Criminal Minds One-Shots

Do I Wanna Know If This Feeling Flows Both Ways? (Hotch x Reader)

"So good news and bad news," JJ announced cutting into the conversation as she walked over to join the rest of the team in the hotel lobby. Earlier that day the team received an emergency case in Seattle and flew straight out leaving no time to book into a hotel when you arrived in the middle of the day. You were surprised JJ managed to find anywhere for the team to stay this late at night and you had half started to suspect you'd be sleeping in the police station for the night. Especially since this was one of the rarer times where Garcia had travelled with the team bringing the number of rooms needed up to eight. "The hotel has available rooms and nice ones too but they don't have enough, they only have four available to us. Since this was the last place on my list within a reasonable distance from the station it looks like we're just going to have to double up tonight if we want to get any sleep."

JJ glanced around the group looking for any protest of the idea but while the team might not have been ecstatic about the idea of sharing rooms for the duration of the case everyone seemed to have the collective agreement that they didn't care as long as they got some rest after a rough first day. JJ handed the key cards out to every second person and let everyone pair off themselves before heading towards their rooms. You stood back and watched each pair disappear until you were left standing with the only other person who hadn't pair off yet. Hotch.

The nerves that were suddenly bubbling up in your stomach were not at all because you felt uncomfortable with Hotch, no quite the opposite actually. It was certainly no secret within the BAU that you had been harbouring a massive crush on one Agent Aaron Hotchner ever since you joined the BAU. Well of course Hotch seemed to be the only person who still remained blissfully oblivious to your silent pining over him, even now he seemed unaware of the panic that was building inside of you. He gave you one of his rare smiles as he walked towards you, that damn smile that melted your heart every time you got to see it. It really was a shame that he didn't smile more often. How were you supposed to share the same room with this man for who knows how many days while you worked this case?

"Guess you're stuck with me," You joked, laughing nervously as you got ready to head up to your room. You leaned down to grab your go-bag, feeling something brush against your hand just as you reached for the handle. You looked up in time to see Hotch sweeping it off the floor and swinging it over his shoulder along with his own.

"Let me carry it for you, it's not like it's heavy." He insisted when he heard the slight noise of protest you made. You quickly gave in and let him take it, appreciating the gesture. He rested his hand on your shoulder as he moved past you towards the elevators and you froze. You stared after him, taking a minute to realise you were supposed to be following him as his touch lingered on your skin and made you blush. "I'm sure we can make this work, it's just for a couple of days right?"

"Right." You nodded as you finally caught up to him. Except for you, it wasn't going to be "just for a couple of days." You already knew you would never be able to get the memory of sharing a room with your boss that you were hopelessly in love with out of your head and it would only serve to make your crush on him a hundred times worse. Hell, you were already blushing over the slightest touch from him. "I will admit I'm a little disappointed that I'm missing out on what I'm sure is going to be one hell of a slumber party in Morgan and Garcia's room though."

Hotch let a laugh slip at that, shaking his head at you as he reached out to press the elevator call button. A smile tugged at the corner of your lip when you saw his reaction, knowing that you were the one who made him laugh. You and Hotch were close, you'd always gotten on well but you didn't always get to spend nearly as much time with him as you'd like. It was part of the reason you'd never had the courage to tell him how you felt, you were afraid that you didn't spend enough time together for him to feel the same way about you. Maybe this shortage of rooms would give you a good excuse to spend more time together.