Monday, February 6- Flamingo Hotel & Casino
A few hours after flying into Las Vegas, Aaron and I stand in the front lobby of the Flamingo on the Las Vegas Strip. When we had arrived at the Las Vegas Police Department a few hours earlier, the sheriff had already put into motion a plan to try to get eyes in every hotel in danger of being hit next. Police officers from LVPD and the Henderson Police Department had been sent in plain clothing- undercover in other words- to keep an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious.
And because of the very flirty female sheriff's request to Dave to use some of his agents in a few of the hotel; JJ, Derek, Spencer, myself, and Aaron are spending our first night in Vegas undercover as city residents looking to play a few hours in the casino. JJ and Derek are being sent to the Bellagio hotel, Dave and Penelope are staying at the police station to run surveillance and Spencer is going to the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. The most surprising part of the entire operation is Dave putting Aaron and I together after his no communication rule.
Dave's reasoning was simple- "I heard you two talking on the flight over here and because of that and how calm things have been between you as of late, I'm putting you two together. Just go in and keep an eye out for any possible individuals that may look like they could be related to the robberies."
Since we didn't have a choice in the matter, Aaron and I now stand next to each other facing the casino main desk. Aaron is in his dress shirt, black pants, and tie while I'm wearing a blue corset dress.
"You look too business-y," I whisper to Aaron. Without warning, I pull the hem of his shirt out of his pants. "See look?" I say before shaking my wavy black hair from out of the bun, "I actually look casual, unlike you."
Aaron only smiles at me as his eyes scan my body. "You look beautiful," he says softly. My heart flutters at his complement as it's been a long time since someone has complemented me that way.
"Thank you," I simply say before motioning over to the casino area, "Let's get to work. "
We start walking over to the entrance, swerving in and out of crowds of tourists and residents that are ready to gamble. No one gives us a suspicious eye until we get to the actual entrance, where the bouncer stops us.
"Sorry, no cops," the bouncer says, "You guys have been all over town and it's bad for business. Plus, it's a Monday couples' special night."
I don't panic for even a second. My experience in going undercover with Interpol quickly comes to mind and I decide to put it to good use. I wrap my arm around Aaron's waist and fake a giggle. "Oh, do we look like cops? We aren't cops- my husband and I just got out of work, we both had a long day at the office, and we just want a few hours to play craps. Can we do that?" I end sweetly.
"Sorry, ma am," the bouncer steps aside, "It's just that your husband looks like a cop. Go right ahead and have a good time."
"Thank you," I playfully pull Aaron along, taking a quick detour into the poker room.
"Do I really look like a fed all the time?" Aaron asks me when we're out of earshot from the bouncer. I smile and nod, which makes him chuckle.
"I'm that bad?"
"Yes, you're that bad," I reply while sitting down at a random table, "but it's an improvement since I met you."
"Really?"
"A teeny bit improvement," I say and in response, Aaron laughs aloud, looking the happiest I've ever seen him in months.
The rest of the night goes very well- there are no signs of our unsubs at any of the hotels on the Strip. Jennifer and Derek's stakeout resulted in Derek getting 32 phone numbers in a record 30 minutes, Spencer's stakeout led to him being kicked out of his casino early for accidently blurting out two player's hands during a poker tournament, and Aaron and my night resulted in us talking for hours like things had gone back to normal.
I don't know if it's because of the talk on the jet, the casualness of our little undercover operation, or because of my goal to truly be happy again- whatever it is, it brings my guard down long enough to let go of the past few months. Even after the night ends and we go back to our separate hotel rooms, I feel myself developing a small bit of trust towards Aaron.
For the next six days in Las Vegas, everything feels like it's going back to normal.
Of course, until we return home to Quantico.
Sunday, February 12th- Quantico
"Emily, would you like to go grab some dinner with me?"
Aaron and I are riding the elevator back up to the floor of the BAU on an unusually warm Sunday night. Most of the team had headed home for the night- JJ and Dave had ridden the elevator ten minutes ahead of us to grab a few things from their offices before calling a night.
"Dinner? As in a date?" A date is the last thing I want to think about right now. Aaron almost immediately sees the panic in my eyes and quickly changes his response, "No, not a date. More like a night out for dinner with a friend. I really enjoyed these last six days, Emily, and I really don't want them to end."
For the first time in seven years ago, I truly believe that I am looking at Aaron's version of puppy eyes. I, being a sucker for puppy eyes, say with a smile, "I'd like that," just as the door opens on our floor. We turn to see Beth and Strauss casually talking in the hallway as if they were old friends.
"Beth?" Aaron calls out, "What are you doing here?"
Beth smiles brightly and as if it were nothing, says, "I was just waiting here because I wanted to meet with you and your boss about that pressing matter that you've been dealing with."
Don't say it, don't say it, I beg repeatedly in my head and of course, it doesn't work. Beth turns to Strauss and says ever so sweetly, "I just wanted to see how you were handling Emily's emotional state with her having very deep, romantic feelings for Aaron."