No-one had seen Annabel Bradey in a decade, that was until she resurfaced in SSA Aaron Hotchner's office in Quantico. She was carrying scars both physical and mental, but wouldn't share her story. Or at least not until everyone she loved was in dang...
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Annabel Bradey hovered at her door for a moment; she was waiting for Aaron to enter his office before she left the comfort of hers. Having been well aware of the man's professionalism in the work place, she knew that he wouldn't seek out the conversation in the Bureau, but that didn't mean the conversation wouldn't arise in hushed voices if they happened to cross paths before the day was over. For that reason, Annabel wasn't leaving her office unless it was a dire necessity, much like coffee was in that moment. If she were to contact each of the people on her list and still leave at a sensible time, she needed coffee to keep her functioning.
It was funny for Annabel, to find herself craving the stimulant during a regular day. For a decade, she had drunk nothing of the sort, the compound she had lived in preaching minimalism in the material world. It wasn't a Calvinist group but it appeared that way to the external eye. She had given away all material possessions when she had entered the church, all except her crucifix, Gabriel had allowed her to keep that.
The times she caught herself thinking about Gabriel Martyr were decreasing rapidly as the weeks progressed. She no longer saw his face when she went to sleep, nor did she become confused when she awoke, and he wasn't beside her. If only she had the faith that they could apprehend him without risking the lives of the other members of the church, then she could allow herself to find a way to never think about him again. However, her allegiance lied with the people who had done nothing wrong except fall for the same faulty knowledge that she had.
Her eyes followed Aaron as he left the desk where Derek was filling out a field report for the last case. The identical form was sat on her desk, waiting to be given to the Unit Chief. In that form she had detailed the ways that she had broken protocol, despite the team having reassured her that she had simply done what her gut said was right, but she also carefully explained what she would do if she were in an identical situation again. She wouldn't have remained in the car, but she would have ensured she was wearing a vest before entering into a potentially dangerous and lethal situation.
Turning back to the office, Annabel took the report from her desk holding it to her chest. She was entering a potentially dangerous and lethal situation, so she crossed the bullpen to Aaron's office her protective armour secured with a smile.
Knocking on the door gently, Annabel took a breath as he called for her to enter. There was a happiness in his eyes before they caught sight of the form in her hands, then the light fell, and his usual studious expression became fixed to his face. She knew that the loss of light was her own fault, for having a backup if she became too afraid to have the conversation that she knew was inevitable. That was what caused her to become adamant now was the time she spoke to him, if she didn't then, if he was feeling the same knot in his stomach as she was, she would be prolonging it for him. She couldn't do that to him, no matter how much she would to herself.
Timidly, Annabel crosses the office, stating, "I have the field report."
"Can you put it with the others." Aaron replied, gesturing the pile of paperwork on furthest corner of his desk. She nodded, taking herself further into the room, ignoring the pounding of her heart.
Having placed the report with the others, straightening both the pile and the placement, she froze contemplating changing her mind once more. However, she knew that putting this off was no longer an option, not for her and not for Aaron.
Annabel moved to join Aaron behind his desk, resting on the wood beside him. She let out a sigh, watching as he finished signing his name before he leaned back in the chair. From where he was sat, Aaron had to look up to meet her gaze.
"So, last night," the ginger spoke, her voice as soft as it was when she had been talking to the Delilly family earlier in the week. She had paused slightly, as if confused on how to phrase her point, but soon she settled on, "Last night happened."
"Last night happened." Aaron repeated, pulling his gaze away from her. While he held no regret for the previous night, he didn't know how she felt. If he had to see the regret flash across her eyes, he wouldn't be able to concentrate on the words he knew he had to say.
Before Aaron could add to his statement, Annabel had chuckled, "I'm glad we clarified that."
"I don't regret it." The Unit Chief stated, catching the woman off guard. Her mouth opened and closed multiple times as if she were unable to form the words she wanted to say vocally. "I don't need to know whether you do, I just needed you to know that I didn't."
Annabel nodded her head, letting out a slight breath before replying, "I didn't. I have done a lot of things I regret, and, besides the fact that I thought I could wear a turtle neck and not get questioned by Garcia, I don't regret anything that had happened in the last twenty four hours."
"What does that mean?" Aaron asked, his hand resting on her knee, the need for physical contact with her having increased since he had woken up that morning. He had had a taste of something addictive, and he had put up no resistance. He let himself become hooked.
Annabel took his hand in hers, smiling slightly as she stated, "It means that we are slightly more complicated than we were before."
"Do you want to pretend it never happened?" Aaron asked, unsure on whether or not he wanted to hear the answer that left her lips. She may not have regretted the crossing of their boundaries, but that didn't mean that she felt the same way as he did about the situation.
"No," she whispered, moving their hands so that their fingers were intertwined. "But I don't think it should happen again. Not until we've worked out what this is."
Aaron nodded, knowing that she was speaking with intelligence she had gained from experience. Somehow, she had learnt how to separate her head and her heart, using what seemed most suitable to understand a situation. However, as she watched Aaron's hesitant agreement, she wondered whether she had chosen the correct logic to follow.
"I should go and finished calling the families Erin gave me." Annabel declared, breaking the silence that had been created. Having squeezed his hand slightly in reassurance, she whispered, "I'll see you when we're ready to go home."
That was the first time she had called his apartment home without being prompted by his previous referral, which didn't go unnoticed by Aaron. It was that statement that told him that he had to let his heart take control, the way it had the night before. That was why he stopped her before she could leave, standing to take hold of her hand turning her back to face him and pulling her closer to his chest.
His lips met hers, his free hand moving to graze through her hair. She didn't pull away; she simply placed her hand on his chest smiling into the contact of their lips. Neither of them wanted to listen to the screaming of their brains then. They both simply poured their hearts out to each other through the simple movements of their lips, unaware of the money changing hands in the bullpen.
