The Last Safe Place
Hotch looked up from his report long enough to see that everyone was asleep. Reid was sprawled on the couch, his head on Morgan's leg, while on his other side Morgan was supporting Garcia on his shoulder. Popular guy.
JJ and Prentiss had retreated to their own corner, and had fallen asleep holding hands. Rossi…
Hotch felt the warm hand on his back as Rossi slid into the seat beside him. "Hey," was the soft greeting.
"Hey."
Rossi set down his steaming mug. "Looks like they're all down for the count."
"Yeah."
Rossi slid his hand up to Hotch's neck and began to work on the knot that had taken up residence there sometime on their second day in Alaska. Abandoning his report, he leaned backwards, eyes closed, to enjoy the sensations better.
"Jesus, Aaron," Rossi brought his other hand up to aid in the task. "You're stiff as a board."
Hotch snickered.
"Don't make me slap you," Rossi warned playfully.
"What makes you think I wouldn't enjoy it? Ouch! Dave!-"
"Hey, don't wake the kids. Damn, you've got bags under your eyes. I'm talking primo luggage, too. Like a whole set of Louis Vuitton luggage under there."
"Dave, will you just work the kinks out and shut up, please?"
"That's what I like about you. Even when you tell someone to fuck off, you say please."
Hotch considered flipping him the bird but decided not to.
"So," Rossi had finished with his neck and was snaking over his shoulders with an easy rhythm. "Why can't you sleep? More then three or four hours a night, anyway."
Hotch opened his eyes and glared at Rossi. "Haley's dead, Jack and I are alone with virtually no idea what we're doing, I'm trying to lead this team, and you don't have any idea why I can't sleep?"
He didn't say it with anger. That wasn't how he worked. He showed his disapproval in other ways.
"That is very true," Rossi conceded. "But you sleep just fine on the plane. You slept ten hours on the way to Alaska. So I'm guessing it's not just stress and grief keeping you up. Am I right, Aaron?"
He closed his eyes. "Foyet invaded my apartment, and my home, and even the BAU isn't safe, because we've had killers there-remember Garcia's shooter?"
Rossi nodded, not stopping his soothing hand motions on Hotch's back.
"It seems like the only safe place from all the unsubs and suspects and lunatics is on this jet. If I sleep too long at home, God knows what might happen. And I know that's part of PTSD," he added.
"You do have one other safe place."
"Where?"
"Never had unsubs in my apartment, or at the cabin in Little Creek," he offered.
"Dave-"
"What? Jack and Mudgie love each other, and I spend most of my weekends at the cabin anyhow. I'd like the company. Jack could run around and roll in the mud with the dog, and we could get drunk on Friday night and not sober up till Sunday."
"Dave-"
"If you say 'no', I'll kidnap you."
That made Hotch snort. "Let's try one weekend and see how it goes, okay?"
"Fair enough. Now c'mere. I'll be your pillow."
Hotch hunkered down, and Rossi removed his gun so it didn't poke him the whole trip. "Garcia's going to think we're a couple," Hotch mumbled.
Rossi wrapped him in a blanket. "Sleep, Aaron."
"Do I get a kiss goodnight?"
Rossi smoothed his hair down, then leaned over and kissed his ear.
He could feel Hotch smile.
FINIS
Author's Note: I'm baaaaack. I faded out in November, with the holiday insanity almost upon us, and now I'm getting over a bout of flu (smacks self on head for not getting flu shot). Review?