Derek Morgan was going nuts.
Well, maybe that was somewhat of an exaggeration, but still. He was going nuts.
It started when Hotch came in maybe ten minutes late (Hotch is never late, mostly early) with JJ badgering him. She wasn't badgering him like a friend, it was more like a wife to a husband or a mother to a child. A sick husband or child.
Add to that the reddish tint his nose and cheeks, even his ears and neck got, the way he folded his arms, seemed distant, etc.
Their invincible Aaron Hotchner was sick with a cold.
Rossi asked him about it and they heard him snap, "It's allergies, Dave!" Before slamming his office door shut.
With the cold apparently came attitude.
Morgan turned to their resident genius. "Hey, Reid!"
Reid's head popped up. "Yeah?"
"Notice anything weird about Hotch?" Asked Morgan, glancing at their Unit Chief's closed office door. The blinds were even pulled shut. "I mean, the girls have been treating him like a child, getting him coffee every half hour or so."
Reid pondered that, shutting his book. He tilted his head, eyes following JJ up the stairs and into the office. "We-eell," he dragged out. "He must have a cold, because that's what they did to me when I had one. Maeve even sent me something."
Okay. Maybe Hotch had a cold. A cold that he did not want to skip work for.
"Hey, guys," greeted Emily as she sat down. "I just got here. Why are you guys looking at Hotch's door like that?" Both of the boys' heads whipped around.
"What were you doing, Princess?" Morgan returned.
Emily blushed. "Clyde fixed a big breakfast, and I just had to eat it all. Now, what's the problem?"
As they explained, JJ came out of Hotch's office with a slight smile. She noticed them talking and came over. "Hey."
"JJ," Reid started, "Does Hotch have a cold? He has all the symptoms, but it could be allergies."
JJ laughed. They were talking about that? "Yes, Hotch has a cold. He hates to admit it, though." A frown made its way across her face. "It's really bad. He has a temperature of over one hundred."
The group fell silent. How were they supposed to drag their leader home?
Then Reid did one of his really great subject changes. "Did you get remarried, JJ?" He pointed at a simple wedding band on her finger.
Blushing, she nodded. "He's a great man. Better than Will, even."
"Is he a family man?" Emily questioned, excited. "Does he have a child?" She apparently already had a theory.
JJ just grinned and left to the breakroom.
Morgan snickered. "Well, Princess, who is it?"
"It's Hotch." Then the raven haired woman turned back to her work, leaving the boys in silence.
"Woah," whispered Reid. Book forgotten, he turned to Morgan. "That's why she is caring for him like this!" Morgan shrugged.
JJ climbed back up the steps and came back down with their annoyed looking Unit Chief. The tint had almost turned full blown.
"I'm fine!" He hissed at her. "JJ, dammit, let go!"
She refused, walking all the way out- with a smile to the boys- and pretty much drove him home.
"She's not coming back," muttered Morgan.
"At least Hotch is getting cared for," commented Reid.
Then, ignoring Morgan's whining, he opened his book back up and started to read.