My Partner Against Crime

Chapter 31

I stand in the elevator alone, hoping it won't stop to allow a stranger on leaving us standing in awkward silence. I feel relief as it stops on my floor, dinging and opening to the bullpen.

No ones gathered around the elevator as sometimes they are. I walk through the glass doors and to my desk. I put my things down and head to Hotch's office. I'm early, per usual.

I softly knock on his door catching his attention.

"Hey, good morning. Glad to have you back. Do you want to come in and talk?" I bite my lip and nod. I walk further into the room and shut the door behind me.

"Well... we got married." I hold up my left hand showing off my ringless finger. Hotch's eyes widen.

"Wow, that escalated quite quickly... congratulations. No ring?" He furrows his brows.

"I just didn't want to show up with it and have to answer a billion questions." He nods.

"I suppose he's doing well?" I sigh and glance out the window to see if anyone else has come in yet.

"It's almost too good to be true... you know? I mean when he left everything was a mess and now he's back and we're married and he's like a completely different person... I don't know if I should leave him home alone or not so I gave him a list of errands." He smirks, putting me at ease.

"I'm glad he's doing well so far. If you run out of chores for him, Jack had some friends over and now my apartment looks exactly as you might picture from a group of boys high on sugar." I laugh.

"I basically sent him out on a witch hunt today so I think he'll be pretty occupied... When do you think he'll be able to come back to work?"

"I'm not sure, he fell far out of line. The DA still wants to hold a trial. If he's proving to be a different person that could help his case, and of course he did his time. My guess is he'll either be rejected from the bureau, he'll be asked to do more time, or he will be recognized as a true resource and he'll be able to come back. It's hard to predict his outcome, Marina." I nod. I'm scared for his career, I have no idea how things will play out.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think Spencer's already decided he's going to be a stay at home Dad." I look back out the window and notice Morgan.

"Dad? Are you..." I quickly shake my head.

"No, not pregnant. We were just talking about what he could do if he isn't able to come back, apparently stay at home Dad is number one on the list."

"I know he'd be a good one." He smirks, I know he's secretly excited at the possibility of me having a child.

"Alright, well I'm going to go catch up on some fun paperwork, it's good to see your face." He chuckles as I walk out.

I sit at my desk drawing Morgan's attention.

"Hey, Rosie, you're back! Where did you disappear to?" He smiles widely and sits forward. I quickly run through excuses in my head, unsure of why I haven't already had something prepared.

"I went to see Spencer," I say, then quickly distract myself with the papers in front of me.

"I haven't seen him in so long I was starting to think you were covering up his murder. How is he? How's his mom?" I look up at him again.

"He's alright. You know him, he isn't one to talk about how his mom is."

"Is he still in Vegas?" I nod.

"Damn. Well keep me updated, that dork still would rather send mail than respond to my texts." I smirk, techless Reid.

"Will do." He heads toward the elevators after seeing Penelope arrive. It doesn't take long for the rest of the team to show up.