"Come in." I paused, my whole body paused. It's almost like the world stopped for a second. Why was I so nervous?? I was never neverous like this, I'd been promoted dozens of times... but this position... if I said one wrong thing it was over... atleast that's how I felt and what I told myself.
Don't fuck this up Liz... be chill... be calm... "Hi, sir! Elizabeth Klein, how do you do?" Fuck, that was way too eager WAY too eager. He hates me.
He definitely hates me.
I kinda cringed at myself through my teeth, extending my hand in hopes it wasn't as bad as I told myself it was.
Thankfully he quickly shook back, sending me a soft smile that eased my nerves, then motioning for me to sit in the chair across from him.
"I'm glad you were able to make it so quick, you live close by?" I shook my head.
"Um, yeah, yeah... Yes, sir- uh about ten minutes or so give or take." He laughed.
"Hotch, Hotch is fine." He clanked his papers against the desk, grabbing one then letting his eyes scan the page before he cleared his throat. "I called you because as I'm sure you know, how impressive you look on a sheet of paper. If it's alright with you, I'd like to test that theory." I sighed.
"Lots of people say that, then I prove their theory way out of proportion and I'm gone the next day... it's always the same, a bigger desk waiting for me, a bigger office, hell even a bigger cup of coffee steaming on my desk... I'm done with being shoved away just because somebody wants to try me out, then when they can't handle me and my crazy work ethic or out of the box theories and ideas they just make me their bosses problem and the cycle only continues... With all do respect sir, please don't waste my time washing me out just to throw me away."
His mouth almost sagged, his head shaking a bit as he regained his composure. "Miss Klein, let me stop you right there. I send my condolences for your past experiences, but here at the bureau we're not just going to 'throw' you away. Yes there's always chance for relocation or promotion, but I can promise you it won't be within a day."
I smiled, standing up to shake his hand once more. "Thank you, I'm glad we've both made ourselves clear and seem to be on the same page."
"Yes, so... speaking of how many times you've been moved around, what makes you so special that they feel the need to do that? How are you squeezing into positions and somehow replacing people that'd been holding those exact positions for upwards of 15 years? How is that possible?"
"I've always been told that I'm sort of... well, gifted. I've always been able to think outside the box, see things in ways nobody would ever even think too. Nobody can ever believe what their hearing, then they feel outsmarted and transfer me even if my theories correct." I sat back, hands on my lap.
"So I've heard..." He stammered off, looking to his paper then back to me. "I wanna introduce you to the team, then I'll have someone give you the tour, and even though it might not quite be the luxury you're used too, I'll even show you to your very own cubicle." I smiled, standing up and heading to the door.
He lead the way, six agents all huddled around a single desk chatting as they sipped on their morning brew.
"Everyone, I want you to meet, Elizabeth Klein. She'll be joining us hopefully... from now on." Everybody looked up, one lady in particular running up to me and instantly burying me in a bear hug.
"Hi! It's so great to finally meet such a talented woman like you instead of just reading all about you... I'm, Penelope!" I kinda laughed, not able to stop the smile that filled my face.
"Elizabeth Klein, or El whichever works." I reached to shake her hand, but she just pulled me into another hug, immediately handing me one of the donuts that's been practically submerged in chocolate; displayed on a hot pink plate sitting on the desk.
"My own recipe." I kinda looked at the donut in a sort of disbelief, but accepted it anyway biting into it and letting the sugar burn through my freshly whitened teeth.
"Wow, yum!" I covered my mouth as I chewed, half the frosting smooshed into my face as I swallowed.
"Then this is Special agent Jennifer Jareau, Derek Morgan, agent David Rossi, Emily Prentiss and Doctor Spencer Reid." I shook everybody's hand, forcing out a soft smile, hoping I didn't have any donut in my teeth. "Anyway, I've got plenty to do... so, your desk will be here, right across from, Reid."
I plopped down in my chair, doing a little spin to really feel the place out. I popped open my laptop, a man I kinda remembered to be named something to do with Morgan almost immediately dropping a stack of papers on what was now my desk. "Great, thanks!" He kinda looked down at me a little funny, his eyes kinda straying down from mine, but I just began typing away.
"Sure thing, princess." Emily fake gagged as he walked away, almost immediately scooping away all the papers I'd already started on.
"You don't actually have to do those... you only have to do the papers JJ or Hotch give you." I nodded, kinda looking off into the sky as I fiddled with my fingers. "I hate to be rude but I just gotta know, how old are you?" Emily grabbed the stack of papers, shoving them under her arm.
"I'm 22."
"Wow, so Reid's not the baby anymore." She laughed, and I just kinda smiled.
"I guess not." I looked across from me to see him sitting there reading a book, his eyes scanning the page faster than I'd ever seen, his fingers flipping through the book like his life depended on it.
"Can you really read that fast?" I sat up, looking at him in a sort of disbelief.
"Actually yes, I can read 20,000 words per minute which actually-"
"Wheels up, now." My head snapped to see Hotch standing behind me, no expression what so ever filling his face. No slight smile, no nothing. Just a cold, flat face of nothing. Well, here we go.
