Save Me | Aaron Hotchner x Female OC

Chapter 23 - Anthropology

//A/N// Double chapter update as way of apology for the severe lack over recent weeks

//x//

Elena

The next day, my day off and the day I was definitely going to buy a new lamp, I received a text from Penelope.

Penelope, 12:12pm

Team has the day off - fancy coming to lunch/dinner?

Me, 12:13pm

Are you going to surprise me with the entire team being there again?

Penelope, 102:13pm

Nope, just me -girl scouts honour

Penelope, 12:13pm

Although I did promise Reid I'd swing by his apartment later and drop off the book he leant me

Me, 12:14pm

Okay then you have a deal

Penelope, 12:14pm

Great, I'll pick you up at 2!

Okay, so no new lamp, but brunch sounded much more fun.

Just over two hours later Penelope and I were seated in her chosen brunch venue, which served to prove that the agents of the BAU definitely earned more money than I did.

"So," she said, leaning in. "How are things with Hotch?"

"Damn, not even one mimosa in and you're getting to the nitty gritty?" I joked.

"We have no time to waste! And I'm driving so I'm only allowed one." She shoved a forkful of her pasta in her mouth. "You, on the other hand, can have as many as you want while you spill all the details. What's Hotch like at home? Does he loosen up a bit? Is he good in bed?" She scrunched up her face. "Wait, no, actually, don't answer that last one, I don't want to know. Tell me the rest of it though!"

I chuckled at her excitement, but shook my head. "What makes you so sure there's anything going on between us?"

"Oh, sweetie." She grabbed my hand. "A blind man could see it. Hotch does nothing but smile down at his phone at any spare moment he gets."

"Oh..." I chewed my lip. "Aaron doesn't have my number..."

Penelope's eyes popped from her head. "Oh my God...I...uh..."

I allowed her to stutter over trying to come up with something to say for a moment before informing her it was a joke.

She slapped me on my arm. "That was cruel! I didn't know you had it in you."

"I have a side to me that can be quite mean," I teased.

It was true, I did. It rarely saw the forefront, however. In fact, I could only recall a handful occasions in my whole life in which 'Mean Elena' had made an appearance - and even then I couldn't find a word that held any more gravity than 'mean'. Nasty, cruel, vindictive, malicious etc. were all too weighty. Even 'mean' was a stretch, but it was the best I could come up with. And anyway, it was only marginally, occasionally, and when people were mean to me, however.

"So, come on, tell me everything," Penelope pressured.

I figured it wasn't advisable to tell Aaron's colleague the ins and outs of our relationship. They had to work together, and given Aaron's closed-off personality I knew he wouldn't want his colleagues knowing the details of his romantic life. That being said, the cat was clearly out of the proverbial bag when it came to Aaron and mines relationship, or lack thereof, so I knew I had to give her something.