Tangled Up in You (The Story of Us Book 2)

Chapter 22- Back to Normal

Four months after Christmas and about five and a half months after the explosion, Aaron was allowed back at work with the restriction of staying away from loud noises, something that his first case wasn't exactly helpful with. It began when a copycat of a killer known as the Angel Maker had killed and somehow gotten the real Angel Maker's sperm to put into the victim. This prompted Spencer to propose the idea of an evil twin and an eviler twin, something nobody but Amanda found entertaining.

Then Amy and Hotch butted heads a bit being that the team had spent four and a half months taking orders from Amanda who was as natural of a leader as Hotch, maybe even more so, and the team began to look at her for orders and answers. This unnerved Hotch. It wasn't that he didn't think Amanda was an adequate leader, quite the opposite actually, it was more that this was his team and it felt as though she had taken it from him.

He knew the belief was insane but every time a loud noise irritated his ear and made all sound cease due to the ringing in it, he couldn't help but think if maybe he was no longer fit to do his job anymore, even if they did get the killer. It certainly didn't help that he was slightly scared to talk to Amanda. Aaron hadn't talked to her since Christmas as she was busy and he wasn't allowed to go to work. Kristen was her best friend, as he had so helpfully pointed out, and Aaron had hurt her, something Amanda didn't take too kindly to people doing.

Despite this fact, they had worked together flawlessly and she even drove back with him to Quantico but Hotch couldn't bring himself to mention it until they saw the Welcome to Quantico sign. "I'm sorry about what happened with Kristen," he finally mutters and Amanda briefly takes her eyes off the road to glance at him in surprise before returning them. "I shouldn't have-"

"Don't, Aaron. What happened between you and her was your business and I don't really care to get in it. I told her that this was going to happen, that it was too soon after Haley. I love her and I love you but this is between you and her."

"Yet you say that with a tone implying that you have an opinion," he points out and Amanda rolls her eyes.

"I have opinions on lots of things, Air. I'm extremely opinionated but some opinions and thoughts shouldn't be shared. I've learned that over time."

"Well, I'm asking for your opinion." Amanda groans.

"I saw the way you looked at her, Aaron, and I saw the look in your eyes when you told her that nothing could ever happen between you two because she was my best friend. You care about her, more than as my best friend or a little sister and you lied about why you were cutting things off. There's something else bothering you and you're being a dumbass about it. That's my opinion and that's why I didn't want to tell you," she tells him, pulling into the parking lot of the FBI academy.

"Amanda," he sighs but she just shoots him a look before getting out of the SUV and heading into the building. She leaves him behind going into her office to begin paperwork as he heads up there at a far slower pace. When he makes it to his office, he notices that the only person still there beside his sister is Spencer. He nods at the doctor as he makes his way to his office. Spencer returns the nod before going back to his paperwork.

He was just finishing it up and got ready to give it to Amanda when he remembered that Hotch is actually his boss. It was hard not to, considering how well she fits into the role, despite her reluctance to take it. As Spencer walks past Amanda's office, he can't help but remember how Christmas had ended. Amanda had told Kristen that it wasn't her fault while also managing to slip in an 'I told you so'.

But Spencer had seen the way that Aaron looked at Kristen and it was a familiar look, one that said she was more than just his sister's best friend. He can also tell that despite Amanda's claims that she's fine with what happened, she won't be soon enough. Which is why, when he walks into Aaron's office, he can't actually bring himself to leave. Finally, he just groans and turns back around, taking a seat in front of his boss.