Chapter Two is up and thanks to everyone who took the time to read and review/message, your support and encouragement is, as always, much appreciated.
On with the story…
The weekend had come and gone far too quickly for Aaron. Agent Hotchner had spent most of his Saturday finishing up paperwork on the last case. Aaron had spent most of his Sunday with Jack, playing in the park and eating ice-cream and having to part too soon. Returning to the office was a hard task on that dark, rainy Monday.
"Hey Hotch," Reid nods with a small smile before burying his nose back in a book on the fall of the Byzantine Empire that he will undoubtedly finish before Aaron has even managed to pour himself a cup of coffee.
"Reid," Hotch offers quietly before carrying on towards his office, collapsing into his chair with a long sigh.
David Rossi had been leaning against Morgan's desk drinking his second cup of coffee that morning and talking quietly with Prentiss when he saw his friend enter; he noticed the clouded expression in those dark eyes, the lethargy in his movements, the momentary hesitation before entering his office. Dave saw all this and frowned.
He had been away from the BAU for over ten years, but it had never truly left him; coming back and working for his former protégé obviously has its more awkward moments, but with the creases finally ironed out, Rossi can honestly say that he is happy working where he is. He can see that Aaron excels at his job and that he has helped to create an excellent team. They all work well together, balancing each other out and keeping a sense of humour despite the fact that they're forced to deal with the worst of human nature on a daily basis.
He had once worked with Gideon, but that was a long time ago, before Jason found his very own, very personal demons. Gideon had always been more relaxed than Hotch; he used to share more of himself than he has ever seen Aaron do. From what he understands, that changed after Boston.
Rossi knows what it is like to have things haunt you, and he can appreciate Gideon's need to leave; after all, he did the same thing ten years ago. However, no matter how hard he tries he cannot comprehend how Gideon left. Rossi had resigned, finished up his mandatory time and moved on to writing. Gideon just up and left, leaving no excuses, no apologies, only a letter. A letter! To Reid!
Reid was Gideon's protégé, so he can understand why Reid received a letter; but what about Aaron? Aaron, who was losing a friend and former mentor? Aaron, who was losing a senior agent who helped with the running of the unit and the welfare of the team? Aaron, who was having all this responsibility dumped suddenly in his lap?
Every time Rossi sees those circles round Aaron's eyes grow just a little darker and that face just a little more world-weary, he feels nothing but anger towards Jason Gideon. Dave's been away for over ten years, and while he may not have forgotten what the job involves, he certainly still has a lot to learn in regards to new technology and new bureaucratic demands. Try as he might, he knows he is not yet very efficient in helping Aaron run their little part of the BAU.
Taking a deep breathe, Rossi finishes his coffee and heads towards Aaron's office, already knowing how the conversation he is about to try and initiate will likely play out.
Agent Hotchner is hunched over his desk looking over the paperwork that he needs to hand in to Strauss by the end of the week. He has always hated this type of paperwork more than any other; twice a year he is required to report to Strauss on his team.
Personnel reviews are very common in the FBI but are considered more important for certain departments; the stress and horrors that work at the BAU entails make it one of these departments. He has a good team, an excellent team in fact, a team that he not only likes but respects hugely and trusts with his life. To write down their faults and his concerns over their mental well-being and then to deliver these words to a woman like Strauss, a woman he neither likes nor respects, a woman he certainly doesn't trust, feels like some sort of betrayal on his part.
A gentle knock at the door causes him to look up hesitantly, expecting to see JJ; he isn't sure if he's ready to face another case just yet. He's pleased to see Dave, head poking round the doorframe, however, his pleasure fades when he sees the concern on his old friend's face, and he becomes even more worried when he realises that concern is aimed at him.
"Everything ok?" he asks hesitantly, unsure of whether or not he wants to hear what Dave has to say.
Dave sighs. 'Damn profilers! He's already suspicious!' He enters the room, closing the door behind him and takes a seat opposite Aaron. He slowly leans forward, taking a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.
"Hotch…are you…I was just…" Dave sighs deeply once more and falls back into the chair scrubbing at his face. He is the older profiler here, he is the one that found Hotch and brought him to the BAU; so why is he the one feeling like some damn rookie!
Aaron has known Dave for many years, and knows him as someone who is never afraid to speak his mind; he is direct and clear and concise. To hear Rossi stumble over his words in such a way is almost enough to shock him into talking…almost.
"Aaron," Rossi tries again, "you seem more…withdrawn…than usual. Is everything alright? And don't try and lie to me Aaron, I am a profiler!" he finishes with a small lop-sided grin on his face. His grin fades when he realises he's talking to Agent Hotchner and not to Aaron.
Jennifer Jareau is not a profiler, she doesn't want to be a profiler, she has never even taken a course in profiling; despite all this, when JJ walks into her boss' office with an armful of files she feels the tension in the air, the worry emanating from Rossi and the relief coming from Hotch.
Hotch is beyond glad to see JJ, and in spite of his earlier desire to avoid another case so soon after the last one, the files too were a welcome sight. Rossi is a professional, and if there is a case he will focus on that and not on Hotch.
Rossi, like JJ, picks up on Hotch's relief, and that only serves to strengthen his resolve in finding out what is chipping away at Aaron's normally unbreakable armour. However, the job has to come first; he nods at JJ. "Another one already? Where are we off to this time?"
JJ can hear the fatigue in Dave's voice and see it written very clearly across Hotch's face. It is at times like this that she doesn't enjoy her job; she hates having to be the one always bringing bad news to the team and cancelling any downtime they have managed to find. However, Detective Robert Swanson needs help with a series of murders; the fact that these murders involve young children means JJ didn't even think twice before accepting the case file.
"Sorry guys, but I thought this was something that needed to be met with sooner rather than later." She hands Hotch her quickly assembled notes outlining the case so far, which he starts leafing through slowly. "Looks to be a serial killer in Pittsburgh, victims are children between the ages of five and ten, same MO in the execution."
Rossi looks up at JJ with surprise, "Execution? Literally or figuratively?"
Hotch looks sickened, and hands over a crime-scene photograph to Rossi, "Literally!" he gestured to the bullet wound on the young girl's forehead. "JJ, we're taking this; gather the team and have them meet in the conference room. I want this done quickly; hopefully we can get wheels up within the hour." With that, Hotch stalks out.
JJ pauses by the door, "Rossi, is Hotch ok? He seems slightly…overwhelmed," she finishes, sure she hasn't found the right adjective for her boss's current mood.
"I'm working on it, don't worry!" But despite his words, Rossi is worried; Hotch rarely lets his façade drop in front of his team. Just what is going on with him?
The mood on the plane is sombre and quiet; they are headed to Pittsburgh looking for a serial killer with a violent, sadistic streak towards children. The team has faced many tough cases together, some they can never forget no matter how hard they try; they haven't even got their teeth into this case yet, but already the team knows this will be a hard one to recover from.
JJ is reviewing Detective Swanson's case notes and looking over the current media coverage on the killings; suffice to say she has a lot of work to do when she lands. She steals brief glances down the aisle, taking in her boss' stiff posture and tight mouth. Nevertheless, she has come to trust in Rossi as an integral part of the team and knows that Hotch relies upon him; if Rossi has said that he is 'working on it' then she has no reason to believe otherwise.
Spencer Reid, whilst very perceptive and knowledgeable about all sorts of things, lacks the confidence in his social finesse to bring forth his concerns in a diplomatic and sensitive manner. He has seen the look on his boss' face and knows that the lines in his forehead are not from the case alone; however, he wouldn't even know how to approach Hotch on the matter.
Emily Prentiss is still reeling over the after-effects of Erin Strauss's little power-play games and Reid's angry rebuff about her not really knowing the team yet. It is good to know that Hotch trusts her on the team despite what Strauss has tried to make her do, but she still feels as though perhaps she has not yet truly earned her position at the BAU.
She knows Hotch is a private, reserved man and consequently knows that any interference on her part will not likely be welcome. Maybe in the future…? One day, Emily is sure that she will feel as though she can step up and help ease the burdens on her teammates with a little less awkwardness on both sides. She is patient; she can wait.
Derek Morgan might be a secret geek and a novice land-agent, but he is also a profiler, and an observant one at that. He has seen his boss these past few months and he has carfully watched the tense and fatigue-ridden man with growing concern; he has seen JJ, Emily and Reid steal nervous glances towards their boss; he has certainly noticed Rossi's unabashed staring.
Morgan will be one of the first to admit that he is not yet particularly impressed with Rossi; the agent has good insights and is a natural profiler, but Morgan struggles to see him as a team player, and certainly as a friend. However, there is clearly a bond between the two oldest members of the team, one that comes naturally between an agent and his mentor, the same one that exists between Hotch and himself.
Trust and respect are important for members of the FBI, and even more so within the BAU, where the horrors they face can easily destroy any faith they might have in the so-called good of humanity. A good team can stop an agent from burning out; Morgan just hopes that they haven't missed any signs of Hotch's possible breakdown!
Rossi is sitting across from Hotch, openly watching his friend and former protégé. He is perfectly happy for Aaron to catch him looking and utterly content to receive each and every glare Aaron sends his way. Dave is not going to let Hotch avoid the conversation for long; it might have been interrupted back in the office, but it is definitely not over, and he is more than happy to let Aaron know that.
Hotch, for his part, is very much aware of everyone on the plane; he catches each and every one of JJ's quick, not-quite-as-stealthy-as-she-would-believe looks; he recognises Reid's indecision; he spies Prentiss's almost wistful gaze; he notices Morgan's frequent glances between himself and Rossi; most of all he is aware of Dave's openly watchful gaze, staring without any remorse, and almost without blinking.
And he hates it all!
He sends another glare towards Dave for good measure but simply receives yet another smug grin in return. Will it cause any upset amongst the team if he were to lean across the table and sock Rossi in the mouth? Hotch is sure that Morgan, at least, won't mind.
Dave is still staring…stubborn son of a bitch. Hotch crosses his arms and hunkers down in his seat as he forces himself to look at the file in front of him rather than focus on the distractions of his team. He has a mantra running through his head…
"I will get off this plane, I will get off this plane, I will get off this plane…I will not kill Rossi and hide the body, I will not kill Rossi and hide the body, I will not kill Rossi and hide the body…I will get off this plane…I hope…!"
Across from him, Rossi smiles another smug, knowing smile.
Aaron glowers right back.
As you can tell, not the biggest Gideon fan - found him a little too self-righteous and not all that interesting, and I certainly didn't like the way he left the team.
Still more to come! Let me know what you think.