Hi All. Welcome to chapter one of More Than A Team: Clash of the Geniuses. This is the second story my of More Than A Team series, I hope to write new stories for this series frequently. This story is complete and four chapters long. Updates should be weekly unless something drastic happens.

If you have not read the first story in this series More Than A Team: The Final Member, you may be confused about a few things, so I do recommend you read that one first.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal minds, if I did then Aaron Hotchner certainly wouldn't have left, and neither would Derek Morgan! Pepper Rosanne Lee is my own original character, but all other recognisable characters belong to Jeff Davis, I just like to use them to do my bidding.

Series Summary: The Criminal Minds team is more than just a team, they spend so much time with each other, relying on each other, and wrapped up in each other's lives they are practically family. This is how the family makes sure they stay a family even when rules are broken.

Story Summary: Pepper has joined the team, but things are not going smoothly between her and Spencer, they can't seem to stop getting under each other's skin. What happens when they cannot keep it professional on a case. AU, OC, AaronXHaley, set during season 2 episodes 13, 14 and 15. Contains spanking. Full Warnings inside please read, rated M for good reason.

Warning: This story involves Criminal Mind cases, if you've watched Criminal Minds, you know what I mean, I've tried not to be too graphic, but there is abuse, kidnapping, torture, murder, and rape, if this is triggering, please be careful. This story also involves the spanking of adults, don't like, don't read.

A huge, huge thank you to my wonderful and amazing beta, Jules Ann, she is quite literally my Magical Muse Mender and when I get stuck just talking to her can help me figure my way past a block. She has helped me so much with all my stories and my writing, I would be utterly lost without her.

~o~

They should be sleeping; they were all exhausted and had been awake for who knows how many hours. None of them had gotten any sleep whilst Spencer had been in Tobias' hands, and the caffeine they'd been sustaining themselves with had long worn off. Only Emily and Derek were able to sleep however, neither of them suffering through an internal crisis, though Pepper couldn't be sure about Jason and Spencer. It was highly likely Spencer at least was asleep she supposed, even if it was a drug induced one as he was in the hospital, and Jason might just be sleeping too, he'd been the one to stay behind with Spencer. JJ had been asleep, but only briefly before a nightmare had woken her up, it didn't take a profiler to be able to guess what JJ was dreaming about. Hotch was with her now, talking in a soft, non-carrying voice, again Pepper had a pretty good idea of what he would be telling her, reassuring her, comforting her.

Pepper didn't envy JJ the comfort, she deserved it, it wasn't her fault what had happened, no matter what she felt; no, Pepper knew where the fault lied… with her. She should have been with Spencer and JJ, maybe if she had been Spencer wouldn't have gotten kidnapped, and JJ wouldn't have nearly been mauled to death by a pack of dogs.

Flashback

Pepper chewed on her lip, staring at the board and the information they had written down, "something's not right," she muttered mostly to herself.

"It's a murder case, things are rarely right," Spencer quipped.

Pepper gave the slightly older fellow genius a glare but didn't respond to his dig. She continued to stare at the board the recorded 9-1-1 call going around and around in her mind. Her eyes bugged wide at the realization, "it was too clear," she muttered.

"What?" Spencer couldn't help but ask.

"The 9-1-1 call, there was a slight noise when the second Unsub supposedly took the phone, but when Unsub one said, 'I don't want to,' there's no muffling, he's speaking just as clearly as he was," Pepper explained.

"So?" Spencer questioned not getting the importance.

"Well, there was no noise to suggest they were fighting each other for the phone, if Unsub two now had the phone, his voice should have been muffled, like it was in the background and not spoken directly into the mouthpiece of the phone," Pepper pointed out.

Spencer felt a little annoyed that he hadn't been the one to pick up that, "so?"

Pepper looked up at Reid annoyed, "I don't know. I'm pretty sure it means something though and maybe it's worth talking about it to the rest of the team."

Spencer rolled his eyes, "of course you think that, but I can tell you the team won't appreciate you wasting their time with pointless observations," he insisted.

"Pointless observations? It's not pointless! I think it could really mean something important," Pepper defended getting a little heated.

Neither young genius realized they were getting loud, or that their argument was starting to attract attention.

Spencer gave Pepper a pitying look, "yeah? Like what exactly?"

Pepper had been starting to think that maybe it could mean that they might not be dealing with multiple unsubs. Instead, maybe an extremely intelligent killer who was using a ruse as preparation for his defense. It would explain why the profile was just not coming together. She had no desire to share this insight with Spencer right now though, "if you're incapable of following the theory it's not for me to enlighten you. I would have thought it obvious to someone like you," she snarled.

Spencer spluttered in indignation, "you don't know anything, you just can't stand that your observation is nothing. You're lying just like you were about recognizing the whistle as a rib bone!"

"Ha! You'd like that wouldn't you? Get to prove I haven't outsmarted you twice now. I'm sorry the fact that I'm smart enough to recognize a human rib bone and you aren't hurts your precious little feelings but…" Pepper yelled back just as fiercely only to be silenced by the ominous barking of her and Spencer's surnames.

Jason had been talking with Hotch and one of the officers as they thought about their next steps, and maybe taking a break for some dinner. He'd heard the sound of two people arguing but ignored it as normal police office noises. After their last case he was sure his team would not behave so unprofessionally again… well okay, just two members of his team. It wasn't until the voices got louder and more heated that he realized it actually was members of his team, the same two members of his team, "Reid!" He barked furiously.

Aaron had taken note of the growing argument just as Jason had, and just as Jason had he had assumed there was no way it would be any of their team. The scathing lecture he'd given both Spencer and Pepper had certainly been enough to make sure this wouldn't happen again, and Morgan, JJ, and Emily had been completely shocked at the two youngsters' unprofessional behavior so they wouldn't be acting like that. Certainly, the team didn't always agree, but they were professional enough to handle disagreements appropriately, at least they should be. "Lee!" He barked just as furiously as Jason did.

Spencer and Pepper froze, and their heads whipped around to look at the older agents, both of them doing excellent impressions of a deer caught in the headlights, or a child with their hand caught in the cookie jar.

Aaron and Jason marched over to the young agents, Jason taking a firm grip on Spencer's shoulder as Aaron did the same to Pepper. They marched into a small empty conference room and Aaron gently kicked the door shut behind him before they finally released the two shamefaced agents.

Pepper flushed a little at being dragged away in front of a whole police station, she bit her lip and stared adamantly at her shoes. She couldn't believe she'd let herself be dragged into another row with her fellow genius, she should have just held her tongue and ignored him, but still this time it was definitely his fault and not hers.

Spencer glared at the floor in a mix of anger and embarrassment. He did not know why he let Pepper get under his skin so much, but she did, and he just couldn't help but rise to it. He was mentally kicking himself for getting into an argument with her again though, especially after the dire threats Hotch had given them last time. Though he'd also had to endure a second dressing down from Gideon later in private, and he was truly worried that his mentor would make good on his promise of not just lecturing him.

Aaron shared a look with Jason, communicating silently in a way that only two people who had spent a lot of time together and knew each other extremely well could do. He nodded and then focused on the two squirming, guilty looking, agents in front of him. He was furious at the deplorable decorum of his two youngest agents, especially after he'd already very thoroughly dressed them both down one side and up the other. He knew his lectures were considered somewhat legendary and something to be avoided, he'd heard the murmurings around the office. Aaron knew Gideon had privately warned Spencer that if the previous conversation had to be repeated, it would not be a verbal one, just as he had warned Pepper. He was not happy that he was going to have to make good on that promise, his agents should not be arguing like children.

Pepper could see Hotch was gearing up to deliver another severe tongue lashing, "he started it!" She insisted before she could stop herself.

"I started it?! You were the one…" Spencer started to try and defend himself.

"Not another word!" Aaron snapped in barely restrained fury. "I don't care who started it! You are both supposed to be BAU Special Agents for the FBI! I cannot believe that once again we are here having to talk about appropriate behavior out in the field!" He scolded.

"You were both warned what would happen if you could not remain professional and started quarrelling when out on a case again," Jason reminded them disappointedly.

Pepper looked around the conference room with wide eyes, it wasn't going to happen here, was it? Everyone outside would hear and Spencer… Spencer would see!

Spencer's eyes bugged wide, and he stared at his mentor in horror, thinking similar thoughts to his fellow genius. "Wait, you don't mean… not here, not now!" He gasped.

Aaron looked at Jason, unsurprised to find they were on the same page. "It would serve you both right, arguing like children. You want to act like children then you have no right to protest us treating you like children," he lectured.

Pepper took a step back, wanting to put some space between herself and the two angry Senior Agents.

Spencer shook his head in horror, it was one thing getting a spanking in the conference room of the FBI headquarters, that was at least soundproof, private, and only other agents would know what was going on. He could tell just from looking that this conference room was not soundproof, which meant everyone outside it would be able to hear precisely what was happening.

"Fortunately for you both we have no desire to cause further damage to the BAU's reputation by having to spank you both in a less than private setting," Jason stated.

"Or by ducking out in the middle of a case to take you both back to the hotel and deal with you there," Aaron added. "Rest assured however that once we retire for the evening you and I will be having a serious conversation about this Pepper," he warned.

"As will you and I Spencer," Jason declared.

Pepper felt like a pint of liquid relief was injected into her veins when Jason said they weren't going to be spanked here. Her first ever spanking from David had been in a room similar to this, though she'd been a little kid at the time, it would be humiliating to be spanked in such a semipublic area as an adult. That liquid relief though quickly turned sour when Hotch confirmed she'd be getting spanked tonight, the fact it would be in the privacy of his hotel room was of little comfort. She glared down at her feet, it really was Spencer's fault this time, if he hadn't been such an unreasonable git and had actually discussed what she'd noticed rather than just sniping at her then this wouldn't have happened.

Spencer flushed in embarrassment. Why did Gideon have to announce he was going to be spanked like that? A small voice pointed out that Pepper was facing an identical fate, but that was pretty poor consolation. He scowled down at the floor trying to hide his flaming red cheeks, he hated that Pepper got under his skin so easily, hated that she was almost on par with him in terms of intelligence but had none of his physical limitations.

Aaron observed the two young agents, they weren't nearly as remorseful as he wanted, but they seemed sufficiently chagrined for now and would hopefully behave themselves properly until this could be addressed privately. "If your behavior is in any way even the slightest bit unprofessional before we go to the hotel for the night we will be right back here regardless of the lack of privacy, is that understood Pepper Rosanne Lee?" He demanded.

Pepper nodded miserably, she was going to keep her distance from Spencer and not engage at all, if that was what it took, there was no way she was going to risk getting a semipublic spanking.

"Look at me and speak clearly young lady!" Aaron corrected harshly.

Pepper's head jerked up as if yanked by a string, "yes Sir, understood Sir," she answered obediently.

"The same goes for you Spencer, if you continue to act like a child, I will take that to mean you want me to treat you like one and we will forgo the privilege of privacy understood?" Jason scolded disappointedly.

"Yes Sir," Spencer muttered to his shoes.

"You will leave each other alone. As you cannot discuss things in a calm and reasonable manner, as the young adults you are supposed to be, then like children, we will keep you separated," Aaron decreed.

Pepper winced at the accusation, feeling about two inches tall under Hotch's disappointed stare, "yes Sir," she murmured.

Spencer knew Gideon would let him get away with mumbling a response to the floor, but Hotch wouldn't. He reluctantly lifted his head, hating the sad disappointment he could see coming from Gideon just a little more than the ticked off disappointment that Hotch was practically radiating. "Yes Sir," he answered after making eye contact.

"Go, we've got half an hour for dinner then it's back to work," Jason informed them.

Pepper didn't need telling twice, she almost fled from the conference room, not wanting to risk Hotch changing his mind and deciding to deal with her in there.

Spencer was hot on Pepper's heels, thinking similarly. It was bad enough that he'd been scolded in front of Pepper twice now, he was not going to risk pushing Gideon or Hotch into actually punishing him.

Dinner was awkward, Derek, Emily, and JJ all knew what had happened in the conference room, Spencer was still sulking at being told off, Pepper felt bad, Aaron was still unhappy with the two youngest agents, and Gideon was disappointed in them both.

After dinner, JJ spoke to Hotch about what she'd been able to get from the files.

"Why don't you, Reid, and…" Aaron started looking over at Pepper. He was about to suggest that she go with JJ and Spencer, but he didn't trust the pair to remain professional without himself or Jason there to keep watch over them. "Just you and Reid go out there, see if you can find Mr. Hankel and see if he remembers something," he directed.

Pepper blushed and looked down at her lap, hating that she'd lost so much of Hotch's trust. She wanted to insist she could go too, that she'd be professional, that she wouldn't let him down, but the look she was getting silenced her.

"On it," JJ agreed. She shot Pepper a small sympathetic look deciding to have a word with Spencer on the drive out there.

Spencer nodded in agreement and finished off another of the rice crispy treats they'd been given, brushing his hands on his pants before following JJ. He was determined to prove he was just as good as a physical agent as Pepper, better even.

Flashback Over

Pepper bit her lip hard, trying to suppress the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She was tired, exhausted even, that was why she wanted to cry, she just needed some sleep, but try as she might sleep continued to evade her. She knew why, though she was loath to admit it, bursting into floods of tears on the jet would be impossible to hide, and so far, she was doing a remarkable job of avoiding Hotch's attention and wanted to keep it that way. Though that was only because he was just as tired as the rest of them, nothing got past Hotch. She savagely forced away the thoughts that were lashing at her as sharply as any lecture from Hotch, she could cry later, once she was alone in her apartment and no… and no longer a member of the BAU. She hated it, but she knew it was Hotch's only option, her actions had led directly to Spencer being kidnapped, tortured, drugged, and actually killed… though only for a short while, but the fact remained, she'd gotten Spencer killed.

JJ's eyes were red, but there was a more peaceful look on her face now as she curled up into one of the seats and pulled the blanket over herself.

Pepper felt something in her ease when it appeared Hotch had gotten through to JJ, it was the right thing to do, JJ didn't deserve to carry around any guilt over what had happened. Hotch would probably go to sleep himself now and then Pepper could let herself go just a bit, could stop feigning sleep and let the tears she was holding back by sheer stubborn will alone flow.

Aaron could see Pepper was on the verge of tears, but he couldn't quite work out why. Yes, she was in trouble, and they'd all had a very frightening and poignant example of why it was so important to act professionally and as a team, but her level of distress seemed extreme. She'd been in worse trouble with him when she was his ward, especially when she and Sean had teamed up together, perhaps it was just the fact she was in trouble with him as an adult, but that didn't quite ring true. He considered for a moment that maybe the realities of the job were getting to her, like it had with JJ, but that didn't fit right either. Pepper was possibly the most mentally prepared person for this job, she had seen horrors other couldn't even imagine when she was still a very small child. That wasn't to say it was impossible that this case had shaken her, but he hadn't picked up any signs of this kind of distress from her when they'd viewed the scenes. Noticing Pepper discretely watching him, he rested back in the seat and pretended to slip off to sleep, curious at what she would do when she thought no one was watching her.

When Hotch slipped off to sleep, Pepper allowed herself to let go of the steel control she'd been holding over her emotions and the tears started trickling down her cheeks. Maybe all the naysayers were right, maybe she wasn't fit for this job, too young, too immature. Two cases, that was all she had lasted, just two cases and now maybe she stood a chance at begging Hotch just to let her be reassigned, profilers didn't only work in the BAU. It was a slim possibility, he was far more likely just to fire her, well she wouldn't force him to do that, she'd do the right thing and resign. Her Mom would support her whilst she figured out what else she could do, David's disappointment would be awful, but he would still love her. She bit her lip almost hard enough to break the skin as she fought to restrain the sob that wanted to break through. It was one thing to allow herself to silently cry, but if she started sobbing, she'd wake up the whole plane, no one in the BAU slept heavily enough to sleep through that.

Watching Pepper fall to pieces was too much for Aaron, he got up and silently crossed the jet, "Pepper what's…" he started.

Pepper had no idea when Hotch woke up or how he'd suddenly appeared in front of her, but he was and she launched herself at him, clinging to him and sobbing into his chest.

Aaron wasn't too surprised when Pepper flung herself into his arms and he wrapped his own arms around her, holding her close and letting her cry as he had so many times when she was a little girl. "Talk to me Pepper, tell me what's wrong," he urged. He saw out of the corner of his eye Derek and Emily both waking up, and he shook his head slightly in their direction, feeling certain that Pepper would not want an audience to this. He sat down and pulled the slight young woman down onto his lap, feeling her curl up and try and to burrow herself into him.

Pepper shook her head when Hotch asked her to tell him what was wrong, she couldn't do that, not here, she would completely lose it… well it wasn't like she hadn't already lost it and Hotch wasn't one to take no for an answer. Still, she really, really didn't want to discuss it with Derek, Emily, and JJ listening in.

Aaron wasn't happy to see Pepper shaking her head at him. He generally let his team members deal with their problems without being too pushy, or at least he tried to. He liked to let them come to him if they needed to and only stepped in when they seemed to need him to. Pepper was sobbing like someone had died and he wasn't prepared to let whatever was hurting her so continue to. "Pepper," he cautioned warningly.

"L-l-later p-please," Pepper forced out. She clutched at Hotch tighter, feeling like the little kid he had accused her of being, but right now she just couldn't face reality, she wanted to continue in denial for just a little longer.

It went against his instincts, Aaron did not think it was the right thing to do, to let Pepper continue to suffer like this, but he could see Derek and Emily trying not to let on that they were listening in. Pepper might have at one point been his ward, but she was now an adult, and she had the right to keep a few things from her teammates if she wanted to. Besides she was coming back to his place anyway, they still had to discuss her behavior back in the police station. "Later," he confirmed.

Despite her turmoil, Pepper's exhaustion caught up with her and she ended up crying herself to sleep, wrapped in Hotch's arms.

Aaron sighed when Pepper cried herself to sleep, she was utterly exhausted, so he had been expecting it, he was feeling every hour of missed sleep too. Shaking his head to himself he shifted to get into a more comfortable position and let himself drift off too. He didn't sleep deeply, it was barely more than a cat nap, but when he woke up, they were about to start their descent. He glanced down at the tear-stained face of the young woman, concerned when even in sleep her face was pinched in distress. Reluctantly he gently woke her, getting a proper sleep in a proper bed was definitely first on the agenda, after that he would get Haley to take Jack out for a couple hours so he could talk to Pepper.

Pepper mewled unhappily as she was woken, waking up was the last thing she wanted to do, she felt like she hadn't slept in a week. She reluctantly peeled her eyes open and glared at the one who was waking her, frowning in confusion when she realized she was curled up on Hotch's lap in the jet. Reality hit her like a steam train, and she jolted to her feet, her breakdown was supposed to be private! She couldn't believe she was twenty years old, and she'd cried herself to sleep in Hotch's arms like a baby!

Aaron could see Pepper was for some reason embarrassed by her actions so decided to treat it like it was a normal occurrence. "We'll be touching down soon, you're coming back to mine," he told her evenly.

Pepper spluttered when Hotch said she was coming back to his, that wasn't happening, "Hotch I…" she started.

"That was not a suggestion Pepper, we have lots to discuss," Aaron told her firmly, his tone leaving no room for arguments.

Pepper stared dumbstruck at her one-time legal guardian, but even her sleep deprived brain recognized that tone and knew arguing would do no good.

Hotch stood and tapped Pepper under the chin, hiding a smirk as she closed her mouth, "your room is still available, and you should still have enough clothes in your go bag. If not, Haley can lend you whatever you need."

Pepper snapped her jaw shut and sighed, well that was it, she was going to Hotch's at least that would be private enough. She ran a hand though her hair, tugging it out of the now messy ponytail she'd shoved it up into. Once the plane touched down, she grabbed her go bag, gave Emily and JJ a small goodbye, and turned to say goodbye to Derek. She hated that she'd probably never see him again now, but before she could speak, he swept her into a hug.

"Whatever you are thinking Baby Girl, don't," Derek told Pepper firmly.

Pepper swallowed thickly but forced a smile on her face, "you worry too much, I'm just tired, it's been an emotional ride," she insisted lightly.

Derek knew Pepper was lying to him, he was a seasoned profiler, it took more than that to pull the wool over his eyes. "When you are ready to actually talk, I'm here," he told her simply. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before letting her go.

Aaron watched wondering if maybe Pepper would open up to Derek, but she seemed even more closed off with him, so he stepped up to the pair, putting a hand on Pepper's shoulder. "Go home everyone, get some sleep, we all need it," he ordered. He kept a hand on Pepper's shoulder as they debarked the plane, they were all too tired to drive safely, so they all got into taxis. He helped Pepper into one and got in behind her, giving the driver his address.

Pepper didn't resist as Hotch guided her off the plane and into the taxi, she waited a beat for him to start talking, then relaxed just a little when he didn't break the silence. She wished there was some way, any way she could change what had happened, but life didn't work like that. She'd made her bed and now had to lie in it, as painful as that was. She had no idea what she was supposed to do with her life now though, joining the BAU was the only thing she'd ever wanted to do. At least her break down had done one thing, it had taken the edge off the emotional turmoil and she was able to think about her future without breaking down. It wasn't a comforting thought, not truly, as it still hurt like being stabbed with a knife, but she had no one to blame but herself and she should be able to take the consequences with dignity.

It seemed like too little time had passed before they were at Hotch's house and Hotch was paying the cabby. He helped her out and Pepper couldn't fight the yawn that came, the plane journey was just not long enough for her sleep to have done anything other than make her feel more tired.

"Come on Pepper, let's go in and get some proper sleep," Aaron urged. He grabbed Pepper's go bag along with his own and walked them both into his home.

Haley took one look at her husband and one time ward and shook her head, "to bed, both of you," she ordered sternly.

Pepper couldn't help but look up at Hotch with a smirk at him being ordered to bed, there was something familiar and comforting about that.

"Yes Ma'am," Aaron grinned. He stole a small chaste kiss from his wife before guiding Pepper in front of him up to what had at one time been her room.

"We'll catch up later Pepper, you'll stay for a while," Haley called up the stairs after the pair.

Pepper's heart sank a little at that, she didn't think she would be able to stand to stay here once she and Hotch had their talk, but maybe she could come over when Hotch returned to work. Jack was her Godson after all and so she still had to make time to come see him.

Aaron led into Pepper's room and dropped her go bag on the bed, "get some sleep, if you need anything ask Haley," he repeated. "Oh, I need your guns, Haley insists on all guns being kept in the safe now we've got Jack," he remembered suddenly, he really needed some sleep.

Pepper nodded at the instruction to get some sleep, heck she could probably fall asleep in a cardboard box right now. "I don't need anything," she assured Hotch. She grabbed her main gun and back up and handed them both to Hotch, there was almost no chance that Jack would be able to get his hands onto her guns, but even so she was not going to risk it.

Aaron pressed a kiss to Pepper's forehead, "we'll talk in a little bit," he insisted. With that he left the youngest member of his team and his one-time ward and went to his own bedroom. He locked the guns away in the safe before he forced himself to get changed out of his suit then collapsed into his bed.

Pepper stripped out of her clothes, pulling on a large t-shirt that had once belonged to David that she'd stolen to sleep in years ago, then crawled into bed. She was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow. Despite how tired she'd been, Pepper was not able to sleep long, her guilt and turmoil would not allow her too and less than an hour later she was awake. She couldn't face leaving the bedroom and trying to force herself to interact normally with Haley and Jack, she'd probably end up breaking down and crying again and then she'd be forced to tell Haley what she'd done, and Haley would be disappointed in her too and she couldn't deal with more disappointment right now. She didn't even know how she was supposed to tell her Mom and David, that was going to be a dreadful conversation. She laid in bed, just staring up at the ceiling wishing she could just fall back to sleep to avoid what was coming.

~o~

There you go, that was chapter one, I'll see you next week for the next chapter. Drop a review and let me know your thoughts, reviews really make my day and motivate me to write more.