Written দ্বারা Monties, Lairofthemuses@LJ.
…Or Anything
“Is this আসন taken?”
Emily looked up from the crossword, a smile crossing her lips. She still wore surprise in her eyes but his hazel gaze never drifted from hers.
“What are আপনি doing here?” she asked.
“Best variety of চা in the state.” BAU Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner held up his large mug. “Is this আসন taken?”
“Um, no, it isn’t. Please sit.”
He did and right after came the awkward silence. Emily cleared her throat and pushed her paper to the side.
“No coffee this morning?” she asked for lack of anything else.
“Autumn is definitely চা time for me.” He replied.
“What kind did আপনি get?”
“Blackberry pomegranate, and I have to tell আপনি its pretty good. What are আপনি having?”
“Kenyan roast with…”
“Light cream and enough sugar to kill a ষাঁড় moose at fifty paces.” Hotch finished.
“Splenda.” Emily corrected.
“OK, enough Splenda to kill a ষাঁড় moose. You're off sugar now?”
“Being hyper is for people in their 20s. In your thirties আপনি have to get your kicks some other way.”
“Tackling Unsubs might be a good way.”
“Hotch, what are আপনি doing here?” Emily asked again.
“I told you.” He took a deep breath and a sip of his tea.
“I come here a lot; I've never seen আপনি before.”
“Actually I read about this place online. Coffee, Tea, অথবা Anything…I thought the name was catchy. I've been here a few times but never stayed for the view.”
“What view?”
They were sitting out on the side deck with the perfect view of Old Town Alexandria, VA. It really was a city of walkers and on a Sunday late morning there was much to see. Most were just প্রথমপাতা from 10am services at local churches and the heathens were just coming out of dark apartments অথবা sleepy residential neighborhoods.
“Oh c'mon, you're a profiler.” Hotch said. “You প্রণয় to people watch. আপনি see them walk দ্বারা and imagine what conversations they are having on their cell phones অথবা what they're saying to their companions.”
“Guilty as charged.” Emily grinned. “Sometimes I drag Nat down here to do it with me. We’re rather merciless. It makes my father laugh.”
Hotch didn’t doubt it. He would প্রণয় to be a fly on the দেওয়াল when the Prentiss women went at it. He was about to ask her something else but the thought was interrupted দ্বারা her cell phone. It must have been her personal cell; it was a ring tone Hotch didn’t recognize. It sounded like heavy metal.
“Excuse me for a moment. Hello.”
“Emily, it’s your mother.”
“Hello Mother, how are you?”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“Actually…”
“Where are you, sweetheart?” Elizabeth asked.
“Boca Raton.” Emily replied.
“You couldn’t possibly be on vacation.”
“No, um, serial arsonist…targeting bars. It’s a tough case.”
“Oh well, I don’t want to disturb your work.” Elizabeth said.
“Are আপনি alright?” Emily asked.
“Yes, I'm fine. We should talk when আপনি come home; we can have dinner.”
“Sure. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. We just got in last night. Let me call আপনি in a few days.”
“Alright, sweetheart. I don’t want to take আপনি away from your work. I প্রণয় you.”
“I প্রণয় আপনি too, Mother. Goodbye.”
Emily closed the phone and slipped it back into her jeans pocket. It wasn’t the lie that embarrassed her but that she did it in front of Hotch. Somewhere down deep she still suspected that he suspected that she was untrustworthy.
“Good work.” He said.
“I didn’t like doing that.”
“But আপনি did it so well.”
“It’s always easier when she’s on the phone.” Emily replied. “She can read my eyes…I can never do it when we’re face to face.”
“The calmness of your voice, at first I wondered how could আপনি possibly master that and then I remembered.”
“Remembered what?” Emily asked.
“You have a Masters degree in Communications. আপনি can probably fool anyone.”
“I don’t like fooling people, as আপনি say. I prefer honesty. It’s just that, well with Mother…”
“You surely don’t have to tell me.” Hotch couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh right, আপনি have met her.”
“Yes,” he nodded. “But I was talking about my own mother. Of course I’m not half as good as আপনি when it comes to maternal deception.”
“Why not?”
“My accent gives me away.”
“What? আপনি don’t have an accent.” Emily said.
“Oh yes I do…and when mama is close, even দ্বারা telephone, it comes right out of me like water.”
“Oh my God,” Emily covered her mouth. “Do that again.”
“It’s not as easy to turn on and off as আপনি might think, Emily.” Hotch ব্যক্ত in a southern lilt.
It wasn’t heavy like people she remembered hearing when she went to her mother’s hometown of Birmingham. She was going to ask Hotch how he used to sound like that but now sounded like this but knew her mother had changed her voice as well. She liked the way his sounded, sexy and dapper like a আরো tolerant version of Will LaMontagne, Jr.
“Where are আপনি from?”
“Virginia,” Hotch cleared his throat and came back with his normal voice. “Born and raised in Richmond. Well, I was born in Richmond, and then we moved to Manassas to be closer to my grandmother but moved back to Richmond when I started school and my father ran for State Senate.” Those two sentences were probably আরো than Hotch had told anyone about himself in a long time. Usually revelations like that made him uncomfortable but not over চা with Emily Prentiss. He noticed lately that on cases he was giving little pieces of himself to victims and Unsubs alike but someone he’d known for two years didn’t even know where he was born. “So আপনি see, when the accent slips out lying is impossible.”
“What’s your mother like?” Emily asked.
As if knowing she was out of coffee, the server came to the টেবিল and asked if Emily wanted a refill. She nodded. Hotch also wanted আরো tea. The server ব্যক্ত she would be back with everything they needed and the new ব্রাঞ্চ menu. Suddenly they were having brunch.
“My mother…she’s unpredictable.”
“You definitely didn’t pick up that trait. Oh wait, that came out wrong.”
“I don’t think it did.” Hotch replied.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Hotch.”
“Oh yes আপনি did.” He grinned, letting his accent out again.
Emily didn't know why it made her giggle like a giddy teenage girl. He just sounded so sexy, not at all like her buttoned down Unit Chief. It made her think of steamy summer nights on a porch দোল অথবা even better a বিছানা as a ceiling অনুরাগী didn’t quite cool her off. It made her think of sweat sliding down her chest and sweet kisses as he caught the salty saline on his tongue. Jesus, could an accent give a woman an orgasm? It had been such a long time Emily wasn’t at all sure.
“As least you're from somewhere.” She said. “It’s not easy being from nowhere.”
“I always looked at it as আপনি being from everywhere.” Hotch replied.
“I didn’t.”
He nodded understanding as the server came back. Drinks were refilled and they were প্রদত্ত menus.
“Are আপনি hungry?” Hotch asked.
“I'm pretty much always hungry. I'm sure I can find room for something.”
“The website ব্যক্ত they had the best pastries in the DC Metro area.”
“I was thinking about Belgian waffles, maybe চকোলেট chip silver dollar pancakes. Ooh, Eggs Benedict might be nice. What's your পছন্দ late night food?”
“I sleep at night.” Hotch replied.
“Since when? I hear আপনি pacing hotel rooms all over the country.”
“OK, but I don’t often eat. I drink…God that probably doesn’t sound good.”
“It sounds accurate. We all drink, Hotch.”
“So what's your poison?” he asked.
“When I'm actually able to run a bath and cuddle with George, its wine. I প্রণয় a good Pikes Clare Valley অথবা অট্টালিকা Ste. Michelle. The perfect blend of sweetness and dry goes great with a bowl of fruit. It helps me relax. Now if I just want to get plastered and act as if I never have to return to Quantico, I'm pulling out the SoCo for some Alabama Slammers. I think I’m going to have the waffles.”
“George?” Hotch asked.
“I'm sorry?”
“Who’s George?”
“My cat.” Emily replied.
“You have a cat?”
“Mmm,” she nodded. “He’s an Abyssinian, almost two years old. My mother actually bought him for me for my birthday. I was a little mortified at the time…I didn’t want to be the cat lady. I mean it was bad enough I was single, but a cat, oh God. Can we talk about something else?”
“You brought up George, I didn’t.” He said.
“You're right, it’s entirely my fault.”
“I didn’t say that. আপনি didn’t hear me say that.”
“I hear a lot of things আপনি don’t say.” Emily said.
“Cryptic much?”
“Takes one to know one.” She laughed. “OK, আপনি know about George so tell me what's in your apartment.”
“A little reciprocity?” Hotch asked.
“If আপনি say so.”
“I say I'm hungry and this place is really adorable but they don’t have what I want on the menu.”
“What are আপনি in the mood for?” Emily asked. She didn’t know why but her mouth went dry when she asked that question.
“I'm not sure yet…I'm still thinking about it. Are আপনি in the mood, Emily Prentiss, for an afternoon adventure?”
“If আপনি keep talking with that accent I might be prepared to say yes to everything আপনি ask.”
“I don’t know why it keeps slipping out.”
“Maybe it wants to get to know me better.” She replied.
“Let’s go grab some lunch. I’ll drive and we’ll দোল back to pick up your car later. I mean…if আপনি want to.”
“I do.”
“Check please.” Hotch held up his hand to get the server’s attention.
…Or Anything
“Is this আসন taken?”
Emily looked up from the crossword, a smile crossing her lips. She still wore surprise in her eyes but his hazel gaze never drifted from hers.
“What are আপনি doing here?” she asked.
“Best variety of চা in the state.” BAU Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner held up his large mug. “Is this আসন taken?”
“Um, no, it isn’t. Please sit.”
He did and right after came the awkward silence. Emily cleared her throat and pushed her paper to the side.
“No coffee this morning?” she asked for lack of anything else.
“Autumn is definitely চা time for me.” He replied.
“What kind did আপনি get?”
“Blackberry pomegranate, and I have to tell আপনি its pretty good. What are আপনি having?”
“Kenyan roast with…”
“Light cream and enough sugar to kill a ষাঁড় moose at fifty paces.” Hotch finished.
“Splenda.” Emily corrected.
“OK, enough Splenda to kill a ষাঁড় moose. You're off sugar now?”
“Being hyper is for people in their 20s. In your thirties আপনি have to get your kicks some other way.”
“Tackling Unsubs might be a good way.”
“Hotch, what are আপনি doing here?” Emily asked again.
“I told you.” He took a deep breath and a sip of his tea.
“I come here a lot; I've never seen আপনি before.”
“Actually I read about this place online. Coffee, Tea, অথবা Anything…I thought the name was catchy. I've been here a few times but never stayed for the view.”
“What view?”
They were sitting out on the side deck with the perfect view of Old Town Alexandria, VA. It really was a city of walkers and on a Sunday late morning there was much to see. Most were just প্রথমপাতা from 10am services at local churches and the heathens were just coming out of dark apartments অথবা sleepy residential neighborhoods.
“Oh c'mon, you're a profiler.” Hotch said. “You প্রণয় to people watch. আপনি see them walk দ্বারা and imagine what conversations they are having on their cell phones অথবা what they're saying to their companions.”
“Guilty as charged.” Emily grinned. “Sometimes I drag Nat down here to do it with me. We’re rather merciless. It makes my father laugh.”
Hotch didn’t doubt it. He would প্রণয় to be a fly on the দেওয়াল when the Prentiss women went at it. He was about to ask her something else but the thought was interrupted দ্বারা her cell phone. It must have been her personal cell; it was a ring tone Hotch didn’t recognize. It sounded like heavy metal.
“Excuse me for a moment. Hello.”
“Emily, it’s your mother.”
“Hello Mother, how are you?”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“Actually…”
“Where are you, sweetheart?” Elizabeth asked.
“Boca Raton.” Emily replied.
“You couldn’t possibly be on vacation.”
“No, um, serial arsonist…targeting bars. It’s a tough case.”
“Oh well, I don’t want to disturb your work.” Elizabeth said.
“Are আপনি alright?” Emily asked.
“Yes, I'm fine. We should talk when আপনি come home; we can have dinner.”
“Sure. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. We just got in last night. Let me call আপনি in a few days.”
“Alright, sweetheart. I don’t want to take আপনি away from your work. I প্রণয় you.”
“I প্রণয় আপনি too, Mother. Goodbye.”
Emily closed the phone and slipped it back into her jeans pocket. It wasn’t the lie that embarrassed her but that she did it in front of Hotch. Somewhere down deep she still suspected that he suspected that she was untrustworthy.
“Good work.” He said.
“I didn’t like doing that.”
“But আপনি did it so well.”
“It’s always easier when she’s on the phone.” Emily replied. “She can read my eyes…I can never do it when we’re face to face.”
“The calmness of your voice, at first I wondered how could আপনি possibly master that and then I remembered.”
“Remembered what?” Emily asked.
“You have a Masters degree in Communications. আপনি can probably fool anyone.”
“I don’t like fooling people, as আপনি say. I prefer honesty. It’s just that, well with Mother…”
“You surely don’t have to tell me.” Hotch couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh right, আপনি have met her.”
“Yes,” he nodded. “But I was talking about my own mother. Of course I’m not half as good as আপনি when it comes to maternal deception.”
“Why not?”
“My accent gives me away.”
“What? আপনি don’t have an accent.” Emily said.
“Oh yes I do…and when mama is close, even দ্বারা telephone, it comes right out of me like water.”
“Oh my God,” Emily covered her mouth. “Do that again.”
“It’s not as easy to turn on and off as আপনি might think, Emily.” Hotch ব্যক্ত in a southern lilt.
It wasn’t heavy like people she remembered hearing when she went to her mother’s hometown of Birmingham. She was going to ask Hotch how he used to sound like that but now sounded like this but knew her mother had changed her voice as well. She liked the way his sounded, sexy and dapper like a আরো tolerant version of Will LaMontagne, Jr.
“Where are আপনি from?”
“Virginia,” Hotch cleared his throat and came back with his normal voice. “Born and raised in Richmond. Well, I was born in Richmond, and then we moved to Manassas to be closer to my grandmother but moved back to Richmond when I started school and my father ran for State Senate.” Those two sentences were probably আরো than Hotch had told anyone about himself in a long time. Usually revelations like that made him uncomfortable but not over চা with Emily Prentiss. He noticed lately that on cases he was giving little pieces of himself to victims and Unsubs alike but someone he’d known for two years didn’t even know where he was born. “So আপনি see, when the accent slips out lying is impossible.”
“What’s your mother like?” Emily asked.
As if knowing she was out of coffee, the server came to the টেবিল and asked if Emily wanted a refill. She nodded. Hotch also wanted আরো tea. The server ব্যক্ত she would be back with everything they needed and the new ব্রাঞ্চ menu. Suddenly they were having brunch.
“My mother…she’s unpredictable.”
“You definitely didn’t pick up that trait. Oh wait, that came out wrong.”
“I don’t think it did.” Hotch replied.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Hotch.”
“Oh yes আপনি did.” He grinned, letting his accent out again.
Emily didn't know why it made her giggle like a giddy teenage girl. He just sounded so sexy, not at all like her buttoned down Unit Chief. It made her think of steamy summer nights on a porch দোল অথবা even better a বিছানা as a ceiling অনুরাগী didn’t quite cool her off. It made her think of sweat sliding down her chest and sweet kisses as he caught the salty saline on his tongue. Jesus, could an accent give a woman an orgasm? It had been such a long time Emily wasn’t at all sure.
“As least you're from somewhere.” She said. “It’s not easy being from nowhere.”
“I always looked at it as আপনি being from everywhere.” Hotch replied.
“I didn’t.”
He nodded understanding as the server came back. Drinks were refilled and they were প্রদত্ত menus.
“Are আপনি hungry?” Hotch asked.
“I'm pretty much always hungry. I'm sure I can find room for something.”
“The website ব্যক্ত they had the best pastries in the DC Metro area.”
“I was thinking about Belgian waffles, maybe চকোলেট chip silver dollar pancakes. Ooh, Eggs Benedict might be nice. What's your পছন্দ late night food?”
“I sleep at night.” Hotch replied.
“Since when? I hear আপনি pacing hotel rooms all over the country.”
“OK, but I don’t often eat. I drink…God that probably doesn’t sound good.”
“It sounds accurate. We all drink, Hotch.”
“So what's your poison?” he asked.
“When I'm actually able to run a bath and cuddle with George, its wine. I প্রণয় a good Pikes Clare Valley অথবা অট্টালিকা Ste. Michelle. The perfect blend of sweetness and dry goes great with a bowl of fruit. It helps me relax. Now if I just want to get plastered and act as if I never have to return to Quantico, I'm pulling out the SoCo for some Alabama Slammers. I think I’m going to have the waffles.”
“George?” Hotch asked.
“I'm sorry?”
“Who’s George?”
“My cat.” Emily replied.
“You have a cat?”
“Mmm,” she nodded. “He’s an Abyssinian, almost two years old. My mother actually bought him for me for my birthday. I was a little mortified at the time…I didn’t want to be the cat lady. I mean it was bad enough I was single, but a cat, oh God. Can we talk about something else?”
“You brought up George, I didn’t.” He said.
“You're right, it’s entirely my fault.”
“I didn’t say that. আপনি didn’t hear me say that.”
“I hear a lot of things আপনি don’t say.” Emily said.
“Cryptic much?”
“Takes one to know one.” She laughed. “OK, আপনি know about George so tell me what's in your apartment.”
“A little reciprocity?” Hotch asked.
“If আপনি say so.”
“I say I'm hungry and this place is really adorable but they don’t have what I want on the menu.”
“What are আপনি in the mood for?” Emily asked. She didn’t know why but her mouth went dry when she asked that question.
“I'm not sure yet…I'm still thinking about it. Are আপনি in the mood, Emily Prentiss, for an afternoon adventure?”
“If আপনি keep talking with that accent I might be prepared to say yes to everything আপনি ask.”
“I don’t know why it keeps slipping out.”
“Maybe it wants to get to know me better.” She replied.
“Let’s go grab some lunch. I’ll drive and we’ll দোল back to pick up your car later. I mean…if আপনি want to.”
“I do.”
“Check please.” Hotch held up his hand to get the server’s attention.
