A.N: Ok so I know it's been awhile, but I'm back with the next part, and this time we learn a little bit about where Hotch has been and what he thoughts and feelings are. I hope everyone likes and don't forget to let me know. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, alerted and added to favorites you guys make my day. Now without farther adieu on with the show.

Disclaimed: I own nothing *pouts*

Chapter ten

Two damn long years, he sat twiddling his thumbs no words from his team if they'd found the son of a bitch, but then if they had he'd be home instead of this God forsaken hell hole he called home. A quick sweep of the well lived in living room, Jack's toys thrown haphazardly around showing that indeed a six year old hyper active little boy lived there. A long tried sigh left his lips as he busied himself picking up the toys and in general cleaning the little apartment they called home.

He hated it here, there was nothing he could do, nothing but memories to keep his mind occupied and even they were starting to fade with time. He missed his life back in Quantico, he missed his family and friends. Hell if pushed he'd say he missed tracking the damn unsub's down as well, but the more rational part of his brain new that he couldn't not when he had to think about protecting Jack.

A long loud ring broke the still silence, a ring he never thought he'd hear again.

"Keep this phone charged at all times Hotch's no matter what and no matter where you are. This one little thing is all that links you to us and back home," Marshall Roberts stated handing a small black cell phone to Hotch.

He nodded glancing down at his son, who stood beside him, arms held tight to his hip, then back up into the aged, gray eyes of Marshall Jacob Roberts. "Only connection? Won't he be able to track it?"

Roberts gave the younger man a doubtful look "It's not likely. You know him about as well as I do Aaron do you seriously think he'd try tracking a cell phone?"

Hotch just nodded, knowing the other man was right, but it still didn't quell the doubts and fears running through his mind.

"Daddy?" Jack asked tugging at his jeans leg.

Hotch looked down at his son, "Yea buddy," he said bending down to his level.

"We leaving?" he asked, fear widening his deep brown eyes.

A lump formed in the back of Hotch's throat, "Yes Jack, we have to."

"But why," the four year old whined tears springing to his eyes.

Hotch wrapped his son in a tight hug letting the little boy cry into his shoulder, as he smoothed a hand over his head, "We have to buddy to protect you from the bad guys, remember. It's like we'll be working the case together just a little while longer. You think you can do that for me?" Pulling back Jack looked up into his father's eyes and slowly nodded. Hotch cuffed the back of his head, "That's my boy," he responded wrapping his arms back around him and lifting him into his arms.

"Just remember, keep your head down, try not to draw any attention to yourself and if anything looks suspicious call me. And don't worry we'll get him," Roberts advises slapping Hotch on the shoulder, then motioned towards the group behind him, "I'll give you a few."

Hotch nodded his thanks before approaching his team.

"Don't get shot while you're out there on your own, you want have the team to back your ass up Hotchner," Rossi exclaimed gruffly, clasping the younger mans hand.

"Take care of this team Dave, we were all ready one down now to, don't let it fall apart," he returned, hoping that even in his absence his team, his family would still keep it together, yet he could see the rift that had divided them when Penelope walked out of their lives.

"I'll do my best," he answered walking away from his one time protégé worry forming behind his dark brown eyes.

"Take care of yourself Hotch, we want you and Jack back in one piece remember that," JJ offered, pulling both father and son into a big hug.

"I will JJ, and you take care of Henry to and you remember to cut Morgan some slack. It wasn't entirely his fault for Pen's departure," Hotch said, catching and holding her light blue eyes seeing the doubt flair to life.

She nodded, "I'll try that's all I can give you," and placed a chaste kiss to both Hotchner male's cheeks walking off so no one could see her tears.

Reid stepped forward a long fingered hand stretched out before him, "You they say these kind of things can last years sometime even decades I wouldn't be surprised if we never see you again Hotch I mean…"

A subtle smile curved Hotch's lips, "Reid we'll be back, don't count me out just yet."

"Sorry," he mumbled retracting his hand, "I guess… I just."

"I'm going to miss you to Reid and don't let all those facts go to your head," Hotch answered patting the younger man on the back. Of all his team he worried for Reid the most. He'd lost his father young, then Gideon left with just a note behind, Garcia leaving with barely a goodbye, and now the only constant in his left was being forced into witness protection. The poor lad couldn't catch a brake, but if time had taught Hotch one thing it was that Reid was resilient and would bounce back maybe.

Reid nodded and turned away, to stand beside JJ who took his hand in hers giving it a friendly squeeze.

Morgan approached, "When you return to job is yours again Hotch, count on that."

"It may not be a temporary shot Derek, we don't know how long I'll be gone. Just…" Hotch paused unsure of what to say. In the last six months Derek had changed so much from the carefree, easy smiling young man he once knew. Hotch chalked it up to Penelope walking out of his life, the only sunshine in his dark soul. He just hoped with time that either one of them would come to their senses and return to one another. Yet he knew deep down that both were stubborn and wouldn't budge even though Derek still didn't understand why she life in the first place and that one little snag was what kept him from doing anything. Hotch looked back at Derek, after coming out of his self review of the two to see pained brown eyes, staring at him, waiting for him to finish his words.

He shifted Jack's weight to his other hip, "Don't let this job consume you to the point you quit living. I know I'm not much of a role model on love, but try to find her, give her the chance you know you need to."

Derek shook his head, his voice filled with sadness, "It's too late for that Hotch she left without even telling me why. How can I forgive that and let it slide?"

"In time you will Morgan, when you least expect it something will force the two of you back together and then you will have to make amends, both of you," Hotch stated clasping his shoulder and walking off towards the remaining member of his team.

"It's not going to be the same without you Aaron," Emily breathed, softly feeling his free hand take hers.

"In time it will Em, it has to. Take care of yourself," he chided pulling her hand closer.

"I have to, so when you come back, things can pick up were we're leaving them," Emily answered glazing up into his deep eyes, seeing the sadness and regret pool just beyond the brown depths.

He quickly closed his eyes, taking a deep breath bringing in her light spicy scent of jojoba oil feeling his nasal passages imprinting itself on his memory, for his next words would rip his heart out, "Move on Emily, don't hung on to what we had."

She pulled back slightly, tears burning the back of her eyes, "I can't forget it Aaron and I don't want to."

"It was to short and barely even started to ponder on the what ifs. Let it and me go," he stated again pulling his hand free and walking away.

"Ready Hotch?" Roberts called watching the stoic leader walk towards him.

"As I'll ever be," he returned walking strait ahead never once looking back.

"Hello," he answered pulling back to the present.

"Hotch, Roberts, I've got news."

All air left his body, "And?"

"It's not good," Roberts responded, sitting heavily into his black cloth chair.

"What do you mean," Hotch returned a sneaking suspicion that he wouldn't like the next words coming through the cell.

"He's back, and bodies are following him," Jacob began, "there's pictures to."

"Son of a bitch," Hotch exclaimed the urge to throw something growing within him, "what do you mean pictures?"

"JJ said something about a stack of pictures Morgan received this afternoon, before they got the call about two dead bodies. Apparently the woman looked like someone from your team. She was pretty shook up about it, mumbled something about Garcia. I couldn't quiet make that part out, but she did say that you need to watch your back closer, he could be anywhere."

"And my team, no one injured is there?" cursing himself for running away like a coward. If he knew anything he knew that JJ had been talking about Penelope, and if that sick bustard had done something to her, there would be hell to pay.

"No, no nothing like that Hotch, just shook up a bit."

Pictures, the idea popped into his head like a light bulb going off, "The pictures Morgan received did she say what, or who they were of?"

"Na she didn't go into much detail bout that one," Roberts answered, running a tried hand over his face.

"When are you coming to get us?" Hotch asked knowing that he couldn't and wouldn't sit by and let his team his family deal with this alone.

"Until he's back in hell where he belongs your not coming within a hundred miles of this town Aaron you know that."

"Bull shit Jacob, I will not sit by and let my team go through this without me. If I know him any he want stop until one of them is dead. He's taunting them wanting them to make a mistake and I'll be damn if I'll sit up here in Podunk hell and let this just pass cause you and I both know it won't. So you have a decision to make either come and get us now, or I'm coming there."

"Hard ass," Roberts commented on a chuckle, "be ready tomorrow noon, we'll drive back," and he hung up.

A brief smile flitted across Hotch's face before setting to work on getting them packed and ready for tomorrow. It was his turn to get revenge for the last two years missing from his life and for the death of Haley and as they say pay back can be a bitch.