Reuploaded due to a stupid repetitive typo. Thanks Der Alte!

So, can I just say I've now watched the Season finale of season 7. Garcia and Kevin are end-game. Strauss and Rossi (eluded to) NOT HAPPENING. Will/JJ N'AWWWW. Anyways, on with this story. My little story. 3 Don't like Beth for obvious reasons… THANKS by the way for the AMAZING support you've shown. PMing you all loveliness after I've uploaded this!

Oh and I have a question: Would you like the focus to be on Hotch/Reid or the case or both? Not sure whether to write the full case or pick it back up when it's over?

PS. The wedding has literally made me sob…


"Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death." - Omar N. Bradley.

Spencer spent the whole plane journey looking over their case notes and committing them to memory. It was unusual for an UnSub to kill so many people in such a short space of time. The murders had taken place at PAX East, an annual gaming convention in Boston that brought in thousands of gamers young and old. That also meant that they could be dealing with a shooter of any age but looking at the victimology he would guess that the individual was a young man in his early 20's. Reid could tell that while he read everyone was "covertly" watching him, looking for any signs that he might be headed towards some kind of psychotic break. After he'd memorized the notes and was fed up of being stared at he decided to curl up on his seat, laying it back and settling down to sleep.

The team reached Boston at just after midnight and they set about getting rest before they began their investigation. Reid approached Hotch while they were checking into their hotel and gave him a look that Hotch knew meant trouble. "Hotch. Can Garcia, Emily and I go canvas the night life? I've always been fascinated by these conventions and we could look for anyone we think could match our preliminary profile." The youngest member of the team asked, wringing his hands together like he always did when he was nervous. His superior nodded reluctantly.
"No drinking, you're on the job." Hotch called after the trio as they walked away, chattering excitedly. Aaron had promised to call Jack and read him a bedtime story. He hated being away from his son since Haley; he knew that Jack was with his auntie and was safe but it didn't stop him from worrying about him constantly.

Agent Hotchner set about making the bed up in the hotel room after he had read Jack a story (one that featured a superhero who always wore a suit and had a son that sounded suspiciously like his own; go figure.) After telling his son that he loved him he laid back on the bed, staring at the off-white ceiling. All of the higher-end hotels they usually frequented were booked due to the convention and some of it's more high profile celebrities. Prentiss, Garcia and Reid had left before a very embarassed young lady explained to the FBI agents that they would be required to share rooms for the night until they could relocate some of their tennants across town to their sister accomodation. Aaron had ended up paired with Reid because the remaining agents had paired up with one another like children on a High School field trip. He had secretly hoped he'd have a chance to stay within close proximity to his friend. During their abduction he'd learnt a lot about Agent Spencer Reid in the 3 days that they were held. The young man had done his equations and had worked out that their chances of survival were minimal. He'd bared all to Aaron hoping to seek some kind of penance for his sins in life. The older man was also wondering whether this was the way everything would end for him but he didn't tell Reid that.

Aaron had already accepted that the small loveseat in the corner would become his bed for the night. He knew that Reid wouldn't be very happy if he suggested that they shared the large King size bed that he was currently sprawled across so he forced himself to get up and find extra bed clothes, making the sofa his own bed. The clock struck 11pm and he walked into the small dimly lit bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. He returned to the large bed; deciding to rest there until Reid was back because it was much more comfortable. He shut his eyes briefly and was surprised when the unconsciousness pulled him under by force.


Spencer, Garcia and Prentiss had canvassed the local bars pretty uneventfully. None of the people at the bar matched the profile that they had put together. The agents were out until just past midnight, only returning because more than one "geeky chic", as Garcia had called them, had hit on Spencer and offered him a room for the night. The young man merely shrugged at the remark and had continued to sip at his diet Coke. He walked into "his" room after saying goodnight and was surprised to see his boss was currently asleep on the only bed in the room which was obviously big enough for two. He saw that the sofa resembled a make-shift bed in the dim light from the hallway. He looked from his boss to the sofa then shook his head; he'd made his decision. He brushed his teeth and then walked back into the room. He coaxed Hotch into lying beneath the cover on one side of the bed before crawling in beneath the sheets on the other side himself. He hated to admit it but in the few days he spent at home after the abduction he'd been unable to sleep, craving a protective pair of arms around him.

The Unit Chief woke at 2:57am. He checked his mobile to confirm there wasn't anything new in the case while they slept; there wasn't. Spencer was mumbling in his sleep and that was what had roused him from his slumber. Reid began to form more coherent words but he also struck out, thrashing around in the sheet until Hotch held him still, restraining him.
"It's me, Reid. It's Aaron. Spencer." He whispered, gently pulling the man into a sitting position and then into his own embrace. He cradled Reid, trying not to think about the last time they were in the same position, less than a week prior. He ran his fingers through the man's long hair, soothing the fitful man who finally began snoring quietly once more. Aaron laid back down and went back to sleep, keeping his arms wrapped gently around the man he was laying with.

Spencer was woken by the sunlight peeking through the thin curtains that tried to dim the offending light. He rubbed his eyes to remove the sleep and turned over, startled when he saw that his Unit Chief; SSA Aaron Hotchner was holding him close to his muscular chest, arms protectively shielding him from the world outside their room. He laid still, contemplating what he wanted to do about the situation; deciding on laying closer to his partner, taking refuge in his arms.


Sorry if this feels filler-y. It's not. Promise. :D It's laying foundations. I'm also waiting for a few replies about whether you want me to explain the case or overlook it. ALSO. Do you guys fancy collabing at all? I want me some more friends. One's that like to write like me! :) Have a good day y'all.