Mágoa // Spencer Reid

Chapter 30

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay it's not the end."
John Lennon

3rd Person

Maria sat staring at Hotch with her breath stuck in her throat. She blinked a few times before clearing her throat.

"Surely this is a mistake! Hotch, this job has been my dream for as long as I can remember!" she exclaimed. She made eye contact with her boss and attempted to keep a poker face, however he knew she was terrified because she was tapping her finger on her left knee and she would pause the tapping to clench her fists until her knuckles went white. He knows her small tells so he is fully aware of how nervous she is, but that could be because she dislikes confrontation possibly due to a past argument. He knows that she loves her job however she filed for the transfer, not only did she file for a transfer. She went over his head to do it, making him and his team look bad.
"I don't know Williams is it a mistake?" he practically spat. He knew he had to stay professional but he was enraged. Didn't she realise how this made his team look?
"Hotch, I'm confused. What transfer has been accepted?"
He glared at her before standing up began to leave but Maria blocked the door. "The transfer you went straight to the director for," he replied not attempting to hide his frustration.

She raised an eyebrow but still refused to let him pass. "Hotch, sir. Take a seat and we can talk about this like rational adults." He sat down at his desk and Maria stood in front of him, dread pooling in her stomach. Her legs began to feel like jelly so she quickly sat down opposite Hotch.
"You requested a transfer. You went over my head to get one, and it has been accepted."
She couldn't wrap her mind around what was happening and then it dawned on her and she broke out into a grin, showing off her perfect pearly whites. "You almost got me then Hotch! I never pegged you as the practical joke war type! Jeez I was almost worried." She half laughed, the smile quickly fading when Hotch made no reaction.
"This isn't a joke Williams."
"Hotch, I haven't requested a transfer!"
He got up and stormed out of the office. She half jogged behind him. "Aaron Hotchner!" Maria yelled and he spun around on his heel. "I would never request a transfer. What the fuck have you been smoking? There has to be a mistake." She paused momentarily. "I worked my ass off to get on this team so why would I suddenly request a transfer? Did it ever occur to you to look into this to figure out where the error was made? I'm not just going to leave this job because some moron fucked up the paperwork or wrote the wrong name on a sheet of paper!" she stated, her voice unwavering. To look at her she screamed dominance, however her left hand which she was waving around as she spoke was trembling and her lip began to quiver.
Hotch stood maintaining eye contact. "Watch your tone Williams," he ordered.
She nodded. "I didn't mean any disrespect sir. I'm just disappointed that you think I'd do this," she replied. The two were so wrapped up in their 'disagreement' that they didn't see the rest of the team stood in the bullpen holding their bags, staring wide eyed at the two.
"Well agent Williams. I have to say I'm disappointed that you couldn't come to me for the transfer." He knew exactly what he was saying and how it wasn't very professional, but this team had needed her and he genuinely thought she was trying to leave the team. He normally kept his composure, but after Maria had denied requesting the transfer he was annoyed. She glared at him before turning and walking to her desk she grabbed her bag and got in the elevator, just as the doors were about to close so she would be alone. Spencer slid into the elevator.

Maria stood in the elevator with Spencer in silence she could feel the tears that threatened to spill out of her almost vacant green eyes. Spencer observed her momentarily. Her eyes were beginning to get red and she was close to tears. Her mouth which normally smiled, filling him with warmth, was frozen in a scowl. His gaze drifted to her hands. One hand was clenched in a fist and the other he could see her palm and how it had been indented with nail marks. He let out a sad sigh.
"Is this because of the kiss? Are you leaving because of me? If you didn't want us to try you could've said."
She looked up at him and her expression softened slightly. "Spence. I promise you I did not request this transfer and if I did it would not be because of us."
He felt comfort however it quickly vanished and was replaced with confusion, why was she giving up so easily. "Ria why are you walking away?" He couldn't let her just leave.

"Spence, I'm not walking away, I just can't deal with this tonight. First thing in the morning I'll be back and I will straighten this out." She paused as the elevator doors and spun around to face him before planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "I promise, I'm not going anywhere." He watched as her long brown locks bounced as she walked out into the darkness of the chilly night.
Maria sat in her car and let out a quiet sob. Her mind was so full she couldn't think. "What do I do?"
If she couldn't fix it with Hotch she would go and see Bill and see what's happened. She thought back to how the team stared at her as she walked away from Hotch. The disbelief and confusion was etched on the faces of JJ, Emily, Penelope and Spence and the annoyance and confusion on the faces of Derek and Dave. And then there was Hotch. She could barely read him but she knew he was pissed.
How could she fix this?