you ten more minutes with your little friend but that's it."
He leaves before I can protest any further.
"Oh my god, he's being such an ass right now!" I exclaim.
When I hear laughing on my right I turn back to Neal. "He seems worried about you."
"Yeah right. Just because he's a senior agent on my team he thinks he can just boss me around."
"Listen cutie, I have a kid brother. And if he tried to go away with a strange guy in a club one night when I was there, I'd probably drag him home by his ankles. I'm sure he's not intentionally trying to upset you. He's just…concerned."
I rest my head against my hand and sigh. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It was really nice meeting you though. I didn't think I'd find anyone in this club."
"Me either. But…this was fun. Maybe one day, when you're allowed to go out alone with me…I could, uh…y'know, take you out on a date. We could start off slow and then, when you – and Derek – trust me enough, we could…finish off what we were about to start tonight."
I stare at him and my eyes flutter with excitement. "You-" I look away from his dazzling blue eyes to get my head back together. "You're a real gentleman."
"Only to cuties with overprotective FBI Agent bodyguards." He replies with a wink. I giggle and then I become utterly embarrassed for sounding like a little girl and blush really hard.
"I, uh," I say trying to sound manly. "I should go."
"Alright. I'll call you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. See ya,"
I hurry away from Neal trying to stay cool. When I make it back to the others though, I'm feeling pissy again.
"You didn't have to do that." I state.
"I think I did, or you might have gone home with him despite my previous warning, which I fully intended to follow through with just so you know."
"Just so you know, you're an asshole."
"Alex," Penelope breaks in. "You weren't seriously about to go off with him, were you?"
"Why the hell not? I'm an adult! I can make my own damn decisions! If I want to go off with a stranger and get fucked with no strings attached like every other fucking guy my age, then so be it!"
"Hey, don't yell at Penelope," Emily defends. "She's right. With all you know about psychopaths and sexual deviants, you're still willing to go off with a complete stranger, just like that?"
"Ugh, not every stranger is a bad guy."
"But that doesn't make all of them good guys either." Derek yells.
"Guys," Penelope says. "I think we should have this conversation in private."
"Yeah," Derek says. He reaches out and grabs my arm. "C'mon kid,"
I yank my arm from his grip. "I'm not going anywhere with you!" I yell loudly drawing attention to us.
"Alex," He says warningly.
"No, you embarrassed me in front of him. No way am I going to ride in the car with you so you can keep scolding me like a little kid."
"Derek, I'll take him home." Emily says.
Derek glares at me for a moment longer but then finally gives up.
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