Note- I signed up for the Fanfic Challenge Round 3 – Dealer's Choice Challenge on Chit Chat on Author's Corner. That means another participant gave me a pairing to write and three things, two of which must be in the story.

I got Hotch/Rossi and the items are a condom, a sunflower, and a sweaty shirt. According to the rules the story does not need to be romantic. At first, I very much thought about writing these two guys as just buddies but the person who suggested the prompt, from what I understand, likes them as a slash pairing so in the spirit of truly fulfilling her prompt I will write them that way also.

I've written slash for the ABC soaps but not Criminal Minds before. First time for everything, I guess. The title of this comes from the song God Bless The Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

The Broken Road

Hotch and Dave, slash.

Part One

June 2010

Aaron Hotchner was known for being a very closed off, secretive, stoic man. He kept his problems to himself for the most part. But if there was anyone he would tell his worries to it was his best friend David Rossi.

Ever since Dave rejoined the BAU Hotch had found a true friend and ally in the older man. Something he desperately needed because the last three years had been the hardest of his life. His marriage fell apart and then his ex-wife was murdered by an unsub who only targeted her to cause Hotch unbearable agony- and Foyet had managed that, without a doubt. The guilt that Haley's death brought Hotch kept him numb for several months after that.

No one knew what it was that broke him out of his mourning and brought some life back into his eyes. He doubted his team of profilers would so much as guess at what he had been up to if he gave them twenty tries. For all their skills at assessing the behaviors of stranger they never had been very astute at profiling each other. Being so close to someone clouded judgements and perceptions so Hotch's secret life was safe from the rest of the team.

Or it had been. Come next Monday morning he would have to inform them all before the rumors started to fly around the bureau. He was less upset to have to out himself than he was at the reason behind it.

The first person he wanted to tell, before he stood before his team and made the announcement, was Dave. Out of respect for their friendship and because Hotch could use his help and support right now.

Knocking on Dave's open office door, late on a Friday night when they didn't have a case, Hotch asked "Do you have a minute?"

"Sure. Come on in. What's the matter? You look like someone just killed your dog. Only problem is you don't have a dog so that can't be it."

Hotch closed the door. With a miserable expression on his face he looked at his friend. "I'm being stalked."

Dave's eyebrow arched. "Run that by me again."

"A man is stalking me. Its been going on for a few weeks and he just escalated."

Pulling open his drawer Dave took out a bottle of scotch and two glasses. He poured them and passed one to Hotch. "Why don't you have a seat and start at the beginning. Like why I didn't know about this a few weeks back."

"I thought I could handle it. At first it was minor things. Excessive phone calls leaving irate messages day and night. Sending me rambling letters. But then he left a used condom on my doorstep and keyed my car by scratching into it a derogatory word for homosexuality."

"That's why you had that rental last week. Blown head gasket my ass."

"I didn't want to believe he'd escalate but he has."

"How so?"

"He broke into my house while we were gone on the last case. I know it was him because of the things he wrote on the wall in red spray paint. He was in my house, Dave. The home where I raise my son was violated by someone intent on showing me I will not live without him in my life. If I won't be with him any longer than I will not know a moment's peace, is how he put it in his last letter to me. Jack is staying with Jessica now full time until I have this settled, however long that takes. I have to know my son is safe. I have put my son in danger over my bad judgement call on bringing the wrong man into our lives."

"How do you know this guy exactly?"

"I needed some work done on my place. He was part of the construction crew."

"And?"

"One night he came back after work hours and I happen to be in town that evening. He said he left behind some tools but that was just a ruse. We both pretended to buy it though."

Hotch and Dave shared a long look and then Dave took a drink of his scotch before asking "And what caused the falling out?"

"He was showing signs of wanting more than I could give. Every time I tried to pull back he reacted in an irrational and unstable manner. He would say he couldn't live without me and I was the most important thing in his world. The first few times I was flattered. I know that sounds bizarre, knowing what I know about psychological tendencies, but I was too close to the situation to see it for what it was until he exploded on me when I said I needed a break from seeing him."

"I take it you didn't make a report that night?"

"We were at his place. He tore the place up and threatened violence on himself but that's about it. There was no crime to file official charges about and I wouldn't have even if we were at my place when he started breaking tvs and windows. I wanted this kept under the rug but now he's crossed the line. I can't have him coming into my home and endangering my child. I've always contacted the police about the break in and I plan to file a restraining order. Monday morning I'll have to inform the brass. I wanted you to hear it first, from me."

"Anything you need..."

"Thank you." Hotch got up and headed for the door.

"Hotch..."

Hotch looked back.

Dave said "Not to get all into your business, and you can tell me to butt out if you want, but was this the first man you were ever with?"

"I never cheated on Haley after we were married but before...in college...there was a guy in my fraternity and another when I went to Europe for a backpacking trip. The latter was three days in France but the former I've kept in contact with sporadically for the last ten years since he looked me up and we exchanged email addresses. Its never been anything but friendly for the last twenty years though. When I married Haley I believed I had answered all my questions and I could suppress my urges. Even after we were divorced I thought if I ever had interest in dating again it would surely be a woman. And it may be again. This time it wasn't. Honestly this only happened because he pushed for it. I was glad to have someone come along that forced me to act again...feel again...but he was the wrong someone, as I can see now."

Dave drank another swallow of his scotch. "Thank you for coming to me first but you should you have had your ass in here telling me this weeks ago, if not when the relationship first started. I tell you all my exploits."

Hotch gave him a very small smile. "I'm not you. I rarely have exploits."

"Don't let this take you back out of the game."

"I can't think of that right now. All I can concentrate on is protecting my family from this unstable guy. Not letting him become another unsub who rips his way through my family."

Dave stood up. "We won't let that happen another time. You know you're welcome at my place. You can bring Jack along and stay as long as you need."

"We both know stalkers can take years to bring to justice."

"He's already broke in. He's not going to go underground now. Its just a matter of him getting picked up by the LEOs and booked on trespass and vandalism charges-"

"Which will have him back on the street in mere hours.

"Pursue the stalking charges and report him if he violates the restraining order."

"When he does."

"Basically, we both know, this guy isn't gonna stop so its all about just waiting for him to make his next move. No sense in you being at your place alone when that happens."

"Don't worry about it. I can more than handle myself."

"You'll be sleeping with one eye open, huh?"

"And my gun loaded."

"I assumed as much. Still the invitation is open if you want to come stay with me."

"No thank you but thanks for listening tonight and reacting calmly to this news as if I just didn't reveal my homosexual tendencies to you out of the blue. I know the team will be surprised that I have a sex life at all, let alone with a man, and won't take it as quietly as you have."

Dave gave him a deep grin. "You know my reputation. I've been with women, men and farm animals, sometimes all at the same time. I can't be shocked. And I always knew you had a sex life. I just thought it only involved one person and a lot of lube."

"You were half right. Good night."

"Be safe, Hotch."

"I intend to."

XXXXXXXXXXX

A few weeks later Dave got a call in the middle of the night that had him racing to his car and over to his best friend's house. When he got there the house was filled with cops.

Dave flashed his credentials and got inside. He found Aaron upstairs, sitting on the bed, getting questioned by a police officer. The sweat shirt he was wearing was soaked with blood and sweat.

Holding his credentials up Dave introduced himself and asked for a moment alone with Hotch. The officer left. She took with her a gun in an evidence bag.

Dave said "I saw a blood stain in the living room but no body. The coroner already been out here?"

"I just wounded him. I think he's gonna make it. It took all the strength I had to not aim a little to the left and shoot him right through the heart."

"You did the right thing. He's sick. He'll go to a mental hospital for the help he needs."

"And in a year the doctors will declare him cured, he'll get back out on the streets and this will start all over again."

"That happens and then you go ahead and shoot him through the heart. Because if you don't then I will."

Hotch let out a long breath. He got up and paced around the room. "I can't keep living here. I can't live somewhere marred by violence. That's what I see at work everyday but at home I need it to be safe and peaceful. Jack deserves that."

"This time I'm not taking no for an answer. You're coming to stay with me."

"This time I'm not giving no as an answer. Lets get out of here."