"Dad?"

FBI Agent SSA Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner, Unit Chief of the top BAU team in the country, had been sitting reading the paper in his kitchen in his apartment on that Sunday evening when his 10 year old son Jack came up to him from where he'd been watching TV in the living room. Since his mom's tragic murder almost 6 years ago Jack had lived full time with his dad who had had to become a single parent overnight. Whenever his dad had to go away on a case, he stayed with his Aunt Jessica, Haley's sister and his dad's sister in law, who took great care of her nephew and who loved him as if he were her own son.

Since his ex-wife's murder and since becoming his son's caretaker whenever he had to go away on a case, he and Jessica had grown closer and become more like brother and sister than in laws. He'd often stay over at her house when he got back late from a case just so he could be near his son and had stayed so often that he'd ended up leaving clothes, including work suits and casual clothes as well as shaving stuff there. Jessica was so good in making sure he and Jack kept that vital contact time they both needed whenever he was away and had built into his nightly routine when he stayed with her, time every evening to talk to his dad on the phone or on skype. That and she let him talk to his dad whenever he wanted to. She never complained about having Jack very last minute and she was always happy to take care of him whenever he'd needed her to. She was so good with him and so good to them both it was unbelievable. She'd even kept Jack to the same routines and boundaries Aaron had built for his son, which seemed to give Jack the stability he needed and he'd turned into a happy go lucky friendly and sociable boy who was friends with every kid in his school. He was also one of the smartest kids in his class.

"Yeah buddy? You need something?"

"Remember when everyone went on that camping trip for a whole week last summer?"

. Last year, thanks to Jack's suggestion, the whole BAU team, him, Jack, Jessica, and J.J's husband Will and then 5 year old son Henry had gone on a whole week camping near to David Rossi's cabin. Halfway through the week their section chief Matt Cruz, an avid camper in his spare time, had joined them. They'd all had a fantastic time and were sad the week had to end.

"Yeah buddy I remember it. Why?"

"Uncle Dave's cabin where we stopped by to and from the campsite was cool."

"Yeah buddy his cabin is cool."

"Can me, you and Aunt Jess go stay there this year? Be almost like camping but just as cool and easier for you guys."

"Sure, don't see why not. Would have to talk to Jess and Dave."

"Could Uncle Matt come too? He was cool and if he wanted he could set a tent up on the area at the back yard bit so that he could feel more like he was camping and if you let me I could share his tent for a night or two so it'll feel like I'm camping too. That way I get the best of both worlds."

"Could ask him. The cabin only has 2 bedrooms anyway."

"And if he slept in the cabin you and he could share the twin bed room and I could sleep in the living room area make it more of an adventure."

"That'd be cool Jack. Let me talk to them all before I can make any decisions. Okay buddy?"

"Okay dad. But can't I at least tell Aunt Jess about my idea? I'd make sure she knew you hadn't decided on anything and all that but I could at least tell her what I'd been thinking about doing. Then you guys can talk more if you wanted about making decisions."

"Sure buddy. That might be a good idea. But make sure you tell her you've only just asked me tonight, that I need to speak to both Dave and Matt and that I haven't decided anything yet. Okay buddy?"

"Sure dad. I'll make sure she knows."

"Good boy."

The next day at the BAU, Aaron went to Dave's office to ask about his cabin.

SSA David Rossi had been working at his desk when, hearing a knock on his open office door, looked up to see fellow BAU agent and his best friend SSA Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner standing in the doorway.

"Hey Aaron. Good timing. Need a break."

"Can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure. Sit down I'll get the scotch."

Aaron entered and closed Dave's door before sitting down on the other side of Dave's desk. Meanwhile Dave pulled 2 clean glasses and a bottle of scotch that was suspiciously less than half full….Dave poured scotch into both glasses, put the bottle back in his drawer and handed Aaron one of the glasses.

"So what's up?"

"Jack was talking to me last night…"

"Doesn't sound too good …."

"No its okay actually. He was remembering the camping trip last year…."

"What does he wanna do it again this year?"

"No actually, even though he wasn't really there, he remembers your cabin and says it was really cool. Anyway he's asking if me, him, Jessica and maybe Matt can go spend a week there. Would be in his summer vacation when he's off. He wants to go the cabin as it'll be almost like camping but would still be really good and be an adventure for him."

"How come he wants Matt to go with you?"

"He said Uncle Matt was a really cool guy. Even suggested that if Matt wanted to set up his tent out back then he could stay in the tent a night or two so he'd feel like he was camping. But if Matt wanted to sleep in the cabin, as he knows the cabin only has 2 bedrooms, he suggested I could share the twin room with Matt and he could sleep in the living area where it would really be an adventure for him."

"Tell him the cabin is all his whenever you guys wanna go. I'll give the key when you need it."

"Thanks Dave."

Just then Aaron's cellphone pinged with a message. He looked at it and saw the message was from Jessica.

'Jack been telling me about idea. Think it sounds real good. Am in if you want to go for it. Speak later. Jess.'

"That from Jessica?"

"Yeah. Jack's been telling her about his idea and she says it sounds really good and that she'd in if I decided to go for it. I'll talk to her tonight when I pick up Jack from hers though."

"Even if Matt doesn't want to or can't go, you guys can still go use the cabin whenever you choose."

"Thanks Dave. Really appreciate it."

"No problem Aaron. Actually glad Jack thinks my cabin is cool and is an adventure!"

"To a 10 year old, everything's cool and an adventure…."

"Oh right….still must be good enough if he'd rather go there than camp again."

"He did say that by going to the cabin, it'd be like camping but it would be easier on the rest of us."

"You realise there are no only 2 bedrooms but only 1 bathroom?"

"Sure do."

"No TV there either."

"I know. Don't think it'll matter to Jack as he can always find something to do."

"Somehow got internet there so you can take your laptop if you want to. Access codes and passwords are in a drawer there."

"Thanks Dave. And thanks for the scotch. I swear last time I saw that bottle there was a lot more in it though…."

"Er…maybe…."

At lunchtime, Aaron was working in his office when, feeling hungry and also needing the bathroom, he decided to stop for a quick lunch. He left his office and headed out of the BAU. Stopping by the nearby men's room to attend to business, he ended up meeting Matt whilst he was in there attending to the same business.

"Hey Hotch. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, decided to stop for a quick lunch. On my way down to cafeteria now."

"Mind if I join you? Was on my way down to get something to eat anyway."

"Sure. Needed to ask you something anyway so we can talk as we eat."

"Sure."

After both leaving the men's room, they headed down to the FBI cafeteria where they both ended buying sandwiches, chips, a bar of chocolate and a soda.

"Why don't we go back up and we can eat these in my office in a bit of peace and quiet Matt?"

"Sure Hotch. Probably better. Bit crowded in here."

The 2 men had gone back to Hotch's office. Spencer and Blake, sitting at their desks eating their own lunches, were surprised when not only Hotch but their Section Chief Matt Cruz came strolling through the bullpen together carrying their lunch and heading to Hotch's office. Aaron sat in usual place behind his desk and Matt sat in the chair opposite. Hungry both men began to eat before they started talking.

"So what was it you wanted to ask me?"

"Jack was talking to me last night and asked me something."

"How is the little guy doing by the way?"

"He's great. Happy since he turned double figures last October."

"So he's 10 already? Wow, time does fly."

"Tell me about it. Anyway he was remembering that camping trip we all took last year"

"I remember that. That was a great trip. Shame I only got to join you guys halfway through. So does he want to do it again this year?"

"Actually he wants to do something a little different. Even though he was only briefly there twice, once on the way to campsite and once on the way back, he remembers Dave's cabin and was asking if me, him, Jess and maybe you could all go stay there for week. It would be during his summer vacation."

"Wow, how come he wants me to go with you guys?"

"He said you were cool. He also said that if you didn't want to sleep in the cabin and wanted to set up your tent out the back yard area, if I let him he could spend a night or two sharing your tent with you so it'll really feel like camping to him. But he did say that if you wanted to sleep in the cabin then me and you could share the bedroom with the twin beds and he could sleep in the living room area where he could make it an adventure."

"He really said I was cool?"

"Yeah. Think he really likes you."

"I'm in if you do go and will let come. Think it's a great idea. I'll bring my tent anyway even if I do sleep in the cabin."

"You sure Matt?"

"Yeah sounds like a real cool adventure to me."

"Dave says there's only one bathroom, no TV but there is internet there so we can take our laptops if we want to."

"Sure. Let me know what you decide to do." By now both men had finished their lunches and threw their trash in Hotch's trash bin.

"Will do."

"Thanks for company over lunch though."

"No problem Matt. Think those 2 guys out there were surprised we were eating lunch together though…" Hotch pointed out to the bull pen where both men saw Blake and Spencer obviously gossiping about why Hotch was having a lunch meeting with their Section Chief in his office.

Later that afternoon about 5.30, Aaron had left work and had driven to Jessica's house. As usual he'd texted her before he left so that she knew he was on his way to get Jack.

When he'd gotten there, he'd gone inside, Jessica having kindly given him a key to her house years ago when she first starting helping him care for Jack, and, as usual, Jack had bounded down the stairs, happy to see his dad and given him a huge hug.

"Hey Aaron." Jessica appeared from the kitchen "Have a good day?"

"Yeah. Got your text just after I'd talked to Dave, who said we were welcome to use his cabin anytime wanted to."

"Why don't you both stay for dinner and we can talk? Meatloaf's almost ready anyway."

"Meatloaf?"

"Yeah dad, it's Monday, Monday's are Meatloaf night!"

Since staying with Jessica, his aunt had somehow gotten Jack to eat a lot of different foods.

"Sure. Wasn't looking forward to cooking anyway as I'm pretty tired. Plus I think this guy here prefers your cooking to mine…" He gave a jokingly serious look.

"What time is dinner Aunt Jess?"

"About 10 minutes buddy. Not long."

"Okay."

"You want some coffee Aaron?"

"Yeah please. I'll make it though so you can get on with finishing dinner."

"Jack why don't you go set the table then go wash up?"

"Sure Aunt Jess."

Both adults followed Jack into Jessica's kitchen. Aaron made himself a mug of coffee whilst Jack laid the table and Jessica got on with finishing dinner. After setting the table, Jack had run upstairs to wash his hands.

"You mind slicing the meatloaf Aaron?"

"Sure. Love to."

He washed his hands quickly at the sink and then started slicing the meatloaf for dinner. After serving everyone, which surprised Jessica as Aaron had insisted she and Jack sit down whilst he served them, insisting it was the gentlemanly thing to do, they all sat down and began to eat. Aaron was surprised that the meatloaf was incredibly tasty.

"Awesome meatloaf like always Aunt Jess!" Jack made sure to speak between mouthfuls of food, as he'd gotten told off enough times in the past for trying to talk with his mouth full of food.

"Thank you Jack. Glad you like my meatloaf."

"Dad isn't Aunt's Jess's meatloaf awesome?"

"For once I have to agree with you buddy. Jess this meatloaf is really good."

"Thank you Aaron. I do try."

"Hey buddy I talked with Matt and Dave today about your idea."

"What'd they say dad?"

"Uncle Dave said we can use his cabin anytime we wanted. There's no TV there though I'm sure you'll always find enough things to keep you occupied for the week."

"I don't mind no TV dad. I'm only allowed so much TV a day at home anyway."

"That's right buddy but me and Matt are taking our laptops as there is internet there, though I'm not quite sure why Dave's got internet but no TV at his cabin…."

"So can I take a few DVD movies with me and borrow your laptop to watch them on? When you're not using the laptop of course?"

"Sure. That's fine buddy. But don't take too many."

"I promise I won't dad."

"Good boy. So Dave said we can use the cabin. Then I ended up eating lunch in my office with Uncle Matt and he loves your idea and wants to come. He said he'll bring his tent regardless of where he sleeps just in case."

"AWESOME!"

"Yeah buddy that IS awesome! He was surprised when I told him you'd said he was cool…."

"He is though. Thanks dad! When we going?"

"It would be a week during your summer vacation as the weather is best that time of year."

"Cool. Summer vacation is only a few months away."

"I know buddy. I was thinking that although we could try to take enough food, there is the gas station and a grocery store nearby so we could always get more supplies as and when we needed them. We may as well all take sleeping bags so that we can use them if we want to."

"Cool."

"We can maybe drive to the lake on a couple of days as its not too far away…."

"Awesome!"