If We Have Each Other

chapter one

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I roll across the bed to slam my hand down on the stupid cat that yells at me to wake up every morning. You would think that after 17 years, I'd get a new one but if it's not broke, why break it. It doesn't mean that I'm used to it after all this time though. God, if anything it pisses me off even more.

I slowly open my eyes, adjusting them to the harsh light shining through the blinds from behind my bed. I look at the at the stupid clock, obnoxiously telling me it's 08:00AM. Perfect, I woke up an hour late. I went to bed at nine last night so I don't know why I didn't wake up the first time it went off.

I sit up and try to stand so that I get ready as fast as I can but before my feet even hit the ground, my phone starts blowing up.

I glance at the screen, a wave of dread flowing through me. Hotch has tried to call me 32 times within the last hour. Not only am I supposed to be there now, I'm even more late because from the look of the messages, I should've been at headquarters an hour ago.

I pick up my phone, scrolling through the messages, all telling me to get there or well, I don't know. I never know with Hotch.

I decided to get up, after fighting the split second urge to just quit and go back to bed but then I remember that Penelope will hunt me down if I leave her to deal with Spencer herself.

I go over to my dresser, picking out a random black shirt, a red blazer, and black jeans. My usual attire except for the blazer. Hotch has told me not to wear bright colours but he'll have to deal because I haven't done washing for two weeks.

I grab some left over French food from last night. By that I mean a slice of pizza. I rinse my mouth with mouthwash because brushing my teeth is not a good excuse for tartiness. Trust me, I tried it with my teacher in ninth grade when I was three hours late once and she told me that she would believe me when she could do her makeup in their reflection. Thank goodness that didn't work because I did not want to be the excuse for her god awful foundation.

I quickly put on mismatched socks that I probably have already worn this week and my red boot heels to match my blazer because if I'm going to piss Hotch off, why not go all the way. I grab my handbag off the hook and open the front door.

When I finally make it out to my car, it's 08:15AM. Fuck. Hotch is going to be so mad.

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I hate it when I'm right sometimes. Sure enough, a white man with black hair in a suit which even-though he wears it everyday, still seems as fresh as a new one. Haley probably washes them every night for him. They're expecting a baby and I guess knowing that her husband is in one of the most dangerous jobs makes her overly stressed and she's found a way to deal with it. It looks like she even irons them out too.

"Hey, Hotch! You look nice today. How's Haley and the baby doing? You must be sooo excited-" I say in mocking tone, smiling so strongly, I'm worried my face will stay this way forever.

"Don't even, Smith. Where have you been? I've left message after message and you yet again have failed to get here on time. I'd forgive if it only happened once but-"

This time I cut him off, "No way, the first time I was late, you were angry then too. Going on about how I can be late when people's life aren't in danger."

"Exactly! Time is of the essence in this job and we can't afford having you late every time you want to sleep in."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, it won't happen again." I say, puppy dog eyed, hoping he will forgive me but I know he will. I start walking into the bullpen before he can reply because it's easier for him to calm down without me in his presence.

"You say that now!" He calls after me. Before I'm out of earshot, I also hear him saying something about my blazer but oh well.

"Hey babe, annoying Hotch again?" I look forward to see my best friend, Penelope Garcia sitting at my desk, waiting for me to give him a debrief.

"You know it! It's my favourite thing to do." I wink at her. "Now, get up, that's my seat."

"Oh, hon, you don't want to sit down now. Hotch is about to present the case AND a new team member." She says, smiling widely.

"A new team member? Didn't we just get Spencer?" I ask, half joking. I can't believe it's been two years already since the kid joined.

"Well I heard that he's older. Hotch went to fetch him from the college he teaches at yesterday afternoon. He's currently being approved by Strauss. I think Hotch mentioned he's worked here before,"

"Oh. My. God. What if it's David Rossi? He practically built the BAU and his books are amazing." I stare at the glass door, trying to will him to show up. But he doesn't. Instead, I turn back to Penelope, talking about the guy she met last night.

Ten minutes later, I hear voices come into the bullpen. One being Spencer, another Hotch and the third one, I also recognise it but I can't put my finger on it.

"They're calling him the 'Seattle Strangler' Four victims in four months. He keeps them alive seven days. The handle serves as a crank." I hear Reid say to the others.

"Allowing him to control the rate of suffocation." The unknown voice says. Except now it's not unknown. I know exactly who it is, it just took him talking about a murderer for me to realise.

I slowly turn around, face to face with him.

Jason Gideon.