Authors Note: Please remember that this is based on certain episodes of CM and NCIS. Some of the stuff will appear out of order as I find it fits better in certain ways with my story. For that reason, you will see that Hotch and Hayley didn't wed right out of school (as has been eluded to in CM episodes) but later in life. Also, readers will see in future chapters that I may leave out a few people from both teams - not because I don't like them but because they didn't "fit" with the story.

Thanks :)

Chapter 2

Aaron Hotchner was a man of instinct. He relied on that feeling in his gut when he was on a case. It was that feeling that had often led him to the "aha" moment that solved a case when it seemed there was nothing to go on. It was that feeling that had saved his life when he faced a mad man intent on taking down his team, starting with him. And it was that feeling that assured him that despite Strauss having a vendetta against his team, they would stay together and on top of their game. His unit was tight; they often complained about knowing each other's business far too much, but Hotch knew that none of them would trade that feeling of security for anything else in the world.

But Aaron didn't need his famed instinct to tell him that something was wrong with his best friend. He had known her for too many years to not know when she was hiding something. He was the person who knew her better than anyone else on the planet. Aaron and Abby made what many deemed an unusual BFF situation. He was so serious and true north; she was a free spirit who preferred not to do what folks expected her to do.

Aaron had first met Abby when she was attending Georgia State University. She had attended a class on Criminology that he and a colleague were guest lecturing. Although he had noticed her in the back row (mainly because she barely looked up from the mountain of notes she was taking) they didn't officially meet until later that night when he wound up in the club she happened to be a waitress in. She took his order and a bit of his heart at the same time. After her shift ended he asked if he could walk her home. They wound up talking well into the night and the early hours of the following morning. Despite a 10 year age gap, Abby had accepted his offer of dinner and the two began dating. For nearly 2 years they had been inseparable. It was the most comfortable, stable relationship he had had. Abby was such a joy to be with. And because she was 10 years younger than him, he had been the first man she had shared a lot of things with. He had been her first serious boyfriend, the first man she had taken to meet her family, her first true confidant, her first lover, and her first real friend. Neither of them could say when the physical romance had simply morphed into their current BFF relationship; it was like one day they just stopped sleeping together and became true soul mates in the best sense of the term. Aaron had moved on to marry Hayley, and Abby had moved on to date Hunter. Both relationships had been disasters in their own ways, but Abby certainly got the worse deal. It still infuriated Aaron every time he recalled the day he had seen the bruises that Abby hadn't been able to hide. A call to the local hospital after she had been forced to seek medical attention after a fight with Hunter had confirmed Aaron's worst fears. His bright bubbly friend had been dimmed by the abuse and depleting of self confidence. He had made it his mission to bring her back to the Abby he knew and loved, and the first step had been getting her to realise that she needed to leave Hunter behind. It had taken time, tears, and a lot of love, but Aaron had rallied his pal back to her former self. Though he knew that she would always carry baggage and insecurities from that disaster, he also knew that she wasn't a quitter. He knew that as sure as he knew that she was hiding something now.

Although Abby was more open with him than even Gibbs, and there were things about her past that he would take to the grave with him, Aaron knew there were times when Abby just insisted on taking care of things by herself. It was a coping thing she did to assure herself that she could still take care of herself, despite being surrounded by gun totting manly men. Aaron knew that, understood why she did it, but definitely did not like it. Mainly because the things she tried taking care of on her own were things that she definitely needed help with. And considering the line of work that she was in, there were many times that she had unknowingly put herself in harm's way just to prove a point. Aaron couldn't help but wonder if now was one of those times. He just knew something was not right, and was about to get to the bottom of it.

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NCIS offices

Abby was in her lab sorting through evidence collected by her team. New evidence on a new case always gave her a bit of a thrill. She always felt empathy for the victims, but a new case always meant a new chance to challenge and better herself and her talents. She loved puzzles and the thrill she got when her brain bettered an unsub. On this occasion though, she was enjoying being busy with a new case for another reason – if she were knee deep in a case she couldn't allow herself to be distracted by thoughts of Foyet.

So it was a shock to her when she realised that somehow, something had gone wrong with her evidence. One minute she was happily mixing chemicals, the next she was rushing for the door when she smelt the distinct odor of almonds that accompanied cyanide gas. As she exited the lab and hit the alarm to warn the rest of the office area, she realised that Foyet was once again distracting her.

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Gibbs was furious.

As he made his way down to autopsy where Abby was being checked by Ducky, he couldn't help the flash of fear that trickled through him along with the fury. The scientist checking the lab had just told him that another 3 minutes would have been all it took for Abby to have been killed. Thankfully she had not only smelt the almond odor, she had also known what it meant.

Once again Abby had gotten too close to the fire and he had almost lost her. How many times had he fretted and worried that she was in the line of fire? It had not been that long ago that he had dragged Abby from the killer car she and McGee had been working on. He had just exited the elevator when he saw Abby trapped inside the car screaming for help as exhaust fumes filled the interior. The feeling of terror that gripped him then remained with him now. The last woman he had loved like this wound up being killed by a crazed drug dealer while he had been serving overseas. He was damned sure that he would not lose Abby. If he could convince her to stay in the office and be safe forever, he would do it in a heartbeat. But he knew that the Abby that he loved would then be lost forever. She was not the type to sit on the sidelines. Still, it didn't keep him from wanting to wrap her up in his arms and keep her safe from the world forever. If only she would listen to his concerns about her safety and took them seriously. Instead she would smile lovingly and simply point out that she was not Shannon and that he had to let her live her life. He knew that she was right about him being over protective because he loved her and that she had to be allowed to do her job the way she saw fit. He also knew that she wouldn't knowingly put herself in danger. But being the veteran that he was he also knew that Abby was a target simply because of where she worked and who she worked with. It was bad enough that NCIS had their share of weirdo's ready to take them down; but for Abby it was doubled due to her work with the BAU. Gibbs shook his head as he entered the hall leading down to autopsy. It was kind of ironic that he loved Abby to death, because he was sure that she would end up being the death of him.

More evidence now suggested that the crime scene the team had been to that morning was staged. At first they believed it was to set up an employee at the motel. But when Abby mixed chemicals in her drug kit the cocaine found at the crime scene turned gaseous. This meant that the real target of the set up scene had to be Abby. Gibbs knew that Abby was keeping something from him, and he now intended to find out what it was.

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Assembled in the autopsy room were Ducky, Jimmy, and Gibbs. All 3 men had their eyes firmly fixed on the woman sitting on the steel table in the middle of the room.

Abby kept her eyes fixed on the floor and refused to say a word.

"Abby," Gibbs tried again, a little firmer tone to his voice this time. "The crime scene was a set up and you seem to be the target"

When there was still no flicker of interest from Abby, Gibbs sighed loudly. Looking pointedly at Ducky he asked, "A little time alone here please Duck"

Dr Mallard gave a slight sigh. Abby was close to his heart as well, and he wanted to know what was going on. However, he knew that Gibbs had special interest in getting to what was troubling Abby, and he wouldn't begrudge him that.

"Mr Palmer" Ducky motioned to his young intern as he headed for the door. "Have I ever told you about the time I rescued Grace Kelly from a bee attack?"

Mention of Grace Kelly and a bee attack instantly had Palmer's attention. "Seriously?" he asked as he quickly followed the doctor.

As their voices faded away Gibbs walked over to Abby, who hadn't allowed her eyes to drift up from the spot on the floor. Placing a hand on either side of her, Gibbs leaned into her space.

"Hey" he whispered.

Still she didn't look up. "I'm fine Gibbs" she whispered. "You heard Ducky. I wasn't exposed to the gas long enough for there..."

"...To be long term effects" Gibbs interrupted. "Yeah I heard him"

Using his finger he tilted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "What's going on, Sweetheart?"

Abby shrugged. "Why ask when I know that you have checked and already know what I've been suspecting for months?"

Gibbs sighed. "You're sure that this could be Foyet?"

"No" she said. "It could have been just an accident"

"Except you don't have accidents"

"Well, there is that. So that leaves Foyet. Unless I have a stalker out there"

"This has been happening for months and you didn't tell me?"

"Didn't want you to worry"

"Abby!" Gibbs sighed loudly. Walked to the other side of the room, and then stormed right back to her. "Why didn't you come to me?"

Abby smiled at him. "I wasn't sure it was Foyet ..."

"Doesn't matter Abbs. You should have told me what was happening. I can't believe that you have been keeping all this inside you for months and not said a word to me about it. I thought you could come to me with anything"

"I can ... just not this"

"Bet you went to Aaron though"

As soon as the words were out, Gibbs regretted them. He knew that Aaron had been a sore point in her relationship with Hunter.

"Abby, sorry, I just can't understand why you didn't talk to me."

"I thought I was being crazy. I wanted something to prove to myself that I was right. Besides, if I told you, you would have sought him out and beaten him with a baseball bat. Where would that leave us?"

Gibbs had to smile at that. She really did know him too well.

"Besides," she continued, "if it really is Foyet, I won't be safe anywhere from him. And I don't want the people I love to get caught in the crossfire."

"That's not your decision to make, Abby. The people you love want to be there for you. I want to be there for you." He tipped her chin up again and looked into her eyes to ensure she heard his next words. "I will be there for you, Abby. He will not get to you"

"You're trying to make me feel better" she smiled.

"Of course I am, that's my job"

Placing his hands on her cheeks he drew her closer to him. "Trust me, Abby"

He kissed her softly and repeated, "Trust me"

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