Welcome to the next chapter of your life.

[buticlosemyeyes]

[Settling into her new desk at the BAU - the one previously belonging to Emily Prentiss - and is generally feeling awkward about this.]

Comments

[no_chaplin]

[He just glances up and watches her settle in. Hard to read the expression on his face, but it isn't very welcoming.]

[buticlosemyeyes]

[Can feel someone watching her, she looks up and meets Morgan's eyes from her desk, studying him for a moment before her eyes dart back down to her paperwork.]

[no_chaplin]

[He's gonna keep watching her. It's too soon. It's way too soon for him.]

[buticlosemyeyes]

[Anna's just... trying to focus on her paperwork, Morgan. You're really not helping with your staring. Which she's clearly trying to ignore.]

[no_chaplin]

[He'll look back down at his work, and after awhile he'll speak up, his voice is quiet but firm. He doesn't look up.]

[buticlosemyeyes]

[Glancing up from her stack of paperwork, she arches a brow and nods. She heard about the death of Agent Prentiss, and considering the amount of partners she went through after Jess was murdered? Let's just say she understands the initial hostility.]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[And there's a sincere, understanding tone to back up that statement.]

[no_chaplin]

[He doesn't look up, he just tenses. His jaw is tight. He's quiet for awhile before shrugging it off]

Happens in this line.

[buticlosemyeyes]

[She notices the way he tenses and the delayed response. Sighing, she sets her pen down and gets up from her seat. Anna walks over to his desk and leans in, hands bracing the corner.]

I know this is hard for you, and it's not exactly the best time for me to be showin' up like this. I just wanted to let you know that I don't expect you to trust me right away, or to even like me. I'm here to do my job as best I can, and if I earn your trust along the way? Well, good.

[There's a slight pause as she tucks some hair behind her ear, and then she continues slowly.]

I'm not tryin' to take her place. I'd never expect to. I really am sorry for your loss.

[Tapping the top of the desk twice, softly, she turns around to walk back to her desk.]

[no_chaplin]

[He still doesn't look up, not even when she comes over to him. But he does close his eyes and listen to her words. He lets them sink in, and he opens his eyes again to watch her walk away. Deep down he can tell she means it, and he knows it's not her fault that Prentiss is gone, but he can't help it. All he can see her as is someone brought in to replace his partner. His partner who hadn't trusted him enough to let him help her, and died because of it.

He scratches his chin and looks down at his paperwork again. After awhile he lets his head rest in his hand, rubbing his eyes, and he sits up again.]

BAU isn't a playground.

[buticlosemyeyes]

[As she takes her seat, she tenses slightly at his reply. But before she's stupid enough to snap at him, she takes a deep breath and reminds herself that he's still grieving -- the wounds are still raw -- and that she's exhausted and feeling guilty about leaving her team behind, so she keeps her reply flat.]

I know that. I'm prepared for it.

[She jumps slightly when her Blackberry goes off, and she's quick to answer it, turning her chair slightly and trying to keep her voice down as she answers.]

Hey, I-- I know, I'm sorry. I had the interview last week, and I didn't know about it until a few days ago. They-- they called me in as we wrapped the Somerset triple homicide. Adam, I-- No, no please don't put Stella on. I-- I can't right now. Please, just-- talk to Mac. He'll explain everythin'. No, I-- I didn't abandon you. It wasn't supposed to go down like this. I was gonna tell you, but I ran out of time. I'm-- I-- [Anna flinches when she hears the line go dead and she calmly sets her phone on the desk, trying not to show that the

[no_chaplin]

[He watches her closely as she starts to reply, then he continues to watch as she gets her call. He just raises a brow when she's done. Says nothing. He's just watching her. Trying to figure her out.]

[buticlosemyeyes]

[The progress she's making on her paperwork is suddenly halted by the phonecall - as if it's stopped her in her place. For a few minutes, she's frozen in time and she's staring at her phone as if searching for answers.]

[no_chaplin]

[He sighs. He wasn't going to say anything, but with her just sitting there...]

Bad news?

[buticlosemyeyes]

[Anna can't help but snap her head up when she hears him speak, blinking for a moment and trying not to appear too shaken.]

No. Just a misunderstanding.

[no_chaplin]

[Once again he watches her, but right now? He doesn't really care. He won't press it, he'll just shrug.]

Okay.

[buticlosemyeyes]

[Nodding, she takes a turn staring and after a few minutes, she speaks up again.]

So you're Agent Morgan, then. Agent Hotchner told me I'd be workin' with you for a while.