Author Note:
Hello new followers! And thank you for the reviews, you guys are awesome.
This is another long chapter. Do people prefer longer chapters, or shorter, more broken up installments?
Again, Criminal Minds and its crush-worthy characters are not mine.
"Hey Abigail, we're going to catch a movie tonight, would you like to come?"
Spencer stood over Abigail's desk, satchel over his shoulder, clearly on his way out of the office. JJ and Emily weren't far behind.
"I'd actually love to but I'm still behind on paperwork. Thank you for the invitation though, guys."
She really was grateful. The BAU agents had made a huge effort to make her feel like part of the team over the course of her first few weeks with the unit.
"OK, another time." JJ said.
"Don't stay too late, Rhodes," Emily added.
The agents left and Abigail put her head down, continuing with her paperwork. She was the only person left in the bullpen. Hotch and Rossi were still at work, but both were in there respective offices. Working on BAU cases as well as offering other teams support with child interviewing and victim assistance had left her stretched thin, and she was always left with more paperwork than any of the other agents, Other than Hotch and Rossi, she was usually the last to leave.
Within an hour of the other agents leaving, and just as Abigail was about to finish for the night, a blonde woman holding the hand of a little boy walked into the BAU. Abigail looked up from her work and noticed a panicked expression on the woman's face. She stood up, took off her glasses and walked over to greet her.
"Can I help you, ma'am?"
Just as the woman was about to answer, Hotch's office door opened and he rushed down into the bullpen wearing a panicked expression of his own.
"Jessica? Is everything OK?"
"Daddy!"
The boy, who Abigail realized must be Jack, broke free of the woman's hand and ran towards Hotch.
"Is everything OK?" Hotch asked again, as he kneeled down to embrace Jack.
Abigail's heart melted a little at the sight of them both so happy to see each other.
"I have a meeting tonight, Aaron. Remember? You were supposed to pick him up an hour ago. You haven't been answering you phone."
Abigail, feeling awkward, returned to her desk and left them too it.
"I thought that was next Thursday."
"No, it was tonight, I can still make it but you need to take him."
"Jessica I can't leave, I have a meeting in ten minutes. Can't you reschedule?"
Hotch was meeting with Strauss to discuss how Abigail was integrating into the team. Strauss was evidently one of the only other people busy enough to keep similar hours to Hotch, so they tended to meet in the evenings.
"I've already rescheduled twice, Aaron."
Aaron and Jessica stared at each other, obviously at an impasse. Abigail debated whether or not step in.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm done here Hotch. I'd be happy to watch him here or drive him home and watch him until you get back."
Jessica and Hotch looked at Abigail and then at each other.
"Jessica, this is Agent Abigail Rhodes. Agent Rhodes, this is my sister-in-law Jessica."
Abigail shook Jessica's hand and turned her attention towards Jack, who was standing silently with his arm wrapped around Hotch's leg.
"And you must be Jack."
Abigail tried to sound cheerful and gave Jack her warmest smile.
"My name is Abigail, I work with your Dad."
Jack looked up at his dad, uncertain.
"Say hello, Jack."
"Hello Ambigail."
She smiled at the mispronunciation of her name. As much as she was starting to love the BAU, she missed working more with children.
"Would you mind if Abigail took you home, Jack?"
Jack thought for moment. Jessica looked nervous.
"Can you make macaroni?"
"I can! We could eat some macaroni, read some stories…."
"I like dinosaurs, can we play dinosaurs?"
"Of course!"
"Aaron, can I talk to you?"Jessica asked.
Hotch led Jessica into his office and Abigail heard some animated conversation taking place. She sat with Jack and tried to distract him from the intense discussion that was getting louder and louder behind Hotch's door. A moment later the two emerged.
"Abigail, here are the keys to my house and cash for dinner - no matter what he tells you he's not allowed ice-cream instead of actual food."
"Daddyyyyy!"
Abigail and Jessica smiled.
"I won't be too late. Call me if you have any problems," Hotch said.
"Of course. Are you ready to go Jack?"
Abigail grabbed her bag and offered the little boy her hand. He put on his own backpack, took Abigail's hand, and waved to Jessica.
"Be good, Jack. It was nice to meet you, Abigail."
Jessica offered a forced smile and Abigail couldn't tell if she was annoyed at her or at Hotch. She left in a hurry, wanting to escape the tense atmosphere as soon as possible.
"So, Agent Hotchner, how do you think Rhodes is doing with the BAU?"
He sat across from Strauss, tired and distracted by concern over how Jack and Abigail were getting along.
"She's doing well. She's fitting in easily with the other agents. She's smart and hard-working."
He thought about the way she spoke to families and to victims: warm and compassionate.
"She's gifted at interviewing families and working with children. She's an asset to the team."
"I'm glad to hear it. When I spoke to Rossi about situating someone from the Victim Assistance and Child Interviewing Team with the BAU and he suggested Agent Rhodes, I was a little concerned."
This caught Hotch's attention. Why would Dave do that? Moreover, why wouldn't he tell Hotch that he'd specifically suggested Rhodes?
"She's relatively young and I know that the BAU can be extremely challenging."
"Rossi suggested Rhodes?"
Strauss looked surprised.
"You didn't know?"
"No, I didn't."
Abigail's evening with Jack went smoothly. She made macaroni and cheese from scratch. This seemed to impress Jack, who'd thought that mac and cheese could only come out of a box. By the time they'd finished dinner and played a little with Jack's dinosaurs it was already 7.30. Abigail helped Jack brush his teeth, found his pajamas, and coaxed him into bed.
"Abby can you read me a story?" After struggling to say her full name, Jack had figured out that her nickname was easier to pronounce and had taken to using that instead.
"Of course buddy, do you have a favorite?"
Jack handed her a book called 'I'll Miss You' and climbed into bed. Abigail realized that it was a book about grief for children and her heart broke. Jack cuddled into her as she read and by the time she'd finished he'd fallen asleep.
Abigail looked down at him, realizing for the first time how hard it must be for both him and Hotch, to live without Jack's mother. She stroked his hair, whispered goodnight, and wandered downstairs.
Abigail turned on the TV, set the volume to low, and tried to relax.
Hotch pulled into his driveway at 9.45pm, panicked and feeling guilty for leaving Abigail alone for so long. He opened the front door quietly, not wanting to wake Jack, and stepped inside. He looked into the living room, expecting to see Abigail watching TV, waiting to leave. Instead he saw her lying down, heels on the floor on next to the couch, asleep. He quietly walked upstairs to check on Jack, then crept back into the lounge.
He sat on the edge of the coffee table and watched her for a moment. Her hair, long and slightly dishevled, fell around her face. Her lips parted slightly and he noticed how full they were. He often walked around the office with such single minded focus that he'd rarely really looked at her. Part of him also knew that if he spent too much time looking he'd notice how pretty she was, and he didn't want to be in that position.
He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder and whispered.
"Abigail."
She stirred, taking a big breath in and drawing Hotch's attention down past her neck. Her blouse was unbuttoned exposing the full contours of her chest. He cleared his throat, averted his eyes and said her name again. This time she opened her eyes and quickly startled.
"Hotch! I can't believe I fell asleep I'm so sorry. What time is it?"
"Don't be sorry, I'm sorry. It's late - nearly ten."
"God I must look like such a mess."
She ran her hands over her hair, trying to tame it.
"You look fine, Rhodes. How was he?"
"He was great. We made mac and cheese, played games, read a story, and then he happily went to sleep."
"Mac and cheese, huh?"
"Yeh, he seemed to think it could only be made from a box so I demonstrated otherwise."
Hotch looked a little weary.
"I'm not known for my ability as a cook."
"I made extra: I thought you might appreciate leftovers."
"Thank you. Not just for the leftovers, for tonight."
"You're welcome, Hotch."
Abigail looked down at her lap, wondering whether or not she should ask the next question.
"Was Jessica alright with me looking after Jack? She didn't seem that pleased."
"Don't take it personally. It was me she wasn't pleased with. Every since Hayley died she's helped me out with Jack. More than helped, really, and she's protective."
Hotch felt a familiar sense of guilt start to creep in thinking about how little time he got to spend with Jack and how much he'd come to rely on Jessica. Abigail spoke just as he was about to lose himself to self-pity.
"That's understandable."
Hotch looked down, shoulders slumped, and Abigail had to fight the urge to reach out and take his hand. She wanted to know more: what happened to Hayley specifically? Why had they separated initially? How much time did Hotch spend with Jack now? She didn't ask any of those questions.
"How was your meeting with Strauss? Are you keeping me around or turfing me out?"
He looked up and saw her smiling.
"I wouldn't call it 'turfing you out': we'll give you until tomorrow afternoon to clean out your desk."
He saw the panicked look on Abigail's face and remembered that his dead-pan tone sometimes caused his jokes to translate poorly. Part of the reason he rarely made any.
"I'm kidding, Rhodes. I told her that you're fitting in well and that we'd like to continue to have you as part of the team."
He'd said a lot more than that, but it was in his nature to be sparing with direct compliments. Direct emotion of any sort, really.
"Thank you, Hotch."
Abigail was beaming and seeing her smile like that made Hotch's stomach flip.
"I should go."
She uncurled her legs from the couch and slipped her feet into her heels. Hotch stood with her and walked her to the door.
"Hotch, if you ever need a hand with Jack I'm more than happy to help. He's a really sweet kid."
He didn't know if he could ever bring himself to ask but he appreciated the offer anyway.
"Anyway, goodnight Hotch."
"Goodnight, Abigail."
Hearing him use her first name made Abigail feel warm, for some reason.
Hotch watched her walk down the driveway and made sure she got into her car safely before he closed the door. He walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out the mac and cheese, and smiled.
