The Element of Surprise

Burglary - Part 3

I stop at a red light and wait for it to turn green. Day five of suspension an I'm finally and officially fed up with Friends, with watching TV, with lounging on the couch all day, and I'm even fed up with m apartment in general. It's got nothing to do with the break-in the other night. Oh no, my tiny living space is safer than ever after Agent Guzman and a small team of agents revisited yesterday to upgrade all my locks and to burglar-proof my windows. After a thorough investigation, Mark concluded they had to have picked the door lock from the outside since 'it's not a complicated lock to pick' according to him.

The result?

I now have a tripwire alarm installed at the base of my door. If anyone steps through or over it without me deactivating it, let's just say the apartment building is in for a whole lot of noise and within five minutes, give or take, the nearest cop or agent would be at my doorstep to investigate.

So, no, it doesn't have anything to do with safety.

But given the fact that I haven't left my house in over five days, I'm in desperate need of some socialization and with the team arriving back after their case this morning, Penelope gave me the thumbs up to go out for breakfast. Which is where I am going.

The light turns green and I stroll across the zebra crossing, clutching my handbag to my side. Driving seemed pointless since the coffee shop we usually go to are just few roads down from my apartment building.

Plus, I need the exercise. It's been an on-going thought to ask Derek if him and I can work out together from time to time, especially when it comes to self-defence. Of course, I had to take self-defence classes before I could join the FBI, but that was a year ago and punching people in the face isn't really part of a profiler's job description. Only the occasional tackling on Derek's end and shooting an unsub here and there. The burglary yet again reminded me how crucial it is to stay in shape and to be prepared for whatever happens.

The coffee shop's doors appear on my left and instantly, I spot Penelope's wild hair and colorful outfit inside. Feeling giddy, I walk through the doors and... stop.

Seven heads turn at the sound of the doorbell chiming upon my arrival - Penny, Emily, JJ, Spencer, Derek, Hotch... and Rossi's.

They're all here.

"Finally. Talk about being fashionably late," Derek breaks the silence and stands up from his seat next to Spence. In a beat, I'm lifted into the air as he hugs me and all I can do is cling onto his shoulder for dear life.

"Morgan, put me down," I lightly hit his back until he lowers me to the floor. But all the while I'm smiling. I missed those perfect eyebrows and perfect teeth and perfect jawline and perfect, well, everything.

It seems like he broke the ice. One by one, the team comes to greet me and I'm bombarded with hugs and 'how are you's.' Well, all hugged me except for Rossi and Hotch. The latter's being professional while the former's probably still mad at me. I'd lie if I say I wasn't hoping to receive a hug from David Rossi.

"How have you been, dream girl?" Derek asks once we're all seated around a very tiny table. It's a coffee shop, for Pete's sake. They're not prepared for groups larger than four, maybe six if you squeeze in around table.

"Yeah, working this case has been a drag without you," Em comments.

"That's not nice, I'm right here," JJ hits her lightly on the arm.

Emily rolls her eyes, "Oh please, don't pretend you didn't miss her too. You're the one who thought of texting her every ten minutes to update her on the case."

"I was being a good friend."

"You missed her," Morgan joins Em's side.

At last, JJ gives in, "Fine, I did. But only because Stella's the only one who can make Aaron smile during cases involving kids."