Halloween Story

Criminal Minds

I do not own Criminal Minds or any related content.

Poltergeist

Chapter 1

Hotch made sure that his son was strapped securely into the seat before turning on the engine.

'Definitely got everything?' he asked him, his son nodded in response. Poor little jack was ill with a bug that was going around his school and unfortunately his babysitter had it too. So Hotch had to bring his son to work with him. Luckily Jack loved being at the office, he loved everyone who worked there. Especially Rachel, there was no denying Jack had always had a soft spot for Rachel, Hotch wondered what he would do when Rachel died, she was intent on not having the surgery and they both knew that without that surgery, she was likely to die.

He sighed as he began the drive to the office; Jack was humming softly to himself which made him smile. Tonight was Halloween, he and Jack had decorated the house and Hotch had promised he could go trick or treating. Hotch remembered last year, of course Rachel had been involved, it had been funny. Jack and Rachel had gone into his bedroom to get changed and they'd come out, him in a suit and Rachel dressed in a Minnie Mouse costume which Jack had apparently chosen for her. They both looked great, he was walking on her feet and even in the yellow heels she managed to keep her balance, and she was well-known for being the clumsy one. He remembered that as the time when she'd looked so healthy, so alive.

She hadn't told any of the rest of the team, including her brother, about her tumour yet. He could understand why she wanted to keep it from them but he also couldn't understand why she didn't want them to know so they could support her. It made him a little sad but he knew that eventually she'd tell them, and they'd deal with the consequences then.

They arrived at the office and Hotch knew that Rossi was away for Halloween so he let Jack go in there with his toys, Hotch wasn't really listening but he registered Jack complaining about how he didn't have enough toys. Then he was asking where Rachel was, she wasn't in yet, no one was, he was the first. He had to explain this carefully to his son as he clicked the door to Rossi's office shut and went next door. Sitting at his desk, he didn't even notice the strange figure, passing his office window.