Here is the third and final update! I hope you all have enjoyed this I know I have and you're comments couldn't be nicer! You all make me so happy!
Ember I hope you love it! Thank you for challenging me!
Emily couldn't stop smiling. It was her first day at the BAU and she couldn't be more excited. It had been a long haul and she finally made it. Grabbing her box of personal items, she mustered as much confidence as possible and started the walk to the front doors.
The morning air felt good as a soft, cool breeze swept past her face, just before the sun peeked out from a cloud, warming her cheeks. Stopping for a moment she breathed in the fresh air and closed her eyes, allowing her senses to revel in the moment. A calm feeling blanketed her body and the nervousness escaped her. She opened her eyes and continued on.
When she arrived at the door, she lifted her knee to balance the box, while fumbling to swipe her I.D. The door clicked open and a suction of conditioned air pulled her clothes tight against the front of her body, while her hair blew behind her shoulders. Chill bumps rose underneath her nude panty hose, as the air infiltrated through the miniscule fibers. The door shut and the gush of air diminished.
Emily flipped her head, trying to arrange her hair that was so neatly placed, before it was unexpectedly tousled about. She clicked her heels against the tile floor, towards the shiny elevator doors. Her heart was racing; she couldn't wait for the first case and chance to meet her supervisor Agent Gideon.
The elevator dinged, taking Emily out of her thoughts, for she was lost in what her future would hold. She wanted this and she knew she could do it. With confidence she stepped onto the elevator, amongst the seasoned FBI agents she so longed to be and now she was, well except she wasn't seasoned yet. Intrigued by their conversation she listened intently to a current case and silently she inferred her own opinions, almost as if she was practicing. When the elevator arrived at her floor she was proud of her silent inferences.
Emily stepped off the elevator and took a few steps towards the doors and stopped. For the second time that morning she wanted to take in the moment. The emotions she had were overwhelming. It had been a total of four months and what a long four months they were. The thoughts of every struggle and argument with her landlord raced across her mind. Circling her lips she blew out a breath of air, showing her tell, thinking that if she had to wait one more month she would have considered lending her body to her landlord. That thought made her gag.
Thinking back to her moment allowed her to feel relief and a weight lifted off her shoulders. She felt as light as a feather. A smile crept across her face. Emily approached the glass doors leading into the bull pen. Again she raised her knee to balance the box while she opened the door. Inside she regained her balance and scanned the doors around the catwalk, looking for a set of stairs. She didn't see any at first glance and took two steps forward so the huge filing cabinet wasn't obstructing her view of her surroundings.
As Emily took those steps forward she bumped into another agent, that was coming on her left, but the cabinet hid his approach. Forcefully they collided, for the other agent couldn't see her either, until he reached the corner of the cabinet. Emily barely had turned just as the other agent's torso met with the corner of her box, knocking her backwards, while one of his feet stepped on top of her foot. In heels, Emily was easily knocked off balance. Her box was sent flying in the air, while she tried to catch herself before she hit the floor. Soon realizing there was no hope of catching herself, she abruptly thought about her dignity and hiding a view up her skirt. Hiding her dignity would allow for a harder fall but she could take it. She grimaced, preparing for impact, when she felt a hand slip around her waist, gracefully catching her before she hit the ground.
Quickly her hand grasped the arm that so unexpectedly came to her rescue. Their eyes met and Emily gasped losing her breath, it was Aaron Hotchner.
"I'm so sorry." Hotch said sincerely, with a concerned tone in his voice. As if in a dance he grabbed her free hand and pulled her into an upright, standing position. Briefly in their touch they were frozen in time and from the outside onlooker, it would be perceived as if they had just finished dancing.
Emily lost eye contact when his stare seem to look in her soul, I wonder if he knows who I am. The nervousness that had once escaped her came rushing back. She knelt on her knees and started gathering her belongings. She hoped beyond hopes he wouldn't help her, but if her assumption had been right about him being a gentlemen he would. She was right. Hotch brushed against her helping gather her things. "I do apologize. I should have been paying more attention."
Emily was afraid to say something, what if he remembers my voice? Quickly as if to disguise anything that would give her away she said, "It's okay."
"I haven't seen you here before. What's your name?"
"Uh…" Emily hesitated.
"You do have a name don't you? They don't let people in the FBI unless they have a name?" Hotch said with an almost grin, proud of himself for having a little personality.
Emily kept her head down. "It's Emily."
"And is there a last name?" He said picking up the last few items scattered on the floor.
Emily was growing more confident that Hotch didn't know who she was, so she looked up. Her eyes looked at him mischievously but with a hint of passion as she said, "As those of you say in the FBI, that's classified information." She smiled at the flirting game she engaged, when she saw his eyes change to surprise.
The glint of passion Hotch saw seep through her eyes, triggered the memory of his half drunken night and he knew for a fact the woman in front of him, was the woman he engaged in extracurricular activities with. Now Hotch was the one who lost eye contact by looking at the floor. When he looked back up his face was flushed, but he kept his composure. Silently they looked at one another. Hotch seem to apologize without saying a word while Emily's expression let him know it was alright.
Acting as casually as possible Emily said, "I'm supposed to be meeting with Agent Gideon about my transfer. Could you direct me towards his office?"
"Agent Gideon is meeting with our media liaison. If you are inquiring about any transfers they go through me."
Emily turned slightly meek at the possibility of having to meet with him instead of someone else. She wasn't ready to have a face to face fully fledged conversation. "I was told…" Emily went to explain but Hotch cut her off.
"You've been misinformed. Please come in my office." Hotch led the way as Emily followed.
When they entered his office Hotch said, "Shut the door."
Emily shut the door and waited for what was to come.
"$845 is a little steep don't you think?" He said seriously as he rounded the corner of his desk. He stood in front of his chair waiting for a response.
Trying to convince him of the truth she placed her box on the couch and spoke, unconsciously using her hands during her explanation, "I am so going to pay you back, really. I just have to wait till my first check goes through." She looked down and her tone changed becoming serious, "The money went to a good cause…"
"You don't have to explain as long as you pay me back." He said with a grin.
Emily returned his grin, "You're lucky I was there."
"Was I?" Hotch said blushing, slightly raising his eyes brows.
"If it wasn't for me you would have been eaten by the alley cats." She laughed and was happy to see Hotch almost laugh as well.
"What did I…."
"You don't want to know, but it was good. Maybe if we get to know each other I can show you again sometime."
"Doubtful." Changing the subject he said, "So what is this about a transfer?"
"I've been assigned to your team. In fact this was what I was…" Emily went to explain the $845 but was cut off.
Hotch interrupted her, "I didn't approve any transfers. I'm sorry but you've been misinformed."
"But…"
"I'm sorry." He said walking towards his door. He opened it and nodded for her to leave.
She pushed the door shut, surprising herself by her reaction. "Sir I need this. I deserve this. I can't help my papers are caught up in the system but I belong in this unit and besides if you don't approve this transfer I can't pay you back." She was quiet waiting for a response. Her eyes glazed over, thinking about her landlord and other alternatives if the job didn't go through, but keeping her composure she looked into Hotch's eyes. "Please." She said with an enormous amount of respect.
Hotch saw a look of fear in her eyes, "What is it you're afraid of?"
Emily bit her nail and said, "That's not important. What is important is that this is my job and you can't take that away from me."
"I can't make any promises. Right now we have a case so I'll have to deal with this later." Hotch opened his office door.
Emily picked up her box, regaining her confidence and slight bit of flirtation, "You know I could use your drunken night as payback if you don't give me this job."
Hotch grinned, flirting back, "Don't dream of it."
"Don't worry I will." She said with a wink.
Briefly their connection was again exposed, but it soon dissipated as they went on about their day.
It may not have been a whirl but when Hotch did accept her into the team, they both were in for one hell of a ride, literally.
This will end this story and I hope you all enjoyed! If you have time I would love to know what you think!