The team just landed. If you want to get Blake a tea, I would head out now. And maybe call ahead so that it's ready when you arrive? Anyway, I hope that you had a good day, and I really want to schedule a lunch date at your earliest convenience. I know, it's probably impertinent of me, but you are going to be my friend, come hell or high water.

Erin chuckled as she scrolled through her phone, looking for the number of her coffee shop. It didn't take long to order two large London fog teas, deciding that she would like to have a drink as well. Once that was squared away, she picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder as she made her way to the elevators. Stepping into the next open car, Erin tapped out a reply to Penelope, telling her that she was on her way, and thanking her for the intel.

Suddenly, she was overwhelmingly grateful for the fact that the coffee shop was so close by, since that meant she could get there and back with little fuss. Which was a good thing, since there was quite a long line for that time of day, and she had to fight her urge to tap her foot, knowing that wouldn't help anything. Still, she couldn't help but check her phone numerous times as she made her way to the front of the line, looking for a message from Penelope telling her that she was too late, and the team had already arrived. When that hadn't happened by the time she had paid, Erin let out a small sigh of relief, making certain to add a few dollars to the tip jar before picking up the cups and heading back to the BAU.

A nervous energy filled her stomach the moment she stepped into the building, and it was much harder to not tap her foot against the floor of the elevator as she rode up to the sixth floor. The moment she stepped out of the elevator, her phone vibrated against her thigh, and she managed to get both cups into one hand before taking a look at who had messaged her. They just pulled into the parking garage, so you had better be on your way!

Releasing a long breath, Erin slipped into the bullpen and strode over to Alex's desk, setting the cup down next to her keyboard before making her way up to Penelope's office, somehow certain that she would never make it back to her office without running into the team and not wanting to give herself away on her first attempt at smoothing the way between her and Alex. Quickly triple knocking on the door, she waited for Penelope to open it, her guts twisting inside her as she waited.

"Thank god you made it back before they did! Come in!" she said as she grabbed hold of Erin's free arm and ushered her inside the office. "I was getting a little worried about this. Usually, Hotch drives, but Der grabbed the keys before he could, and my Boo has a lead foot. What did you get her?"

"I ordered us both a London Fog. I was feeling in the mood for something sweet, and thought that she might be as well."

"Good choice!" She gave Penelope a small smile as she sipped from her cup, the drink slipping down her throat smoothly. "How long do you want to hide out in here?"

"Until she sits down at her desk. I can always tell anyone that I pass that we had some official business to discuss, which will give me a little cover." Penelope nodded as she guided them over to her couch, taking a seat before patting the spot next to her.

"So, what is it about a London Fog that made you choose that for the first tea?"

"She used to drink them a lot, back in the day. Plus, with your recent return from London, I can claim that you were the one who left it there, if she presses me for answers, which she is well within her right to do. There has to be a level of plausible deniability, since she won't accept anything from me at the moment."

"You really were thinking three steps ahead."

"I have to, Penelope. If I want this to work, I have to make certain that it's a small, consistent, thing. If she guesses that it's me from the outset, then there's nothing I could do later to convince her of my desire to make amends." Erin took another sip of her drink before worrying her cheek between her teeth. Penelope reached out and patted her knee tenderly., and Erin gave her a small smile as she tried to get her nerves under control.

"I think that you'll manage to get things worked out before very long."

"I truly hope that that is the case, Penelope." As she drank, Erin tried to fight off a very different sort of craving than friendship, and it pained her to see her hand shake. Penelope seemed to notice the tremors, as she curled her hand around her knee and smiled at her until she smiled back. "I'm sorry. I've made it five months, but there are still times when I'm weak."

"No, you most definitely are not weak, Erin Strauss. This is just an aftereffect of your disease, and you are still fighting the good fight. I hate that you're struggling right now, but I know that as you accrue more and more days free from alcohol, that you'll be stronger than you ever thought you could be. Look at Reid, after all. He battled back from addiction as well, and while he's struggled, he is also stronger for the struggle."

"There is that. Do, do you think that it's safe to head to my office now? I should get a start on my day, since I have a meeting at eleven."

Penelope got to her feet and went over to the door, peeping her head outside. "I think that you're good to go. Alex is at her desk, and it looks like she's enjoying her drink, since she has that same cup in her hand and just took a sip from it. Your first mission is a success!"

Erin allowed herself a moment to smile in relief before she got to her feet and joined Penelope there. "I'll call you with an update on that case, Ms Garcia. Thank you for looking into that for me," she said as she brushed past the woman, giving a small nod to Aaron as she passed him on her way to the stairs. As she went by Alex's desk, she tried to hide the cup in her hand, not wanting her to see it. She needn't have worried, though, since the woman never looked up from the report she was working on, and Erin was both relieved and saddened.

Shaking her head at her own optimism, Erin made her way back to her office. While she did have to get ready for the meeting ahead, it seemed like all she could think about was Alex, and what she had thought when she had found that drink on her desk. And while she knew that she might never find out, Erin still hoped that there would be some thawing of the ice between them as a result of the gesture, and the ones to come. She had worked too hard in recovery to not hope for some sort of reconciliation between them.