Erin hated having to make the sort of office visit that she was about to do, since it never resulted in anything good. Especially not when Aaron was even more on edge when it came to her these days. She knew that he knew she was keeping a closer eye on their team, since the Director was certain that trouble was brewing in Alpha team. There was a tension between Agent Jareau and the others, since she was being blamed for Doctor Reid's kidnapping and torture, or at least that was what Aaron had hinted at in his report.
Her heels clacked on the tile of the floor as she made her way through the bullpen and up to Aaron's office, not bothering to knock until the door was halfway open. The soft rapping caught his attention and before he could control his microreaction, Erin saw the look of disdain on his face that was quickly replaced with a placid mask. "Erin. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"The Director wanted me to check in with you about how you are doing following the case in Atlanta. I see that Doctor Reid took no time off to deal with any lingering effects of what happened to him."
"He claims that he can work through things better here, with his team, than he could by taking time off."
She cocked her head to one side as she took a seat in front of his desk, searching his face for the truth of what was happening. "Still, he should have taken at least a week off to allow his wounds to heal. The pictures that were included in your report tell me that he very nearly died. Jason took six months off for less."
He drew a deep breath in through his nose, his nostrils flaring a little. "Doctor Reid seems to be made of more resilient stuff." There was a shiftiness to his words, as if he knew that she was right, and that there was something he was keeping from her. A part of Erin knew that she couldn't press him for more information, as that would just cause him to shut down on her even more. "Is that all?"
"No. The Director picked up on something that you mentioned in passing in your report. There's tension between Agents Jareau and Morgan?"
Aaron groaned before he could stop himself, and she cocked an eyebrow upwards as she waited for him to respond to her question. "He's protective of Reid, looks on him like a little brother. And that means that he did think that Agent Jareau should not have allowed Reid to talk them into splitting up. And she is feeling more than a little guilty about what happened. And we both know what guilt can do to a person."
A small blush warmed her cheeks as she looked away from his to gaze at a picture of Haley and Jack. "Guilt will eat you up inside if you allow it. Make certain that you keep a close eye on that situation, and nip any larger issues in the bud."
Erin went to stand, only for Aaron to shake his head sharply. She frowned as she dropped back down into the chair, staring at him, waiting for him to say something. "Is Elise all right?"
"Why wouldn't she be?"
His eyes bored into hers, and she felt like a pinned butterfly in that moment. "Haley told me that she had the same surgery that Jack did. I find it more than a little ironic that Dave's kid would have the same genetic heart condition that Jack had."
"That is not the only way to have that heart problem, Aaron," she coolly replied, lifting her chin up a little as she tried not to show how unnerved she was by that statement.
"And yet, the doubt still lingers." Erin's body felt hot and cold simultaneously as she continued to regard him, trying to show no emotion. "And you still haven't answered my question. Is Elise okay?"
"She is healing well, and ahead of the curve for recovery, according to her surgeon. I'm surprised that Haley spoke about us, since the last time we talked, it did not end well."
His eyebrow ticked upwards, as if to tell her that he knew she was lying, but then he cleared his throat and looked at her closely. "Things appear to have changed on her end in the last few months. Because she seems to regard you with something akin to a grudging respect."
She didn't know why that pleased her so much, but Erin couldn't stop the small smile of pleasure that curved her lips upwards, which Aaron took notice of, his own mouth tightening into a thin line of displeasure. "It's good to know that people can change, Aaron. Would that we could all be that magnanimous. Is Jack doing well?"
"He's fine," he bit out, and she knew for certain that she had hit a sore spot with him.
"That's so wonderful to hear. He looks like a sweet boy," she replied kindly, looking at the family picture behind his back. "Now, I truly do need to get on with my work. However, I would like you to keep an eye out on Doctor Reid, since I do not agree that his jumping right back into work is a good idea." She rose to her feet and took a deep breath, giving him a small smile. "And tell Haley that I said hello, as well as thanking her for her concern around Elise."
Before he could say another word, Erin straightened her back and left the office, a tiny smile still on her lips. As she passed by the break room, she saw Penelope peek her head out, giving her a little wave, and she dipped her head in acknowledgement before leaving the bullpen and making her way back to her office, almost certain that she heard familiar footsteps behind her as she entered. "Do you have a moment to talk, Ma'am?"
She turned and raised an eyebrow at Penelope's almost eager look, giving her a small nod. "What do you need?" she asked as she gave Helen a knowing smirk. Her assistant giggled a little as they went into her inner office, and she watched Penelope close the door as she took a seat behind her desk.
"I just wanted to touch base and see how Elise was doing. I hope that things are going better."
There was a nervous air about the young woman, as if she thought that Erin wouldn't answer her. The smile on her lips softened a little as she pulled out her phone and opened her pictures, flipping through to the ones that David had taken of her and Elise last night. Choosing the best one, she showed it to Penelope before gazing at it with a little bit of wonder. "She's still not back to full activity, yet, but she's babbling a lot more, and getting very close to walking. Which means that I want to wrap her up in a blanket and keep her safe."
"She is beautiful, and I can't believe how much she looks like you, but with Dave's dark hair."
Erin nodded as she let out a soft sigh and then set the phone back on her desk. "I think that she favors my son, really, but Alan always said that Bruce looked like me, so maybe you're right. And she loves the stuffed tiger that you got her. I know that we wrote a thank you note, but it's still nice to tell people that their gifts are being enjoyed."
Penelope grinned as she nodded. "I couldn't resist when I saw it in the shop. And since I don't have any kids to spoil, well, I thought that I'd give her something." Erin nodded as she looked over at the mound of paperwork that she had to complete, some of it still over the case in Atlanta. "That is not a happy look."
"Because I have so much paperwork to finish, and not enough hours in the day. Doctor Reid's ordeal has led to so much red tape to work through."
Penelope's brow knit together as she looked down into her lap. "I've never been so frightened, ma'am. Having to see him almost die, well, it shook me."
Erin felt her eyes well up with tears as she nodded. "If you need to, there is no shame in talking with one of the Bureau's therapists. That is why we have them on staff, after all."
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you. No one mentioned that that might be an option."
Erin frowned quickly before forcing her face into a placid smile. "That is always an option available to all our employees. I will make certain that I remind Aaron of that option when we see each other next. Now, I'm sorry, but I truly do need to get to work." Penelope nodded and got up, leaving the office with a smile on her face that Erin couldn't help but copy, even if the woman couldn't see the expression.
