Title: I Dare You To
By: Daisyangel
Pairing: Hotch/Garcia
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Written for the Round 7 Happy New Year's Challenge over at CCOAC. My pairing was Hotch/Garcia. My prompts were champagne, confetti and dancing.

***

The FBI new years eve party was in full swing. Everyone was dressed to the nines and was having a good time. Hotch stood next to Rossi as they observed the girls and Morgan dance. Reid was sipping a glass of champagne. Hotch couldn't seem to take his eyes off Garcia. She was stunning in a red dress with similarly colored hair and lots of jewelry.

"Why don't you just kiss her already," Dave taunted.

"Excuse me?" Hotch asked startled.

"You heard me," Dave replied.

"Yes, I heard you, Dave. The question is why did you say that?" Dave gave an exasperated sigh before turning and looking at his best friend.

"Come on, Aaron, you can't lie to me. You have a thing for Penelope. Why not let her know tonight? You've been longing for her since Haley served you with divorce papers." Hotch frowned but he knew the other man was right. An evil glent came into his eyes.

"What's that look for?" Dave asked nervously.

"I'll kiss Garcia if you kiss Strauss," Hotch challenged.

"What!" Dave cried indignantly. Several people turned to face them.

"You kiss her or I won't kiss Garcia. What's the matter, Dave, are you chicken?" the unit chief teased. He began making clucking noises. There was nothing David Rossi hated more than being taunted and called a chicken.

"Fine I'll do it," he agreed.

"Then let the challenge begin," Hotch said with a small smile something his team rarely if ever saw. XXXX

Picking up his glass of champagne from the table he was standing next to, Hotch made his way over to Garcia. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Dave making his way towards Strauss. The two men reached the women at the same time.

"You first," Hotch mouthed. Dave frowned but nodded. A dare was a dare and he wouldn't back down. Reaching out he pulled Strauss to him. Giving a startled cry she opened her mouth to protest but was stopped as Dave's mouth came crashing down on hers. The entire room went silent. You could have heard a pen drop. All of the agents were standing open mouthed staring at the section chief and Rossi as their liplock continued. Deciding enough attention had been diverted, Hotch leant in and kissed Garcia. XXXX

The moment his lips touched hers he could feel the electricity. Gently he tried to pull back, but Garcia was having none of it. With more strength than Hotch realized she had, Garcia had wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss. Hotch let himself melt into the kiss taking and giving back just as much. She tasted like strawberries and something uniquely Garcia. Through the fog of the kiss they could hear people clapping and cheering. Pulling apart enough to look around the kissing couple saw everyone clapping and cheering as they pointed to them. Even Strauss was staring wide-eyed at them, but no one was sure if that was because the unit chief and the tech were kissing or if it was because Strauss herself had just been kissed within an inch of her life by Rossi.

"It's about time," Morgan called out. The rest of the team just laughed. Giving them all a smile Garcia leant in and began to press her lips against Hotch's once again. Just before they lost themselves in the kiss she pulled back.

"I'm so glad Jack is at Jessica's," she said before closing the distance and kissing Hotch senseless just as midnight hit and the confetti began flying.

Finished!