Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, suffering from writer's block but trying to get a chapter out! And oh, Reid, just admit it. That's exactly how it happened!
"That is not how it happened!" Reid objected, sending Morgan a glare. He crossed his arms, turning to look back out on the field where Jack passed the ball to another boy on his team. Who does he think he is? Why can't he let it go?
"Is so!" declared Derek, as he looked back at Reid. "That is definitely what happened last night!" And it was too funny.
Hotch glanced over at the two, he wasn't sure what they were arguing about. Some situation from the night before at the bar. He knew it involved a girl and Reid embarrassing himself. He wasn't sure but right now his head was pounding too hard to even try and understand it. Instead, he forced himself to focus on Jack. That was why they were here. He couldn't help but look over as he saw JJ sipping her coffee, a pained expression on her face. She'd clearly gotten a hang over, too.
Garcia held Henry in her arms and was smiling ear to ear as she kept the little boy amused.
He shook his head and looked back on the field just in time to see Jack's team score. "Great team work," he yelled out when Jack looked over at him expectantly. He was after all, the coach.
The team all winced, aside from Reid whom had been smart enough to stop at his limit.
Oh, my head. He heard Emily think and he turned over to see her wincing. He wouldn't admit it, but it made him feel just a bit better to know he wasn't suffering through this terrible ordeal alone.
"Who's winning?" Dave whispered leaning over.
"We don't keep score," Hotch responded, having told this to Dave many times before. Yet he always asked.
"Losing that bad huh?" Dave asked, smirking a bit.
Hotch mock glared at him, before focusing his attention back on the team, his attention mainly on his son.
She seems to be doing better today, I hope she is.
Confused, Hotch turned to look at Emily, wondering who she was talking about. He saw her gaze focused on JJ and figured this must have to do with last night. What was going on between JJ and Will? He wanted to listen to JJ's thoughts a bit more closely but he felt like he was intruding as if he'd stolen her private journal and had it at his expense. But if he just happened to 'accidentally' hear something, now that wasn't his fault, was it?
Discreetly, he moved a bit closer to JJ. He was gaining a bit of control and had learned that the closer he was to a person, the louder he'd hear them.
I'm beginning to worry. I don't think Will's coming back this time, what do I do now?
He hadn't expected that. Will and JJ were having relationship problems? He was immediately overcome with empathy. He opened his mouth to reassure her before stopping. He wasn't supposed to hear her thoughts! He gritted his teeth. So now he knew what was wrong and couldn't do anything about it. Honestly, he'd hoped JJ and Will would stay together. For Henry's sake and to prove that with their jobs, relationships were possible. And the most obvious reason, because he wanted JJ to be happy.
I know the love has been gone for awhile, but for Henry's sake...
Hotch couldn't stand to hear any more. It was too hard to hear a friend of his in pain and not be able to do anything about it. Clearly stressed, he walked back over to Dave.
"Hear anything interesting?" his colleague asked, grinning.
"No," Hotch said a bit too harshly.
Rossi, of course, didn't comment but instead gave him the space he knew he needed. It took a few minutes, but finally Hotch apologized. It was owed and he knew this.
"I am sorry, I just heard something I didn't really want to," he said, trying to explain as much as he could.
Dave nodded. "It seems like such a perfect gift, of course there must be a catch." He shook his head, watching the game out of the corner of his eye. "Who?"
"JJ," Hotch responded, trying to ignore the worry he felt for the young blonde.
Nodding as if this made perfect sense, Rossi glanced over at her quickly and noticed the way she was chewing her lip, obviously upset. "She needs a friend."
"She does," Hotch agree, trying to watch her carefully without being noticed.
"And what better than someone that can read her mind and know EXACTLY what she wants and needs?" Rossi continued to ponder out loud.
Hotch kept nodding in agreement, before realizing what Dave was implying. "What? I couldn't," he objected. He'd never been good with personal relationships.
"JJ!" Dave called out, startling the blonde out of her trance.
She lifted her head up and stood up from the bench and approached the two.
At this moment, Hotch was cursing Dave in his head so much, he wished he could hear his thoughts! What was he supposed to do here? And why was Dave smirking? It was as if he was planning something...
"What's up?" JJ asked, shifting her weight while she stifled a yawn.
"Hotch wants to take Jack to that kid's pizza place, with the play area and clowns but he doesn't want to be stuck there alone. He asked me to go, but why would I go when I don't have a kid? So maybe Henry needs a little treat?" Rossi asked, ignoring the glare he was receiving. It's perfect, now just agree.
JJ paused for a couple minutes trying to recall the place, "Ah, Casey's! I'm sure Henry would love to go! When did you want to bring Jack?" JJ asked, turning to face Hotch. It'd be good for Henry and me. We need to get out, all we do is sit at home.
"I was thinking tomorrow, at around noon," Hotch replied, quickly inventing a day. "Perhaps you could meet us at our place at around eleven?"
"Sounds great," JJ said with a smile. Why is he looking at me like that?
Looking away quickly, pretending to focus on the game again, Hotch nodded, "See you then."
As JJ watched away, he turned to glare at Rossi. "Thanks for the warning!"
"You'd have never gone for it if I'd told you," Dave told him. Now, a few more tweaks, JJ and Hotch, the perfect match.
"Wait a minute, she needs a FRIEND," Hotch said realizing now what his friend's intentions were. Why does he always try and set me up? Hotch thought, shaking his head.
"As do you," replied Dave, smiling innocently at him. And then, you'll become more than friends.
"That's not going to happen," Hotch muttered under his breath.
Author's Note: Oh, Hotch, why are you so stubborn? XD Review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!
