A/N: This is an idea that has been floating around in my head for a while, now. I recently read a story written in the 2nd person and thought it was really unique and enjoyable. Then I realized that Hotch was the perfect kind of character to write in this style. Here are a few shots I took at it. They're just tiny blurbs that aren't related to each other.

My goal is to keep this about Hotch's relationship with everyone, not just with JJ (though, don't worry, there are Jotch moments). This is a new venture for me and I'm excited about it. At first I thought it'd be challenging to avoid my standard JJ/Hotch shipping, but it is surprisingly easy (and fun) to write about his interaction and experiences with others.

My closing remarks: This is a new thing, fresh off the table. Don't know how it is or where it is going to go. I may be far off or I may be close…in short PLEASE REVIEW.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

The Hotch Chronicles

/1/

You are their stoic leader to whom they are firmly loyal. In return, you are just as devoted to them. It is a mutual respect carved deep within your souls and while it is rarely verbally acknowledged, it is fully understood.

Morgan will vigorously defend you, you've seen it. He will challenge you when his heart tells him to and his arguments are passionate. He is your number one. He can lead as easily as he can follow. And while your leadership styles contrast, you can trust his way will be as effective as yours.

Blake, while new, is a steady beacon of calmness for your team. She took some of that responsibility from you—the transfer was natural—and you're okay with that. She can handle anything placed before her, like all of them can, but her approach is distinctive to her seasoned skills.

JJ is vital. When you're on a case, she will delicately balance professional compartmentalization and her humanity. In the midst of crime scene photos and gruesome M.E. reports, she will find a way to subtly remind each team member that good things are still present in this world. Her role has formally changed to "profiler", but she maintains the charisma and quick thinking that came with her previous title. Pressure still doesn't alter her; she puts her back to it and chooses to focus on the job and discreetly care for the team, and you, instead.

Reid will always be "Spence" or "Kid" as long as JJ and Morgan are here. To you, he will always be the young man who saved you from yourself. When he gets caught up in a statistical rant, whether it is in front of a death row inmate about to fight you or to another member of the team, you've learned to let him get it out of his system and finish. You didn't know that you'd find his indiscernible ramblings therapeutic one day.

Dave is your oldest friend and confidant. He observes his surroundings quietly and acknowledges them with a nod of his head, then makes his voice heard. He's an instigator and knows the job inside and out. He is your devil's advocate when you need one and your anchor when you recklessly get lost in a case.

Garcia is essential to the BAU, to a point you never could have imagined eight years ago. Without her, you aren't sure how much longer your team, or you, could function. Outsiders would call her unprofessional, but you see her quirks and bright colors as necessities for team morale. She is a breath of fresh air. It is comforting to you to know at least one person on your team will not become jaded; someone the job won't tarnish. That isn't possible with someone like Penelope Garcia.

As you think of your unit, you know that each one of them considers the other family. Those figures are absent for many of them outside the job, after all. You remember when you realized you were included in this "family" sentiment and how it made you stop and think. At first, your eyebrows creased together out of concerns of impropriety; you always follow the rules and believed in enforcing them.

But then Elle left, who was followed by Gideon shortly thereafter. Cases like Hankel, New York and Canada happened. Foyet happened. And somewhere amongst the chaos you subconsciously accepted the team as your family too.

When you came to the realization, your eyebrows didn't crease but instead, you felt the corners of your lips move upwards.

/2/

You knew something was amiss when you returned. Dave intercepted you a few steps into the station and told you to come with him. You glanced over to your team where they were huddled around the long conference table you and them had been taking up residence for the past five days. You didn't need to use your profiling skills in order to tell they were anxious. None of them met your eyes and a sense of dread began to stir within you. You followed Dave for a few strides before you couldn't take another second and demanded you be told what was wrong.

"They're okay," Dave started.

"Jack?" You didn't need to ask; Dave's eyes told you everything you needed to know.

"He and Jessica were in a car accident…"

You knew Dave kept talking but you didn't hear him. It felt as if ice was coursing through your veins. You desperately looked at your phone in your hand but there were no messages.

"…tried calling you but we're in the middle of nowhere…"

The only thought in your mind was finding a way to get to your son. You had to see him and make sure for yourself he was okay.

"I need to get home." You were surprised at how in control your voice sounded because when it came to Jack and his well-being, it was easy to become frantic.

"JJ's working on it now."

That was 24 hours ago.

Now, you are sitting at the side of your bed where Jack is sleeping. The bedside lamp casts your room in a yellow hue which accentuates the angry, purple bruise on your son's right cheek. Just above it there is a bandage on his brow where there is a cut and six stitches. You've memorized every inch of his injured face and it is all you can think about.

You're thankful Jack is brave because it allowed him to be calm in the face of your worry. People always say he gets his fearlessness from you but you've always known he got it from Haley. She was courageous in her own right, until the very end. You glance upwards, almost believing you'll see her reassuring smile, but you're met with a blank, white ceiling instead. You sigh, close your eyes and silently send her an apology for not being with Jack when he got hurt. You apologize for Jessica's broken arm, too, even though you know there was nothing you could have done. However, deep down you still feel responsible.

You look to the clock on the nightstand and decide it is time to wake up Jack for his concussion check. You run a gentle hand through his blonde hair—again Haley's—and take comfort in its softness.

"Jack? Can you wake up for me?"

After a minute you are greeted with your son's sleepy, Haley-blue eyes. "Hey, Buddy. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, Dad."

Your hand is still in his hair as you rub your thumb over his forehead. "Do you want some juice?"

Jack nods and you reach over to the nightstand and hand him one of his old sippy cups with a plastic lid. He takes it silently, this time without protesting that the cup was "for babies". After a few sips Jack gives it back and exhales. You feel his eyes on you as you set the cup back down on the nightstand. You meet his gaze full on and wait for him to say something.

"Is Aunt Jessie okay?"

The first few times he repeated this question you were worried that he wasn't remembering things. However, it soon became clear he was seeking reassurance that his only Aunt was safe.

"She's okay, Jack. She's at home resting."

"Are you okay, Daddy?"

This is a new question and it takes you off guard. You give your son a quick smile, not wanting to frighten him.

"Sure I am, Bud." You can tell he doesn't believe you and you wonder when he became so intuitive. You admit he's always been good at reading others, but you always thought you managed to hide your fears from your son. "I was just scared for you, that's all. I'm very glad you're okay now."

He looks down and peeks back up at you. "I'm sorry I scared you."

You immediately shake your head and take one of his fidgeting hands. "No, no, Jack. You don't ever need to be or should be sorry for things like that, okay?"

He gives you a small quirk of his lips, something you know he got from you.

"Okay."

You give Jack a smile. "Okay."

"Are you gonna get in bed?"

"I think I'm going to stay up a while longer, Buddy. Go back to sleep."

Jack sighs and doesn't even have the energy to nod. Within seconds he's back to sleep and you're content with simply watching him dream.

/3/

"Go fish." At first you felt ridiculous playing this card game with someone other than your eight-year-old but you're finding Reid's scowls and JJ's nose scrunching entertaining.

"Again!?"

"You don't believe me?" You cock your eyebrow at Reid and smirk.

"Well I do I just…I hate this game!" He begrudgingly picks up a card from the middle pile. You look to JJ on your right and the two of you share a smile at Reid's groan. "Go ahead, JJ," Reid grumbles.

She eyes both of you and bites her lip. You chuckle at her concentration because you think it is out of place during such a simple card game. JJ's competitive streak certainly carries over to all forms of play.

"Reid, do you have any…no wait!" You look over at her expectantly since you grew used to her indecisiveness after two turns. "Hotch, do you have any sixes?"

"Go fish." This time she narrows her eyes. "You don't believe me?"

"You know for someone who claims to be innocent you sure ask that question a lot which only arouses suspicion."

You roll your eyes at Reid but are sure to accompany it with a small smile.

"Yes! Thank you, Reid." JJ smiles at him and then over to you. "You playing fair Agent Hotchner?"

You give her an affronted look. "I'm insulted by your insinuation!"

"Quick on the defensive too," she says lightly. She leans forward to grab a card and winks at you which widens your smile. She snuggles deeper into her seat and rests her head in the corner of the headrest and wall of the jet. You stare at her and find you enjoy it when her playfulness is directed at you.

"Go, Hotch," Reid says, eager to move the game along. He is oblivious to any moment you and JJ may have shared and instead is studying his cards. You find this strange since he has an eidetic memory.

"You're impatient when you play card games." To your right JJ laughs. "Reid. Aces?"

The young man seated across from you throws down his cards. "I quit!" He gets up and heads to the bathroom.

Meanwhile you go to collect his cards to add to your hand.

"Hey! Why do you get them all?!"

You chuckle, amused by JJ's protest. "Because I'm the boss." The bantering is natural between the two of you and this time you wink at her.

She scrunches her nose again and then sticks out her tongue. Her eyes are twinkling with mischief. You quickly look at yours and Reid's cards in an effort to hide the adoration you're certain is showing on your face.