Name: Off the map

Rating: T

Summary: Story picks up right after the season six finale, Hotch gets an unexpected job offer from a man he's not very fond of. HP later.

Disclaimer: Not mine. If they were, there would be much more H/P scenes and HP would get together when the series ends.

A/N: This story is my idea of what could have happened after the season six finale. It has nothing to do with what actually happened in season seven.

A/N 2: Sandra was so nice to take a look at the story and point out some of my spelling mistakes.(Thank you for that, Sandra). So far chapters one to five are beta read. (The other chapters will follow.)

A/N 3: Reviews are welcome.

The drive back to the office was very quiet. Hotch was driving one car, with Rossi sitting in the passenger seat. Morgan, Reid and Seaver were in a second car in front of them. Neither Hotch nor Rossi felt like talking, so Hotch focused on the road and took the time to ponder the latest events and developments.

It had been a tough case for everyone. He was glad they had been able to stop the killing, but he was also worried about his team now. Every case that was particularly hard on them made him wonder how much more they could take before they would break and it made him wonder how much more he could take. At this time, where they all had the chance to take on new paths, these questions became more important than ever. What if one of his team members had enough and wanted to leave? He told them, that he would understand it, but what about the others? How would they deal with it? Could they handle even more change? The loss of JJ and Emily had taken its toll on the team as such. With them they had had it all covered. They had known who was best at doing what or who would partner up with whom on this case or that case. It had worked. But now? Everything had changed. He himself had changed. He had withdrawn himself from his colleagues and focused entirely on Jack. It started when Emily faked her death. Ever since he had to carry that burden that came with knowing that she was alive, he felt uneasy when he was with the team. Sitting there talking with them about Emily's death all the while knowing she was alive, was one of the hardest things he ever had to do in his life. He did what he had to do, but it didn't mean he liked it or that it didn't cause him pain to abuse their trust like that. And he was fully aware that if they should ever find out the truth about Emily and him knowing, he would very likely lose the trust and respect of some people he proudly called his friends. But then what? Would they still be able to work together? With the BAU budget cuts, who knew, maybe they would never have to answer that question.

When they were back in Quantico, the team was heading to the conference room to clean up. A lot of things were on their minds. Hotch hang back, when his phone rang.

"Hotchner".

"Have you changed your mind about putting that bullet between Ian Doyle's eyes?"

Hotch stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the voice. No need for a name. He knew who the caller was.

"Why now? He replied coldly.

"Let's talk about that in person. Meet me in half an hour at "The Hook". The line went dead. No good-bye, see you later, take care.. Clyde Easter had just hung up.

Hotch knew, if he wanted to make it to the bar in time he would have to leave right away. He went to his office and grabbed some files he wanted to take home with him. Then he went over to the conference room. He heard Garcia's voice when he stepped inside:

"If I weren't so exhausted, I would toast us."

He pressed his lips together. This team always gave 150 % no matter what. They deserved a break. "Go home and get some rest. Nobody needs to come in until nine", he said and then added, "thirty".

With that he turned around and left. The last thing he heard, was Garcia saying "We were supposed to talk..." She was confused, about his behavior, but there was nothing he could do about that. Until he knew what had brought Clyde Easter back in town, he thought it best not to mention him to anyone.

"The Hook" was a place where you could go, if you wanted to drink a beer and not be bothered by anyone. It was dimly lit and there was nothing cozy or nice about it. It was there to serve the one purpose, that was to provide cold beer. The paint was falling of the walls, but the furniture and the floor were clean. All kinds of people were coming here. Men in suits, women in jeans and tank tops, men and women in their work place uniform. Nobody cared.

Hotch spotted Easter sitting in a booth to the left and slipped in across from him.

"Agent Hotchner, glad you could make it." He waved the waitress to bring Hotch a beer.

When he saw Hotch disapprove, he continued "Don't worry, my treat."

"Why am I here?" Hotch asked coolly.

Easter waited till the waitress had put a glass in front of Hotch, before he answered.

"Emily misses you, you know. I don't know why that is. Must be your sparkling personality. Of course she didn't really say the words, but it's pretty obvious the way she not? talks about you and the other FBI suits."

So he knows, Hotch thought. He wasn't surprised.

"Do you miss her, too? I'd say yes. The way you were ready to jump in the ring for her, very impressive. You know one could almost suspect, you have some feelings for her, but according to the grapevine you don't have feelings. A very handy trait I say."

"Are you just here to annoy me or do you have actually something to say to me."

Easter snuffled with delight. He was enjoying himself.

"Fine. Here's the deal. I want you on my team to catch Ian Doyle."

"Catch?" Hotch asked disbelievingly.

"Well,..." Both man knew, that from Easters point of view there was no dead or alive, when it came to Ian Doyle.

"The FBI has a team looking for Doyle and I doubt you want to work with them." Hotch pointed out.

"To much bureaucracy."

"If the FBI is not in, what do you want from me?"

"I want you to quit and join me. Small team. We can move fast and have access to all kinds of information."

"You want me to quit the FBI?"

"That sounds so drastic when you say it. People quit their jobs all the time. But since it is such a big issue for you: Officially you would be assigned to special ops." Now Hotch was impressed. If this was true, Easter would need some very good connections, to pull it off.

"My director?"

"Would get the memo to not ask questions. Bonus for her: she can save some money on the BAU budget." So Doyle knew about that as well.

"Why me?"

"It pains me to admit it, but you are good and I want the best."

"My team?"

"Like I said, small group. Less attention."

"They could help. They are very effective."

"Of course they are! And they will keep doing a fantastic job without you."

Hotch knew he wouldn't be able to tell them what he would be doing.

"Hey, and I'm not a bad guy. I give you two days to think it over and to find out if you can live without your precious team for some time and most of all if you could live without your son for a while if necessary. Doyle isn't staying in DC. So we need to go where he is."

Easter emptied his beer and stood up.

"Think about it. I'm going to contact you again. And since you are all about your team I should mention that one of your people is already on board." Hotch's head flew up, when he heard the news.

Easter just shrugged his shoulders.

"Nobody knows him better than she does."

With that he left.