The BAU was quiet and Hotch had been dreading the moment JJ left because it meant that Hotch and Reid would be all alone on the floor. When they got back they had arrived to an extra stack of paperwork that Cruz had left on each of their desks and so any hope of, knocking off early as Rossi had put it, went straight out the window. Callahan had been the first to finish her paperwork and left only a few moments after handing it in, Garcia had been next taking a somewhat reluctant Derek Morgan with her. The unit chief wasn't a hundred percent sure when Rossi left, he knew it was after Callahan but other than that he had no idea. With his other colleagues gone JJ was the only think keeping Hotch's panic away, he didn't regret what had happened but he dreaded that Reid would have sobered up and changed his mind, despite what he had said the night before.
Hotch I love you. I always have, I may have been drugged but I know what I feel.
Those words brought a smile to Hotch's face, and reminded him that he was probably just over reacting. Suddenly came a knock on his office door, it was only then that he realized the sun had begun to set.
"Come in."
Hotch looked up from his ocean of paperwork to see JJ enter the room, a stack of files in her hands. He watched as she approached his desk, her high ponytail swinging back and forth, she set the files down with a weary smile.
"Long day huh?"
"You can say that again, JJ."
"I'm all done, so I'm going to head home unless there is anything you need?"
Keep Reid away from me because I really don't want to hear 'I shouldn't have given you a blow-job'. "No, I'm fine. You should go home to Will and Henry, I bet they've missed you."
"Alright then." JJ gave him a dazzling smile that even showed in her baby blues. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Sure, oh would you tell everyone they can come in for eleven? I know its not much but it gives them a few extra hours."
"Yeah, of course. I'll text everyone." With that JJ left his office.
Great, now I'm alone with him. Oh just man up, Hotchner. Reid was lucid he knew what was happening and he still...he still. Hotch finished the rest aloud to himself.
"Sucked off his boss."
Hotch leaned back so he could see through the window of his office and down to the bullpen, Reid sat with his back to Aaron scribbling away like his life depended on it. Suddenly a thought came to the unit chief.
I was the one telling him 'no' maybe he thinks I was saying that because I don't want him and not because of the Ketamine. If that was the case then Hotch would not rest until he made Reid see the truth, hell if he had to he'd bake him a cake with it on. With determination Hotch stood and wandered over to the closed door of his office, just as he was about to pull it open there was a gentle knock on the other side that nearly scared Hotch across the room. For God's sake I'm not a nine year old girl. Hotch took a breath and returned quickly to his desk, he didn't want Reid to think he had been waiting for him or something.
"Come in."
The door opened and Reid entered much the same as JJ had, a stack of files in his hands.
"I finished...finally."
"Well, better late than never." Hotch said in attempted jest that seemed to pay off.
Reid chuckled and set the files down.
"Yeah, better late than never." He agreed. Just as Hotch figured out what he was going to say Reid started talking again. "About last night..."
"Don't you dare say it was a mistake!"
Hotch wasn't sure where his sudden flash of anger had come from, it just seemed to descend over him and vanish just as quickly as it had appeared. It was only when the mist cleared that Hotch realised that Reid had moved to stand next to him.
"That wasn't what I was going to say." His words were quiet and soft. "What I was going to say was I don't regret it and it seems that nor do you. I meant it Hotch, I love you, I always have and..." He paused for a long moment avoiding eye contact with the older man. "I don't really know what happens now, this..." He gestured between the two of them. "...isn't really my strong suit."
Hotch thought for a moment, it wasn't really his either, Hotch hadn't been with a man since he was seventeen after all. Maybe he just needed to put himself out there and see if Reid responded.
"Would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night?" Reid just stood their looking at his boss for a few moments. Hotch smiled. "You can say 'no'."
"What? No! I mean yes. I mean..." Reid sighed embarrassed with himself. "I'd love to, Hotch."
"Fantastic. But on one condition." Reid nodded, not entirely sure what Hotch meant. "I want you to go to a meeting tonight, talk about what happened with Letchner and the Ketamine."
"You worried about he Hotch?" Reid chuckled, of course he would go to a meeting.
Hotch's face suddenly became very serious but at the same time somehow relaxed.
"Reid I love you, of course I'm worried about you."
In that moment everything stopped.
"You...you love me?"
"Yes, Spencer. I love you."
The End.