One Sunday afternoon Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner, Unit Chief of the FBI'S BAU was at his apartment watching something boring on T.V when his 8 year old son Jack appeared from where he'd been reading in his room.

Since his mom's tragic murder 4 years ago, Jack had lived with his dad and his Aunt Jessica, Haley's sister took care of him when his dad had to go away on a case.

"Dad…"

"Yes buddy. Do you need something?"

"No but I was thinking, can we go camping sometime?" Aaron turned off the TV.

"Why the sudden interest in camping buddy?"

"Loads of my mates at school have been saying how their parents have taken them on camping trips and that they've had an awesome time…."

"Let me think about it buddy and look into it. I promise if its possible and it means that much to you, I'll take you if I can, okay."

"Okay. Thanks dad!"

The next day Aaron was sitting in his office at the BAU trying to do paperwork when David Rossi, his best friend and colleague knocked on the door.

"What's up Hotch?"

"Jack asked me a question yesterday…He wants to go camping like his friends have been camping with their parents."

"And you don't I suppose?"

"It's not that. It's just that I never went camping and I don't know the first thing about camping."

"Oh right. Its not that complicated. Just a tent and a couple of sleeping bags really…"

"Very funny. There's more to it than that...Even I know that…"

"I'll see if any of the guys have got stuff you can borrow if you'd like."

"Thanks but I don't even know how to light a campfire, let alone set up a camp…."

"You know what might be a good solution?"

"What's that then? Just not go camping?"

"No, to have someone who's been camping before go with you…"

The next day, as Rossi asked around the BAU team members for camping gear, everyone suddenly wanted to go camping too. Rossi returned to Hotch's office with a grim look on his face.

"Aaron I got both a solution and a big problem to your camping dilemma."

"What's the big problem?"

"Since asking around, the whole team wants to go camping, which in a way is also good news."

"How's that good news as well?"

"Cos it means they'll be people who know what they're doing…"

"Do I really have to take the WHOLE team and my son camping?"

"Come on Jack'll love it. Maybe J.J can bring Henry and Will to keep him occupied."

"Please tell me this is a joke? First it was only me and Jack, then me and the team then Will and Henry as well! The way this is going I might as well invite Jessica to join us!"

"That's an idea!"

"Why'd I even open my big mouth to you David Rossi? I should of just said no when Jack asked me!"

"Come on Hotch, it'll be one big happy family camping trip. Jack will LOVE it!"

"At least let me talk to Jessica first BEFORE we make any decisions or plans!"

That evening when Aaron went to pick up his son from Jessica's house, instead of just waiting in his car to pick up Jack like he normally did, Jessica knew that there was something up when he got out of the car and began to walk to her front door.

"You okay Aaron?"

"Yeah. Before I take Jack home can we talk first?"

"Sure. I've just boiled the kettle. Come in."

"DAD!"

"Hey buddy!" Jack ran to him and Aaron knelt down and gave his son a massive hug.

"Hey buddy, do you mind if me and your aunt talk alone for a minute before we go home?"

"Sure. I gotta go pack my backpack and stuff up anyway."

Jack ran back up the stairs and Aaron followed Jessica into her kitchen where she quickly made 2 mugs of hot coffee.

"So what's up? Do you have to go away on another case first thing?"

"No. Luckily touch wood we're staying at the BAU tomorrow. The thing is Jack asked me on Sunday whether I'd take him camping. Apparently his friends have been camping with their parents and had a great time of it."

"You should. It'll be a great way for you guys to spend time together as father and son."

"Yeah I know. The thing is I've never been camping so I asked Dave for advice yesterday and he spent time today going round the team asking if they had camping equipment. Ends up that now the whole team want to go with us. Dave said J.J would bring Henry and Will to keep Jack company. It was only then that I said as a joke that I might as well invite you to join us. Now he thinks I'm serious!" They'd moved to sit down at her kitchen table.

"You know I've been camping before and think it might be fun, especially if the whole team is going as well. Jack would have a great time."

"What? You'd like to go camping?"

"Yeah. When you thinking of planning it for?"

"Would have to be in school holidays and be decent weather. So maybe summer holidays in a few weeks time?"

"How long are you planning on camping for?"

"I have no idea. I was just hoping for one single night…."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Depends…."

"I think it would be great to spend a whole week camping!"

"A whole WEEK! Think I'll tell Jack we can't go camping now…"

"And break his heart? No way. I can help you with equipment and what to buy."

"Are you sure you'd be up for a whole week camping with not only me and Jack but the whole team plus Will and Henry?"

"Yeah, course. HEY JACK CAN YOU COME DOWNSTAIRS FOR A MINUTE?"

Jack appeared as quick as lightning.

"Jack your dad has some good news…."

"Hey buddy I was talking to Dave about going camping and well now it looks like the whole team wants to join us as well as Will and Henry. Also your aunt says she'd love to come camping too! What do you think? I know you were probably hoping it'd only be me and you and I promise that if this does happen me and you will spend a lot of time alone hanging out and doing whatever you want."

"That would be so AWESOME! A big family camping trip! Dad you're the best! Aunt Jess I'm glad you're coming with us too!"

"Nothing's been decided or planned yet buddy."

"I know but this trip is gonna be so COOL!"

The next day, Hotch called Rossi to his office.

"Did you talk to Jessica then?"

"Yeah, she loves the idea of a team family camping trip. She even said she'd love to come too. Apparently she's been camping before and will help me buy what we need."

"That's good cos J.J said he and Will would love to join us if we went."

"Think I need to get the team together to discuss this…"

He sent a mass text to all the BAU team. 'Meeting in conference room in 10 minutes. Hotch.'

Ten minutes later, Hotch and Rossi were standing by the white board as the others filed into the conference room and sat down.

"So what's the new case Hotch?"

"There is no new case."

"Then why'd you call us in here?"

"Apparently Rossi here went round yesterday asking if any of you had camping equipment I could borrow to take Jack camping, something I've never done myself. He told me you all now want to go camping with us…."

"Oh yeah. You've never been camping boss man?"

"Unfortunately no."

"WE'RE GOING CAMPING! WE'RE GOING CAMPING!"

"So where we gonna go?"

"I was hoping one of you might know somewhere….."

"When are you planning for then?"

"Told Jessica it would probably be sometime in Jack's summer holidays which are in a few weeks.

"Jessica coming too?"

"Yeah. Apparently she's been camping before…"

"I think we should camp old school!"

"What's old school camping Morgan?"

"No camping ground just tents in a field or woods."

Hotch groaned. How much worse a camping trip could he be planning on having?...