Prompt: 'stalemate'
From: light within the shadows
Word count: 335
Rating: K+
Genre: Drama/Family
Characters: Hotch, Strauss, Team.
A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update guys, I've just been really stressed out with school. Thank you for your patience! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, and a very special thank you to Sue1313 and the-vampire-act, who have pretty much reviewed every chapter. You guys all rock my world! So before I launch into a great big long speech, here's this drabble.
'Stalemate'
The room was hushed, suspense choking everyone present. Aaron Hotchner and Erin Strauss faced off, glaring at each other over the conference room table. Their ice cold demeanors betrayed no inner emotion, their eyes locked with equally steely gazes. The spectators watched on, unwilling to even breath too loudly.
Then something happened to break the monotony of silence. David Rossi had been leaning against the wall, but he rose and moved to stand behind his former student. Derek Morgan soon followed suit, moving lithely to stand behind his boss, arms crossed and muscles flexing, looking every bit the enforcer. Emily Prentiss and Spencer Reid moved next, both looking nervous, but still summoning up courage to stand behind their leader. Jennifer Jareau and Penelope Garcia were last, and when their heels hit the floor Aaron finally looked, finally realizing that his entire team had his back. He turned back, not showing any sign that he had seen the show of support. Strauss' gaze flicked from face to face, and finally she spoke.
After the long silence, the sound seemed surreal. "I can see that your team is willing to go down with you Aaron." They waited, expecting the axe to fall. "But I can't fire seven of some of the most brilliant people this agency has seen." She sighed, the only thing that betrayed defeat. "This is over; for now." She walked out, pausing in the doorframe. "Next time, I won't be so kind to your blatant insubordination." and then she was gone.
Aaron Hotchner turned around, face knotted with fury. "What I do to jeopardize my career is only to do with me. If any of you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will-"
"You know Aaron, you could just thank us like a normal person." Rossi noted with a grin.
He sucked in a breath and amended "Thank you; all of you." he added "That doesn't change the consequences if this happens again, however."
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Morgan grinned.
~Fin.