Reckless

Chapter Five

Hermione gave a small sigh as she came into consciousness. The irritating ringing of an alarm clock was what woke her. She stretched as if to turn the alarm off, but she only hit a man's chest. Her eyes widened as she propped back up on her elbow. Spencer jumped in shock at the hit. Hermione smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry," Hermione whispered sheepishly. Spencer smiled softly at her and turned the alarm off. Hermione laughed slightly and snuggled back down into his chest. Spencer chuckled and wrapped his own arms around her. It seemed as though not a day had passed since they last saw one another. The passion they felt for one another at eighteen was still there now. She smiled softly against his chest. She didn't see it changing. Still, she knew that eventually Spencer and she would have to talk about the speed at which they had returned to the intimacy they had before she left Los Vegas. As she glanced up at Spencer's content face, she knew that that conversation could wait. Right now, she simply wanted to bask in the feel of his arms around her again.

"You know we are going to have to get ready for work soon, right?" Hermione flushed. "You still carry a change of clothing around with you everywhere you go?" He asked. Hermione nodded. "That purse is big enough." He said with a laugh. Hermione smiled and stood from the bed. She didn't care that she was naked and judging by the slightly darkened look in Spencer's eyes he didn't mind either.

"We have to go to work, remember?" She teased as she slipped her underwear on. She heard Spencer mumble something as she walked toward the living room to get her purse. It was something about missing a day of work. Hermione smiled and shook her head.

Derek raised an eyebrow at the vigilant watch Harry had on the door. Hermione and Spencer were late for work. While Derek had expected something of that nature, Harry apparently hadn't. Derek wandered closer toward the English agent's desk.

"Nothing about that door has changed," Derek stated with a teasing smile. Harry looked over at him. A small blush of embarrassment rose onto his cheeks.

"Hermione didn't come home last night," Harry explained. Derek raised his eyebrow at the statement. "I know that she was with Reid last night…" He intercepted the statement Derek was about to make. "But I can't help but worry about her." He mumbled. Derek watched a small shadow drift over Harry's normally lively green eyes. His eyes traveled back toward the door again. Derek still stared at the young man. His green eyes were still so dark. The expression didn't seem odd on the man's face; in fact, it seemed as though he had worn it often in his life.

"So, what did you two do before the BAU?" Derek asked, hoping to distract the young man from his train of thought. Harry looked away from the door toward the agent. The same agent popped a sunflower seed into his mouth. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Emily's vaguely interested face.

"Hermione and I worked mainly undercover," he told the small audience as the door opened again. Harry looked over and smiled happily. Hermione and Spencer were walking before them, but they were not paying attention to those in the room. Instead, their focus was completely on them. Their hands were linked together at their fingers. They looked truly happy. Despite his earlier worry and small budding anger, Harry couldn't help but smile at the sight. Then another thing caught his attention, Hermione's hair was down. He raised an eyebrow. In all the years he had worked with Hermione, she never pulled her hair up. She felt that having her down was unprofessional. The young woman blushed slightly as she noticed Harry's curved eyebrow and the small smirk spreading over his lips.

"I know what you're hiding!" He teased mentally. When they first tried to communicate through Legilimency, they had suffered from major headaches; but they kept trying. It was necessary for them to be able to talk without others overhearing them. They had gotten so good at it that a wand was no longer necessary. It was the only skill that Harry had managed to completely prefect. He had learned Occlumency, but there were still holes in his defense. Hermione's skill at Occlumency was a lot better than his. It came as no surprise to him though. Hermione had always had a better control over her mind.

"Shut up, Harry," she muttered as she slipped past him to her seat. The sound of her voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He laughed and held up his hands.

"I didn't say a word," he drawled. Hermione glared playfully at him. Out of Harry's peripheral vision, he saw the blush that colored Spencer's cheeks. His smirk grew wider. Harry couldn't help it. He wiggled his eyebrows at Spencer. The man blushed darker and ducked into the book he had just opened. Harry chuckled. He would have to explain to the man that he had nothing against it.

The work day passed slowly and uneventfully. Harry had been practically vibrating with the urge to tease his sister about her new romance, to tease her about her new found rule breaking. After all, it did say in the BAU handbook that couples were against the rules. When it became time for the duo to head home, Harry leaned toward Hermione and whispered:

"Are you going to come home tonight?" He asked. Hermione blushed at the slight teasing sparkle in Harry's eyes. While she was aggravated at the discreet teasing jabs he had been taking at her all day, Hermione couldn't help but smile at the twinkle. Still, her eyes drifted over to Spencer who sat being teased and questioned by Derek. "It's cool if you don't." He reassured. "Just text me to let me know you're okay." Harry couldn't help but smile at the sheepish look Hermione sent him.

"I'm sorry, I would have…but…" A small amount of horror passed through Harry at the dazed expression that flickered over Hermione's face. "We-"

"La! La! La! Spare me the details!" Harry exclaimed, plugging his ears childishly. Hermione smiled widely and ruffled his already messy hair. "Hey!" He exclaimed in an attempt to duck her hands.

"Alright, children," Emily teased as she gathered her things. Hermione and Harry glanced over at her and smiled. There was no hint of sheepish or remorseful feelings in their smiles or their eyes.

Derek turned toward the two newest agents as Emily took the stairs to Hotch's office.

"You guys want to join Penelope and I for movie night?" He asked them all. Hermione cast a quick look toward Spencer. They needed to talk about what had happened last night. It wasn't new; it was something they had done so many times in the past. He smiled softly at her and migrated toward her.

"We can talk later," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere." Hermione smiled softly at him before they both turned their attention toward the group. Derek was grinning widely at the two of them. They both suppressed the blush that threatened to rise to their cheeks. "I'm in," he spoke louder.

"I am too," Hermione agreed. They both looked toward Harry. He smiled.

"Sure," Harry agreed.

Meanwhile, Emily stood patiently in the archway of Hotch's door. Emily couldn't help but smile as Hotch looked up at her. "Hey there," she greeted.

"Hey…" Emily swallowed softly at the sudden feeling that Hotch's gentle smile provoked in her stomach. "What can I help you with?" Emily held up the case file that she had been having trouble with.

"I feel that this case is important for us to look over," Emily confessed. Aaron turned his full attention toward Emily. His own case file was forgotten.

"Why?" He asked. Emily sank down in the chair across from his desk. She leaned forward slightly, closer to Hotch. She used the excuse of spreading the case out in front of him. Her heart leap slightly into her throat as their hands brushed. Emily pulled her hand away from his quickly and glanced up through her lashes to gauge his reaction. A small stab of disappointment filled her as she took in his expression: nothing. He didn't react. She shook it off. She was being ridiculous! Aaron Hotchner was not interested nor would he ever be interested in her! Besides, he was going through a rough divorce. Not rough in the sense of problems with the divorce, but rough because he still loved his now ex-wife.

"The UNSUB is targeting teenage girls that have a history of drug abuse. This is the NYPD's sixth victim," Emily explained in an attempt to distract herself. She soon lost herself in her defense of why this case was more important that the thousands of other cases that filled the desks of his agents. Aaron himself couldn't help but admire the way the beautiful agent dedicated herself to the defense. He couldn't stop the small smile that sunk onto his face as he watched her grow more agitated with the UNSUB. "Are you even listening to me?" Emily demanded. Aaron blinked.

"Of course," he promised.

"Then repeat what I just said," Emily commanded of him with a small smirk. She leaned back against the chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

"He's breaking into homes, drugging the girls, and taking them. Two days later, their bodies were found in an alleyway," Aaron called her bluff. Emily pouted slightly. Aaron smiled. "Now, will you continue?"

"Will you let us pursue this?" Emily returned.

"You have a solid defense on the case and this is their sixth victim. They should have called us at the third," Aaron told her. "So, yes; we will pursue it." Emily gave him a blinding smile.