It's sad, but I'm not really good at happy stories :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Reid started driving around aimlessly. He had no idea where Hotch would go, but he knew that he had to find him. He had to let him know that he understood and would stand by him. While driving, his mind went through every possibility of where Hotch could be going now. After checking seventeen locations, he was ready to take a break. It was as simple as the old saying, 'the mind is willing but the flesh is weak,' and boy was he weak. He hadn't been sleeping right for a few weeks now because of today, and how the day used to mean losing a friend. And while he wanted to continue his search more than anything, he could barely think straight, let alone drive a car and think at the same time. So, he decided to call it a night and drove back home to his apartment.
As soon as he opened the door, he could tell he wasn't alone. He instantly went on alert and pulled his gun, fearing that it was someone who might want to hurt him, the people who Hotch was talking about. "It's alright." A familiar voice said from inside his apartment. "I didn't mean to scare you, but I just needed to talk with you." As Reid turned the lights on, he saw Hotch sitting on his couch with Jack sleeping on his lap. "He tried to stay up for you," Hotch said faintly smiling as he rubbed his hand gently up and down his son's back soothingly. "But he was too exhausted."
"He's been through a lot recently, hasn't he?" Reid asked.
"More than most adults have gone through in their entire lives." Hotch said sadly. "But he is spectacular, never once did he complain. I wouldn't have been able to make it through anything, if he hadn't been by my side." Hotch said with a slight smile.
"You want to put him to sleep in my room? Something tells me that we need to talk."
"Yeah, that would be great. Thank you." And with that he was carefully lifting his son off the couch and carrying him to Reid's bedroom.
Once he came back into the living room Hotch could see the confusion on the young genius's face. If only his life was simple, wouldn't that be nice.
"I don't even know where to begin." Hotch said as he unceremoniously plopped down on the couch.
"How about why you came here?" Reid finally suggested.
"You know, Jack and this team are my whole world, and I would do anything to protect all of you. As to why I came here, I need to ask a favor. I know that I have no right to ask, but I have to. Can you watch Jack for me?"
"H-Hotch, what do you mean? Like for a few hours or days… yeah ok, I guess so. I just don't have much experience with kids…" Reid stammered.
"Not exactly. Before Haley died, she had me promise her that I would teach Jack how to love. That I would show him beauty in this twisted world. I fully intend to keep that promise, but I might not be able to anymore. All of this is coming to an end and I don't know…"
"No Hotch, nothing is going to happen to you. You can't start talking like that." Reid interrupted him as he stood and started pacing.
"Spencer, look me in the eyes." Hotch asked him as he stood in the way of his pacing. When Reid finally met Hotch's eyes he saw compassion and trust. "I plan on ending this nightmare within a few days, but I don't know how it will end. I want to make sure that my son, and my family, is in good hands. Spencer, I trust you more than anyone in this world. You mean more to me and this team then you will ever be able to comprehend. I want to make sure that Jack will be safe through all of this. I want you to take care of Jack, and this team for me. Can you promise me that?"
"Of course I will." Reid said without hesitation. "But I want you to promise me something in return."
"Sure Reid." Hotch said trying, and failing to smile.
"Will you promise me that you will come home?" Reid asked as his eyes started to water.
"I promise that I will do everything in my power to come back." Hotch told him solemnly. But before Reid could say anything else, Hotch silently walked inside Reid's bedroom.
Hotch just stood in the doorway, watching his son sleep. He had a faint smile on his face and he looked so peaceful. If only his son felt like that all the time, only having to worry about what he was having for his next meal not about assassins hunting him down. First he took his mother away, now he had taken his life away. And it killed Hotch to know that he had destroyed his son's life. He just hoped that if anything did happen to him, that his son would keep living and be happy. And as much as it killed him to do this, he had to say goodbye to his son. He had to protect him. So he knelt down by Jack's side and gently woke him up.
"Is it morning already daddy?" Jack asked sleepily.
"No buddy, it's not quite morning yet." Hotch said chuckling.
"Then why did you wake me up, do we have to leave again?" Jack asked sadly.
"No, you don't have to leave, this time it's just me." Hotch replied, his eyes starting to water.
"What do you mean daddy?"
"Jack, do you know how much I love you?" Hotch asked instead of answering the question, as he sat on the bed next to his son.
"To the moon and back?" Jack asked as he stared up at his father with big hazel eyes.
"Even more than that. Now don't you ever forget how much I love you, ever." Hotch said hugging his son tightly.
"I won't daddy, I promise. And you never break a promise."
"That's exactly right. You may not understand now, but I am doing this for you. I love you Jack."
"I love you to daddy." Jack said as he laid back down.
"Goodbye son." Hotch whispered as he tucked Jack in and kissed his forehead, letting one tear slide down his cheek.
"Daddy where are you going?" Jack asked as Hotch was walking towards the doorway. "You always sleep with me."
"I have to leave right now Jack."
"You never left before. When will you come back?
"I don't know yet Jack. But I need you to stay here while I'm gone…"
"NO, you can't leave!" Jack cried as he ran forward and clung to Hotch's legs.
"Jack…"
"Don't leave me daddy, please." Jack begged as started to cry.
"I have to. You need to stay here with Uncle Spencer, ok?"
"No, I wanna stay with you." Jack said as he buried his face into Hotch's leg.
"Come here." Hotch said as he picked Jack up and held him tightly in his arms.
Reid looked up when he heard crying and saw Jack clinging to Hotch as if he were a life line. They both had tears running down their faces, looking like scars that destroyed their faces. Hotch looked as if he had just aged ten years since the last time Reid had seen him. And at that moment, Reid noticed Hotch limp, ever so slightly. Up until this point, it had never occurred to Reid what type of injuries the man may have sustained over the past year. What had really happened to him?
"Jack, I need you to stay with Uncle Spencer ok?" Hotch asked, even though it sounded more like begging.
"Daddy don't leave me." Jack said again.
"Jack, I love you more than anything in this world and Uncle Spencer is going to take care of you. You need to stay with him."
"Will you come back?" Jack asked quietly.
"I will do everything I can, to make sure that you are safe and that I come home to be with you. But you are and always will be my first priority, which is why you need to stay here so you can be safe. I love you Jack."
"I love you to daddy."
Hotch walked over and tried to hand Jack to Reid, but he only seemed to hold on tighter. "Jack let go." Hotch asked quietly, his voice breaking with emotion.
"No." The little boy said adamantly. "If I let go, you will leave. Just like mommy did."
At those words Hotch couldn't stop the choked sob that escaped his mouth. Finally prying his son's hands off of him, he handed Jack over to Reid. "Goodbye Jack, I love you so much." And with that, Hotch was gone. Disappearing faster than the wind.
What did you think? R&R
