(Sooooo Um guess who is back and completely better than ever? I know I know, I'm sorry about my sudden hiatus, but it was much needed. I took a break from everything. I also had to deal with an injury that put a dent on my career as a whole, but after a couple months of pt I'm back and ready to continue this story! I'm sorry for the like 5 month cliffhanger ^^' Hope y'all can forgive me! Love y'all!)
Hotch wasn't able to get much sleep that night. He had read Jack his story, called Rossi, and was now laying in his bed beside Haley, his eyes up at the ceiling. He sighed quietly and turned on his side, his back to the woman beside him. He looked at the wall. He would be lying if he said that his mind hadn't wandered to his team. He had no idea how everything was going on their end.
He shifted again, his arms finding their way underneath his head. He closed his eyes, wanting to sleep, but nothing would ever come. He continued to toss and turn throughout the night, surprised that Haley hadn't woken up yet. He couldn't help himself as he continued to shift. He ended where he started. He lay on his back, his arms behind his head as he looked up at the ceiling.
The room had slowly began to flood with light. He glanced beside him as Haley shifted. She slowly turned to face him. Her eyes opened, searching his tired face. She reached up, silent as she reached out for him. She could tell just from the look on his face that he hadn't slept at all. She sighed quietly and squeezed his arm.
Aaron shimmied himself out of the covers and sat up, pressing his back against the headboard. He grabbed his hearing aids off the nightstand and slipped them over his ears. He turned them on just in time to hear the ending of Haley's 'good morning.'
He mumbled a quiet reply as Haley scooted closer to him. She lay her head on his shoulder, draping her arm across his chest. "You okay?" She asked quietly, looking up at him. She knew what his answer was going to be, but she figured that she might as well ask.
He nodded, wrapping his arm around her as she relaxed into him. "I'm fine." He responded quick, his mind returning to everything he had thought through overnight. He wanted to be cleared for the field. Haley was right. His team would have his back. They were always there when he was in the hospital, as well as recovery.
He was going back over everything he remembered. Everything he had heard about while he was out. How Rossi never left his side no matter what had happened. His family would always have his back.
He blinked, finding his way back to the world. He hadn't even noticed Haley leaving his side. He glanced at the alarm clock on her side.
'8:06'
He figured Jack had woken up and she left to make breakfast. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, heading to the kitchen.
He was barely out of the bedroom before Jack was running at him full speed. Jack jumped into his dad's open arms, giggling.
"Morning buddy." Hotch smiled as he carried the young child to his seat at the table.
He set him down and headed towards Haley who was standing at the stove making pancakes. "Good morning." He said properly since his one before wasn't exactly the best.
Haley flipped the pancake over and turned to look at him. She sighed quietly and shook her head. "You're still the same man, Aaron."
Hotch's brow raised. "And you thought I'd change?"
Haley shrugged. Her fingers tapped against the edge of the pan as she turned back to her task. "I just...No."
He pulled her away from the stove for a second and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, Haley, but you know me. You know how I run. I just can't take sitting back anymore." He pulled away from her.
She sighed again and turned back to the stove. "I know..." She took the pancake off the stove and rested it on a plate. "Can you give this to Jack please?" She asked as she handed Hotch the plate.
Hotch nodded and heading to the table. He grabbed a knife and cut it up for Jack before setting the plate in front of him. He ruffled his hair and handed him a fork. "Eat up buddy."
Breakfast was wrapped up in half an hour and the three were left to fend for themselves. Jack left to go play on his room.
Hotch sat on the couch. He tapped his fingers against his knee. He could feel the small twitch in his arm. He sighed. He debated calling the team and checking in.
Haley took a seat next to him. She could tell what he was thinking just from the look on his face. "Call them." She said giving him a nudge.
He shrugged. "They can get through it without me."
She laughed. "I know you don't believe that."
He bit his lip, flexing his fingers as he avoided to small tremor in his arm. "They'll call me if they need anything."
And he was right.
About three hours later, Morgan called Hotch asking questions.
"Hey Hotch, hows it hanging over there man?" Morgan's voice rang out on the other line.
Hotch sighed. He had stepped away from Haley who had fallen asleep on the couch. He sat on their bed. "I'm fine. How is it out in Texas?"
"We were in the house when the killer tried to come in and take another life." Morgan sighed. He ran a hand over his head. "Bastard vanished before we could catch him."
Hotch shook his head. "No leads?"
"The kid thinks that the unsub's are on foot, but we aren't sure yet."
Hotch and Morgan conversed about the case and what they had uncovered.
After an hour and a half, Hotch's mind was made up. "I'm coming out there."
Morgan sighed heavily. Rossi had told them not to get Hotch involved. He had warned them, as if they didn't know their boss well enough to know that he wasn't planning on sitting out any longer. "Hotch, really, it's fine. We're handling it."
"My decision is final Morgan. I'll be there tomorrow."
Hotch went back inside to find Haley awake on the couch.
"Where'd you go off to?" Haley asked worriedly.
"I was just on the porch talking to Morgan."
Haley brightened and nodded.
Jack ran from his room and grabbed Aaron's hand. "Come play with me."
Aaron smiled down at his son. Again he would be leaving him, but he knew that it was better for the both of them in the long run. He would always be there for Jack and Haley. He would always love the two of them to death.
He followed Jack into his room and played with a couple superhero's, breaking for food every so often.
They ended the night with a movie, which both Jack and Haley fell asleep during.
Hotch picked up Jack and tucked him into bed before he started to gather his things. He already called Strauss about meeting with a doctor to finally be cleared. Erin had promised to have one waiting in Hotch's office by the time he made it there.
He threw his duffel bag over his shoulder and headed back into the living room. It was about eight o'clock at night and Haley was out cold. He scribbled a quick note and left it on the coffee table. It wasn't anything super detailed, just that he was going to meet with the team. There was also a small note about how much he loved them and thanking her for everything she had done.
He placed a light kiss on her forehead before heading to his son's room and doing the same to him.
And then he was gone. He locked the door behind him and called an agent to pick him up and take him to the office.
Aaron arrived and stepped into his office. A doctor, like Erin had promised, was sitting in front of his desk.
"Dr. Smith?" Hotch asked, recognizing the man who had been on his case since the beginning.
The doctor stood up and offered a small smile. "Agent Hotchner, I heard you're waiting to be cleared?"
Hotch nodded.
"Great, let me just do a couple tests."
Hotch sat down at his desk and let him run his tests.
Haley woke up around nine in the morning to Jack begging for food. She blinked as the harsh sunlight danced across her face. She raised an eyebrow. "Ask daddy to make you something," she said quietly.
"He's not here."
She shot up off the couch. "What?" She looked around the house frantically, not knowing where he had run off to. She checked the bedroom, the porch, garage, bathroom, kitchen, everywhere. He wasn't there.
She sat on the couch and finally noticed the note. She sighed heavily as she read where he had gone off too. She called it earlier, but she was hoping that just this once he would have been smarter.
She pulled out her phone and called Rossi, wanting to make sure he had got in all right.
Rossi answered almost immediately. "Haley? What's wrong?"
"Is Aaron there?" She sighed and ran a hand through her bed head, her mouth twisting as she caught a knot.
Rossi's brow furrowed. "What? No. Isn't he with you?"
"No. He left last night. He left me a note saying that he was meeting you."
Rossi sighed. "He never mentioned it to me. I'll give him a call and figure all of this out."
She thanked him and ended the call.
As soon as Rossi had pulled up Hotch's number, Strauss was calling him. He muttered an inaudible curse and answered. "Rossi."
"David-" she started.
"Ma'am?"
"Aaron's been released and he's on his way."
(What is up y'all :) so pumped to be back. Also I had like another idea for a story? It would be following Rossi and idk how y'all would feel about it but let me know! It wouldn't be connected to this series. I just thought about it the other day lol. Let me know what y'all think. Love y'all!)