Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement.
A/N 1: Thank you p95000 for your review and Sarahb2007 for that good question. I'm assuming that there are many venues in DC and the surrounding area that use security cameras such as museums. Beth is a museum curator according to one article I read. In a one-shot tag I'm writing for episode 7x14, I have Hotch and Beth going on a dinner cruise on the Potomac. I imagine something like that with close proximity to landmarks would have security cameras.
A/N 2: If you are confused by what you've read so far, you may be one of many people who didn't know this story was updated yesterday. FanFiction must have been acting up and doing strange things ;)
If you Love me, Let me Know
Chapter 4: It's not the End
A couple of days later, the BAU team was on their way home. Rossi had left Hotch alone after the first day for which Hotch was very thankful. He wasn't ready for a confrontation when he needed to focus on the case. But the reprieve ended when Rossi sat across from him on the plane. He said nothing right away as Hotch studied him.
"I'm not the unsub," Rossi finally said.
"What?" asked Hotch.
"You've been staring at me without blinking since I sat down a couple of minutes ago. Mind telling me what I did that pissed you off?"
Hotch glanced at Prentiss at the rear of the plane before talking. "Is there something going on between you and Prentiss?"
"Excuse me?"
"Midnight is a little late for a casual visit in a hotel room."
Hotch's stoic expression revealed nothing to Rossi about where his question came from. Rossi wondered if he was being accused of having an intimate relationship with Prentiss, and if so, was it out of jealousy or fraternization rules.
"I don't know what you're getting at, but if you had been watching, Emily looked like she needed a friend to talk to," explained Rossi.
Hotch thought that he and Emily had agreed that if she was having a bad day over a case that she would talk to him. So, what happened?
"Aaron, what is this really about? What is bothering you?"
"Nothing."
Rossi sent a look that meant he wasn't accepting his answer.
"She's vulnerable. She still has a lot of healing to do."
"Emily and I are friends. That's all. I wouldn't betray you like that."
One of Hotch's brows lifted in disbelief. "You've said your fraternizing days are over, but sometimes things happen. It's not a wild idea to think you may have slipped up."
Rossi smiled slightly. "That's not what I meant. I wouldn't get in between two friends who obviously care for each other beyond friendship and colleagues."
"Where did that come from? I thought you wanted me to date Beth. Look, never mind. I can take care of my own love life."
"Ehhh, maybe." He received the glare he was expecting. "You can't expect to settle down with happily ever after the first time out of the gate." Hotch rolled his eyes. "This thing with Beth, it's not the end."
"I have a son to protect."
"So, protect him. He doesn't have to meet every girl you date. Live a little. Get back in the game. Beth isn't likely to be the last one you date. And Emily isn't going to be vulnerable forever."
"There are rules for a reason. It would end badly and affect the whole team."
"Rules are meant to be broken. Stop with the doom and gloom. I said it before. You deserve to be happy."
~oOo~
Emily didn't have time to think much about her conversation with Rossi during the rest of the investigation. The last two days had been long. Certain aspects of the victims in the case threatened to overwhelm her if she allowed herself too much time to think. But now, on the plane, there was nothing else to keep her preoccupied. It was late. The only people awake were Hotch and Rossi. Her mind couldn't help but wander into dangerous territory. What kinds of things did two experienced profilers talk about after a case in a quiet, darkened plane? She only briefly thought about them discussing her. Hotch was an intensely private person. Rossi on the other hand was a force to be reckoned with when he wanted something. She could imagine him getting Hotch to talk. A small smile graced her face as she thought about how different the two friends were. She loved and respected both of them but in different ways.
Love.
She was grateful for the unique family bond on the team. They taught her that the word had meaning. She knew she should want to keep everything the way it was. She should keep her growing feelings for her boss tucked away. She couldn't imagine suffering losing her family again. If only she knew if Hotch felt the same way about her, maybe sacrificing her heart would be worth it.
She had no idea how long she sat staring out the window at nothing but blackness. She must have been daydreaming because she was taken by complete surprise when she discovered Hotch sitting across from her with a worried expression.
~oOo~
One chapter left to go!
