Title: Rules of Engagement
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit made
Pairing: Hotch/Reid
Rating: PG-13
Prompt: Lyrics: Hotch/Reid, Cause there's a side to you that I never, never knew / All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true / And the games you'd play, you would always win, always win
A/N: Short drabble set during/after Season 2 'Jones'

"What's going on with you lately?" Aaron asked closing the hotel room door. he didn't have much hope of receiving a straight answer. He knew what it was effecting him, he knew what it all was. Aaron was a man who could tell when something was slipping away from him.

"There's nothing going on with me Aaron." Spencer snapped back with a fake smile, "How about you huh? How's the family?" The vitriol in Spencer's voice struck Aaron like a fist.

"This isn't about me Spencer." Aaron said, deflecting away from himself regardless of how much of this he knew was about him, about what he asked of his lover. He took a deep breath, building up the courage to ask the question he really needed to, "Did you sleep with him? Your friend from the academy?""

Spencer froze where he stood before the dresser, his back straightened. When he turned, there was an expression on his face that held both anger and pain, "Yes."

Aaron closed his eyes at the blunt admission, he knew of course, but hearing it said with such spite hurt. It really fucking hurt. When he opened his eyes again, he was unsure what Spencer saw in them but he was certain in was betrayal.

"Did you sleep with her? Your wife?" Spencer spat back. He hated this because he didn't have an answer. Of course he slept with his wife but this, it was different. Wasn't it?

Aaron shook his head and placed his hands on his hips, "That's not the same." He wondered how he could convince his lover of that when he couldn't even convince himself.

Spencer scoffed at him, looking at him with contempt. It was then that Aaron's eyes where drawn downwards to Spencer's shaking hand. Following his gaze, Spencer saw it too, and with one more stern glare in Aaron's direction he grabbed his satchel, turned and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Aaron asked worridely.

"Out."

Aaron rushed forward and slammed a hand against the door before Spencer could open it, "Why? So you can shoot up?" He hissed.

Spencer turned in the small space between the wall and Aarons arm, a snarl on his face, "What the hell business is it of yours?"

Aaron frowned, "Of course it's my business."

"You set all the rules here Aaron so I'm going to hold you them. One, we're not in a relationship and two, when this door closes, you're no longer my boss. Right now you are nothing to me but an easy fuck so don't think you have a say in what I do or who I sleep with." Aaron was surprised by the bitterness is his lover's tone. He'd done this too him. Him and Hankel, together, had destroyed this once so peaceful and innocent man.

As Spencer geared up to continue, Aaron realized he could only stand here and take it, it was the least he could do, "You can feel free to change those rules anytime you like, I'll be waiting, I'm always waiting. On the sidelines,it's all I should have ever expected isn't it? The spare part, the consoltation prize? The dirty little secret?" Realizing he was close to tears, Spencer shook his head and said in a stronger voice, "But until you do, get the hell out of my way."

Sighing and lowering his head sadly, wishing there was something he could say to contradict him and keep him from doing what he knew he was going to do, he couldn't. He didn't have the right. With not a small degree of self loathing, Aaron kept his eyes closed as he lowered his arm and moved back.

He jumped when the door slammed close.

End.