Disclaimer: as always, I own nothing, no copyright infringement is intended.


"Is there something going on between Reid and Prentiss" Hotch asked.

"What do you mean?" Garcia said. The two of them were in Hotch's office. Reid and Prentiss's temporary assignment was ending, so the two of them would be back to full duties with the team next week. Hotch and Garcia were talking about that, among other logistical issues, when he started to ask about Reid and Prentiss.

"I mean are they engaging in something other than a professional relationship?"

"Aren't we all doing that?" Garcia countered. "Morgan and I are good friends. So are you and Rossi, as a matter of fact. Dave and Seaver play video games together. None of us has a strictly professional relationship."

"But those two...it's something more than friendship, isn't it?"

"What if it is? What if they have a relationship that's more than friendship?"

"I'll need to have a talk with them about it."

"And what are you going to say? I know you can't say don't do it, because that would be hypocritical, given us."

"I'm not saying it should be discouraged, but if it is happening, I need to talk to them about it. We need to be ready when Strauss finds out."

"How would she find out? Why does she need to know? I mean, it's not like she knows about us, right?"

"Well." Hotch tried to sound causal and calm, but he recognized the dangerous territory he had wandered into with this discussion.

"Aaron," she said in her most disapproving voice,"does Strauss know about us?"

"Yes."

She raised both her eyebrows. "How would she know?"

"I told her."

Penelope didn't say anything, she just glared at him.

"I had to tell her."

"No, I don't think you needed to." she said coldly. "Certainly it wasn't something you had to tell her without discussing it with me first."

"She would have found out sooner or later, so I told her. Then she talked with Dave and Morgan about it."

She kept glaring at him. Aaron recognized that the look. It usually meant she was contemplating some terrible revenge involving cyberspace, Facebook, and email accounts.

"She agreed," Hotch continued, hoping he could salvage this,"that they would intervene if our relationship impeded the team's operation. Knowing that those two would act a check is what's keeping her from doing anything."

"Like what?"

"Like requiring one of us to transfer. Or leave altogether."

"I still think you should have told me you were going to do that."

"I'm sorry Penelope. I didn't want you worry. I ... I'm not good at this part of relationships, I guess."

She eyes softened a little bit. "I'm not mad. I just didn't know you did that. I don't like surprises, that's all."

"You didn't mind it when I surprised you at dinner last week," he said. Last week, he arranged for Jack to stay overnight with Jessica. That meant he and Penelope got to enjoy a romantic evening that began with dinner, ended with breakfast with quite a bit of X-rated fun in between.

Penelope's cheeks suddenly flushed as she remembered some of the high points of that experience. "That's different."

"About Reid and Prentiss ..." Hotch began again.

"Don't you dare."

"Dare what?"

"Anything. Don't ask them about it. Don't talk to them about it. And don't you dare tell Strauss anything about it."

"I wouldn't tell Strauss anything without first talking to Reid and Prentiss. I promise."

"If you ," Penelope began.

"I won't."

"But if you do, this," she indicated the part of her anatomy that lay between her legs,"it's closed. In fact, it will be welded. Do you understand, Aaron. Welded!"

"I understand. But something is going on."

"I didn't say that."

"You certainly implied it."

"Don't get all profilely on me, Aaron Hotchner! I can't confirm what I don't know. They may be engaged in ...that, but I don't know that. I think they may be, but I don't know it for sure. And I don't think we should say anything. I think they deserve the same opportunity to let things develop, without any interference. Don't you?"

Hotch briefly considered that point. There was a strong case to be made that fraternization of any kind was dangerous to the team dynamic. Instead, however, he chose to nod. "All right. But if it's detrimentally affecting their performance, I'll need to address it."

"Fine. But if it doesn't, then you need to leave them alone. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Good."


Several hours later, Reid and Prentiss were having their own conversation regarding the team. They were having dinner at a restaurant, celebrating the end of their assignment with INTERPOL.

"There's something we've been avoiding Emily," Reid said.

"Oh?"

"What happens Monday."

"Monday we go back to the team. That's the whole reason we're celebrating tonight. Maybe we could celebrate all weekend. There's no avoidance at all."

"Except we haven't been working that closely with them these past few weeks. That's the only reason they don't all know we're dating."

"Morgan's pretty sure. So's PG, so don't kid yourself."

"But it's going to be hard to keep it a secret unless we make a careful effort to hide it."

"What's your point?"

"We're going to need to decide what we're going to do about us and the team. Do we try to keep it a secret or not."

"What do you think?"

"I think...at least I hope, that we're past the point of either one of us wanting this to end."

"I never want it to."

"Me either, but you know Strauss may not feel the same."

"Hotch and Garcia are dating, you know that. If she doesn't have a problem with that, how could she have a problem with us?"

"That's assuming she knows."

"I can't imagine Hotch having a relationship with someone on the team and not telling Strauss. His innate sense of duty won't let him."

"Maybe. But I have a hard time imagining her letting it happen either. My point, though, is we need to decide if we tell everyone or we try to hide it"

"You know, after everything I went through with Doyle...I don't want to hide things anymore. I don't want to keep it a secret. Especially not from the team."

"Me either. But do we tell them outright? Or just don't hide it?"

"Why don't we just tell Hotch on Monday? Then it's over with and we can go on from there."

Reid didn't have a chance to answer, because at that very moment both their cellphones went off.

"No,"Emily groaned. "Don't tell me."

Reid looked at his and answered it. "It's a text from Garcia. We have a case."

Emily sighed. "so much for our weekend."

"Well," Reid said,"this is a good opportunity."

"What do you mean?"

"We can tell them before Monday."

"No how I wanted to tell them."

"Me either. Why don';t you call Garcia and I'll get the check."

"And a doggie bag. I'll put up with losing the weekend, but I'll be damned if I lose the rest of dinner."

Reid couldn't help smiling as hailed the waiter.