A.N. Hello! Thank you to everyone who had continued to show their support via reviews/favourite/alerts, you keep me motivated. College has been tough so I'm glad that I'm still updating! If anyone is getting annoyed with the fact that at least 1/3 of this story has ended with someone going to sleep you can join the party but never fear because that will be ending soon! With that being said if you like this chapter (and even if you don't) please read and review, and as always: enjoy.


Aaron had never been so confused by a personal relationship before. He'd thought that his relationship with Riane had been progressing – to where he wasn't sure – but now it seemed like she wanted nothing to do with him. For the past couple of days she hadn't interacted with him in any way other than what was necessary and even when she did talk to him she was cold and informal. Although she was never rude nor did she say anything that directly told him that something had disrupted their relationship he got the distinct feeling that something was wrong. They still hadn't had a case which only seemed to further worsen his situation because the team was tired of doing paper work and wanted some action which meant that at work everyone was antsy and when he came home he had to be on edge.

He sat at the dining table that morning and listened to the silence, it was Thursday which meant that Riane didn't have physical therapy so he didn't need to rush because he didn't have anything to do other than go to work. At the moment he didn't have anything to do other than to drink his coffee and look busy. Despite his best intentions however, he couldn't help but think of Riane; he wondered if insisting on living with her had been a bad idea. When he'd made the suggestion he hadn't know all the details…he still didn't know all of the precise details. All he did know was that Riane was regressing and he was to blame.

He looked up when he heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. She didn't look at him when she entered but he couldn't help but notice that even after only two therapy sessions her reliance on her cane seemed to have lessened. It would be a while before she would be able to walk without it and even longer before she stopped limping but he had no doubt that she would make as fast a recovery as she could.

"Morning," he greeted.

When she smiled at him it didn't reach her eyes, "Morning Hotch."

She took a seat at the end of the table and got busy stirring her coffee. She completely ignored his existence and Hotch wasn't sure whether to be offended or just upset.

"We need to talk," he said quietly.

"I have nothing to say Hotch."

He sighed, "We can't continue like this. If I've done something to offend you in any way you need to tell me. Not only is it important because of what the situation is now but I need to know I can trust you when you come back to work."

Nothing was said for a few minutes and Hotch watched Riane stare into her cup of coffee while she thought through what he'd said.

"I can't Hotch. I just…can't."

"Riane…" He started but before he could say anything else she'd gotten up from the table and was heading back down the hall, the cup of coffee forgotten on the table.

He couldn't wrap his head around what was happening, try as he may he couldn't think of anything that had happened that would merit her sudden attitude change. Looking at his watch he reasoned that it wasn't too early to call Rossi; he just needed someone to talk to and Dave was the perfect man for the job.

Opening his phone he hit Dave's speed dial and waited for the older man to pick up.

"Dave?" He asked when the line picked up. "Can I come over?"


It took about an hour before Aaron finally arrived at Dave's mansion armed with a coffee and a chocolate chip muffin. When Dave answered the door Aaron handed them over with a grin.

"That much sugar this early in the morning cannot be good for you." Aaron said as he followed Dave through his home.

Rossi shrugged, "Compared to the amount of sugar Reid puts in his coffee I think I'm safe."

Hotch chuckled as he took a seat on one of Dave's various luxurious couches and Rossi did the same on the couch opposite him.

"So," Rossi said after taking a sip of his coffee. "What's up?"

"What do you mean?"

Rossi looked at him quizzically, "Well it's barely past seven and we don't have to be at work for at least another hour yet here you are sitting on one of my couches when you could be enjoying the morning with Jack."

Hotch leaned forward and clasped his hand in front of himself, "Riane told me what happened," he said finally.

Rossi nodded but didn't seem surprised, "This is a good thing right?"

Hotch sighed, "I thought it was but ever since then all she's done is push me away."

"We both know the psychological repercussions of rape on victims Hotch. I also wouldn't be surprised to find out that not only has Riane not searched out professional help but you might be one of the only people she's ever actually told keeping in mind that Reid figured it out so she never actually told us. We're looking at someone who's distrustful of men who's living with one who knows her deepest secret; not to mention the fact she has three children which changes the dynamic completely."

Hotch wrung his hands together, "I know that Dave, but I can't have someone on the team who's dealing with something like that. I have to think about the team and what's going to keep us effective as a unit."

Finishing his coffee Rossi put the empty cup down on the table, "Do you think you could convince her to get some help?"

Hotch shook his head, "I don't know. The math I've done tells me that she was raped in November 2011 which is just shy of two years ago and if she hasn't even acknowledged the event to its full capacity I don't know if she would now."

"You've said it yourself Aaron that you can't have someone on the team with this much baggage who is potentially unwilling to deal with what's happened to them. What choice do you have if you can't work with her?"

As much as Aaron hated the direction that Rossi was pointing the conversation in he could see the logic. In the past it had proved difficult to work with agents on his team when there had been a partial disagreement; there was no way the team would be able to function with someone who so unstable.

"I can't just fire her."

"It's not your job to fix her Aaron," Dave insisted.

"She has three kids Dave." Hotch countered.

Rossi's eyes narrowed and he leaned in, "Just what is going on with you two Hotch? I get that she's a friend and all but this is insane, you can't go on like this."

Hotch shook his head, "It is not like that Dave."

"Really Aaron? Explain what it's like then."

When Aaron shook his head Rossi sighed, "I'm not trying to put you on the defensive Aaron and I don't care if you want a relationship with Riane because God knows you both deserve one-"

"It's not like that."

Rossi smirked, "So you keep saying. There's plenty of victims of sexual assault who are able to move on with their lives and have successful romantic relationships."

"I know that Dave but I couldn't even save my marriage and there was nothing like this hanging between our relationship."

"I hate to say it Aaron but Haley wanted more than you could give her. I understand that she was entitled to a normal life and marriage but you couldn't have ever given her one without leaving the BAU."

Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose, he didn't want to think about Haley. He went out of his way to purposely not think about Haley because it had only been two years and his chest still burned when he thought about her.

"This is almost worse," Aaron said. "Now we're talking about four children and two absent parents."

Rossi nodded, "At least we're talking about it. I know your situation, but you're both single parents regardless and you have to admit that it's been easier with Riane helping you out."

"It's also easier when you take Jack out to a ball game but no offense Dave I'm not about to take you out on a date."

Rossi laughed, "Thanks Aaron. But you have to admit that there's something between you two. She trusts you but it seems like neither of you are willing to acknowledge that there's something there."

"But she doesn't trust me Dave, not really. I don't think she trusts anyone fully."

Aaron glanced down at his watch to buy himself some time. He had no intention of admitting that he was interested in Riane in a romantic way because he wasn't sure if he was. There was a difference between being attracted to someone physically and being attracted to someone because of who they were. And he did find Riane attractive but it wasn't like J.J. or Emily weren't also attractive although he would never even think about either woman in a romantic perspective.

"We should get going," Hotch said effectively ending the conversation,

Rossi shrugged and followed Hotch out to his car, "You can avoid this as much as you like but despite whatever is going on between you two you still trusted her enough to leave Jack with her."


Riane sat against the closed door of her bedroom. Jack, Atticus, Nathanael, and Harrison were in the living room and when she had left them the four of them had been playing with some race cars and Lego. Earlier she'd promised to take them to the park after the boys had their nap but the closer it came to noon the less she felt like leaving the house. She just felt empty; she was upset and angry and it didn't matter who was around, how much sleep she'd gotten, or what time it was she just never felt happy.

She also hated that she was pushing Hotch away. All she'd wanted to do was put some distance between them but what she'd managed to do was completely destroy their professional and personal relationship. He'd been right that morning when he'd said that they couldn't continue as they were and that was her fault. She thought that getting back to a strict professional relationship was what would be best but she missed the Aaron Hotchner she'd come to know over the past almost six weeks. He was so different when he wasn't at work and Riane liked that side of him, the side that had taken care of her children when she'd been in the hospital and the side that had listened without judgment when she'd explained her past.

She just couldn't shake the feeling she had that told her to keep Hotch at arm's length. She didn't want to mislead him into thinking that she was interested in him sexually, she couldn't handle a romantic relationship. Silas Donovan had left her body riddled with scars but so had her pregnancy: stretch marks and her caesarian scar just served to further degrade her body and her confidence. Which was fine for Riane because the less attractive she looked to men the better it was for her; before Donovan she'd had three serious relationships that had lasted for longer than three years and they'd all ended badly and now that she had to look out for her children the last thing she needed was a boyfriend.

Getting up off the floor proved easier said than done but she didn't doubt that without the physio she would have never been able to do it. Her doctor had told her that the cast on her arm would be able to come off as early as the end of the following week which was a blessing, she'd never realized how lucky she was to have had two functional hands and arms until she only had one.

Going back out to the living room Riane couldn't help but smile as she watched the four boys play. The triplets played well together for the most part but they loved Jack. It was difficult to let them play with whoever they wanted at the park because it was hard to keep track of where everyone was and as a consequence of that Riane found that it was a lot easier to just play with them in the backyard. As much as she felt back because they didn't get to interact with other children as much there were usually other children at Heather's and they always had each other.

That coupled with the fact that Riane planned to enroll them in pre-school as soon as they were potty trained and old enough.

Jack seemed to enjoy his makeshift role as the older brother as well. There were definitely times when the toddlers annoyed Jack but when he got frustrated he usually got up and did something else. Riane had never seen him get angry enough to throw things or get physical which was reassuring.

It still never ceased to amaze her how much Jack was like his father. Not necessarily physically, his hair was lighter than Hotch's – presumably from Haley Hotchner but his personality was like his father's. Riane could see Hotch's strength and wisdom in Jack, something she knew should have come with years but had been forced upon the six year old as a result of past events. Just as there was strength and wisdom there was also a kindness and capacity to love that Riane adored. It wasn't just the innocence that came with being young but it was also the compassion that Jack had demonstrated with Riane and her sons. It's what put her at ease when she had to do chores and let Jack and the boys play, she knew that Jack was every bit as protective and loyal as his father.

"Miss Riane look I made a plane!"

Riane laughed when she looked at the contraption that Jack was holding up; made out of Legos the structure didn't exactly fall into the category or aircraft but there was a resemblance.

"It looks amazing Jack, where is the plane going?"

The boy shrugged, "I dunno. Maybe California."

Riane shook her head in amusement, "California huh? How about we start in the kitchen with some lunch first?"

Jack beamed, "Sure!"

In the end they had gone to the park later in the afternoon and it had been a fantastic way for everyone to get some air and relax. Ever the helper Jack had stayed by Riane's side helping her to push swings and get toys until she'd insisted that he go off and play.

She'd hadn't had to tell him twice.

The team was still trying to catch up on a couple of weeks' worth of paper work, something Riane was glad to be missing. She'd got a message from Morgan earlier with a video of what she could only assume was the result of him replacing the sugar with salt so that when Reid went to drink his coffee with five teaspoons of 'sugar' he'd gotten quite the surprise. As much as she didn't necessarily miss the job she really did miss the team.

Riane had just been lasagna out of the oven when Hotch walked through the door. His presence in her home seemed to alter her mood instantaneously and she felt her temporary calm shift to anxiety. Putting the pan down she took a deep breath as she heard him approach from behind.

"How was your day?" She asked without turning around.

"You know what it's like. I think one more day of work should get us all caught up and we can start taking cases again. The pile of J.J.'s desk is so tall you can barely see her through it."

Riane grinned, "I'm sure she appreciates being able to go home to Henry and Will at a decent time."

"Daddy we went to the park!" Jack called from the hall entrance.

Riane plated the food while Jack animatedly retold their adventure at the park, it was aweing to hear what had been almost a tedious task for her be something so exciting to a six year old. As much as she enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine, and time with her children the park was a noisy, child-ridden danger at the best of time.

She still couldn't shake the awkwardness that hung over her and Hotch during dinner although Jack didn't seem to notice it as he chatted about how much he was going to be able to tell his friends when he went back to school in two weeks. Jack laughed like a hyena when he saw what the triplet's version of eating lasagna was and even though Riane dreaded the idea of getting tomato sauce out of shirts and brushing bits of ground beef out of hair it was a moment of levity that was desperately needed.

After everything (and everyone) was cleaned up following dinner Riane decided to let everyone play in the backyard to blow off some steam. Jack Hotchner seemed to have an aptitude for working her kids up and it was a nice evening so she saw no harm in going out for an hour or so. Sitting in one of the deck chair Riane was tempted to shift her chair away from Hotch's but she wasn't in the mood to argue with him. She had no way of explaining why she was so confused and angry she just knew she'd never been in such a conflict with what she wanted but didn't want.

"Riane," Hotch said softly.

She sighed, "Hotch please not right now."

"No," he agreed. "But we do need to talk, really talk."

She bit her lip, the prospect of a 'talk' with the man terrified her. Over the past six months she hadn't really had to talk to him alone many times but he was intimidating.

"Okay" she acquiesced. "But later."

She saw him nod out of the corner of her eye and relaxed into her chair a little more. A small part of her hoped that her talk with Hotch would help her to sort her mind out but she doubted it would, she doubted anything would.

The closer it got to bedtime the more anxiety Riane felt. By the time she put the boys down for the night her anxiety had made them restless and cranky. Jack had settled into his room for the night and Hotch was in there with him finishing off Percy Jackson And The Lightening Thief; everyday Riane got to look forward to a summary of the chapter or two Jack and his father had read the night before and truth be told Riane was interested to hear how the book ended.

Riane was finishing some last minute dishes when Hotch finally emerged from his son's room.

"Jack wants to start the second one tomorrow night," Hotch said as he took a seat at the table.

"How many are there?"

"Five"

"That'll keep you busy for a while."

Hotch nodded but didn't say anything as Riane finished the dishes and took a seat across from him. The atmosphere seemed to change almost immediately, a cloak of seriousness settling over the table.

Looking at her hands Riane shrugged, "I really don't know what to say."

"I think you need help."

Her head snapped up, "Excuse me?"

He sighed, "Riane obviously bringing up everything that's happened has triggered something negative. I think it would be in your best interest-"

"My best interest? Hotch what the hell? There's nothing wrong with me!"

"I didn't say there was…but you need to consider what I'm saying; the vast majority of rape victims seek psychological help and it is very beneficial."

She shook her head, "I don't need help. I don't"

He splayed his hands out on the table, "Sleep disturbances, feelings of anger, avoidance of physical intimacy or sexual situations, intense emotions, fears about safety."

"What are you doing?"

"Am I getting close?" He asked. "These things are experienced in whole or in part by all victims of rape and sexual assault. Those who seek help after the event have a higher likelihood of recovery than those who don't"

She smirked, "Are you seriously trying to throw statistics at me? Really? Alright here's a statistic for you: Mothers who live with a man who isn't the father of her children leave the children thirty-three times more likely for abuse."

She could see him freeze and she almost wanted to apologize and take what she'd said back but instead she held her ground.

After a moment he spoke quietly, "You're suspended until further notice."

She stared at him for a moment before what he'd said sank in, "You're suspending me?"

"When does your cast come off?"

She shook her head, "Next week. You're suspending me?"

Pushing his chair back Hotch stood slowly, "Yes. I'm sorry but I can't have someone on the team who isn't in control of themselves. You can't come back for another couple of months regardless so I suggest you start looking for some help. As soon as your cast if off Jack and I will leave."

Riane watched as Hotch walked away, unable to say anything. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had just managed to ruin a good thing; she didn't feel angry any longer, she just felt guilty and upset. She knew she'd gone too far with that abuse statistic, she hadn't even believed the words she'd said because she knew Hotch didn't have an abusive bone in his body.

But he had suspended her. Not only was she not allowed to work because she couldn't do any field work but she wouldn't even be able to work in the office, and all because Hotch thought she needed psychiatric help. She knew he wasn't wrong; she wasn't stupid or ignorant, she was afraid. After what seemed like forever Riane finally got up and turned the lights off and locked the door. Letting herself into the triplet's room she watched them sleep, they were so peaceful and innocent it made her want to cry. Relaxing as best she could into the rocking chair Riane let the motion clear her mind enough for sleep.


Last chapter I stated that there was no rule against inter-team fraternization, my reference can be found in the thesis A Comparison of Department of Defense and Private Sector Fraternization Policies by Jeffrey L. Frye, Captain, USAF.

Attention to all CM fanfiction writers/readers: The 2013 Profiler Choice Awards have started! For more information take the spaces out of the link below!

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