"Hotchner" Aaron answered the phone in his office, he didn´t know the number, the display showed, it was already 10 p.m and he was on his way to visit Quinn. He was tired, but he wanted to see her, she made him feel comfortable. "Agent Hotchner? This is Anna West speaking." Hotch immediately remembered, he had talked to her for eight months, after Haley's death. With her card tricks she had cracked his silence and made him talk. "Dr. West, what can I do for you?" "I'm not sure if it is correct, what I'm doing, it's about one of my patients. I would love to speak with you in private , if that´s possible." Anna West sounded upset, Hotch thought. "It´s late, but I can come over if you want," he offered. "No, please. Maybe I dramatize anything, it is quite sufficient if you stop by tomorrow night, about 8 p.m?" "Well," said Aaron, "8 p.m".
Little over an hour later, he climbed up the stairs in Quinn's antique shop. She stood at the door, wearing something, Hotch was not sure if he could call this clothing at all. However, he was sure that the little bit of Nothing would also vanish identically. "Hello stranger," Quinn said and used his tie to pull him into the apartment. "You work too much, Aaron," Quinn said, a while later, "You can not catch all the bad guys." Her head was laying on his breast and her leg was bent over his hip. They were seeing each other for over three months now, they had met in a rather unusual way. Quinn enjoyed the time with the quiet, serious Aaron, who could also be so very different, like minutes ago, he was so open, when they made love, Quinn loved the way he touched and caressed her. He brought a different quality in her life, she felt safe with him. Hotch stroked her back, "You know what I do for a living, how difficult and cruel things sometimes are, Quinnie," he said softly. "I'm not complaining, Aaron, I just think you look tired." "Hm," Hotch muttered and proved that he didn´t just look that way. Quinn smiled, "good night, my dear," she said softly.
"Derek, please, this is not a good idea," said Emily Prentiss just 10 miles linear distance away. Derek laughed, "if we want to do what we want to do, then it's better if You let me take that off." He unbuttoned her blouse a little further and Prentiss escaped a pleasant sigh. How could she ever think she might be in love with Hotch, this feeling seemed so far away and so unreal for Emily. She replied Morgans kiss and pushed his shirt upwards, her hands moved over his chest, she could feel every single muscle of his stomach very clearly, "Good Lord, Morgan, are You just doing workouts in Your free time, or is there something else?" she asked with a grin, and Derek laughed again, "I can show you what I do otherwise, if you let me, Prentiss," Morgan was suddenly serious, "I don´t fool around, Em, I want you, I want you for so long." Prentiss thought of the past few weeks, while Derek had persistently wooed her without really reaching his final destination. "I want you too," Emily said, pulling him closer.
Rossi and Hotch entered the elevator together. Dave studied Hotch extensively, "Jack or Quinn?" he asked. "Jack was sleeping over at a friend", Aaron said, stifling a yawn. Rossi laughed, "Well, so You are dealing with the pleasant things of life again, I can skip the speed-dating, I guess." Aaron's mouth twitched slightly upwards, but he saved his comments. They just left the elevator, when Chief Strauss voice was heard, "Agent Hotchner, may we have a word, please!" "Good luck," Dave muttered and Hotch turned angrily. "Chief, what can I do for you?" "Nothing for me, actually, Agent Hotchner. There is a Detective from the Washington Police Department sitting in my office, asking me about connections You have with Dr. Anna West." Strauss gave Hotch a sharp look. "That's a private matter, ma'am," Hotch said stiffly and followed Strauss into her office. The detective stood up, "Detective Clay Mueller, WPD, You are SSA Hotchner?" Hotch nodded, "What is this about?" "Last night at 10 p.m. You had a conversation with Dr. West on the phone", " Is there a question in Your statement, Detective Mueller?" Hotch asked Mueller reserved and Mueller realized that this is wasn´t going to be easy. "We know that Dr. West has called you, Agent Hotchner. What did you talk about and what is your relationship with Dr. West?" "Give me a reason why I should tell you this, Detective," Aaron was not inclined to cooperate without more information. "Where have You been, last night between 0 and 1 a.m.?" "You´re asking my agent for an alibi?" chimed Strauss, who had followed the conversation. "Yes, ma'am," Mueller replied. "Dr. West was found murdered this morning by her assistant."
"Hey," Morgan said to Rossi, "Hotch is not here yet?" "Strauss has called him in her office," said Dave. "Trouble?" Morgan wanted to know, "don´t know, you know how Strauss is." Morgan nodded, "Inedible."
Mueller slammed the crime scene photos to Strauss table, "Dr. West was killed brutally, Agent Hotchner, beaten to death. You know how that is, beating someone until he´s dead, right Agent Hotchner?" Aaron did not say a word, turned and left the office. "This is not over yet, Hotchner," Mueller said grimly. "Oh, yes, Detective, that's it. If you have any further questions to SSA Hotchner, then you will have to summon him. Goodbye, Detective Mueller." The section Chief stared at Mueller until he left. She didn´t like Hotchner, she always regarded him as a threat to her job. She knew, the Director would immediately make Hotchner Section Chief, if he showed some interest. But he was her employee, and he has been attacked. One being attacked means, they all were. And in this case, they all stayed together as one and all of them stroke back as one.
"Garcia!" Penelope was shocked when Hotch approached her from behind, very rudely. "Yes, boss?" "Dr. Anna West, I want everything You can find out about her and I want that asap" Hotch was already gone. As if I would ever linger, pen thought, what had come merely to Hotch? For a few weeks, he was, by his standards, almost deeply relaxed. Garcia suspected that was because of Quinn Carson, the platinum blonde, with whom he met. Garcia didn´t consider her suitable, but who was she, to tell the boss, whom to date. "Anna West, who are you?" Garcia asked loudly and began her research.