AUTHORS NOTE: this chapter contains discussion of corporal punishment. If you don't like that, don't read it. Happy readings.

It was nearing the end of the day and Hotch had come to realize given Lorelai's history of abuse maybe he needed to be the one to warn her about how things worked in this family. He was worried that if Reid told her, she would get scared and run and that's not what he wanted. He had messaged Reid telling him to not inform her of anything that he decided it should come from him and at the end of the day Hotch asked her back into his office.

Lorelai had managed to catch up on all the paperwork she had that day. With no incoming case to work on the team just did paperwork. At the end of the day, she did go back to Hotch's office and knocked and went in when she was told to.

"You wanted to see me again?" She said.

Hotch nodded. "Have a seat. I realized that maybe it wasn't fair to tell you to ask Reid what I had meant. Especially considering you history of abuse. And maybe I should do things different with you because its still rather fresh."

Lorelai sat down and looked up at her superior agent with a confused look. "I don't understand.'

Hotch nodded. "Because this team is more like a family. I like to keep things as much off the permanent records as possible, of course sometimes its not possible but when someone I know is a good agent does something that doesn't change their abilities to be a good agent, I like to deal with things more personally." He told her.

Lorelai was still confused. "I still don't understand."

Hotch nodded. "I will tell you, but I want you to understand. This is agreed upon by all parties involved well in advance. Its never done in a manner of angry or revenge. And its always talked about before each instance. And if you are not comfortable with it. It will never happen with you. Understand?" He asked.

Lorelai nodded feeling more and more nervous as the conversation continued.

Hotch nodded. He could see the nervousness and figured he should just get it out. "When I feel it is warranted. I have used corporal punishment as a means of consequence."

Lorelai was stunned. She had heard of this kind of thing before obviously. But never imagined she would end up in a place that did that. I mean her former foster mother use to say that's all she was doing but after her degree in phycology she knew the difference. She had even heard rumors that a teacher at the university she attended did that with some of the students who slacked off. Lorelai had never slacked so she never found out if that was true or not, but she did always wonder.

Hotch watched the look of shock turn into what looked like she was processes something more than what he had just said. He wanted to give her a chance to process of course but he didn't want her to get to far into her thoughts and get scared.

"But like I said, it is agreed upon in advance of any situation and always done only to correct a miss-step or mistake that if was put on the agents file would hurt their standings as a good agent." Hotch continued.

Lorelai nodded coming out of her thoughts. "I'm not going to say I have never heard of this kind of thing in certain situations. I did study phycology. And I do know why you would be concerned about my past affecting how I would react to something like that. I do know the difference between abuse and correction using corporal punishment or the more common term 'spanking'. That being said I don't know if I would be okay with it or not. I don't know if you were expecting an answer today or not…"

Hotch listened. "No. I know this can take time to process and I wouldn't want you to be forced into a decision that you don't want. I don't really need an answer until a situation warrants it. I would like to say I don't see that happening but knowing how stubborn you are I don't think that's possible."

Lorelai chuckled a-bit. "I don't exactly do it intentionally."

Hotch nodded. "I realize you probably spent so many years either submitting to everything and anything you were told to do for fear of repercussions or saying screw it and were stubborn making it maybe harder on yourself than necessary. Not that I am in any way saying the abuse you went through was your fault. It wasn't but sometimes people who are just stubborn don't know how to turn it off. Care to share which one you were?"

Lorelai nodded. "I leaned quickly that being stubborn was not a good idea. I think when I finally got out of that situation my natural stubbornness took over." She admitted.

"As I said being stubborn can sometimes be a good thing as long as its with the right people. I don't want you to stop using that determination in getting suspects or saving the victims. I just want you to do so in a way that wont cause you harm and without lying to me or other members of this team. Not that I think you have done anything at this point. Just knowing your personality, I unfortunately see it happening at some point." Hotch continued. "You can let me know what your decision is when you are ready. If something comes up before than we can discuss it than and decide what to do. Deal?" He asked.

Lorelai nodded. "Seems reasonable." She agreed.

"Good. Now get home." She was told.

Lorelai smiled. "I will. Well, I do have a session with my therapist, in a couple hours but I do intend on a night at home."

Hotch nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, who is your therapist?"

Lorelai told him her name and Hotch smiled. "I have heard good things about her. I believe she has worked with other FBI agents in the past."

Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Yes. I was already a patient of hers when I was scouted by the director and of course I told her about it, and she mentioned without giving any names of course that she had worked with some agents before."

"You better go. I wouldn't want you to be late." He told her.

Lorelai left and went down to the bullpen where Reid was the only one left. He looked up at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Lorelai nodded. "I guess you know what was discussed up there?"

Reid nodded. "He asked me not to say anything to you after all he thought it would be better coming from him. Was he right?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yes. I don't know how I would have handled it coming from anyone else." She opened her drawer and took out her wallet and keys. "I guess you have been in that situation before?" She aske

Reid nodded. "Yup. More than once."

"Do you think it's a better option that the more usually right up?" She asked

Reid thought about it. "Yes. I do. I'm not saying its enjoyable. Its not. And given what you have been through I understand the reluctance, but I don't think I would still have a job here. Although our childhoods were very different, I grew up with a single mother after my father left. And she didn't have the capacity to give me boundaries that a child needs to grow up in a way that would be considered normal. Hotch and Rossi and even Morgan at times gave me that. I believe I am a better agent because of it. I'm not telling you what you should do. That is a decision you have to make. For me though I think it was the best decision to agree to it." He told her. "And no one will ever embarrass you because of it. It happens, its over with and we don't talk about it again." He finished.

Lorelai nodded. "And I'm guessing by the looks on the others faces when I asked about it earlier?"

"Like I said we don't talk about it but reassured everyone on the team knows about it." Reid told her "Even members who weren't in the room." He added before grabbing his stuff. "I'm going to head out I can walk you to your car?" He offered.

Lorelai nodded grabbed her stuff and went with him. As they were walking to their cars Reid looked at her. "If you wanted sometime. We could go get a coffee or something. Together." He stumbled over her words just a little nervous.

Lorelai was a-bit surprised by the offer. "Are you asking me on a date?" She asked. "Isn't there rules against that in the FBI?"

Reid shrugged. "Yes technically. But Hotch doesn't care as long as things are kept professional at work." He assured her. "You won't be in trouble if caught or anything." He added.

"Oh. Um well. I guess than yes. We can get coffee sometime. I can't today I have therapy but another day for sure." She said, she couldn't deny the attraction she felt for him. He was smart, had his moments of humor and was always so kind to her and he was easy on the eyes too.

"Sound good." Reid confirmed opening her car door for her when they got to it. "I will see you tomorrow thought." He told her.

Lorelai nodded as she climbed into her drivers' seat and said goodbye to the slight older agent as he closed her door and went off to his own car.

Lorelai had a lot to think about. A lot to discuss with her therapist. She wasn't sure she was going to bring up the methods Hotch uses but about Reid and other things.