Chapter 2

Jane got to work at her usual time, she was tempted to call in sick but that would be too obvious and the last thing she needed was Patterson and Zapata coming to check on her, she wouldn't put it past herself to spill everything to those two so the best course of action was to carry on as normal so that's why she was at the office just after 5 am. She left her bag by her desk and went to the gym. She completely ignored Weller's office so she didn't notice what was going on inside. 10 km on the treadmill, several sets of weights and sparing with a few agents later she was back in the bullpen freshly showered. It was still early, 7 am but the rest of the team were there. She sat at her desk, again still ignoring Weller's office, and then she was surrounded by the rest of the team. She looked at them.

"So?" asked Patterson

"So what?" replied Jane

"What's going on?" Tasha asked

"With….?" Jane responded

"Seriously he didn't even tell you?" asked Patterson

"Who didn't tell me what?" Jane asked even though she had a pretty good idea who the 'who' was.

The fact that they all, including Reade, raised their eyebrows at her answer didn't fool them although for some reason they didn't call her out on it.

"Weller didn't tell you about his meeting with Hirst?" supplied Reade

At this Jane spun around quickly and sure enough Kurt was in his office with Hirst but it didn't seem to be a productive meeting. Kurt was sitting behind his desk while Hirst was pacing the office and the usually unflappable director didn't seem to be unflappable anymore. Hirst caught Jane's eye and paused in what she was saying then carried on after a few seconds. The other members of the team saw this exchange and were puzzled by it. When Jane turned back around the other three were speculating what was going on in that office.

"Isn't that the same suit Kurt was wearing yesterday?" asked Patterson

"Yeah, you're right." Stated Reade

"So he didn't go home last night?" asked Zapata

"Well he must have left to go see Jane last night." Declared Patterson

Jane startled at that comment.

"Huh?"

"Oh c'mon, everyone knows that Weller would check up on you if you've been injured or near enough. Whereas the rest of us may get a call…"

"Wait, hold up, you get calls?" asked Reade

Patterson and Zapata both looked at him startled.

"You don't?" they both replied in unison

"Ok, I don't know how to feel about that…I…I mean I get a text…"

"What does it say?" asked Patterson

"It usually says 'you good?'"

"And what do you reply?" asked a curious Zapata

"'Yeah'"

The three female members of the team looked at each other and smothered their smirks although not quick enough for Reade not to see.

"What?"

"What 'what'?" said Zapata

"Don't try your female tricks on me. What was that look for?"

Zapata and Jane both looked at Patterson for her to explain.

"Well, it seems that seeing as both you and Weller are men of few words so what would be the point of calling you to say literally a couple of words when …texting would probably be better for both of you?"

They watched as Reade thought this through and agreed with Patterson's insights. The three didn't look at each other again just in case they were caught again but they each had a smile on their face.

"So, what's up with you?" Zapata asked Jane

"Huh?"

"You look tired, didn't you sleep last night?"

No I didn't, I couldn't stop crying all night because I offered myself to Kurt and he couldn't get out of my place fast enough thought Jane.

"Not really." Jane responded

"Well hopefully today will be a quiet day and we can catch up with our paperwork!" declared Reade

"Thank you so much for jinxing us! Now we're going to have an all nighter and we'll probably get injured. Better have your 'yeah' response to Weller's text ready, we wouldn't want you to keep him waiting, he's not very patient!"

"Ha ha, you're so funny, NOT!"

They all got back to their desks and started the dreaded paperwork.

They worked steadily for hours; each would take a turn to go on a coffee run. Twelve o'clock came around and Zapata, Reade and Patterson went out for lunch, Jane declined their invitation, she was happy with coffee. Patterson was going to argue but Zapata pulled her away. When they returned they had brought her her favourite triple chocolate muffin.

"Have they had a break yet?" Zapata asked indicating Weller and Hirst with her head

Jane looked up and towards the office and shook her head, again she made eye contact with Hirst and it was a little disconcerting. About an hour later there was a delivery to the office from a local restaurant. The four members of the team watched as the two in the office took a break for some sustenance but it was a quick break then they got back to whatever they were discussing.

Around 4 pm Patterson came out from her lab wanting a distraction so she sidled up to their desks and they in turn were ready to take it easy. Reade had just turned to get involved when director Hirst opened the door.

"Agent Reade can you please join us."

"Who me?" asked a confused Reade

"As far as I'm aware, you are the only Agent Reade in this office correct?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Then why are you not making your way into this office?"

Reade looked at the ladies and they all looked confused. Reade walked towards the office where the director was still waiting. Once he was inside he sat on the other side of the desk, opposite Kurt, director Hirst was still standing. The others didn't even try to be subtle they openly stared at the scene in front of them. It looked like Kurt was just sitting while the director was talking. They knew something significant was said because Reade's head snapped back to Kurt and he looked surprised. Then they saw Reade shake his head in disagreement then fold his arms like he was sulking. Jane, Patterson and Zapata all exchanged looks and wondered what could be going on. Work was forgotten, they were more interested in what was going on in Weller's office. They saw the three seem to go back and forth over something, the director looked frustrated, Kurt looked determined and Reade looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else. They must have felt the ladies eyes on them but Kurt never reacted, he never looked at them once whereas Reade caught Jane's eyes once and the director's gaze landed on Jane yet again. She was starting to get a little paranoid. Did Kurt report her to Hirst she wondered?

The talk continued in the office then eventually it seemed as if Reade capitulated and Kurt placed a small stack of papers in front of him and Reade was going to sign the last page when Kurt stopped him, something which Director Hirst did not like, Reade and Kurt both looked determined but Kurt won that battle, director Hirst threw her arms up in the air in frustration and Reade began to read every page. He seemed to ask questions as he made his way through the ample stack of papers. Things seemed to be crossed out, changed and moved. Once Reade had finished with a sheet he would pass it to the director who would check it and if she okayed it she would pass it to Kurt who would amend the original document on his computer. If the director didn't agree with said changes then it would go back and forth until an agreement was met. Eventually another stack of papers was placed in front of Reade who read them again and at the end Zapata, Patterson and Jane watched as Reade signed something. When the director walked to the door the three outside assumed that was the end of whatever was going on but they were wrong. The door opened.

"Ms Doe can you please join us?"

It was phrased as a question but everyone knew that it was an order. Jane didn't glance back at her teammates as she made her way to the office. She entered and took the seat next to Reade in front of Kurt, who she was still avoiding looking at.

"I'm sure you and the rest of this team are wondering what is going on well it started last night when agent Weller here called me at close to midnight and told me there was something urgent that we needed to talk about and it HAD to be in person."

Jane then looked at Kurt who had his usual stoic expression on his face so she couldn't read him. The director carried on.

"Assistant Director Weller…"

Jane noticed that even Kurt winced at the tone.

"…informed me that he wanted to step down as Assistant…"

"WHAT?!" said Jane as she stood up, she turned to look at Kurt "Are you INSANE? Why would you want to step down? You're a great Assistant Director…" she then turned to Reade, leaned over and slapped his arm "And you, what did you do? Did you talk him out of it? You know he's a good boss! We've all needed and appreciated his help when we've had issues, especially you!"

Outside the office…

"What could have happened for Jane to be so…so…so agitated?" asked Patterson

"I have no idea. Weller and Reade are braver than I thought to risk the wrath of Jane. Which one of us is going to be called into the office next?"

Back inside the office…

"Why especially agent Reade Ms Doe?"

Jane turned to look at the director.

"Reade had issues when the case about Coach Jones collapsed and Well… erm Assistant Director Weller helped Rea… agent Reade get through it."

The director looked like she wanted to argue with Jane as if she knew more about what happened than they assumed.

"Riiiiiight!" said the director in a disbelieving tone "Anyway as I was saying before I was interrupted, Assistant Director Weller wanted to step down and become a member of your team again…"

"Are you CRAZY, so not only do you want to step down from a job that you're great at, you want to step down not to team leader but even further down so you're just one of us? Did you hit your head on your way home last night? Were you mugged? How does this make any sense?"

"Well the reason for the change is in fact you Ms Doe!"

Jane stared at the director for the longest time until she realised what she was doing.

"Excuse me?" said Jane

"You are the reason for the change that Assistant Director Weller wants."

Jane didn't or couldn't look at Kurt, at least not right then so she looked at Reade instead and didn't find any answers there as Reade was avoiding her gaze. She finally looked at Kurt and he wasn't giving anything away.

"Why?" she whispered

With his eyes still on hers he told her.

"Because you are not and never will be a dirty little secret." He watched as tears welled in her eyes. He watched as she fought to stay in control. He knew she understood what he was telling her without actually saying the words due to the present company.

"We don't know when we will eliminate Sandstorm and I am no longer willing to wait to start a relationship with you until that happens. The bureau has strict rules about… romantic relationships with those in your chain of command so therefore I cannot be the Assistant Director or Team Leader as that would make me your superior, in the and only in the eyes of the bureau, which means we could not be more than friends so the logical thing to do was to stand down and become a member of the team."

"Kurt…" whispered Jane as one tear escaped

She didn't know how long they carried on looking at each other but the throat clearing put an end to the gazing.

"Yes, as …gallant as that is there is a problem."

Jane looked towards the director in question.

"I refuse to accept his …decision."

"Good! You shouldn't, he's the best Assistant Director that you've had apart from Mayfair."

"Jane." Said Kurt

"I agree." Said the director "That's why we've come to a compromise."

Jane was a little weary when she heard this, she looked at Kurt, who gave nothing away then she looked at Reade because she remembered seeing him sign something.

"What did you do?" accused Jane

Reade held up his hands in surrender.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea and it kept Kurt as Assistant Director which I thought you would be happy with as neither one of use wants him to give up his job. Am I right?"

"What idea?"

Kurt cleared his throat and Jane turned back to look at him.

"Well, the director came up with the idea of Reade being your line manager so even if I'm still the Assistant Director I wouldn't be your immediate superior so there wouldn't be a conflict of interest so to speak."

Jane took in the information and just sat there, the other three just looked at each other until Jane came out of her daze.

"So what does that entail?" asked Jane

"Well, it means that I will be carrying out your quarterly evaluations so there's no hint of impropriety and if you have any other concerns you are to go through me and I will inform the relevant person." Explained Reade

"Is that it?"

"No, there are a couple more stipulations." Added the Director

"Which are…?"

"Well first of all there will not be any public displays of affection in the office from 0700 to 1800. Secondly, if this doesn't seem to work then we'll revisit the Assistant Director stepping down, deal?"

"Deal." Agreed Jane

"Deal." Agreed Kurt

"Are you ok with this Reade?" asked Jane

"Seriously? This is going to be easy. On your very worst day you're three times better than the worst person in this office! Your evaluations are only a formality."

"Just one more thing Ms Doe…"

"Yes?"

"The time is 1805!"

Jane looked at Kurt who in return was looking at her with a smile on his face which she reciprocated. She watched as he stood up and walked around his desk towards her, he held out his hand and she placed hers in his and allowed him to pull her up. His left arm went around her waist and his right hand went into her hair and they kissed.

Outside both Zapata and Patterson stood up when they saw Kurt hold out his hand and Jane put hers in his. Patterson had grabbed Zapata's arms and was currently cutting off the circulation to it in anticipation of what was about to happen.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" squealed Patterson when they saw the kiss

Zapata just had a smile on her face. Both moved to the office and didn't bother knocking.

The kiss ended and then their other senses kicked in, mainly their hearing, they could hear the clapping and whistling going on in the bullpen, they were still looking at each other when the celebratory noises invaded their moment, they smiled at each other and Jane blushed when they heard the clapping and whistling and buried her head in Kurt's neck which made him laugh. The next thing they knew they were being hugged by Patterson. Tightly. Zapata just held out her hand and Reade reluctantly pulled out a chocolate bar (they didn't bet money anymore) and placed it in her hand.

"Damn Zapata, how do you do it?" asked Reade

"When you've got skills, you've got skills!"

Reade rolled his eyes.

"Guys, this is great, congratulations!" squealed Patterson

"Hey Patterson do you want to share this chocolate bar with me?" called Zapata

Weller threw her grateful look then turned to look at Jane.

"So, would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?"

The smile on Jane's face was worth it. She reached up and wound her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes.

"Definitely!"