A/N I guess I should point out that this is AU, because there's no Henry or Will.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the LiveJournal community from which I took this prompt list.

Character/Pairing: JJ/Hotch

Rating: T

Warnings: Spoilers for the first half of Season 5

Prompt: #35 - Hunger

It's the third dream that night.

Two bodies, side by side in a haze of perfection, soft sighs of breath and the steady thump of hearts.

But it's just a dream, because there's nothing between them except...he doesn't know.

And then Hotch needs to see her. He's losing his grip on reality and to stop the search for knowledge and the quest for self-destruction, he needs her.

Rubbing her eyes, JJ switches the side lamp on, opening the front door. She blinks sleepily.

"Hotch...what are you doing here?"

Winces. "I don't...I just wanted to see you," he admits.

JJ stares at him, her still sleep-addled brain trying to process his appearance on her doorstep. He scratches the back of his head.

"Why?" she asks. His eyes meet hers in a silent answer – I'm broken and I need fixing.

JJ nods once, reluctantly steps aside to let him in.

Follows her down the hall and shuffles his feet. He sits at the counter, watches her move effortlessly around her kitchen

"I'm sorry for waking you," he says quietly. JJ says nothing, just opens the fridge and takes out a pizza box.

"I hope you don't mind," she continues, "it's a few days old, but I think it should be alright."

She does not intend to acknowledge his apology and even though he knows it, can't help pushing it again.

"JJ..."

This time he gets some reaction, but it's not what he would have hoped for. She slams a plate down in front of him, and he's surprised it doesn't shatter, all but throws the box at him.

Then she leaves.

He doesn't know what he's done, so he's not sure whether he should follow her or not.

It turns out he doesn't have to make a decision, because JJ is back in the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe opposite him as he stares miserably at the pizza box.

She folds her arms.

"You can eat it, you know," she points out gently, "You don't just have to look at it."

Knowing that she's no longer mad at him, if in fact she ever was, is enough to make Hotch pull the box towards him.

Lifts a single slice of pizza to his mouth, and watches her watching him.

Heat rushes through him, seizes Hotch in its iron grip and he's struggling to keep the lust at bay.

He wonders what it would be like to take her right here, sweep the plates aside and lay her down on the counter.

She sighs, knowing that he's here for the kick up the ass only she can give him, because if they ever have anything worth remembering, it's a mutual respect.

"You're so...so...so hungry for answers," she says quietly, "so busy drowning in self-hatred, so desperately holding onto this job like it's all you need to stay alive, that you've forgotten what it's like to need somebody."

Hotch is relieved as she starts to speak. When she says it, when she lays it out like she's doing now, it's simple.

"You're fighting this battle, Aaron, but you're doing it without the team. You can't beat Foyet on your own, and...I don't want to see you lose."

He's silent for a moment, and then drops his gaze to the counter.

"Am I really so far gone?" he asks softly, needing what little reassurance her reply can bring.

JJ tilts her head to the side, studying him with a look in her eye that could only be described as hungry curiosity.

Hotch swallows, his mouth running dry, but then the look is gone, and she's turning away.

"Eat your pizza."