"Hey, thanks for meeting me downstairs. You would think for a government building, they would have easier to reach elevator buttons for everyone." I joke, trying to break the ice with the person I'll be spending most of my time with.
Although that didn't seem to be a problem because the second I entered the lobby, Penelope Garcia, BAU Technical Analyst Extraordinaire, was standing right in the middle wearing white dress covered in colorful flowers, pink cardigan, matching kooky glasses, yellow heels, and all wrapped up in a smile that could possibly blind an elderly person. It was at that moment, I knew work, at least, wouldn't be boring.
"Oh honey, no problem, I probably would have raced to the lobby even if you didn't call just so I could be the first one to greet you." Penelope giggled. I opened my mouth to add my own witty humor but instantly got cut off. "You know normally I don't love newbies joining the team,especiallynewbies enteringmyexpertise, but I had a feeling when I found out you were another techy kick butt girl? Oh my gosh I was so excited!" Penelope added, almost seeming out of breath now from her said excitement.
All I could do was giggle and nod in agreement.
It was a relief to know I didn't embarrass myself in the first few minutes on the job. I knew the fact that I got this job was an accomplishment. Girls like me don't get jobs like these everyday. Girls like me who have no use of their legs and have limited muscle strength, do not get jobs in the Behavioral Analysis Unit in the FBI. Though it was my dream, the moment when I couldn't reach the elevator buttons was an honest wake up call.
Ever since I was little I loved the idea of saving others and catching bad guys. When other girls were painting their nails, or playing princess, I was in the city library reading about Ted Bundy. Strange for a 12 year old girl, I know, but I couldn't stop thinking about why people did what they did. Don't worry I still enjoyed dolling up my nails every once in a while.
Obviously it was no secret I couldn't run after criminals, or even use a gun so I knew it was probably a pipe dream. So I shifted gears, got into tech and code. I could do that. With the right adaptive technology, I could run laps around any encryption. Luckily I never used my powers for evil. In high school I learned about technical analysts who worked for the FBI. That was it, that was my path.
The elevator opened and I followed Penelope through the glass doors, into the bullpen I saw in my college textbooks. If it wasn't clear by my beaming smile, I was almost start struck by the sight of all the agents sitting at the desks working and I got to be one of them. One agent stood out though because instead of flipping through files or paperwork, he was playing chess, by himself. The other odd thing was he looked about my age. I expected to be the youngest one on the team because by some miracle, I got this job only a few years after graduating college. His floppy curly brown hair shielded his eyes slightly, but even from where I was, I could tell they were brown.
Penelope's voice took me out of my trance and my eyes snapped up to look at her "Hotch told me to come get him when you arrived since well..." She gestured to the wheels of my motorized wheelchair, then up to the door in the middle of the walkway above the main level of the bullpen with a small awkward giggle "Stairs, so I'll be right back."
I snicker slightly then nod, sending her up the stairs and into the room she pointed to.
While waiting, my gaze goes back to the chess playing guy. He was young but dressed like an old man, suit, tie, and everything. There was something wise about him, like his looks were youthful but it seemed like he's seen some things.
Hotch's office door opened before he and Penelope made their way down the steps. I met them halfway, holding out my hand as best I could with a smile "Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner, Brooke Bevan, it's seriously an honor to be working with you." In my defense, I didn't mean to sound like a fan girl, it just came out that way.
With a firm grip, Hotch shook my hand "Welcome, we're eager to have you." Already I could tell the rumors were true. Aaron Hotchner was all business and it looked like he hadn't smiled in at least a month. He was the man in charge for a reason though, the number of successful cases couldn't lie.
Hotch reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out the thing that makes all this official. My face beams as my heart races in my chest. "Here are your credentials. As you should already know, you must keep these on you." I nod while practically ogling the FBI symbol on the front ofmycredentials. "Penelope can introduce you to everyone." Hotch explains while placing the booklet on my lap then heads back up to his office.
Penelope practically shakes with excitement "It's official newbie!" She was right. I am now Brooke Bevan, Technical Analyst for the FBI, it had a nice ring to it. "Come and meet everyone!" Penelope chimes before leading to a group sitting in the middle of the bullpen.
A dark-haired girl looks up from the file she was reading and her face lights up when she sees us coming "Hey! You must be Brooke." She stands up and shakes my hand "I'm Emily Prentis, it's nice to meet you. Hotch has said good things."
I grin with a nod before one by one introduces themselves with a handshake. Derek Morgan, David Rossi, then Jennifer Jareau who apparently goes by JJ. Finally there was Chess Guy. I hold out my hand before he awkwardly waves it off with a small smile "I-I actually don't do handshakes. Did you know according to studies, a handshake can transfer a significant amount of bacteria, with research showing that a handshake transmits nearly twice as many bacteria compared to a high five and significantly more than a fist bump, which is considered the most hygienic greeting option du-"
"And that is Dr. Spencer Reid." JJ cut him off with a small amused laugh.
My eyes blink a few times, trying to drink in the info dump plus the fact that JJ just said doctor. My eyebrows furrow a little in confusion "You look a little young to be a doctor..." My voice trails off.
That's when Penelope speaks up "Reid is our team genius."
Reid sheepishly "I don't really believe you can quantify knowledge but I do have an IQ of 187 and eidetic memory."
I give another stunned look and utter "Huh..." To be honest I couldn't recall knowing anyone with that amount of smarts, I couldn't help but be impressed. "How about a high five then?" I finally say with a smile while holding out my hand.
Spencer's face seemed to light up and he reached out to give me a high five.
Suddenly Hotch comes out with a thick file folder in his hand, his presence commanding attention. "We have a case."