Chapter 2

Opening his eyes once more, Hotch was relieved to find that the pain in his head had lessened considerably. He quickly stood to inspect the injury in the nearest mirror, and grimaced at the trace amounts of blood that remained around a small cut that was surrounded by a large bump.

He stood their for just a moment before a glimmer of light caught his eye. Holding up his left hand in surprise, he was shocked to find a platinum ring on his left finger.

What's going on?

No sooner had the thought escaped him than the door to the bedroom creaked open ever so slightly.

"I'm so glad to see you're awake." A familiar voice said calmly. "How are you feeling?"

"JJ?" He asked perplexed, ignoring her question. Am I at her house?

"Here, I brought you some painkillers, I thought they might help." JJ offered him a glass with two large pills. "I called Garcia and told her what happened, and she offered to take the kids for the night so you can get some rest. I'm going to walk them down to her house and I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Okay?" Hotch answered, his voice clouded with confusion as JJ made her way towards the doorway.

JJ looked sort of unsettled, but nodded nevertheless. Hand resting on what appeared to be a small baby pooch, she continued, "I'll start dinner when I get back. Why don't you get a shower, it might make you feel better?"

Nodding, Hotch agreed. A shower would make him feel better. Before JJ could make her exit, Hotch quickly stopped her. "I guess I just need a change of clothes. I guess I could--" He was beginning to ask if Will had anything he could borrow when JJ cut him off.

"I just folded the last wash, so you've got plenty of clean clothes in the dresser." She looked at him with skepticism, as if she was trying to determine whether he really was okay.

"Oh." Hotch stated, completely taken aback.

"Are you sure you're okay? I can have Garcia come up here--you know, I should probably do that. I'm not sure I should leave you alone--you probably have a concussion--" She began to ramble and Hotch smiled in spite of himself.

He couldn't help but chuckle. It wasn't very often that Jennifer Jareau rambled, and Hotch felt an immediate need to assure her quickly. "No, it's okay. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" JJ asked once more, and it didn't take his profiling training to know that she was worried.

"I'll be fine." Hotch insisted once more.

JJ seemed unsure, but nodded reluctantly. "I'll be back in about ten minutes."

"My favorite kiddos are here!" Garcia cheered happily as she met them in her front yard. "I'm so excited!"

"Pen-Pen!" Morgan shouted, taking off running towards her favorite person in the world. "I mwiss yous!"

"I missed you too baby girl!" Garcia smiled picking up the small girl off the ground. We're going to have so much fun today, and don't worry mom, I promise not to let her temporary dye her hair again. Scout's honor."

"No matter how festive you think red and green streaks would look?" JJ questioned as Jack and Henry hugged Garcia before tearing off into the house. "Promise?"

"Dang it Jayje. You're no fun!" Garcia pouted, "But I promise. So tell me, how's Hotch-man doing?"

"Uh still a little disorented, but mostly fine. He was taking a shower when we left."

"Well what are you still standing here for then? You're gorgeous husband is showering and your standing here freezing with me?" Garcia questioned in a disappointed tone, "Shame, shame. Where are your priorities?"

"Pen, it's stuff like that and a random fluke of the flu that got me pregnant with child number four." JJ smirked, "I'm not looking to have my own version of 'Cheaper By The Dozen' here."

"Well too late for that." Garcia laughed. "When y'all get at it like rabbits, it's bound to happen." Garcia scoffed happily.

"Great." JJ rolled her eyes. "But I should get back."

"Definitely," Penelope agreed. "With the kids out of the house, who knows what fun you and the old boss man can have, right?" She scoffed knowingly.

"Does the fact that he probably has a concussion mean anything to you?" JJ smirked.

"Yeah, it means a lot to me. I just don't know that it means anything to you." Garcia deadpanned as JJ chuckled and shook her head.

"As much as my sex life fascinates you, I really should get going." JJ smiled in spite of herself. Today had been filled with worry, and Garcia's teasing relieved the tension immensly.

"Have fun." Garcia called as JJ opened the door and entered the cool air of early December.

Hotch wasted no time as JJ left. She would be back soon, and he needed all the time he could get to figure out what was going on. If there was anything Aaron Hotchner hated, it was being oblivious to what was happening around him. He quickly moved over to the dresser to inspect what clothing could possibly be there. Sure enough, his favorite Georgetown sweatshirt was neatly folded in the second drawer. Grabbing his sweatshirt, underclothes, and a pair of pants, he rushed to the bathroom where he quickly showered and dressed.

The sooner he could get to the bottom of this, the sooner he could get home.

After showering quickly, and finding all his normal bathroom stuff in the Master bathroom, he quickly made his way downstairs stopping when he reached a large room filled with pictures that could only be the living room. Making his way towards the mantle he found pictures of everyone he knew and a few people he didn't recognize.

First was a picture of the team on what looked to be Reid's 31st birthday with JJ and Garcia happily smearing icing on the young genius's face. Next, in a rather eccentric frame, was a picture of Garcia in a white and limegreen dress tossing a boquet behind her. Had Garcia married Kevin? In the next frame he found a picture of himself holding a small bundle wrapped in a pink blanket, standing next to a sleeping JJ's hospital bed. A small silver frame cleverly placed in front of a larger candlestick held a photo of --no, no it couldn't be...--David Rossi proposing to Cece Hillenbrand. The woman he'd known for years from working with her on the Matloff case. Strange. But why were there no pictures of Morgan and Prentiss other than the team photo?

Noticing a small arrangement of photos near what had to be the largest Christmas tree he'd ever seen, Hotch made his way towards them to find them all of Emily Prentiss and Derek Morgan--with the words "In memory of two amazing friends, may you never be forgotten" painted on the wall in the center of the group of photos.

What is going on?