A/N: I needed to do a "regular" CM story without any of my OC's involved. This is it.

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Productions, CBS and ABC Studios.

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

Derek Morgan softly knocked on Aaron Hotchner's slightly ajar office door and walked in, with his coffee cup in hand on a Friday morning in August. "Please shut the door Morgan," slightly nodding at Morgan to take one of the chairs across from his desk. Morgan shut the door and sat down, taking a sip from his cup.

"Is this really necessary Hotch?"

Shaking his head, Aaron answered, "I know Morgan; it's a pain in my butt as well. But the brass says I have to do it." Hotch opened the file folder. "Like every year, your fit report is over the stratosphere," he smiled, sneaking a look at the man across the desk. "You know, you could give the rest of us a break."

"You know me Hotch," Morgan smiled. "I've been at this so long my workouts are just part of my day."

"So are mine; stop burying me," Hotch said. Morgan hiked an eyebrow at Hotch. Aaron just smiled at him, turning to the next page of the file. "And as usual, you shot lights out for your firing range quals."

Morgan shook his head. "But I still didn't beat you and Rossi."

Aaron looked at him. "It's not a competition Morgan."

"I know Hotch," he slightly smiled. "But I'd just like to know how you two do it."

Hotch smiled. "Look at it as our revenge for your fit rep." He turned the next page and looked at Morgan. "You were less than cooperative with the Bureau shrink for your annual psych evaluation."

"Come on man; that's all bogus and you know it," Morgan defended.

"But it's needed," Hotch quickly answered back. "There's a reason for it Morgan."

"I know," Derek said. "They're checking for burnout from what we deal with on this team. I get that."

"You have been here the longest," Hotch said.

Morgan shook his head. "You and Rossi have more years than me."

Hotch looked at him. "I'll give you that; but for team members, it still stands. And for the record, I wish I could say I'm used to it all; I'm not. It all can eat at me as well. I've just perfected how to cover it." He looked Morgan in the eyes. "Like you; but also like you, I have the same backstop."

"Hotch?"

"Rossi," he simply said. Morgan looked at him. "Dave told me about your conversation with the case in New York City that Kate Joyner called us in on." Morgan suspiciously looked at Hotch. "He told you that he would pull you out of the field if he thought you were losing it." Morgan stared at him more intently. Hotch smiled. "I've got the same promise; I trust Dave and you know how close we are."

"Yeah I do," Morgan said, relaxing. "Hotch; how the hell do you get used to it? You do; you're jaded. And then you're not thinking straight in the eyes of Bureau shrinks. How in the hell do you two do it?"

"I think with our experience, Dave and I have learned the lessons and tricks of compartmentalizing it better."

"You sound like Emily now."

"How you doing with that," Hotch asked.

"What? You mean Emily being gone?" Hotch looked at him. "She was my friend and she was my partner. But she's moved on; so have I and you know that Hotch."

He nodded. "JJ has stepped into Emily's role as your partner and the two of you work seamlessly together in the field; just like you did with Emily." Hotch looked at Morgan. "Any reservations with that?"

"None." Hotch looked at him. "Hell Hotch, I trained JJ when she was still at DOD. I know her as well as I did Emily. I trust my partner."

Hotch turned another page. "The Academy has asked again, given your availability, to do agent trainee training for tactical situations. I know Emily did those with you and I'm sure once JJ gets back from maternity leave, she'd jump at the chance as well." Morgan nodded. "In the meantime, if you ever need someone on point, give Dave or me a call. I know I'd love an excuse to get away from this desk now and then," Hotch smiled. Morgan pointed at Hotch with his own smile.

Hotch filed over to the next sheet. "Your lead on tactical for the team has been outstanding as usual. Just don't forget Dave and I leaving us back at the station. We're not that old; yet," Hotch smiled, looking at Morgan.

"I know that Hotch," Morgan said.

"But we've both been getting that, what you call vibe lately. I know you're trying to protect me for Jack's sake and Dave finally with a family of his own. But Morgan, we all took the same oath. We appreciate you thoughtfulness, but neither of us are ready to be put out to pasture. And like you pointed out, we do out-shoot everyone else on this team."

"Duly noted Hotch," Morgan smiled.

Hotch turned another page. "Just checking," he said, reading a bit. "There is continued interest in you to run several field offices; you'd have your pick if you want one." Morgan looked at him. "I know we're not the closest Morgan; you and I have butted heads over a trust issue; I've come to realize that I'll never completely break through that barrier. I've also come to realize it's just not me like I thought for a lot of years." Morgan eyed him more deeply. "I'm just saying Morgan if you see an offer that piques your interest, please come talk to me."

"So you can help me out the door?"

Hotch shook his head. "That's the last thing I want Derek." Morgan was struck by Hotch using his first name. "My first concern, objective, is this team; what we do here. Besides Dave, you are the senior profiler around here; and we've already discussed your tactical lead. If you would leave, I would have a huge hole to fill on this team."

Morgan shook his head. "Hotch I've got the emails as well. And honestly, I'm really not interested." It was Hotch's turn to hike an eyebrow. "When I filled in for you six years ago with the Foyet situation, I learned a lot; mainly paperwork," he smiled. He turned serious. "But I also learned there's a helluva lot of politics involved with any command in the Bureau. Remember after Joyner got killed? You asked if I wanted to deal with the politics of running a field office. I didn't answer you then; but I've got an answer for you now; no way man."

Hotch smiled. "I get that." He looked deeply at Morgan. "But you still help me out with my reports."

Morgan looked at him. "That's for you," he said. "And Jack," he smiled. Hotch nodded at him.

Morgan took another sip of his coffee, re-adjusting in his chair. Hotch looked at him. "And Gideon?"

Morgan shook his head. "Was it damn tough to walk into that cabin and see him lying in a pool of blood? Yes sir. But we solved that case and got Gideon's final unsub. I sleep better at night knowing that than dealing with him being gone." He burrowed a stare into Hotch. "Which is what Gideon would expect of me; hell all of us."

Hotch turned another page and looked at Morgan. "You and Garcia have got to tone it down."

"Hotch, I'm gonna tell you the same thing I told Garcia: I don't give a damn if Bob in payroll doesn't get the joke."

"But Morgan that's the thing," Hotch intoned. "I get it; the whole team gets it. So do those in the Bullpen. But the rest in this building can take it the wrong way. And if someone makes a call to the Bureau hotline, they have to follow up on it." Morgan looked at him. "Yes, it's dumb or as Dave says bullshit; but the Bureau can't and won't deal with getting accused of sweeping an issue under the rug." Morgan looked at him intently. "And yes, I just channeled my inner Erin Strauss. I'm not proud of it; but she was right."

Morgan smiled, pointing a finger a Hotch. "OK," he smiled. "I'll let that go." Hotch looked at him. "And I'll talk to Mama; we'll keep it quiet and professional in public from now on." Hotch slightly laughed, shaking his head looking at Morgan. "Yeah man, there's a snowball's chance in hell on that."

"Just try," Hotch said, looking at him. "I'm tired of getting my butt kicked about it."

"The brass really does?" Hotch nodded. "Hotch, I'm sorry; we'll do better. You don't need that."

Hotch smiled. "No I don't." Morgan smiled.

Hotch looked at him, closed the file and leaned back in his desk chair. "Relax," he smiled. "How's things with you and Savannah?" Morgan eyed him. "Our review is done," he smiled. "I'm just asking."

Morgan gave Hotch his pearly whites. "It's good; mom was down for the weekend and blessed the whole thing," he laughed. Morgan looked into his coffee cup for a second and then at Hotch. "And maybe why I'm not interested in all those Bureau offers." Hotch looked at him. "I've finally got roots," he said and then smiled. "And with the right woman. That means more to me than being a bigshot Bureau agent, running some office." Hotch nodded with a knowing smile.

"I've been meaning to ask for a while; how's your cousin Cindy doing?"

Derek smiled. "She and Anthony have been living with Auntie Vaughn ever since." Morgan's smile faded. "But it's been a process. She had Stockholm syndrome pretty bad."

"She testified at Ford's trial," Hotch noted.

"Yeah," Morgan said. "But that opened the dam." He looked at Hotch and then smiled. "But she's finally got over the mountain of the process." He smiled brighter. "Mom told me over the weekend that she's doing great with her new job and has bought a townhouse for her and Anthony." He looked at Hotch. "And rumor has it, there may be a boyfriend involved in that."

Hotch smiled. "That's great Derek; good for her," he smiled. "And Anthony." Morgan eyed him. "We're done." Morgan rose from his chair, pulling his coffee cup off Hotch's desk. "Morgan please; just make my life simpler and cut the stuff with Garcia outside of the bullpen. I've got enough reports to deal with."

Morgan smiled. "Give the same sermonette to the Mistress of Information and I'll hold up my end of the deal."

Hotch pointed a finger at his office door, smiling. "Deal; get lost."

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A/N: Yup; that's how this story is going to roll. :D