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Chapter 5! Lots of JJ/Hotch interaction...finally :) Thank you for the feedback, and PLEASE REVIEW, MY FRIENDS!
JJ couldn't help but think of the dark haired man across the bar from her. He looked a few years older than her, but more sexy than any man her age. His dark eyes struck a chord in her, and it was so powerful that she had to force herself to look away before it scalded her. However, she couldn't stop herself from stealing glances at him. That was how much she liked the sight of him.
"Jayje?"
Blinking several times, she looked to Alex, who had just called her name out. "Er, yeah?"
Alex's eyes twinkled at the next moment. "I asked you if you've got anything going on at the museum coming up?" she asked. "But based on the look in your eyes and the distracted behavior you're exhibiting, it seems like you've got something else on your mind other than simple work issues."
Spencer leaned forward. "Do explain," he persisted.
JJ sighed. "It's nothing really," she said, flagging Emily down. "Hey, Em...could I get another glass of Pinot?" She held up her empty glass and wiggled it around. "I'm dry over here."
Emily nodded and smiled. "Coming up, sweetie," she said.
"She's changing the subject," Derek noted, putting his arm around Penelope's shoulders. "It's gotta be something with a man." He grinned and looked at his wife. "I remember how it was when I first met this girl here. We were so afraid to talk to each other it's not even funny!"
Penelope grinned and pecked him on the lips before returning her gaze to JJ. "So...tell us everything!" she said excitedly, leaning forward on her bar stool to observe JJ even closer.
Smiling slightly, she shook her head and looked down at the glass Emily had just placed in front of her. Nervously, her eyes flicked to the man across the bar again. "I don't actually know him," she admitted. "He's sitting across the bar from us."
All of them, save for Reid and Maeve who were too involved with each other, turned their heads to see who exactly they were dealing with.
"Well, don't look!" JJ hissed, forcing them all to look away.
"Ooh, he's sexy," Alex said, looking back at JJ and grinning. "He looks like a powerful type of guy. You gonna go say hi?"
Emily leaned over and nodded excitedly. "Jayje, you have to say hi! He's looking at you like he wants you to."
Biting her lip, she said, "Do you really think I should? The last time I tried to talk to a guy, he ended up throwing up all over my shoes."
Penelope nodded vigorously. "Go! Go forth and make conversation!"
Derek and Alex grinned. "Talk to him," Derek urged, nudging her in the shoulder.
Taking a swallow of her wine, she nodded. "Okay," she said. "I'll give it a shot." Rising to her feet, she started away from her group and towards the dark-haired stranger.
XXXXX
"Look at our girl go!" Penelope said excitedly, nudging Alex and Derek in their sides.
Alex glanced sideways at her sister and scowled. "Not so hard," she scolded. But smiling, she leaned in and laid her head on her sister's shoulder and added, "But your enthusiasm is contagious."
XXXXX
Aaron watched as the blonde across the bar he'd made eye contact with started for him, very clearly encouraged by the group of people she was with. The two women that weren't behind the bar were grinning widely, neither of them bothering to hide their obvious joy at their friend speaking to him. He watched as the woman came over and pointed to the empty barstool next to him.
"Is this seat taken?" she asked shyly.
He looked into her sky blue eyes and shook his head. "No," he said simply.
"May I sit then?" she asked, a slight blush lighting up her cheeks.
Aaron was stunned into silence. What was someone like her doing talking to someone like him? This woman was clearly beautiful and could have any guy she set her eyes on, but she was choosing to talk to him, the lonely, solitary brooder. But though she looked much like the girls in his high school who waltzed all over everyone, this girl, whoever she may be, seemed like the kindest human being he'd ever met. She practically secreted it from her pores.
Clearing his throat, he nodded, gesturing to the seat. "No, it's all your's," he said dumbly.
She smiled and sat, crossing her legs and putting her hands neatly on her lap. Not only was she kind, but she had an air of innocence to her, like she wouldn't know what to do when confronted with something dark, such as the crimes he was going to deal with when he got into the FBI. He was still observing her as she stuck out her hand and murmured, "My name's Jennifer...Jennifer Jareau."
He shook her hand. "I'm Aaron," he said. "Hotchner."
"It's nice to meet you," she said with a soft smile. They sat in silence for a few minutes, but she added, "You new in town? I don't think I've ever seen you around here before?"
Cocking an eyebrow at her, he asked, "Is this 'your' bar?"
"I wouldn't say it's my bar, but I do hang out here, a lot," she explained. "My friend Emily is the bar tender. My group and I hang out here a lot."
He nodded. "I gathered that," he said. "And no, I'm not new in town. I was just looking for some place different than where my usual crowd hangs out. Needed a little alone time."
She tilted her head to the side and asked, "What's your usual crowd like?"
He snorted. "The typical type of college guy pack," he said. "If you know anything about that anyway."
"Yeah," she laughed. "I know a little about it. My friend, Bella used to drag me along to frat parties all the time."
"Is your friend Bella over there?" he asked, nodding his head in the direction of her group.
She shook her head. "No," she said, waving her hand in the air. "Bella moved away for work a little while ago. Those are friends I met around the time she left."
"They seem like an..." His voice trailed off as he observed the group of them. They didn't seem exactly...normal. For one, they couldn't keep ridiculous grins off their faces. They were also blatantly staring at them as they spoke. Something told him they were a little lacking in normal social skills. "Interesting group," he finished, sipping his drink.
She laughed. "Sorry about them," she said. "They're not exactly normal. But I love them."
Smiling, Aaron said, "It's okay. My friends are all a little...off as well."
She smiled. "So, Aaron, what do you do for a job?"
He finished off his drink and set the glass back down on the bar. "I'm in law enforcement," he said. "I'm getting into the FBI."
She stared at him in silence for a moment before nodding once. "You're...okay, I can take a hint," she said. "I'll just -"
Frowning, he shook his head and laughed. Good lord, the girl thought he was lying. "No, no! I'm serious," he said. "I really am joining the FBI." He dug in his briefcase next to him in the other barstool and pulled out his acceptance letter. Her eyes grew wide and she looked back up at him. "See? Joining the FBI."
A shy blush crept up her cheeks and she stammered, "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just, when guys say that, it usually is a lie..."
"It's okay," he said in understanding. Smiling softly, he aded, "Can I - can I buy you a drink?" He watched her rapidly blinking eyes and realized she was confused by why he was asking to buy her a drink. Looking at Jennifer Jareau, he got the distinct impression that she wasn't very sure of herself with men. She clearly had confidence in her professional life - she dressed well, she was intelligent, and had friends - but when it came to men, he saw that she was nervous. Someone had hurt her...badly. Why, he would never understand. Jennifer Jareau was something else.
Aaron didn't normally think the best of someone right off the bat, but she was different.
So he was going to explain to her why he wanted to buy her a drink.
"I'm asking you because I think you're someone I would like to get to know," he explained. "You seem...interesting." He said the last sentence with a smile.
For a moment, Jennifer stared at him. Then she nodded and smiled softly. "Okay," she said. "That would be nice, Aaron."
He flagged down the bartender to order their drinks, then turned to her and added with a wink, "You can call me Hotch."
Her smile grew in size and she said, "Well, in that case, call me JJ."
