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[baufatherfigure]

I haven't had a vacation in years. And you're making me file for a one-week getaway with you to clear the cobwebs. To get away from everyone.

[Hotch takes a deep breath.]

Are you really sure about this? About-- about leaving for a whole week? Don't you remember what happened the last time I took a vacation six years ago?

Comments

[dr_pretty_boy]

Everyone needs a vacation, Hotch... Maybe it'll end up being a fun time?

[Despite the last vacation in his memory was the one the Fisher King ruined...]

[baufatherfigure]

I'm really hoping so. Mun's getting away for the week potentially to a state over, and I'm supposed to be, as Mun puts it... "going on a soul-searching journey of sorts."

Why can't I just go with her and have some good wine while I'm at it? [Blank face. But you can tell he's definitely going to need some cheese with that hint of whine.]

[dr_pretty_boy]

[His grin? Completely professional. Honest.]

Well, have you tried asking nicely? I hear that tactic tends to work on these types of people.

[baufatherfigure]

Many times. I've also kindly asked her to stop imagining me shirtless with medical tape on my hands, but that doesn't seem to work either. In sweats. In a black t-shirt. Or with a beard.

[The real problem here is the beard while being shirtless in sweats with athletic tape on his hands. Wince.]

[dr_pretty_boy]

[That's an image. Not so much the beard, though. Shirtless, however....

No. Not the point.]

Well, will the vacation give you a break from..whatever it is about that image that bothers you?

[baufatherfigure]

It could, yes. Or it could- make me miss people even more.

I'm hoping for more a break, though, over everything else. March has been kind of a long month for the both of us.

[You're welcome. Beardy and shirtless.]

[dr_pretty_boy]

[Not. Helping. Hotch.]

Well, I wish you the best of luck. It sucks that I only just found you and you're leaving, but everyone deserves a vacation.

[baufatherfigure]

[Hee. This Hotch can be a bit of a bastard. Blame Mun please.]

I agree. Just finding out you're here and I have to leave? Not entirely fair. But I'll be back. It's nice to come here and escape the LiveJournal crazzies once in a while.

[dr_pretty_boy]

[Mmm, Bastard!Hotch. Mun approves.]

...just a week, right? If nothing else, it'll give my mun time to re-watch the way she said she was going to. A year ago.

[baufatherfigure]

Just a week, yes. [Small smile.] You can rewatch, I can go on vacation. Although putting it off for a year-- well that's not really good now.

[Yeah. Go on vacation and get annoyed by Mun's other lovely muse. Some dude who killer Hotch's wife. Sound familiar?]

[dr_pretty_boy]

[Maybe you shouldn't go on vacation, Hotch...]

I'm not giving her the credit I should be. She's re-watching now, and she didn't before because of her work. Work which hasn't really changed when it comes to time restraints, so really, this is marked evidence that she's serious about me. This. Whatever.

[baufatherfigure]

Serious enough, anyway. A rewatch while balancing work and a personal life shows that your mun really wants to do this. And that's both a good thing for her, and possibly bad thing for us.

[It's all good. Hotch goes soul searching for a while. And George Foyet is- get this- gonna get kidnapped. Long story, but it'll be good for the serial-killing douchebag.]

[dr_pretty_boy]

Probably. Probably a bad thing for us.

..I'm really not good at things like this, Hotch.

[A lot of things would be good of the serial-killing douchebag. Like a bullet. Or twenty. Whichever.]

You haven't been scared by me yet, you need a cookie. Or twenty. *offers*

[baufatherfigure]

[At this point, Hotch comes out from behind the desk and gazes at the agent before- yeah. Walking over to him. Calm, but... fierce as anything.]

You're great at everything you do. You help this team more than anyone can, and I know for a fact you'll make it through this. You'll be all right, no matter what happens. And that's not me talking out of my ass.

[That's Hotch talking about going through a cheating jerk, a cutting, suicidal, druggie husband he left finally after being left more time than anyone can count... and being dumped.]

Only if I can offer you hot chocolate for putting up with me for this long. XD ^_^

[dr_pretty_boy]

[Oh, hello Hotch. Hotch who is being all intense and...Hotch-like. Hotch who is being all intense and Hotch-like a LOT closer then he was before.

Spence's Adam's apple bobs as he swallows rather hard.

Glancing up, he fiddled with the pen in his hand for a moment longer before putting it down on the desk that no longer felt like any kind of barrier between them.]

I..you have too much faith in me, Aaron. [The name was an accident and whispered.] You're you. You can do so much better then anything I could even think about giving you, both in the office and out of it.

*makes a happy noise* You do a BRILLIANT Reid. Jus' saying. *trades cookies for drink!*

[baufatherfigure]

[Intense Hotch can be intense when he wants to be, and right now, he's gonna be intense. Even as he listens to the genius doctor, he can't help but notice the little first name slip. His face softens a little, but the intensity of his voice is still there. Gentle, but passionate, one could think.]

There's a reason why I have so much faith in your abilities. In you. [As he watches him, unblinking. Sincerity shining in his eyes. Raw honesty.] You have been through so much over the last several years- more than most agents will ever go through in their entire career. Kidnapped. Anthrax. Drug addiction. Shot. ...losing- him. [Gideon.] And yet, you're right here. You've come through, stronger in mind. Hell. Even in body. You've got a little... a little muscle. [Blargh. A whisper.] You're... you're strong, Spence. You've grown up.

Your Hotch is made of so much epic win! I will share my cookies ^_^

[dr_pretty_boy]

[He's shaking his head even before Hotch is finished talking, arms wrapping around himself in an unconscious gesture of self-comfort. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and strained, cracking every now and then as he fought to keep the emotions rolling through his guts where they belonged.]

You're wrong, though. Maybe your other Spencer Reid has, but I haven't. Not yet. I haven't done any of that stuff yet, and you... You have. I'm just in the way now, Hotch. The worst thing I've gone through is..well, you kicking the snot out of me.

[Which hurt quite a bit more then he let on, Hotch. Just saying.]

asdfghjkl;, THANK YOOOOU. *noms!*

[baufatherfigure]

[Hotch just- just stares at him, and before he even knows what the actual fuck he's doing, he's wrapping his arms around the agent. Yeah, it's an unconscious thought, but whenever Spencer Reid belittles himself- well. He just... hugs. Hugs are needed. Well to this mun anyway. God damn you and your shippings sometimes, Mun, why do you make this so awkward? And WHY DO YOU MAKE HOTCH SO EMOTIONAL NOW, good lord.]

...you're never in the way. Never.

[dr_pretty_boy]

[Reid was expecting a lot of things. Most probable of which was quite understanding, maybe a little anger, and surely a solid dash of annoyance. He was expecting a 'You're doing fine, Reid' speech and maybe an awkward pat on his too bony shoulder.

He wasn't expecting to suddenly find himself in Hotch's arms.

He tensed, arms unwrapping from around himself to instead hover over Aaron, unsure if his own touch would be welcome to the older man. He was so warm, though. Warm and strong and Hotch smelled vaguely of sharp spices and gun oil and around the same time he got a good noseful of that, his body reminded him of exactly how long it had been since he'd been hugged. Truely held.

Dr. Harlow would be having a field day with the way he was suddenly clinging to the other man, blinking away moisture and trying really hard to keep himself from shaking.]