Sean agreed to go to DC to see Aaron. He wasn't sure what was going on. His big brother hadn't told him much; just that he was having a hard time recovering from what had happened after New York.

Aaron never called him unless he desperately needed help which was close to never. When he arrived later the next day, the front door was unlocked. Aaron was sleeping on the couch when Sean walked in. He opened his eyes, revealing them to be red and puffy.

Sean knew his older brother had been crying, something he never did before, not since the first time their father came home drunk and beat him and their mother.

Aaron sat up. "Thanks for coming." Sean pushed Aaron down the couch and sat next to him, pulling his big brother into a hug. Aaron soon fell back to sleep. When he woke up again, a rich, spicy smell was coming from the kitchen. He stood up, stretched and walked into the kitchen. Sean was standing with his back to him by the cooker. He turned when his brother walked into the room and sat at the counter. He put his head in his hands and groaned.

"Feeling better?" Sean asked. He got no response. "Want to talk about it?"

Aaron looked at him. "It's complicated."

"You called me here for a reason, Aaron… now talk." Still no response. "Damn it Aaron!"

"Look, Sean… There are things I've done… I'm not proud of but they happened…"

"Like…" Sean urged.

"I had an affair a few years back…" Sean was shocked. This was not the brother he knew.

"With the woman who died?"

"Yes…"

"How did…?"

"It doesn't matter. We had a little girl…"

"Aaron, start from the beginning."

He took a deep breath. "There was a case in London. Kate was the new young lead. The guy was acquitted; came here. Kate followed him. She was here for a while and… one thing led to another. She knew about Hailey. When she got pregnant, she agreed to stay in the States so I could see our child. We both knew I couldn't leave Hailey… When Kate died, Lara had to go to her grandparents in London."

"And you called because you miss them?" C'mon Aaron, I know you better than that."

"I saw her," he said slowly.

"Who?"

"Kate… After she died, I came back here… I really believed she was with me… I could smell and feel and taste her… she was there… I'm scared Sean."

"Have you told anyone else about this?"

"No… Sean, what am I gonna do?"

"Maybe you should tell this to your doctor… Maybe it has to do with your ear…"

"And if it doesn't? I'm going crazy and the only people who can help me are either dead or across the Atlantic Ocean and then some."

"Aaron… is there anything I can do?"

"No… Sean, I'm sorry, I know you must be busy… I shouldn't have asked you to come down here."

"Aaron, you are my big brother… You are always there for me and the few times you need me I'll be there."

"Thanks…" He sat up as Sean dished up their dinner. "You know I don't think I've slept as much as I have this last week…"

"So something goods coming from your craziness."

For the next few days, Sean and Aaron talked like real brothers. Seam cooked dinner and after, Aaron kicked his ass at poker. It felt like they were teenagers again.

One day, Sean made a bold decision. Leaving a note for Aaron on the counter saying he needed some ingredients, Sean took the car keys and drove to the FBI training academy at Quantico.

He walked quickly through double doors and walked into the bullpen. He scanned the room quickly. He found the man he was looking for: Derek Morgan. He made his way to the small group he was surrounded by. He broke away from his co workers and met Sean half way.

"Sean." He extended his arm. Sean took his hand and shook.

"Yeah… Derek, right?"

"Yeah, visiting your brother?"

"Yeah… Aaron's actually why I'm here… Can I talk to you for a minute in private?"

"Sure. Aaron's office is empty, we can use that." Sean followed Morgan up to Hotch's office. Morgan closed the door. "What's up?"

"Aaron… called me. He asked me to come."

"He's having a tough time… needs a family, that's all."

"He told me about that agent that died… how they had a child… He told me that, when he came back from New York, he believed that he was with her, that he could actually feel her. When I got here, he'd been crying. Aaron's never cried, not even when our dad died… Look, I'm just worried about him… Aaron's always been sure of what was happening and now…"

"What can we do to help?"

"I was hoping you had the answer."

There was a knock on the door. A blonde woman walked in. "Um Morgan, we got a case."

"Be right there Jage…" Once she was gone Morgan turned back to Sean. "Look man… leave it with me. I'll figure something out."

"I appreciate it…"

Three nights later, Aaron got an unexpected call from Morgan. "Hotch, we're headed out to the bar… why not come?"

"Thanks Morgan but Sean's in town so…"

"Bring him with you… c'mon man… you need to get out if the house."

"Sorry, Morgan…"

"Alright. You know where we are if you change your mind." He hung up.

Sean soon walked into the room. "Who was that?"

"Morgan. Wanted me to go out for drinks with the team…"

"So let's go."

"Already told them I can't."

"Aaron, it's my last night in DC… let's go." Sean grabbed his jacket and left the house. Aaron soon followed.

They arrived at the bar. Sean soon joined in the conversations quickly. Hotch was only drifting in and out.

He suddenly felt eyes on him. He looked up. JJ had been looking at him but quickly looked away when he caught her.

"Can I talk to you outside for a sec?" she asked.

Hotch was surprised. "Ok…" He grabbed his jacket and walked outside. JJ followed him.

"What's up?"

"Hotch… Sean stopped by the BAU a few days ago…" Hotch's face darkened. "… He was worried about you, he confided in Morgan… I made Morgan tell me."

"JJ… I'm not crazy."

"I know… it was probably just a grieving process… but it could get worse so I need to tell you something… I don't even know if it is a something… but you should know in case…."

"JJ, what are you talking about?"

JJ took a deep breath. "She's alive Hotch… Kate's alive."