A Mutual Understanding

...Wherever You Are

"Yeah, me too. I guess we had nothing to hide from, after all." Hotch nodded. He leaned in closer to Spencer and planted a small but meaningful kiss on his lips when he heard a gasp from behind them. The whole BAU team turned around and instantly frowned.

"Oh, hello Strauss..."

"I'm expecting an explanation about this." She glared.

"I bet you are." Morgan muttered.

"Watch it, Agent Morgan!" she hissed. Then, he turned her attention back to Reid and Hotch. Reid hid face from the older woman, too afraid to look up at her reaction. Hotch, on the other hand, glared right back at Strauss before standing up.

"I think we have something to discuss, Ma'am."

"Oh really?" Strauss challenged. She looked down at Spencer, who was still attempting to hide from her. He could feel her looking at him, so he decided it would be best if he looked up; he was all ready in enough trouble as it was, and he didn't need to make Strauss even angrier than she currently was.

"Yes, 'really.' " Hotch mocked. That caught everyone off-guard. Hotch very rarely snapped liked that in front of their boss; he was normally level-headed and calm, but now he just seemed angry and ready to fight.

"Agent Hotchner, I would like to talk to you in private."

"Of course." Hotch spat as he raced in front of Strauss and out of the room. Strauss quickly followed in Hotch's footsteps. In a matter of seconds, the duo was out of sight.

"That doesn't sound pretty." JJ said.

"It's Strauss; nothing about that lady is pretty." Garcia huffed as she played with a noodle on her plate.

"I wouldn't worry, Reid." Rossi said. He smiled reassuringly at the younger man before leaning in closer. "I highly doubt you'll lose your job over this."

"Why would you say that?" Reid asked, obviously not finding Rossi's words too reassuring.

"Do you honestly think Strauss will do that? I mean, it would not only affect you and Hotch, but the BAU all together. If the public gets wind that two excellent, male profilers were fired because they started a relationship together the public will show no mercy on her. She's in charge of what happens at that BAU; firing two gay men will not be good on her all ready 'bad' reputation. The public will difinately comment on the issue, and she can't afford for them to side with you and Hotch." Rossi commented.

"I hope you're right." Reid mumbled. The younger agent lt his gaze shift toward the door of the small restaurant and tried to listen for the voice belonging to his boyfriend. He frowned when he realized that he couldn't, and he impatiently laid his head in his hands. He had lost his appetite the moment Strauss walked in the room.

~ *H/R* ~

"It's taken you long enough to come clean with your team." Strauss started. "I mean, in all honestly I thought they would have figured it out by now."

"Yeah, I'm kind of shocked myself." Hotch nodded. "Then again, Spencer and I have been very careful, and chances are they knew there was something going on between us."

"Well, either way, I still am supporting you two. No one else needs to know about you two being a couple, and as long as you and Agent Reid keep this from the press, I don't see where we should have any issues."

"I appreciate this, Strauss. I will admit that wasn't sure telling you about us would be a good thing, but now that I have, I'm glad I did. It saved a lot of complications and future issues."

"Did you tell Spencer I knew?" Strauss asked.

"No, and I think it's best if we told everyone that we've reached a 'mutual understanding'. They don't know to know about this, do they?" Hotch hinted.

"Of course not, Agent Hotchner." Strauss smiledd. "Well, shall we go back in?" With a nod from Hotch, Strauss re-entered the room and sat back down at her table. Hotch walked the longer distance toward his own table before sitting down opposite of his boyfriend.

"Did she fire you? If she did, I could talk to her about-"

"Spencer, she didn't fire either of us, and she's not going to. We've reached a... a mutual understandment."

"Mutual understandment?" Reid mumbled. "That doesn't sound too prmosing."

"Seriously, we're not being fired." Hotch smiled. "I talked to Strauss about it; everything's going to be fine."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." Hotch nodded. "Now, would you please eat your dinner? You're all ready too skinny."

"What did you say to her? I mean, Strauss can be pretty b- er, stubborn." Prentiss asked.

"It doesn't matter now. Spencer and I aren't being fired- that's what matters." With a round of smiles, everyone nodded and dropped the subject. Spencer scooted a little closer to Hotch so he could kiss his older lover before turning back to his plate. With a smile on his face, he picked up his fork and started eating...

"You did good, Erin." the man next to the BAU chief leader said. With a smile on his face, he leaned closer to her and kissed her cheeks.

"Well, despite what everyone here seems to think, I'm not a soulless bitch." she laughed.

"Aw, come on now. I believe you!"

"Sure you do, Greg. Come on; let's go home."

Strauss looked through the glass of the restaurant's mirror one last time. Her eyes locked with Aaron's, and she offered him a smile. Greg smiled as well as he glanced from Strauss to Hotch, and after a few more seconds, they walked away.

"...Thank you so much, nerdstheword, who let me adopt this fic and let it spiral out of control :) This was so much fun to write; thnx for giving me the oppertunity to do it! Thnx for reading everyone; R&R...?"