PERSONAL TIME
Chapter 1
Haley, Jack and Aaron

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. - Henry Ward Beecher

Aaron Hotchner sat miserably in his office, his head resting on his hand. They were struggling with the case, he hadn't slept for over thirty six hours, he had a pounding headache, and now this.

Why now, Haley. For heaven's sake, you know how difficult this is…..

"Haley, I can't do it. This is a difficult case. You know my responsibilities here." he said softly, knowing what the end result would be. "I can't just walk out."

"Ok fine!" she said, her voice rising. "It will have to be temporary foster care."

"Stop it, Haley." He sighed. "Ok, ok, I'll do what I can!"

"Well you had better be quick. I'm going in on Wednesday."

"I'll fly out and pick him up Wednesday morning."

He cut the connection, and looked through the office window at his team. This was going to be difficult, but it had to be done. He had three days to rest so that he was in a fit state to take care of his son, get the room ready for him and then go and pick him up from their new place in California. He hated Jack being so far away. It meant long periods of access, which made it difficult at work, and he couldn't just have him for the afternoon like he used to. But as usual, it was always on Haley's terms.

He leaned on his desk wearily and stood up. Might as well get this over and done with. He left his office and crossed the walkway to Dave's. Dave saw him coming, and beckoned him in.

"Not sure if this is the right time to say this, Aaron, but you don't look well."

Great! Thanks!

Aaron sat down in the chair opposite his old friend. "Dave, I need urgent personal time." Aaron knew Dave wouldn't ask why or ask for any explanations. But he felt obliged to give them anyway. "Haley's going into hospital. I need to fly out to California to take care of Jack."

Dave held his hands up, palms out. "You don't need to explain anything to me. I know you wouldn't leave a case unless it was very important. And god knows you have plenty of leave to take. Any idea how long?" Dave asked. "Probably not, if it's hospital. Is Haley ok?"

"No. No idea how long it'll be. She's fine, it's routine. Might be a week or so. I'll keep in touch though."

"I will be available for consultation, Dave." he said. "I'll ok it with Strauss."

"I'll do Strauss." Dave said with a smile. "You know how it is!"

Aaron smiled. Yes he knew very well. Erin Strauss would love to find an excuse to depose Aaron. Dave had her round his little finger. Aaron often wondered it they had history, but he would never ask.

"That'd be great. And thanks, Dave. I owe you."

"I don't think so. Not after Hunt." he stood up and walked round his desk. "You go. I'll tell the team."

Aaron noticed how Dave walked slightly bent forward. Seem neither of them were fully recovered. had the sudden urge to hug him. He didn't though. He just thanked him and left.

-0-0-0-

Spencer watched Aaron walk across to the lift. He looked pale and sick. Reid had been concerned about him since he came back to work after the Hunt case. He had done some research, and what Aaron had been through could cause kidney damage, and he seemed to be exhibiting all the symptoms. Maybe he was sick and was going home. He looked across at Morgan.

"Where's he going?"

"Don't ask me." responded Morgan helpfully. He had also noticed how ill Hotch had looked lately. Can't hide from a profiler! "He could be going home to rest up a bit."

Morgan went back to his work. Reid frowned. Something was wrong here. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

I hope you are ok, Aaron……

He decided to call by at his place later, to see if he needed anything. Reid knew he would never ask for help, but he usually accepted help when it was offered.

He got up and went into the conference room where the main board was set up. The victims looked down at him accusingly. What was the connection? What was it?

"You know, don't you." he said out loud. It wasn't age, sex, appearance, orientation, politics, social status, marital status, credit history, drug use, education, shoe size…………….They were running out of things to check.

He pulled a chair out and sat in front of the board, staring back at them.

"Come on," he said to the faces. "Inspire me."

They stared back silently.

-0-0-0-

Aaron drove home slowly. He really didn't feel well. He decided he would call his doctor in the morning. He needed to shop for new bedding and stuff for Jack, and get some nice kiddy food in for him, he wanted to paint his room too. And book flights for him to get to California, and for both to get back. Haley had said at first that she didn't want Jack in Virginia, but at least she had relented on that.

"Tough if you didn't." he said aloud.

He turned his car into the driveway and up to his garage door. He rarely put the car away any more, not since the remote door opener had broken. He sat in the car for a moment, looking around into the large front garden. He used to imagine playing ball out here with his boy, but now that would never happen.

Maybe, though, this week, it would! Jacky could 'help' him clear the garden which had been neglected lately. He'd hire a skip, and then they could play out here together.

Sounds like a plan!

He smiled, really smiled, for the first time in a long time. He took his keys from the ignition, and got out of the car.

Soon, he thought, soon there would be laughter in this house again, and it wouldn't look so damned empty and uninviting! He'd fix the garden lights too, so that they came on when there was a movement outside. Another thing that he'd not bothered to fix.

No one to nag him to.

He crunched up the gravel path to the front door, wondering at how all his dreams had turned into mist that day when he came home and Haley was gone. He didn't dream any more. Dreams were elusive, incorporeal. He would never fall into that trap again.

He unlocked the door and entered his house - not a home any more. Home meant family, love, laughter. This was just a house - no connotations. Kicking the door closed behind him, he headed for the sofa and threw himself down without turning the lights on. He turned sideways and hooked his legs over the arm and shoved a cushion behind his head.

God I'm tired……….

And he slipped into a deep and heavy sleep filled with dreams and monsters……..

-0-0-0-

"Is this the right time, do you think?" Stef said, a little anxious about this whole thing.

"He's alone, it's dark, the door's not shut." Phil answered. "It won't get any easier than this. That, and time's running out." He smacked the base ball bat onto his open palm. "Let's go." He opened the car door.

"It would have been better if they were lovers though. Pity we can't wait a bit longer." Kate said. "I'm sure they'll hook up sooner or later."

"Not soon enough." Jake said. "The feelings are there, and that's what we've got to work with." He got out of the car. "Camera ready, Kate?"

"Oh yes!" she said. "Watch out Steven Spielberg!" She loved this bit.

The four of them got out of the car and crept up the path to Aaron's door. They had noticed already that the garden lights didn't work. That was good. They had been watching the house for a few days now, waiting for an opportunity to snatch him. This was his first time home since they began the surveillance, and he was making it just so easy. For a Fed, he had very little idea of security. Maybe he just didn't care, but pretty soon he would wish he had cared.

Stef pushed open the door,. It creaked slightly, and they froze. But no sound came from the darkened house. Kate turned on the camcorder, and the men pulled masks over their faces. They were not the stars of this particular show.

Jake switched on his flashlight with his hand over the beam. Moving his fingers to let a little light out, he passed the beam through the room. Hotchner was on the sofa. Sleeping.

Kate filmed.

The three men crept silently to stand next to him. For a second or two, they watched the man sleep. His last peaceful sleep for a long time.

If ever.

Jake punched the sleeping man full in the mouth. Aaron's eyes snapped open, looking up in confusion. Before he could even think, he was dragged off the sofa onto his feet, held by two, and a third standing in front of him. He could feel his mouth was full of blood, his teeth were loosened. Someone was filming.

"What do you want?" Aaron said, feeling the blood running, dripping from his chin. "Why are you….."

Phil swung the bat and Aaron tried to bend forward. He pulled against the men holding him, and he tried to keep his head up.

"What….." he gasped.

The next hit was under the chin. His head snapped back, and this time he couldn't prevent the cry of pain and shock. His knees gave way, and he was being held up by his assailants.

"Drop him."

Aaron hit the floor in front of the three men. He felt the kicks, and at first he tried to get up and defend himself. No-one was going to take him in his own house without a fight. But the kicks became harder, and he just curled up on the floor, trying to protect himself as best he could. Someone kicked his groin, and he thought he was going to pass out. He stopped moving, and lay in the gathering pool of blood on the carpet.

"That's enough, we don't want him dead." a voice said. "Not yet anyway."

"Please…..what….do you…..want…..?"

"Nothing from you." Someone gripped his hair and turned him onto his back. "Hello Hotchner."

They knew his name. Not random then.

He felt strong hands on his upper arms again, and he was hauled to his feet. He raised his head, to try to recognise who was attacking him, but they were masked. He watched the person with the camera. They were filming this? Some kind of snuff movie? Blackmail?

It was then he noticed that it was a woman filming. No mask. He didn't recognise her. So the masks were not to prevent him remembering them. Masks were for the film.

Think, Aaron! Think!

He looked at the man in front of him. The base ball bat swung again, and it hit him hard under the eye. A cracking sound as a bone broke, and oblivion.