Hotch entered the bullpen and for a brief moment it wasn't noteworthy. But Reid looked up from his desk and visibly paled. Little noises tumbled from his mouth as he lost the ability to articulate words. Morgan confused by what he heard looked up and couldn't believe what he saw. Their unflappable and always properly attired boss was attempting to walk past them without being noticed. He wore dark aviator sunglasses that hid his eyes. His hair was disheveled and he had a few days growth on his face. He hadn't taken his clothes off since that fateful day. Before Morgan could say anything Hotch tried to move past him, but he wasn't as steady on his feet as he would have liked.

"Hotch ... are you alright?" Morgan queried hesitantly.

Hotch didn't have an answer so he just looked at Morgan.

Morgan stared at his reflection in the dark glasses. What do you say in a momet like this? What words would not come out trite and useless. And ... wait a minute is that alcohol I smell. Please don't let him have shown up drunk to work.

As Morgan tried to think of a delicate way to ask a question he never in his life thought he would have to ask. Dave, alerted by Reid walked, over. "Aaron why don't you come with me into my office."

"Leave me alone Dave I got a lot of work to do."

"Aaron" Dave said as patiently as he could. "You don't want to cause a scene just come with me into the office." Dave said pleasantly with a forced smile on his face.

Hotch reluctantly let Dave led him away from the team which by now had all gathered around.

"Ok what just happened there?"

I don't know JJ, but if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it. Morgan took a long look at Dave's office. "Are we sure Hotch doesn't have a twin brother." He said attempting a little levity.

They all stared blank face at him. "Yeah that was a bad joke." Morgan resolved not to tell anyone what he smelled on Hotch's breath.

"Aaron ... what are you doing here?"

"What do you mean what am I doing here? I work here. ... I am the Unit Chief for the Behavioral Analysis Unit. I'm here to do my job."

"Aaron you could have taken some more time, we would have covered for you."

"I don't want you to cover for me. It seems like for the last year that's all the team has been doing."

"And we will continue to do it. This team loves you Aaron."

"Apparently not all of them."

The silence that filled the room was deafening.

"Have you talked to her?"

"No, she won't answer her phone. She hasn't been home."

"Tell me you haven't been driving to her place drunk waiting for her to come home."

"I haven't been driving. I have been putting a cabbie's daughter through college." Hotch joked bitterly.

"How's Jack?"

"He's happy. He's visiting his grandparents. I haven't told him anything yet. I don't know what I am going to say when he gets home. ... Dave I told him that morning when I took him to the airport. I told him we got together. He's going to be crushed."

He isn't the only Hotchner boy to be crushed. But Rossi kept that thought to himself. "Aaron, let me take you home you're in no condition to be here."

"Whatever. This is getting to be a habit, first that bartender called you, now this, do you have a daughter I need to put through college?" Aaron slurred collapsing into Dave's arms his legs no longer capable of sustaining his weight.

Dave winced, this was worse than he thought. Hotch knew he had no kids and he didn't utilize dark humor in painful situations. He would have some choice words for a certain raven haired Agent when he found her. Dave picked up his phone and called Morgan. "Get in here."

Morgan entered a moment later. "What's up, Dave. Oh. Is he out?"

"Like a light. Now we are going to get him to my car but we are going to take him out the back way and as inconspicuously as possible. The last thing Aaron needs is for Strauss to hear about this."

"Dave what are we going to do if we get a case? He's in no shape to deal with that. And there's no way we can keep it from Strauss."

"I don't know. But if it comes to it, I'll figure out something to take care of Strauss."

They managed to get him into Rossi's car without drawing any attention to themselves. They picked up Reid along the way. And Rossi drove them to Hotch's house. Rossi called Garcia's phone and she put it on speaker so JJ and Morgan could hear as well.

"All right so from now one one of us stays with him at all times. Garcia how many days vacation does he have?"

"A lot sir, he never takes vacations."

Rossi rubbed his face with his free hand. "Yeah. ... Well he's taking one now. And Garcia find her now!"