Dave had been right, he should have signed the card with something, as someone, so she wouldn't worry. That was the last things she needed at the moment. He'd managed to deflect Dave with the good news of JJ's return and as he sat back in his chair, he wondered how he might show his own appreciation.
Aaron began a dozen thank you letters to Erin, but each one felt more trite than the last. Sighing, he gave up and went back to his paperwork. As the weeks passed, he sent Erin two more bouquets of flowers, either putting 'A friend' or Penelope's name on the card. It was both the least and the most he could do for her at the moment.
When Dave and Penelope returned from her appointment on Friday, he could tell they'd gotten wonderful news by the way she kissed his cheek in front of the entire bullpen. Aaron stepped out of his office and came up behind Dave. "So, you got good news today?"
The other man turned, a huge grin on his face. "We're having a girl. Irene."
Taking a deep breath, Aaron asked, "Could I come to supper, too? Jessica's taking Jack to her boyfriend's softball game, so there's going to be no one home."
Anxiously he waited for Dave's answer to a question he had no idea why he'd asked. Finally, the man answered. "Sure. Bring a bottle of wine with you, we're celebrating, after all. The more, the merrier, right?"
Aaron let out the breath he'd been holding as he smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Dave. Just knock on my door before you leave, so I know when to go, too." He went back into his office and shut the door, leaning against it and shaking his head. This was madness, and yet he wanted the excuse to spend time with Er-Strauss.
He watched the clock all morning, getting nothing accomplished. During his lunch break, he went to the nearest liquor store and picked up a bottle of red wine and one of sparkling grape juice for the evening ahead. Then he spent the rest of the day brooding about how stupid he'd been to horn in on something like this. Seriously, Hotchner, she's just lost her husband. She's not going to be the most open of people at the moment and you want to… He stopped that line of thought right quick and tried to focus on the file in front of him.
Finally, he heard Dave knock on his door at five to five. He sprang up, adjusting his tie and jacket as he went to answer the door, turning the lights off as he opened it. "We'll most likely be ten minutes behind you and we have to fix supper when we get home."
"All right. When I get there, I get there," Aaron replied. He left the bullpen, feeling Dave's eyes on him, as if he knew there was something more to his request than not wanting to be alone for supper. He drove out to Dave's place at a sedate speed, expecting them to be right behind him.
Erin's green Mercedes was in the drive when he pulled in and he parked next to her. Taking hold of the bottles he'd bought, he went up to the front door and rang the bell. He turned to look at the trees as he waited, peace settling over his soul at the sight.
"Just a minute," he heard through the door as the locks turned. It was Erin's voice, and he was suddenly nervous. She opened the door. "Oh. Hello, Agent Hotchner." There was a stiff formality to her voice and he wondered if this had been such a good idea after all.
"May I come in?" he asked somewhat gruffly.
"Of course. I just wasn't expecting you." He watched her swipe at her cheeks as he went inside and she noticed his scrutiny. "I'm cutting onions in the kitchen. I thought I'd get supper started for Penny, before they got home."
"I'll help." His quick reply must have pleased her, since she gave him a small smile.
"Follow me, then." She led him to the kitchen and he set the bottles on the counter. There were no onions out, but he chose not to say anything, not wanting to embarrass her.
Erin put him to work measuring and stirring for her as she chopped up vegetables and meat for the dish she was creating. Once it was in the oven, he leaned against the counter and looked at her. "I was sorry to hear about your husband's passing."
She returned his gaze steadily and he watched her eyes well up, tears threatening to fall at any moment. "Thank you, Aaron."
"Do you have anyone staying with you, to help you through this?"
"No. At least you still have Jack with you. All my children are off at college, and it makes an empty house seem emptier. When I was here, I could focus on taking care of them, but now, the ghosts of my past keep creeping up on me."
"And all the secret sorrows you buried keep bubbling to the surface. Like if I had been quicker, smarter, better…"
"I could have saved him."
"Yes," he breathed out, feeling his own eyes prickle with tears. She reached out and touched his hand and he clasped it, squeezing tightly.
"You're the only person I know who truly understands," she whispered, looking away from him. His heart strangely ached and he took a step towards her, only to be interrupted by the door opening. They sprang apart quickly, moving to opposite ends of the counter.
"Hey guys, we're home. You didn't have to start supper, we would have done that when we got here," Rossi said.
Erin turned to look at them. "It was nothing. Aaron has been a tremendous help to me. Why don't we go set the table, Penelope, and you can tell me more about your appointment. The men can handle finishing supper up."
Once more, Aaron could feel Dave's eyes on him, scrutinizing him, as he opened the oven and checked on the casserole. Finally, he could take it no longer. "What?"
"She's just lost her husband."
"I know that, Dave. But sometimes you need to talk to someone who knows what it's like. Death is very different than divorce."
His friend nodded. "What do you need me to do?"
"Uncork the wine and grape juice. There's only about ten minutes left on the food and then we can eat." He was grateful when Dave left the room moments later so he could get control of spinning emotions. He'd not been that emotionally intimate in some time and it felt weird to think that it had been Erin he'd connected with.
The timer went off and Erin bustled back into the room. "Would you grab me some potholders? They're in the drawer right behind you, Aaron."
"Sure." He pulled out two and handed them to her. As their hands touched, he felt a little spark of electricity.
"Sorry. I build up static in this house like you wouldn't believe," she said softly, letting her hands hover near his. The tension began to build up once more, only to be broken by Penelope coming into the kitchen. She smiled at them and Aaron recognized that grin. She, too, seemed to be reading something more into his friendly concern. And that's all it was. Friendly. He ignored the rapid beating of his heart which belied his assertions.
"I thought I heard the timer go off. Do you need any help in here?" she asked, joining them at the counter.
"No, I think we have a handle on everything in here. Don't we, Aaron?"
Her voice was soft as she said his name and he felt a small smiled creep across his lips. "Yes, we do, Erin." She looked at him, blushing slightly. "I'll get the door for you while you carry the casserole out." She nodded and opened the oven, pulling the dish out. He turned the oven off and then held open the kitchen door for her.
"Don't let her catch you staring, Boss Man," Penelope whispered in his ear as she brushed past him. "She might not be ready for the promise in your eyes."
Aaron could only look at her for a moment. "Maybe it's time you became a profiler," he said lowly as he entered the dining room. Penelope just smiled enigmatically at him, as if she knew exactly what the future held.