Discs.: I don't own the show or its characters!

A/N:So I started with writing another fanfic last night. It takes place directly after the end of "A real rain" - there will be spoilers for at least all eppys of S1 up to that episode!

He loves you not

1.Questions, thoughts and denied feelings

After Hotch had come out of the building, Elle looked at him - sad but also worried. she saw the pain in his eyes and instantly knew that he was feeling guilty for shooting the UnSub. A moment later she went to him and just stated :

"You had no choice..."

He looked at her, interrupted in his train of thought, their eyes met and for a short moment Elle was able to see what was going on in Hotch's mind.

"That doesn't make it any easier."

Elle smiled sadly at him and replied softly :

"Well, you know, when you stop feeling like this after shooting someone - even if it is a criminal - it gets time to quit..."

"You sound like Gideon..." He smirked at her.

"I remember my dad saying this to a childhood friend, who had shot a suspect during a raid...He told him that when you lose your empathy for others, you aren't better than the criminals you chase."

For a moment they were both silent, just looking at each other, they locked eyes and were instantly lost in the moment, then the others joined them - and the spell was broken. Not much later they got ready for flying home to DC - knowing that a pile of paperwork was already waiting for each of them.

A while later :

Elle was watching Hotch, still kinda worried, but her mind went back to something else she couldn't stop thinking about - that evening at the Chinese restaurant.

She once again started thinking about Hotch's reaction when she had pointed out they were always only talking about work-related stuff.

"So, Elle, are you seeing anyone?" She still heard Hotch's question in her mind and kept wondering about the meaning of this statement. Elle was of course aware of the fact that it wasn't a really serious meant question, but still she couldn't stop thinking about it. There had been something in his eyes that she couldn't get out of her head...

A moment later she was interrupted in her thoughts when Morgan suggested to play cards.

While Reid and Gideon were playing chess and the other three agents of his team were playing cards, Hotch was sitting alone in one of the corners of the plane, lost in his thoughts. But from time to time he looked up and watched Elle. when she started laughing about some joke Morgan told them he smiled softly and was once again lost in his partly dark thoughts.

Tbc

A/N: I already started writing chapter 2, hope you liked it - please take the time to review!