"I want you to do the honors, David. You didn't have the opportunity to talk to him on his last call home, after all, since Jack and Elise both started crying over how much they missed him. Then, when we get home tonight, you can tell the children the wonderful news. I already gave Jessica a head's up so that she could control her reaction to the news. I know that she's missed Aaron just as much as we have. I just wish that this wasn't the reason why he was coming home. Or that we weren't trying to put out yet another fire."
"It is not our fault that these sick bastards like to target us and make certain that we no longer stand in the way of their goals, Erin. You know that we don't encourage this!" He gave her a broad wink as he pulled out his phone and quickly dialed the familiar number that was their lifeline to Aaron while he had been in Afghanistan. As if he knew that she couldn't bear being left out, David put the call on speaker, and she reached out for his hand instinctively, clasping it tightly as they waited for it to connect. There were times when the reception had been quite dodgy, but she hoped that this wasn't one such occurrence.
Finally, she heard the hiss and click of the connection, and her grip on David's hand tightened as she waited for one of them to speak. "Hello? Dave?"
"Aaron, I hope that we haven't caught you at a bad time."
There was a pause, long enough that Erin thought the call had been disconnected, before Aaron spoke once more. "Well, it seems like it's always a bad time over here. But I do have a few moments. What's up?"
"Before you say anything, you have to know that this is the team that went through hell to catch Foyet, and they've done the same for Doyle. And things are fast coming to a head, with too few team members to safely do anything about the situation. Which is why Erin has been working behind the scenes to make certain that you came home, not only on time, but early. Though I have to say that I'm glad this case came up because it has been so hard to tell the children that you're going to be home as soon as possible."
"Jack and Elise were pretty upset Saturday, yes. But I don't think that you have that sort of cachet to arrange my extraction. Even Erin and all her political maneuvering would be hard pressed to achieve this."
"Well, it's a good thing that I've made a new friend in high places, Aaron. Because that maneuvering was exactly what I used to ensure that you'll have a replacement in the field in about three hours, and you'll be on the next helicopter home. I'd rather get this done sooner, rather than later, as it had been ridiculously difficult to turn a blind eye to what Penelope and Agent Morgan are doing. By the time you get back here, you'll probably hit the ground running. I know that those flights are long."
"This isn't a joke?"
Erin let out a long-suffering sigh as she shook her head. "No, Aaron, this is the farthest thing from a joke. We all want you home, and I've finally been able to make that happen. Jack and Elise are going to be ecstatic, we're telling them tonight after supper. So stay safe, keep your head down, and come home to us."
"All right, Erin. Thank you." There was another pause before he cleared his throat, and it almost sounded like he was trying to cough away tears, which made perfect sense, as she was trying to keep from crying herself. "Do I have to go to the bullpen the moment I'm home?"
"Normally, I'd tell you no, head home and hug your son before coming over to our place and hugging your daughter. But time will truly be of the essence here, since I have the feeling that Agent Morgan won't allow Doyle to escape once more. Especially not when they think they've found his son, and it's a race against the clock."
"I understand. Just…"
"I will, Aaron. I promise." She broke off before the tears that were trembling on the ends of her lashes began to fall, allowing David to direct the rest of the conversation.
"All right, I know the two of you are getting mushy, so that means I need to be the voice of reason. Seriously, Hotch, it is damn hard to keep Morgan and Kitten in line. You should know that."
Aaron chuckled a little. "That is true, he does tend to drag Garcia along with his most outrageous plans. All right, can I leave my bags in your office, then, Erin?"
"Of course, and I'll have Helen help me bring them to the car. We'll take care of you, of everything, I promise. We'll see you soon, and I love you." That was when she began to cry and she willingly stepped into David's arm and let him pull her tightly to his chest as he finished up the call with Aaron before he kissed her forehead tenderly.
"Do I have to worry about Aaron moving in on my territory?" he teased as he brought them over to her sofa, pulling her down onto the sofa as he continued to hold her close.
"No, I don't love him like I love you, but I find it easier to say those words to people now because of you?"
"Stellina, I will never berate you for being more open and loving, because I love seeing this side of you start to show through at work. It's clear that you are changing a little, especially after Haley's death, but you're still you at heart."
She nodded against his chest, adjusting how she was sitting so that she was in a more comfortable position. "I didn't think that talking to him just now would be so emotional for me. I miss him, David."
"I'd be worried if you didn't. He is the father of Elise, after all." He rubbed his hand up and down her arm as they fell quiet, and Erin took a few deep breaths as she sought her center once more. "Just think, as soon as we track Doyle down and put him back in custody, Aaron can come back to our home, and we can throw a quiet welcome back supper for him."
"Quiet? Have you met our family?" She laughed a little as she pulled away from him, looking up into his face. "Once he's home, we'll have the entire team over, along with the family, and make it a lovely affair. It shouldn't take too long for Jessica and me to plan something small in our backyard, after all. And that will give me something different to focus on while you're all gallivanting around, trying to find an international fugitive."
"Ah, Erin, you make it sound as if that exasperates you." She rolled her eyes a little as she reached out and smacked his chest lightly, no real malice in the move. "I'll take that as a yes. Good. That keeps you on your toes. Now, I suppose that I should get back to work and make certain that the team doesn't go off the rails in my absence."
"That would probably be for the best, David. Hopefully, you'll be home tonight. Keep them in line, and invoke my name if you have to." He nodded as he leaned in to kiss her softly, and Erin watched him go, wondering just what the outcome of this not so secret case would be.