Thursday morning found Garcia knocking on the Unit Chief's office door bright and early, a garment bag slung over her shoulder and a carefully carefree grin on her face. She had to work hard at concealing a wince when the resulting 'Enter!' was as clipped as ever…this had to work! With both her primary and secondary goals firmly in mind she sailed into the office and found JJ at the desk going over files with their boss. Perfect! She laid the garment bag on the couch and greeted them cheerfully.

"Good morning my Captain! Jayje, you're here too, this is perfect! I needed to talk to you anyways!"

The two agents exchanged appropriately wary looks before Hotch asked, "What can I do for you Garcia?"

Here it goes…. "Well, with Halloween so close and us finally on stand down for the weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time for a costume party! Saturday evening; I already emailed everyone the details. But since I know you're busy Boss Man, I took the liberty of picking up a costume for you! And you Buttercup, I already left yours in your office so no excuses!

JJ groaned, "Should I be afraid? Pen, please tell me that it has more material than your average handkerchief and that it isn't skin-tight!" She gave her friend a stern look; Garcia had tried to talk her into more than one skimpy costume over the years. Add in yesterday's conversation and she smelled a plot.

Hotch, for his part, had to stifle the groans that threatened to emerge from his throat, one at the idea of attending a party and the other at the mental image of JJ in the sort of costume that she feared Garcia had chosen. Someone up there was having a good laugh at his expense, he was sure of it.

Penelope grinned at her friend's look; it had been tempting to get JJ something short and skimpy but Rossi's unconscious suggestion was even better, both for her plot purposes and the fact that JJ couldn't use the outfit as an excuse to avoid the party. "No worries Peaches, I promise you're going to love it. It has actual sleeves and even a long skirt, though why you'd want to wear that much fabric on Halloween is beyond me. It's going to be fun! But I gotta go. I'll see you at lunch Jayje! Farewell Captain! You know where to find me if you need me!" With a carefree laugh she spun out of the office before either of her targets could come up with a reason to decline the invitation.

As the door closed behind the quirky analyst Hotch sighed and looked at the still somewhat worried blonde at his side, "Remind me to call the National Hurricane Center and tell them to take 'Penelope' off their list of storm names. One is more than enough."

"I'll send you their contact info by lunchtime." Only years of practice kept JJ from audibly sighing in relief at the small joke, the first they'd exchanged in over a week. Instead she made a show of making a note to that effect on her memo pad, which caused him to grin and ask.

"Do you have any idea as to what that was all about? Garcia's spontaneous but planning a party in two days is a bit much, even for her." Another thought occurred to him, "And how on Earth would she know my size so she could buy me a costume?"

JJ laughed, "She probably hacked your tailor's computer for your measurements." Even as she laughed again at his horrified expression, she worked out her reply to the first question. She could either bite the bullet or try to dodge it. She chose to bite it. "And while I wouldn't put it past her anyways, I think the party is mostly for you."

"Me? She's planning a party…for me?"

Ok, it did sound weird when she put it that way. "Not the party, per se. But she's trying to cheer you up. She noticed that you've been out of sorts this week."

Hotch gave her a wry smile, "Out of sorts, huh?" He knew he'd been in a bad mood, there was no denying that. He just hadn't realized he'd been bad enough for Garcia to become concerned.

"Okay, so she didn't phrase it quite that way. But she's worried about you. They all are."

All of them? Crap. 'No profiling' rule or not, working with profilers sucked sometimes. "Should I expect Dave to come in next?"

JJ grinned, set down the files in her hand and perched one hip on the edge of his desk, "No, I've got it under control for now. But they are worried about you. I am too."

"I'll be alright JJ. I'm sorry if I've been taking things out on the team."

"They're big boys and girls, they're fine. I'm worried about you Aaron." She didn't use his first name often outside of introductions but it was a guaranteed way to get his attention and convey how serious she was. "Were you able to see Jack last night?" He was also smart enough to know that she wouldn't allow him to dodge the question.

He confirmed her suspicion with a sigh, "No, not yet. Haley won't even answer the phone when I call to talk to him. It's getting hard to stay civil when she acts like this." He scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration, "I'm not sure what to do Jayje. She's got all the control here."

And she knew, without him admitting it, that there if there was one thing Aaron Hotchner hated, it was being completely out of control of a situation. "I presume that you're keeping a record of these things-the denied visits, the unanswered phone calls?" Yes, he wasn't a family law lawyer but he knew the importance of documentation. But if he was going to decide to take steps to improve the situation, she couldn't push him. That was Rossi's style and not always the best one to use when dealing with Hotch. But some gentle nudging ought to do it.

"Of course I am. But I know she's keeping records too, of the times I'm away and can't see Jack. And she won't hesitate to use them against me." He sighed, recalling the fights they'd had about his schedule, ever since Jack's birth, her accusations about him not caring enough about his family. "I think making me jump through hoops is her way of getting back at me for not leaving the BAU."

JJ had to bite her lip in order to keep her thoughts about Haley firmly behind her teeth. Between listening to Hotch when he needed an ear and being on the receiving end of several dramatic monologues from Haley in the last year or so, she had a good idea of some of the things that Haley had done. And if she were ever presented with the appropriate opportunity, she'd love to give the woman a piece of her mind. But for now she put a firm rein on her temper and replied, "I'd say she's full of it. Your job and the schedule are no different now than they were before Jack was born and she knows it. When we're away on cases you call Jack every night and you take him every chance you get when we're home. Any of us can attest to that. Have you spoken to your lawyer? I may not know much about family law but I do know that you have options when she denies you your scheduled visits."

"Not yet. I've been trying to keep things as civil as possible, for Jack's sake and bringing the lawyers back into things won't help. As it is she knows that I could technically do the legal aspect of things myself, while she has to pay someone…a fact she's thrown in my face more than once." Not to mention accusing him of, among other offenses, having Garcia tracking her and having an affair with JJ. None of which he mentioned to the blonde at his side, not knowing that she'd heard them all, and more, when Haley had treated JJ to her particular style of vitriol on several occasions. Though he knew the last accusation was likely her reflecting her own behavior onto him, it seemed there was nothing he could do to please Haley, before or after the divorce. No effort was enough for her.

JJ, for her part, would have cheerfully shot Haley herself at that point for putting that look on his face and the defeated tone in his voice. "I suppose that's true. But it doesn't do you or Jack any good to let her act like that without consequences. Jack needs you, no matter what Haley says or does."

"I know. And you're right. I'll make a couple of phone calls this morning." At her raised eyebrow, he had to smile, "I promise!" JJ had always been the 'mom' of the team, managing, prodding or scolding them all as needed. And while she didn't do it to him often, he was grateful to her when she did.

"I'm glad to hear it." Ecstatic actually, but he didn't need to know that. "I'll come back with the rest of the files after lunch so we can finish up. I need to get ready for the briefing. Let me know if you need anything."

"I will. And JJ….thank you."

A brilliant smile was his response as she picked up her files once more, "Anytime Hotch. See you at the briefing."

Once she'd left the room he settled back in his chair and picked up the phone. For his own sake, as well as Jack's, he'd have to quit being a gentleman and be the lawyer who'd faced off with the worst of the worst. If he could face them, he could deal with his ex-wife, especially for his son's sake. "Good morning, this is Aaron Hotchner. Is Mr. Hunt in please?"

Meanwhile, in her own office, JJ was once again setting down the stack of files in her hands in order to free them so she could take a look at the costume that Garcia had picked out for her. Reassurances or not, she still didn't quite trust her friend. She unzipped the garment bag to reveal a dark blue dress and, true to Penelope's word, it had a long skirt and sleeves. It looked familiar but it wasn't until she spotted the accompanying bag of accessories and makeup that she realized what the costume was. What was she up to? The small bundle of beige at the bottom of the bag seemed out of place, at least until she unfolded it; it was a toddler-sized costume, complete with plushy accessory. Obviously Garcia had decided to be tactful for once and gave her Jack's costume to pass along to Hotch if needed. Thank God for small favors.

But, tact or no, she was still suspicious. A quick check of her email revealed the rest of the details for the party, which put her costume into context. But what was her friend up to?