Great affection is often the cause of violent animosity. The quarrels of men often arise from too great a familiarity. -Saskya Pandita
The cold lobby was almost empty. Morning sun stretched through the skinny windows as she clicked across the room.
Agent Nina Samine had been gone for quite a while and it was so so good to be back.
She had smiled a little too brightly at the receptionist. They didn't know each other and yet the older woman had asked "Good weekend?" ever so politely.
"Kind of" She had replied, swiping her keycard.
She's been at the BAU a handful of years and the job has changed so much. Starting with the average (yet horrifying, stressful and only sometimes satisfying) cases and now she had been an acting attaché for the higher-ups. This was the first time she has been in DC, has seen the team, in what felt like forever.
But the elevator door opened with a soft 'ting' and there it was. The room where it all happened. The bullpen was buzzing with its usual things as she crossed the carpet. Well, 'usual' was probably not the right word. Every day was something different.
Her bare and lonely desk had all of its trinkets removed save for the small name placard on it. She thumbed the letters in her name, grateful to find it still waiting for her. Her shoes felt a little too squeaky.
When she finally plopped down in the office chair, a lofty voice called from not too far away.
"Samine!"
Derek Morgan followed by Emily and Reid crossed the room. All three looked well rested for once.
"Welcome back." Emily offered with a knowing smile. She had done her own kind of attaché work before, Nina remembered. She knew how mind-numbing it could be compared to the pace of the BAU.
"We were worried you would take your chance and run outta here." Derek teased.
"Aw c'mon, you can't get rid of me that easy." She threw back.
Derek's words had a small pin of truth to them. Nina had an opportunity that many would kill for: a position where you keep all the healthcare and lose most of the grizzly fieldwork. Not many decide to come back from that.
"Don't tell me you're here for good?" Emily sniffed out what she was thinking. She sounded somewhat hopeful. Nina appreciated it.
"No..I mean…I'm not sure honestly." Nina focused on unloading her briefcase. What agent Prentiss was referring to was a rumor of a permanent transfer. Just a rumor, mind you, but it did get Nina considering her options.
"Well hey, it's good to have you here." Derek thankfully removed the pressure to bear it all right then. There was too much to think about.
"oh! There she is!" A bright, sweet voice was followed by Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia. Nina couldn't help but smile back at her as she approached.
"Can I hug you? I want to hug you." Nina nodded and allowed her arms to wrap around her.
"It's good to see you too, Pen."
"I wasn't sure if it would be today or next week but, well, anyway." They released each other.
"It's good to know I'm so missed around here." The team didn't know her that long in the grand scheme of things, and it felt like the position change happened so quickly. Yet they made her feel…essential. Like she mattered here.
"You working cases with us...?" Reid was trying to gauge how long her time was with them she could tell.
"Yeah. For now. Things are slow enough that I was given time to come back." The chair creaked a little as she sat back down. "Frankly I think they just want me to decide quickly. Speed up the shopping process."
Emily nodded quietly. "Well, Rossi and Strauss are meeting about something so he's not in. And Hotch is somewhere around…"
Someone was about to speak but she doesn't remember who.
"Agent Samine."
Nina tried not to stiffen at his voice. Turning to face him, Hotch stood slightly above them all, just outside of his office. The last time they talked- no- the last time they saw each other…
His hands running over and through her body bloomed in her mind. She forced herself to be present, and listen to what he said.
"Welcome back."
This was coming, she knew. She knew it on the plane ride back, in the car, in the lobby. She's known it since she originally left, actually. They would have to face each other and figure out how to be coworkers. How to act professionally regardless of the impulsive decisions made in the past.
She had the urge to fake sick and run. Nina smiled softly instead.
"Thanks."
As if nothing happened, either in her own head or in their shared past, he lifted the thick file in his hand. "Conference room in 5, everyone."
And with that, he slid from view.
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