In The Name of (Love) The Law

Chapter 2

Alex didn't have the energy or willpower to do a report the same night they had gotten home. As well as being in pain, he just wanted to go home but not until everyone else was leaving.
"I'll do it tomorrow" he huffed against his arm wondering if they kept a stash of painkillers anywhere. He would probably have to ask Hotch which would mean admitting he had hurt himself. Which was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Will you actually?" Morgan asked giving him a knowing look.
"Promise" he grumbled and those in the next around him sniggered, he slumped further down the chair. Looking for some form of comfort.
"Riley, go home. You've had a long day" Hotch ordered. Alex turned his his head slightly aiming to get a softer part of his arm.
"It's OK Hotch. I'll leave with everyone else" he murmured back sliding his eyes still closed.
"It's an order" Hotch followed up. Shutting the folder that had been open on Alex's desk. The man reached out to take the folder back but it was moved further away from his grasp. "Go home"
"Mkay" he answered pushing the chair back and slowly getting up wincing at the pain as it zig zagged across his back and shoulders. He hefted his bag over his shoulder and wrapped his arms around his body.
"Will you be OK to drive?" Emily asked and he nodded making his way to the elevator pressing the down button once he was inside, his head was against the gold metal all the way down to the parking lot. His car was a beat up old Ford but it did its job, he climbed in resting his head on the steering wheel letting a whine of pain ripped from his mouth. He drove slowly trying not to move too much. He kept the radio off as he drove the streets, they were just as quiet as the inside of the car, desolate. He pulled the car into his parking spot thumbing the locking button as unlocked the door leading up to his apartment, the lights were off when he finally got in the front door. He couldn't get the key in the lock and let out a small growl of frustration until it finally slid in. He dropped his bag next to the small pile of shoes that they had collected and snuck into the kitchen. He raided the medicine cupboard for some sort of pain relief, he pulled boxes out only half reading the labels. He finally found a box that had a couple left in the box taken them without any sort of drink. He swallowed them down trying not to gag on the dry feeling. Alex tiptoed into the bedroom.
"For someone who has multiple awards for sneaking around you're not very good at it" the voice from the bed spoke and he jumped yelping as he did so. Pain shot down his back and he touched his back gently.
"Fuck. Sorry I didn't mean to wake you" he whispered even though it was only the two of them. There was no one else in the apartment that he could wake up.
"Coming to bed?" she asked shifting under the blankets. He stripped out of his pants and shirt throwing them in a pile on the floor and crawled onto the bed. He dropped down next to her and smiled at her through the dark.
"What are you grinning at Alexander Riley?" she asked.
"Absolutely nothing. Kelly-Anne Collins" he answered and pulled her in closer, his fingers trailing over her skin. Her lips trailed up his neck. He moaned his fingers tangling in blonde hair. "Hold on. I don't think I can tonight"
"What's wrong?" Kelly asked stroking his face, a finger over the ridge of his eye.
"I fell earlier, pretty sure I've totally done my back in" he whispered. She pressed another kiss to his throat and his chin he tucked her into his chest and rested his head ontop of hers. He drifted off with his face in her hair and woke up to his alarm blaring almost directly in his face half falling off the bed. He hauled himself out looking back at the sprawled out sleeping kelly. He showered, shaved and dressed trying to ignore the pain that flared across his shoulder, he leaned over kissing her on the forehead before leaving to go to work. Alex hopped on a bus and got off a few stops before to get coffee or well coffees plural. He pulled out his phone and scrolled to H flicked through multiple names until he found the one he wanted and pressed dial.
"Hotchner" the gruff voice came over the speaker.
"Hey its Alex. Just wondering what everyone's coffee order is" he said holding the phone between his head and shoulder. Rifling through his pockets for his credit card.
"Are you getting everyone coffee?" the man asked after a few beats of silence. It made him question himself for a minute but had already set himself to it.
"Yep." he replied and a small laugh made it way through the speaker. Alex shivered, Hotch laughing was a new experience.
"Hold on I can see you" Hotch said and hung up on him, Alex pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it. The man strolled in behind him touching his shoulder. Alex jumped ever so slightly.
"What are you doing here?" Alex asked, pocketing his phone.
"Well I was grabbing coffee for everyone, but a hand would be appreciated" the older man answered.
"What can I get you today?" the man who looked oddly familiar asked holding a cup. Alex turned his his and looked pointedly at Hotch.
"Morgan has just a simple black coffee with a little cream, Emily has a mocha, JJ, has a caramel latte, Reid has a coffee with four sugars and cream, Garcea has the same as Reid and I'll have a black coffee" Hotch said and Alex tried to commit it to memory "What about you?"
"Black with two shots of caramel, please" Alex said, the batista wandered off to make their order and Alex was half way through his memorising when Hotch spoke again.
"How's your back?" he asked and Alex's head shot round "You kept grumbling and wincing in pain yesterday after you got the kid, clearly having hurt your back"
"It's fine. Super strong pain killers work amazing. Thank you" he answered "I'm just glad no one saw it" Hotch laughed next to him and Alex Smiled. The trays of drinks were brought to the counter and Hotch's hand went in his pocket but Alex had already beaten him, tapping in the code for his credit card.
"I was going to pay" Hotch said almost defensively "It's my turn to get the office coffee"
"Yeah no sorry too late" Alex laughed back with a half shrug "New guy buys the drinks and all that. I don't mind really"
"I know you" the barista said pointing at him "You're the Scottish guy who lives in my building with your wife, Karen, Kylie something like that"
"Kelly, and she is not my wife. She's my girlfriend but yes that would be me" Alex said pocketing his card "You would be the guy that live down the hall. With your mother right"
"Ah cool man she usually comes in here too. I'll tell her you said hi" he said scowling at him and Alex gave him a thumbs up picking up the trays.
"Let me help" Hotch said taking one from his hands. "I walked down here, normally i would have driven but I thought a walk would be nice plus its good for you"
"You planned to walk back to the BAU with two trays of coffee?" Alex asked and shook his hear "Actually I'm gonna be honest that was my plan too. I got the bus here. Wasn't feeling up to driving"
"So Kelly's not your wife." Hotch started and Alex shook his head raising an eyebrow at  Hotch's not so subtle attempt to pry.
"Not yet" he said " Maybe not ever who knows where the wind will take us. I will have to tell her not to go to that coffee shop cause we can't share everything. I use share as a lose term. I woke up this morning and she had the whole bed as well as I think about 80% of my clothes"
Hotch laughed as they entered the building.
"Yeah partners do that" he said as they stood in the lift, Hotch pressed the button sending them up.
"What about you anyone special?" Alex asked. Prying was part of his job, plus if Hotch was allowed so was he.
"No. It's tricky to have this job and an outside life but you seem to be managing OK" hotch said. Alex snorted.
"I've only been here two days" he said "and disobeyed a direct order, injuring myself in the process"
"A peice of advice. Don't let the job consume you" he said and the doors opened.
"Is the new guy here yet? Is he cute?" a woman was asking Morgan, both of Alex's eyebrows shot up and he glanced at Hotch who was smirking slightly.
"Why don't you ask him yourself, baby girl" he drawled pointing at Alex who was exiting the elevator behind Hotch.
"I want to say yes but it depends on the light and how much beauty sleep I've gotten" he answered laughing as her face turned a nice shade of red. He spun the coffee tray around in his hand and handed her the cup with her order in it.
"You must be Garcea, one coffee with four sugars and cream" he said picking it out and handing it to her.
"Thank you. How did you know what to get?" she asked holding the cup with both hands.
"It's alright. I had help" he said nodding to Hotch who had already handed out his tray and was retreating back to his office with his own cup. Hours later Alex's phone rang.
"Agent Riley, Behaviour Analys Unit speaking. How can I help?" he said holding it to his ear with his shoulder picking up a pen.
"I was told a funny story this morning" Kelly spoke slowly "You got anything you want to tell me?"
"Sorry darling that only works if it's my mum and I've done something wrong, but please do tell me the story" he said and leaned back in his chair and tapping the pen against his leg, accidentally bringing all attention to the call.
"The lovely man at the coffee shop that I go to when I fancy a coffee, told me he had saw you this morning buying coffee with another man" Kelly said and Alex started laughing "This isnt funny! Are you cheating on me with a man?"
"Oh my god, no, no I'm not cheating on you" he said between laughs, the team looked horrified "Kelly that was Hotch I was with, he helped me with everyone's coffee order"
"As in your boss?" she asked quietly and he could only laugh in response.
"Yes, trust me. You have nothing to worry about. Hotch isn't really my cup of tea" he said "I have to go I'll see you when I get home" she didn't even say goodbye back she just hung up and he continued laughing at his desk until tears rolled down his face.  Weeks passed and he fell into a steady rhythm, cases came and went, he tried to follow orders, bonding with the team and occasionally would bump into Hotch when he was getting a coffee or coffee for the team and an extra pair of hands were always helpful.
"Alex, your request was granted for this afternoon." Hotch said standing over him
"Request?" Morgan asked perking up for the chance at new gossip. Alex shook his head.
"I'm leaving early today" he said fiddling with the pen on his desk avoiding everyone's eyes.
"It's a big day" Hotch supplied gripping his shoulder to comfort him and Alex just nodded trying not to lean into the touch.
"Three year anniversary" he supplied before checking the date just to make sure.
"Oh doing something nice?" Emily asked leaning forward. He nodded and fished the small ring box out of the corner of his desk drawer and held it between his hands fiddling with the lid.
"You're popping the question?" Emily and JJ gasped out their eyes wide. Morgan whistled lowely and Reid grinned at him.
"That's the plan. All going well" he supplied. And the elevator doors opened Kelly stepped out catching his eye. He slipped the ring box into his jacket pocket and zipped it shut.
Hotch took a step back and stood next to Reid's desk away from them.
"You ready?" she asked as he leaned his head back to look at her. A small smile played at her lips.
"Never" he responded as she tapped his chin with her nails "Gimme five seconds to finish up and we can get going."
"You must be Agent Hotchner. Nice to finally meet you" Kelly said shaking his hand.
"Likewise" Hotch responded with a small smile.
"And your name must be Derek Morgan" she said to Morgan "Xander, you never mentioned he was hot"
"Behave" Alex grumbled taking the last swig of his coffee while rolling his eyes.
"Or what? You'll spank me?" Kelly said with a laugh, Alex choked on the coffee that was in his mouth and started coughing, trying to inhale lungfulls of air. "Sorry sorry. I couldn't help it"
"Jesus christ" he muttered between coughs and she rubbed his back softly still laughing "Work place boundaries"
"I'm sorry. Slip of the tongue. Happy anniversary" she whispered next to his ear "Your gifts at home"
"I shall see you all tomorrow" he said, clicking the log off button, hoisting his bag up onto his shoulder and grabbing his jacket. Wrapped an arm around Kelly's shoulders. "My lady, your carriage awaits"
"You just wanna see what your gift is" she laughed
"Well do you have a bow on under those layers?" he asked tilting his head, his fingertips tapping against the back of the thin jacket she was wearing.
"No" she answered with the same smile.
"Shame. I was hoping to unwrap it" he responded pressing the elevator button then remembered he was still at work and stopped.
"What was that about workplace boundaries?" Emily called over to him and he hung his head face turning red. Kelly was cackling next to him and he playfully shoved her into the elevator following behind, moving away from the laughter coming from his team.
"She's gonna say yes. Without a doubt" Morgan stated and was met by multiple nods.
Alex had been nervous while eating dinner, he'd gone for fancy but not too fancy. She asked about the team, about latest cases and how he was feeling being so far away from home. He knew she was in the same boat as him, alone, far away from home from family but they were together. He paid refusing to even let her try which earned him a kiss on the cheek. They walked together and the rain started falling from the sky in heavy droplets.
"You know I love you right?" he asked as the rain started falling on them already starting to soak the shirt through his jacket.
"Of course" she laughed "I love you too. What's wrong? What have you done?" she stopped walking to look at him. He took a deep breath and slid down onto one knee, water soaked through his suit pants and her eyes widened. "Xander."
"I had a whole speach planned, Hotch even helped me write it but to be honest I've forgotten most of it." he started "The gist was that I love you. More than anything else. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I had a question to ask. Kelly-Anne Collins will you marry me?" he opened the ring box and looked at her, hope filling his face.
"Yes" she gasped "Yes" he surged to his feet sliding the ring onto her finger and cupped her face in his hands pressing their lips together, the rain falling around them was forgotten. The world was forgotten.