The Playing Game
Chapter 8
Months later
"There are no secrets that time does not reveal. - Jean Racine, Dramatist"
I walked into the Brew and spotted both Aria and Jake who were having their morning coffee before both of them had to leave for work. The cashier handed me my coffee and breakfast burrito in hand.
"I see she has comfort food in hand." Jake said as he gave Aria a goodbye kiss. "See you later." She nodded. Both Jake and I exchanged quick nods as he left.
"Am I that predictable?" The two of us exchanged hugs and sat back down.
"The burrito kinda gave you away." I sighed as we sat back down.
"Right."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine." Hanna, Emily and Spencer walked in. "I just wish people would stop asking me how I was doing."
Aria knew I lying to her by the way I was playing the hem of my shirt. It was a habit of my when something was wrong, but now I just did it out of nervousness.
"Alex, you're here." Hanna said with a little surprise in her voice.
"I actually had some vacation time, so I thought I'd take it." They nodded.
"We're glad you could come." Emily said.
"Me too." I added forcing a smile on my face just as my cell ranged with text message.
'Think your knight in shining amour is safe, think again.-A.' I swallowed.
"Something wrong?" Spencer asked.
"Just a reminder that I have to call Aaron later."
…
JJ met up with Garcia in tech room and handed a cup of hot tea to her which she gladly took.
"Morning."
"Morning. Have you heard from Alex this morning?"
"Not since last..."
"Hey. I need a favor."
"For you, anything." I small smile formed on my face.
"Good. Are you alone?" JJ sat off to the side as she continued.
…
Later I found myself at Ella's house curled up on the couch with a blanket draped over my body, I barely moved when Aria walked in with some take-out.
"Hey. I wasn't expecting you until later."
"I know but I wanted to stop by and see how Alex was doing."
"She's actually sleeping for once." Aria nodded.
"I'm starting to worry about her." She said in a low whisper. "I haven't seen her like this since…" She looked over at the couch as I nestled deeper into the blanket.
"I know."
The next day, I found myself shooting hoops at the old school gym when I saw both Morgan and JJ walking in just as I missed a basket.
"Think you missed." Morgan said.
"Seeing I haven't played in years…" JJ gave me a surprise look.
"You used to play?"
"Oh yeah. Almost won state championship too." Derek tossed the basketball back to me.
"What happen?"
"Busted my knee against the wall right at the buzzer." JJ grimace.
"Ouch."
"Is that why you joined the F.B.I.?" I tossed the ball back and forth in my hands.
"Something like that."
…
I was sitting in the Montgomery household cleaning my department issued gun, when both Spencer and Aria walked in with concern looks on their faces.
"Don't worry, I'm only cleaning it."
"Wasn't thinking it." Aria said I just nodded as I placed my pistol in the back of my jeans.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Sure. So, what do we have to eat?" I asked as both Spencer and Aria shared a look making raise an eyebrow. "Okay what is it?"
"Don't get mad at us, but apparently your team is in town." I cleared my throat.
"I'm not. Did they say why they're here?"
"No." I nodded at Aria's statement.
"You know what I feel like Chinese." I grabbed my jacket on the way out.
While the three of us were eating, Hanna and Caleb with Emily walked in with surprised looks on their faces as they joined our table and just as Caleb saw one of my co-workers.
"It's great to see you out of the house." Hanna said. I return a soft smile.
"I had to get a change of scenery." I notice the look on Caleb's face. "Caleb what is it?"
"Isn't that one of your F.B.I. buddies over there?" I turned to see Aaron.
I cleared my throat. "Excuse me." They nodded.
As both Aaron and I were standing outside the building, the two of us were sitting on a nearby park bench just as the snow was falling.
"How bad?"
"We lost Prentiss." I swallowed as I took his hand and gently squeezed it for comfort.
"I'm coming back with you."
"I don't want you-." I shook my head.
"You know I won't be myself at the reunion if I'd stay."
"Your friends are probably wondering what's taking you so long." I pulled out my cell and sent out a quick text to Hanna.
"That's what texting is for." I saw a small smile form on his face.
Back inside, the girls were talking about what their plans were for the weak when Hanna's cell buzzed with a notification.
"What's up?" Caleb asked.
"Looks like Alex has to go back."
...
The next day I walked into the BAU with my messenger bag and duffle hanging on my shoulder, shades dangling from my jacket pocket and greeted by Morgan.
"You're back." I smiled.
"Thought you guys could use extra hands." We exchanged hugs as I removed my shades.
"So no reunion?" I shrugged just as the rest of team walked up with surprise looks on their faces.
"They'll be others."
"Alex, you're here." Reid said as the two of us exchanged hugs while my eyes wandered toward Hotch's office.
"I'd love to catch up with each of everyone but, I gotta take care of something first." They nodded.
I knocked on the door to Aaron's office. He looked up from his current conversation on the phone and motioned me in just as he was finishing up.
"I don't know buddy." My heart melted, Jack was on the other line as I closed the door behind me. "I'll see what I can do." I tucked some stray hairs behind my ear as I placed my bags by the couch. "I gotta go. Something has come up. Sorry about that." I gave a tiny smile as we exchanged hugs.
"Don't be." I breathe in his sent as I felt his chin on top of my head.
"I miss you. Jack misses you." I felt tear forming in my eyes.
"I know." I felt his fingers play with my now longer brownish blonde hair. "I miss you and Jack too." JJ knocked on the door panel.
"I can come back if this is a bad time." I cleared my throat.
"I'll let the two of you talk." Hotch nodded as he watched me wiped a stray tear from my face.
"Everything ok?"
"I'm not sure."
I found myself in the ladies restroom splashing cold water onto my face as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My mind was going in circles trying to figure out on why in hell I couldn't handle a decent relationship.
First Jason. Then again, I didn't start dating him until I moved away. If I would have told Alison, she would probably hate me for dating her brother. My team including me thought he dead then he had the nerve to show up, alive.
Second. SSA Aaron Hotchner, I love the man and Jack. But of course he was married first to his high school sweet heart. Haley was murdered and I offered to help Aaron with Jack and then we began to meet at secret locations for late night dinners. Now it's just complicated.
My friends and I have dealt with 'A' for years, we're still not sure who he/she is. I for sure thought it was Fitz and Mona, but ever since I got hit by that random car…
My mind clicked, to the car that hit back at Rosewood. I had to tell Aaron about the text I had received about him. I turned off the water and dried off my face and met Reid outside the bathroom door.
…
"You ok?" I nodded.
"I think I have idea on who hit me back when I at Rosewood. Tell everyone to meet me in the BAU room."
"Ok." He looked at me funny as I ran up the stairs and skipped every other step to Hotch's office.
"When were you going to tell me this, Alex?" Hotch asked.
"I just remember the school having cameras." My voice raised a little which surprised both Hotch and myself. "There's something else." I pulled out my cellphone, scrolled through the past text and handed it to Aaron.
"What does this mean?" I shrugged.
"How should I know?" Garcia knocked.
"Sir, we're reading." He nodded.
"I need you to run this text and see where it came from and bring up the video from the time Alex got hit at Rosewood high." She looked at me as I leaned against the arm of the couch. "Garcia."
"Right, of course."
"Love may be or it may not, but where it is, it ought to reveal itself in its immensity. - Honore de Balzac, Novelist"
This is what I have so far. Let me know what y'all think. May or may not finish it.