The Haircut

He'd sent the team to bed as they would be flying home in the morning when he headed out to the all-night chemist. Whilst there he picked up some clippers, shaving foam and a razor. He may never have done this before and it may shock people but he would do this for Emily Haley.

He knocked on Morgan's door and he was surprised to see Hotch there in his doorway. Was something wrong? Had something happened? Had another body been found?

"I was wondering if you'd do me a favour," he said looking at his feet. It was then Morgan noticed the bag in Hotch's hand. He then looked Morgan square in the eye. He had to make sure he knew he was serious about this though it was out of the blue. "Will you shave my head?"

"What?" he answered in disbelief. Of all the things he was expecting Hotch to ask this was the last thing. Shave his head? Was he sure? You couldn't turn back from shaving your head. Once you shaved your head you had to wait for it to grow back if you regretted it.

"Are you sure, Bossman? This isn't something you can turn back from. Once it's gone you have to wait for your hair to grow back in and that takes some time," he answered.

"I'm positive. Apart from the case it's all I've been thinking about. My daughter's got leukaemia. I want to shave my head before she loses hers in chemo so she won't be scared about having no hair and so I can support her," he explained.

Morgan felt his heart clench as he heard that little Miss Hotchner had cancer. Apart from his own daughter Jade Emily Haley was the most popular girl at the BAU. She couldn't be so ill. He nodded in agreement that he'd shave Hotch's head.

Hotch smiled slightly and came in relieved with the equipment. "I've got clippers, shaving foam and a razor," Hotch said.

"You want to go down to the scalp?" Morgan asked.

"Yes she'll lose all her hair. I'd rather go as bald as she will than stubble."

"Ok. Let's go in the bathroom. It will be easier to shave your head in there and throw away your hair."

"Great," he answered feeling a little nervous now it was about to happen but he would do anything for her. This was the right thing to do and make his darling little angel smile. He'd never let her feel alone and would do anything to make her feel good about herself.

They headed in the bathroom and Hotch sat on the floor while Morgan sat on the lid of the toilet seat. Hotch gave him the bag of stuff he'd got from the chemist. He really wanted to do this before he got home to surprise his daughter with his physical support.

He picked out the clippers and switched them on. Thankfully they were battery-powered. He set them onto no 1 and brought them to the front of Hotch's hairline. Hotch could feel his stomach knot. Very soon he would be bald and there would be no turning back. He just hoped Morgan wasn't as nervous as he was.

"Ready?" Morgan asked feeling the adrenaline rush though his body. He couldn't believe he was about to shave his boss' head. It was all so surreal.

"Ready," Hotch answered firmly. He had to do this. This was for his daughter.

He felt the clippers touch his skin and heard the fist cut of his hair and buzz from the clippers. It felt cold but gave him an adrenaline rush as the clippers ran through his hair. He could feel his hair falling as the clippers cut all his hair off. He could soon feel that it had all been removed and Morgan's fingers on his head as he made sure it was an even shave. It felt strange and he couldn't believe he was now bald.

He then got out the shaving foam and squirted it onto Hotch's now bald head and rubbed it over his head to make sure it covered his head. It felt weird rubbing his boss and friend's head. He couldn't believe he'd actually shaved his head and Hotch was now a bald guy.

He then took out the razor and started shaving the stubble off of Hotch's head to make sure that his shaved head was smooth. Hotch felt nervous and an adrenaline rush as the razor ran over his head. It also felt even colder as the stubble was removed from his head and the cold steel ran over his head. He felt Morgan bend his ears in order to make sure none of the hair behind his ears was left behind. Once he was done he wrapped the towel around his head and rubbed it making sure no hair was left on his head.

When he took away the towel he said, "Done. You're now bald, my man. Welcome to the club."

It felt surreal that he now had a shaved head as well as Morgan but this was his for his sick little girl. He stroked his hand over his head and it felt so strange to feel his skin there instead of his hair. Oh god, he'd actually done it! He'd shaved his head completely. He had no hair. He'd had it all shaved off. He was now bald. What was his family going to think? He hoped he wouldn't scare his daughter and she'd understand he did it for her. He'd do anything for her. She was his little angel; his Emily Haley named after the women he'd loved and lost.

"Have a look," Morgan said. He knew he should have told him what everyone advised of looking in a mirror before feeling your freshly shaved head if you'd had it shaved for the first time. It was strange feeling a newly naked scalp if you were used to hair.

No-one was going to believe their eyes in the morning but when they heard the news they'd understand. It was the sweetest thing he'd ever known his boss and friend to do but he knew he would do anything for his two children. It must have taken him guts to change his hair drastically for his daughter and he admired him for that.

Hotch got up and looked in the bathroom mirror. He was shocked by the reflection but it was definitely him. Staring back at him was a bald white guy with dark eyes. It was weird but actually looked alright.

He stroked it satisfied he'd actually done it. This would help Emily Haley. She'd soon be like this and now she wouldn't be alone.

He stroked it smiling slightly. It still needed sinking in but it looked good; he could live with it until Emmy got better or passed away. As her father he hoped it was the former obviously. Her birth had given him hope for the future and helped him finally move on from Emily's disappearance. Jack adored his little sister and it would devastate him to lose her. Hotch loved watching his two children together. Jack had taken the role of protector from the moment Emily Haley was born.

"It looks great," Morgan said.

"Thanks," he answered. "I agree."

They cleared away his hair and Hotch gathered the tools together. "Goodnight Morgan and thank you I really appreciate it. I know it was unexpected but you did a good job," Hotch said about to leave.

"Anytime man. I know you'd do the same for me." He nodded in agreement. That he would. "Goodnight Hotch."

Hotch left the room and went to bed. It felt strange as his bald head hit the pillow. He was more acute to the coldness of the pillow as his skin touched it instead of his hair.