2. Making sure you're OK

Hotch put down the phone, he just finished with Jack. How he missed being able to come home and just watch him sleep or hugging him for the longest time if he was up. It helped him know that he was safe, that he'd live to see another day, that what they did meant there was less monsters out there that can get to his son. People told him that he should choose a cop or fellow alphabet or a women who grew up around it has he's wife cause if a plain civilian woman wasn't a 100% with him, she wouldn't understand and think he chooses work over her. He always thought Hayley was there a 100%. Boy was he wrong he thought with a dry laugh! Something caught his eye.

''Pe… Garcia what are you doing here? Everyone left hours ago!''

''I'm sorry Sir, I was just doing a double check on everything we've got to make sure I didn't miss anything. I don't want another piece of information to set us back like earlier… You on the other hand should go home. You can file paperwork later or at home.'' she said.

Gone was a usually perkiness and mother tone she likes to use with him when he stayed late. He found that he missed it. He was going to kill Morgan!

''You could of done this when we got back! Nothing you find will make us catch him faster, all we have is him making is next mistake which he will! Morgan is in a bad place right now, but that don't excuse his behavior! He'll come around and back groveling at JJ and Prentiss feet to help him back in your good graces.'' he said trying to lift her up; it's the least he could do.

But he got nothing not even the simplest fakest smile, seems like she was too out of it.

''He's already forgiven I'm working on the 'forgotten' part.''

''You're too good. Come in please sit down.''

He waits for her to close the door and sit. He looks her right in the eye.

''I want you to understand this loud and clear Penelope. In no way do I or anyone from this team, and that includes Morgan when he's sane, think you're not doing a superb job, more than a few times you had the answers before we had the questions. We… I value your part in what we do, I don't think we would have this much success this fast without your expertise.'' he claimed with a firm and sincere voice.

''I… thank you… Sir.'' she choked out.

She looks down and when she looks up again he sees that the Garcia persona is back and so are the walls and for some reasons since he knows her it unnerves him, he wants them down for good! At least around him.

She gets up, goes around his desk and starts to pick up his things and put them in his briefcase! This is the Garcia that usually throws him out of here! A sense of warmth washes over him.

''You Sir, need to go home! You may like to make us believe that you are the stoic fearless leader, but this Goddess knows otherwise. Get some sleep Batman, wake up early and try to bargain a few hours with your son!'' she chirps.

He watches her pile up his files already knowing which he will take home. It amazed him sometimes how much insight she had and didn't seem to know it, even though she dubbed herself the Goddess of all Knowing. This is why on the previous case, in Royal IN (House On Fire), he pushed her not only because the case needed it but her insight was valuable and unbiased.

''Come on Charlie Brown! Stop staring and get up!'' she added with a full blown smile.

He stopped her and took her left wrist which caused her to turn and face him still sitting.

''What's wrong?'' she saw a flash of sadness on his face ''Sir it will be OK, she'll let you see him and will get him back in prison.''

The saddest smile appears on Hotch's face.

She follows her own aching heart and hugs him, after the first shock he hesitantly wraps his arms around her waist. He's hesitancy made her ask herself if he gets any of these besides the ones of his son. That though made her hold him tighter, his head finds itself buried in her ample bosom. They don't know how they stayed like this but it felt so good after these few days. All the while she kept whispering that it will be OK, they will find him and nobody can hide from them for too long, over and over.