Chapter Text
“So how’s the live-in babysitter?”
SSA Aaron Hotchner looked up from his paperwork to see Rossi leaning against his office door, an eyebrow quirked in curiosity.
“Connor has been great, as usual, Jack has really taken a shine to him.”
Rossi observed his colleague and long time friend. From the slight curve at the edge of Aaron’s lips, he can tell that Jack isn’t the only one that has taken a liking to the Hotchner household’s new babysitter, or was it housekeeper? Aaron did mention more than once how the young man, Connor Anderson, has gone above and beyond what he was hired to do. Apparently he has also taken to shouldering all the household chores and kitchen duties, in addition to taking care of Jack.
It has definitely been a point of consternation with Aaron. He’s told Connor multiple times that he didn’t have to take on the additional work, but Connor always brushed it off with some variation of “Oh it’s no problem, I don’t have much to do when Jack’s at school anyways.” Rossi has been on the end of Aaron’s exasperated complaints more than once.
“I should probably text him and let him know I’ll be home late.” Ah, another thing that has Rossi raising his eyebrows. What kind of live-in babysitter always has a hot meal ready for when their employer comes home in the evening, no matter how late? Rossi has seen a lot in his life, and if he were a betting man, he’d say this Connor Anderson has some, ahem, alternate agenda if you catch his drift.
“Riiight, you text him and let him know.”
“Rossi,” Aaron sighed. This wasn’t the first time they’ve had this conversation since he let slip that Connor has taken to including him as well as Jack as his charges to care for. “There’s nothing going on. You’d think I wouldn’t be able to pick up if Connor had any…unprofessional feelings towards me?”
“You know what I think about this whole thing. I was happy for you when you first hired him. I could see how having someone to look after Jack really took a load off your shoulder. Especially since Jessica moved to Wisconsin and couldn’t care for him when we left for cases.” Rossi sighed and straightened up.
“But the thing is, well…I don’t know how to say this politely, but the things he’s doing, the way you talk about him now, it’s starting to sound like he’s your live-in boyfriend that cares for your son, cleans your house, and cooks your meals for you. The only thing that’s missing is him warming your be-”.
“David! Enough! This is completely inappropriate and disrespectful to Connor.” Hands fisted, Aaron glared at his friend. Rossi held up his hands, chin slightly lowered and a guilty expression on his face, acknowledging that he went too far.
“You’re right, I apologize. But you know what I’m getting at right? What I’ve been trying to get at for the last couple of weeks? You’ve got to know how this looks from the outside right?” Rossi honestly just has Aaron’s best interest in mind.
If Connor’s a good egg, then hey, who’s he to judge? But the problem is Aaron and Jack both seem to have taken to Connor too quickly given his friend’s personality and everything he and his son have been through. He’s worried Aaron is too close to the situation and blinded by his fondness for Connor to think rationally and spot any signs that suggest Connor is less of an angel than he seems.
Yep, he said what he said. Rossi has heard Aaron describe Connor as an “angel” more than once. Aaron Hotchner, the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit hardass. Call him paranoid, but he’s more than a little concerned about the type of person that can wrap Aaron around his finger in such a short time.
Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed deeply. He knows Rossi is just looking out for him, but the constant probing has been really getting on his nerves.
“How about this, you haven’t seen Jack in a while, why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? You can also meet Connor and see he’s not some…I don’t even know what you think he is, gold digger?” Aaron snorts. “You and I both know what salary I make.”
“You know,” Rossi drawls, “it’s never too late to write a book.”
“I leave any authoring to you,” Aaron says dryly. “So yes, dinner?”
Rossi hums. “Yeah, sure. You’re right, it’s been a while since I saw Jack, and apparently Connor’s food is ‘delicious and nutritionally balanced’, wouldn’t want to miss that.”
“I can hear the air quotes David,” Aaron raises a brow. “And I’ll have you know Connor takes Jack’s nutrition very seriously, it just…extended to occasionally prepping meals for me as well.”
“Occasionally. Sure.”
“Alright, out, shoo. I’m not having this conversation all over again. I’ll text Connor to expect one more for dinner. If I can get through these files quickly enough then we won’t have to be late.”
Rossi huffs a quick laugh. “Okay okay, I’m going.”
Aaron lets out a small laugh of his own as he picks up his phone to text Connor. He’s actually quite looking forward to Rossi meeting Connor.