One Monday Aaron Hotchner woke up feeling really strange. His back hurt, his lower stomach hurt and he felt like he had no energy. He had had to jump out of bed and run to the bathroom to relieve the extremely urgent and most desperate urge he had ever woken up with to urinate and when he had, he had been wincing in pain. Then, in the time it took him to shower, dress and grab a coffee, he had had to rush to the toilet quite at least twice only to have very small pee's which hurt. He knew there was something wrong but was too embarrassed to go see the doctor. Luckily for him his son Jack was staying with a friend and wasn't at home.

After rushing to the toilet for the 4th time that morning, Hotch just about managed to get to the FBI building without problem but he'd had to again visit the bathroom on his way up to the BAU.

Once in his office, he collapsed into his chair, already exhausted and still in pain.

He had tried to start working but it constantly felt like his bladder was on fire. He wanted to try to avoid having to go to the bathroom all the time, knowing that every time he did, he'd have to walk through the bullpen on his way to the nearest men's room. Although he tried to avoid leaving his office, in one hour he was hit by a sudden urge 3 times and had hurry out to the men's room only to be in pain when he managed to get there. Blake and Reid and even Rossi had noticed Hotch's frequent trips through the bullpen. After his 5th urgent trip where, instead of being able to walk calmly through the bullpen, he'd had to endure the humiliation of holding his trouser crotch and running, only just making it in time. It was that time that Morgan had been in there also using the bathroom when Hotch had run in and stood wincing at the urinal.

"You okay Hotch?"

"Er…yeah…I just really had to go. Drank a bit too much coffee this morning…"

"Okay man, but I think you might need to see someone…."

After that time Hotch had decided to resort to another option. As soon as he'd gotten back into his office, he'd taken the 2 empty water bottles he'd drunk from the day before out of his trash bin and closed his office blinds

Within half an hour, he'd been sitting at his desk, feeling even worse than earlier, knowing sooner or later, he'd have to face his embarrassment and see a doctor, when he was hit by another urgent urge. He stood with his back against the door, so that no one could come in and only just got everything lined up bottle wise before he had to let go. He felt like he was passing razor blades as he passed the very small amount into the bottle but had to stay there straining, wincing and groaning as it felt like he still had to go. He had only just pulled back up his fly when there was a knock at his door.

"HOLD ON!" He quickly screwed the bottle lid on and rushed to sit behind his desk, putting the bottle by his feet, out of sight.

"COME IN"

David Rossi entered Hotch's office and immediately saw something wasn't right. Hotch was sweating like he'd been pushing his body too hard. He also clearly looked uncomfortable and unwell and was clearly in some pain. Morgan had called him and told him of his worries for Hotch and told him about the incident in the men's room just now. Dave closed the door and slid into the chair on the other side of the desk.

"Aaron, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine Dave."

"I've seen you rushing to the men's room, what? 5 times already this morning. The last time looked like you were about to pee your pants…"

"Just drank too much coffee this morning, that's all."

"I've just been speaking to Morgan and he told me how on your last trip to the men's room, he was there using the head when you came in and stood wincing like going was really hurting you. He also said you looked really unwell…. Now either you tell me the truth or I'm dragging you to a doctor right now…"

"Since I woke up this morning I feel I have no energy, my back hurts, my stomach hurts and I keep getting urgent calls to go but when I do it really hurts and I don't pass very much. But I was hoping it would go as I'm too embarrassed to go see a doctor. I've even started to resort to using a bottle in here rather than run through the bullpen every time!"

Dave couldn't believe big FBI Agent Aaron Hotchner was embarrassed over a simple bladder infection!

"Sounds like you have a bladder infection Aaron."

"I thought only women got them."

"Men can too, they are just more common in women than men. I had one a few years ago but it cleared up with antibiotics."

"So what can I do?"

"You need to go see a doctor today before it gets any worse. He'll probably just ask your symptoms, examine your stomach and have you provide a urine sample."

"Sure. I'll phone the doc and see if I can get an appointment…"

"Let me know how things go. And stop being embarrassed. Infections are very common and easily treated once you see a doctor."

"Thanks Dave."

Once Dave had left, Aaron had called his doctor's office to be given an appointment late that afternoon. He didn't know he would not make it that long…..

He'd texted Dave's cell phone saying 'got appt 4.30 today. Thanks for talk. Aaron'