Last text-/dialogue-only chapter, yay!

And because of reasons, it and chapter fifteen are being posted together, sooo - yay?

Hotch | Reid | Rossi | Morgan | JJ

Wednesday, January 26th

(Wed 10:22 pm)
[Incoming Call]
"Aaron, this better be important."

"A couple hours ago, Agent Fredericks resigned, and Spencer said he wanted to apply to the BAU."

"..."

"Have a good night, Dave."
[Call Disconnected.
Duration: 0:00:09]

(Wed 10:22 pm)
[Incoming Call]
[Missed Call: Dave]

(Wed 10:23 pm)
You can't call someone, then tell them *that* and hang up, Aaron.
(Wed 10:24 pm)
When did this happen?
(Wed 10:25 pm)
Damn it, Aaron, we're talking about this in the morning.

xxx

(Wed 10:27 pm)
Have you spoken with Spencer this evening?

(Wed 10:28 pm)
No. Why?

(Wed 10:29 pm)
Aaron just called me.
(Wed 10:30 pm)
Apparently Fredericks resigned, and now Spencer is planning on applying.

(Wed 10:31 pm)
You're trying to pull one over on me, aren't you?

(Wed 10:32 pm)
After the last twenty-four hours, why would I even be awake right now?

(Wed 10:33 pm)
So they're finally going to meet?

(Wed 10:34 pm)
Unless Spencer backs out, then yes.
(Wed 10:35 pm)
They'll meet whenever the interview is conducted.

(Wed 10:36 pm)
He's not going to back out.
(Wed 10:37 pm)
If I have to drag him kicking and screaming, I will.

(Wed 10:38 pm)
Good. Now that we have that settled, I'm going back to sleep.

xxx

(Wed 10:40 pm)
[Incoming Call]
"Before you ask, yes, I'm going to apply. I'll do it tomorrow when I actually have access to a computer."

"You better. It wouldn't be fair to Hotch if you backed out on this. Not only because he's waited so long for you to feel comfortable, but because he's going to be stressed enough as it is trying to find someone who's capable of doing this job."

"I know, Morgan. I'm not doing this on a whim. I really want the job, and I know I'm lucky a new position opened this soon. I also realized something about Hotch that I feel like an idiot for not noticing sooner, and I'm ready to meet him."

"...what, exactly, did you notice?"

"..."

"..."

"Are you kidding, Morgan?! Why didn't you say something?!"

"Is it really necessary to shriek?"

"When one of my best friends doesn't say that the man I have feelings for might have feelings for me as well, then I think it's justified."

"Look, kid, don't you think I would have said something if it were that simple? Rossi, Garcia, and I have been talking and scheming more than you could possibly know. But unfortunately, Aaron Hotchner is an oblivious idiot when it comes to his own feelings."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just... I wish I had known sooner, even if he doesn't realize it. I could have done... I don't know, something."

"Believe me when I say it's probably for the best that things are playing out this way. Just please do me a favor and wait until he finally notices. We really don't need more drama in the BAU than we already have."

"I'm not that stupid, Morgan. Besides, if I actually get the job, he'll be my boss. I'm not sure what the protocol is for that, but I'd say it's against regulations."

"No one really pays those any mind, actually. As long as no one files a complaint of favoritism or lack of professionalism, I think you'll be fine."

"There's also no sure way of knowing he'd even allow it, anyway. I'm not going to get my hopes up."

"We'll see. Rest up, Pretty Boy. Let me know when you've sent in your application. Garcia can probably work some magic."

"Please don't make her do something illegal, Morgan. If I don't make it on my own credentials, why would I want to make it at all?"

"Well, if you change your mind, you know how to find me."

"Yeah, thanks. Goodnight, Morgan."

"Night, kid."

[Call Disconnected.
Duration: 0:01:58]

(Thurs 7:48 am)
Is there anything I shouldn't include in this application?

(Thurs 7:50 am)
Use your discretion. I don't want to force you to say anything you don't want us to know.
(Thurs 7:51 am)
Just put what you think we should know, what could potentially harm you or help you.
(Thurs 7:52 am)
If it's meant to happen, it'll happen.

(Thurs 7:53 am)
This is going to be one mess of an application.

(Thurs 7:54 am)
I don't care.
(Thurs 7:54 am)
The fact that you're doing it at all is good enough for me.

(Thurs 7:58 am)
I know one thing that's going to cause problems already.

(Thurs 7:59 am)
What's that?

(Thurs 8:00 am)
You're inevitably going to say and do many things that will take some getting used to.

(Thurs 8:01 am)
Well, I already can't seem to talk or smile...

(Thurs 8:02 am)
You can be such a jerk sometimes.
(Thurs 8:03 am)
Thank you.

(Thurs 8:04 am)
You're welcome.

xxx

(Thurs 9:23 am)
I sent in my application.

(Thurs 9:24 am)
You got it done earlier than I expected.

(Thurs 9:25 am)
I have classes the rest of the day, and if I disappeared during lunch, Gideon would question me.

(Thurs 9:26 am)
Fair enough. I assume that means you aren't telling him?

(Thurs 9:28 am)
He didn't react well to me *texting* Hotch again. I can't imagine telling him I want to *work* with Hotch will make things better. I think he's actually worried I'm going to stop spending time with him.

(Thurs 9:29 am)
That doesn't give him an excuse to be angry.

(Thurs 9:31 am)
No, I know. But I think he's also irrationally worried that if I have anything to do with the BAU, we'll have a repeat of the incident in Georgia.

(Thurs 9:33 am)
That was an unfortunate circumstance. You'd have to be pretty damn unlucky to get kidnapped again.

(Thurs 9:34 am)
Like I said, he's irrationally worried. But I can't entirely fault him for it.

(Thurs 9:35 am)
After everything sort of settles down, maybe you two should talk.

(Thurs 9:36 am)
I've been thinking about that, actually. It might help to clear the air.
(Thurs 9:37 am)
And if it doesn't, then I honestly don't know what else to do.

(Thurs 9:38 am)
One step at a time, kid.

xxx

(Thurs 1:44 pm)
I wanted to thank you for your full disclosure. It made the discussion with the Section Chief go more smoothly than I thought.

(Thurs 1:46 pm)
So... she's not against interviewing me?

(Thurs 1:47 pm)
On the contrary, she's actually excited for it.
(Thurs 1:48 pm)
She thought it was remarkable that you were willing to be so open about your addiction.

(Thurs 1:49 pm)
That's going to be an integral part of the interview, isn't it?

(Thurs 1:51 pm)
Most likely, yes. It'll be all right, though, Spencer. I'll be there. You can just pretend you're talking to me.

(Thurs 1:52 pm)
I'll try to remember to do that when it comes up.

(Thurs 1:54 pm)
I wanted to ask...
(Thurs 1:54 pm)
Have you told Gideon?

(Thurs 1:56 pm)
Not yet. I'll tell him when it looks like a possibility. He has plenty of students wanting to be his TA, so he won't miss me.

(Thurs 1:57 pm)
I think we both know that's not true.
(Thurs 1:58 pm)
He's afraid to lose you.

(Thurs 1:58 pm)
But he's not losing me.

(Thurs 1:59 pm)
If you were in his shoes, what would you think was happening?

(Thurs 2:00 pm)
I don't know. Everyone sees things differently.
(Thurs 2:01 pm)
Look, I'll talk to him about it later, but for right now, I'd rather not think about it.
(Thurs 2:02 pm)
I'm stressed enough as it is.

(Thurs 2:03 pm)
I'm sorry. I actually should to get back to work.
(Thurs 2:04 pm)
I'm not going to get much work done tomorrow, and I have a lovely stack of files I don't want to take home with me this weekend.

(Thurs 2:05 pm)
I'd be surprised if you didn't have a case, anyway.

(Thurs 2:06 pm)
I hope not. I'm not going to get much sleep as it is.

(Thurs 2:07 pm)
That makes two of us.

xxx

(Thurs 5:53 pm)
I heard it looks pretty good for you tomorrow.
(Thurs 5:54 pm)
You want me to grab some take-out and help keep you calmed down?

(Thurs 5:55 pm)
Thanks for the offer, but I'm having dinner with JJ.
(Thurs 5:56 pm)
I can ask if she's fine with you coming, though.

(Thurs 5:57 pm)
No, don't do that. She's better at it than I am, anyway.
(Thurs 5:58 pm)
I'll text you again in the morning, but good luck tomorrow.

(Thurs 5:59 pm)
Thanks, Morgan.
(Thurs 6:00 pm)
Really.

xxx

(Thurs 6:23 pm)
What are you doing right now?

(Thurs 6:25 pm)
Jack and I are about to go eat.

(Thurs 6:26 pm)
Mind if I join you? My treat.

(Thurs 6:27 pm)
You don't have to pay to join us, Dave.

(Thurs 6:28 pm)
Are you really going to turn down a free meal, Aaron?

(Thurs 6:29 pm)
Make it quick. We're hungry.

(Thurs 6:30 pm)
This is probably going to sound creepy, but I anticipated your response.
(Thurs 6:31 pm)
I'm in the parking lot.

(Thurs 6:32 pm)
You could have left out the "probably."

(Thurs 6:33 pm)
Just get your ass down here before I change my mind.

xxx

(Thurs 7:56 pm)
Just so you know, you aren't the only one who's nervous about tomorrow.

(Thurs 7:57 pm)
I know.
(Thurs 7:58 pm)
Why does everyone think I'm going to freak out and not show up?

(Thurs 7:59 pm)
I wasn't aware that was a common consensus.

(Thurs 8:00 pm)
JJ wanted to eat dinner with me. So did Morgan. And now you're texting me.

(Thurs 8:01 pm)
Also, I don't think you're going to be a no-show.
(Thurs 8:02 pm)
I just wanted you to know it was all right to be nervous like you are.

(Thurs 8:03 pm)
Sorry. I guess I'm just worried.

(Thurs 8:04 pm)
You don't have to apologize, Spencer.
(Thurs 8:05 pm)
Do you apologize as often out loud as you do through texts?

(Thurs 8:06 pm)
Probably more often, actually.

(Thurs 8:07 pm)
We'll definitely have to have something in place to make you stop.

(Thurs 8:08 pm)
What are you going to do, make an apology jar?

(Thurs 8:09 pm)
What's an apology jar?

(Thurs 8:10 pm)
It's just a play on "swear jar." Except instead of putting money in the jar when you swear, you'd do it when you apologize.

(Thurs 8:11 pm)
Depending on how often it actually occurs, that might not be a bad idea.

(Thurs 8:12 pm)
That's not funny, Hotch.

(Thurs 8:13 pm)
Good, because I'm being entirely serious.

(Thurs 8:14 pm)
...
(Thurs 8:14 pm)
Really?

(Thurs 8;15 pm)
Yes. I don't want you apologizing needlessly.

(Thurs 8:16 pm)
Unbelievable.

(Thurs 8:17 pm)
Jack and I are roping Dave into watching some episodes of Doctor Who. I'll text you later.

(Thurs 8:18 pm)
Have fun, Hotch.

xxx

(Thurs 11:47 pm)
I know it's not likely you're awake now, but Dave just left.
(Fri 12:00 am)
Goodnight, Spencer. I look forward to finally meeting you.

(Fri 7:48 am)
Good luck today, kid. Do you think you'll come in early?

xxx

(Fri 9:52 am)
Reid, please tell me you're almost here.
(Fri 10:00 am)
If you aren't in that interview room, we will have a problem.
(Fri 10:25 am)
Reid, where the hell are you?

(Fri 10:30 am)
[Incoming Call]
Missed Call: Morgan]

(Fri 10:30 am)
The least you can do is answer and say you're okay.

xxx

(Fri 11:00 am)
Spencer, it's an hour past the time you were supposed to be here.
(Fri 11:01 am)
I honestly can't believe this.

(Fri 11:02 am)
[Incoming Call]
Missed Call: Hotch]

xxx

(Fri 11:29 am)
[Incoming Call]
Missed Call: Dave]

(Fri 11:30 am)
Look, kid, at this point we don't care that you didn't show up to the interview.
(Fri 11:31 am)
But at least have the decency to answer your damn phone.

xxx

(Fri 12:00 pm)
[Incoming Call]
Missed Call: Morgan]

(Fri 12:01 pm)
Damn it, Reid, where are you?

xxx

(Fri 12:22 pm)
[Incoming Call]
"Reid, what the hell? We've been trying to get in touch with you all morning!"

"Morgan?"

"JJ, I'm sorry. I didn't even look at the caller ID. I just assumed it was Reid."

"Morgan, Spence is gone."