Hi and welcome. Thanks for spending some time with me and my story. English ist not my usual language, so don´t shoot me for the grammar. Hope You´ll enjoy it

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Criminal minds, I don´t make any money with this, it´s written only for fun

Reviews are welcome.

Hotch just wanted to be at home. Instead of being home, he was stranded on that damn road between Quantico and Washington. Early in the morning, it was 3.30 a.m., he remarked by looking at his watch. The team came late from Nevada, the last case had been nervewrecking, no one intended to stay longer than necessary. Hotch missed Jack, he felt guilty, he was leaving Jack alone, way to often. Aaron tried to put this feelings aside, it wouldn´t help to solve the problem. He kicked at the flat tire, he tried to fix it, but it wasn´t possible, the spare wheel in the trunk was also flat, flat as the Netherlands, he thought with a grim smile. Always using the staff car, does make you sloppy with your own car, Aaron had to admit. His cellphone was useless, that road hat a nick-name, no-service-paradise. That makes me the perfect victim. Dead FBI Agent found on lonesome road, what a great headline for the Washington Post, Aaron thought sarcastically.

Alix was on her way home. The shooting seemed to be endless. She knew, slapping that girl, that called herself a 'model' would not be an option, but it felt extremely good just to think about it. But finally, it got to an end. The payment would be a bit higher for her customer, than expected. Alix yawned, very extensively and she decided to ignore the speed limit, she often did that, no risk, no fun. She loved her cherry-red Audi TT convertible, it was always pure fun to speed up.

A few miles later, she remarked that car, standing at the roadside, with warning lights on. Before she even thought about it, she stopped in front of the SUV. She opened up her glove compartment and grabbed the torch. Alix left the TT. A man was leaving the other car. She grabbed the torch tighter, maybe she had to use it as a weapon. The man, that left the other car was tall, well dressed, his hair was short and dark.

"Hi, can I help you?" she said.

"If you´ve got a spare wheel, that fits my SUV?" definitely not, he answered his question himself. The girl was pointing with the torchlight in the SUV´s direction.

"I guess not", she said, laughing. Alix was struggling with herself, he was looking quite serious and more than just tired. He wasn´t looking like a serial killer at all. If she got it right, he was wearing a gun at his waist. He made that spontaneous handmove to his side, Quantico wasn´t very far, he must be FBI, Alix Dad was a senator, she knew where Federal Agents carried their guns. She also had been protected by Fed´s, not to forget the one, she married, years ago.

Hotch took a close look at the girl, that stopped, she was brave, it wasn´t usual to stop in that situation. She was medium-sized, her hair was long and it fell in soft waves over her shoulder, the color he couldn´t tell, it was way to dark. Red or blonde, sort of, he suggested. The way, she dressed was a bit strange, she was wearing a very tight top, from that french designer, Hotch couldn´t remember his name right now, her leather pants were black and Hotch wondered, how she put it on, they were a perfect fit. She was also wearing a leather necklace, with metal elements, the same she wore at her wrist. She wore a ring at every finger, the biggest one was a silver ring with a skull. The top was a little out of place, Hotch saw her tattoo, she wasn´t skinny, she looked very female and obviously, she had no problem, showing that. She was excentric, but no thread at all.

Alix had made up her mind, too. " I can give you a lift, if you want, I am heading to Georgetown." "That´s were I ´ve got to be. I just need my bag."

Alix opened the trunk, she was sitting in her car, when Aaron joined her. She was amused, looking at that tall guy, trying to find a comfortable position in the small sports car. "You can move the seat a little bit backwards, the grasp is on the right hand side." A little bit was no exaggeration, Hotch thought, it moved just two or three centimeters. Alix drove on.

"The name ist Alexandria Talbot, my friends call me Alix", the Hells Angels Girl said, holding out her hand.

"Aaron Hotchner, Hotch, if you like" he shook her right hand. "It´s pretty late, Alix, where are you coming from?" he asked her.

"Photoshooting, "she replied.

"Photoshoot? What for?"

"Not what you´re thinking right now", she laughed, "I am a photographer, it was for ed hardy and the so-called model was lousy."

That would explain the outfit, Hotch thought.

"What´s your excuse?"

"Just arriving from Nevada", he said, "by plane, not by car," he explained.

"So you wanna be home fast, to see your child?" Alix guessed.

"My child?" Aaron asked, "how do you now?"

"I saw that child´s safety seat in your car, and you´re wearing no ring, so it´s loner with babysitter. I don´t think you´re divorced, you look more like someone, knowing what loss means."

The same moment Alix was cursing her loose tongue, she stabbed right in his heart, and if this wasn´t enough, she turned the knife inside the wound. Hotch gave her a that´s-not-what-I-wanted-to-hear-right-now look and turned his face to the side window.

"I am sorry, really, I didn´t mean to hurt you, sometimes my mouth is quicker than my brain."

"It´s okay," he said in a silent tone, leaning his head at the head rest and closing his eyes.

So well done, butthead, Alix thought a few minutes later, why can´t I just shut up. She was looking at him, he was breathing calm and regular, he has fallen asleep. Thank God, no chance to hurt him again. The look in his eyes was so, so hurt and lost, Alix felt like she had to cry for him.

Thirty minutes later she arrived at her gallery.

"Hotch? Hotch, I´m home", she touched his arm, gently.

"I´m awake", Hotch said. I´ll bet on that, Alix thought.

"I didn´t know your address, so I stopped at my place, you can take my car, to get home, just bring it back, when you´re done."

"I can´t take your car, Alix, you barely know me."

"This isn´t a debate, take the damn key, I just need my stuff from the trunk." Aaron was too tired to debate, so he took the car. "Thanks, Alix", he said. Alix patted on the convertible hood, "Good night, Aaron", she watched him leave and turned around to enter her house.