"Aaron we need to talk." Aaron Hotchner looked up at a nervous Dr. Spencer Reid. "We can't keep running out on Jack like this. We both go off for work, and he ends up with his aunt, or worse with his nanny. He needs a more stable life."
Aaron had heard all this before. It cut deeper now that Haley was gone, even deeper to hear the accusing words resuscitated by Spencer.
"I won't put up with this." Aaron's rare moment of temper flared, "You know what my work means to me. You knew coming into this relationship how the BAU works. Dammit Reid. I don't know how to leave this job, this is me. This is me, the man who kills monsters, this is Jack's dad." Now softly and hurt, "God knows I love him Reid, and I love you, but you know how things are. You can't ask me to resign Reid, I'll do it for Jack and for you, but please."
Reid's eyebrows shot up. "Actually, no Hotch, Aaron, I didn't mean,..." he trailed off, dug in his messenger bag, extracted a sealed envelope and laid it on the desk between them. "It's my resignation. I applied, was offered, actually," pause ,"accepted a position at the CIA analyzing statistical evidence to create models of likely terrorist targets, assess the potential time frame of attacks, and create profiles of probable attack avenues. Terrorists often have mental characteristics in common with other killers, making my BAU training and..." Reid trailed off, that really hadn't been the point of all this. "Accepting this position solves more than one problem, it allows us to be open, get married, and it's only 30 hours per week."
"Only 30, are you going to do research?" Aaron was surprised, he knew Reid loved his work, "or teach?"
Spencer looked entirely puzzled, then suddenly getting it, smiled, "No Aaron, I need that time to take care of Jack."
Could Aaron possibly love Spencer more?
