After landing in Michigan and participating in a briefing at the local police station Hotch instructed Abigail to accompany to Morgan to interview the homeless man arrested for the first murder.

Sitting in an interrogation room across from a middle-aged person was a different experience for Abigail. She was used to interviewing kids or vulnerable and scare teenagers.

She noticed immediately that man was anxious. He rocked backwards and forwards in his chair, his eyes were swollen and bloodshot, and his breathing was quick and ragged. She sat down across from him with Morgan. Morgan introduced himself and Abigail and started to question the man.

"Listen man, we need you to tell us about Jessica Harlow."

"That's the girl who was, ummm, the girl who died?"

Abigail noticed that he seemed distracted, was losing his train of thought and was looking aver at the corner of the room.

"Yes, the girl who was raped and murdered in the building you were found sleeping in. Tell me about that."

The man looked genuinely sorrowful at the word 'rape'.

"I uhhhh, I never seen her until they… they, uhhh…"

He was losing his train of thought again.

"Who's 'they', sir?" Abigail asked.

Morgan was taken back by the compassion in Abigail's voice.

"The police, Miss. They showed me a photograph. I ain't ever seen her before. Pretty girls like that don't hang around in that part of the town. I thought maybe…."

He trailed off again and Abigail could tell that Morgan was getting frustrated.

"Sir, are you distracted by something? Having trouble concentrating?"

He looked uncertain and Abigail tried to give him a reassuring smile.

"It's OK. If there's something bothering you we'd like to know," Abigail continued, gently.

"Just the whisperin', Miss - the voices. What was the question? You asked about the police? Or…"

They carried on the interview without getting too much information. Eventually Morgan gave up and he led Abigail out of the interrogation room.

"What do you think?" He asked Abigail.

"He's disorganized, hallucinating, confused, and he didn't seem to get any kind of thrill from talking about the rape. It actually seemed to make him… sad, and I don't think he has it in him to lie. He definitely didn't strike me as a narcissist, and not organized enough to bind and attack someone. And what was Jessica Harlow even doing there? He's right about it being unusual for a wealthy college student to be hanging around in that area, which means…"

"Someone took her there or convinced her to go."

"Right, and can you picture him even finding his way to a college campus, let alone grabbing a young girl and transporting her to that building?"

"Not at all. You did well in there, Rhodes. You were good with him."

Abigail felt pleased and little bit of her anxiety about her assignment with the BAU dissipated.

"Thanks Morgan. One of my psych internships was with an outreach clinic for adults. I have a little experience and got a little lucky."

"Hey, give yourself credit, Rhodes. We'll go and debrief with the team."

Over the course of the evening Agents filtered out of the station back to the hotel. They'd decided that they were likely looking for a male graduate student, or possibly a teacher's assistant, but had agreed to break for the night and pursue it in the morning.

At 8pm Rossi, Reid and JJ invited her to join them for dinner. Abigail let them know that she appreciated the gesture but wanted to stay and read over notes. If she was going to be valuable to the team she was going to have to work at it.

At 9pm she looked up to realize that she couldn't see anyone else from the BAU still at the station, and there were only a handful of cops working quietly at scattered desks.

Probably time to head to the hotel she thought, suddenly feeling hungry and tired.

"Agent Rhodes."

Startled, Abigail spun around to see Agent Hotchner standing behind her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

She exhaled and laughed.

"You didn't, it's just… I thought I was the only one still here and I'm reading from a book about sexually motivated homicide. It put me on edge, I guess."

"An officer mentioned that there's a diner next to the hotel. I was going to get some dinner on the way back, if you'd like to join me."

Hotch felt awkward, for some reason. He often ate with his agents while they were away on cases, and despite his reserved nature he rarely felt uncomfortable in social situations. He felt unusually self-conscious inviting Rhode's to dinner, though.

"Yeh, sure." Abigail replied, surprising herself.

She usually avoided socializing with unfamiliar people, especially after such a long and exhausting day. Something about Hotch put her at ease though, and she got the impression that he didn't make these sort of invitations often.

Hotch parked at the hotel and they walked over to the diner. They sat opposite each other in a booth and looked over the menus.

"Morgan said that you did well in the interview today," Hotch said, looking up at Abigail briefly.

Abigail nodded, feeling self-conscious.

"He seems like an amazing agent. Everyone actually seems great."

"They're some of the best agents in the FBI, although I suppose I could be biased."

It sounded like a joke, but his expression didn't change The waitress appeared beside the table.

"Are you ready to order?"

Hotch ordered a burger, Abigail ordered cheese fries.

"Anything to drink?"

"Just water," Hotch answered, handing his menu to the waitress.

"A diet coke, please," Abigail added.

Hotch could tell that Abigail was slightly nervous, and as the waitress left he felt eager to make her feel more comfortable.

"Cheese fries are a meal?"

Abigail noticed that he was smiling and this time was sure that he was joking and teasing her.

"The best kind of meal: carbs and cheese."

Hotch couldn't help but laugh.

"I feel like you and my son would get along well, he thinks that ice-cream is an acceptable meal."

Hotch was a little surprised at himself. It was a small detail but he rarely shared anything personal with relative strangers.

"He sounds like my kind of man. I bet your wife keeps him in check, though."

Abigail hated herself as soon as she said it. She'd heard about what had happened to Agent Hotchner's wife, but hadn't made the connection between her abstract idea of the BAU's Agent Hotchner and the man sitting in front of her.

"I'm so sorry, I can't believe I said that."

The waitress stopped by and placed down the drinks. Hotch thanked her and took a sip.

"It's OK."

He wasn't sure why but he suddenly felt guilty thinking about Hayley.

"You know? I mean about what happened…"

"Only vaguely. I had heard. I'm sorry, Agent Hotchner."

The news had filtered through Quantico. Abigail didn't really know the ins-and-outs of what had happened, only that his wife had been killed by a suspect.

Hotch knew that he shouldn't be surprised that she'd heard, but he hoped that she was being genuine when she implied that she didn't know the details. He took another sip of his drink, and made an effort to change the subject.

"You can call me Hotch, Rhodes, everyone else seems to."

Abigail smiled, grateful that he didn't seem to be holding her comment against her.

"Do you have family?"

"Here? No. My family are in California. It's just me."

Hotch wondered if that meant that she also didn't have a boyfriend, but didn't ask.

"How do they feel about you being in the FBI?"

Abigail felt a familiar sadness sink her stomach, Hotchner saw her smile falter and noticed that she looked down at the table, guarded for the first time during the conversation.

"They're OK with it. My dad's a lawyer, a defense attorney, so law enforcement isn't really alien to him. He's proud, I think. My Mom's a nurse, my sister too."

Hotch noticed she didn't mention how her mother felt about her position with the FBI and didn't push it.

The waitress returned with their food and Abigail realized how hungry she'd been. Abigail noticed Hotch looking at her, thoughtfully.

"I see you eyeing my fries, Hotchner, feel free to share."

She smiled at him, and he felt the corners of his mouth tugging upwards. Something about her was warm and easy, and he couldn't help but relax a little. He reminded himself that feeling that way could be dangerous and resolved to maintain the boundaries he'd become so good at keeping.

"I know how excited you were about that neon, processed cheese, I wouldn't want to deprive you. Thanks though."

As he started to eat Abigail's feelings of intimidation became less and less significant.

Hotch finished his food and Abigail ate half of the cheese fries, talking pleasantly but superficially about the case and the BAU. When they finished their meal and Hotch had expensed the cheque, the agents walked back to the hotel. Abigail noticed the way that Hotch tended to constantly scan his surroundings as they walked back to the hotel and wondered if he ever really relaxed.

"So we'll see you again tomorrow? You haven't been scared off?"

Abigail laughed.

"I'll be back tomorrow, assuming you still want me."

"I think you'll do well with the BAU."

The slightly more care-free side of him seemed to have retreated back to wherever it usually hid and his stoic expression had settled back in.

"Thank you, Hotch. Goodnight."

She unlocked her hotel room door and stepped inside.

"Goodnight Rhodes."