A/N: I've changed the location of the seminar. I had no idea it was TOO close to make a trip out of it. It's sad, I know more about England and Japan than I do about US. I'm still stuck in lala land

Crush

It's just (ahh) a little crush (Crush)
Not like I faint every time we touch
It's just (ahh) some little thing (crush)
Not like everything I do depends on you.
Sha la la la, sha la la la

To say he was slightly nervous was an understatement. Spencer spent Wednesday after work scouring his closet for something decent to wear. His mind was going into a topsy-turvy, so many scenarios played out but none of them made any sense to him and he was soon back to square one as he sat on his bed with a huff.

He rubbed his face tiredly. He'd just gotten in from work and Hotch had called him and told him to be ready by four. Usually, looking for something to wear wasn't a problem, but right now Spencer felt that he had way too many sweater vests in his closet to be appropriate.

He knew there had to be something decent for tomorrow, he was not only going to a seminar of one of his favorite authors but he was also going with Hotch. His boss, his very married and straight boss. Spencer spent some time chewing his lip before he jumped when his Roman numeral grandfather clock chimed at three thirty. He had a half-hour and that wasn't good.

He glared at his closet before he started digging again and finally after so long searching he pulled out a plain white turtleneck and a pair of jet-black slacks. His mother had sent them for his birthday last year but he had no place to wear it until now. It would be perfect for the seminar. He decided to keep what he had on for the road-trip except for the tie, which he secretly hated. It was only thirty-four miles but he would be stuck in a car this time and not the company SUV's which were roomy and gave him a nice distance.

He'd be in a car and next to his crush, the same crush that was married with a baby on the way. Spencer was a hopeless case of pathetic.

He packed his bag making sure he had spare boxers, socks, and his toothbrush. He snatched his glasses in case he were to lose his contacts, being cursed with the Reid Effect and all, it had happened before.

He left his small one-bedroom cottage and locked it tight and he was right on time, because a sleek black Dodge Charger pulled up in the drive behind his ugly old Volvo.

To his surprise, black suit and tie Aaron Hotchner was not who got out of the car, instead, it was a dressed down handsome man who didn't look so stern and imposing. He was wearing basic denim blue jeans and a dark blue sweater.

He was the kind of man who could make anything look good, Spencer decided taking up his bag.

"Here, I got it. Get in."

"Thanks," he said smiling wide and his excitement bled through before he could retain it. He could never hide when he was happy about something.

Spencer slid in and buckled his seat belt. He was trying to keep his knee from bouncing when Hotch elegantly slipped into the driver's seat. They were shoulder to shoulder and Spencer could imagine if someone took his vitals, they'd probably have him on medical leave for a week because of the spike.

Hotch couldn't have known that his feelings were spot on of Spencer's. "We'll drive straight there if you don't mind. We'll be in a lot of traffic if we don't."

"That's fine. So what's Rossi like?" Spencer shifted a little so that his back was against the door and he could see Hotch completely without having to touch him. "You worked with him and so did Gideon right?"

Hotch nodded. "We did. Rossi is a very meticulous man. He has unconventional methods as I'm sure you already know from his books. But he is also a wonderful field agent. He's a natural. When I first met him, I thought he hated me because he wouldn't so much as speak to me. Later, I found out it wasn't because he hated me but because he wasn't the type of man to strike up a random conversation. He is a charming man and he is the main reason why many of the rules in the BAU have been made."

Spencer couldn't help but laugh at that. He could only imagine.

"He'll do anything, even break the law to find an Unsub. He is not above getting his hands dirty."

"Neither are you," Spencer quipped naturally and Hotch snorted.

"Maybe, but I do follow protocol."

"Unless protocol doesn't work."

Hotch grinned, that was true, Gideon had told him that on several occasions. He had feeling of lightness, something he hadn't felt in years. It was a strange but nice feeling. He wasn't on edge and he wasn't worried about being his absolute best.

"I'm glad you decided to join me," Hotch said earnestly and Spencer beamed.

"Of course! How could I say no? It was the best gift!"

"Better than Gideon's?" Hotch teased causing Spencer to flush.

"Ah, uh, yes," he said with equal honesty. "Despite what our co-workers think, I do not see JJ that way. She's like a big sister."

For some odd reason, hearing that made Hotch's afternoon. He nodded in understanding and didn't press the issue and for that Spencer was glad.

The eighty-four mile drive was stretched longer due to the traffic on the highway, but for once in Spencer's life he didn't care and Hotch didn't seem to either. There was light chatter exchanged by the two of them and Hotch grinned when he said something that sparked Spencer's excited ramblings.

Instead of shutting him up like most of their co-workers would, Hotch simply sat there listening and trying not to laugh as he ran his finger along the steering wheel. But when Spencer started in on the tiniest details that no one in the world could ever know but him, Hotch let out a low chuckle causing Spencer to make a meep sound and his cheeks colored to a rather nice shade of pink.

"Sorry… too much information," Spencer said in embarrassment. Why did he always do that? He got so excited and then he started rambling. No wonder he couldn't get a date or a friend for that matter.

"No, Spencer. It's not too much information. I like it," Hotch told him looking away from the honking traffic to the elegantly stunned face. His mouth had dropped open and he was frozen in shock. Hotch leaned over and slid his finger under Spencer's chin and pushed up just a little so that his mouth closed. "Don't want to catch flies do we?"

Spencer gave an odd giggle-snort and Hotch arched an eyebrow as the twenty-four-year-old placed a hand to his nose and mouth. He was still trying to get over his first name being said on Hotch's tongue. It was foreign but at the same time it seemed right somehow.

"Was that a snort?" Hotch asked with amused incredulity. He laughed when Spencer shook his head shyly. "Right… and did you just giggle?" He couldn't help but call Spencer on it, he looked much too cute.

"No," Spencer's voice was muffled under his hand. "I don't giggle!" he protested.

Hotch gave a hm, "Not what it sounded like to me."

"Must be your hearing then. You are getting up there in age," Spencer taunted causing Hotch to blink and look over at his agent who flashed him a cocky smirk.

"Did you just call me old?"

"Not precisely," Spencer quipped. "I said you are getting up there in age, I didn't say you were old. That was your own interpretation."

"…" he was so not going to play word games with Spencer, because he would lose. Instead he chuckled and shook his head. "Fine, I'll play dumb just this once. But if you tell anyone…"

"Who would believe me?" Spencer reiterated. "Ah, come on, Agent Hotchner with a sense of humor? Everyone would think I was crazy, which I am partially, but that's beside the point."

If Hotch grinned any wider, his face would crack. "You do have a point and you're not crazy. You're just smart."

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. You can't have one without a little bit of the other."

"I think I heard Gideon say that same thing."

Spencer was pretty positive that he was the only person alive, who wished that the traffic jam had remained for another hour, but they were now beginning to move and soon, Hotch was going ten miles over the speed limit.

If Spencer didn't have an eidetic memory, he would have forgotten that Hotch was his boss. The conversation came natural and when it got silent it was comfortable.

It was just getting dark when they entered the busy city of Baltimore. The seminar was being held at a nearby university and apparently Hotch already had the room booked.

Luckily, for Spencer's blood pressure and fickle panic attacks there were two double beds in the room. After they dropped their things off Hotch and Spencer headed out for a late dinner. Hotch gave Spencer the choice.

"Anything so long as I don't have to use chopsticks."

Hotch chuckled. "I can teach you."

"I can't even use chopsticks with a rubber band, Hotch. I lose more calories trying to eat it." He rolled his eyes good-naturedly when Hotch continued to laugh at him. "Ooh, Italian!" he quipped cheerfully.

"Italian it is," Hotch agreed. As they entered the small leafy green designed restaurant, Hotch couldn't help but notice how the restaurant was set up for couples. Small tea-cup tables with Italian centerpieces.

The hostess smiled kindly at their arrival and she was already taking two fancy looking menus from under her station. "Two?"

"Yes ma'am," Hotch answered and she nodded.

"Follow me; we have a table that's close to the window. It has a wonderful view!"

Spencer had to shove his hands into his pockets to keep them from shaking. Perhaps he should have chosen McDonalds, it would have been a lot less awkward. He felt way under dressed.

"Can I interest you in a bottle of wine for your meal?"

"I don't think so, unless, Spencer?" Hotch looked at Spencer who had gone completely silent.

"Uh – no, thank you." That would be setting the element too high.

"You're server will be right with you." She walked off after that and Spencer sighed.

"Perhaps I should have mentioned McDonalds. I'm underdressed."

"Its fine," Hotch said scanning the room. Nearly everyone in the restaurant happened to be in romantic pairs. Two female pairs, a male pair, and four male and female pairs. It was very diverse except for the fact that they were all there for a date. "I won't be complaining so long as their food is as good as it looks."

Spencer agreed. It took him half a second to memorize the entire menu as he closed it and glanced out the window at the view that the hostess had bragged about. She was right, it was beautiful, the sky lights were streaming one by one the darker it became. He almost fell into a daze if it hadn't been for the waitress approaching and asking them the same question as the hostess about wine.

"If you like, I can offer a complimentary glass of wine for both you and your partner and then you can decide if you would like a bottle to share or to take home with you."

Spencer froze at her innuendo on them being partners, and all brain activity seemed to stop accordingly.

Hotch chuckled, getting over the remark quicker. "Thank you, I think we will."

It took a few moments for Spencer to unfreeze and to realize where they were and who he was with and exactly what the woman had said. Things couldn't get any more complicated could they? Spencer groaned inwardly.

When she was gone, Spencer laughed weakly. "Really trying to push that wine on us."

Hotch agreed. "I'm not driving tonight, so I figure why not?"

"I prefer sweet wines, the dry wines make me want to add a pot of sugar," Spencer admitted taking a drink of his ice water.

Hotch laughed. "As if you don't add it to your coffee already. I prefer red wine over white wines, it goes down smoother. But I'll take a beer over wine any day."

"I'm not much of a drinker except on occasion. Sometimes Morgan makes me go out with him and Garcia." He shuddered. "It's a little too much for my liking."

"I can picture that."

"Please don't." Spencer deadpanned.

Hotch merely grinned, the look on Spencer's face was classic.

Being in a fancy romantic restaurant with Hotch almost seemed like a dream. Never in his life would he have expected to find himself in this position. He kept his hands under the table, he was really nervous. He didn't want to give anything away or do something stupid that would ruin the night.

It was so easy to talk to Hotch, he was so different from at work but that only made Spencer's heart pound harder and that well known chemical reaction to start a fire deep within his chest. The drive had been the best. He'd always loved road trips and being so close to the one man he thought about constantly was a definite bonus.

If only things were so simple, Spencer thought. Sitting in a romantic restaurant in a setting that made everyone look beautiful with the lowly lit lamps above them made Spencer yearn for something more, something solid.

Both men could be found gazing out the window into the streetlights, and neither of them would ever know that their train of thought was exactly the same.

A/N: Took a mini-detour from the seminar. That'll be next chapter. I thought I'd play with our favorite men for a bit. I hope you don't mind the chapters being short. I can write 2k words with my eyes closed. I'm used to writing 5k word chapters and sometimes it was very hard to continue on when I knew I had to keep that length. But 2k is very easy and updates are much quicker. XD