Teacher's Pet

Part 1

The last case the BAU worked on was something straight out of a horror movie. After doing everything possible to get to the latest victim, Emma, it still didn't seem like enough. Yes the unsub was in custody and Emma was found safe, but he still brutally raped and murdered four women. As you sit there on the jet looking outside you wonder if sometimes the job is even worth it. Emma was saved and you and the team were able to get to her, but because of what the unsub did to her she will be severely traumatized and may never fully recover; it's just really hard to be happy about cases that end like this. As you sit there and think about how her life is going to be after all of this is over, Hotch puts his hand on your shoulder and pulls you out of your thoughts.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Y-yeah. Yeah everything is good" you lie, giving him a small smile. Sinking into the chair across from you he gives you a knowing look. You look down at your lap and sigh. With a weak voice you finally speak up.

"Okay no. No I'm not okay Hotch. How can I be? You saw how we found Emma. Hotch, she will have to go the rest of her life trying to get over the trauma he put her through and she's still so young. We are the same age... how- how can someone get over that? I can't even imagine."

When you finally look up at him, his image is blurry and that's when you realize you had been crying. Trying to wipe your tears before he saw them, he stands quickly and moves over to sit next to you. Opening his arms for a comforting hug, he pulls you into him. When you look up at him, the tears start flowing even harder. Wrapping his arms around you, he moves one hand up and down your back. Laying your head on his broad chest, the smell of his cologne and the steady beat of his heart slowly soothe your frayed nerves. When you pull back he is already looking at you.

"Y/N, she is okay. I promise you she is. She needs time to heal, but she has her whole family there to help her through it. She isn't alone. Right now she's happy she's alive and that's because of you. You made the connection that brought her back to her family. Y/N you should be so proud of that. I am very proud of you. You did well." His praise made your heart flutter and through happy tears, a smile began to form on your face.

Aaron Hotchner is not a man who gives praise often, but when he does you know he means it. Through more tears you hug him firmly. "Thank you, Hotch. Thank you so much." He grips you harder and whispers back "anytime."

While you had been at the BAU for close to two years, your relationship with Hotch went much further back. Unbeknownst to the other members of the BAU team was the fact that he had been your professor for two of your classes while you were in the FBI Academy. It wasn't actually a secret that he used to be your professor, but in fear of the team thinking you were only there because of Hotch, you kept that bit of information to yourself. It's not like you would ask for any favors from him, right?

As much as you didn't want the team knowing about the little crush you had on your Unit Chief, they found out – and they teased you relentlessly for it. So when the jet landed back at Quantico and Rossi invited everyone out for pasta night at his prominent "mansion," in fear of being teased all night, you instinctively declined.

Hurriedly gathering your go-bag and files from your desk, you feel a warm presence behind you. The aroma of cedarwood and pine fill your senses and you turn to find Hotch's penetrating gaze looking right at you. With nervousness sweeping over you, you try to look anywhere but directly at him.

"H-hey Hotch, what's up?" you stutter as you're still trying to gather up your things with clammy hands.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asks, putting a warm hand on your shoulder. You sigh and look down. Dragging your eyes from his shoes all the way up his tall frame, you look into his deep dark brown eyes. His hair is tousled like he had been running his fingers through it and he had his suit jacket thrown over his arm.