After Valentine's had passed, it seemed that Aaron had decided not to bring up Erin quite so much, as if he had realized that he had managed to upset Penelope far more than she had ever let on. Also, it seemed as if Emily had been drifting further and further away from her, and no matter how much she tried to bridge that gap, nothing worked. And with the team down in Louisiana, it was difficult to talk to Aaron. She knew that she had to keep their personal life and work life separate, but it felt like everything was just bleeding together to create the messiest blurred lines she had ever encountered.
Unable to concentrate on the case, Penelope pushed away from the desk and popped in her Bluetooth headset, knowing that Helen would allow her to use her computer if necessary. But she needed to talk to Erin, to discuss the thoughts that were spinning around in her mind before she went crazy. Grant was busy talking to Gina as she passed them by, and Penelope gave him a small nod as she made for the door. He gave her a small wink before turning back to his conversation. There wasn't too much traffic in the hallway, which made her happy, since she didn't have time to answer questions from well-meaning colleagues.
"She's in a meeting until eleven thirty, Penelope, but I wouldn't mind the company. I managed to swap out another bottle, but I think she's getting suspicious, because a lock has shown up on the cabinet where she keeps the majority of her alcohol. I didn't mean to make her suspicious, but I have her best interests at heart."
Penelope nodded as she came around to the other side of Helen's desk, taking a seat on it as she watched Helen turn away from her computer to look up into her face. There were tears gathering in her eyes, and Penelope swallowed back her own tears as she reached out and rubbed her shoulder softly. "I know, and I just want the best for her, too. Maybe it's time to switch things up a little, and instead of swapping out the alcohol, just, I don't know, dilute it? That way it still tastes of alcohol, but isn't too much in her system?"
"I suppose that we could look into doing that, Penelope." Helen sighed as she swiped at her eyes. "Now, tell me something happy. How are things between you and Agent Hotchner?"
She shrugged before rubbing her stomach absently. "I wish that things were a happy little paradise between us, but we're muddling along the best that we can. He's just so driven, and that drive makes him seem like he's heartless when it comes to Erin. This animosity between them just seems to grow on his end, even though she's been nothing but kind towards him in the last few months. I mean, she wouldn't have gone to the Director to clear a path for us to date if she was setting us up to fail, right?"
"Exactly. I wish that more people could see the true her, like you do, Penelope. But I think that she keeps her distance from so many others because she needs to be seen as strong and in control. Usually, those who show kindness towards others are perceived as weak, even though we both know that kindness is one of the strongest traits a person can have. That idea was metaphorically kicked out of her person during the Amerithrax case."
Penelope tilted her head to one side as she gazed at Helen. She had heard bits and pieces about that case when she had first started with the BAU, but this was the first she knew of Erin being involved in it. "Can you tell me more about that?"
"I wish I could, but I've probably already said too much. I'm sorry, you'll have to ask Erin for more details. Now, I hate to kick you out of my space, but I really do need to get back to work on these emails, so if you want to head into her office, I'll let her know you're there when she gets out of her meeting. Odds are, she'll also want a drink, so try to have something ready for her when she enters. At least if you're the one pouring, it won't be quite as heavy as her pours."
"That is true," Penelope replied as she slipped off Helen's desk and made her way over to Erin's door. It didn't take long for her to slip behind the door and make her way over to the sofa, sinking down into the spot that she was fast considering to be hers. She knew that it was dangerous to think like that, but she couldn't help it. Pulling out her phone, she began to scroll through her notifications before replying to an email from Monica, replying to her question about group on Thursday. She was so lost in her phone that she didn't notice that anyone had joined her until Erin was delicately clearing her throat, a glass in her hand.
"This is a surprise," she said as she sank down next to Penelope, sipping from the glass. "And before you ask, this is water from one of the bottles that Helen has refilled in my stash."
Penelope felt her cheeks turn hot in a flush as she looked away from Erin guiltily. "Yes, well, we just wanted you to be better, and thought that this would be a good way to do so without you noticing quite so soon. The placebo effect and all that?"
Erin let out a small sigh as she nodded, pressing the glass into Penelope's hand. Cocking her head to one side, Penelope brought it to her nose, sniffing at it and finding no scent other than water. "Take a sip, I want you to be completely certain that I'm not lying to you."
"I trust you, Erin."
"Maybe I don't trust myself."
Frowning, Penelope took a long drink from the glass, finding it pure water. She handed the glass back to Erin, who immediately turned the glass and drank from where Penelope's lips had touched. The gesture was oddly intimate, and she blushed a little deeper. "You should always trust yourself. Because we're behind you two thousand percent. Even if Alan is a complete jackhole."
Erin let out a soft giggle before taking another sip of water. "That he is," she replied before setting the glass on the coffee table in front of them. "So, what brings you here this morning?"
She crossed her arms over her stomach before slipping them down to rest on her thighs as she gazed at Erin. "Things are getting weirder with Emily, and it's not just me noticing it. Reid has definitely taken notice that she's acting weird, and while we've both said something to Aaron, he still isn't listening to us."
"And that bothers you because you love him and trust him to have your back."
Penelope nodded as she tried to relax her posture, finding that she was much too tense for this talk. "I just, I expected that he would listen to me first and foremost, but then when Reid brought up his concerns, he was brushed off just as easily. We've been a team for almost five years now, and he should know that we know how each other thinks and works."
"Maybe you're a little too close."
That idea took her aback, and she frowned at Erin as she thought about what to say next. "Why would you say that?"
"There's a famous saying that familiarity breeds contempt, and that might be at play here. I'm not saying that Aaron is being contemptuous of you on a personal level, but the fact that you all have been together this long also make you blind to some changes. That's why I've tried to keep everyone at arm's length, so that I can notice those changes. Until you."
"I'm good at worming my way beneath people's defense systems. And besides, you like me."
"I rather do."
There was a delicate pink blush in Erin's cheeks, and Penelope stifled her giggle as she reached out and brushed her fingers against the back of Erin's hand. "It's okay to admit that you have a friend here in the BAU. Everyone needs someone to look after their back, you know."
"I'm starting to see that, yes. Now, do you want me to speak with Aaron about your concerns in regard to Agent Prentiss?"
Penelope shook her head as she took hold of Erin's hand, holding on to it lightly. "I think that I want to see where things go from here. I have to learn how to better nudge Aaron into seeing my way of thinking, after all." Erin gave her a little smirk as she raised an eyebrow, and this caught Penelope a little off guard, and she giggled to cover up her surprise. Soon, Erin was joining in, and it felt good to let go like that with her. "I just, I wish that he would listen to me more. I am more than just a pretty face, you know?"
"I do know, Penny. You've done so much to help me and my children, and I wouldn't be this close to sober if it weren't for you. Now, I'll keep an eye out on Agent Prentiss along with you, and I'll come to let you know if I see anything that unsettles me, too. All right?"
"All right. Thank you, Erin." She lifted the hand in hers to her lips and pressed a quick kiss to the knuckles before getting to her feet. "I am so glad that I have you in my life as my friend. I hope that we can always have this connection."
Before Erin could say another word, Penelope turned and hurried from the office, not wanting to embarrass herself any further that morning. She made certain to give Helen a small wave before making her way back to her office, hoping that she could find the focus that she needed to help her team successfully close the case that they were currently on.
