Pride and Punishment

Chapter 4

"Is it just me or are we taking longer and longer on these assignments?"

"It's because of you if that's what you're asking. You get slower every day Gramps."

You look up from your phone and grin at your friends. "Emily, leave PawPaw Morgan alone. He's tired."

"I'm just glad to be home." Jennifer chimes in from the front seat. "Maybe we'll actually get to enjoy ourselves this weekend. I'm thinking pasta, wine, and a dip in Rossi's hot tub."

Derek chuckles. "Does Rossi know what your plans are? Cause something tells me he hasn't signed off on all that."

You lean forward and place a hand on his shoulder. "How about you concentrate on the road, Pops, and leave the weekend arrangements to the youngsters?" JJ and Emily laugh along with you.

Derek rolls his eyes good-naturedly. "How the hell did I get suckered into driving you bullies to the office when I could be riding with the guys in the other SUV?"

Once you're back at headquarters, you take your time filling out your report and deliberately linger at your desk longer than you need to, hoping to catch Hotch by himself. The others repeatedly ask you to come to get a drink with them, but you wave them off, using the lame excuse that you just want to sleep.

"Y/N?" You jump slightly. "Were you waiting for me?" Hotch's gaze rakes over you, concern etched on his features. "Everything alright? I figured you'd be at the bar with everyone about four shots in by now."

"I'm fine!" you respond a little too brightly, and he cocks an eyebrow at you in response. "I just, um...I was hoping, and feel free to say no if you're too tired or anything, but I was hoping you might wanna give me a ride home?"

He smiles knowingly but doesn't let you off the hook. "Something wrong with your car, Y/N?"

You blush slightly. "No, it's fine." Can he really not take a hint? Or maybe he's changed his mind about us continuing our conversation. Oh God, is it me that can't take a hint?

"Too tired to drive? I noticed you didn't sleep much on the flight back." He presses, almost mockingly. "You looked to be very deep in thought. What was on your mind?"

"Nothing important; I just wasn't tired at the time." you explain weakly. "I'll be fine to drive." You'd rather die than tell him you spent half the flight fantasizing how you two would fit in the bathroom if you decided to get busy on the jet and the other half watching his hands gesture as he talked because you had never noticed how long and thick his fingers were.

He frowns. "I was teasing you, Y/N. I'm more than happy to drive you home."

"Are you sure? I don't want to impose. I'm more than happy to call a cab or something." You fiddle with the strap on your bag nervously.

"Not an imposition at all. Come on, let's get you home."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it." He nods curtly and walks with you toward the elevator. You almost leap out of your skin when his hand presses against your lower back. You gasp and glance up at him, noting that he quickly hides a hint of a smirk.

"You've been so easily spooked this past week. Is something wrong?" He comments innocently.

You swallow hard. "No, nothing. Probably just need some sleep is all."

"Lack of sleep can have the same effects as drinking alcohol. At eighteen hours of awake time, our alertness is the same as if we had a blood content of 0.05 percent." He glances down at you and his tone drops a few octaves. "Do you feel drunk, Y/N?"