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Criminal Minds

Meatball Hoagie and a Guide book to the Galaxy

Part 2

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That evening, the whole team met at Giovanni's.

Morgan had brought a date, his latest honey of the month - Jeanne.

Reid had picked JJ and Garcia on the way at their respective apartments and shared a cab.

Emily rode on her own, made a quick stop at a nearby department store; she had yet to get a gift for a gifter.

Giovanni's was packed that Saturday evening, as usual. But, Gideon being a frequent patron and good friend with the owner, made special arrangement to have a private room set aside for them so they did not have to wait when they arrived.

Their table was large and beautifully arranged.

Waiters came in to serve appetizers and aperitifs of their choices.

When Hotch finally made it, they were surprised to see it was only he and little Jack, no Haley.

"Sorry, we're late." Hotch hurriedly apologized as a waiter came in with a high chair and helped him strapped Jack in.

"Where's Haley?" Derek looked behind them.

Hotch shook his head, "Haley couldn't make it," he was looking at his son. "We're letting Haley have mommy time alone." He looked around the table. "I hope you'll understand."

The group shook their heads, "Aw, that's sweet of you, Hotch." JJ nodded. "After all, she's cooped up in the house all day with Jack." She looked at Jack with fondness. "It's a good thing."

Emily who was sitting next to Jack, "We're fine with this, Hotch." She leaned over slightly. He was sitting on the other side of Jack.

He nodded, "Thanks everyone."

She saw there were some tightness around his mouth and sadness in his eyes; did the couple had a fight? She hoped not...the image of Haley kissing the mystery man came to mind again.

"Are we ready to order?" Gideon asked when the waiter came back into the room with his pad.

They all nodded.

While the rest were placing their orders, Emily noticed Hotch was texting on his phone several times, and each time he was getting frustrated.

She leaned over across Jack, "Hey, is everything okay?" She called out quietly.

Hotch looked over to her, and noticing no one was paying attention to them, he nodded his head, "Yeah, everything is fine."

She nodded as she took a sip.

He then turned to chat with Gideon.

She noticed he and Gideon had changed to drinking Scotch.

Emily began to feed Jack his dry cereal Hotch had placed before him.

Finally, their first course arrived, and they happily dived in their anti-pesto.

As the evening moved along, Hotch, Gideon and Reid were into their hard liquor.

Emily had forego hers, she was driving her car while the rest of them came in cabs.

While waiting for desserts, Emily smelled something and looked at Jack and knew he had done the number two.

She leaned over and tapped Hotch's shoulder, "Hotch,"

He turned, "Yeah?"

"It's Jack...he needs to go to the bathroom."

Hotch smiled as he looked around, "Oh...his diaper bag is in the car."

"I'll do it, hand me the keys."

"You sure?" He looked doubtfully. "Have you changed a kid's diaper before?"

Emily stared at him, "How hard can it be? I think I can figure it out."

He laughed suddenly, "Okay, I swap Haley's car...the diaper bag is in the back seat." He handed her the keys.

As she removed Jack from the high chair, Hotch leaned over, "I'm betting you fifteen minutes."

She straightened from him, and laughed, "Oh you're on! Loser will treat the winner my favorite..."

He shook his head, "My favorite is..."

"Meatballs on a Hoagie roll!" They uttered together.

In stunned silence, they stared at each other before they laughed, "Deal."

She carried Jack and walked away from the restaurant.

Hotch watched after them.

"Interesting scenery, alternative sights though." Gideon remarked quietly.

Hotch didn't turned to him, "Turning points." Was all he said, instead.

Gideon held out his drink up, "Diversity."

"Is that a warning?"

"Hardly, my friend." He shrugged. "Then again, if you have not tasted quality, you don't know what you may be missing." He held his cognac, swirling the rich amber liquor.

Hotch watched him, "I enjoy my cognac very much like Hennessy."

"True but this is not Hennessy." He made another swirl before he took a sip. "This is aged to perfection, it's Ragnaud Rabourin No. 10 VSOP."

Hotch took a drink and nodded, "Smooth."

Gideon nodded as he raised his large balloon snifter to Hotch before he took a drink. "Smooth." He agreed."

In the meantime, Emily was in the family restroom and laying Jack on the changing table, "Okay, Jack my friend...wow, that's one big stinker you've laid!" She wrinkled her nose.

Rummaging through the diaper bag, she removed a diaper and the wipes and began to change him.

Throughout, he was laughing as he kicked his legs all about him, "Mmm, mmm...ddd...bbb"

Emily laughed with him, "Oooh...we're learning how to talk, huh?"

He nodded, "Mmmm, mmmm."

"That's right, "M, or Emily, Emmi, say Emmi"

"Mmmm" He grinned happily.

"Close enough." She continued to wipe his tushie, "My, what did they feed you, kid?"

"Mmmm...mmm"

"M&Ms? That's great." Emily laughed, "I don't think I'm gonna eat them anymore. Thanks, Jacko."

Finally, cleaned bottom, she placed a fresh diaper on him and his pants back on. "Good as new. I told your dad, easy." She grinned as she began to replace the box of wipes into the bag and spotted something under the flap of the diaper bag, "What's this?"

She removed the foil wrapper and gasped; it was a condom pack.

"Did you get lost?" Hotch's voice suddenly boomed behind her.

Emily jumped out of her skin as she turned to face him, "Damn it, Hotch!" She quickly hid the pack behind her. "What the heck?"

He grinned, "I thought you might need some rescuing, he can be a handful." He stood next to her and picked up his son, "Are you all clean, buddy?"

"Dddd!" Jack held his hands out as Hotch picked up and carried him as well as the diaper bag. "Thanks Emily."

Disposing the soiled diaper and the pack into the trash hurried, she turned to him, "Oh, it's not a problem, Hotch." She smiled as she went to the sink and washed her hands.

Together they walked out and headed back to join the group.

"There you guys are!" Garcia beamed. "It's Secret Santa time!" She stood up eager as she waved them over to their seats. "We're going to begin with our Unit Chief, Hotch!" Garcia gleefully pointed at him just as he was about to sit down after he had belted Jack in his high chair. Turning to Penelope, Hotch shook his head, "I can't get a break."

Gideon chimed in, "I still don't get this Secret Santa thing," He looked at the group in general, "I thought it should remain secret."

Reid began, "The general idea of this ritual began in the modern times here in America where it's more convenient to exchange one gift per person than buying for everyone which would break one's bank account and particularly..." He looked around and reddened, "Er...yeah, right, Hotch is up."

Jeanne stared at him and then to Derek, "Is he for real?"

Morgan was laughing as leaned over to his girlfriend, "That's my genius boy."

Hotch passed a gift bag over to Emily, "Merry early Christmas, Prentiss." He sat down.

Surprised, Emily smiled as she pulled out the fancy red tissue papers and took out a book and turned it to show the group, saying it out loud, "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Oh, I've always wanted to read it!" She smiled and thanked Hotch but looked slightly odd.

He leaned over, "You don't like it?"

She shook her head, "You won't believe it."

"What?"

She shook her head, "Just wait."

He gave her an odd look before they turned their attention back to Garcia who called out to the next Secret Santa who was Gideon.

He stood up and handed a wrapped rectangular package to JJ.

She grinned, "Gideon! I'd never have guessed!" She began to tear the paper as the others watched; it was a hand-painted silk scarf!

Stunned by such a well thought gift, JJ was quiet before she turned to Gideon, "Thank you, Jason, this is exquisite!" Her hands shook slightly as she gingerly touched it, "I...I love it!"

Gideon shrugged, "I didn't know what else to get, and a friend of mine had it done for me. Merry Christmas, JJ."

She nodded as she quickly swiped an errant tear from her eyes.

Garcia cleared her throat, "Wow, um, next we have Derek." She nodded to her best friend.

Morgan stood up and handed a large gift bag to Garcia, "Here's to my Goddess of Merry-making!"

Garcia smiled cheerfully, "I knew it! I knew it!" She was bouncing in her seat excitedly. "I knew you're my dream Santa! Yeah, I guessed it!" Pumping both her hands.

"Open the present, PG!" Emily called out across the table.

Garcia glared at her, "I will, Emily!" She pouted but she hurriedly pulled out the usual tissues and her eyes widened when she saw what was inside, "Oh Em Gee..."

It was her favorite perfume, J'adore in the largest bottle one had ever seen! And a tall troll in a Grinch outfit with Max his dog in a single antler on his head.

"Ooohhh...Derek!" Gushed Penelope, this is oh so adorable! I love, love, love it!" She looked teary eyed at him. "Thank you, my dear!"

Derek nodded, "You are ever so welcome, mamma!"

Quickly recovered, Garcia continued, "Oh, okay...next it's Emily." She grinned at her.

Emily looked up and picked up her gift bag from the floor and handed it to Hotch, "Merry Christmas, Hotch." And quickly sat down, looking at everyone but him.

Hotch dug into the bag and removed a book and reading the title began to laugh.

The rest of the team looked puzzled, "What is it? What's so funny?"

"What did you get, Hotch?" Derek prompted.

Hotch turned the book around, it was the exact same one as the one he gave to Emily! 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams'.

…...

End of Part 2