The Stars | Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 33: The Distances

The first month and a half was more taxing than you anticipated, having to pass firearms tests and several interviews before being accepted onto the task force. Getting in was the easy part, and as so few people were entrusted with being a part of it, you had the jobs of three people as you translated recordings in several languages, conducted surveillance, and even went to gather intel at high profile events. The government worked you hard, but after several meetings with the President, the admirable Barack Obama, you were sure it would all be worth it. Maybe you would or would not be commemorated, but you knew you were serving your country with pride.

Luckily, enough progress had been made that your superiors got lax around Christmas time and let everyone take half a week off to spend the holidays with family. You had sacrificed your sleep several times to visit Aaron since you left, and he you, but the day of holy and cheer for your boyfriend was going to be spent with his son and Haley's family. You completely understood and made sure he knew it so he wouldn't worry about you being alone.

Besides, you were able to work alongside your friends at the Jeffersonian again, as they were involved in the forensic-- and even more classified-- parts of the case. The only good thing about working solely on a classified case meant that when you went out with them afterward, you had to talk about something else. Just like you were tonight, spending the firsts of your nights out with the team at the Founding Fathers Bar and Grill, discussing plans for Christmas.

Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, and even though you missed being with them, you realized you missed Aaron and his team more than had the Jeffersonian. Probably because you knew you had a strong relationship after working with them and Booth for so long, and knew that you could join back at any time as if no time had passed. You were still building your relationship with the BAU, so there was an urgent feeling that you had to return to them ASAP.

You shook that thought from your head and refocused on the moment, noting the changes in your friends after spending more than a year apart.

Hodgins and Angela had a baby, little Michael Vincent Staccato Hodgins-- a mouthful of a name, but he definitely made up for it in cuteness. Bones was pregnant with Booth's kid, and she looked ready to burst any day. It was about time for those two, Booth had been pining ever since they met and Temperance was most definitely in the same boat, even if it was hidden behind her scientific exterior.

So many things had changed, you recalled, when everyone went their separate ways in February of last year. Booth went off to Afghanistan, Brennan to Maluku, and the rest of the team had dispersed, including you to Quantico, but now things were mostly back to normal.

Sweets was back with Daisy, Cam was dealing with Michelle better than expected, and as everyone was gathered around two too small tables, it felt like you were back with family. You could barely attempt to sum up your experiences with all of them and how it's changed, so you brought yourself back to the moment as Booth was rebuking something Sweets had said.

"-- Just because me and Bones are together, doesn't prove anything about your 'expert' analysis of our relationship. You didn't even profile us with the right case, and--"

Cam laughed, "Oh hush, Seeley--"

"Don't 'Seeley' me, Camille--"

You laughed alongside the rest of the group, "Booth, cut the kid some slack, you guys didn;t want anyone knowing about the Eller case. I, of course, weaseled it out of you like anything else." You boasted triumphantly and he blew a straw wrapper at you in retaliation. "Hey--" The group laughed again and you bagged any ideas of revenge for later.

"So," Hodgins started, "How's things been at Quantico? See--"

Angela interrupted, "Babe, don't talk about our jobs right now, we're here to hear about her new friends! So come on sweetie," she turned to you and prompted the others to do the same. "What's this I've been hearing about a new man? Sweets talks nonstop about your friend-- Dr. Reid, was it?-- every time he comes to visit. Apparently it's supposed to be impossible to get into the FBI at twenty-one, even though our shrink here got in at twenty-two--"