JUST LIKE YOU
BONUS PROMPT: Dead Dad (MASH)
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A crash woke him from a solid sleep and he shot upright without really thinking about it, absently reaching for the woman who had occupied his bed for almost a year. His heart started to pound when he realized she wasn't there. Where was Emily? What happened? He threw off the covers and bolted for Jack's room, hoping to God he could get to the study to get his gun before he met whatever intruder had broken through his early morning slumber. He swallowed thickly when he noticed Jack's messed up bed sheets. Good Lord, if something had happened to them...
He heard another crash and made a dive for the study, somehow managing to make quick work of the gun safe and withdrawing his weapon. He and Emily always made sure to lock up their standard issues when Jack was over. Double checking the cartridge and making sure his hand was on the safety, he crept slowly down the stairs.
And let out a breath of relief.
"We have to be quiet!"
That was Jack's voice. Which meant he was probably okay.
"Then you can't keep dropping things."
And that was Emily, sounding maternal and playfully scolding the seven-year-old that was obviously in the kitchen with her.
"What's going on here?"
Both heads popped up to look at him, as if caught robbing a bank.
"We're cooking breakfast!" Jack exclaimed finally, scrambling down from the chair he was standing on to hug his father.
Hotch took in the messy kitchen, covered in flour, a couple of spills of milk and who knew what else. He met Emily's eyes and she smiled sheepishly.
"It's Saturday," she said. "He wanted to make pancakes, just like Daddy does every Saturday morning."
Hotch looked down at his son and ruffled his hair, disentangling his dirty hands from his waist to make his way further into the kitchen. Kissing Emily in a brief 'good morning', he took in the kitchen. Then with a sigh, he dipped his finger into the batter. "It's missing the secret ingredient," he said solemnly.
Jack almost looked broken-hearted. "You never said there was a secret ingredient!"
"Well, you're seven now, so I think you're old enough to learn all about it."
Jack's eyes lit up then and he scrambled after him, almost jumping up and down in excitement. "This is going to make them just like yours, right Daddy?"
Hotch pulled the little bottle down from the shelf and smiled at his son. "Right."
Just like Daddy's.
