The team was away for a few days and just returned from Atlanta. After a long chase and a gun fight that ended with only a minor injury to Emily, they were able to catch the UnSub and come home.
Rossi was away at Washington working on the case that Jo was able to connect.
Hotch knocked on Jo's open door and took a step in.
"Oh, good. You're all back." Jo remarked, happy to see him.
"Yes, we just arrived. I wanted to know if you would be able to meet us in the conference room for a quick meeting, in about ten minutes."
"Of course. I will be right there." She quickly finished writing notes on the file she was working on then left her office toward the meeting.
On her way, she ran into Emily. "How's your arm?"
Emily touched her arm that was resting in a sling. "Oh, it's fine. I've been shot by a crazy woman before. Hopefully I will be able to take this thing off soon." She pulled Jo out of the center of the hallway. "So, how are things with Josh?" She asked with a romantic smile.
"Things are going pretty well, so far." She pulled out her phone and found a picture. "See, this is us from the other night."
"Oh, wow, he is cute!" She returned the phone back to Jo. "Well, it looks like you two are having fun."
"Come on ladies, no chit-chatting in the halls." Morgan walked passed them into the conference room. They followed right behind.
They each made their way to a seat at the round table with Hotch standing in the doorway.
Garcia looked up to him. "Is there something you need me to pull up, sir?"
"No, thank you, we are just waiting for Dave."
Reid looked confused. "I thought he was in Washington."
"I was." Rossi stated as he walked into the room. Hotch smiled and took a seat, leaving Rossi as the center of attention. "Well, as some of you might know, I was in Washington to work on closing a case that I started working on before I left several years ago. Well, today I am happy to announce that we were able to take Jonathan Turner into custody today for killing over fourteen women."
The team smiled and showed their pleasure in hearing the news.
Rossi continued. "And we wouldn't have been able to accomplish any of this without Jo. She was the one that found the smallest connection between two completely separate cases."
Jo instantly became embarrassed as the attention shifted to her. Reid, who was sitting next to her, smiled and rubbed her back.
Rossi looked right to Jo. "And since I am in such a happy mood, I have decided to throw a party at my house this weekend to celebrate.
Garcia got really excited. "Oh, I love his parties."
Hotch picked up the two coffee cups from the bar, turned around and headed towards the table a few feet away where Emily was sitting. He placed one in front of her and then sat down in the empty chair across from her.
"Thank you." She took the cup into both of her hands. She brought the cup up under her nose and smelled the robust aroma then took a sip. "Ah, that was just what I needed."
"I just wanted to check on you and see how you were holding up."
Emily grinned. "I am better now that I don't have to wear that sling. I am still a little tender, but it will ease up."
Hotch smiled as he nodded. "That's good. You will let me know if that changes, or if you need anything."
"Of course I will."
At that moment, a man walked up to the table. "Aaron? I thought that was you." He reached out his arm towards him.
"Josh." Hotch shook his hand. "How you doing?"
"Pretty well, I was just stopping in and thought it was you so I had to say hi."
"I am glad you did. Josh, this is Emily." They both shook hands.
"Well, I need to get going. I guess I will see you around."
Hotch gave a polite nod.
"It was nice to meet you."
"You, too." Emily smiled then turned to Hotch. "So, how do you know him?"
Hotch focused on his coffee. "He lives in my building."
Emily let out a small chuckle. "What a small world."
He looked up toward her. "How's that?"
"Well, I think that is the guy that Jo is dating."
In that moment, Hotch stared through the window at Josh as he was getting into his car. He was fixated on him.
Emily quickly noticed his demeanor change. "You don't like him, do you?" She asked with concern.
"No, I don't" Hotch stated matter-of-factly.
Rossi opened his door to Reid waiting outside. "Hey, come on in."
"I would have brought a bottle of wine, but I figured you would have it covered."
Rossi smiled. "That I do." He took a step back to allow him to come in. "Go help yourself to a drink, everyone is gathering outside."
Reid walked up to Hotch and Emily, exchanged hellos then headed outside to talk with JJ and her family.
Hotch poured himself and Emily another glass of red wine. He then let out a sigh. "I don't know what I am supposed to do with this information."
Emily shook her head. "You can't do anything tonight. This party is for her, you don't want to ruin her evening."
"You're right." He turned to look at Reid who was laughing and playing with Henry. Hotch and Emily then walked outside to join them.
Rossi had a large table set up with candles in the center. Lanterns hung throughout the trees and he hired a caterer service for the evening.
"This is really beautiful." Garcia remarked while hanging onto Morgan's arm with a drink in her other hand.
As the friends laughed and socialized, Rossi escorted Jo and Josh to the backyard.
Hotch met Josh's eyes. Josh knew he was in trouble.
Rossi touched them on their backs. "Be sure to help yourself to a drink inside."
Josh quickly turned to Jo. "What can I get you?"
"A glass of wine. You know what, let me go with you, I want to see if there is Cabernet." The two went back inside.
Hotch started to walk toward the door but Emily grabbed his arm. "What are you going to do?" She asked.
"I need to talk to Josh." There was determination in Hotch's eyes. Emily knew it was best to let him do it. Emily let him go and followed.
He approached the couple at the bar as Jo turned around. "Hotch." She smiled. "Josh, this is my boss, Aaron, and this is Emily."
Emily watched Hotch, wondering what he was going to do. He extended his hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Josh uttered.
Emily noticed that Hotch was staring him down and she turned to Jo. "Do you think you could do me a favor and help me fix something with my dress?"
"Yes, of course." Jo put her glass down and followed Emily into one of the back rooms.
"Thank you." Josh said to Hotch after the girls were out of earshot.
"I didn't do it for you. I wasn't going to ruin this night for Jo." He took a step closer to Josh. "You are going to tell her after tonight." He took one more step. "Or I will."
Josh swallowed hard then followed it up by a gulp from his drink. He then put on a fake smile as the ladies returned.
Hotch turned to Emily. "Everything okay with your dress?"
"Oh, yes. I thought something was caught, but it wasn't."
Rossi walked by. "Okay, you guys, it's time to eat."
Everyone gathered outside. Jo walked up to Reid while holding Josh's hand. "This is one of my best friends, Spencer. And this is Josh."
Josh looked him up and down with a disagreeing face, from his messy, long hair to his one purple and one red socks. However, he shook his hand and played nice.
They were all instructed to take their seats at the table. Jo sat between Josh and Reid.
Hotch stared at Josh throughout the entire dinner. Emily sat next to him and would nudge him when he was not paying attention to the others at the able.
With dinner eaten, some of the group stayed at the table while others stood throughout the backyard, chatting.
Hotch went inside to get another glass of wine.
"So, what's bothering you?"
Hotch turned around to see Rossi standing behind him. "Oh, nothing."
"Of course it's nothing, Aaron. That's why I saw you shooting daggers at Jo's date the entire evening. The only time I've seen you look like that is when you are staring down a serial killer."
Hotch grabbed Rossi by the arm to pull him away from the door. "I know him. He lives in my building." Hotch took a drink.
"And?" Rossi questioned.
"With his wife."
"Yeah, that would be a problem. So, I take it that Jo doesn't know."
"I highly doubt it. I already told him that he needs to tell her or that I will." He took another drink. "I hate going through the night watching her enjoying herself and laughing with that creep on her arm. I'm telling you, it is taking everything in me not to handle this myself."
"I understand and I completely agree. You know, in Italy, they have a way of dealing with guys like this that I think would be pretty fitting."
Rossi and Hotch turned to see that Reid was standing a few feet away from them and had heard every word. He stood there trying to process everything that was just said. Then as if a light was switched on, he bolted outside with Hotch and Rossi close behind.
Josh and Jo were standing talking with Garcia. Reid ran up to Josh, grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him toward him. Everyone was stunned by Reid's actions and didn't know what to do.
"Spencer! What are you doing?" Jo demanded.
"Tell her." Reid ordered. "Tell her now."
Hotch walked closer and stood to Reid's side, staring down Josh.
Reid shook him. "Tell her!"
"Alright." Josh relinquished and Reid let go of his shirt. Josh turned to Jo. "I'm married."
"You're what?" Jo was in shock.
Reid looked at his friend's pained face. It fueled his anger and he turned back to Josh and punched him, forcing him backwards and crashed into some of the folding chairs. Reid shook his hand. "Ow." He uttered.
Josh got himself up with fire in his eyes. Morgan stepped between him and Reid. "I think you better leave." Josh got up, looked at all the people staring at him and walked out of the house.
Jo's knees gave out and she landed in the grass with her hand covering her mouth. She was trying to process the whole thing.
Reid crouched down in front of her. "Are you okay?"
She looked up to her friend. "How did you know?"
Reid instinctively turned to look at Hotch then back to her. She saw the look on Hotch's face. It was the same look on Emily and Rossi's too. She could tell they all knew. She picked herself up, not wanting Reid's help. "I'm sorry, I need to be alone right now." She told Reid and walked into the house.
Reid went to follow her but Morgan put his hand up to stop him. "She needs a breather. Give it to her."
