A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited or followed this story!

This is the first chapter where JJ will see one other team member. I promise that the others will be present in the following chapters.

Special thanks to samcarter1980, , Jotchprossi18, jenny crum and Twilightangell!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 10: Vulnerability

February 27th 2006, JJ's apartment

JJ had been awake the entire evening. Hotch had fallen asleep after their long night of passion. JJ had never felt so complete in her life. But there were so many things she was afraid of losing. The warm arms wrapped around her naked body, made her feel alive. It was something she never dreamed of feeling. And now that she had it, she couldn't think of letting it go.

She carefully and silently slipped out of the bed. She grabbed Hotch's light blue dress shirt and put it on. She slowly made her way into the kitchen where she sat down on the counter. She let her thoughts race, hoping she would find a way to calm herself down from the excitement and worry. She looked up from the ground when she heard the floorboards creek, realizing Hotch was probably awake as well. She stayed on the counter.

Hotch walked into the small kitchen, where he saw JJ sitting on the counter. She was only wearing his dress shirt. He thought she looked extremely hot in his shirt. He wanted to say something, but the look on her face kept him quiet. She looked saddened. It was an expression he never saw on JJ. She was the most joyful person he had ever met. She went through life with a positive attitude and he always admired that about her.

''What's going on?'' he asked as he stood still in front of her.

JJ wrapped her arms tightly around her body. ''What are we doing?''

''I don't know. I really don't know, JJ.'' he began. ''But I do know that what we have feels so right. And I really care about you.''

''I care about you to,'' she tried to say, but Hotch caught her off before she could even speak.

''Then what's the problem?''

''I…I…feel like a slut.''

''JJ, that's not true.''

''It isn't?'' she asked. ''Then what am I, Hotch?''

Hotch shook his head as he held JJ by her waist. Her legs went around his body and he pulled her close. ''I wish I wasn't married. I wish I would've met you earlier.'' he started. ''JJ, I know that this situation is hard and I'm not asking you to do this. If you want to stop, I'll walk away. I would because I care about you too much.''

Her heart was torn in that moment. What in hell was she supposed to do? How could she choose? Here, was this sexy man who respected and appreciated her. But he would never really be hers like she wanted him to be. Her difficulties caused her to stay quiet.

Hotch took it as a sign for him to leave. He was about to turn around when JJ had a hold on his shoulder.

''Wait! Don't go! I can't be without you.'' she admitted bluntly. ''I don't know what I would do.''

''Okay. I'll stay.'' he promised as he pulled her closer. Her head rested on his shoulder. Hotch leaned closer towards her ear. ''Did I tell you look really good in my shirt?'' he whispered with anticipation.

JJ stayed in his embrace while a laugh escaped her mouth. He could make her laugh with the most stupid comments. ''Sorry,'' she apologized, pulling away.

''What's so funny?''

''It just sounded so bad.'' she began. ''Like you were trying too much to be badass.''

''I am badass!'' he contradicted.

JJ shook her head in disagreement. ''You only look badass with a gun in your hand, but when it comes to romance you're not so badass.'' she laughed out. ''You're good at the romance!'' she said quickly when she saw the expression on his face change.

''But I can be badass!''

''You're a sweetheart, really! But there's a difference between sweet and badass.''

''I'll show you badass.'' he said while he lifted JJ up from the floor.

A scream escaped her throat. ''What are you doing?''

Hotch held onto her tightly as he walked through the small apartment. He made his way to bedroom. He carefully dropped JJ to the bed and hovered over her. ''I am going to show you how badass I can be, honey. You just hold on.''

''I'll try!'' she said, leaning upwards to kiss him.

JJ was laying next to Hotch. Their chests were heaving from all the excitement. And the sweat on their bodies was proof of their activities. It was a night full of excitement, just like all the others they had spent with one another. Their relationship was still fresh, but it was as if they had known each other for years.

''So? Badass?'' he questioned, rolling over to JJ's side.

JJ turned around to face him. ''I think so.'' she teased. ''Kind of.''

''Oh, you're just teasing me.'' he noticed. ''If I wasn't so tired I would show you more, but I'm exhausted.''

''Am I too much for you?''

''Yeah, I think so.'' he joked. He was about to speak when his phone started ringing. He quickly picked it up from the nightstand. His expression turned instantly when he saw that Haley was calling him.

''Is it Haley?'' she asked in a whisper when he picked up the phone. The nod told her more than enough. She climbed off the bed and decided to take a quick shower. She didn't need to hear the conversation. She didn't want it to ruin the bliss she was feeling in that moment.

''Hotchner.'' he answered simply.

''Hey, it's me.'' Haley said softly on the other end of the line. ''I was wondering when you were coming home. It's past twelve.''

''I'll be home in thirty minutes, honey. I promise.''

''Where are you?''

''I'm still at the office. A couple of new cases came in that we needed to look through.''

''We?''

Hotch choked up suddenly. He said we. How stupid was he? He felt like punching himself for his answer. ''Me and Agent Jareau. She is the liaison I told you about, remember?''

''Yeah, I remember. Just come home. I miss you and you've been gone all day.''

''I'm on my way. See you soon!'' he said before hanging up.

He put the phone down on the nightstand. He suddenly realized that JJ was gone and the sound of the shower let him know where she was. He rose from the bed and quickly pulled up his slacks. It took him a couple of seconds to put on all his clothes. At last, he put his suit jacket on and straightened himself up.

''JJ?'' he called out, walking into the bathroom.

JJ was wrapping a towel around herself when Hotch appeared in front of her. ''You have to go, don't you?''

''I do. I'm sorry.''

''It's fine. I'll see you tomorrow.''

Hotch stepped forward, brushing his lips against hers. It was still a feeling he never wanted to forget. Their kisses were filled with so much passion that it still shocked him.

JJ pulled away before they both became to heated again. It was a big problem for them. Their tension quickly got out of hand.

''Bye.'' he whispered, removing his hand from her cheek.

JJ suddenly felt so alone after he left. It had only been a week and a half since she and Hotch got together and she already missed him most of the time. She slipped into her shorts and tank top before she went into the living room. She dropped down on the couch with a glass of her favorite wine. It was her just her way to relax. Somehow, she slowly drifted off on the couch. But the ringing of her phone woke her up after forty minutes of sleep. She opened her phone and smiled when she read the text from Hotch.

From: Aaron Hotchner

JJ,

I sent you this text to remind you that I am thinking about you. Sleep well, sweetheart! I'll see you tomorrow.

JJ giggled in the process. She felt like a lovesick teenager. And in that exact moment she realized she was already falling in love with him. That feeling was supposed to feel good, but everything inside her told her to just enjoy what she had and to not go down the road toward love. She couldn't afford to put her heart on the line like that. She knew there could never be a good outcome.