/ Here's the second chapter. I'm having so much fun writing this and surprisingly, it's giving me all sorts of ideas for my next fics and all. I'll probably get the third chapter up about Saturday. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter and let me know what you think, because reviews are always appreciated (: /
Rossi muttered something under his breath as he forced the key in and opened the door. When he had left work that night, he hadn't expected to get a call from his friend's son, saying he thought his dad was dead. Rossi knew the chances of that were extremely slim, but it still worried a person. Once inside, he shut the door behind him and typed in the code to turn off the alarm.
After he had let his eyes get used to the darkness, he flicked the lights on, which caused him to squint slightly at the sudden burst of light. He should have known that, except it was two AM and his brain wasn't exactly in top working order. Rossi headed to the front room, frowning when he saw Jack cradling himself and his green dragon; his eyes red from his crying.
Rossi went over to the couch, bending down and placing his hand on Jack's shoulder. Jack threw himself at Rossi, wrapping his arms tightly around the older man. Rossi sighed, rubbing his back.
"Everything's going to be fine, Jack, your daddy is just a heavy sleeper," he explained to the young boy, who just nodded and wiped at his eyes. When Jack had finally calmed down, Rossi set him on the floor. "Go and clean your face in the bathroom, and I'll try to wake your daddy up," he said, which earned another nod from him. Jack stood and watched Rossi for a minute, before he ran off to the bathroom.
He took a deep breath and knelt down in front of the couch. A frown crossed Rossi's face as he knee hit something. He glanced to the floor, spotting what it was. However, it took a good few minutes for his brain to register what it actually was. Rossi let out a shaky breath, telling himself that he shouldn't jump to conclusions. He moved himself and sat on the couch next to Hotch. Being careful not to hurt him, Rossi pried his friend's eyes open, biting his lip as he saw that his pupils were constricted, despite the fact they should have been dilated. Rossi pulled his hands away as the man in front of him mumbled, shifting slightly.
'At least he isn't dead' is all Rossi thought as he pushed his friend's sleeves up. He pulled his arm out straight, seeing the track marks. He shakes his head, pulling his sleeve back down and fastening it up.
"Damn it, Aaron," he muttered as he stood up, turning to see Jack watching him. He's obviously fighting hard to stay awake and it tugs on Rossi's heartstrings. How could Aaron do this to his son? He wasn't going to judge his friend.
"Is daddy dead?" Jack whispered, looking to his father's friend. Rossi shook his head, bending down to the little boy's level.
"Your daddy isn't dead, he's just really, really ill," he explained, resting his hand on Jack's cheek. "Why don't you go and pack a bag, you and your daddy can stay at mine tonight," he said. Jack nodded as he chewed on the sleeve of his pyjama top.
"'Kay," he said, before disappearing off into his bedroom. Rossi stood up, rubbing the back of his head as he watched the sleeping Aaron Hotchner on the sofa.
"What have you gotten yourself into?" He asked, shaking his head, before he headed in the direction of Aaron's bedroom. There was no point in him waiting for Hotch to wake up – that wouldn't happen for awhile. Rossi glanced around, figuring he would probably keep his duffle bag under his bed. He's proven correct, dragging it out and chucking it onto the bed. Sometimes he was glad he was a profiler.
Rossi wasn't going to be selective about what he chucked into the bag; a few t-shirts, a few pairs of his jeans, a pair of shorts, a jumper, his boxers. Rossi stopped at Hotch's underwear drawer though, finding another pack of Heroin. He shook his head, putting it aside as he finished packing for him. Once he was done, he took the Heroin to the bathroom, tipping it down and flushing it. Aaron was probably going to be pissed at him for it, but he didn't care. He wasn't going to lose yet another friend to drugs.
He returned to the bedroom, grabbing the duffle bag and turning the light off. He headed to Jack's bedroom, putting Hotch's bag down outside as he went in to see if the boy needed any help. A smirk crossed Rossi's lips as he watched Jack stuff the last of his superhero action figures into his bag.
"What about your clothes, Jack?" Rossi asked, making the young boy jump. Jack frowned and looked to his bag, before looking back to Rossi.
"I don't needed clothes. I can stay in my jamas," he said, giving a forceful nod of his head. It didn't wipe the tired smile off the young boys face at all. Rossi just chuckled.
"Tell you what. Why don't we put some of your clothes in with your daddy's clothes, so then you can still take all your superhero toys," he said, looking over the boy as he contemplated the suggestion. Eventually, he nodded his head.
"'Kay," Jack said, nodding his head as if to reiterate that he agreed to do it.
"Are you going to help me pick some clothes out?" Jack doesn't have to be asked twice as he takes Rossi's hand and pulls him over to his drawers. The young boy goes through them, handing Rossi the clothes he wants to take with him; many of them involve some sort of superhero, except for one t-shirt that has a green dinosaur on it.
Rossi smiled, carrying the clothes to the duffle bag and putting them in. He watches Jack carefully as the boy heaves the bag onto his back and carries it out of the room, still clutching his green dragon.
"Go and stand by the door Jack, I have to go and pick your daddy up." Jack does as he's told, going as fast as he could without stumbling because of how heavy his bag was. Rossi followed him, holding the duffle bag on his shoulder, trying to keep Jack upright by placing his hand on the back of his head.
Once he reached the front room, Rossi hoisted Aaron up, one arm around his back and the other holding Aaron's arm around his neck. Rossi grunted, Hotch weighing more than he would like to carry. He pushed that to the back of his mind, before dragging him to the door. He opened it, letting Jack out. With great difficulty, Rossi managed to reset the alarm code, before leaving the apartment; the door falling shut behind them.
Jack looked to Rossi as he all but dragged his father to the elevator, walking alongside him.
"Canned I pushed the button?" He asked the older man, who nodded.
"Sure, Jack," he said, smiling as the youngster stood on his tip-toes, sticking his tongue out as he pressed the button. Jack yawned once he had done it, rocking back and forth on his toes, waiting to hear the ping as the doors open. Rather than the minute it took, it felt like an hour to Rossi, considering he was carrying all of Aaron's weight. He cursed at his friend in his head, getting him into the elevator with Jack.
Again, Jack pressed the button, watching as the doors closed. He giggled slightly as it started to move down. Subconsciously, Jack moved closer to Rossi, leaning against his leg. It was amazing how awake he could seem one minute, only to be on the verge of falling asleep the next.
"Stay awake just a little longer, Jack, then you can sleep in my truck," he said, only getting a nod from Jack. He didn't expect anything more from the little one. He was lucky that he hadn't fallen asleep too; now that would have been a challenge. Once the door opened, the three of them left and headed to the parking lot where Rossi had parked his truck. "Just a moment more," he told Jack as he pulled the truck door open.
After some deal of effort, Rossi managed to get Hotch into his truck and strapped him in. He was going to give the man hell in the morning, he could be sure of that. He shut the door and he watched as Hotch slumped against it, drooling. Rossi just shook his head and chucked the duffle bag into the back, taking Jack's bag and putting it in the back too.
Jack stumbled slightly, yawning as he walked to the back of the truck. Rossi sighed and picked him up. Before he had even gotten to the driver's side, Jack had fallen asleep with his head on his shoulder. The corner of his lips turned into a smile as he climbed into the car, shutting the door behind him. As gently as he could, Rossi set Jack between himself and his father, before strapping him in. He strapped himself in too, before he drove them back to his cabin. This was one hell of a messy situation.
The journey back was always quicker than the journey there. Usually, it took Rossi about thirty minutes; the way back only took twenty. That said, it had just gone three in the morning, the roads weren't exactly heaving with traffic. Rossi wasn't going to deny it though, he was thankful for the lack of traffic.
Rossi watched father and son sleeping soundly for a few minutes, trying to wrap his head around things. It doesn't work. He shakes it off for now and unbuckled Jack, picking him up and getting out of the car, carrying the sleeping boy to his house.
Rossi unlocked the house door, only to be greeted by the barking of his dog, Mudgie.
"Shush, girl," he said, stroking the dog's head so she would stop with the barking. He's thankful when she does as he doesn't want Jack to wake up. He had put up with enough for one night. Rossi headed up the stairs to the closest bedroom, pushing the door open with his foot. He took the boy over to the bed and placed him on it. He slipped Jack's shoes off, being careful not to wake him, before bringing the covers up to Jack's shoulders.
He stepped away from the bed, only for Mudgie to bound over and lay down next to the bed, snuggling down. Rossi went to tell her to leave, before he looked to Jack. He knew that having someone – or something – to wake up to would be comforting for Jack, considering he probably wouldn't know where he was when he woke up. Rossi strokes Mudgie's stomach for a moment, before leaving the room, making sure the door was left open just a crack as he did so.
There was no time wasted as he went back to the car. Aaron was still leaning against the window, drool running down his chin. Despite the fact Rossi's annoyed with him, he just smirks. He pulled the car door open and unbuckled him, the man slumping against his friend.
Dragging him out as best and as careful as he hoisted his friend up, thankful he wasn't any older or he would have done his back in. He grunted as he carried him inside. He kicked the door shut behind him, taking the younger man over to the sofa and laying him down on it. Rossi removed Aaron's shoes, putting them next to the couch before headed to the kitchen.
Rossi rubbed his forehead before he filled a glass with water, pouring himself a small glass of scotch. He made a small note to himself to lock up his alcohol while Jack was there. He carried both back to his front room and placed them on the table, disappearing off up the stairs, only to come back down carrying a blanket. He placed it over Hotch before he picked up his glass of scotch and sat in the chair next to the couch. It was going to be a long night.