The halls of the FBI Headquarters were always cold. The air conditioning flowed through the vents with excessive force, and none of Marjorie Sloan's jackets were ever quite warm enough.

The blonde woman walked quickly through the doors of the Crimes Against Children Unit with an espresso in hand and case file in the other, her cellphone wedged between her shoulder and her ear.

"Mark, I'm delighted that you miss me for once but, again, I can't just drop everything and visit you. My work schedule would never allow it, you know that," Marjorie explained to her brother.

"Hey, I'm a surgeon, I have a crazy work life too. I'd still come and visit you whenever," his voice came through the small device.

"Yeah. A plastic surgeon. I'm sure Veronica would allow you to postpone her nose job appointment," she bit back, making up a random name.

"Please! I'm so lonely! Ever since Derek left, New York isn't fun anymore."

"Well, you should of thought that through before you slept with his wife."

"Marj!"

"I have to go now! Bye!"

"Ugh!"

Laughing softly, she hung up. She sat at her desk and opened the case file. Her unit had been investigating a rumored pedophile ring in the DMV area, but they'd made no progress in the recent weeks.

The young agent stared at the papers in front of her, stumped. She sighed as she heard footsteps approaching behind her. Turning in her chair, she faced her boss.

"Before you say anything, I know I was late and I'm so sorry. I just-"

"Sloan, you're not in trouble, don't worry. I do, however, need you in my office."

Marjorie nodded slowly before standing up to follow her. They walked into the small room and her boss shut the door behind her. Her boss was much older. She was tall, lean, and had short dark hair that curled up slightly at the ends. Agent Moss sat in her desk chair, giving a tight lip smile to the younger agent.

"Agent Sloan, I assume you know of your reputation around here," The woman began. Marjorie's eyes narrowed, showing confusion. "Once again, you're not in trouble. It's a good reputation. Many agents around Quantico agree that you are one of the best hostage negotiators we've had in a while. Certainly the best one our unit has had. Your work with that mass pre-school kidnapping last year was and still is admired by many."

"Thank you, Agent Moss. That means a lot."

"Oh, it wasn't a compliment. It was a statement of facts."

"Oh-"

"The point is," She interrupted the blonde, "A District Attorney from Connecticut, Evan Davenport, his daughter has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. The Behavioral Analysis Unit has been called in to work the case but Agent Gideon has requested your help specifically. Not our unit, you."

"Jason Gideon. . . asked for me?" Marjorie was starstruck. She had always looked up to Agent Gideon starting from her years as a student at the FBI academy. She used to fantasize about joining the BAU and working under him. Not that she didn't love her specialty and her team, cause she did. However, becoming a profiler would be a dream come true.

"Yes. Apparently, your friend Greenaway upstairs is very fond of you. Talks a lot, I've heard," Marjorie smiled at that. She had met Elle when they were both students at the academy. She was beyond proud when she made it to the BAU, only the slightest bit jealous.

"But they need your response right away, they're leaving in about 2 hours," Moss continued.

"I'll do it, of course, yes. I- thank you."

"Don't thank me, I'm not Jason Gideon."

"Right, sorry, um. I'll head upstairs immediately."

"Perfect, I'll let them know you're coming. You'll need to report to Agent Hotchner, their Unit Chief."

With a nod, she walked back to her desk, then grabbed her briefcase and go-bag. She then darted for the elevator. Inside, she tapped her foot anxiously, not fully believing this was happening.

The doors opened, she took a deep breath, and she stepped out. Making her way, nervously, through the bullpen.

She laid eyes on Elle very quickly.

"Marj!" She called out. The pair hugged after the blonde greeted her friend. "I'm so excited for you to work with us!"

"Me too! Um, but first, I need to find Agent Hotchner?"

"Right! Of course, follow me."

Elle led her up the stairs and into a small office in the corner. They entered and Marjorie saw a tall, dark-haired man, probably in his early 40s, standing beside the desk. He talked to someone on the phone as he gestured to the women to give him a moment. Shortly after, he hung up.

"Everything ok?" Elle asked the man.

"Yeah. The doctors are worried about Hayley's blood sugar. They're worried about preeclampsia, and I'm worried she's not gonna last 6 weeks in bed."

The brunette nodded. "She wants out of the hospital. Um, this is Marjorie Sloan, from the Crimes Against Children Division downstairs," she introduced.

Agent Hotchner stuck his hand out. "Right yes, hello. Thank you for assisting with this case. I've heard great things about you, mostly from this one," he gestured to Elle with his head.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity. It means a lot," Marjorie greeted politely, shaking his hand.

"Of course. Although, it was Gideon who made the call. He decided he wanted to see for himself what greatness  Elle's always raving about."

Marjorie smiled again, "I'll be sure to thank him twice as much. Shall we get started?"

The man nodded, "Yes, this way."

The blonde turned to her friend as they followed Agent Hotchner, and whispered, "What exactly have you been saying about me?"

Elle chuckled, "Good things! The BAU was both of our dreams, I want you to have a shot too!"

When they entered the conference room, the ransom note was projected on the screen.

"Everyone, meet Agent Sloan. She's gonna be a big help with this case," Agent Hotchner introduced.

The blonde woman shook everyone's hands, Gideon's last.

"Great to finally meet you. I'm looking forward to seeing you in action," he told her. Marjorie's stomach leaped, she smiled at him with a nod, unable to speak.

Spencer Reid, whom she'd already heard so much about from Elle, began to read out the letter, "You will follow instructions carefully. You will do this to ensure the safety of your daughter. You will wait for the call. You will answer the call at 8pm. You will write down the instructions and follow them to the letter."

Marjorie slowly mulled over the note in her mind. Agent Hotchner spoke up, "That gives us less than 10 hours to get to Connecticut, work up victimology of Trish Davenport, and prepare her father for the ransom drop."

"How do we know the letter is real?" Gideon asked.

"Uh, handwriting is a match for Trish's. He dictated it to her. And, they found saline on the paper," Agent Hotchner explained.

Then, Derek Morgan chimed in, "He never says 'I'. He doesn't say 'I will call', he says 'You will answer the call'. He's distancing himself from the kidnapping."

"There's also no mention of the police," Marjorie added, "Ransom notes almost always involve police involvement."

"So is he expecting law enforcement to get involved?" Agent Hotchner wondered.

"Well, if he's expecting us, let's not disappoint him," Gideon concluded.

The group dispersed. Elle looked at her friend, "We're going to the Jet now. Do you have everything?" she asked her.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

——————

Once they landed, the group split. Elle and Morgan went to the scene from which Trish was taken, and Marjorie followed Agent Hotchner, Gideon, and Reid to the Davenport residence. Walking inside, the District Attorney greeted them with a jittery demeanor. He explained his security situation, all the officers had taken polygraphs, all were vetted, all had alibis.

The three men talked with the distressed father while Marjorie stood to the back, staring at her feet. Then, she heard her name being called. Looking up, she saw Gideon waving her over.

She approached and the older agent introduced her, "This is Agent Sloan. She's not part of our unit but she's one of the best hostage negotiators working right now. She will help you get your daughter back."

Mr. Davenport shook her hand, "Thank you. I cant express just how grateful I am."

"You don't have to, sir. It's my job. I've dealt with dozens of kidnappings in my career so far. I will do everything in my ability to bring Trish back to you."

The father nodded in gratitude. Marjorie then went to help set up their technology, which there was lots of. After that part was finished, she explained to Mr. Davenport of the speaker device worked. He sat at the table, with his elbows on the edge. His anxiety radiated off of him.

Stepping away from him, she went to lean against a wall. She took several deep breaths and tilted her head so that it rested against the wall behind her.

"You ok?" She heard a voice ask. Opening her eyes, she saw it was Agent Hotchner. He stood near her, head tilted slightly as he studied her with an emotionless expression.

Marjorie nodded, "Yeah. I haven't worked with too many ransom kidnappings but, with the few that I have, I've found it much easier to do with a clear head."

"Understandable," he said, "So, how do you like the team?"

"Oh you all are great. Elle I've known for a while, and Gideon I've admired for a long time too, but all of you seem very nice to work with. You seem to be genuinely close which is a nice change from my unit. I get along with my team, but it's nothing compared to this dynamic you all have. I hope you don't take these people for granted, Agent Hotchner," she told him.

"Definitely will not," he gave her a tight-lipped smile which didn't reach all the way to his eyes, making the woman assume he wasn't fully paying attention. Then he nodded at her and walked away.

It wasn't until that conversation that Marjorie realized just how attractive Agent Hotchner really was. Of course, it was simply an observation. After all, he was her best friends boss, and he was married, and she was almost certain his wife was pregnant if she overheard a conversation correctly.

Although, it's not like she was flirting or anything like that. She was just acknowledging how good-looking he was. There was nothing wrong with admiring a handsome man from afar.

At least, that what she would tell herself for the next several years.

(word count: 1902)

CHAPTER ONE!!!

thanks for reading. i am the ultimate hotch simp. i literally have a sticker on my wall marked at exactly 6'2" because that's how tall he is. i cant believe it's taken me this long to write a hotch fic. but here we are.

hope you enjoyed. don't worry, I'm gonna skip a lot of episodes as we go so we'll get to the angst pretty soon.

it'll still take a long time to get to the actual romance but it's a hotch fic what do u expect?

OK ANYWAY THANKS AGAIN

much love
Chloe <3