Chapter 10

Rossi knocked on Hotch's door. He came in not waiting for an invite. "You're an ass!"

"Well usually that opinion is reserved for Haley and a few others, I just didn't think you would come right out and tell me that." Hotch replied to Dave.

"Well take it from one who knows an ass when he sees one."

"Is there a point David? Or are we just going to name call."

"Shawna, that is the point you are screwing it up."

Hotch looked at the ceiling of his office then back at Dave. "I don't mean too but now we need to focus on JJ. She is still missing. We need all the help we can get. Bringing Wilder in on this is not a bad thing. She thinks it is. She'll get over it."

"Aaron, I get the fact that we can't find JJ, she is very important to us. And when we find the SOB that took her, well, he will pay dearly. But Shawna is important to you. Do not treat her as if she isn't."

Hotch was amazed that Dave knew how he felt and picked up on all of this. But then again these people are profilers; to think he could hide anything from them was absolutely ridiculous.

A half hour passed after Dave left Hotch sitting at his desk. He waited for the phone to ring or someone to let him know they found something. He felt helpless and that bothered him more than knowing JJ could be in danger. He couldn't help her if he couldn't find her. There was a knock on his door and he said come in. The door didn't open right away and he got up from his chair and turned the knob. Shawna stood on the other side of the door and he said, "Come in." He moved to go back to the desk and she hesitated in the doorway. When he realized she wasn't coming into his office he turned back towards her. She opened her mouth to say something and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her inside. He kicked the door closed. She started to protest and he grabbed her around the waist, kissing her hard on the mouth. She slapped his face.

"I guess I deserved that." He kissed her again. He didn't let her go and assaulted her mouth with his until she responded to him.

She didn't want to kiss him and at first she resisted. But soon she melted into him and kissed him back. He made her so angry and smacking him was a natural reaction. She was shocked she had done it but he didn't seem to mind. He kissed her again and, God help her, she wanted him to kiss her more.

He pulled away from their kiss and said, "Shawna, I am…"

She interrupted him, "Hotch, please I don't know how to react to this. You are my superior and this is very much frowned upon by the FBI. How do we blur these lines like this and still be able to maintain a working relationship?"

"It's Hotch again? No more calling me Aaron?"

She looked into his eyes and tears welled up in hers. "What are we doing here? What is this?"

"I don't know." He said truthfully. "You infuriate me most of the time. But you also make me smile. Not much does these days, but you do. I don't know what is going to happen between us. I just know I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry about earlier I shouldn't have treated you like that. I am not your boss and I shouldn't have acted like I was."

He hadn't let go of her and if he did she would have hit the floor. She felt like she couldn't stand any longer. This was insane in the middle of all this chaos she felt as if all was right in the world. And she told herself on more than one occasion do not fall in love with this man. But she was afraid it was already too late.

Aaron kissed Shawna again, this time a gentle kiss that he lingered in. And he thought of how much he longed to stay like this forever. But they had to find away to locate JJ and this was going to be a long night for all of them.

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Shawna rejoined the team and Julie looked up at her. Julie had a lot of questions but she didn't ask them. Shawna sat down and asked Anson about his back ground. All of it she had read before, being part of the process of hand picking him. She just needed to take the focus off of her.

Hotch tapped on the door to Garcia's cubby. He waited to be asked inside. Penelope turned her chair towards him. "Sir, can I help you?"

"I was wondering if there was anything on Stephen Brody."

Penelope shook her head. Nothing at all Sir, It is like he doesn't exist beyond a year, 18 months. The computer beeped and she moved her chair to the screen. Hotch leaned in looking over her shoulder.

"We have a match on the woman."

A picture of a smiling young woman, that had a striking resemblance to JJ, appeared on the screen. Hotch and Garcia drew in a collective breath and held it. Garcia began to read out loud the details of the missing woman.

"Denise Astrue age 27 disappeared from West Valley hospital…" Garcia paused then she said "Oh!" in a squeaky voice.

Hotch finished reading, "8 months ago."

He stormed out of the room and onto the loft. "Rossi get John Seechey, meet us in the lobby. Reid, Julie, work with Garcia, check to see if any other women have disappeared from hospitals in this area, work out 20 miles at a time, 5 years maybe 10." Hotch punched the button for the elevator. "The rest of you come with me."

Shawna was standing next to Hotch the moment he was out of Garcia's cubby. She knew they had found something and she put her hand instinctively on her gun.

Morgan ran up the steps with Emily, Will and Anson on his heals.

"Novak we need you too." Hotch said sternly.

As they got off the elevator they passed the security desk Hotch stopped and addressed them. He told the team about Denise Astrue and West Valley Hospital. Shawna looked at the security guard on duty. He looked familiar and she dismissed it as fact that she seen him everyday. She was a bit concerned over talking about the case outside of the office and even though they were still in the BAU building she couldn't help but wonder who was listening to them.