Title: Clear
By: realityaskew
Pairing: Hotch/Prentiss
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing from CM.
Summary: Sometimes things actually become more clear when you're drunk.

***

I was drunk. All of that scotch I drank was finally hitting my full force. For someone who had never been a big drinker I could really sock em' down. I must admit that I felt good, I felt really good. The World was in the palm of my hand and I could make anything possible. Forget about Haley! Forget about that life! I was a new man ready to take on any challenge that came my way. Just as I gulped down my fifth scotch I felt a small hand touch my shoulder.

"Hotch?"

I smiled to myself when I heard her voice. Of course she would be the one to check up on me. I swirled around on my bar stool slightly falling off of it and saw her standing there with a look of concern on her beautiful face. God she was so beautiful.

"Hotch I think you've had enough to drink." She told me.

I stood up and staggered ending up leaning on her for support. I smiled to myself, she smelled like vanilla and almonds.

"I think I better get you home." I didn't protest. I knew that she was right.

She put her arm around my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her waist for "support." It felt good to have her close to me. We weaved in and out of the crowd and I only bumped into three or four people on our way out. After what felt like forever we were finally outside in the cold parking lot. Prentiss leaned me up against the wall for a moment so she could get her car keys out of her bag.

"She's leaving me because of the job." I told her. "She just doesn't understand but you understand don't you."

"Yeah Hotch I do." She said looking up at me for a long moment. There was a look of sadness in her big brown eyes.

"We just fell out of love. We aren't meant to be. She doesn't get that this job means everything to me. There are people out there who need me." Some part of my brain was telling me that I shouldn't be saying all of this out loud but I told it to shut the hell up. "I know you feel the same way Emily. We're a lot alike you know. We care too much about other people. We are always number two in our lives.

She finally found her keys and pulled them out of her bag. She looked up at me. "Hotch you're drunk."

"Am I? I asked. "Or am I finally just seeing things clearly for the first time?" I pushed myself off of the wall and stumbled a bit. "I don't think anyone will ever get me but you." I told her.

Then without thinking I staggered until I was only inches from her and I did the only thing I could that I could do. I kissed her. I was drunk and being stupid but it felt so good. It felt so right. I felt her hands on my chest pushing me away.

"Hotch please don't do this. You're drunk you don't know what you're doing."

I pulled her back to me before she could get away. "No for the first time I'm doing something right."

She kissed me back.

***