Play time

Rating: K

Summary: Post-Ep 6x8 Reflection of Desire. Rossi notices, that Hotch and Prentiss both like theater.

Disclaimer: Not mine. If they were, there would be much more H/P in the new season.

A/N: Thanks to EmilyHotchLover for beta reading.


It had been a while since the team had done something together outside the office. That's why everybody had been excited, when Garcia had announced, that she had organized tickets for her play and that she expected to see everyone there tonight. But most of all they were eager to see her friend and colleague perform.

Garcia had blown them away. The applause went on and on, with the BAU members clapping the loudest. Afterwards they met outside the theater and waited for Garcia. When she finally stepped outside, she was greeted by five smiling faces. Morgan and Reid were the first to congratulate, followed by Emily and Hotch. Rossi was the last to tell their red haired friend, how amazing she had been. Garcia, who had changed into a blue and yellow dress, was beaming with joy and glad her friends liked the play. The team agreed to walk to a nearby bar, to celebrate Garcia. Chatting and laughing they made their way over to the White Dove Tavern.

When everyone went inside, Hotch called out to Garcia. He waited until they were alone

"It was nice of you to get the tickets for us."

"No biggy, sir" Garcia tried to wash it away

"I know it is to you. If you wanted to share this part of your life with us, you would have done so by yourself. My actions forced you to do reveal something private you otherwise wouldn't have."

"Well, I wasn't happy, that you called me up on my acting, when I had specifically asked you not to mention it. Theater is my thing away from work."

"And I took that away from you."

"It's different, now that you all know, but it was my decision to get you tickets. I wanted you all to be there."

"Garcia, you have every right to keep your private life private. I would never have asked you to step up, if I wouldn't have believed, that it was absolutely necessary."

"And like always you were right. One less creep walking around."

"Are we good then?"

"Yes, sir. I might let slip one of your secrets as revenge in the future so" Hoch raised an eyebrow.

"Just kidding. Buy me a drink and we are good." Not 100 % relieved, Hotch followed her inside the bar.

The rest of the team were standing around a table, with six bottles of beer on it. Garcia went to stand between Emily and Morgan, while Hotch took place between Rossi and Reid.

Rossi handed a bottle to both Hotch and Garcia.

Morgan slipped one arm around Garcia's shoulders and raised the other with his bottle in his hand.

"To Penelope Garcia, the smartest, sexiest and most talented woman on earth."

Each team member raised their beer.

"To Garcia" they all echoed.

"I could get used to this." Garcia announced

Everyone laughed and Morgan gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Reid started to tell something about the writer of the play and for a view minutes the rest of the team could only listen to his lecture. But they didn't mind. They liked Reid for who he was and they had beer.

Sometime later Hotch offered to get another round and went off to the bar. Rossi came along. While they waited to be served, they looked over to their co-workers.

"It's good to see everyone so relaxed" Rossi stated.

"It is." Hotch agreed.

Hotch studied everyone. Reid had a big, happy smile on his face and Morgan was fooling around with Garcia. Then his eyes went to Emily, who had turned her back to him. He thought she looked stunning in her red dress. As if she felt his gaze on her, Emily turned around and smiled at him. For a moment their eyes locked across the room. Hotch only turned away when the bartender asked him what he wanted.

"My second wife always forced me to go to see these horrendous performances" Rossi said, when he and Hotch made their way back to their table.

"Sometimes production can be challenging for the viewers, but I say most of the plays I got to see were quite good."

The two men took on their former places between Emily and Reid, while carrying on their conservation.

"Anything you could recommend?" Rossi asked.

"Not really. I haven't seen anything lately."

"Well, how about you?" Rossi turned to Emily.

"Do you have a good theater recommendation?"

"If you mean anything besides of what we have seen tonight, then the answer is no. As much as I would like to, I haven't been to a theater in quite a while."

"But I can recommend you some good romantic-comedies, if you want" she offered.

"Chick-flicks! No thank you."

An hour later they decided to call it a night. Everyone found a cab and went home.

Two weeks later, a case came up, that took them to Louisiana. Several black haired women had been murdered. After five days the police were able to catch the killer, but not before two more women had been killed. It had been tough on the team when they found the bodies of the two missing women in the UnSubs garage. The plane ride back to Washington had been unusually quiet.

The following days Rossi noticed that Hotch was burying himself with work. Turing the day he hardly stepped out of his office and in the evening he stayed longer than usual. One morning he went to Hotchs office talk to him.

"Good to see you are still alive." Hotch just looked him, without having clue what this was about.

"We haven't seen much of you in the last days."

"I had work to do."

"More than usual?" At this point Hotch knew what his friend was getting to.

"I'm alright Dave. The last case just reminded me, that we have to be very thorough in everything we do or we might miss something important."

"There is always a chance we might miss something. We are only human. Getting all worked up is not the solution. If you want to prevent mistakes, take a break sometimes. Relax. A fresh mind sees more than attired one."

"Thanks for the advice."

"I charge in Bourbon."

With that Rossi went back to his own office.

Rossi sat down behind his desk and thought once more about his friend. Maybe he should do something more than just give advice. He turned this computer and started searching on the Internet. After finding what he was looking for, he went back to Hotch.

"You said you like theater?" Rossi took Hotch silence as a yes.

"Good. "Rossi put a piece of paper on his desk.

"I bought a ticket for you. Cyrano de Bergerac. It's on tonight. "

"Tonight? That is quite a short notice."

"Do you have any plans? Work doesn't count!" Hotch didn't answer. He studied the paper in front of him.

"This says "two" tickets?"

"Yes. One moment please." He stepped out of the office door.

"Emily, could you come up for a second."

He waited for Emily to enter Hotch office, before he asked:

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

"No-why?" Emily asks suspiciously.

"Now you have. I got Aaron tickets for Cyrano de Bergerac. If I only got one for him, he would find an excuse not to go, but if you are going as well, he can't back out."

"You can't just make plans for other people!" Hoch protested.

"You need to have a life outside this office. Even one besides your son. From time to time you need to do something just for yourself. I'm just giving you a push into the right direction."

"It's not that simple."

"It can be."

"I need a babysitter for a start."

"Well, than I leave you two alone to make arrangements."

Emily had watched the whole exchange, admiring Rossi for his boldness. When he was gone, she turned to Hotch.

"I'm sorry, you got dragged into this" Hotch apologized.

"Don't worry." After a pause she continued: "So what are you going to do?"

Hotch wasn't sure. He looked at Emily for an answer.

"I would come. With you. If you want me to, that is."

"You would?" He looked down on the paper before him.

"This says the play starts at 8 p.m. I could pick you up at 7?"

"Sounds good."

"I need to talk to Jessica and see if she can watch Jack."

"Sure."

"So 7 p.m.?"

"It's deal." For a second Emily had wanted to say date, but thought better of it.

She walked back to her desk, wondering what the evening would bring. She was also getting a bit nervous. It wasn't like she hadn't been with Hotch alone before, but the two of them had never gone out like this. Just her and him on an evening out.

Emily had changed into a black evening dress, when he came to her apartment to pick her up. It had taken her forever to decide what to wear. Neither did she want to look to sexy, nor would she look dull. After almost giving up, she finally settled for the dress, she was wearing now. She had had just left enough time to put some make-up on.

Hotch was wearing a black suite, but just as he had the night of Garcia play, he wasn't wearing a tie. Instead of a white shirt, he had changed into a dark blue one. Emily starred at him for a moment, when she opened the door. It was a rare sight, to see him out his FBI agent uniform.

"Is something wrong?" His voice brought her back to the present.

"No, no." Now taking a real look at him, she noticed something.

"Actually, there is. You've got something there." She stepped closer to his right shoulder and said with a grin.

"Let me guess: ice cream for dessert?" His eyes widened in surprise. Then realization came.

"Jack." An apologizing smile appeared on his face.

Hotch followed Emily to the kitchen, where she took care of getting him cleaned up. They stood comfortably together and didn't mind the other ones presence at all. It felt, if they had done this a hundred times before.

"Thank you" Hotch said after she was done, not moving away from her.

"You're welcome." Emily smiled at him, before she added "I think we should go or we might be late and you don't want to tell Rossi we didn't make it on time."

"No way!"

They made it to the theater on time. Rossi had gotten them good seats. They soon settled in and enjoyed the show. Afterwards they decided that they could use some fresh air and went for a walk. They stopped at a shop window here and there, otherwise kept on walking, caring on a relaxed conversation. Emily felt very light hearted. It made her happy to see Hotch smile and even hear him laugh from time to time. When he brought her back to her apartment, she couldn't help, but smile.

"I have to thank Rossi for getting us the tickets. I really had fun tonight." Emily said, standing outside her door.

"Rossi."

"And you, of course. Thank you. But it was Rossi's idea!"

"Yes, it was. But if he ever feels like getting tickets for us again, I hope it wouldn't be on such a short notice again."

Emily chuckled. Then she looked straight into his brown eyes.

"I wouldn't mind repeating this."

He didn't say anything to her confession, but his eyes told her, that he felt the same way. Then it was time to say good bye. Emily told him to drive home safely and went inside her apartment.

Hotch was on his first cup of coffee, when Rossi came into his office the next morning.

"How was it?" he wanted to know.

"The play was good. Talented actors, nice stage design."

Hatched expected his friend to be curious, but that doesn't meant he would just tell him every detail.

"And?"

"I had a nice evening. Thank you." His voice made it clear; he wasn't going to say anything more. Rossi thought about his statement. Then he said:

"I'm glad you did." He turned around to leave, when Hotch called him back.

"Dave, why did you ask Emily to go with me? I would have gone alone. "Rossi shrugged his shoulders.

"You both like theater. I thought it would be more fun together, than going alone."

"You could have come yourself" Hotch insisted.

"Nah." Rossi shook his head. Hotch studied his friend, wondering what the older man had in mind, that he wasn't telling.

Rossi left without saying anything else. Only when he was out of Hotchs office a knowing smile appeared on his lips. Still cheerful he went back to work.