Time of the Season [HotchxReader]

(11) Memento Mori

Soooo...Here's a funny story: Aaron and you were so focused on the discussion, if you should let your colleagues know about your relationship, that you forgot to consider what could happen if someone that wishes the team harm would find out about it. For example, let's say: an unsub. Taking into account that you're currently negotiating your life with one hints at the theory that you, indeed, should have considered that.

But let's pick up where we left off, shall we?

- - - - - - - - - -

As soon as the plane landed in Oregon, Aaron and you let go of each other and went back into work-mode. It's been almost 48 hours and the team didn't have any breaks. You're suspecting that the murders you're investigating are connected to an organ harvesting ring. Consequently, there is a lot of time pressure and it is way more difficult to locate the unsubs.

"We cannot go on like this." You state. Everyone is so sleep-deprived that it's like you're drunk. "We need to rest."

Aaron lifts his head, barely able to focus on you: "You're right, but we're too close to stop now."

Reid supports you: "The likelihood of us to make mistakes grows with the minute."

"How about we sleep in shifts?" You propose. "One sleep-cycle takes approximately ninety minutes. We could take turns in sleeping for about two hours to ensure we go through at least one."

Red-eyed, the rest of the teams looks at Hotch, silently screaming at him.

He nods: "Prentiss, Morgan, Rossi, and Reid take the first break." He looks at his watch: "You have three hours to shower, eat and sleep." Groaning they get up, mumbling something about how they don't get paid enough. Morgan pats your back: "Thanks Professor." You give him a tired smile.

That leaves Aaron, JJ, and you. And Garcia back at headquarters who, as she informed you, is camping in her office. You collect the reports you got from the coroner as well as the files with the medical histories of the victims and get up from your chair. Stretching your back, you take a few deep breaths before pushing your table to the side. JJ and Aaron look at what you're doing, not really able to react to it. Sorting by victim, you start to create a timeline, marking similar procedures and illnesses with different colors.

Kneeling in the middle of the stacks of papers, you desperately try to find a connection that might be too indirect for Garcia to find it. You head droops a few times, and your blinking slows down even more. Aaron tries his best to mask it, but the same happens to him. Eventually, he gives in: "The others will be back in an hour. We'll take our break now."

"Oh, thank god." JJ mumbles and gets up.

Aaron comes over and helps you stand up and put your shoes back on which you put aside as you sat down on the floor. You see JJ smile at the gesture.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Hey." Aaron rubs your thigh, using your first name to wake you. Your head shoots up. You were so tired that you fell asleep in the car on the way to the hotel. "How the hell aren't you unconscious yet?" You ask him groggily.

"Practice."

You start to ramble off facts about how that's bad for one's body to do repeatedly. Aaron gently interrupts you while offering you his arm to lean on: "You start to sound like Reid." You really want to make a sexual joke about that statement but don't manage to answer him.

In the hallway that leads to your rooms, you meet Prentiss who looks at least a little better by now. She says something about you and Aaron being cute, which you're only able to acknowledge with a nod.