A/N: Sorry this update is late. Due to arthritis, my left hand cramps a lot. Sometimes I have to stop typing for a few days, or type one-handed. Also ran into a slight case of writer's block combined with not being able to get this chapter the way I want it. However, I will try and put these updates out as often as I can. Also, I have problems writing small children's dialogue.

Chapter 12-Dream or Reality?

As they pulled away from the Brooks' house, Emily repeated what she had learned from Haley and Jessica. JJ's eyes narrowed as she processed what the brunette told her.

"So Hotch didn't file a restraining order against Beth?" she asked.

"No. Haley said he wanted to try one last time to convince Beth to stop calling him. And apparently she did after Hotch threatened to file an order of protection against her. So he didn't. But then a few weeks later, he was hospitalized with a bad case of the flu."

"Which we now know was really arsenic poisoning."

Emily let out a deep breath. "I wonder if Hotch ever found out what Beth tampered with that made him so ill? And why didn't Haley and Jack become ill as well? Why only Hotch?"

JJ looked at the brunette and shrugged. "Beth probably tampered with something she was certain only Hotch used."

Emily glanced at the blond. "But that would mean she would have to have been in their home or stalking them."

JJ shook her head. "Sounds as if Beth Clemmons might be more clever than we gave her credit for."

"Agreed. But if she killed Hotch, she won't get away with it." Emily saw a concerned look on the blond's face. The woman seemed troubled by something.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," JJ replied. She crossed her arms across her chest. "Em, there's something going on with Jack. And it's more than him just missing his father."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't put my finger on it exactly. I mean, when I walked into his room, he hugged me and gave me a kiss. He then asked why we haven't been to see him since his daddy went to heaven."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him how sorry we were we haven't stopped by. And that we were trying to find who hurt his daddy. He seemed to understand. At least he said he did." She smiled slightly. "I promised him I would bring Henry over for a play date soon. That seemed to get a smile out of him."

"I'm glad." Prentiss shook her head. "That poor little boy. Hotch was his hero."

"I know," JJ replied. "But there's more."

"Is something wrong with Jack?"

"When I started to leave and return downstairs, I told him I would have his mother come upstairs. He became hysterical and begged me not to get her. He asked to have his aunt come upstairs instead." JJ's eyes narrowed as she looked at Prentiss. "He acts as if he's afraid of his mother."

Prentiss looked at JJ, concerned. "Why should Jack be afraid of his own mother? That doesn't make any sense. Did you ask him if he was afraid of Haley?"

"Of course I did. All he would tell me is he didn't want to talk about it."

"Huh. That is weird. Maybe he's acting out as his way of dealing with Hotch's death."

"I'm not sure, Em. Perhaps I'm seeing it differently being I'm a mother myself now. But I just can't help thinking Jack is reacting to more than just Hotch's death."


Jessica knocked on the closed door of her nephew. "Jack? It's Aunt Jess. Can I come in?"

"Yeah," came Jack's seemingly bored reply. He didn't bother to acknowledge his aunt as she opened the door.

Jess found her nephew sitting on the floor playing with two miniature toy figures, one in each hand. He pretended to have them engaged in a fight. Jess closed the door behind her, and knelt in front of her nephew whom she loved dearly. She gently stroked his hair but the child seemed oblivious to the action.

"Jack, you didn't each much at breakfast. Would you like me to make you a snack?"

"I'm not hungry."

"I understand, sweetie. But you need to eat or you'll get sick."

"If I get sick, will daddy come back and make me better?" The boy looked at Jess with his puppy-dog eyes which broke Jess's heart. She ran a hand over the boy's hair and smiled sadly.

"Your daddy is in heaven, honey. And as much as he would want to be here, he can't be. But he would be very unhappy about you not eating." Jack ignored his aunt and turned his concentration back to the toy figures. Jess watched with concern. Instead of play fighting as usual, Jack appeared to have the figures involved in a serious battle tinged with anger on his part.

"Who are these guys, Jack?" Jess hoped to engage her nephew into talking to her. Jack had become so withdrawn and quiet since his father's death. Jessica could only hope that her nephew would soon come out of his depression. She knew it would take time for the boy to accept the loss of his father. She would give him all the time and love she had. But for the life of her, she couldn't understand why her nephew acted with ambivalence towards his mother.

"Jack?"

Jack held up one figure who appeared to be a woman in a nurse's uniform. "This is mommy," he said, not looking at Jessica. He held up the other, a male soldier. "And this is daddy. They're fighting."

Jessica's eyes narrowed at Jack's words. This was the first she had heard about this. "Honey, did mommy and daddy fight often?"

Jack didn't answer. He just shrugged his shoulders. Jessica decided to probe a bit more.

"Honey, are you sure mommy and daddy were fighting? I mean, sometimes adults speak in loud voices and it sounds like they're fighting."

Jack shook his head. "I was 'pose to be sleeping, but I heard noises and woke up 'cause I gots scared. I started downstairs and mommy was yelling at daddy. They didn't see me 'cause I stayed real quiet. I sat on the top steps. They were yelling at each other and I gots scared."

"What was mommy yelling about?" she asked. Jack shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't make out the words, but mommy said something about a 'vorce." Jack looked up at his aunt. "Aunt Jess, what's a 'vorce?"

"Honey, you mean divorce. Is that what you heard mommy tell daddy?"

"That's what I said. She asked for a 'vorce."

Suddenly, Jack took the female nurse and knocked the male soldier under the bed. Jessica's eyes narrowed with concerned.

"Jack, what happened between mommy and daddy?" She was afraid of the answer she would get.

"Mommy hit daddy," was all Jack said. Tears began running down his cheeks and his lip trembled. Jessica wrapped her arms around her nephew and held him close, resting her chin on top of his head. He wrapped his short arms around her waist and buried his small face in her chest.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm so, so sorry," Jessica said over and over as she rocked her nephew back and forth as he sobbed, all the time rubbing his back. She promised herself she would ask her sister about what Jack had said, and why Haley didn't tell her.


Reid stretched out his lanky form on the sofa in the LaMontagne's living room. Will was upstairs with Henry; both taking a nap. So Reid thought he should as well. Afterall, they would all have another long night ahead of them. Reid found himself restless, tossing and turning on the sofa as his tired body tried to rest. Unable to sleep, Reid sat up on the sofa, leaned his head back, and let out a deep breath. He closed his eyes. "Hotch…" he murmured. "You have no idea how much we miss you. How much I miss you." He wiped at both eyes. The last thing he wanted was for somebody to catch him crying.

"You okay, Reid?" a familiar voice asked.

"Yeah," he said as he turned to see who spoke. "I just…" He didn't finish as his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Seated beside him was Aaron Hotchner dressed in a dark blue suit with a matching tie and white shirt. Reid closed his eyes and shook his head. This had to be his imagination playing tricks on his exhausted mind. To see a deceased person talking to him was statistically impossible. He was positive when he opened his eyes again, he would find he was alone. Reid slowly opened his eyes only to find Hotch still sat beside him with a small grin on his handsome face. "Hotch? Is it really you?"

Hotch's grin became a full smile as he looked at the young agent. "How are you, Reid?"

"No," Reid got to his feet and began to pace back and forth with nervous energy. "This is not happening. There are no such things as ghosts. It is scientifically impossible. A person cannot come back from the dead. You're not here. You're not real." He looked again and Hotch sat there quietly with that familiar stoic look on his face. "I'm imagining you, that's all. You're a figment of my overtired mind."

"Reid, stop rambling and sit down, please. You're making me nervous. Besides, I don't have a lot of time and can't stay long." Reid slowly sat back down warily.

Why are you here?" he asked.

"I'm here because you were thinking of me," Hotch said. "Remember what Morgan told you? If you needed to talk with me, all you had to do was close your eyes and think of me." Hotch rested his hands on his legs. "Also, you never answered my question."

"What question was that?" Reid asked, positive he was dreaming. It had to be a dream.

"How are you doing, Reid? Really."

Reid swallowed. "I…I'm trying to hold it together. I miss you, Hotch. I never got to say goodbye to you."

"It's all right." Hotch bowed his head and let out a deep breath, then raised his head. "I'm sorry for causing you and the others so much pain. It's all my fault. The guilt I feel over what happened is my punishment."

"But you shouldn't feel guilty," Reid explained. "You didn't plan any of this. And you didn't abandon us; you were taken from us. Hotch, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Can you tell me who took you from us? Who killed you?"

Hotch sighed. "I can't answer that, Reid, because I don't know."

Reid's eyes narrowed. "How can you not know?"

Hotch smiled sadly. "I just don't. But I trust you and the others to find out the truth. All I ask is that you not believe what you read or hear about me."

"You mean like the drugs and the money?"

"Yes. But I already know you've figured out I didn't rent that safe deposit box." Hotch looked at his watch. "I have to leave soon."

"No! Hotch, you just got here. You can't go. We need you! I need you."

Hotch put a hand on Reid's shoulder and squeezed. "Reid, I want you to know it's been a pleasure to work with you. You've exceeded all expectations for someone so young. I'm proud to have called you my friend, and I expect great things from you. I also want you to know I will always be with you in here…" he pointed to Reid's heart. "And I will watch over and encourage each of you always." Hotch slowly got to his feet. "I must leave now."

Reid jumped to his feet. "Hotch, please don't leave. Don't go."

Before his eyes, Hotch's body began to shimmer and become transparent.

"Remember, if you need me, just close your eyes and think of me." With that, he vanished.

"Hotch, please don't leave us! Don't go! Hotch!" Reid shouted.

"Spence! Wake up, man! Spence!" someone shouted.

"Hotch, don't leave us again. Hotch!" Reid shouted as somebody shook his leg hard enough causing his eyes to fly open. Reid bolted upright on the sofa, looking around frantically. Finally, his eyes fell on Will who was crouched in front of him and staring at him with concern. "Will? Something wrong?"

"You tell me, Spence. You kept shouting Hotch, don't go, so I came down here to check on you. Figured you were havin' a nightmare or somethin'."

Reid buried his face in his hands. "I dreamt Hotch was here and apologized for leaving." He looked up into Will's face again. "I'm sorry if I woke you. I hope I didn't wake Henry." The last thing he wanted was to frighten his godson with his shouting.

Will smiled. "Naaaa, you didn't wake 'im. He's still asleep upstairs."

Reid leaned his head back and let out a deep breath. Everything had seemed so real. Hotch. Their conversation. Everything.

"I'm gonna make some coffee since I'm awake," Will said. "You want a cup?"

"Please. Thank you. Again, I'm sorry for disturbing you. I only ask that you don't tell anybody about this. I wouldn't want somebody thinking I'm going crazy."

"Don't worry about it. All of you were close to Hotch. In fact, all of you were his family." He disappeared into the kitchen leaving Reid alone.

"It was just a dream," Reid told himself in a low voice. "It was just a dream. That's all it was. Hotch was not really here. It was just a dream." Reid touched the shoulder Hotch had gripped and swore he could still feel the pressure of a hand having been there. No, it was just a dream and nothing else. Or was it? Reid suddenly wasn't so sure anymore.