A/N: Hey all. Back with a second chapter. So… response to the first chapter was… mixed. Like I said in the first chapter, I've never really written anything like this before. I'm usually a happy fluff writer. But, for this one I'm trying a different kind of story-telling. The storyline is definitely darker, for sure, which I know isn't for everyone. And it's been a difficult thing to write. But, it's a story that came to me and I felt like sharing here. So, with that said, I hope you'll read on and let me know what you think.

Warnings: Character death. Rating will go up in future chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 2: Broken:

"JJ, how is he?"

JJ let out a sigh. She looked back towards the hallway that led to the bedrooms in Hotch's little apartment. He was in Jack's room, she knew. He hadn't left the room since they'd returned from the hospital.

She opened the front door to his apartment, stepped outside and shut it behind her. She leaned against the wall outside and said, "Not good, Pen. That little boy… Jack," she choked out, "was his world."

Garcia went quiet on the other end; she knew the quirky analyst was trying to get a hold of her emotions. "Should I… should I come over?" Garcia finally asked.

JJ thought back to the moment they'd finally reached the hospital, after hours of being on the plane together in silence, how the man she knew to be so in control had broken down in front of her so completely. She'd only ever seen him in this much pain once before and that was after finding Hailey. But this, this was so much worse. This was losing a child.

"No, I don't think so," JJ said thickly.

"Ok…" Garcia said in understanding. "The others are on their way back as we speak…"

"Good." JJ said, absently, her mind was on the poor broken man inside.

"What can I do, JJ?" Garcia cried into the phone. "I feel completely useless."

JJ wiped at her cheek to find a few loose tears there. "Uh… can you call Will for me? Tell him what's happened. I uh… I can't leave him here, alone."

"Yes, yes, of course," Garcia replied quickly.

"Ok, I should go check on him," JJ said, heart broken.

"Ok… JJ… tell him… Oh God, I don't know," Garcia sobbed. "Just… take care of the boss-man, ok?"

JJ nodded. "I will."

She wasn't going to let him out of her sight anytime soon.

Hotch wasn't aware of much as he sat in the darkened bedroom. He didn't even realize that the light of day had faded to blackness. All he knew was that his son was gone. His baby boy was gone.

He sat there, on Jack's twin bed, clutching Jack's little soccer jersey to his chest. He looked around his son's bedroom, at the toys and school work scattered here and there.

How could he be gone? There were still so many signs of life here.

A half eaten apple—browned—probably from this very morning, sitting on the night stand; Jack's favourite comic book tucked under his pillow where he'd sneak it out to read while he should have been sleeping; and everything still had Jack's scent clinging to it.

But it was true, his little boy, Jack... he'd died that very morning. And it wasn't because of some crazed criminal he was constantly chasing.

From what Hotch was told, there had been a torrential downpour this morning when Jack had gotten up for his usual routine. He'd gotten on to his school bus and that's when everything went wrong. The bus driver had lost control and it all ended in disaster. The bus crashed and his little boy had passed on.

"Oh God," Hotch murmured to himself, tears streaming down his face. "Oh God…"

He remembered when the jet landed and he had rushed to the hospital, only vaguely aware of JJ at his side. The whole way there he was hoping beyond reason that Jessica would not say the words and that his fears would not come true. Hoping beyond hope that he would arrive at the hospital and he'd find Jack running out of a room… a cast on his arm… all he had was a broken arm, that's all it was…

But none of his wishes came true. And as the tears came down he had the fleeting thought of, 'Since when do Aaron Hotchner's dreams come true?'

Instead of having his fears dissolved on his arrival to the hospital, seeing Jessica's pale, tear streaked face confirmed everything, and he'd crashed almost instantaneously into her arms sobbing heavily, crying like he'd never cried before… crying like he was dying.

A hospital worker had led him to the doctor that had worked on Jack when he'd been rushed into the emergency room. Jack had sustained severe head trauma that, essentially, left him brain dead. Hearing those words… a big part of Hotch, the best part of him, had died at that very moment.

The doctor then led Hotch and a still silent JJ still to a room where Jack lay motionless. And that's when he practically collapsed; if it wasn't for JJ, hugging him to her, he was sure he would have landed a pile of jelly at the foot of Jack's bed.

He had to close his eyes against the sight of his super still son. He did not want to remember his vibrant boy like that. He would not. That's when JJ had led him out of the room after speaking with the doctor on his behalf and had brought him back here.

She was still here, he knew. But he couldn't muster any bit of energy or care to find her. All he cared about now was the fact that his child was gone.

Looking around his son's sanctuary, he caught sight of the picture on Jack's night stand, one of his mother and him taken shortly before her death.

"Hailey, Jack," he cried out.

How could he have failed them both?

He was blinded momentarily when the door to Jack's room creaked open and light from the hallway landed on his face.

"Hotch?" he heard JJ say into the darkness.

He didn't respond; maybe if he didn't she would go and let him be.

"Oh Hotch," she said sadly.

She came and sat next to him. He was surprised when she pulled out of his hand the picture of Jack and Hailey. He hadn't even known he'd even picked it up.

He watched her as her fingertips traced over the angelic features of his son.

"It's not your fault, Aaron," she whispered, so low he'd have missed it if the room wasn't already dead silent.

JJ grasped his hand in hers. "He's with her, you know," she paused as he turned to look at her. "And they're both watching over you now."

She reached a hand out to cup the side of his face. Her thumb brushed under his eye wiping away a tear.

"You know that, at least…"

He put a free hand over top of hers. "JJ," he said, voice hoarse. "I can't do this anymore."

She was shaking her head. "Yes, you can…"

"No, I can't, I don't want to," he denied. "This is wrong. This is all wrong."

JJ gave him a look of complete fear. "Hotch you need to fight, you can't give up. You can't. That's not what he would have wanted."

His sobs burst out from his lips uncontrollably. "JJ… how am I… how am I supposed to live… in a world without my boy?"

He choked on the word 'boy' and JJ was quick to wrap her arms around him. He couldn't help himself; he completely broke down on her shoulder. He was vaguely aware of her saying soothing things to him. All of it meant nothing to him until she said one thing that shined a light at the end of his tunnel.

"Aaron, it's going to be hard. It's going to be unbearable at times. You're going to have more bad days than good, at first. And that's understandable. But one day, Aaron, you're going to live your life and the good days are going to outnumber the bad, because that's what… that's what Jack would want for you," JJ told him firmly. "Jack would want you to live… and I'm going to be here to remind you of that. Always."

Well that's it for now. Please let me know if you feel that I should continue. And also let me know if you're 'liking' this. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read and to review: Come2MyRescue (thx!); FloatingAmoeba; newsyd; canny-bairn (it sounds like I'm in trouble); breverson; ChocoboMuffins (It's a little bad. Lol. But that's ok); SkySydfan24; jupisan; Starrmyst; DracoMalfoysSweetGirl92; and jekkah (uh oh).

If everything goes as planned, I'll be updating soon. See ya.

And here's a little note from the mod's of Chit Chat on Author's Corner forum: Tonnie and ilovetvalot are diligently working toward the nomination ballot on the second annual "Profilers Choice Awards" hosted by Chit Chat on Author's corner forum. The tentative date to release the categories, informational post and NOMINATION BALLOT is 8/28/11. One week, guys. So, put on your reading hat and look for those stories and authors you adore.