The Long, Lonely Road Ahead

The following events take place after Hotch’s divorce but prior to JJ’s giving birth.

Yes, I know it’s a Mary Sue in some ways, but it was fun to write, so I’m throwing it out there for you to read and see what you think.

The Long, Lonely Road Ahead

Chapter Three

It turned out that our date didn’t happen. Not that I blame Aaron or anything, but something came up, and suddenly everyone had to work. Pen was called back to the office Saturday afternoon by JJ, who cancelled her flight south at the last minute. I was stuck wandering around again, shopping and reading, and drinking lattes. I had my laptop open to a particularly scintillating website, when Pen IMed me at about five pm.

HackerChick: Hey
EarthGirl: Hey, what’s up?
HackerChick: It’s a no go for tonight, I’m afraid. :(
EarthGirl: What’s going on?
HackerChick: Bad stuff. And here! In our own little town. Not good at all.
EarthGirl: I get you can’t tell me. Is there even a chance Aaron’s going to call?
HackerChick: No way to tell. But don’t count on it.
EarthGirl: Are you coming home tonight at all?
HackerChick: I’ll be in late. You’ll have to find something for dinner on your own.
Try Monty’s – it’s great.
EarthGirl: Will do. Text me when you’re done – maybe we can meet for a late dinner?
HackerChick: Sure. 9, prob. Maybe even 10. I’m buying.
EarthGirl: Kewl. I can wait.
HackerChick: L8R
EarthGirl: L

I frowned at the laptop and downed the rest of my latte. The barista I’d gotten to know in the past two days (thanks to my having to kill a lot of time waiting for Pen) was cleaning a nearby table.
“Read something that didn’t agree with you? Or was it that twelfth latte?” he teased, his dreadlocks swinging as he wiped the table.
“Meh. My date fell through for tonight,” I said, closing the laptop.
“That sucks. I’m free, if you want,” he said, batting his eyelashes. I laughed.
“Thanks, but you’re a bit young for me, Sweetie. Hey, have you heard of a restaurant called Monty’s?” I asked, packing my laptop away in my bag.
“Sure. It’s the best steakhouse in the area—mostly suits go there. Business types, spooks from Quantico, government types too,” he said, picking up my empty cup and chucking it in the wastebin. “Was that where you were going tonight?”
“I have no idea where we were supposed to be going. He knows the area, eh? I’m not from around here,” I answered with a sigh. “No, my cousin suggested we meet there for a really late dinner tonight, after she gets off work.”
“Wow. Nice cousin! Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Yes, she does,” I said with a grin. “But I’ll tell her you asked after her.”
“Y’know,” he said, looking me over, “if you’re going to Monty’s, you’re going to have to change. They have this serious dress code thing happening.”
“I get it. Thanks for the tip,” I replied. “Maybe I’ll go buy something more holiday-ish to wear, eh?”
“Good idea. Work off all that caffeine,” he said, with a final swipe of his cloth on my tabletop.
“Thanks. See yah tomorrow morning!” I said, and headed out into the cold winter evening.

There were any number of cool shops open for business in the shopping district nearest to Pen’s place. I wasted my evening wandering through them all, buying new lingerie (just in case Aaron did have a spare moment for me in the next week), a new dress for New Year’s eve, and a new outfit for tonight. I knew it was going to be just us—and possibly just me—but I wanted to dress up a bit. I didn’t often get a chance to. Not only that (and this made me a bit sad) but my father’s estate had just finished probate, so I had a bit of money to spend on myself and I knew he would have wanted me to buy something pretty. He hated the way I dressed normally—so butch all the time, he told me—and always encouraged me to show a softer side of myself. My brother had taken the money he’d been left and headed off to New Zealand, but I hadn’t spent much, except to fly here for the holidays.

I decided to wear all the sexy stuff tonight, just for the fun of it. Maybe I would turn a few heads even if I couldn’t have the one head turn I wanted! I’d bought a dark blue dress embedded with silver threads here and there. It was strapless, but came with a little half jacket in the same material; I wasn’t wearing it at the moment, but had it in case I got cold. It clung to every curve, falling to mid-thigh. Of course, one can’t wear something that sexy with ordinary underwear, so I bought a midnight blue satin push-up strapless bra, and a matching thong. I put my jeans, underwear, and sweater into the shopping bag, all wrapped up in tissue paper to make it look like a new purchase. Looking down at my feet, I decided I needed a new pair of boots to go with this outfit, because my biker boots just didn’t look right with this dress. So I bought a pair of long black leather boots with a three inch heel. The one thing I couldn’t bring myself to wear was a pair of nylons, because I hate them with a passion, so my bare legs were cold between the tops of my boots just below my knees to my skirt mid-thigh. I put on my black duster and checked myself out in the mirror at the shoe store.
“Looks great! Hey, y’know, I’ve got this friend who’s, like, the best hair dresser in the area,” the saleswoman said to me, holding up a card.

So, having lots of time still on my hands and some money to spend, I took her advice and went to the salon for a couple of hours of primping, just for the fun of it. They weren’t very busy at 7 pm, so I got my nails done to match my dress (toes and fingers) and then had my brown hair streaked with red and more blonde.
“Do you have lipstick? And you could use a bit of eye shadow and liner,” the hairdresser said, fussing over me when he was done.
“I have lipstick. I don’t wear any other makeup,” I admitted, pulling out the one shade I wore when I wore lipstick (which was rare).
“Well, you should. With this outfit, you’ll be killer,” he said, rummaging in his drawer. He pulled out a small makeup kit. “Hold still.”

By the time I stepped out of the salon, I didn’t recognize myself. I felt sexy and femme, something that didn’t happen very often. My father would’ve been proud, I thought with a wry smile. Too bad he didn’t live to see this transformation. I glanced at my watch; it was almost 9:15 already and Pen hadn’t texted me yet. I sighed and considered my next move. Perhaps I’d better just go and get a table at the restaurant. Then my cell phone went off. It said Unknown Number, but that was typical of Pen’s work phone. For some reason the FBI didn’t have call display. Go figure. I opened the text: Done. Meet @ Monty’s In 15. Okay. Good. Now I had a plan. The only thing was I wasn’t sure where I was going. I stepped back into the salon.
“Anyone know where Monty’s steakhouse is?” I asked, and four fingers pointed down the sidewalk.
“It’s about a five minute walk from here, Hon,” the girl behind the counter told me. “Down the street and left at the third intersection. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” I replied and headed off. The street was fairly busy for 9:15 at night, but it was a Saturday, despite the cold weather, and fairly close to Christmas. I smiled as I noticed the number of heads turn and look at me as I passed by. I was chilly in my duster and short dress, but I was really enjoying the masculine attention I was getting. I didn’t do this very often and it was a serious ego booster. The Starbucks was on the way to the restaurant, as it turned out, so I waved at my barista friend through the window as I passed. He frowned for a moment as if he didn’t recognize me, and then he almost scalded himself on his hot milk. He motioned for me to come in and I did.
“I can’t believe how gorgeous you look! Your guy came through after all, hunh?” he asked.
“Nope. I just decided that it doesn’t matter whether I’ve got a date or not. Sometimes you just want to look… special, you know?” I replied.
“Well, you certainly do… are you heading somewhere in particular?” he asked. “’Cause I get off in about an hour…”
“Thanks,” I said, patting him on his cheek, “but like I said, you’re a bit too young for me.”
“I’m 22,” he said. “You can’t be that much older than me!”
“Honey, I’m more than 10 years your senior, but I appreciate the compliment,” I said with a chuckle. “Now, I’ve got to go meet my cousin for dinner. All this primping and shopping’s made me seriously hungry! I’ll see you tomorrow, eh?”
“Have a good night,” he said, waving to me as he served another customer his shot of espresso.
“You too,” I replied, and headed back out into the cold night. I walked one more block, and then turned down the street and into the doorway of Monty’s.