My name is Jack Hotchner, and today I am a graduate. I have surprised many people by choosing the path that I have. Those who know me thought that I would never choose this, that I would choose anything but this. Those who know me best – my father and his team and their children, my family is what they are – have always known that there was never anything for me to choose but this.
A lot of people have asked me why I chose this, and I always tell them that it seems like it's practically in my blood. That's an excuse, if not an out and out lie. I don't tell them that the real reason is in my mind, my memories, to be exact. Those who ask always accept this reasoning. They accept that I made a mature and at times difficult choice as a young adult. They will never know that the real reason is the memories of a four year old boy who "worked the case" just like he was told to do. They would never think that there are nights when I still wake myself up from a nightmare where the noise of that gunshot, the gunshot, is piercing my ears all over again, and I am still powerless to do anything about it.
But now I am not powerless. Now I will do something about it, if not for my first mother (Emily counts as my second), then for other people, other families across the United States.
Because today, I am Jack Hotchner and I am a graduate. But I am not just any graduate. Today I am a graduate from the FBI academy and I am – it is my turn to be – Special Agent Hotchner.
This is the prologue story of sorts for my Leah/Reid series, and, contrary to what I promised in "No One Likes Funerals," it will be a multi-chapter of drabbles about each of the kids in the series, including a lot of time-jumping, unfortunately, but hopefully it won't get confusing. Please review and make my day! Thanks!:)