Clearing the Air

Lex stood in the short queue, trying to be inconspicuous. She felt better after her shower and after she had changed into her black skirt suit, powder blue silk blouse and black suede boots. She ordered her coffee, thankful that didn't recognise the woman who served her and waited while she got her coffee, staring out the window. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. It worked for about a minute until someone tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped and spun around.

"Oh, mom, you scared me."

"You scared me. When I heard you were here, I was terrified. I didn't know why on earth you'd be here. I would have thought that if you were coming home I'd hear it from you first." Her mother sat across from her.

"Momma… I'm sorry. I've just been all over the place lately."

"A phone call wouldn't have hurt."

Lex looked down. She smiled a thanks to the waitress as she handed over the coffee. She took a deep breath and vented. "I'm sorry. I should have called. I had every chance to and I didn't because I have a lot on my mind: I have work, the man I've been with for five years has cheated on me, telling me that maybe you and Daddy were right about him all along, and I never want to see his face again but that's impossible, because I am back in this hellhole and…" She looked at her mother. Could she tell her mother that she has feelings for her boss? "I'm all over the place."

"This hellhole is my home. It's your father's home. And it's yours."

"It's where I grew up. It's not my home." She stood up. "I'll see you later."

"Wow, well isn't this a surprise?"

Lex took a deep breath and spun around. "Marie. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Lex looked past her shoulder. Hotch was outside, crossing the street.

"Yeah. Really, really long. We didn't part on good terms did we?"

"Well, that's in the past."

"I heard about you and Sean… Sorry."

"Oh, things aren't working out."

"Oh, I thought things were over…"

"No, not yet."

Marie scoffed. "He's telling everyone that you're dating an older guy."

"He is?"

"I have to go." Hotch had just walked into the café.

"Are you investigating the murders?"

Lex smiled as Hotch approached them. "No comment. I heard about your career choice."

"I like spreading the news."

"You like to gossip."

"Am I interrupting something?" Hotch asked as he came up to them.

"No, not at all."

Marie grinned broadly at Hotch. "Hi, Marie Downey." She held out her hand.

"Aaron Hotchner." He smiled back and shook her hand, dropping it quickly.

"Marie's a reporter." Lex looked at Hotch.

"It was nice to meet you." Hotch turned to Lex. "We have to go."

"it was good to see you again."

Hotch smiled at Marie. "It was nice to meet you," he repeated, stepping aside to let Lex pass him and placing his hand near enough to her back to send shivers down her spine.

Hotch watched amused as Lex fumbled with her seat belt. "Goddamn profiler and I can't put on my seat belt."

He laughed. She looked up, her dark hair falling over her face, and smiled. "Let me help you." He placed the belt into the buckle and herd the click.

"Thank you."

He took her hands and locked eyes with her. "Why are you shaking?"

"Lots of reasons. I guess. Anger, discomfort."

"Am I making you uncomfortable?"

Lex looked away and bit her lip. Hotch pulled her to face him. "Lex…"

Lex forced herself to pull away from him completely. "I'm not going to do this."

"Do what?"

"Be your play thing. I'm not going to be the person you sleep with just because I'm the one person you and Jack feel comfortable with."

Hotch turned the keys. "The others will be at the station by now."

Upon arriving at the station, they found the team already there, scattered around the room.

"Ok, so I did some research and I found out that renting a house is cheaper than renting hotel rooms… There's a place in the village that rents out."

"Fine." Hotch bypassed everyone and shut himself into an office with Rossi