A/N - Just to clarify, the UNSUB who hurt Reid WAS killed, by Morgan. Sorry for any confusion! :) And I hope everyone had a happy Christmas!

Chapter Eleven -

"So, let's make sure we're all on the same page." Gideon said. The whole team (minus Reid) was gathered around a table in a police station in Oregon.

"We're looking for a man between the ages of 25 and 35. He wouldn't stick out in a crowd--"

"Between 25 and 35, and wouldn't stick out in a crowd." Morgan repeated softly into his hand. Gideon gave him a funny look.

"...But he will be unable to have normal relationships with people, especially women, or friends his own age." He continued.

"No normal relationships, especially with women of friends his own age." Morgan whispered into his hand. He looked up to see the whole team staring at him. He hid his hand under the table and smiled innocently back at them.

Hotch knew what was going on. He put his hands on his hips, and then walked over, and grabbed Morgan's phone.

"Reid!" He shouted into the mobile.

Back at his apartment in Virginia, Reid cringed. In front of him was a detailed profile that he had constructed himself using texts and pictures Morgan had sent of the victims and crime scenes. Now he was comparing his profile to the one the team had made up.

"Uh, hi, Hotch. How's it going?" He asked, meekly.

"Reid, I thought I made it clear that you were to rest at home until the doctor cleared you. Has Morgan been feeding you info all day?"

Morgan looked away to avoid Hotch's glare.

"Yes, but don't get mad at him, I asked him to."

"I understand you're anxious to return to work, but you shouldn't be subject to the trauma of this job so soon after what you've experienced."

"But Hotch, you don't understand! It's traumatising just SITTING here! I think I'm going to go insane! Last night I read the dictionary. I actually read it. The whole thing! I haven't done that since the 11th grade!"

Hotch raised an eyebrow, but wasn't overly surprised by the young genius weird antics. He'd known him long enough to expect almost any thing.

"Well, when did the doctor say you could return?"

"In ten days, but --"

"No buts, Reid. If that's what he said, then that's what's going to happen. I'm sorry." Hotch told him firmly.

"Wait! What if we make a little bet?" Reid challenged. He was really desperate to return to work as soon as possible. Though this was a long shot. Hotch wasn't the gambling type.

"That would be highly inappropriate, Reid. You know I can't condone --"

"Wait, wait. Hear me out!" Reid begged.

"It wouldn't just be a bet. It would also be a good way to gage whether or not I am ready to come back. We use as much detail as possible in our own separate profiles. And then, when you guys nail the UNSUB, we see whose profile was closest. Whoever was closer, wins."

Hotch was silent, as he seemed to be contemplating Reid's offer.

"What are the stakes?" He asked after a moment. The rest of the team exchanged looks of surprise and amusement. Hotch, gambling? This was something they had to see.

"If I win, you'll see that I'm ready to come back, and I get to come on the next case with you guys. If I lose, I wait out the whole ten days, and I won't get Morgan to send me any pictures."

Hotch considered this carefully.

"What if our profiles are the same?" He asked. They were all equally good at their jobs, and so this was very likely.

"Whoever presents it first wins."

"If you lose, you also have to do two extra loads of paper work." Hotch added, his expression every bit as serious as it usually is. It was almost like he didn't want to admit to himself that this was breaking the rules a bit.

"Deal." Reid answered, grinning. "Tell Morgan that he has to send me everything. And it HAS to be everything or else it's not fair."

"I will. Oh and another thing. If Garcia tells me that your were at the bureau trying to get information before it reaches us, you automatically lose."

"Fair enough. I'll be in touch. May the best profiler win!"

"I intend to." Hotch said. His co-workers were shocked at his overly competitive attitude. Reid hung up and Hotch turned to his team.

"This profile has to be perfect." He said, looking each of then in the eye like a team captain giving a pep talk before a big game.

"If I go down, we all go down. Morgan, go talk to the first victim's husband again. Grill him. I want to know if there is anything he's leaving out. Prentiss, go with Gideon and review all the tip line recordings. The most insignificant detail, I want written down and analysed."

When his team just stared back at him, he clapped his hands and shouted,

"Double-time people! Let's go! We can't let Reid win!"

The team jumped up and scurried off to their assigned locations.

Hotch looked at himself in the mirror and straightened his tie. His 'game face' stared right back. Part of him wondered is he'd be in trouble with Strauss for this. The other part of him said "Screw her, this is war." And that part won, for once. Hotch exited the conference room in search of something, anything, that could aid his investigation.

A/N - Okay, so again, a fairly short chapter. And maybe Hotch is a bit out of character in this one, but I like to picture him loosening his tie and engaging in a bit of friendly competition once in a while. Please R/R! Thank you!