Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Your reviews are my motivation to keep writing. This is so much fun, guys!

Gerardfan: I love the idea of H and Hotch working together. They're so different that any conflict between them would be very interesting, yet they're each so good at their job that it would be wonderful to see what results they could obtain by working as a team.

Barbara: I would never ignore you! I'll give you a shout out when your chapter comes!

rpmcmfan: I too am a fan of the million ways you can tell someone to drop dead! Haha!

And those of you favoriting and following – I can't thank you enough. It feels great to know that you like my story! I still haven't heard from a few of you. Talk to me!

I hope you enjoy the next chapter. It's nice and long.


Chapter 8

Big Trouble

As Lieutenant Rick Stetler made his way to the two men, Hotch carefully studied him. His very presence made Hotch's skin crawl. The tall, lean man's gestures, his walk, even his frown, reminded Hotch of his father. And for an instant, Hotch felt like he was five years old again, trembling under his bed when Dad arrived from work. He repressed the unpleasant memories and focused on the Director of Internal Affairs.

Horatio's voice dripped with disdain when he said, "Lieutenant Rick Stetler, what brings you to these parts?"

Stetler extended his hand to Hotch and smiled, "You must be Agent Hotchner. It's a pleasure to finally meet the Unit Chief of the famous BAU."

Hotch ignored the flattery as well as the handshake and said, "No need for formalities. We're eager to get back to the investigation, and we can't afford the luxury of having two men down. Time is of the essence, you do understand."

"Of course," replied Stetler sheepishly retrieving his ignored hand. He turned his attention to Horatio and said, "I heard that one of your CSIs engaged in the illegal trapping of wildlife at the peril of two federal agents. One of them even broke his ankle, I believe."

"An interesting piece of fiction. Where do you get your facts?" started Horatio. "The real version is somewhat different. CSI Delko saved a girl's life and, in the process, removed a nuisance alligator from a nearby swimming area without anyone getting hurt. And I might add, he preserved the alligator's life as well."

"Yes, but Delko doesn't have a trapping license. He had no business catching that alligator."

"What would you have him do, Rick? Take a seat and watch the show as the girl gets torn apart? Maybe that's what you would have done, but Erik… Erik is a hero."

"A hero that breaks the law? I don't think so."

"Tell me, Rick, how is it that you and I find ourselves in this very same predicament time after time?"

"I'm just doing my job, Horatio. I need to interview Delko."

"You'll have to wait. He has requested legal counsel, if there is to be an investigation."

"Oh, there will be an investigation," assured Rick.

"You see, that's where I'm a bit lost," said Hotch losing his patience. "There wasn't a shooting, a crime was not committed, and there was no loss of life. On the contrary, a young woman was saved. Why is this any of your concern? How is a minor infraction —a technicality really— within your jurisdiction?"

"Agent Hotchner…"

"It's Special Supervisory Agent Hotchner, but SSA Hotchner will do."

"SSA Hotchner, you have no way of knowing this, but this lab is under scrutiny due to numerous illegal acts, and…"

"Numerous illegal acts?" interrupted Hotch in obvious disbelief. "I doubt the lab would still be operating if that were true. And I understand it has recently been given a hefty grant. No, no, let me tell you what this is about." Hotch paused to look at Horatio, then he returned his fiery glance to Rick.

"This is about a woman… You two have long been rivals, but ultimately, this is about a woman. A woman who is no longer in the picture. Do I have to remind you that the BAU is here at the expense of the taxpayers' dollars, to catch a mass murderer of children, nonetheless, and you want to waste our time investigating a misdemeanor?"

In the pause that followed Rick wondered whether that was a rhetorical question. Was SSA Hotchner waiting for a response?

Hotch waited for the right moment. One more second, one more second, and there it was: the doubt rooted in his opponent's mind finally reflected in his eyes. The experienced profiler now dove in, to turn that doubt into fear. "That sounds a lot like obstruction of a federal investigation. Do I have to call my people and pursue these charges simply because you two can't get over a woman who is beyond the reach of both of you?"

Rick stared at Hotch, then at Horatio before finally saying, "I want a full report on the incident, including a transcript of the interviews, and I want it today."

"You'll get it when you get it," answered Hotch already leaving. "We have too much work to accommodate your every whim. Lt. Caine, please interview the men and have them released into my custody. We have a serial killer to catch."

"Yes, sir," replied Horatio with a smug grin. "Well, Rick, as usual, it's been a pleasure."

"That's only round one, Horatio. This isn't over."

"It never is. I think I hear your elevator arriving. Ding, Ding. Round two."


CSI Erik Delko impatiently waited for any news about his situation. Detective Trip had warned Erik to prepare himself because these charges weren't going away. So, frankly, Erik was scared. Wide-eyed he watched as H spoke with the Unit Chief of the BAU. Before they were separated, Morgan had assured Delko that Hotch would help them. But the stern expression on Hotchner's face was not at all comforting. What were they saying? They were looking at someone. Stetler! Erik's heart sank when he saw the Director of Internal Affairs, and now he felt more remorse than ever. His actions put the lab at risk. He placed a target on H.

"I should have known better," he mumbled miserably.

An hour later H was walking in. Erik immediately lifted his head off the table and looked at his boss with hope in his eyes.

"Erik," started Horatio. "Sorry to have kept you waiting. Do you need anything? Some water?"

"What I need is to know what's going on! H, I'm going crazy in here."

"Yes, I can imagine. Well, to answer your question, I need to perform a formal interview and release it to IA. I just finished with Agent Morgan and now it's your turn." He placed the recording device on the table and sat down in front of Erik. "Before we begin, I have one question."

"Anything, H. Ask me anything."

"How much of this was about saving the girl and how much, about Timothy Speedle?"

The question caught Erik off guard. "What? Why would you ask me this?"

"Because Agent Morgan said, on the record, that you kept calling him Tim."

Erik sighed heavily and replied, "I wasn't aware of that."

"You have to talk to me, Erik. I want to help you."

Erik took a deep breath. "Tim and I… Just before he…" Erik continued with difficulty. "The last time we hung out he went to an alligator farm. That's why I have a noose."

Horatio realized that that was all he was going to say. His feelings were still too raw. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. During this interview, you will refer to Morgan as Agent Tim Morgan. And when we're done here, you're going to get help before you destroy my lab."

"What kind of help?" asked Erik alarmed.

"Whatever you need to deal with Speed's death. Counseling, religion, a grief group -whatever you need. But you need to get it together, son. Is that understood?"

"What about Stetler?"

"I don't want you to worry about him. Leave Stetler to me."


During her long wait at the ER in the morning Emily had talked at length with the rescued girl and her sister. She learned that their family ran a small airboat tours business based in Hialeah, and that they had the exclusive right to operate in the section of the Everglades where Amanda's body was found. The information made Emily's eyes brighten: The Un-Sub was probably one of the employees.

Without a profile, the BAU agents were going in blind. They would be much more efficient if they could describe the Un-Sub. But at least Penelope could run a background check on the employees to see if any of them had a record. It would be a start.

"I wish we had the profile!" complained Emily in the passenger seat.

"And I wish you had followed my orders to go back to the house," replied Hotch from behind the wheel.

"And let Rossi come? No way, Hotch, this is my lead!" she said competitively. "I risked getting bitten by a bunch of wild things to get this information."

Hotch looked at her with concern and asked, "Did you at least have something to eat at the station?"

"Hotch, for the hundredth time, I'm fine. I showered and I ate someone's lunch labeled "Ryan Wolfe."

"Thief! What's wrong with my team? We come to Miami and suddenly they're all breaking the law. I'll probably have to bail you out next."

"Not unless I bail you out first!" Emily laughed heartily and said, "It was lasagna, Hotch. I'd gladly go to jail for that! It was so good! You know how lasagna is better the next day..."

"Yeah, when I make it for Jack, I bake it the night before he arrives." Mentioning Jack made Hotch smile and Emily gazed at him in wonder. His face was so handsome when he smiled. And the thought of Hotch in the kitchen baking for his little boy, well, that was incredibly sexy. She wondered if he used an apron, or if he played music and drank some wine while cooking. She wondered if he ever cooked for a woman other than Haley. She wondered if he stole kisses from his date when Jack wasn't looking. That last thought made her giggle.

"What?" asked Hotch.

"Nothing," she replied nonchalantly, realizing that these topics were outside the realms of an appropriate work-related conversation with the Unit Chief.

"Wait! Where did you shower?" asked Hotch suddenly. "There's no heating at the station because of the construction."

"It was freezing cold!" she giggled.

And just like that, the thought was imprinted into his brain forever: Emily in the cold shower with goose bumps all over her body. He grew uncomfortable and berated himself for allowing his mind to wander that far.

"Serves you right," he replied, more to himself than to her.

He was grim and silent now. There was no trace of the charming man he had been a few moments ago, the smiling man that spoke of his son and was so protective of her. The man she imagined easily seducing any woman. Emily dealt with his mood swing by focusing on the case.

"Okay, so fill me in on the case. What did I miss this morning?"

Returning to the case put him at ease again and he replied, "You mean while you were out playing in the water?

"Yeah, Hotch, while I was playing in the water," she repeated with mock annoyance and rolled her eyes.

That simple gesture was so cute, so endearing to him, that a warning bell rang in his head. And that bell was saying: Aaron Hotchner, you are in big trouble!


I love to explore the topic of "What exactly makes you fall in love? At what point does it happen? Is it gradual, or instant?" The answers are endless! This is how it happened for Hotch (in this story, anyway.) How has it happened for you, or for one of your characters? Write me a line or two and share! Review!