This chapter is dedicated to "Sierra Clearwater" "nataliebianca" "Ninja Bagel" and "alterangirl"

"Ri?" Hotch said as he knocked on the bathroom door. He heard his daughter mumble something along the lines of an invitation into the bathroom. Once the door was open, Hotch was saddened by what he saw. Riley's skin was so pale it almost had a gray tinge. Her eyes were red around the rims and her cheeks were flushed. Riley's hair was up in a messy ponytail, but her bangs were clinging to her sweat drenched face.

"Hey." She whispered.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Hotch never really understood why people asked this. It was clear that Riley wasn't okay, but it was customary to ask if she was well.

"Oh, I've had better days." Riley said, the ghost of a smile on her cracked lips. Rolling his eyes at her remark, Hotch bent down to Riley's level.

"What can I get you?"

"I'd kill for a Gravol or something along those lines." Riley said hopefully.

"Of course." Hotch picked himself off the floor and he opened the medicine cupboard. After throwing various medications out of the cupboard, he realized that he did not have any medication that would help Riley.

"None?" Riley asked sadly.

"No, but I'll run to the drug store. The one down the street is open 24 hours."

"It's ironic. When we drove by it, I wondered who needed medication at 3am. Joke's on me." Riley said, waving her hands in the hair.

"You don't need to put on a show baby, you can just be sick." He said, patting her back.

"You're never sick." Riley sighed, gripping her knees in her arms.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Hotch said.

"Nothing really. That's just my excuse. I just hate feeling so vulnerable." She whined.

"There's nothing wrong with being sick." He assured her.

"Alright I guess. Hurry up and get me medicine. I'm going to barf again if you'll excuse me." Much to Riley's dismay, Hotch stayed in the bathroom while she was sick again. He rubbed her back, and when she finished, he kissed her head and left. Hotch went into his room as to not wake up Emily, but it was too late.

"What's going on?" She asked, in a sleepy voice.

"Riley's sick. JJ said that Henry just had that 24 hour bug, and Henry was with you guys when you were shopping right?" Hotch asked in one breath.

"Oh, she's got it too. How is she?" Emily asked, her voice full of concern.

"She's more worried about looking weak than anything else. Typical." He said with a faint smile.

"Well, we're out of Gravol."

"No kidding. That's why I'm getting dressed." Hotch said.

"No need to be sanppy!" Emily laughed.

"You shush. Can you mind the kids for a few minutes?"

"Of course I can." Emily nodded and Hotch finished getting dressed. He kissed Emily, then ran out of the room.

**

Jack had called for Hotch three before Emily heard him. At first he whispered slightly, then the volume of his voice grew. Just like any kid, the last call was a huge scream.

"Yeah Jackie?" She asked.

"I want my daddy." He whined.

"Your daddy's at the store. Can I do anything for you sweetie?" Emily asked, and as she finished, Jack follower Riley's suit. He threw up on his bedspread. Jack began to cry, begging Emily's forgiveness. She just smiled warmly and took the blankets off the bed as carefully as possible. She knew that Riley had set up camp in the bathroom on the floor they were currently on, so Emily took Jack downstairs and bathed him. Once she had put his blankets in the wash, put new ones on Jack's bed, put Jack to bed, and checked on Riley, Emily called Hotch.

"What is taking you so long?" She hissed into the phone.

"The one down the street isn't open 24 hours. I had to drive all over town to find a stupid drug store. I'm about to pay now." Hotch explained.

"Well, you'd better pick up some children's Gravol too." She said.

"No way." Hotch said.

"All over his bed."

"He must have been so embarrassed. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

"No worries." Emily said. "He's fallen back to sleep. I just gave him a garbage pail and told him to call me if he needed me."

"And Riley?"

"Oh, she's alright. I checked on her a few seconds ago. She's sleeping on the bathroom floor, poor thing. She threw up again while I was bathing Jack."

"And he was only the once?" Hotch asked.

"No, he's been sick twice now." Emily recounted, remembering when she had to toss Jack out of the tub, over to the toilet.

"Jesus. Okay, I'll be home as soon as I can." Hotch said. "Thank you so much."

"It's cool. Just get back with the Gravol soon." Emily laughed quietly.

**

The rest of the night had been a long one. Hotch returned and gave the kids the medication. Jack took it well, but threw it up a few moments later. Riley took hers too, and she held it down for a while. None of the Hotchners, nor Emily got any sleep that night. Both children were running a fever, clearly suffering from whatever Henry was suffering from. By seven the next morning, Hotch had fallen asleep in the bathroom beside Riley, and Emily was on the foot of Jack's bed.

"Emmy?" Jack said, poking her in the arm to wake her up.

"Hmm?" Emily said groggily.

"I wanted to ask if we could put a movie on in the living room."

"Sure we can babycakes. You grab your pillow and blanket. I'll set you up out there. I'll get you some medicine."

"You're like my doctor Emmy." Jack squealed. She laughed.

"I guess I am."

"Well, I'm the patient. I think that hugs will work better than icky medicine." Jack concluded.

"You can have a hug." She said happily, embracing the little Hotchner in her arms. "But you still need medicine."

"Always a catch." Jack muttered and Emily burst out laughing while she helped him get set up on the couch.

**

"Daddy?" Riley whispered in her father's ear.

"You haven't called me daddy since you were 10." Hotch replied grogily with a small smile.

"Whatever. Hey Aaron?" She smirked.

"Never too sick for a joke are you?"

"Nope. I just wanted to tell you that I can here the TV. Jack's put a movie on."

"And?"

"I was going to tell you that I'm feeling a bit better, I'm going to go watch." Riley said.

"You want to watch one of Jack's movies?"

"I can hear it. He's watching Beauty and the Beast. Excuse me for liking the classics." She said with a smile.

"That was your favourite as a kid." Hotch pointed out, getting out of the makeshift bed he had on the bathroom floor. "If you're up to it, go wherever you want."

"Okay." She said. It sounded like she had more to say.

"Riley?" He asked.

"It's...nothing." Aaron looked at his daughter, and knew imeadiatly what she wanted. He also knew she was much too proud to ask for a hug. Without a word, he took her into his arms and held her tight. She looked up at him with her big eyes and smiled. "Thanks man."

"Anytime."

**

The rest of the day passed rather slowly. A highly uneventful Saturday. Neither of the kids were sick during the day, a clear sign that they were getting better. Emily had called JJ who said that whatever illness that Henry had was short lived too. Both of the kids ran a light fever, but other than that they were getting better.

"Hey, can you do me a favour?" Riley asked her dad. It was about nine that night and both Emily and Jack had fallen asleep.

"Anything Riley." He whispered. He rubbed her hair as she laid in bed; something she never let him do, even as a small child.

"Go in my closet?"

"Literally? Go in your closet?" He joked.

"Well, look who's a comedian for once in his life." Riley mumbled.

"I'm kidding." Hotch said with a smile.

"I realized. I just didn't know that you knew how." Riley laughed.

"It seems to make you happy. Anyways, go into your closet?" He asked, standing up. He opened the door and saw Riley's favourite guitar.

"Well?" She asked.

"I had no idea you even brought a guitar." He smiled.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of hiding from you." She smirked.

"You'd better be joking." He said sternly.

"You'll never know." She winked. Hotch rolled his eyes.

"I see you're feeling better."

"Stop changing the subject." Riley scolded, pointing to her guitar.

"Riley, I know you're feeling better, but I don't think you need to sit up and play guitar." Hotch said.

"But dad-" She began.

"Riley, no. I want you to get to sleep." He said, kissing her forehead.

"That's not what I meant." Riley said.

"What did you mean then?" Hotch asked, confused.

"Play me something." She said happily.

"What?" Hotch was totally surprised by Riley's request.

"You heard me. Play me a song."

"I haven't played in years." He said, making excuses.

"So? Don't forget who taught me to play guitar when I was Jack's age." Riley pointed out.

"Ri, I don't know any songs." He lied.

"You think you can lie to me? Dad, please? You haven't played in years. Maybe that's why you're so serious all the time. You never have any fun."

"I have fun." He said.

"Oh yeah, well then have some now." She said. Aaron knew that there was no way he'd win the argument with Riley. Even though he was an atourney at one point, he didn't have the ability to win a fight with his 15 year old daughter. He picked up her guitar and played a few chords. Within a few moments, he was playing out his favourite song to play, and Riley sang along.

**

"Emmy, do you here that?" Jack asked, shaking Emily awake.

"Yeah, it's music."

"Is it Sweet Caroline?" Jack asked. Emily listened and agreed that it was. Both Emily and Jack got up and went into Riley's room. Emily was surprised to see that it was Aaron who was playing the guitar.

"You play guitar?!" She asked, totally shocked. He nodded and apologized for not telling her.

"He teached Riley!" Jack explained.

"Well, you can make it up to me." Emily said with a warm smile.

"Oh? How can I do that?" Hotch asked.

"Play us another one."

A/N: That's all for now! Please Review, and keep those song requests coming :D