Obscure Simplicity

Chapter 19: Fear of the Unknown

TW: SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STALKING.

     You rolled over to lean against Aaron as the sun shone through the window and on your face. The moment your skin touched his, you felt the warmth radiate from him. You curled into him and he pulled you in close. Sighing, your eyes fluttered open and the two of you stared into each other's eyes blissfully. You sigh deeply and peck him on the lips before pulling away. You folded the covers from on top of you and placed them back, making up your side of the bed.

     The two of you had agreed that since you basically lived at Aaron's for the past nine months, it was time to make it official. You life had only gone upwards since meeting your godson for the first time. But what made you anxious was that you had gotten a call from your section chief after your last case in New York when you had basically thrown yourself into a potentially deadly situation.

     You quietly undressed and laid out your clothes for the day. You held a white top and a green blouse beside your body and felt eyes on you. Aaron laid there, propped up on one arm and was yawning.

     "Definitely the green one, it brings out the colours in your eyes." He said with a smirk.

     You let out a sigh and smiled at him. "You think? I mean if you think it's professional enough to see Strauss, I believe you. You and your designer."

     "Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about your meeting today." He replied, sitting up.

     You flung your hand in the air and threw the green top on the bed and the other back in the closet. "It's no big deal, she's probably just going to tell me not to do that again."

     Aaron locked his eyes with yours and didnt break contact. It was like he was burning a hole right through you and let out a short breath.

     "What?" You asked.

     "Abigail, you need to take these things more seriously. The Sections Chief requesting an interview with one of her agents is no small deal."

     "I'll be fine, I'm a good agent. If it wasn't for me, for this team's actions, then she would have left in a body bag instead of a stretcher. In my books, a life saved is evidence of proficiency." You said nonchalantly.

     He got up and walked to the side of the bed. "No one is questioning whether or not you're a good agent, but what I'm saying is that these interviews are determining one thing, and one thing only; are you an asset to the bureau or are you a liability."

     You stared at him, and then broke eye contact. You huffed and felt as if the confidence you built up over the past couple of days was diminished. You needed to feel like you were the best fit for your position when meeting a superior, especially Strauss.

     "What, because I'm confident that I made the right decision and approached the situation unconventionally, I'm no good?" You stared at him with your hand on your hip. "You believe that I was wrong too, don't you? I fucking knew it."

     "Abigail-" he called, rushing around the bed.

     You walked toward the bathroom as you boiled over with pure anger. "Im not some fucking fragile person, and im sure as hell not the woman who the team saved from Bill Cane's basement months ago. Im a fucking Federal Agent, Aaron. No, my judgement hasn't been the best lately, but I know what I did in that house wasn't anything short of heroic."

     "This is what I'm talking about. You push the boundaries on absolutely everything. At the end of the day, you're an agent and you're liable when it comes to the decisions you make. I learned that the hard way, and I'm trying to make sure you don't have to go through the same experience."