— Here are some keys. I have a copy and the first month is already paid.

— And how do you know I'm not going to run away?

— He is giving you water, food, a roof. Dogs don't run away from those things. — Hotch says.

— Gideon.

— Hotch. Let's keep respect.

It had been a few weeks now, Maeve had told Gideon not to take it for granted, she was free to go whenever she wanted which bird, but Gideon was already convinced that the girl would be attached to them from now on, even the very Aaron hotchner was starting to think she wasn't going anywhere, but he doesn't find this all that appealing.

The girl had to start to manage on her own, she was not a girl after all, and a small room was not so suitable to live there.

She was earning less than any other teammate, but it was fair considering the way she was introduced to the team. No big deal, she could provide herself with food, and a roof over his head, Maeve had never had so much. No money, no material goods, not even stealing.

— Remind me why captain pain in the ass is here. — She defended herself.

— Take a shower. Hotch will be in charge of training you latter.

—What? No, no, no, no, no. Gideon, you can't leave me alone with... —she raises her fingers to her head, simulating little horns, referring to Hotch as the devil.

This only drew a laugh from Jason.

— Don't kill each other.

— I do not promise anything.

— In my dreams only.

Both responded in unison receiving a bad look from themselves.

Maeve curtailed Gideon's orders. Getting cleaned up in what was now her home. Temporary home. She had had many foster homes before. This was just another one on the list.

Wearing a black sweater, and a brown trench coat that covered Maeve from the cold many times, she found it heavy as she tried to keep up with the great strides provided by Aaron's long legs.

— Faster.

Both entered BAU. They seemed to be running, alerting this to Elle and Reid, who followed them to the shooting range.

— What's going on?— Elle questions.

Maeve tries to catch her breath as she takes off her coat.

— Aaron? — The black-haired woman insists for an answer.

— I'm going to teach the girl to shoot.

— Oh. — Elle relaxed her brows when she saw what it was about. — Hopefully it turns out better than you did with Reid.

— Why do I always have to teach kids how to shoot?

— What happened to Reid? — Maeve joins the conversation as she catches her breath.

— He learned to shoot the hard way. — Hotch answers looking directly at Maeve.— It was my lure when we were held hostage by an unknown. I hit him making him believe that I despised him. You have to do what it takes to save the day, there are coworkers who don't come home after a day's work, and I'm not willing to put my life or family at risk for anyone who walks through that door.

The distaste for Maeve was obvious. It's hard for Aaron to trust the girl knowing what the rest of his coworkers don't.

— They skip the part where I saved the day.... — Is the first thing Spencer says.

— He looks rude but he is a teddy bear. — Elle murmurs in the young woman's ear, referring to the older man present. She wanted to calm the atmosphere. — Don't be hard with the new girl, Hotch. — this time loudly.— Come Reid, let's go.

— I want to stay and watch, actually.

— Cool.

Elle walked away, leaving the trio to work. Reid was at a safe distance observing the situation. Hotch placed the gun in both of Maeve's hands, pointing it down and indicating that he should have a strong grip on this one of hers.

He had already lowered his guard, regardless of their differences, he respected his job and decided to be good at it, even though he didn't think it was a good idea to arm a stranger.

—you can't be afraid. — his voice was calm and as expressionless as ever again. — You must be firm when holding the weapon. Relax. It has the safety on.

Maeve's hands weren't shaking or any part of her body was shaking, but a lot of wild ideas traveled through her mind when she had a gun in her hand. Her heart was pounding and it made her chest feel cold.

The brunette grabbed the pistol grip, lifting it out of space. Aaron with his weapon drawn as well, walked towards her in long strides.

— Balance and posture — He said giving a small slap on his thighs. — You must have a strong posture. Don't let your legs shake. One step back or forward and the whole game changes. Spread them out a little.

This was beginning to baffle Maeve a bit, she understands knowing how to defend herself in general but they are a logistics unit, for her this isn't that necessary.

Even so, she listened to every word, if the girl was good at something, it was learning, she has always stood out for it.

— Flex your legs. just a little. — Maeve does, Aaron making sure by looking at her that she is following through on his words.— Fine.

Now he stood next to her, both of them pointing at the wooden figure in front of them.

— Raise the gun. — He uses his forearms to give hers a little push up. — The right distance, in front of your chest, never above your chin.

Spencer watched everything, strangely for him he was silent for a long time. But his attention was more on Aaron's behavior.

— Now the shot. Take the insurance off.

Maeve does so, without questioning how to do it which makes him a bit surprised, but he doesn't mention it.

— The impact of a bullet can surprise you if you have the weapon very close to your face. Don't let that make you close your eyes. Vision is very important.

— I got it.

— I will name the part of the body, Followed by: now. Then you will shoot.

— Left shoulder.

Maeve slowly moves her direction to where he indicates.

— Now.

Shoot.

It wasn't precise but it got pretty close. The bullet was left in his chest.

— Wrong

— Wrong ?  — Maeve's mouth gaped.—It's the first time I've used a weapon, and I do it well!

— Unless the shoulder has shifted, you missed the directions. Again. In position. 

Maeve adjusts her vest again before taking the shot.

— The head. —Maeve gives Hotch a glance out of the corner of her eye, and returns to her target.— Now.

She pulled the trigger twice in succession, hitting the target.

— Perfect. You only aim for big targets. — He pointed out the obvious, making it annoy Maeve a bit.

She removes her vest in one movement. she ready to give up.

— Can I try?— It's when Spencer stands up.

— You already passed your test kid.

— That's not what I mean. I don't think Maeve hit the mark because of the size of the target. — Maeve and Aaron exchange glances in confusion, not knowing what will come out of Spencer's mouth. — She looked angry.

— I was angry. Can't you hear how he criticizes me?

— Apparently you used that as a focus of concentration. That's when it got better.

— Will we have to yell at her every time she has to shoot?— Hotch only seemed more upset by the new information. — It is absurd.

— Not necessarily just redirect their actions with another stimulus. — Spencer is now turning his body towards the girl..— Agent Hunter, Were you used to working under pressure?

The word agent, referring to herself, is something she still did not get used to despite having already listened to it for a long time. However, Maeve has had to pretend to have different names on several occasions, acting naturally, so it was not an obstacle.

— I guess so.

— Let's change that then. — Spencer seemed to be the reasonable one of the three.

— Should I talk nice to her or something?

— I'm not going to stand another hour with that man. —she points the gun at him. Immediately afterwards, she strips off all the weapons: vest, weapon, safety glasses. — I'll be better off with García.

Maeve has spent her most recent days developing her well-known skills, she seems to get along well with Garcia, they were always laughing, and Garcia seemed to find her help and company useful.

Penelope was always fascinated with codes created by Maeve and her anecdotes. Maeve hadn't had a friend in a long time, and she and García felt comfortable talking.

— Not everyone can be a field agent.

Hunter was determined towards Hotchner, meeting him face to face.— I'm the best in everything I do.— her height was no justice to the courage in her voice, for her forehead barely met Hotch's chin.

— The pretty girl's got guts.

They all looked at Morgan leaning in the doorway.

— Wasn't I your pretty boy?

— And you are. — Morgan rests his elbow on Reid's shoulder, his free hand pointing to Maeve.— But she's my pretty girl.

Spencer rolled her eyes and tried to push his arm away.

— You okay, Hotch? — The dark-haired man asked this time when he saw how the two of them stood looking at each other face to face.

Hotchner didn't reply and walked away from the scene.

— Maeve?

— He started.

Derek moved closer to the girl to make sure Spencer didn't hear anything.

— I know Hotch is difficult. — He whispered more and more.— But if you do anything even remotely illegal, he'll soon have you behind bars. Understood pretty girl?

Maeve nodded, feeling scolded.

— I'm going to train you. — He patted the girl's back. — Bring your stuff, I'll take you to a place.

Maeve went for her coat and began to gather up her gear.

— What are you doing here, Reid?

Spencer smiled in a genuine and innocent way, Derek smiled trying to hide a laugh.

— I came to watch.

— To watch, huh?

— Yeah.— shrugs.— Sometimes I go and watch Garcia work, also JJ, and be useful to them if they need me... What's wrong? It's normal.

Reid and Morgan missed the new case due to other business, but if the team ever needs them they'll be on their way.

The three present were transported in Morgan's car, until it took the boys to a desolate place that he knew.

— Looks like the place where you would hide a body. —It was the first thing Maeve said as she stepped out of the car.

— We can always hide the body of Reid. — Morgan said as he took off his sunglasses.

— Why mine?

— You're the most scrawny.— They both answered at the same time, which made it clear that they thought the same thing.

— Hunter. — Morgan hissed at her like a dog and dumped her stuff under the shade of a tree, which Spencer would then be asleep from watching them shoot all afternoon. — Welcome to Morgan Park.

— I've never heard of this place.

— Because it's not called that, will you shut up, Reid? I discovered this place one day when my car broke down, I actually got lost. I was really late for work and Hotch had to come get me. I've been here for hours.

The place seemed to be an abandoned piece of land, a possible unfinished construction. The vegetation seemed to have advanced for a long time, because of how it covered some machinery, and the small trees that shaded their place.

— Pretty girl. You are going to shoot at different distances, each time further away, you got it ?

Maeve nodded as she put on her goggles.

— Only you and that girl are capable of wearing that outside of a training ground.

Spencer was going to object to contradict him but he stopped realizing that Derek was right.

They were arduous hours in which Maeve even had to change weapons several times, running out of ammunition for each one of them.

They discovered something that afternoon, maybe she was not the best shot but the girl had great ability to move her weapon from one pistol to another so quickly and smoothly that she was barely able to feel the change.

She progressed progressively, it seemed she just needed a change of instructor, she was still a beginner who couldn't get enough of her to put her in the field of fire with a weapon, but it was a matter of practice.

With Morgan's help she'll be shooting cases in no time if she wanted to.

The sky started to turn orange. It was just a matter of time until night fell.

Spencer who was lying under the tree as if he was the one who had all afternoon jogging in the sun and shooting fake dolls.

The heat from their bodies faded naturally as the orange color was replaced by dark blue in the sky. The breeze became more agreeable to it.

— We're sorry to interrupt your rest, Dr. Reid, but it's time to go. — Derek was trying to catch his breath, just like Maeve was.

He almost responds to not being interrupted by the sound of a cell phone.

— What's up, babe? — Morgan answers the line. —Yes I'm here. How- García, go slowly, I'm not understanding you.

— Morgan. — The said turned when he heard his name come from a whisper from Maeve who was behind him.

There was a man contracting her to his body while pointing a gun at the girl's throat.

— Put the gun down. — He answers this to Spencer who, now was behind Morgan's back. He obeyed what he asked. — Push the gun at me.

It was more difficult to discern their movements as the darkness advanced.

— It appears to have hostages. — Elle shouts from the other side of the place seeing four silhouettes in the distance.

— Garcia says she was talking to Morgan and someone interrupted the call. —Informs Gideon with a serious voice. — Three of our agents are there. Don't shoot.

Morgan informed hours before what happened between Hotchner and Hunter, for which he warned that he would assume the responsibility of training her today. Gideon being aware of every detail, For the bad or good luck of the team; An unknown man, with a robust body and suicidal tendencies, decided to flee when he thought he would be arrested by the FBI, arriving with the remaining trio of the team.

— You don't want to hurt her I know it.  — Derek spoke by holding his hands up in the air so he could see them, and speaking persuasively.

The subject's weapon was simultaneously traveling between Maeve's neck and her own head.

— Give me the car keys. — His voice was scared and shaky even though he tried to be rude.

— Reid. Give the keys. — Morgan prayed inwardly that his partner understood what he meant.

Spencer cleared his throat before speaking.

— They are in the passenger seat. — He took a small step forward indicating that he would move on in his search for the keys.

The unsub warned him to back off, and he would search for them without help. The man pushed Maeve's knees forward, but as soon as Maeve turned around, Derek struggled with the gun in his hands to get it from her.

A few meters behind was Elle waiting for an order to move.

Two shots were heard and that's when the team intervened.

— Hunter. — Her name left Elle's lips as a sigh of relief to see that it was she who was holding the gun.

She had wounded the subject in the wrist, unusual when it comes to shooting, but seeing him distracted by Morgan gave her the advantage of using her own weapon.

The crowd from the team was beginning to arrive, and the lights from the sirens gave the scene some clarity.

— You almost shot me too, Pretty girl.— He seemed to say it gracefully, without even looking annoyed. — I think you hit him on the little finger.

— It was all very dark, I was afraid that I could really hurt you.— She said being honest.

— Wait, What did you say? — He was starting to make fun of it. — You was afraid? So you don't just think of yourself?

— Don't get any ideas, you're a coworker I should have protected. —She is making excuses but she laughs just like him. — I don't want the awareness of a death in my head.

— You did a good job kid. — He ruffled her hair.

She begins to understand why Garcia likes the guy. Both being two of the people who knew the truth welcomed her into the team with love from her.

Maeve stopped the game with Morgan as she watched the team gather around the ambulance. The two exchanged glances and soon joined them.

The scene was Spencer Reid lying on a stretcher while her hands seemed to cover the right side of her abdomen. Maeve covered her mouth with both hands in an act of surprise.

—  Reid ! — Derek yelled and went to his friend's side.

Spencer was injured in what Maeve believes was her stray bullet, she fired twice but only hit once.

— He'll be fine. — Elle says. —Need a few days rest.

Hotchner could only keep his gaze on the wounded man and Jason Gideon, knowing that Gideon would understand what he meant with just one look.

Interpretation of looks that Derek could interpret.

— I gave the shot. — He rushed to say.

— Greenaway reported that Maeve fired the shot.

Derek knew Hotchner wouldn't take this as an accident.

— I gave him the order. Reid's injury is on me.

— Talk about this when Reid's gone. — Gideon's voice was harsher than usual and both agents fell silent.

— I'll go with him — And then it's Elle who gets into the ambulance with the boy, who despite having a tired look just tried to smile through the pain, pressing his lips together.

— Spencer I didn't want to ...— Then the doors close, leaving Maeve speechless.

Maeve didn't show up for work the day after that, nor the day after that.

Spencer's injury is a reminder of why she doesn't allow herself to have nice things.

A day without showing up for work was enough time to figure them out and get some extra money. It didn't take a genius to deduce that they would kick her out of the place.

Pretty girl, things are complicated around here,

It would be a good idea not to show up for a few days.

maybe a week or until Reid rejoins.

Morgan's message came at the right time, taking this as an obvious sign that she should leave.

The message wasn't necessary though, because by the time Reid is better she doesn't plan to be in town.

The brunette took a look at the backpack on the bed. She is forced to leave her clothes behind once more.

— Plain baggage. — She says to herself out loud and pulls out a few things. She carrying money, a coat, and her laptop.

She doubted when she saw how the weapon resided among her things. She could get her into more trouble than this she could get him out of, but still, she stuck the gun in her pants.

— García. — Maeve feared that she would not answer her call. But she smiled without even realizing it when she heard her voice.

She gave her word to stay away from the FBI, but it made her happy to think that she had someone in there.

— What's up, sweetie?

— i want a favour. — She heard how the woman complained and denied.— A little one...

It was only when Maeve said what she wanted that he agreed to help her, knowing she wouldn't get in trouble for it.

— You better not be wrong, García. — Maeve whispers to herself as she sees the fire escape she was standing on.— Don't need trespassing on my records now...

She climbed a couple of floors, losing count of how many she's already climbed, stopping at a window that screamed the name of who lived there.

— Who put these chairs in the middle of a window?...— She mumbles, trying not to make noise and move the furniture without dropping that board game.

She enters carefully and closes the window behind her. Next to her is a bookcase that caught her attention, that she would surely rummage through its pages later to see what kind of books it contains.

She can't remember the last time she read something.

I would like to read something fantasy. Thought

Maeve's boots this time were thick-heeled, making a sound in her step, which ruined the idea of being cautious. But Maeve's footsteps weren't the only ones that were heard, the prevention of a few slow footsteps approaching where she was.

— It's not what it seems. — Maeve spoke as she raised both arms when she saw the gun pointed at her.

— Maeve ? Y-you scared me, sorry. —Spencer did not hesitate to lower the gun.

This being armed and defensive is something that he would leave to his coworkers, but hearing noises knowing that he lived alone, caused him to panic.

— What are you doing here?

— I understand, I didn't want to talk to the person who shot me either, but I felt the need to come here before-

— Maeve. — Spencer cut her off, letting out a light laugh. — I mean, why didn't you just use the door?

— Not my style.  —The girl smiled without showing her teeth, pursing her lips and trying to resume the conversation. — There are words you didn't get to hear while you were bleeding to death.

The frankness with some humor is what made Maeve less uncomfortable when she couldn't find the right words, so she went on.

— To death...

— I'm sorry. — Again the awkward smile made presence in her.— Well ...it wasn't hard, I think that was all.

she scratched the back of her neck with slight discomfort. Expressing her guilt wasn't her strong suit.

— Cha cha, Reid. — She was ready to go out the window again and her gun accidentally falls to the ground.

— Wait.  — Spencer stepped forward, Maeve noticing that he was limping, causing her to fix her gaze on the boy's abdomen. He tried to bend down to pick it up but she did it for him.

— Where are you going in such a hurry?—  He was looking at her backpack where she had kept the gun now.

— How long did they tell you that you would get better?— She changes the subject when she sees him hurt and feels guilty.

— Two weeks max. It was superficial. —Shallow or not, Maeve felt guilt.— Did you know that five hundred people are injured every day by firearms?

— They are more than one hundred and eighty thousand a year...shit.

— Only thirty percent are injured by a teammate.

— I mean... one hundred and fifty people can be hurt today? Detectives, police...

— One hundred and fifty today...one hundred and fifty tomorrow, and so on for the rest of the year.— Spencer rambled.— Hey, you're good with numbers. You do calculations faster than average.

— I was the best in my class since kindergarten.

— Me too ! — There was emotion in Spencer's words, feeling like he could finally be understood.

— I went to public school. — Maeve laughed.— I wouldn't presume to be the best there. Being top of public school is like... being just average among nerds.— The girl resumes her closeness to the bookshelf.

— I studied in Vegas. — Spencer shrugs, but doesn't laugh, not sharing the idea of seeing the girl devalue her intelligence.

— What do you do?— The boy did not appear to understand the question. — Better than the rest, I mean.

—  I don't know actually... — He tried to think of something but Maeve spoke before answering..

— Oh, come on. Derek told me that you read fast.

— Wait, have you talked to Morgan about me? — This seems overwhelming and caused a blush on his face.

— I read fast too. — Although Maeve seemed unconcerned with the question, she pulls a book off the shelf. — I can read a book in one night..

— I read twenty thousand words a minute.

—...All right, you win.

Imagine what that brain could do, Maeve. Thought.

— Will you read me a book?

Spencer cleared his throat. —Didn't you have to go somewhere?

— Are you kicking me out, Reid ?

— Oh my god, no! It's just that I can't stand on my feet that long without getting tired.

— can i come in ?

That's when Spencer notices that they haven't gotten past the little corner in the window this whole time.

— For s-sure. — He steps aside so she can pass.— What do you usually read?

Spencer followed her into the small room, both sitting across from each other.

— Definitely things other than you. — Maeve replied, seeing the book she had in her hands.

Spencer leans over a little to see which one she's picked.

— To Kill a Mockingbird ? Haven't you read it? I thought we all read this once in school.

— Oh yes I know the book. But I only remember fragments of him.— Maeve offers the book to Spencer to read.

— Do you understand that I only read quickly?... I don't talk fast, no matter how many times Morgan tries to make me believe otherwise.

— Read, Reid.