PLAIN SIGHT

JJ had done exceptional work with the media even though their plan hadn't worked quite as well as they had hoped.

Hotch knew that JJ was an amazing agent. He admired her, respected her. Sometimes he felt like he could open up to her more then he could to Hailey or Gideon… not obviously though. Small little things, subtle things. If they were big things, he could become exposed as weak, unfaithful, and he knew that could never happen. He had be strong. He had to be there for his team and his wife and son.

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On the plane back form San Diego, Reid and Gideon played chess, Elle was asleep on the couch and at the other end of the plane, Morgan was listening to music, sitting across from Hotch who was reading his case file and JJ was across the aisle, reading her file and drinking coffee.

Hotch glanced up when Reid came down and sat across from JJ. "So, I heard you're a fan of, um, football." He looked quickly at Reid, then at JJ and quickly back to his file, paying little attention to the word written on paper and most of it on the words being spoken across from him.

"Yeah," she said, looking around, smiling.

"I got tickets to the Red Skins… Wanna come with me? It's next week."

"You asking me out, Dr. Reid?" Hotch looked up again.

"Not as a date, just friends," he replied, too quickly for Hotch to like.

" Sure, just let me know when and where to meet you."

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When Hotch finally decided to get home that night, he saw that JJ was still there in her office. Without thinking, he knocked on the door. "Yeah."

He closed his eyes and stepped inside to the neat office. She was sitting back, holding her hands to her face. "I saw your light was on, thought I'd see if you were ok."

"Yup, I'm just doing some last work. You OK?" she asked looking at him.

"Just about to head out."

"That sounds so good. I'll walk out with you." She grabbed her coat and a few file. As she was getting ready to leave, Hotch looked at her. "You looking forward to your date?"

"Date… what date?" she asked, confused.

"With Reid… The Red Skins?"

"That is not a date!" she replied defensively. "It's just two friends, going to a football game together."

Hotch turned to leave. "Sure it is," he teased.

She followed him out and shrugged on her coat. On the elevator, she defended herself again. "It's not a date."

"OK, JJ, I believe you." He smiled.

They reached outside. "Just be safe, JJ," he said teasingly, smiling. JJ completely understood his meaning and stood with her jaw dropped.

Before they went their separate ways to their cars, JJ grabbed his arm, pulling him back, and looked into his eyes. "I do not do that… And… It. Is. Not. A. Date," she emphasized

He smiled down at her. " Good night, JJ."

She sadly watched as he walked to his car. "He's not the one I want to the date with…"