And If I Fall, Let Me Part I: At Your Service - A. Hotchner x OC & Jemily

...but you don't seem to cure it

A low hum came from the blonde, and he looked up again. "I have no idea, truth be told. That's kind of the problem," Alex muttered dryly. Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable this time. The soft music from the radio filled the car and breaking her stare onto the road, Alex took a sip of coffee.

"I wouldn't call you impulsive though," the blonde said after a while, her voice a lot softer than before.

"I'm not," he mused, "with a few exceptions."

Alex turned to look at him, and a slow crooked smile spread over her face.

"You can be an ass, Hotchner," she chuckled, shaking her head, "And I'm impulsive enough for the both of us."

"You don't see me disagree," he threw back, shrugging. He wouldn't tell her how much relief washed through him at the sight of her smile. Because if he wasn't careful, this was going to get complicated very soon. But this time, he couldn't just leave the country and her behind. This time, no one else was waiting at home, keeping him from ever acting on the stupid crush he had developed in a desert, not sure if it was because of their slim survival chances or genuine. No, this time, it was clear it had nothing do to with the situation, and everything with Alexandria as a woman, and every action would have a consequence. When she pulled into the parking lot of the event venue, Hotch was sure they were back on safe ground. But was he?

****

Gallery Hall, Event Venue

It took their group an hour to split up and inspect multiple rooms. Hotch and her ended up in one of the old salons, staring at the ceiling.

"Looks like an attic," he mumbled, and Alex nodded. Pulling out her phone, she checked the plan of the building again.

"It's not marked on the map," she explained, realizing she had never noticed it before. "We should check if we can open it."

"It's unlikely someone stashed something up there, but it's worth a try," Hotch agreed.

Looking through the room, he realized there was practically nothing there to step on. Besides themselves.

"How good can you balance on someone's shoulders?" he asked with his hands on his hips. Alex threw him an amused look. If this was going where she thought it would, this could only end in a disaster.

"You're not serious," the blonde snorted in disbelief. Raising his eyebrows, Hotch looked at her.

"Do you have a better idea? Just to see if we can open it before we can get someone to open it for us."

Alex stared at him. Was Aaron Hotchner suggesting to let her climb onto his shoulders? The Unit Chief took her silence as an invitation to proceed, slipped out of his suit jacket, and took off his tie. So he is serious.

"Two times without a tie in a day, lucky me," Alex commented under his breath. It got her another raise of his brows. Hotch gestured towards her shoes and blazer as he rolled up his sleeves.

"I suggest you take these off, for my own well-being."

She kept the inappropriate comment to herself, letting this morning be a lesson to her. Quietly obliging, she threw her stuff over a probably very expensive armchair.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked, stepping closer. When she put her hands on his shoulder, Hotch held out his hands to boost her up.

"If I hurt you, does the FBI pay, or the Secret Service?" she joked, putting her foot into it. Met with a low chuckle, Alex felt him flex his muscles to squat down a little. Misjudging when he would help her up, she moved. Feeling his hands slip, she made an ungracious noise, collided with his chest, and only saved herself by wrapping her arms around his neck. Alex felt two strong arms around her waist before Hotch stumbled backward, pulling her along.