Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, Numbers or any of the paintings mentioned in this work, nor do I profit from this story except for the lovely reviews.

Author's Notes: The Arthurian work is inspired by Heather Dales' songs from her album "The Trial of Lancelot" especially the song entitled Three Queens. (No, I don't own them, only my copy from Itunes. Highly recommend her though!)

Chapter 35: Hands

"Is it hopeless?" Derek asked as they watched over the exchange between Emily and Carter.

"You are so pessimistic!" Aimee chided. "You know Emily and I know Carter, once either of them set their minds to something they'll do it."

Derek was exploring her house. It felt like Aimee. He was trained to study houses to get a feel for people, and everything here practically screamed 'Aimee.' Elegant, strong, charismatic, classy.

Derek found her studio the same time as Hotch and JJ. "This is amazing!" JJ said in awe.

Derek saw the Arthurian canvases Carter and Emily were looking at. He knew immediately the models were Carter and Aimee for the siblings. He saw the third Arthurian one done with Arthur entitled Three Queens. Also set in Avalon after Arthur's death, this time his body was surrounded by his mother Igrainne, lover Guinevere, and sister, Morgaine.

"Igrainne looks like her mother," JJ said looking around him.

"It is," Hotch said studying it. "Who is the model for Guinevere?"

"Nikki," Derek said knowing instinctively. "Carter's mother, sister, and lover."

"It makes sense," Emily said behind them, making them jump. "He didn't want me to see this one."

"A party?" Aimee's voice in the doorway made all of them look guilty. Behind her were Rossi and Reid. "You guys may as well take a peak, too," she teased Rossi and Reid.

"We…" Hotch started but Aimee waved him off. "It's fine," she grinned. "Artists are just temperamental about their work. Most of those I haven't shown others yet. Except Carter, who either walks through walls or picks locks to find my new work," she grinned.

She left them to explore—with a dire threat if they were to damage anything—as she went to check her photo equipment for the following day.

Derek walked out to her sitting in the living room, cleaning her camera and a big box. "What's that?"

"My shutterbug?" Aimee asked picking up the box.

"Shutterbug?" he grinned.

She stuck her tongue out at him. She slipped and locked her camera in place in the box to show him, turning it up to snap a photo of him. "Sinfully gorgeous, as always," she teased. "It's what we use on set. Can you imagine what it was like before this?"

"I'm still not sure what it is."

"It blocks out the sound of using the camera. Usually I'm so close to the sound equipment they would pick up the rapid fire of my lens. This keeps it quiet so I can work the same time the film is. Before this, the actors would have had to go through the scene again just for the photographer. Didn't exactly make us a well loved member of the crew, I can tell you that," she explained. "They use it for wildlife, too, or whenever a noise is a hindrance."

Aimee put everything back in place and set it aside for in the morning. She had a drastically early call, reminding her of one of the downsides to her job. "So," she purred, drawing Derek's attention. She grabbed his hand and led him around towards the master bedroom. "Everyone already knows where they are sleeping, and I am sure they can entertain themselves," Aimee grinned.

She led him into her bedroom and he caught a quick glimpse of the California king size bed with a wrought iron frame and white with blue comforter. The details escaped him because she was pulling him down towards her to kiss him hungrily.

He booted the door close behind them. "Should we put a rubber band on the door or something?" he smirked as he resumed where they had left off.

He started placing kisses at her pulse point, then down her neck to the base. "Derek, if they don't have any idea what to expect if they come through that door, then they should not be profilers," she said breathlessly.

"I don't think I like how close you are to the LA team," he whispered as he scooped her up. She found herself in the center of her bed. "But I do love your bed."

She laughed which turned breathless as he used his wonderful lips again. She slipped his t-shirt off, running her hands over his muscular physique as he unbuttoned her shirt, kissing as each inch of skin was exposed. What had Garcia once said? Statuesque god of chocolate?

Hell yes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hands strangled her throat, everything was black. Her feeble attempts to get her assailant off didn't so much as budge the man, only bruised her more for her efforts. The hands tightened.

Choking, silent sobs. Pleading wouldn't work now, hadn't worked before. "Dear God just let the pain finally end," whispered thoughts floated around.

Cold steel teased her naked body, making her tense. Just lightly tracing over her body. She braced herself for another beating but it just slithered around her body.

Everything was fading away. Simply fading. The cold steel was gone suddenly, then just as suddenly it was shoving…

Aimee's eyes jerked open as she violently woke up. It took her several moments to realize the hands around her waist, holding her close, weren't the same ones in her vision. These hands were loving, not violent. Never violent.

She snuggled closer to try to burrow herself into the warmth of Derek. When she started to ease out of bed he woke up. "What are you doing?"

"I have to get ready for work," she whispered. "Go back to sleep."

He glanced at the clock and saw it was 4am. "And I thought I had some weird hours," he yawned. "Come here," he said pulling her down gently. "What woke you up?"

"Don't worry about it," she said kissing him.

"Don't start something you can't finish," he warned. "I'm awake now."

She grinned. "Hey, not all of us can catch up on our sleep on the plane." She leaned down to kiss him passionately. "Who needs sleep," she decided.

When she finally untangled herself from Derek she took a quick shower, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a sweater over it, and frowned at Derek who had laughed at her shower cap. "For your information, I don't have time to dry my hair. And do you have any idea how cold it is going to be at the beach at 6am?" she reminded him.

"I'm sorry," He grinned, kissing the top of her head. "Where's the coffee? I'll behave myself."

She rolled her eyes as they slipped into her kitchen. The coffee was already brewing when they walked in. She grabbed a bagel and cream cheese to make a quick breakfast as Derek poured them coffee.

Hotch walked in soon followed by Reid. "I smell coffee," Reid said with a yawn. "I'm not sure if I am on east coast time or not."

"Help yourself to whatever," Aimee said grabbing her bag, swallowing the last of her bagel and coffee, tossing an apple and granola bar into her bag for later. "Please they are done with that stupid construction," she muttered to herself as she zipped it up.

"You have to be on set now?" Hotch asked surprised.

"Make up call was 5am. Shooting is to start at 6am. And I am going to be late if I have stupid construction again," she frowned.

"Where are you shooting?" Emily asked confused walking in.

"The beach. There is a 3 second sunrise shot in the film, so hopefully we'll get it today. Otherwise I think we'll be back tomorrow." Derek grabbed her bag from her and carried it out to her car for her with Aimee on his heels.

"Any chance you want to transfer to the LA team?" she whispered. "I could get use to this, waking up with you and everything."

"I know. I could definitely get use to this," he said wrapping his arms around her waist.

"I'm not asking you, Derek. I'm not asking you to give it up. I was just teasing," she said quickly. "Don't think I'm that selfish! I know you've worked hard for this, and, more importantly, that you love it. So don't you dare even think about leaving," she warned.

"Make up your mind," he grinned.

"I just want you to be safe, and happy," she said. "But I really am going to be late," she added.

"I know." She was leaned back against her car as he devoured her mouth. "If you do that again, I won't be able to focus on my work," she grinned. He smiled back as he leant down and gave her another earth-shaking kiss.

He opened her car door for her and she slid in as the garage door opened. She whispered the code to her alarm system so he could lock up when they left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Arriving on time, thankfully, Aimee pushed the vision out of her mind. It was simply one of thousands she couldn't do anything about. She had no sense of who the victim or unsub was, or even where the sadistic crime had occurred.

Everyone was wearing jackets as they set up the shot. When it was close to sunrise, Lila and the other actors shed their jackets and took their places. Three cameras were continuously rolling—two on the actors and one on the scenery.

By 7am everything was packed up and being moved back to the backlot. Aimee stowed her camera and shutterbug carefully before starting her jag. She was pulling into the back lot when her cell rang. "Don?" Aimee asked confused.

"Hey, Aimee. Do you think if you have time today you can come by the office? I want your opinion on some photos and things," he said.

"I have a little time early evening," she said checking her schedule on her PDA. "I can fit you in."

"Then just come by Charlie's place and we'll have a quick dinner. I'll grab some Chinese," he decided.

"Sure," she said making a note. "I'll see you later." She switched her phone off as she went into the studio. The set was already set up and cameras were ready to roll again.

Finally after 10 hours of grueling work, Aimee was pulling into the Epps Home. Judging by the SUV Don was already there.

"Hello Aimee," Allan Epps said kindly. Aimee smiled at the father. He was a great man.

"Hello Mr. Epps. Don here already?"

"We're setting up dinner as we speak," he said. "Larry and Amita are also here."

Buffers against Charlie, but also entertainment. Aimee followed Mr. Epps into the dinning room where the others were dishing up Chinese. "Help yourself," Don offered. "Just got here so it's still hot."

Aimee grabbed a plate and dished up as everyone else took seats. "What did you need me to look at?" Aimee asked. "I have to be back to work in an hour."

"Art thieves," Don said. "Smart ones. We have photos they have sent us, supposedly of the real art they have stolen and of the copies they are replacing them with. We managed to locate one piece, and Charlie's analysis says it's a fake. You're an artist, and photographer. I wanted your opinion."

Aimee nodded as Don grabbed a folder to sit on the table. Aimee wiped her hands quickly before grabbing the first photo. "Well, I can tell you this one is a fake," she said laying one of the photos of a Van Gogh down. "The others, though, are difficult to tell so far away. If I were closer and could see them up close to study, I could tell you."

"The one we've confiscated is at the office," Don said.

"And you think it's a fake?" she asked Charlie who nodded.

"I did an analysis on …." she tuned him out, not caring about the math. It was probably rude, but at the moment she couldn't care.

She looked over the pictures again. "Whoever sent you these photos didn't want you to be able to study them too thoroughly. Except for the Van Gogh one," she pointed to the one she had already labeled a fake, "the angle and shadowing on these pieces makes it impossible to study."

"Did they do it on purpose?" Allan asked. "Maybe the person who took the photos is a photographer."

She went through the photos again. "I don't know… I sense two different people taking these photos." She saw Charlie frown. "One man and one woman. Have you tried to get photos of the originals? See if the same angle and background can be found with them and match these?" Aimee offered. It would at least tell them if they were taking photos of the original or a fake.

"The museums are adding more security and are looking into the paintings to evaluate for authenticity, but swear so far none of them have been touched."

"But this one is in a personal collection," Aimee said laying down the photo of a Picasso. "It's not in a museum." Don gave her a surprised look before pulling out his phone to call Colby and David.

"Thanks for dinner, I have to get going," Aimee smiled as she stood. "Good luck with the case," she added as she walked out to her car, missing the look Amita and Larry were giving Charlie for being an ass.

Her cell rang as she was pulling onto the highway. "Derek!" Aimee said happily as she turned her head piece on. "I could use some cheering up after another crack at Mr. Math Nerd," she said sadly.

"What math theory did he bring up today?" Derek asked.

"Honestly, I didn't pay attention. It gets monotonous after awhile," she sighed.

"Are you heading home?" he asked.

"No, not yet. I have to go to the beach again," she said.

"I thought you finished the shot this morning?" he asked. "That's what you told me."

"We did—the sunrise shot. We have a rave to shoot. It's scheduled for tonight and tomorrow night," she said.

"Like I said this morning: and I thought I had weird hours," he said baffled. "How late are you working?"

"Probably until 2," Aimee sighed. They had a 7am call the following morning. She talked with Derek as she drove on the freeway until she pulled up at the beach and parked. She sat in her car to talk until the last possible moment.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Aimee had three hours off the following afternoon and so she went to the FBI office in LA. Her clearance made it so she didn't have to get a visitor's pass which made her happy.

She got off the elevator and Liz was the first to see her. "Hey, Aimee," Liz called out happily.

"Hey," Aimee waved. "Thought I'd see if you had any paintings for me to look at."

"Actually, we do," Liz said standing. "Sort of. Don and Nikki are talking with the owner of a painting, if you want, I'll drive you down there to see it. Don wants to know if it's been swapped out. One at the museum, the Van Gogh you said was a fake, was swapped. Someone managed to get in and swap a fake for the original."

"How long ago?" Aimee asked as they took the elevator down.

"Don't know. The museum last had it checked 6 months ago, and it was the real one then. We suspect it was 3 weeks ago when a security update in their security system was implanted."

Aimee followed Liz to the guy's house and found Don still talking with the owner. "You must be the newbie," Aimee told the black woman looking at the painting.

"Nikki Betancourt," she said holding out her hand. "You are the psychic?" she asked the petite girl. Clearly skeptical. Aimee wanted to ask people when they first met her what they thought a psychic should look like.

"Amongst other things," Aimee said, lifting her sunglasses. "You were LAPD before," Aimee said, studying the woman. "beat cop to FBI. Sweet."

"Did you read my profile, or did Liz fill you in?" Nikki asked.

"I think I've seen you when I was helping the LAPD," Aimee said. "Plus, you hold yourself like the LAPD."

"Some things take time to go away," Nikki shrugged.

"Why do you want it to go away?" Aimee asked curiously. "When you make senator, you can proudly say you were LAPD. Hell, I'd vote for you," Aimee grinned, turning to look at the painting. She knew Nikki would be giving Liz a 'what-the-hell' look. She didn't know what Liz thought about all of it, so she stole sidelong glances to see Liz grin.

Hmm, a potential believer, Aimee thought. "You dating anyone now, Liz? I know Don is now dating the DA. Have you dated anyone since the breakup with Don?"

"A date here and there. Nothing serious," Liz shrugged. "Now, if I had someone like that Agent Morgan, I would call in sick while he was in town."

"I looked him up in the FBI database," Nikki agreed.

"Now are you trying to make me blush, or tell all our dirty secrets?" Aimee grinned. "That conversation should involve some chocolate and wine," Aimee grinned as she went back to the painting. She didn't want to touch it with her bare finger and didn't have any gloves.

"I'm not a big Picasso fan, but off hand I would have to say it is authentic," she decided, studying the brush strokes. Aimee ran her finger over the frame and the wall around the painting. "They have been here before. I sense a team of 2, again. Someone has been scoping out the security, and got close enough to get a first hand view," Aimee said cryptically.

"I want a list of everyone who has been in the house for the last 6 months," Don told the owner behind him.

"Well, I got to get back," Aimee said with a wave. "Tell Colby he is earning a big tab on set," she laughed as she returned to her jag.

Aimee was pulling onto the 405 when her cell rang. She hit the button on her head piece. "Penny!" Aimee said happily knowing it was Garcia.

"I can't believe the FBI team in LA is already mooching off of you," Garcia said sadly.

"Penny, I hate to break it to you, but I was working with them before I met any of you guys," Aimee pointed out as she maneuvered on the freeway.

"But we are still your favorites, right?" Garcia asked.

Aimee grinned. "You know I adore all of you."

"I think you adore that Colby too, but mums the word," Garcia laughed. "But, I mean, triple agent, spying for the US government by acting like a spy for the Chinese? Heavy, sexy stuff," Garcia practically purred. "Who wouldn't think spy man is hot? Plus, I pulled his photo up, working my magic. Definitely yummy."

"Uh, Penny, you have a boyfriend? What about Xander?" Aimee asked. "What would he think if he heard you drooling about Colby?" Okay, need to get Colby a girlfriend so everyone will stop pestering me about him, Aimee thought.

"Kevin is adorable in his own way," Garcia said. "No need to worry about him," she said and Aimee was sure she didn't want those details.

"Where are they anyways?" Aimee asked.

"They are working a case here in Virginia. It seems an unsub has begun murdering again after 24 years."

"That seems like a long cooling off period," Aimee pointed out.

"Yeah, but you know our team. We always get our man," Garcia grinned. "Speaking of which, adorable doctor Reid is calling. Geek Goddess out," Garcia said hanging up.

Aimee was laughing as she parked at the studio. It was their last day in the studio before they went to location to the Disney Ranch. She checked her phone before going in when she heard it beep saying she had a text. She grinned seeing it was from Derek.

Sitting in the back seat, feeling like a child with bickering parents. Something going on with Emily and Rossi.

Derek was leaning casually in the back seat watching his teammates while they waited on the tow service to fix their flat. What kind of federal SUV didn't have a working spare? Aimee wouldn't let him live it down that they were stranded and he couldn't fix a flat. His phone beeped and he saw he had a text from Aimee. He was glad she had free time.

He read her text: What happened? Rossi pulling rank or something?

Derek texted back immediately. No clue. I was on the phone to AAA.

Aimee texted back: AAA? For what? Rossi likes to test all of you guys. Especially you ^_^

Derek grinned. Yeah, Aimee understood them well. Well, now he is moving on to Emily. Lucky for her.

You still haven't said what's wrong with the car. Aimee's text jumped straight to the detail he was avoiding. He was debating about pretending he didn't get that last text when Aimee texted back again. Never mind, Garcia told me about your flat. Poor Emily.

Hey! Poor me. I'm stuck with them while they bicker like an old married couple, Derek pouted.

Behave and I'll buy you a toy. Aimee texted.

Derek laughed out loud, earning glares from Rossi and Emily in the front seat. He put his sunglasses on and looked out the window, ignoring their glares.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The film crew finished around 7 that evening and several of the crew went for drinks at the Irish pub in the city. Lila and Cillian joined them, and as everyone expected, Cillian entertained them splendidly while they drank at the pub.

Lila and Aimee were joking when Aimee's cell phone rang. "Hey Don."

"We got a lead on the art thieves. Just wanted to say thanks for the help today," Don said.

"Not a problem. Let me know if you need anything else," Aimee offered.

"What did you think of my newest teammate?" Don asked.

"Nikki?" Aimee asked. "I liked her. She needs time to learn the ropes, FBI is different from LAPD, but I think she has a lot of potential."

"I thought so too. It's nice to have an outsiders perspective once in awhile," Don admitted. "I'll call you if anything comes up."

"So," Lila said, sipping her beer, her eyes dancing mischievously. "When is Derek coming back?"

Aimee sighed, exhausted. "We talked about him flying out on weekends once in awhile. Between both of our schedules it's hard. Neither of us have anything remotely resembling an ordinary schedule."

"You'll work it out," Lila assured her. "He's trying, Aimee. That's something."

She studied Lila. "Are you sorry Reid didn't pursue you?"

Lila shrugged. "A little. Not because of my ego. I would have hated if he kept in contact just because I was a Hollywood star or something," she explained. "But, Reid was a sweet guy. It was nice to know someone liked me for me, not because of what Lila is." She took another sip thoughtfully. "But, who knows how it would have ended. We'll never know."

"Well, if you are that interested in dating an FBI agent, I know a few more," Aimee grinned.

My beta says this chapter is a little different in terms of style than my previous work. I don't notice a big difference, but I am writing so many other things it's hard for me to tell.

Thanks, as always, to Sue1313 (a Charlie vs Reid match is definitely in the future!) and SoccerBitch (We will definitely see Comic con again! I had so much fun with this particular idea...)