When they got back home, Hotch could tell that something was still bothering Dave. He knew Dave still felt somewhat responsible for Zoey's death, but it went beyond that.

"Hey you heading out" he asked Dave.

"Yeah, I haven't been home for three weeks. Lots of laundry to do."

"Are you okay? You seem off."

"Just a lot on my mind Hotch, I'll be fine." He silently said to himself "yeah Aaron, I'll be fine when I figure out how to deal with the fact that I want to fuck you." The situation felt hopeless. How was he supposed to work with a man who he was falling for? Maybe he should just retire again. He ran away 10 years ago. Who was he kidding; it didn't stop his feelings for Hotch. Besides he liked profiling again, and he loved the team.

They walked out to the parking lot together.

"Aaron thanks for your support the other day...outside the police station."

"We make a good team... you know...you've always been there for me." Hotch said looking into Dave's eyes. "Hey we are both going home to empty houses. If your laundry can wait, how about grabbing some dinner?"

Even as he was saying it, Hotch knew that having dinner with Dave was a bad idea. He should be keeping a distance from Dave. Yet he couldn't seem to resist.

"Uh...sure. I am hungry" Dave replied. "What the fuck am I doing? Aaron wants to be nice and have dinner with me. He knows there is something on my mind. Now I'm going to have dinner with the person that is on my mind. I have to make up some excuse to get out of this."

"Aaron...I...um..."

"What is it Dave?"

"What are you in the mood for?"

"Hey that new Italian restaurant about a block from your townhouse. Have you tried it?"

"No, I heard that it's good. Want to try it?"

"Sounds great. I'll meet you there."

As Aaron was getting into his car. Dave yelled to him, "actually parking a hard to find outside the restaurant. Why don't you park in my driveway and we can walk."

"ok"

As Aaron drove to Dave's house, he found himself sort of excited. "This is crazy. Dave is a good friend and I work with him. I'm his friggin supervisor. I shouldn't be excited to be having dinner with him."

They met at Dave's town house and walked to the restaurant. Because it was late on a weekday, it was not at all crowded. They got seated right away and ordered a bottle of wine. They had a wonderful dinner and consumed the bottle of wine as well as most of another one. As they were finishing their drinks, they talked about old times.

"Dave, why did you come out of retirement? I know the case was Galen

eating at you. You needed to solve it, for closure, I get that. But there has to be more to it than that?"

"Don't get my wrong, I love writing and book tours, but I missed it. I would be sitting at home watching cases on the news or reading about them in the paper, and I would get that urge. I would work through the cases. How I would go about profiling unsubs, what questions would I want answers to. Then I heard that Jason left and there was my in."

"Things had changed so much since you left. It must have been quite the adjustment."

"Where do I begin" Dave said shaking his head. "The jet, the technical equipment, the computer capabilities, the office space...my God when we started the BAU years ago, it was in a freaking basement."

"I remember. It was dark and dingy. I also remember how hard you and Jason rode me when I signed on."

Rossi laughed, "we knew you were going somewhere in the BAU. You were cut out for it, not many agents make it in the BAU."

"It's a difficult lifestyle. You are always traveling on a moments notice. Plus the things that we see and deal with are horrible. It can be hell on family and friendships."

"Speaking of family, how's Jack?"

"He is great. I see him on Wednesdays and every other weekend, when we are not working on cases. It's hard though...Hayle doesn't make it easy. She refuses to swap days when I am out of town."

"She never liked you working for the BAU."

"Yeah. That's why the divorce rate is so high amongst agents doing our type of work".

"You don't have to tell me that. Three ex's right here", Dave said gesturing to himself.

"Hayle resented me being away so much. In the end, I think she found someone else."

"She cheated on you?"

"Well in the last 10 months of our marriage, I felt her pulling away. Then we would get these strange phone calls. If I answered the phone, the caller would hang up. Then this strange number kept appearing on our phone bill and her cell bill. I called it one day and a guy named Steve answered. Within a month of her moving out, she had a new friend named Steve that Jack says comes over a lot".

"I'm sorry Aaron".

"It's okay. Truth be told, I fallen out of love with Hayle by then. At that point we were more like roommates than husband and wife.

They paid the bill and walked back to Dave's place. Both men were feeling the effects of the two bottles of wine they polished off. As they were walking Hotch tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. He caught himself before he fell and Dave grabbed his arm to help balance him.

"Hey maybe you shouldn't drive right away. Why don't you come in and watch the game for a while".

"Sure"

They went inside. Both men took off the sport coats and Hotch loosen his tie. They watched the game and it felt like old times. When Hotch joined the BAU, it was almost all men. They often would get together for drinks and to watch a game.

"Hey how about some soda and chips?" asked Dave.

"Sounds good".

Dave brought in a bowl of chips and cans of soda. They continued to watch the game. Things were going good until their hands met while reaching for a chip. Both men let their hands touch for longer than necessary. They pulled their hands back and looked into each other's eyes. It was then that the realization hit. The sexual feelings were shared. They both were having the same thoughts and desires. Aaron leaned in towards Dave and put his lips on his, offering a tender kiss.

"Aaron, we shouldn't".

"I know" he replied inches from Dave's mouth. "But I can't help myself".

It felt so damn good. They deepened the kiss. Their mouths opened, their teeth nibbled, and their tongues slid together. Aaron stopped and pulled back.

"Dave, what's happening between us? This can't be happening. We are not even gay. All I know is you are my best friend, you're always there for me, I don't want to ruin that. But I keep thinking about you. Truth be told I never stopped thinking about you or that night ten years ago".

"I'm as confused as you are Aaron. I lied when I told you that I never had any feelings since that night we kissed. The feelings never went away for me either. I never thought I would fall for another guy, much less my best friend. Fuck, what the hell are we going to do?"

"I don't know. We work together for God sakes. If this ever got out...if the team ever found out.." you could hear the panic in Hotch's voice.

"I'll resign if you want me to".

"NO!" Aaron said sharply, without any hint of hesitation. "The team needs you...I need you".

"Okay" Dave said putting his hand on Aarons. "Then we need a plan"

"Here's what has to happen. We need time to think and cool off. We should try to maintain a professional distance from each other at work and not see each other outside of work. We need time to try to get a handle on our feelings".

"Is that what you want Aaron?"

"No, but it is the only thing I can think of at the moment".

"I agree".

I'm sorry for the long chapter. I considered splitting it into two chapters, but decided to make it one extra long one.