Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.
-Ernest Holmes-
That's weird," Erin sat her phone back on the nightstand. She hadn't left the bed since she had gotten home. Instead Dave and the kids had claimed their places around her. Paige and McKenzie on the bed, Paul on the love-seat and Dave took the Lazy-Boy in the corner.
Dinner had gone off without a hitch, Erin had great kids and Dave couldn't wait to spend more time with them but he didn't want to outstay his welcome. "Next time we go to my place. " He said, stacking paper plates into the trash can. The impromptu picnic in Erin's bedroom was a messy affair. Ketchup droplets littered the carpet from meatloaf gone awry.
"Deal. Now come listen to this. "
"What is it?" He asked, coming closer to the bed.
"Listen. " He passed her the phone and she tapped the screen to replay the voice-mail. The nurse's professional sympathy filled the space.
"This is June from St Sebastian's hospital, I'm calling about Aaron Hotchner, he's been in an accident. "
"Huh." Dave's brow knotted in confusion as the message stopped. "I guess the hospital got their wires crossed; they called me too. Who did they call for you? "
"Mark. He has the kids." She added in explanation.
He rubbed her shoulder, "you don't have to explain anything to me."
"Why would Aaron even put me as an emergency contact? If something happened, God forbid, I can't make decisions for him. What about Beth or Jessica or Hell even Morgan knows him better than I do! "
"I'll talk to him."
"I should call him," she bit her lip, "that would only be right."
Dave shrugged, "do it. His work phone is probably turned off." Dave pulled his phone from his jeans, "let me give you his personal." He scrolled through his contacts and stopped. "Give me your phone. " He punched the numbers in, "I'm heading out. "
She leaned up slightly, her lips tingled with anticipation. "Thanks...for..." was he seriously going to leave without any semblance of a goodbye? He took his jacket from the back of the recliner and pulled it on.
"Don't thank me but your kids are great."
She swallowed her thanks, "so was dinner." When did they become so awkward? One kiss had turned them both into tongue-tied teenagers. She glanced down at her abdomen, it was too late for awkwardness. "Are you going to kiss me or not?" She demanded.
He leaned one knee against the mattress, an indulgent look lit his face. "I thought you would never ask, I'm glad you changed your mind about making it a habit. "
His lips covered hers in a tender kiss. The tip of his tongue flicked between her lips; she tasted like warm honey. Her lips encased his and he knew what it felt like as his body tingled with unspoken pleasure, his soul had found its home. Right there in her bedroom.
Erin pulled away and lay back against the pillows.
"I should never have to ask."
Dave chuckled and cupped her chin in his hand, "yes Ma'am. Now I'm going to leave while the kids still think I'm cool, call me if you need me, and definitely if you want me." He threw a wink over his shoulder and disappeared behind the door. "Goodnight, Dave." She called. She listened to his laughter float down the stairs until the front door closed.
She checked the time, the kids wouldn't be home for awhile, she'd sent them to the park down the street after dinner with strict orders to be home by nightfall. That wouldn't be too hard, Paul had his soccer ball; if anything it would be prying him away from the open goalie nets that would be a challenge.
"Here we go." She whispered to the empty room, Beau was curled up behind her knees; not even the cat could listen in on her phone call.
She pressed the dial pad on the phone and held it to her ear. One ring. Two rings. Three rings. She was about to hang up when a shrill voice answered.
"Hello."
Oh Hell.
Erin kept her tone professionally curt,"is Agent Hotchner there?"
"He's resting." The woman's voice seemed to boil from the inside. "He was in a serious accident three nights ago."
Erin cut her off mid tirade, "and so was I. I'm just checking in."
"Oh. Well he's resting. He doesn't have the strength to deal with you again. "
Erin never had the misfortune of dealing with Haley Hotchner, apparently Jessica wasn't much better frankly she couldn't imagine being married to either one of them.
Before Erin could respond she heard a familiar baritone in the background.
"Give me the phone, Jess."
"Aaron!" Jessica squealed.
"Give me the damn phone."
"Hello?"
Erin cleared her throat, "How are you?"
"Ready to get out of here. You?"
She heard a door close and the low hum of a garage opening, apparently he'd left Jessica in the dust.
"Well I wish I shared your work ethic. It's only been three days."
"Don't get me wrong, I love the extra time with Jack but, if I'm going to be micromanaged I'd rather do it at work."
The man had a point.
"Give it another week, you won't be cleared to fly but you will be able to concentrate long enough for paperwork; but it has to stay in the office; I have to say it; things must be bad if you would rather deal with me."
Hotch didn't know whether to laugh or say thank you. "at least with Strauss I know I'm getting paid."
"Good point. How about half days until you're cleared to fly?"
"That's fair. If you don't mind my asking, what about you?"
"Half days with voice typing until the cast comes off."
"Erin, about the accident, I didn't get a chance to call.I'm working with the insurance company, you should be getting a call soon about compensation. "
"Stop that, it wasn't your fault and you know it. The last thing I want to deal with is an insurance adjuster."
"My car has already been taken care of."
"Good," she said, hoping that was the end of the subject.
Hotch took the hint, "have you talked to Dave?"
"He just left."
"That's good. "
She didn't know why she wanted to tell Aaron, maybe because he handled her meltdown better than any of her girlfriends not that she had many of those. But it was good news and she wanted to share it.
She smiled and he could hear it in her voice, "oh he couldn't be happier, we're having twins."
"Is everyone okay?"
"Small but unfazed, " she said, knowing where his mind was headed.
"Good. That's big news, I'm surprised Dave isn't passing out cigars. "
Erin laughed, "give it time!"
His tone turned serious, "you should consider telling the team."
"We will, eventually. "
"With all due respect, you don't have a lot of time before it's obvious and playing them for stupid won't earn you any favors."
"I know, I just don't want to jinx it."
"Do you want my advice? "
She barely suppressed an eye roll, " not that it's any of your concern but do I have a choice?"
"Schedule a dinner, on your own time, and I'll make sure they come. Henry and Jack can stay with Jessica. Make it on neutral ground."
"So I don't look like the boss."
"Exactly. "
"I'll consider it." She nodded slightly even though he couldn't see, "I have to talk it over with Dave."
"Keep in touch?"
"Sure," it surprised her that she meant it.
The rest of the week passed without event, it wasn't until Wednesday that Erin had enough of counting the ceiling tiles above her bed, that she ventured into the office for her very first half day.
"What are you doing here?" Dave asked. He could feel the eyes of his coworkers follow him as he steered Erin towards his office. All she wanted was to top off her decaf and get a donut from the cafeteria, and the BAU was on the same floor. She was going to pop in on Aaron, just to see how he was doing. But Dave got to her first.
"Well hello to you, too," she said dryly.
"Have you had lunch? And donuts don't count. "
"What kind of deliciousness is this?" Penelope had wandered into the bullpen with the lowdown on their newest consultation when she saw it; her boss was being led into Rossi' s office and nobody was yelling. In fact, he invited her inside.
Penelope leaned against the nearest desk in hopes of a better view of the window.
"J.J?" Her six inch heels nearly betrayed her and she gripped her friend's arm, never taking her eyes off of Rossi's window. "What is this? " she asked in a frantic whisper.
"Garcia, if I had to guess, I'd say we're looking at an inter-office relationship."
"Who do we tell? Hotch? Should we tell him?"
"I'm pretty sure he knows."
"Aren't there rules against this?"
J.J. shot her a pointed look, "are you going to tell?"
"No. No of course not! I dated Kevin, I can't judge. I mean do we share this particular piece of juiciness with the rest of the team? "
"Good. It's no secret that he has a thing for her; everyone will figure it out at some point. "
"She's nice, right? I mean she was nice at your wedding but has anyone besides Rossi even talked to her since then? "
"Do you really think he would be in a relationship with someone mean? "
"No but, " her expression dropped, "why haven't they said anything? "
"Don't worry, " J.J. said, "I'm sure you'll get an invitation to the wedding. Now shake it off, we have paperwork to finish. "
"It feels weird not sharing, " Penelope whined, "when I saw them coming out of the hotel, I didn't think anything of it. I thought, maybe they were having an affair and it wouldn't ever be spoke of."
J.J. patted her hand in mock sympathy, "only time will tell P.G. Only time will tell. "
"I'm going crazy at home," Erin admitted and sat down on the love-seat, "can I help with anything? "
"No, thanks. " He pulled out a folding table and set it up in front of her. "If you want to get a leg up on reports, you can start on mine. "
He rummaged through the mini-fridge and pulled out a cup of fresh fruit.
"Since when do you stockpile watermelon and pineapple?" She asked arching an eyebrow. "We both know you won't eat it."
He pulled the lid off and plucked a piece out with his fingers, "it's not for me." He popped the melon in his mouth and sat the cup on the table. "I told you donuts don't count. "
"Why are you always nagging me about fruit? "
"Because you don't eat enough of it."
"And you eat too much bacon but I don't say a word about your cholesterol. "
"Because you know that nagging me wouldn't do any good. " He unwrapped a plastic fork and handed it to her.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes and stabbed a piece of pineapple.
"Erin? "
"Hmm?" She glanced up at him.
Dave's eyebrow quirked "I think we have an audience," he nodded towards the exposed window where Reid and Morgan were staring.
Erin stood up and moved away from the glass, "Dave, I'm sorry. "
"Don't be." He grinned lecherously, "I want them to know, Erin. " He leaned down and pressed his lips on hers, audience be damned. "I don't care what they think."
"I do," she argued. "I care what they think. "
"Why? It's our life and our kids and your kids, why the hell do you care about what the team thinks?"
She swallowed tightly, did he mean it? She was sure he did; at least for the moment.
"Who do you call when you can't sleep? " She asked offhand.
Dave thought for a moment, "sometimes I call Hotch. Who do you call?"
"I don't call anyone. "
"Well you can call me."
"That's not my point. Who would you call if your car broke down in the middle of nowhere? "
"What's the point in this, Erin? Why are you interrogating me?"
"Just answer the question. "
He gave her a pointed look, "I'd call a mechanic. "
"Not at two in the morning, you would call Garcia to track your location and she would call Morgan to come get you. Neither of them would think twice about it." She pressed on before he could respond. " And if you needed statistics for your book-"
He cut her off, "I'd Google it!"
"Wrong!"
"Wrong?"
"You would call Reid, it's faster and easier."
"Okay, " he sat down heavily, "you got me Erin, you win. Does that make you happy?"
"That's why it matters, Dave because the team is your family. They have you and you have them, do you know who I have?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her toes tapped against the carpet waiting for his answer. A beat of silence and she answered for him. "Myself. "
"Wrong," he said forcefully he pulled her towards him, "you have me."