Chapter 3:
As the BAU women remained in the bathroom Will had settled angrily across from Hotch's desk as the profiler sat down. Hotch looked at JJ's fiancé with that continued look of calm and reason as if they were about to discuss the weather.
"Will, let me say again that JJ and I have never had an inappropriate relationship. Professionally she is a fellow agent, as well as a subordinate. Personally, she is a friend, and I would never betray that friendship by causing her to cheat. I don't chase women who are with someone else, that's my own code." Hotch said strongly, using his best lawyer voice to sound as convincing as he could. He was speaking the truth but it would still take some extra conviction he thought considering the wounded ego of the man sitting across from his desk. He saw Will processing and considering the words carefully, it was obvious he wanted to believe the profiler but he was still wavering between his memory of what JJ had said and what Hotch was telling him now.
Hotch's instincts told him to add more honesty to the discussion and hopefully help convince the man he had nothing to worry about. "I'll be honest Will, I can't deny that JJ is attractive, but I could say the same about the other women on the team." He admitted without a trace of embarrassment or discomfort, "but finding someone attractive is very different from having romantic feelings much less acting on them." Hotch paused again gauging Will's response finding that his last admission had apparently tipped the scales causing the Louisiana man to sink back into the chair looking defeated.
"I just don't understand why she had to call out your name, I love her so much, do you know how much it hurts to hear someone else's name while you're making love to them?" Will repeated, this time the anger gone from his voice letting the hurt clearly show through. As a matter of fact Hotch did know what it felt like and could almost commiserate with the miserable man in front of him, toward the end of the marriage with Haley there had been a few signs such as phone calls and a hang up when he answered, but he had his suspicions confirmed after Haley had called out another man's name while he was still trying to make their relationship work. He had pretended not to hear her and it became the breaking point in his mind of when he knew things weren't going to work out as she had already moved on, but that wasn't an experience to share with Will ever, much less at a time like this.
Hotch considered carefully how to proceed, trying to be considerate of the man's hurt and deciding he should try to help Will considering to the best of his knowledge that JJ was staying faithful to the father of her child, though whether it would change after this was anyone's guess and he refused to let himself think about the possibility of that right now. "Would it have hurt as much if she had called out someone you didn't know, someone famous?" Hotch finally proceeded, trying to sound as clinical as if he was describing the difference between a sociopath and a schizophrenic "couples do this sometimes Will, sometimes it's active role play other times it's more subtle, it doesn't mean that they don't love the person they're with, it's usually just a way to spice things up."
"But she didn't pick Brad Pitt, she picked you, someone she sees almost every day," Will again grumbled, causing Hotch to shift in his seat almost uncomfortably having considered the same thing himself and not wanting to really go down that line of thought especially at the present time, that would be something he would do much later when he could think more privately, he already knew his day would be spent dealing with Will, eventually JJ, and putting out the fires with the rest of the team. Though trying to keep himself from analyzing it, the more time he spent with JJ's boyfriend he was starting to get some ideas about the basic personality differences that might have caused JJ to consider him for a role in whatever fantasy she chose to play, it was good for men to have sensitivity but Will's sensitivity and insecurity was personally starting to annoy him.
"Only JJ can answer that for sure," Hotch said diplomatically, though it was obvious Will didn't want to let it drop there.
"Ok, from a human behavior standpoint, what are some reasons these ordinary people fantasize about other lovers?" Will questioned, feeling somewhat reassured by Hotch's calm confidence, but still seeking some further explanation about JJ's behavior as he studied the man in front of him, wondering what JJ saw in him, beginning to feel insecure as he noted some of the physical differences in regards to the taller muscular agent and the contrast of his well-fitting suit compared to Will's jeans and t-shirt as his appearance had been the last thing on his mind when he stormed out of the apartment that morning.
"It could be a hundred things Will," Hotch said tiredly, halting the man's obvious study of him. "Everyone is different, but I'm not comfortable analyzing the sex life of one of my agents, this is between you and JJ and that is where it should remain." Hotch let his tone become more stern as he effectively took the last step to regain total control of the situation, evidenced by Will's now submissive posture and more thoughtful look on his face then decided to throw the man at least a small morsel of hope. "Will, are you saying that you've never thought of someone else when you're in bed with someone you love?"
"No, I haven't" Will shot back quickly, too quickly, it was easy for Hotch to see that he was lying but he chose not to call him on it, the most important thing was that Will made the connection in his mind that there wasn't a double standard in regards to that particular behavior and if lying let him keep some dignity than Hotch wasn't going to take that away.
"JJ is going to kill me," Will said, finally refocusing on what his anger might have cost their relationship. Hotch nodded, not going to provide any contradiction because he was pretty sure that JJ would have plenty to say to Will about this once they got back home, he was profoundly grateful that he wasn't in the man's shoes, he had no doubt JJ could be quite formidable when truly angry and when the embarrassment faded then it would probably not be pretty for anyone in her path.
"When you see her could you let her know I've gone back home, I'll be ready to talk whenever she is." Will said, knowing JJ well enough to know he should probably allow some time for her to calm down before he tried to talk to her further.
"I'll let her know," Hotch said assuredly, feeling a sense of relief that this portion of the nightmare was almost over as Will stood to leave walking out defeated. Will appeared to try to maintain some sense of dignity as he walked through the bullpen and avoided making eye contact with the obviously gawking BAU team members who were not at all convinced by his attempt to hide his shame, the gravity of publicly humiliating his fiancée was becoming more heavy on his mind as he considered the consequences he was likely to face and the more he did so the more he started wondering if it was time to pack his things.
A cheery ding caused Garcia to check her phone and read quickly before announcing the message to JJ, "According to Morgan, Will just left the building, he looked calm after talking with Hotch, so guess we can leave the bathroom fortress," she suggested.
"So what would you ladies do," JJ had to ask, "I now have to face my boss who was recently slugged by my fiancé and informed that I had called out his name during sex. Would either of you want to have that conversation?" She started to look green again at the prospect earning sympathetic looks from her two colleagues.
AN: Thanks for the reviews and story alerts, though this started as a small fluff piece it seems to be growing, we'll see where it goes.