"It's only after you've stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform."
― Roy T. Bennett
Crystal has had an interesting second day, she got all her work done even with the teams hilarious antics. All day the team had been watching her closely whenever Hotch exited his office to see if he went to her desk, if it was him getting up to go somewhere else or if he went to get some coffee. Hotch never talked to her during his time out of his office, but that didn't stop the team from staring.
It was really hard to hide her smile the whole day, especially since Garcia went to her desk a lot that day to see if anything interesting had happened.
"So how's your day been?"
"Same as the last time you asked 30 minutes ago Garcia, uneventful except for when you come see me."
"Any special visitors?"
"Are we counting you?"
Garcia laughed at that and looked at Reid, "Is she telling the truth?" Reid looked up from his file, "No one but you has came to see her nonstop." He stated with a shrug and went back to work, Garcia groaned.
Morgan came over to see what the fuss was about, "What's wrong with you baby girl? Why the long face?" Garcia leaned into Morgan, "I was expecting you know who to come visit this lovely woman, but apparently that hasn't happened."
Morgan chuckled, "Have you tried thinking that maybe he couldn't come see her even if he wanted to because you've been at her desk basically all day?" Garcia looked at Morgan silently for a couple seconds before putting her hand over her mouth, "Derek Morgan you are so right! I will leave you alone now Crystal, see you later. Reid! Tell me if you know who visits!"
With that said Garcia turned around and quickly walked away, Crystal shook her head with a smile. She shot Morgan a look, "What? I didn't do anything, I just got here."
"You know who?"
"I have no idea who you are talking about."
Crystal playfully rolled her eyes, she knew who they were talking about since they have been watching Hotch like a hawk. Morgan made his way over to Emily's desk, "Well played Morgan, totally played that off." Emily mocked as he chuckled at her comment, Reid turned to look at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Play what off?" Morgan looked over at him, "You're not serious, right?"
Reid looked at him confused, "Are you talking about the fact that all day you guys have been watching to see if Hotch comes over to talk to Archer?"
Emily chuckled, "You haven't?" Reid shook his head, "No, I've been preoccupied with thoughts about this new documentary coming out about the different elements of a certain-"
"Okay that's amazing Reid, but you seriously haven't been curious if Hotch would come talk to Archer about anything interesting?" Morgan interrupted before Reid could get them off topic.
Reid just shrugged, "Not really, I've been really excited to see this documentary next week." Crystal smiled as she turned herself to face them, "Well I hope you enjoy your documentary Dr. Reid, I'm glad one of my coworkers hasn't been staring at me all day."
Emily just smiled, "We weren't staring, just observing." Crystal nodded, "Sure, observing what specifically?"
Morgan just tilted his head, "Nothing in particular, but it seems a certain someone has decided to come out." Morgan stated with a smile as he looked behind her, Crystal turned back around to see Hotch standing there with a raised eyebrow. She shot him a quick smile and he gave her a little nod, "Is everything alright Agent Archer?"
Crystal gave him a confused look, "Everything is fine Agent Hotchner, why wouldn't they be?"
"Garcia has been at your desk almost all day, so I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong."
Crystal smiled at him, "Ah, that would be just her checking up on me. Nothing out of the ordinary." Morgan and Emily looked at each other with a smile, had Hotch been looking at their new Agent's desk all day?
"That's good, I was worried there was a problem happening without my knowledge."
"I'm sorry if we worried you, she was just trying to keep me company on my first day in the office since I was in the field yesterday."
"No need to apologize, I'm glad you're getting along with the team."
Crystal nodded, "Agent Hotchner I meant to tell you before, but I plan on giving you your prized baked goods at the party tonight. If you can't make it though I can give them to you another day."
Hotch gave her a nod, "I've finished a decent amount of files today, so I should be able to make it after I tuck Jack into bed. What are you making exactly Agent Archer?"
Crystal rasied an eyebrow at him, "I was told to surprise you Agent Hotchner." This got Reid to look up from his files, he saw Hotch give Crystal a small smile.
"Just don't poison me please" Hotch's lips twitched a bit like a smile when he said this, "Excuse me." Hotch turned and walked back to his office, Crystal could see that JJ was coming down from her office and she shot Crystal a look.
"What did I miss?" JJ went to go stand next to Reid's desk and he was no longer looking at his files, "Hotch came to check on Archer and he gave her a smile, he didn't even say anything to the rest of us or acknowledge our presence." Reid stated and JJ gave Crystal another look, "Oh?"
Crystal just shook her head, "Dr. Reid I thought you said you weren't interested in whatever Morgan, Prentiss, JJ, and Garcia are doing?"
Reid just shrugged, "I just happened to be here and see him give you a smile." JJ smiled over at Emily, "I'm surprised Garcia wasn't here to witness this happening, hasn't she been waiting for it to happen?"
Emily gave a small laugh, "Well she was until Derek suggested Hotch hadn't come see Archer because she was always here, she's gonna kill you by the way. He finally came over to see her and she wasn't here for it."
Emily nudged Morgan and he put his hands up in surrender, "In my defense, I didn't think he would actually come down if she left. It was just a suggestion, my bad."
JJ shrugged, "Well I missed it too, so I'll make sure she doesn't strangle you." She turned to look back at Crystal, "I wonder what you could have possibly said to make him smile, care to share?" Crystal turned herself back towards her desk, "You should ask one of those three, they've been staring at me like hawks all day."
Morgan chuckled, "Observing, not staring Archer."
"Sorry, they've been observing me like hawks all day." Crystal corrected and JJ laughed, she looked over at Emily who gave her a smirk.
"Well Hotch just wanted to know what she would be baking for him since he won the little wager about profiling her, she's keeping it a surprise though since he did tell her on the jet to surprise him. He just doesn't want to be poisoned, and he was also worried that there might be something wrong since Garcia has been visiting her all day." JJ returned Emily's smirk and nodded, "I see, how interesting."
Morgan nodded, "Very interesting, would definitely make me smile." Crystal turned around to narrow her eyes at the team, "Shouldn't you guys be using your time better like working rather than trying to tease me?"
Reid raised his files, "Finished, so what are you going to be making for Hotch?" Crystal gave Reid a look, how was it that he was the only one uninterested the whole day until now?
"As I said before it is a surprise, I don't see how this is all so interesting." Emily scooted her chair a bit closer to Crystal, "Trust me it really is, so are you going to be bringing enough for the rest of us?"
Crystal flashed her a smile, "I'll make sure to bring enough for the team and for Agent Hotchner to take home for his son."
They tried to ask more questions to get some type of clue for what she would make, but she tuned them out as she continued working. It was about 30 minutes later that she was done with everything, she was getting her things ready to head home. Crystal waved goodbye to Reid and Emily who were already heading towards the elevators.
Once she had everything she headed over to the elevators to see that they were both gone, she pushed the button and was now just waiting. Her phone buzzed, it was a text from Garcia with her address. She got another text asking about Hotch talking to her at her desk again, Crystal just shook her head with a smile.
"Heading out?" Crystal turned to look behind her, when had Rossi sneaked up on her?
"Finished everything, so I'm headed to my apartment to whip up something for the party."
The elevator doors finally opened, "Hope you're not disappointed that I'm not the Agent you were hoping for." Rossi stepped inside after her with a smirk while Crystal just groaned, "Not you too Agent Rossi."
"I'm just saying, you two have seem awfully chatty with each other."
"I think it's normal for coworkers to chat with each other, how else will they get to know each other?"
Rossi just shrugged, "That's possible, but I don't think so." The elevator doors opened and they both stepped off, Crystal gave Rossi a confused look.
"What do you mean Agent Rossi?" Rossi stopped walking to face her, "All I'm saying Agent Archer is that there is a reason the team has been acting like this is a miracle that Aaron isn't his usual...."
"Professional self?" Crystal helped finish his sentence and Rossi shrugged, "You could put it that way, I'm assuming you heard what happened correct?" Crystal gave him a sad smile, "Yes I do but not the specific details, it was in a file given to me when I was reviewing this position." Hotch's ex wife was murdered, Crystal didn't know any other details.
"Then you can understand that Hotch hasn't been the most open these past four months and has been taking on everything on himself, so it's interesting to the team that you come in and he allows himself to accept help."
Crystal and Rossi started to walk towards their cars, "I don't think it had anything to do with me specifically, maybe he just wanted to go home early that day."
Rossi smiled, "Maybe, or maybe you just happened to say or do something for him to open up to you a little bit." Rossi patted her on her shoulder, "Even if it is by coincidence I'm glad to see him open up a bit again, see you at the party kid."
Crystal gave him a smile as they parted ways to their cars, she needed to get home to bake. The whole time home and making the treats she couldn't help think about what Rossi's chat with her. Crystal really didn't think she did anything out of the ordinary, maybe the team was just making it a big deal for no reason.
I'm sure Agent Hotchner thinks the team is overreacting too, it's just having nice conversations
By the time Crystal was on her way to Garcia's place it was almost 8:00 PM, Crystal was glad she finished baking in time. When she parked and headed to the front of the apartment building she ran into JJ and a man she hadn't met before, "Hello Agent Jareau." JJ turned around with a smile, on their way up JJ introduced Crystal to Will.
Crystal came to know that they have a son named Henry who was adorable, his pictures on JJ's phone were so cute. They finally made it to Garcia's door and knocked, "Coming! Your beautiful minded host is on her way!"
When Garcia opened the door she smiled at all of them, "Yay your here, and Crystal has goodies! Everyone is here except for Hotch, but he said he'd be a bit late!"
Garcia clapped her hands and made grabby hands at the two containers, "This one is for everyone, but this one is for Agent Hotchner to take home for him and his son." When they all stepped inside Garcia pulled her aside, "Speaking of Hotch I heard he came to visit you when I finally left, care to share what you talked about?"
Crystal looked past Garcia to give Morgan and Reid a look, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Reid asked as he caught her stare, "Something tells me one of you two said something."
"So something did happen?"
Crystal laughed, "Nothing happened, we had a nice chat."
"Well I would like details about this chat-" Before she could continue there was another knock at the door, "Look at that beautiful minded host, someone's at the door." Crystal smiled as Garcia pouted as she went to go open the door.
"Sir! Glad you could make it, everyone is here now." Hotch gave her a nod, "Sorry I'm a little late." Rossi chuckled, "Yes 15 minutes late is so terrible, for shame Hotch."
Crystal gave a small laugh at Rossi's comment, apparently Hotch heard it since he turned to face her. Crystal gave him a smile and lifted up the container in her hands, "Hello Agent Hotchner."
"Hello Agent Archer."
"I brought you your wager prize, hope you like them." Crystal handed Hotch the container while Garcia suddenly went over to the table full of food, "I completely forgot to check what you baked!"
Garcia opened the container to find chocolate chip cookies, "You made cookies, I love you." Crystal laughed at Emily's comment as she ate one, she turned to look at Hotch smiling at the container of cookies.
"Sorry if you don't like them, I wanted to play it safe since I loved these as a kid. I hope your son like them." Hotch gave her a gentle smile, "I love chocolate chip cookies and I'm sure Jack will love them as well, thank you Agent Archer I appreciate it."
Morgan gave a very loud cough, Crystal looked over at him and Hotch gave him a questioning look. "Oh sorry to interrupt your moment, but you guys do realize that we are out of the office? What's with the whole 'Agent' thing and being super formal?"
Garcia went over and playfully hit him, she wanted that moment to continue and he ruined it. Morgan put his hands up in surrender, he just wanted to ask why they were being so formal.
Crystal looked back at Hotch with her eyes full of mischief and he noticed, "Agent Hotchner I'm glad you like the cookies, I do certainly hope that your son enjoys them." Hotch's lips twitched a bit, "Thank you once again Agent Archer, I am quite sure Jack will certainly enjoy these very much with all the extraordinary effort you put into making these."
Crystal stifled a laugh by putting her hand over her mouth and Hotch gave her a smile, Crystal was starting to see what team was getting at. Her and Hotch would make really good friends! He wasn't really the 'Mr Grumpy' Morgan kept saying he was.
What a beautiful friendship in the making
The team didn't say anything, but Crystal felt the stares again, and the night went on. Crystal got to know the team more and their personal life, like Rossi's three ex wives and that he could cook really well, and just finally relax.
The team tried to get to know her better, but she mainly talked about her family since there wasn't much to tell about her. It was a fun night which quickly came to an end around 11:30 PM, Rossi as promised had brought very good wine and Crystal was ready to leave after sobering up.
"I'm gonna need that cookie recipe, I loved it so much." Garcia said as Crystal was getting her things, JJ nodded in agreement. "Henry would love these, and I think Will ate half the cookies by himself." Will just chuckled, "I have a sweet tooth, why do you think I love you so much?"
Emily laughed, "Okay couple go away from us single people please." Crystal smiled, "I'll write it down for you guys and give it to you on Monday, have a good night guys."
"I'm heading home as well, see you all in the office hopefully Monday if we don't have a case." Hotch stated and Rossi gave him a look, "Don't even joke about that." Crystal gave them a final smile before leaving with Hotch and waved goodbye.
Emily gave Crystal a smirk, JJ gave her a look, Reid just smiled and nodded at the both of them, Morgan gave her a wink, Rossi just raised his glass at them, Garcia waved excitedly at them, and even Will seemed to catch onto what the team was thinking since he gave her a thumbs up. Crystal just rolled her eyes at them as she closed the door.
Hotch and Crystal went to the elevator in silence and didn't say anything until they were out of the building, "I'll make sure to give back this container on Monday, it'll be washed and clean." Crystal just laughed, "Why thank you Agent Hotchner that's very kind of you, but I'm not picky about stuff like that."
Hotch gave her a small smile, "Have a goodnight Agent Archer."
"Have a goodnight Agent Hotchner."
Crystal went to her care and drove home, and if she was smiling the whole time she'd never admit it. She was glad that she got to know the team better, she was happy that she was here to stay with the team and her dream job.
I'm going to love it here
___
Author's Note:
Hello~ This chapter isn't the best since this one was rushed, but I really don't know when the next time I can update is since I will be having some testing for school soon. I may update some random time next week (hopefully), and the chapters will sometimes have time gaps in them now~ I will also start doing some cases from season 5 soon, PLEASE remember that my time line is very different from the show. Some things may match up, but they will not be 100% the same with the original story since I may make things happen sooner or later than they should.
I forgot a line lol, I gotta stop writing these when I'm sleep deprived （＾。＾；）
Don't forget to vote and comment if you liked the story~
See you in the next update!