CHAPTER 4
I sat down on the brown leather couch in Garcia's lair and let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in.
"So, are you going to tell us what actually happened to your pretty little head," Penelope asked sitting in her desk chair, leaning towards the desk drawer and pulling out a bag of dark chocolate. This could only mean one thing, Garcia wanted to have Girl Talk.
"There's nothing I didn't say in front of the others" I sat back laughing and shrugged my shoulders, hoping that this would be the end of that conversation.
"Well, Morgan sure as hell found it amusing," JJ added while sitting beside me and curling her legs underneath her.
"Yeah, he just chooses to be an ass at times" I looked at Pen gesturing for her to drop a tinfoil wrapped square in my hand. As if on cue there was a knock at the door.
"Come in mere mortal," cried Garcia, spinning back around to her desk to begin booting up her computers.
As the door slowly opened there stood Derek Morgan with a stack of files in his hand as well the remainder of the cold brew that I brought in this morning.
"Em, I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I brought you your stuff from your desk that way you could work in here and away from me" he said turning to Pen's desk and sitting my stuff on the side.
"Thanks Morgan, honestly it's fine I would've said the same thing if the roles were reversed," I looked back at him and gave a slight smile. He smiled back, turned and kissed the top of Garcia's head and said goodbye all while walking out the door.
"How is it you can forgive him so easily," JJ looked over at me and shot a glance at Garcia.
"Yeah, why exactly is that?" Garcia looks at me smiling, popping another piece of chocolate into her mouth.
"What exactly was that face for," I questioned back confused on what the two blondes were about to say.
"Nothing, other than the fact that you and Derek had a little moment if I heard correctly," Penelope uttered into her mug while taking a sip of her tea.
"What moment, Derek and I don't have moments. And anyways Garcia don't you have a thing for Morgan" I looked back at her raising an eyebrow and looking at JJ for help.
"That is not the topic of conversation here angelfish, what is this about you two and a love for Kurt Vonnegut," Pen said, quickly changing the subject.
"All I said was that it was one of my favorite books, I didn't know Morgan was into it too." I stated, glancing up at the clock I realized we had been there for a while and I needed more coffee.
"If you ladies will excuse me I'm going to grab more coffee and then come back in here to actual work on reports," I laughed and got up throwing away my Starbucks cup and walking out the door.
Hotch's POV
If there was a phrase to describe a meeting with Erin Strauss, it would be anything but a quick word. What I thought would be a quick meeting about our caseload and the upcoming days on stand-down, turned into a three hour makeshift budget meeting. Finally, after hearing her go on about the mass amount of extra money the BAU spends each quarter, I informed her I had to finish case files before leaving this afternoon. Glancing at the rest of the stack of files and deciding to finish them after lunch, I heard my phone go off signaling another text from Haley.
H: I'll be at the BAU in about 20 mins. Jack is staying with Jess.
I sighed and placed my head in my hands. Today was the first day I was gonna see Jack in over a month, well the first time it wasn't the middle of the night. If I didn't think Haley was mad, now I do. She would only have dropped Jack off to Jessica if she knew we would spend the lunch arguing with each other. Taking a quick glance at my coffee mug, and seeing that it was empty I decided to get another cup while waiting to go to lunch.
Emily's POV
Pouring the steaming black liquid into my cup and making my way to the cabinet to find the Splenda, I bumped into Hotch.
"Surprised to see you out this early Sir. Strauss looked like she meant business when she walked in earlier," I stated, flashing him a slight smile and returning the sweetener back to its original spot.
"Did you see her fly out on her broom?" He questioned as his lips turned up into what looked like the most pathetic smile I've ever seen.
I chuckled from his attempt at a joke and the Advil must have been wearing off because I felt a shooting pain go across my forehead. Hotch must have been able to see it as well because he put the sugar back on the counter and led me up into his office.
After sitting down on the couch and watching him crack the door he turned to look at me questioningly.
"Prentiss, are you okay? I didn't want to ask you in front of the team earlier but what exactly happened for you to run into a door in the middle of the night?" he looked at me while sitting down next to me. The normally stoic and cold Unit Chief turned to look at me with a face I could place as genuine concern and worry. I had only been a member of this team for a month but I could already tell they were like a family and Hotch cared for each and everyone like they were his own flesh and blood.
"I've been having nightmares," I muttered while making eye contact with him and sighing.
"Nightmares are perfectly normal, what are they about if you don't mind me asking" he looked over and smiled turning up his cup and taking a sip from his coffee.
As I open my mouth to tell him about the Chandler case, I hear someone begin to yell.
"So first you are too busy screwing your subordinate to come home last night, and now you are having a coffee date with her before lunch with your wife." I jump up and accidentally spill my coffee in front of me landing all over my boss.
Standing in the doorway stood an incredibly pissed Haley Hotchner.
"Jesus, Aaron I'm so sorry," I stated not even realizing I used his given name.
"Oh so, she's allowed to call you Aaron now, this must be serious," Haley looked between the two of us scowling. Realizing I still had files to do I did what I do best, I ran.
Going back to my desk, I silently thanked whoever was watching over me that Morgan and Reid were not there to see the events that just unfolded. I began working on my files with my head down as I saw Haley leave Hotch's office and speed walked through the bullpen and back towards the elevator. I realized she was probably going home because she clearly wasn't going to lunch now. Speaking of lunch, I decided that after I finished this file I would head back up to Garcia's office and enjoy my lunch with the girls. I look back up into Hotch's office. Doing a double take, I look up through the blinds to see a shirtless Hotch. Immediately averting my eyes, and grabbing my lunch and my phone I quickly began walking to Penelope's lair hoping and praying no one saw me staring.
As soon as I walked up onto the catwalk, I glanced at Hotch's door reliving what I saw moments before.
Those suits don't do him and justice, I thought to myself.
You really just were accused of sleeping with your boss by his wife, now you're imagining him shirtless. Take a hint, the voice in my head yelled.
Making my way into penelope's office I decided to sit and finish my files and keep the conversation away from me.
Hotch's POV
Unbuttoning the coffee stained shirt and draping it over the desk chair, I went over to my go-bag to find an undershirt. While digging through my bag,I began to process the events that occurred in the last ten minutes. I noticed that one of my colleagues was having an off day and when I went to ask them about it my wife showed up enraged barging into my office, and frightening Emily to the point throwing burning hot coffee on me. As if the pain of scalding hot coffee isn't enough, Haley accused me of cheating and then ran off to the car to get another shirt. I pulled the now brown undershirt over my head and threw that on top of the dress shirt as well. Walking back to behind my desk, I turned and noticed I didn't close the blinds. Realizing I was standing shirtless in my office, I threw the shirt over my head before Haley came back and said something about me parading around the BAU shirtless for all the women. As if it could get any worse, Anderson knocked on my door to drop off the new dress shirt.
Great, I thought to myself. If Haley wouldn't even come back in the building she's gonna be furious when I get home.
Finishing the last page of the file in front of me, I scanned the bottom of my computer screen and noticed that it was approaching the end of the workday. I began to wonder how much the team got accomplished with us not having a case. Noticing I was done with my stack of files I chose to head down to the bullpen to get coffee and check on the rest of the team. Walking out, I examined the scene in front of me. Reid sat at his desk surrounded by JJ and Garcia, seeming to be in a carefree conversation while Derek and Prentiss sat across from each other, filling out files.
Waiting another moment before I walked down, I noticed Morgan pick up a baseball off his desk and gently tossed it towards Reid. Watching Reid fumble the ball and drop it, I watched with curiosity as it rolled across the bullpen floor and stopped at the bottom stair at my feet. As I squatted down to pick it up I noticed the team looked as if they had just been caught by their parent. Watching Garcia grab Reid's arm and pulling him towards her "batcave" I turned and tossed the ball back towards Derek.
Looking over at Emily and trying to give her a smile I noticed she avoided eye contact and shifted her eyes to stare at the file on her desk.
"Hey Hotch," Morgan said, grabbing his stack of folders and reaching out to hand them out to me.
"The team was gonna head to the bar later tonight to kickstart the next three days of freedom" he said shooting a cocky smile towards Prentiss and then turning back to face me.
I watched as Prentiss finished her file and grabbed her stack and went to hand it out to me.
"Here you are, sir..." She glanced up, grabbed her belongings from under her desk and waved to Morgan as she left for the night.
"See you later Princess," He stated turning back and looking towards me as Jason Gideon made his way down into the bullpen with a stack of files and his suit jacket.
"Hotch, here's everyone's files for the day including mine, I'm heading out to the cabin please whatever you do, do not call me." He spoke handing me his stack without even stopping and he was out the door.
After yelling after Gideon to have a good couple of days off,I turned back towards Morgan to go over the plan and saw he vanished.
I guess I'll just see them when we arrive tonight I thought to myself, taking the stairs two at a time and heading into my office to grab my stuff and go home to my family.
Later that night…
Emily's POV
"He moves like a cat" Garcia yells over the loud bass echoing throughout the bar, shooting a look at me that I can only describe as half amazed and half disappointed. I handed her the drink I just got from the bar and sat my own down on the table. Curious to see who she was looking at, I turned to follow her eye-line, and in the middle of about eight women stood none other than Derek Morgan. Slowly taking turns spinning each woman and allowing them to grind against him. That was until the music died out and a slower song began to play.
"Go dance with him Pen," I stated, half paying attention to my friend and half watching the subject of her own affection. Not even ten feet away from Morgan were the Hotchners. I slowly watched as Hotch pulled his wife close to him, whispered something in her ear, and began to laugh.
Ugh, how I wished that was me. I thought to myself.
Stop it now, he's married, The voice started up again.
"Why would I wanna do that, he seems happy with the model looking one" Penelope questioned with a slight chuckle in her voice. Her response pulled me back into the conversation and away from the happily married couple.
I stared down at the amber liquid in the cup between my sweating palms. I thought again and was determined to distract myself. Scanning the bar for a guy, I noticed a group of semi-attractive men playing darts with JJ. Glancing back to the dancefloor I noticed Morgan tell the blonde something and head back towards the table, I chose to go see about JJ. Throwing back the rest of the drink, and looking over towards the dartboard I realized she was gone. I then saw her over at a table with Reid and a couple of other people. Sighing and noticing I was the only one without someone I decided to go get another drink.
"I'll be right back Garcia," I said suddenly glancing up and noticed that Hotch and Haley made their way back to the table as well. Realizing I was staring at everybody I got up and headed over to the bar and ordered another whiskey. Needing to loosen up a bit, I added a double shot of tequila to my tab and headed back to the table.
"You trying to have some fun Princess," Morgan questioned me, seeing the two glasses and giving me his most suggestive smirk.
"Wouldn't you like to know," I said smiling and flinging back the shot choosing not to give him a definite answer.
"Come on then Princess", he responds back grabbing my hand and before we leave the table I see a slight pang of jealousy coming from Garcia.
Hotch's POV
"Garcia, are you okay," I asked, questioning the blonde. She was sitting next to me with a look of longing as she watched Morgan grab Prentiss and spin her around to the beat of the song playing throughout the bar.
"Of course sir, I'm just hoping to dance with Chocolate Thunder before we leave tonight," She stated taking a long sip of the colorful drink in her hand not looking away from her friends and teammates.
Sitting and sipping the rest of my drink, I looked over to watch Haley. After work I got home and talked her into coming to the bar, that was no problem. The problem only began when we arrived and she saw Emily. It also wasn't helpful that everyone was already sitting at the table and the only empty chairs were between Prentiss and Reid.
"Sir, I would hate to bother you into staying at the table a few minutes more. But would you mind watching my drink while I used the ladies room" Garcia turned back to look at me quickly and then began to look at the floor.
"Of course he will, right Aaron," Haley nugged my arm and looked at Garcia sympathetically before I could respond.
"We were taking a break anyway and gonna get another round," I said looking at the normally bubbly blonde. "Would you care for another drink?" I followed up seeing if that might cheer her up.
"That would be amazing, thank you, sir." She said while getting up and giving both me and Haley a slight smile and disappearing into the crowd.
"I might have to take back what I said earlier," Haley expressed looking back towards the dancefloor.
"What exactly would that be." I looked puzzled trying to remember what exactly she had said.
"About Emily having a thing for you, either she's trying to go after all the men of the BAU or her and Morgan might be extra close. Anyways, I'm gonna go grab our drinks before Penelope gets back" she patted my arm and kissed my cheek, and took off towards the bar.
I sat by myself and took in the scene around me. I watched as JJ and Reid moved from the table they were at to a pool table over in the corner of the room. I chuckled to myself thinking how that was going to end up. Reid would most likely start off sloppy and then get astronomically better and spitting off some facts about trigonometry and angles until JJ gave in and accepted defeat. I then looked back to Morgan and Prentiss and realized how natural they acted together, both dancing completely in sync with the other.
"Are you sure there's nothing you need to tell me?" Haley's words played over and over in my head.
Look away Aaron, I thought internally meanwhile I couldn't pull my eyes away. I can see what she's talking about. Emily is no doubt beautiful, but Haley should know I'm completely loyal to her and Jack. Yes, I'm gone a lot for work but did she truly believe I would just abandon them?
"Thank you, sir," I heard Garcia's voice and looked up and smiled as she gave me a small smile and sat back down.
I nodded and thanked whatever God looked down on me because as soon as I looked up again Haley walked over and dropped our drinks on the table.
"Here you go Penelope," Haley stated, handing her a colorful cocktail across the table and sitting my whiskey down.
"Thank you love," Garcia responded, grabbing her drink and twirling the straw around, avoiding looking at the dancefloor.
Emily's POV
After dancing for about fifteen minutes I began to need a drink.
"Hey, I'm gonna go back to the table," I looked over at Derek and began to walk away when he grabbed me by the wrist and spun me around.
"How 'bout you and I head out of here," he chuckled, heading to the table to grab our stuff and leave.
