Title: Foreign Affairs

AN: The prompt in the "One-Shot Fridays" thread of the CM message board this week was centered around writing a one-shot that fit with lyrics to a certain song. I decided to take this idea one step further by writing a story with four chapters for the prompt. Each chapter is focused on a different song. The title of the fic serves a few purposes. First, each song that I will use for this fic is a Foreigner song (starting off with "Head Games" in this first chapter). Secondly, it sort of symbolizes the situation of the two main characters in this piece (Hotch and JJ). They are dealing with some strange/unique situations throughout this piece; foreign situations, so to speak. Please feel free to review, I love getting any type of feedback! *DISCLAIMER* I do not own Criminal Minds or any songs by Foreigner. "Head Games" was written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones.

Aaron Hotchner was a strong man, a determined man. He had a fire deep inside that was fueled by every single passion in his life. His drive to be the best father, the best husband, the best agent shoved him forward no matter how rough things got. However, the balance between family and work is an intricate one, and for a man like Aaron this balance could easily be disturbed.

Daylight, alright

I don't know, I don't know if it's real

Been a long night and something ain't right

You won't show, you won't show how you feel

"Haley, I'm home," Aaron called as he dropped his suitcase to the left of the front door. After two long weeks working a case in Chicago, haggard would have been a generous word to describe him. He frowned as his wife was nowhere to be seen.

"Haley," he called again, uncertainty creeping into his voice, "Honey, where are you?"

She emerged from the living room, but the look on her face was far from the joy of seeing her husband.

"Hi," she said. The frown that had disappeared from his face returned upon this halfhearted greeting.

"Is everything ok," he asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine. I made a plate for you, it's in the fridge."

"Thank you," he said. He sensed that something was wrong, but figured that it could wait until she was ready to talk. He walked towards the kitchen so that he could eat, she silently accompanying him.

No time ever seems right

To talk about the reasons why you and I fight

It's high time to draw the line

Put an end to this game before it's too late

He slid the scraps into the trash can and placed the dishes in the sink before slumping into his seat. He closed his eyes, completely exhausted. Then he heard it. The dreaded sound, the sound that he knew he couldn't handle again tonight. The sigh that escaped her lips was a dead giveaway of what was coming next. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at his wife.

"What's wrong, sweetheart," he asked.

Another sigh, followed by silence.

"Please, Haley, I can't read your mind."

"Thought you were a profiler," she quipped.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I know all of your thoughts. Besides, I try to profile you as little as possible."

"That's comforting," she said, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Did I do something wrong," he asked. He already knew the answer, he had heard it so many times before.

"I wish that you would quit that job of yours."

"You know I can't do that."

"Why not, Aaron," she asked, voice raising a tad, "You could transfer to another job. One with more stable hours. One that doesn't send you to Chicago one week and San Francisco the next."

"My team needs me, Haley."

"Can't you see? We need you! I miss you, Aaron. Jack misses you, too!"

"Haley, ple--"

"No. You need to hear this, Aaron. You seem to be more in love with your job than your own family!"

"That's not true!"

"Is it not," she asked, tears starting to spring to her eyes, "Because sometimes it sure as hell seems like it!"

"I love you and I love Jack. It's just--"

"It's what, Aaron? You love us, but you would rather be out of town than see us? Is that it?!"

"No! I love both of you with everything I've got, Haley! I do this job for you, for you and Jack! I do it to protect you, to keep you safe! And yeah, I can't stop them all, but I can sure as hell try!"

"We need you here, Aaron."

"I wish I could be two places at once, but I can't! I have to do this job. I have to do it for you, for Jack, for myself. And I can't abandon my team... Not after all we've been through."

She let out a deep sigh before getting up from her seat and walking towards their bedroom. Aaron got up and followed her, but she slammed the door in his face and locked it. He thought about talking through the door, but what was the use?

I daydream for hours it seems

I keep thinkin' of you, yeah, thinkin' of you

These daydreams, what do they mean?

They keep haunting me, are they warning me?

The next morning came quick and he was right back to the source of the problem, the BAU. However, he couldn't focus on the job at all. Images of Haley kept floating through his head, clouding his vision. The argument from last night. The dozens of arguments before it of similar topic and tone.

Nevertheless, not all of the memories were bad. He recalled the play in high school where he first met his love. The long, joyful honeymoon to the Bahamas. They had been young, without a care in the world. What happened?

"Hotch?"

"Huh," he mumbled self-consciously.

"You ok," Jennifer Jareau asked, a puzzled look on her face.

"Oh, yes," he said, scrambling for what to say, "I'm fine. Sorry, please continue."

Her blue eyes revealed her concern, but she did continue on as told.

"Like I was saying, this Unsub has..."

He tried to fight off the longing to drift off again, to revisit more of the good memories, but he couldn't hold it off. He was helplessly in love with her, which only left him with the most difficult decision of his life.

So near, so far away

We pass each other by 'cause we don't know what to say

It's so clear, I'm sorry to say

But if you wanna' win you gotta learn how to play

Head games, always you and me, baby

Head games, 'til I can't take it anymore

Head games, instead of makin' love

Head games, ooh

Aaron approached their bed that night and sat on the corner of Haley's side of it.

"Baby," he said, "I'm sorry about last night."

"So am I," she said, "But the problem still exists."

"I know. Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow."

"Maybe." She yawned. "Good night, Aaron."

"Good night." He climbed into the other side of the bed, pulled the covers up, and tried to grab what little shut-eye he could.