Jinxed-4

It would be simpler sometimes if Garcia didn't look like one of her own over the top confections. Aaron was having a hard time taking what she said seriously. Usually he would, usually he wouldn't find her camouflage distracting, but it was the only happy thing he'd seen in days. The only problem was her words were so dissonant with her outfitting. "Bennington call, that's where Reid's mom,"

"I know," Hotch barely contained himself from snapping at her as he played with the edges of the envelope Erin Strauss had left him.

Garcia looked briefly hurt. "Bennington Sanitarium called, Reid's mom hasn't heard from him, she's frantic with worry, they have you listed as his contact. "

"I'll take care of it." Exactly how he would do that was beyond him.

"Sir, we're all really worried, and I know that sometimes things are better kept in a family,"

"He's not my family!" Aaron stood up as he yelled at her—putting the entire bull-pen on notice.

Garcia stood her ground, "I may not be a profiler, Sir, but he is your family."

Aaron glarded at her.

Garcia opened her mouth to apologize, realized she stood by her statement, and backed out of Aaron's office, pulling the door closed behind her.

Aaron dialed the number. Knowing what to say would make this conversation easier, but he didn't.

"Yes"

"Aaron Hotchner."

"No, I don't believe I should talk to dr. Reid myself." Dr. Reid—that was Spencer's name. Dr. Reid, a shy wave of introduction. Dr. Reid, brilliant, hands flying about as he lead the team to some obtuse conclusion. Dr. Reid-Saying it left his tongue sticking dryly to the roof of his mouth.

"He's sick." Dying and unwilling to try and I will damn well see to it that he ends up in psyche if he doesn't.

"Yes." Reid could contact his mom, he could just as well write, but that might entail telling the truth.

"He will write to her as soon as he is well enough." God dammit, Spencer had cut off another aspect of communication.

Aaron hadn't even thought about Reids' other family, and that maybe they should know.

"Seriously ill, no we don't know" this was the first time he had to say this "we don't know if he will" tears? Did he have to cry? "if he will live."

"I will let him know."

Then Emily was at his desk, rubbing circles on his back.

Jinxed-5

"Why are you going to Church Daddy?"

"Sometimes it's just good to talk to God."

"Do I have to go?"

"Yes, Jack, we have to Buddy." Aaron was going to be damned if he let Spencer decide Jack's religious education.

"Loving God; …Merciful God; ..Faithful God; …God who fulfills all his promises;" Aaron held tightly onto Jack's little hand, as the words he had known for a lifetime fell out of his mouth again. "Now with the Angles, and Archangels and all the company of heaven." Aaron recited, his finger tracing the lines so Jack could read with. Jack knew how to read words like Archangels? How did that happen? He realized that he had no idea what Seraphim and Cherubim (cheribii?) were, but Jack did seem able to read the words.

"Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name," Jack looked at Aaron; please let him not ask any questions. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done," please let this not be God's will, "On earth as it is in Heaven." Oh, please, not Heaven, not that again. "Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses," what the hell did daily bread have to do with anything? Please, dear God, please forgive me for something, "As we forgive those who trespass against us." Christ that's a list, "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" It's not the evil that f***ing got him, it's you, damn you, f*** you f***inf screw it. You mother f***ing interventionist bastard. Aaron's voice continued with the congregation. "For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen."

"Praise from God from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below, praise him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Jack made a dash for the door.

The Reverend caught Aaron as he was making his own dash for the door. "It's a wonderful surprise to see you, and lovely to have Jack back again, I haven't seen Dr. Reid here recently. Is everything ok at home?" That explained how Jack knew about Cherubim and Seraphim, probably more about them than one would ever need, since he had Spencer in charge of his religious education. Where the hell had he been while his own family was growing up?

Aaron's entire face twitched, "Home? Spencer left."

"He didn't leave." Yelled Jack on the way home, "He didn't leave."

Why did Jack have to act like he was three?

"What are you doing here?" Aaron snapped at JJ standing on his doorstep with a casserole. He glanced at the food, "and he's not dead yet." A look of horror crossed his face as he realized what he had said in front of Jack. She gathered the little boy into her arms. "Hotch, let us help you, we know." Will was hanging back by the car with little Henry. Jack, cried out from his tantrum at the church, was sleeping soundly in JJ's arms. "We'll take him for the rest of the day Aaron. You have things to do."

"Spencer, I know you told the doctors you don't want me here. But you need to hear this." Aaron had intended on explaining the details of the cancer to Spencer, and the details of his surgery and limitations, and the self-care that he was refusing to perform, and the care that he was refusing to receive; everything carefully rehearsed with the doctors. He had intended explaining to Spencer that due to his current action or inaction rather, that he was placed on a psych hold, and that Aaron would be making his medical decisions from now on. Instead Aaron ran a hand over Spencer's forehead. "I love you, and I don't know what I would do without you, please find a way to come home."