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geekystudmuffinTitle: The Expansion of Two Natures, part two
Authors:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
innerslytherin and severity_softly
Pairing: Hotch/Rossi, and a little Hotch/Haley
Rating: PG for this part, NC-17 overall
Summary: When Aaron Hotchner is new to the BAU, he finds himself working closely with SSA David Rossi--one of the original founders of the department. As their relationship progresses, they realize what they have together is more than friendship...but circumstances keep them from having all that they knew they could have together. Years later, Dave has a second chance, just when Aaron needs a friend the most...
Word count: ~5,800 for this part, ~78,000 overall
Notes: RP format. Mild AU, as we played fast and loose with Hotch's already screwy back story (especially in regards to his work history and the timeline of his marriage to Haley). If you find any glaring errors, feel free to point them out. :)
"Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other." - Felix Adler
Part One
Dave came around a corner at full tilt and stopped, bewildered. He'd thought he was chasing a guy down a simple alley, and suddenly he found himself in what was almost a courtyard--if a trash-strewn stretch of pavement that smelled of piss could be called a courtyard. And the unsub was nowhere in sight. "Shit," he swore softly, and reached for his radio.
"Hotch, I lost him," he mumbled, practically eating the mouthpiece in his attempt to be quiet. "He might be headed your way." He didn't lower his gun, and his eyes kept roving over his surroundings as he spoke. Where was the son of a bitch? They couldn't let him slip away again. They'd been close two weeks ago, and he'd given them another body, taunting them, after that.
Off to his left something clattered, not loud enough to be trashcan lids, but maybe an empty bottle or something. He took off running again, telling his radio, "Heading south--I think--I'm behind a row of brick buildings." He entered a narrower alley, his gun at the ready. He was going to nail this asshole if it killed him.
As he approached a recessed doorway, he did something stupid--he didn't slow down. At the moment he came abreast of the recess, something cracked with mind-shattering force into his jaw. Dave grunted and reeled back, his gun spinning out of his hand, and that same something bashed him in the temple. He went down to his knees with a groan. A series of kicks to his ribs and kidneys had him on the ground, curled to try to protect himself.
The pain was mercifully short before everything faded to black.
Aaron didn't bother to spare a glance at Gideon before breaking off into a run in the direction of the sudden commotion. He could hear the older agent's footfalls behind him, and as they got closer, he could hear Dave's protesting cries of pain stop. Fuck. When he rounded the corner into the alley, their unsub was standing over Dave with a blade, too close. And when he saw them, he moved too quickly toward Dave.
Both Aaron and Gideon fired, and the unsub went staggering backwards and fell. Aaron didn't have a moment to spare to even consider that he'd just shot (and probably killed) someone. He keyed his radio for EMTs as Gideon went to check on the unsub, and rushed to Dave, dropping to his knees and rolling Dave over, checking his pulse. "He's unconscious."
Gideon checked the unsub for a pulse, though it was obvious the man was dead. "Ride with him."
Aaron glanced up at Gideon, but Gideon wasn't looking at him. He looked back down at Dave and he felt ill.
It was a thankfully short ride to the hospital, and Aaron sat in the waiting room for a long time, fidgeting until the nurses said he could go in and see Dave. Dave wasn't awake yet, but Aaron went in anyway and slumped into the chair near Dave's bed, trying to ignore how weak and battered Dave looked. Aaron had had a lot of time in the silence of the waiting room to think about what had happened, about the sick jolt he'd felt when he thought Dave was about to be killed, when he thought he was going to lose Dave.
Not that Dave was his. Aaron knew he shouldn't think that way. It was foolish, not to mention dangerous. That didn't mean he could stop the thoughts, though, especially when they were at work and any wrong move could mean an untimely end for either of them.
"I killed someone for you," Aaron murmured. "You bastard." He dropped his head back against the chair and slumped down, ready to wait until Dave woke up, however long that took.
"Thought I'd name m'next cat that," Dave mumbled through a mouth that felt mushy. His head was throbbing and it hurt to breathe. But considering he was surprised to be waking up at all, he couldn't complain. "You get him?"
Aaron sat right back up as soon as Dave spoke and stared at him. For a moment he didn't say anything, but his lips were curling in spite of himself, not only because Dave was awake, but also because he had attempted a joke in the state he was in. "Got him before he got you," he said after a pause.
Dave sighed and rolled his head so he could see Aaron better. "Was stupid. Didn't check the doorway." He blinked and studied Aaron. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Aaron said, and looked at Dave, then let his lips quirk to the side. "Scuffed my knees up, ruined my pants... but fine," he teased.
Dave managed a weak laugh. "See a pretty nurse about it?"
Aaron laughed. "Not a pretty one," he joked. "Do you need something?"
"Nnh." Dave closed his eyes. "They tell you how bad I am? Anything broken, or just bruised?"
"You have a few broken ribs. They said you were lucky they didn't have to wire your jaw." Aaron pushed out of his chair and walked over to the bed, standing over it. Then he decided 'what the hell', and sat on the edge. "I told them to do it anyway--it might give me a bit of a reprieve--but they were unfortunately more ethical than that."
Dave laughed again, louder this time, and tried to ignore the bolt of pain it sent through his head. "Nice." Actually it was nice, waking up and having Aaron here. He shifted so his hand brushed Aaron's hip, just enough for a little contact. "I thought he was going to kill me," he confessed.
Aaron's eyes flicked to the where Dave's hand went and then back to Dave. He didn't move. You're an idiot. Don't encourage this. You're having a stress reaction to almost losing him to-- He's not yours! He cleared his throat. "He was going to kill you."
"You saved my life." Dave's voice was quiet. He knew anyone would have done it. It shouldn't matter that it was Aaron. But it did. He smiled and closed his eyes. "Thanks."
Aaron nodded. "I killed someone." He realized, after Dave thanked him, that he didn't regret it. He wasn't happy about it, but he did the right thing.
Dave's eyes opened again. After a moment he inhaled, winced, and lifted his hand to rest it on Aaron's arm. "I'm sorry."
Aaron shook his head and ignored the fleeting impulse to cover Dave's hand with his own. He wondered if it was the drugs Dave was surely on that was causing all the touching, though Aaron couldn't deny that some small part of him liked it. "I'd do it again."
"Mm. I'm still sorry." Dave closed his eyes again, but he didn't stop touching Aaron. He'd done something stupid and because of that impulsive mistake, Aaron had been forced to take a life. It didn't matter that it was a man who'd sadistically hunted and killed people; it was still a person who lived and breathed, and didn't any longer because of Aaron's skill with a gun. It was selfish, but Dave wished it hadn't been his fault.
Aaron swallowed and glanced out the door to see no one was there, then slid his hand over Dave's in spite of himself. "Don't be."
The touch warmed Dave straight through, making his heart jolt almost uncomfortably. He opened his eyes to look up at Aaron, his gaze more affectionate than he'd meant it to be. "You're a good man, Aaron."
Aaron sucked in a breath at the expression on Dave's face. "I try to be," he said, and drew his hand away because it was a reminder of the ways sometimes he wasn't. What am I doing?
Dave hummed and let his eyes close again. "They going to let me leave any time soon?" That's it, change the subject, he told himself. Back away from letting him see how you feel. He's going to get married, you stupid bastard. Let him be. "Or you going to take care of Shithead for me?"
Aaron laughed. "Who takes care of him while you're on cases?"
"He likes you more than he likes my upstairs neighbor." Dave forced a smile, despite the sting in his lip.
"Yeah, I'll watch him," Aaron said, his eyes traveling Dave's bruised face.
"That mean they're not letting me out?" Dave shifted, then grunted at the stabby pain in his side. "Is Gideon angry?"
"No, he's not." Aaron watched Dave for a moment. "Are you sure you don't need a nurse?"
"Nah, you're better company." Dave's lips quirked a little. "And just as pretty."
Aaron blinked at Dave, his eyebrows lifting. "Strike that. You've had quite enough morphine already."
Dave laughed and closed his eyes again. "Thanks, Hotshot," he murmured.
"You're welcome," Aaron said, smiling. "And thanks for calling me 'pretty', I suppose. First time I've ever heard that one."
Eyes still closed, Dave smiled. He liked it when he could hear the amusement in Aaron's voice. He liked it when he could actually make Aaron crack a smile, for that matter. God, you've got it bad, he told himself scornfully. "Hard to believe," he mumbled. He was getting sleepy again.
Aaron watched Dave for a bit longer, seeing as how Dave wasn't looking at him now. "Mmm," he acknowledged, but there was nothing more he could think to say about that. "I should go call Gideon, tell him you're awake."
"Nnnh. Not for long. Tell him to wait a few more minutes before showing up." Dave realized he was still touching Aaron's arm, but he couldn't make himself let go.
"I'll send in more drugs before he gets here," Aaron said, smiling softly again. He slid off the bed, turning his arm under Dave's hand to get out from under it without jostling him, but then at the last minute slid his hand down the underside of Dave's arm to take his hand. He gave it a brief squeeze, then let go and started for the door.
Surprised at that touch, Dave managed to open his eyes just enough to watch Aaron go. "You'll come back?"
Aaron felt something in his chest tug funnily and he paused. God, this was trouble. But the way Dave sounded so needy made Aaron not want to leave at all. "Yeah," he said, glancing back.
Dave smiled. "See you, Hotshot."
***
Haley called the Sunday she was supposed to return to Virginia to tell Aaron that she was staying in Georgia another week. Maybe a little longer. She didn't need to tell him she was having second thoughts about moving. Aaron knew that without her needing to actually say the words. It was disappointing and it hurt. It really hurt. But it wasn't entirely unexpected.
"She'll come around," he told Shithead as the cat headbutted his leg where he sat at Dave's kitchen table. He was eating cold chicken and telling himself he was only staying at Dave's place while Dave was in the hospital so he could look after the cat, but he knew damn well all he really needed to do was come over, make sure the cat had food and water, scoop its litter, and go home.
He told himself that he was sleeping in Dave's bed because Dave would have insisted he not sleep on the couch if he knew Aaron was staying too. It was probably true that Dave would have insisted if he knew Aaron was staying at the house, but Aaron knew that was as much a bullshit excuse as the other.
Still, he did it anyway. Every night he curled up under Dave's covers and then berated himself for it for it for a good thirty minutes before losing himself to restless sleep. When he woke up, he'd feel guilty, but he'd do it again the next night anyway. He told himself that if Haley was indulging the idea of leaving him after as long as they'd been together, he had a right to indulge himself in other thoughts too. Thoughts about Dave that he shouldn't be having. It was stupid... because he wasn't gay. But the thoughts still came on a regular basis anyway.
Lying there with Shithead curled up at his stomach and wondering if he was sleeping on Dave's "side" of the bed, though, he could easily see that the attraction Dave had for him wasn't as one-sided as Aaron wanted to believe. "Settle down," he told the cat. It was late and Aaron couldn't sleep, and he was blaming it on the cat moving around even though he knew it wasn't the cat's fault. Still, after Aaron placed a firm hand on it, it settled and purred and the noise and feel of the purring was soothing. It was another warm body that was enjoying his company, even if that body didn't happen to be human. He started to drift in and out of sleep.
Dave pulled into the dark parking lot and shut off the ignition, then just sat there for a minute with his eyes closed. It was very good to be home. Spending a week by yourself in a hospital five hundred miles from home wasn't anyone's idea of a good time, even if it wasn't exactly unusual for someone in his line of work. After a minute he sighed and got out of the car. It was late and he just wanted to go to bed. He left his ready bag in the car and headed up the steps to his apartment, moving carefully thanks to his still-healing ribs.
When he let himself in the apartment, he was surprised to see a suit jacket draped over the back of a chair. It had to be Aaron's; he knew he hadn't left anything out before flying out. "Where's Shithead?" he said, surprised the cat hadn't met him at the door. Usually it was twining around his ankles trying to trip him from the moment he got home.
Shrugging, he headed back for the bedroom, untucking and unbuttoning his shirt. When he got to the bedroom door, the little pieces added up into a whole that...made absolutely no sense. Aaron was sleeping in his bed. Aaron was sleeping in his bed. Aaron was sleeping in his bed.
"What the hell?" Dave breathed, trying to ignore the little thrill that sight sent through him. He hadn't been expecting Aaron to stay with Shithead. Not that he minded, of course, but... Well, what should he do now? He could wake Aaron up, which is what he probably should do. He could sleep on the couch, which didn't sound appealing with broken ribs. Or he could climb in bed with Aaron and deal with it in the morning.
Dave stifled a yawn, dropped his clothes on the floor and crawled under the covers in just his boxers.
Aaron had roused slightly when he heard the door, but had drifted back to sleep quickly. Still, the dip in the bed under another person's weight woke him again. Mostly. "Mmph, Haley?" he murmured. "I thought you weren't coming ba--" He trailed off when it hit him that it wouldn't be Haley at all. His eyes flew open. Oh God. He stayed silent for a long moment, trying to decide what to do. "Dave?" he finally whispered, not sure he really wanted an answer.
"They let me come home early," Dave said. "And I'm exhausted, so don't argue with me. Go back to--wait." He pushed himself up on one elbow, ignoring the way it twinged. "Haley's not coming back?"
Aaron sighed. "Not for another week at least." Now he wanted to go back to sleep. Or leave. "Sorry, I thought I'd keep the cat company." And it could keep me company. "I can go." He started to shift to get up, realizing belatedly that he was in his boxers and an undershirt.
Dave reached out and pressed a hand against Aaron's chest. "Come on, Aaron, you're not stupid. You ought to realize I don't mind." He smiled slowly, knowing he shouldn't say what he was thinking, but wanting to distract Aaron from his obvious unhappiness about Haley. Not to mention Dave had a slight advantage here, if he wanted to press it. "Anyway, coming home to you in my bed is a very nice surprise."
Aaron settled back stiffly, and eventually rolled his head to face Dave. He could just make out the edges of Dave's expression, and it did something funny to him that Dave was smiling at him like that. "I shouldn't," he murmured. He meant more that just staying here to sleep.
Dave left his hand where it was, but settled down on his good side. "Probably not," he whispered. "But you're here, aren't you?" He was pretty sure Aaron hadn't come here just to keep the cat company. It warmed Dave to know Aaron had felt more at home here than in his own place.
Aaron swallowed hard. "I suppose so." Aaron didn't move out of Dave's touch, enjoying the warm spot against his chest through the guilt of it. He told himself not to touch Dave back, but he quickly remembered how well that had gone last time. "I didn't know what to do with myself," he admitted.
Dave shifted a little closer, though he was trying to leave Aaron plenty of space. "You're always welcome here," he murmured. "Why isn't she coming back yet?" He smiled as Shithead settled down between their ankles, purring.
"She didn't say, but I think we both know the answer," Aaron murmured, and slid his hand over Dave's, inwardly cursing himself.
Dave sucked in a breath, a flash of heat going all the way through his body when Aaron responded to that contact. "I'm so sorry, Aaron." He was sorry--even if he disliked Haley, even if he thought Haley didn't really understand what made Aaron tick--because Aaron was obviously unhappy about it. It was strange. Aaron was a strong man, perfectly capable of taking care of himself, and yet Dave always felt an indefinable urge to protect Aaron.
Aaron shook his head. "It's not you." His shifted his hand and laced his fingers with Dave's, then swallowed and sighed, but didn't say what he was thinking.
"I still don't like to see you unhappy," Dave said quietly. He wanted to wrap his arms around Aaron, hold him close, just to offer some comfort. He knew he shouldn't. He knew what he was already doing was dangerous enough. He was flirting with heartbreak, there was no other word for it. It was in his power to hurt both of them, and maybe Haley, too...though she seemed to be doing a good job of hurting people herself. "Aaron."
Aaron didn't move for a moment, but he eventually licked his lips and turned to look at Dave, trying to ignore the little jolt of something that went through him at the sound of his name spoken like that. "Yeah?"
Dave sighed. "You know how I feel about you. You can't not know." This is stupid, he told himself. You're being an asshole. He didn't care. He stroked his thumb over Aaron's and pushed himself up on his elbow again to look at Aaron. "Why haven't you told me to fuck off?" he whispered.
Aaron's eyebrows raised and lowered, and then he shook his head, his heart beating a funny irregular rhythm against his chest. "I haven't figured that part out yet," he admitted. God, this was uncomfortable. "Lie down. You're hurt."
So are you, Dave thought as he obeyed. It just isn't physical. "Let me know when you figure it out," he said aloud.
Aaron nodded and ran his thumb along Dave's. "Okay."
Dave woke warm and content, snuggled up against Aaron. His ribs were aching thanks to the weight of Aaron's arm draped over them, but he didn't move. It would be difficult to move even if he wanted to; Shithead was curled up against the small of his back, so if Dave rolled away from Aaron, he'd squish the cat.
He let out a tiny sigh and shifted his head a little to ease a crick in his neck, and closed his eyes again. He liked the warmth of Aaron's shoulder against his cheek.
Aaron felt Dave shift and sucked in a deep breath. It felt incredibly good waking up in someone else's arms, even if it did cause a jolt of guilt and panic to sweep through him. He didn't move for a moment until he thought he could properly breath again to speak, which took a little longer than he thought. Then it took him a few more moments to convince himself that neither one of them could deny this, and that they both were aware there was something between them, even if they wanted to deny it. "Morning," he murmured finally, and then promptly felt his breath leave him again.
"Morning," Dave whispered. He'd felt Aaron tense, then relax, but he wasn't jerking away and jumping out of bed. Dave slid a hand slowly up Aaron's arm, a careful exploration while he tried not to scare Aaron away. "Sleep all right?"
Aaron didn't say anything, he just nodded. Dave's hand was sending little shivers up his arm and down his spine, his pulse and breath quickening together.
"Me, too." Dave could feel Aaron responding to their closeness, and he spent a few moments telling himself this was a bad idea. He wasn't convinced. "I like waking up like this," he murmured, his hand slipping across Aaron's chest so Dave's thumb brushed at the dip in his collarbone, just above the neck of his undershirt.
Aaron drew a deep breath and held it. This was bad. Very Very Bad. He let his eyes flutter shut at the touch in spite of himself. "Mm-hmm."
Dave licked his lips. "Aaron," he breathed. He slid his hand up Aaron's neck to cup his cheek. He was about to cross the line. He wasn't sure if it would push Aaron over the edge or send him reeling back away from it. "Kiss me."
God, that sent an unexpected jolt of desire straight to Aaron's groin. He turned to look at Dave, feeling Dave's breath against his lips. "I--" He held Dave's gaze for a moment, feeling slightly ill just acknowledging how much he wanted to do what Dave asked him to. "Dave," he breathed.
"You want this," Dave said quietly. "Or at least you want to be wanted. You want to be put first in someone's life. And you know I would. Kiss me."
"That's not a very good reason to kiss you... because if that is the reason I want this, and... I do want it... that's not fair to you," Aaron murmured.
"I think I can handle it," Dave said, brushing his thumb across Aaron's cheek. "Kiss me, Aaron."
Aaron shivered. It was difficult to try to think about Haley with Dave looking at him like that. Not to mention they both knew she was thinking about not coming back to Virginia. At that thought, Aaron inched in a bit so that his nose was brushing Dave's, and then hesitated again. "I shouldn't," he whispered, but a tiny part of him hoped Dave would kiss him instead, so he could at least claim some sort of guilty innocence.
"I know," Dave replied. He held Aaron's gaze, his thumb stroking lightly down a jaw in need of a shave. When Aaron didn't pull away, Dave closed the distance between them, his lips eager but undemanding. A flash of heat went through him at the contact and he slid his fingers up into Aaron's hair.
That sent another spark of arousal through Aaron's entire body, and he kissed back automatically, sliding his arm more fully around Dave. His kiss was hesitant, almost teasing, and he felt like he was sinking just as much as he was soaring. God.
Dave let out a quiet noise and parted his lips, wanting to deepen the kiss. Dimly he was aware of a disgruntled miaow and a thump as Shithead left the bed. He ignored it, pressing closer to Aaron as their tongues met. He could feel Aaron's anxiety and tried to coax it away with strokes of his tongue. God, he'd wanted this for so many months now.
Aaron made a noise that was half-way between need and apprehension. His body wanted to give in--and part of his mind, if he was honest--but he couldn't stop thinking long enough to let it. He slid his fingers into Dave's hair, deepening the kiss for a moment, but when a jolt of lust ran through him at that, he sucked in a sharp breath and drew away. "I-- I shouldn't. I should go," he whispered quickly.
"I know," Dave managed, his breath coming fast. He didn't want Aaron to go. He wanted to kiss Aaron until all his protests faded. But he wasn't going to force this. Aaron wanted him, and Dave thought Aaron would choose him. But he wanted it to be a choice, not a seduction. So he let out a shuddery sigh and shifted back.
Aaron let out a shaky breath and let Dave go, then rolled onto his back. He almost couldn't believe he'd done what he had, except that he could, given the circumstances. "I'm sorry," he breathed, and threw the covers off himself, shifting to swing his legs off the edge of the bed.
Dave shook his head and rolled onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. "You don't owe me any apologies," he said quietly. I'm playing with fire. I can't complain if I get burned. He wasn't happy that Aaron was leaving, but he could understand.
"Yes, I do." Aaron ran his hand over his face and then dropped his head into his hands for a moment, his elbows on his knees. His was excited and hesitant to move at the moment, though his sudden overwhelming fear at what he might have just started--and possibly ruined--was starting to take its toll on his erection already.
Dave sighed and then reached out to rest his palm against Aaron's back. "I started this," he said. "I knew what I was doing, and that I shouldn't be doing it. Aaron, this isn't your fault."
"You're not to blame for my..." Indiscretions, he almost said, but shut his mouth in time. "Stupidity," he said instead, and then pushed off the bed to find his clothes.
Stung, Dave let his hand fall to the bed and stared at Aaron's back. "Thanks," he muttered, pissed at himself for being hurt by that word. He'd meant what he said, too. He wanted to be with Aaron, but he didn't blame Aaron for not wanting to cheat on the woman he'd been with since high school. And it would be cheating, Dave couldn't gloss over that just because they weren't married and Haley wasn't all that supportive of Aaron's job. Dave closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of Aaron getting dressed.
Aaron paused when Dave responded, wondering if he should reply, but then started pulling his clothes on again. "You know what I meant," he mumbled.
"Aaron, this doesn't change anything," Dave said. "We're still friends, we're still partners...it's fine. I'm not angry. I don't blame you."
Aaron paused and nodded, looking up at Dave again. "I'll let myself out," he said, and turned to go. He got to the door before he felt guilty and turned around. "Are you okay? Do you need anything? Tylenol? Ice? ...A stiff drink?"
Dave shook his head. "I drove myself home from the airport, I think I can get Tylenol if I need it," he said, managing a faint smile. "I'll be fine. See you at work tomorrow?"
"Okay," Aaron said. He needed to get out of here. Fast. Before he walked back to the bed. "See you at work." He turned around and left, letting himself out the front door with the key Dave had given him to watch the cat. He would give it back at work.
*****
Dave was as good as his word. When he came back to work, he acted like everything was normal. He didn't pretend they hadn't kissed, but he didn't treat Aaron any differently than he had been. He still called him 'Hotshot' under his breath occasionally, just to make him smile, and he still partnered Aaron on cases. It was true that he declined an invitation to join Haley and Aaron for dinner the next time she could be bothered to visit, but he honestly thought the invitation had only been made out of politeness, anyway.
He'd given up on flirting with Doris, though, and didn't bother going out of his way to find some other girl to flirt with. He had to admit, he felt as though he'd gone into a holding pattern, like he was waiting to find out which way Haley would jump, so he could see whether he had a hope in hell of making a relationship with Aaron, or if he should start actively looking again for Wife Number Two.
"Here," he said, coming into the BAU late one May afternoon and slapping a stack of papers down on the desk he and Aaron shared. "Latest results of the custodials they're doing out at San Quentin. Oh, and a new case. Athens, Georgia. Thought you might want to take it."
Aaron glanced up from his desk to the papers, then took the custodials, leaving the Athens case where it was. He gave Dave an arch look that said don't ask. He wasn't overly close with his mother, and he and Haley weren't getting along very well right now either.
Dave shrugged. "Well, I guess I could go down by myself, but I already told Gideon we were on it." He'd thought maybe Aaron would like a chance to work in state, maybe get an evening to spend with Haley. He pulled a chair over and sat down, flipping through the file. "Ten year old boy and two fourteen year old boys, all raped before being strangled." He shook his head.
Aaron drew a breath and turned to face Dave, letting their knees touch. He ignored it. He'd been trying to ignore everything he felt toward Dave lately. All they'd done was kiss, but Aaron felt awful anyway. Of course part of him wanted to do it again, and every time he spoke to Haley over the phone he was tempted to go to Dave's. Dave hadn't let him return the key. Of course, that only made it worse.
For her part, Haley's "visit" home had now lasted a month. She'd told the school she was supposed to be working at that something had come up and she'd be able to start the following fall. Aaron and Haley had only ever split once before, and it obviously hadn't been this serious in high school. And Aaron was now, for all intents and purposes, living alone for the first time in his life.
Generally speaking, he was lonely. And miserable. And work, as gruesome as it could be, had turned into the highlight of his days. He knew Dave saw it. He was fairly certain Gideon saw it too, but at least no one was prying.
He let his eyes travel over the faces of the young boys in the photographs. The first ones smiling and happy, while the second ones were cold--little boys buried in shallow, red-clay graves. Aaron nodded. "When does the plane leave?"
"Plane?" Dave snorted. "Remember that memo about cutting costs a couple weeks ago? This one's close enough, Gideon said we can drive. Never mind it's a good eight hours of driving." He shook his head. "They've been giving him grief over budget expenses, I guess. I don't know why our department. At least we're not all demanding PCs or something."
"Great. Stuck with you and Gideon in a car together for eight hours," Aaron said, rolling his eyes. Of course, it really wasn't that so much as the fact that evidence could degrade quickly--witnesses who saw something a little out of place might forget the details, fingerprints could be wiped away, by accident or with intent. The first hours after any murder were the most crucial to be able to investigate. He took one of the pictures from Dave and frowned at it.
"You should be so lucky," Dave said, pulling a fresh notebook out of one of the desk drawers. "Gideon's got a court date in Philadelphia in two days. Something about the serial arsonist case he consulted on. Just you and me this time, Hotshot." He grinned and added some fresh pencils to his briefcase. "The bad news is, we have to take a company car. Nothing very sporty in the pool, I'm afraid."
Aaron expelled a breath that was almost a laugh and started picking up his own things as well. "Shotgun."
"Oh, so you're letting me drive." Dave's grin widened. "Excellent. Maybe we'll make it in less than eight hours." He winked and shut the desk drawer. "Come on, Aaron, aren't you ready yet?" He slapped Aaron lightly on the shoulder and headed for the door. As he went past Gideon's office, he said, more quietly, "I'll behave myself."
Aaron shook his head and stood, grabbing his briefcase. He almost didn't hear what Dave said to Gideon, but the sound carried just enough, and Aaron sighed and started toward the door, giving Gideon a wave goodbye without actually looking up.
Part Three
Authors:
innerslytherin and severity_softlyPairing: Hotch/Rossi, and a little Hotch/Haley
Rating: PG for this part, NC-17 overall
Summary: When Aaron Hotchner is new to the BAU, he finds himself working closely with SSA David Rossi--one of the original founders of the department. As their relationship progresses, they realize what they have together is more than friendship...but circumstances keep them from having all that they knew they could have together. Years later, Dave has a second chance, just when Aaron needs a friend the most...
Word count: ~5,800 for this part, ~78,000 overall
Notes: RP format. Mild AU, as we played fast and loose with Hotch's already screwy back story (especially in regards to his work history and the timeline of his marriage to Haley). If you find any glaring errors, feel free to point them out. :)
Part One
Dave came around a corner at full tilt and stopped, bewildered. He'd thought he was chasing a guy down a simple alley, and suddenly he found himself in what was almost a courtyard--if a trash-strewn stretch of pavement that smelled of piss could be called a courtyard. And the unsub was nowhere in sight. "Shit," he swore softly, and reached for his radio.
"Hotch, I lost him," he mumbled, practically eating the mouthpiece in his attempt to be quiet. "He might be headed your way." He didn't lower his gun, and his eyes kept roving over his surroundings as he spoke. Where was the son of a bitch? They couldn't let him slip away again. They'd been close two weeks ago, and he'd given them another body, taunting them, after that.
Off to his left something clattered, not loud enough to be trashcan lids, but maybe an empty bottle or something. He took off running again, telling his radio, "Heading south--I think--I'm behind a row of brick buildings." He entered a narrower alley, his gun at the ready. He was going to nail this asshole if it killed him.
As he approached a recessed doorway, he did something stupid--he didn't slow down. At the moment he came abreast of the recess, something cracked with mind-shattering force into his jaw. Dave grunted and reeled back, his gun spinning out of his hand, and that same something bashed him in the temple. He went down to his knees with a groan. A series of kicks to his ribs and kidneys had him on the ground, curled to try to protect himself.
The pain was mercifully short before everything faded to black.
Aaron didn't bother to spare a glance at Gideon before breaking off into a run in the direction of the sudden commotion. He could hear the older agent's footfalls behind him, and as they got closer, he could hear Dave's protesting cries of pain stop. Fuck. When he rounded the corner into the alley, their unsub was standing over Dave with a blade, too close. And when he saw them, he moved too quickly toward Dave.
Both Aaron and Gideon fired, and the unsub went staggering backwards and fell. Aaron didn't have a moment to spare to even consider that he'd just shot (and probably killed) someone. He keyed his radio for EMTs as Gideon went to check on the unsub, and rushed to Dave, dropping to his knees and rolling Dave over, checking his pulse. "He's unconscious."
Gideon checked the unsub for a pulse, though it was obvious the man was dead. "Ride with him."
Aaron glanced up at Gideon, but Gideon wasn't looking at him. He looked back down at Dave and he felt ill.
It was a thankfully short ride to the hospital, and Aaron sat in the waiting room for a long time, fidgeting until the nurses said he could go in and see Dave. Dave wasn't awake yet, but Aaron went in anyway and slumped into the chair near Dave's bed, trying to ignore how weak and battered Dave looked. Aaron had had a lot of time in the silence of the waiting room to think about what had happened, about the sick jolt he'd felt when he thought Dave was about to be killed, when he thought he was going to lose Dave.
Not that Dave was his. Aaron knew he shouldn't think that way. It was foolish, not to mention dangerous. That didn't mean he could stop the thoughts, though, especially when they were at work and any wrong move could mean an untimely end for either of them.
"I killed someone for you," Aaron murmured. "You bastard." He dropped his head back against the chair and slumped down, ready to wait until Dave woke up, however long that took.
"Thought I'd name m'next cat that," Dave mumbled through a mouth that felt mushy. His head was throbbing and it hurt to breathe. But considering he was surprised to be waking up at all, he couldn't complain. "You get him?"
Aaron sat right back up as soon as Dave spoke and stared at him. For a moment he didn't say anything, but his lips were curling in spite of himself, not only because Dave was awake, but also because he had attempted a joke in the state he was in. "Got him before he got you," he said after a pause.
Dave sighed and rolled his head so he could see Aaron better. "Was stupid. Didn't check the doorway." He blinked and studied Aaron. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Aaron said, and looked at Dave, then let his lips quirk to the side. "Scuffed my knees up, ruined my pants... but fine," he teased.
Dave managed a weak laugh. "See a pretty nurse about it?"
Aaron laughed. "Not a pretty one," he joked. "Do you need something?"
"Nnh." Dave closed his eyes. "They tell you how bad I am? Anything broken, or just bruised?"
"You have a few broken ribs. They said you were lucky they didn't have to wire your jaw." Aaron pushed out of his chair and walked over to the bed, standing over it. Then he decided 'what the hell', and sat on the edge. "I told them to do it anyway--it might give me a bit of a reprieve--but they were unfortunately more ethical than that."
Dave laughed again, louder this time, and tried to ignore the bolt of pain it sent through his head. "Nice." Actually it was nice, waking up and having Aaron here. He shifted so his hand brushed Aaron's hip, just enough for a little contact. "I thought he was going to kill me," he confessed.
Aaron's eyes flicked to the where Dave's hand went and then back to Dave. He didn't move. You're an idiot. Don't encourage this. You're having a stress reaction to almost losing him to-- He's not yours! He cleared his throat. "He was going to kill you."
"You saved my life." Dave's voice was quiet. He knew anyone would have done it. It shouldn't matter that it was Aaron. But it did. He smiled and closed his eyes. "Thanks."
Aaron nodded. "I killed someone." He realized, after Dave thanked him, that he didn't regret it. He wasn't happy about it, but he did the right thing.
Dave's eyes opened again. After a moment he inhaled, winced, and lifted his hand to rest it on Aaron's arm. "I'm sorry."
Aaron shook his head and ignored the fleeting impulse to cover Dave's hand with his own. He wondered if it was the drugs Dave was surely on that was causing all the touching, though Aaron couldn't deny that some small part of him liked it. "I'd do it again."
"Mm. I'm still sorry." Dave closed his eyes again, but he didn't stop touching Aaron. He'd done something stupid and because of that impulsive mistake, Aaron had been forced to take a life. It didn't matter that it was a man who'd sadistically hunted and killed people; it was still a person who lived and breathed, and didn't any longer because of Aaron's skill with a gun. It was selfish, but Dave wished it hadn't been his fault.
Aaron swallowed and glanced out the door to see no one was there, then slid his hand over Dave's in spite of himself. "Don't be."
The touch warmed Dave straight through, making his heart jolt almost uncomfortably. He opened his eyes to look up at Aaron, his gaze more affectionate than he'd meant it to be. "You're a good man, Aaron."
Aaron sucked in a breath at the expression on Dave's face. "I try to be," he said, and drew his hand away because it was a reminder of the ways sometimes he wasn't. What am I doing?
Dave hummed and let his eyes close again. "They going to let me leave any time soon?" That's it, change the subject, he told himself. Back away from letting him see how you feel. He's going to get married, you stupid bastard. Let him be. "Or you going to take care of Shithead for me?"
Aaron laughed. "Who takes care of him while you're on cases?"
"He likes you more than he likes my upstairs neighbor." Dave forced a smile, despite the sting in his lip.
"Yeah, I'll watch him," Aaron said, his eyes traveling Dave's bruised face.
"That mean they're not letting me out?" Dave shifted, then grunted at the stabby pain in his side. "Is Gideon angry?"
"No, he's not." Aaron watched Dave for a moment. "Are you sure you don't need a nurse?"
"Nah, you're better company." Dave's lips quirked a little. "And just as pretty."
Aaron blinked at Dave, his eyebrows lifting. "Strike that. You've had quite enough morphine already."
Dave laughed and closed his eyes again. "Thanks, Hotshot," he murmured.
"You're welcome," Aaron said, smiling. "And thanks for calling me 'pretty', I suppose. First time I've ever heard that one."
Eyes still closed, Dave smiled. He liked it when he could hear the amusement in Aaron's voice. He liked it when he could actually make Aaron crack a smile, for that matter. God, you've got it bad, he told himself scornfully. "Hard to believe," he mumbled. He was getting sleepy again.
Aaron watched Dave for a bit longer, seeing as how Dave wasn't looking at him now. "Mmm," he acknowledged, but there was nothing more he could think to say about that. "I should go call Gideon, tell him you're awake."
"Nnnh. Not for long. Tell him to wait a few more minutes before showing up." Dave realized he was still touching Aaron's arm, but he couldn't make himself let go.
"I'll send in more drugs before he gets here," Aaron said, smiling softly again. He slid off the bed, turning his arm under Dave's hand to get out from under it without jostling him, but then at the last minute slid his hand down the underside of Dave's arm to take his hand. He gave it a brief squeeze, then let go and started for the door.
Surprised at that touch, Dave managed to open his eyes just enough to watch Aaron go. "You'll come back?"
Aaron felt something in his chest tug funnily and he paused. God, this was trouble. But the way Dave sounded so needy made Aaron not want to leave at all. "Yeah," he said, glancing back.
Dave smiled. "See you, Hotshot."
***
Haley called the Sunday she was supposed to return to Virginia to tell Aaron that she was staying in Georgia another week. Maybe a little longer. She didn't need to tell him she was having second thoughts about moving. Aaron knew that without her needing to actually say the words. It was disappointing and it hurt. It really hurt. But it wasn't entirely unexpected.
"She'll come around," he told Shithead as the cat headbutted his leg where he sat at Dave's kitchen table. He was eating cold chicken and telling himself he was only staying at Dave's place while Dave was in the hospital so he could look after the cat, but he knew damn well all he really needed to do was come over, make sure the cat had food and water, scoop its litter, and go home.
He told himself that he was sleeping in Dave's bed because Dave would have insisted he not sleep on the couch if he knew Aaron was staying too. It was probably true that Dave would have insisted if he knew Aaron was staying at the house, but Aaron knew that was as much a bullshit excuse as the other.
Still, he did it anyway. Every night he curled up under Dave's covers and then berated himself for it for it for a good thirty minutes before losing himself to restless sleep. When he woke up, he'd feel guilty, but he'd do it again the next night anyway. He told himself that if Haley was indulging the idea of leaving him after as long as they'd been together, he had a right to indulge himself in other thoughts too. Thoughts about Dave that he shouldn't be having. It was stupid... because he wasn't gay. But the thoughts still came on a regular basis anyway.
Lying there with Shithead curled up at his stomach and wondering if he was sleeping on Dave's "side" of the bed, though, he could easily see that the attraction Dave had for him wasn't as one-sided as Aaron wanted to believe. "Settle down," he told the cat. It was late and Aaron couldn't sleep, and he was blaming it on the cat moving around even though he knew it wasn't the cat's fault. Still, after Aaron placed a firm hand on it, it settled and purred and the noise and feel of the purring was soothing. It was another warm body that was enjoying his company, even if that body didn't happen to be human. He started to drift in and out of sleep.
Dave pulled into the dark parking lot and shut off the ignition, then just sat there for a minute with his eyes closed. It was very good to be home. Spending a week by yourself in a hospital five hundred miles from home wasn't anyone's idea of a good time, even if it wasn't exactly unusual for someone in his line of work. After a minute he sighed and got out of the car. It was late and he just wanted to go to bed. He left his ready bag in the car and headed up the steps to his apartment, moving carefully thanks to his still-healing ribs.
When he let himself in the apartment, he was surprised to see a suit jacket draped over the back of a chair. It had to be Aaron's; he knew he hadn't left anything out before flying out. "Where's Shithead?" he said, surprised the cat hadn't met him at the door. Usually it was twining around his ankles trying to trip him from the moment he got home.
Shrugging, he headed back for the bedroom, untucking and unbuttoning his shirt. When he got to the bedroom door, the little pieces added up into a whole that...made absolutely no sense. Aaron was sleeping in his bed. Aaron was sleeping in his bed. Aaron was sleeping in his bed.
"What the hell?" Dave breathed, trying to ignore the little thrill that sight sent through him. He hadn't been expecting Aaron to stay with Shithead. Not that he minded, of course, but... Well, what should he do now? He could wake Aaron up, which is what he probably should do. He could sleep on the couch, which didn't sound appealing with broken ribs. Or he could climb in bed with Aaron and deal with it in the morning.
Dave stifled a yawn, dropped his clothes on the floor and crawled under the covers in just his boxers.
Aaron had roused slightly when he heard the door, but had drifted back to sleep quickly. Still, the dip in the bed under another person's weight woke him again. Mostly. "Mmph, Haley?" he murmured. "I thought you weren't coming ba--" He trailed off when it hit him that it wouldn't be Haley at all. His eyes flew open. Oh God. He stayed silent for a long moment, trying to decide what to do. "Dave?" he finally whispered, not sure he really wanted an answer.
"They let me come home early," Dave said. "And I'm exhausted, so don't argue with me. Go back to--wait." He pushed himself up on one elbow, ignoring the way it twinged. "Haley's not coming back?"
Aaron sighed. "Not for another week at least." Now he wanted to go back to sleep. Or leave. "Sorry, I thought I'd keep the cat company." And it could keep me company. "I can go." He started to shift to get up, realizing belatedly that he was in his boxers and an undershirt.
Dave reached out and pressed a hand against Aaron's chest. "Come on, Aaron, you're not stupid. You ought to realize I don't mind." He smiled slowly, knowing he shouldn't say what he was thinking, but wanting to distract Aaron from his obvious unhappiness about Haley. Not to mention Dave had a slight advantage here, if he wanted to press it. "Anyway, coming home to you in my bed is a very nice surprise."
Aaron settled back stiffly, and eventually rolled his head to face Dave. He could just make out the edges of Dave's expression, and it did something funny to him that Dave was smiling at him like that. "I shouldn't," he murmured. He meant more that just staying here to sleep.
Dave left his hand where it was, but settled down on his good side. "Probably not," he whispered. "But you're here, aren't you?" He was pretty sure Aaron hadn't come here just to keep the cat company. It warmed Dave to know Aaron had felt more at home here than in his own place.
Aaron swallowed hard. "I suppose so." Aaron didn't move out of Dave's touch, enjoying the warm spot against his chest through the guilt of it. He told himself not to touch Dave back, but he quickly remembered how well that had gone last time. "I didn't know what to do with myself," he admitted.
Dave shifted a little closer, though he was trying to leave Aaron plenty of space. "You're always welcome here," he murmured. "Why isn't she coming back yet?" He smiled as Shithead settled down between their ankles, purring.
"She didn't say, but I think we both know the answer," Aaron murmured, and slid his hand over Dave's, inwardly cursing himself.
Dave sucked in a breath, a flash of heat going all the way through his body when Aaron responded to that contact. "I'm so sorry, Aaron." He was sorry--even if he disliked Haley, even if he thought Haley didn't really understand what made Aaron tick--because Aaron was obviously unhappy about it. It was strange. Aaron was a strong man, perfectly capable of taking care of himself, and yet Dave always felt an indefinable urge to protect Aaron.
Aaron shook his head. "It's not you." His shifted his hand and laced his fingers with Dave's, then swallowed and sighed, but didn't say what he was thinking.
"I still don't like to see you unhappy," Dave said quietly. He wanted to wrap his arms around Aaron, hold him close, just to offer some comfort. He knew he shouldn't. He knew what he was already doing was dangerous enough. He was flirting with heartbreak, there was no other word for it. It was in his power to hurt both of them, and maybe Haley, too...though she seemed to be doing a good job of hurting people herself. "Aaron."
Aaron didn't move for a moment, but he eventually licked his lips and turned to look at Dave, trying to ignore the little jolt of something that went through him at the sound of his name spoken like that. "Yeah?"
Dave sighed. "You know how I feel about you. You can't not know." This is stupid, he told himself. You're being an asshole. He didn't care. He stroked his thumb over Aaron's and pushed himself up on his elbow again to look at Aaron. "Why haven't you told me to fuck off?" he whispered.
Aaron's eyebrows raised and lowered, and then he shook his head, his heart beating a funny irregular rhythm against his chest. "I haven't figured that part out yet," he admitted. God, this was uncomfortable. "Lie down. You're hurt."
So are you, Dave thought as he obeyed. It just isn't physical. "Let me know when you figure it out," he said aloud.
Aaron nodded and ran his thumb along Dave's. "Okay."
Dave woke warm and content, snuggled up against Aaron. His ribs were aching thanks to the weight of Aaron's arm draped over them, but he didn't move. It would be difficult to move even if he wanted to; Shithead was curled up against the small of his back, so if Dave rolled away from Aaron, he'd squish the cat.
He let out a tiny sigh and shifted his head a little to ease a crick in his neck, and closed his eyes again. He liked the warmth of Aaron's shoulder against his cheek.
Aaron felt Dave shift and sucked in a deep breath. It felt incredibly good waking up in someone else's arms, even if it did cause a jolt of guilt and panic to sweep through him. He didn't move for a moment until he thought he could properly breath again to speak, which took a little longer than he thought. Then it took him a few more moments to convince himself that neither one of them could deny this, and that they both were aware there was something between them, even if they wanted to deny it. "Morning," he murmured finally, and then promptly felt his breath leave him again.
"Morning," Dave whispered. He'd felt Aaron tense, then relax, but he wasn't jerking away and jumping out of bed. Dave slid a hand slowly up Aaron's arm, a careful exploration while he tried not to scare Aaron away. "Sleep all right?"
Aaron didn't say anything, he just nodded. Dave's hand was sending little shivers up his arm and down his spine, his pulse and breath quickening together.
"Me, too." Dave could feel Aaron responding to their closeness, and he spent a few moments telling himself this was a bad idea. He wasn't convinced. "I like waking up like this," he murmured, his hand slipping across Aaron's chest so Dave's thumb brushed at the dip in his collarbone, just above the neck of his undershirt.
Aaron drew a deep breath and held it. This was bad. Very Very Bad. He let his eyes flutter shut at the touch in spite of himself. "Mm-hmm."
Dave licked his lips. "Aaron," he breathed. He slid his hand up Aaron's neck to cup his cheek. He was about to cross the line. He wasn't sure if it would push Aaron over the edge or send him reeling back away from it. "Kiss me."
God, that sent an unexpected jolt of desire straight to Aaron's groin. He turned to look at Dave, feeling Dave's breath against his lips. "I--" He held Dave's gaze for a moment, feeling slightly ill just acknowledging how much he wanted to do what Dave asked him to. "Dave," he breathed.
"You want this," Dave said quietly. "Or at least you want to be wanted. You want to be put first in someone's life. And you know I would. Kiss me."
"That's not a very good reason to kiss you... because if that is the reason I want this, and... I do want it... that's not fair to you," Aaron murmured.
"I think I can handle it," Dave said, brushing his thumb across Aaron's cheek. "Kiss me, Aaron."
Aaron shivered. It was difficult to try to think about Haley with Dave looking at him like that. Not to mention they both knew she was thinking about not coming back to Virginia. At that thought, Aaron inched in a bit so that his nose was brushing Dave's, and then hesitated again. "I shouldn't," he whispered, but a tiny part of him hoped Dave would kiss him instead, so he could at least claim some sort of guilty innocence.
"I know," Dave replied. He held Aaron's gaze, his thumb stroking lightly down a jaw in need of a shave. When Aaron didn't pull away, Dave closed the distance between them, his lips eager but undemanding. A flash of heat went through him at the contact and he slid his fingers up into Aaron's hair.
That sent another spark of arousal through Aaron's entire body, and he kissed back automatically, sliding his arm more fully around Dave. His kiss was hesitant, almost teasing, and he felt like he was sinking just as much as he was soaring. God.
Dave let out a quiet noise and parted his lips, wanting to deepen the kiss. Dimly he was aware of a disgruntled miaow and a thump as Shithead left the bed. He ignored it, pressing closer to Aaron as their tongues met. He could feel Aaron's anxiety and tried to coax it away with strokes of his tongue. God, he'd wanted this for so many months now.
Aaron made a noise that was half-way between need and apprehension. His body wanted to give in--and part of his mind, if he was honest--but he couldn't stop thinking long enough to let it. He slid his fingers into Dave's hair, deepening the kiss for a moment, but when a jolt of lust ran through him at that, he sucked in a sharp breath and drew away. "I-- I shouldn't. I should go," he whispered quickly.
"I know," Dave managed, his breath coming fast. He didn't want Aaron to go. He wanted to kiss Aaron until all his protests faded. But he wasn't going to force this. Aaron wanted him, and Dave thought Aaron would choose him. But he wanted it to be a choice, not a seduction. So he let out a shuddery sigh and shifted back.
Aaron let out a shaky breath and let Dave go, then rolled onto his back. He almost couldn't believe he'd done what he had, except that he could, given the circumstances. "I'm sorry," he breathed, and threw the covers off himself, shifting to swing his legs off the edge of the bed.
Dave shook his head and rolled onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. "You don't owe me any apologies," he said quietly. I'm playing with fire. I can't complain if I get burned. He wasn't happy that Aaron was leaving, but he could understand.
"Yes, I do." Aaron ran his hand over his face and then dropped his head into his hands for a moment, his elbows on his knees. His was excited and hesitant to move at the moment, though his sudden overwhelming fear at what he might have just started--and possibly ruined--was starting to take its toll on his erection already.
Dave sighed and then reached out to rest his palm against Aaron's back. "I started this," he said. "I knew what I was doing, and that I shouldn't be doing it. Aaron, this isn't your fault."
"You're not to blame for my..." Indiscretions, he almost said, but shut his mouth in time. "Stupidity," he said instead, and then pushed off the bed to find his clothes.
Stung, Dave let his hand fall to the bed and stared at Aaron's back. "Thanks," he muttered, pissed at himself for being hurt by that word. He'd meant what he said, too. He wanted to be with Aaron, but he didn't blame Aaron for not wanting to cheat on the woman he'd been with since high school. And it would be cheating, Dave couldn't gloss over that just because they weren't married and Haley wasn't all that supportive of Aaron's job. Dave closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of Aaron getting dressed.
Aaron paused when Dave responded, wondering if he should reply, but then started pulling his clothes on again. "You know what I meant," he mumbled.
"Aaron, this doesn't change anything," Dave said. "We're still friends, we're still partners...it's fine. I'm not angry. I don't blame you."
Aaron paused and nodded, looking up at Dave again. "I'll let myself out," he said, and turned to go. He got to the door before he felt guilty and turned around. "Are you okay? Do you need anything? Tylenol? Ice? ...A stiff drink?"
Dave shook his head. "I drove myself home from the airport, I think I can get Tylenol if I need it," he said, managing a faint smile. "I'll be fine. See you at work tomorrow?"
"Okay," Aaron said. He needed to get out of here. Fast. Before he walked back to the bed. "See you at work." He turned around and left, letting himself out the front door with the key Dave had given him to watch the cat. He would give it back at work.
*****
Dave was as good as his word. When he came back to work, he acted like everything was normal. He didn't pretend they hadn't kissed, but he didn't treat Aaron any differently than he had been. He still called him 'Hotshot' under his breath occasionally, just to make him smile, and he still partnered Aaron on cases. It was true that he declined an invitation to join Haley and Aaron for dinner the next time she could be bothered to visit, but he honestly thought the invitation had only been made out of politeness, anyway.
He'd given up on flirting with Doris, though, and didn't bother going out of his way to find some other girl to flirt with. He had to admit, he felt as though he'd gone into a holding pattern, like he was waiting to find out which way Haley would jump, so he could see whether he had a hope in hell of making a relationship with Aaron, or if he should start actively looking again for Wife Number Two.
"Here," he said, coming into the BAU late one May afternoon and slapping a stack of papers down on the desk he and Aaron shared. "Latest results of the custodials they're doing out at San Quentin. Oh, and a new case. Athens, Georgia. Thought you might want to take it."
Aaron glanced up from his desk to the papers, then took the custodials, leaving the Athens case where it was. He gave Dave an arch look that said don't ask. He wasn't overly close with his mother, and he and Haley weren't getting along very well right now either.
Dave shrugged. "Well, I guess I could go down by myself, but I already told Gideon we were on it." He'd thought maybe Aaron would like a chance to work in state, maybe get an evening to spend with Haley. He pulled a chair over and sat down, flipping through the file. "Ten year old boy and two fourteen year old boys, all raped before being strangled." He shook his head.
Aaron drew a breath and turned to face Dave, letting their knees touch. He ignored it. He'd been trying to ignore everything he felt toward Dave lately. All they'd done was kiss, but Aaron felt awful anyway. Of course part of him wanted to do it again, and every time he spoke to Haley over the phone he was tempted to go to Dave's. Dave hadn't let him return the key. Of course, that only made it worse.
For her part, Haley's "visit" home had now lasted a month. She'd told the school she was supposed to be working at that something had come up and she'd be able to start the following fall. Aaron and Haley had only ever split once before, and it obviously hadn't been this serious in high school. And Aaron was now, for all intents and purposes, living alone for the first time in his life.
Generally speaking, he was lonely. And miserable. And work, as gruesome as it could be, had turned into the highlight of his days. He knew Dave saw it. He was fairly certain Gideon saw it too, but at least no one was prying.
He let his eyes travel over the faces of the young boys in the photographs. The first ones smiling and happy, while the second ones were cold--little boys buried in shallow, red-clay graves. Aaron nodded. "When does the plane leave?"
"Plane?" Dave snorted. "Remember that memo about cutting costs a couple weeks ago? This one's close enough, Gideon said we can drive. Never mind it's a good eight hours of driving." He shook his head. "They've been giving him grief over budget expenses, I guess. I don't know why our department. At least we're not all demanding PCs or something."
"Great. Stuck with you and Gideon in a car together for eight hours," Aaron said, rolling his eyes. Of course, it really wasn't that so much as the fact that evidence could degrade quickly--witnesses who saw something a little out of place might forget the details, fingerprints could be wiped away, by accident or with intent. The first hours after any murder were the most crucial to be able to investigate. He took one of the pictures from Dave and frowned at it.
"You should be so lucky," Dave said, pulling a fresh notebook out of one of the desk drawers. "Gideon's got a court date in Philadelphia in two days. Something about the serial arsonist case he consulted on. Just you and me this time, Hotshot." He grinned and added some fresh pencils to his briefcase. "The bad news is, we have to take a company car. Nothing very sporty in the pool, I'm afraid."
Aaron expelled a breath that was almost a laugh and started picking up his own things as well. "Shotgun."
"Oh, so you're letting me drive." Dave's grin widened. "Excellent. Maybe we'll make it in less than eight hours." He winked and shut the desk drawer. "Come on, Aaron, aren't you ready yet?" He slapped Aaron lightly on the shoulder and headed for the door. As he went past Gideon's office, he said, more quietly, "I'll behave myself."
Aaron shook his head and stood, grabbing his briefcase. He almost didn't hear what Dave said to Gideon, but the sound carried just enough, and Aaron sighed and started toward the door, giving Gideon a wave goodbye without actually looking up.
Part Three
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2008-11-17 10:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-17 05:11 pm (UTC)Laura.
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Date: 2008-11-18 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-17 07:50 pm (UTC)Like I said before, I don't quite buy Hotch cheating on Haley (and he hasn't, so far), but this is handling Hotch and Dave's relationship AND Hotch and Haley's really well, so yes, happy *__*
The fact that the story still has lots of chapters left makes me really happy too xD
*hugs the fic*
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Date: 2008-11-18 12:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 08:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-17 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 08:58 pm (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed it (and that you even gave it a chance, considering you don't like Rossi!) Thanks!
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Date: 2008-11-17 08:50 pm (UTC)While I'm loving all the Hotch/Rossi goodness, I DON'T want Hotch to cheat on Haley (that's HER thing, not his) and while kissing is debatable, sex definitely isn't. In your summary you guys mention several years later- are we gonna jump to present day when they're both single?
Ooooh, will we meet Hotch's mom while he's in Georgia? Could be interesting backstory for Rossi to learn there...
I kinda don't like Rossi putting his life on hold, cause I feel like he's waiting on Hotch and it's not really fair towards him (Rossi) to just wait and see if Haley wants Hotch. It's not even waiting for Hotch to make up his mind, it's waiting for Haley, and that's kinda twisted and disturbing.
Still loving this, update soon! (please)
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Date: 2008-11-18 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-18 01:03 pm (UTC)I love your Hotch and Rossi and I soooo much love Shithead that I had to make an icon. *g*
Can't wait to see what happens next!
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Date: 2008-11-18 09:01 pm (UTC)I'm so glad you're liking this!
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Date: 2008-11-19 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-19 12:21 am (UTC)I'm so glad you're enjoying this still. :)
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Date: 2008-11-19 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-22 10:38 pm (UTC)Thanks!
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Date: 2008-11-22 06:26 pm (UTC)because i hate haleybecause i am evil and i just want to see hotch out of his braced-in, cagey-walled goodness. all flail-y and moaning and hot and suchness. i like how rossi is trying not to seduce him into a relationship - surprisingly, er, ethical (??) for him, i think. and it's curious that he's willing to wait for hotch, when he would otherwise be looking for "wife number two." makes me wonder how long-term he'd want hotch for. on the other hand, seems he's held a torch for a bit - so mebbe he's less a ladies' man than we think?so, yes, i echo more please! i'm curious to find out if hotch is reunited with haley somehow, or if you're going to go total AU on us. and if the subsequent horrible!breakup between hotch and rossi is part of what makes him leave to write books. and if there was something that leads him back to the fbi... perhaps word that hotch isn't doing well with the missus... through a message from absent!gideon??? perhaps?
i am most curious and anxious for more! yay for hot rossi/hotch action (maybe)! not that even this much hasn't been hottt. hee.
yay. thanks. more!
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Date: 2008-11-22 10:41 pm (UTC)RAWR! Yes, always lovely. :)
Oh, and apparently, ask and ye shall recieve. We both got this comment earlier and went, "Oooh! Time for more!"
Thanks!
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Date: 2009-01-03 03:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-04 06:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-04 11:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-05 12:17 am (UTC)