The Criminal Minds

Aaron Hotchner had never been one for gifts. He had never really been one for birthday presents, save for the ones that he received from his son. Making a show of things had never been his style, and when years ago, his profiling team had thrown him a surprise party, confetti and all, his embarrassment had been immediately evident. It hadn't helped that he hadn't even touched his coffee yet that morning. His team had since found other, subtle, yet still – as he saw- unneeded ways to celebrate his birthday.

The present gift situation was different.

As Hotch took in the various gifts around the hospital room, a smile crept onto his face. Gifts on a birthday had always seemed to be some sort of recognition, an unneeded embarrassment, and people spending money when they shouldn't. They'd been recognition of another year passed, and nothing more.

As said, these gifts were different.

At first he hadn't seen it as anything more than unneeded embarrassing items. As he'd glanced around the room, he saw the flowers, the balloons, the cards. The horribly large teddy bear that Garcia had bought for him sat on the window sill with a smile on its furry face. He'd immediately scowled, it was such a Garcia thing to do; he saw the cards and flowers from Elle and the book from Gideon, he saw his badge, his suit, the music and the walkman.

It was when he'd seen the gifts from his team that he realized the truth of them.

These gifts weren't a recognition of another year gone by, a pointless notation of time having passed.

They were recognition of a different sort, recognition of nothing less than caring. Each present was a symbol, a way of each team mate showing their worry, their care, for him, their unit chief. He felt the truth of it settle somewhere around his heart. His team, the ones he'd always considered a second family, felt the same way about him.

He'd received yellow roses from Agent Greenaway, along with a card letting him know just how much she knew that the team needed him. Elle was the sister that he'd never had, the older sister he'd thought strong enough until he turned around and realized it was too late to cover her back. That he'd already lost her and he couldn't go back and fix his mistake.

There were flowers from JJ, the sister who had been there through everything, the one that had always had his back and whom he'd forgotten to appreciate often. She was the true invincible one, the never-ending source of sunshine in their makeshift family, the one who had everyone's backs, who did it without being asked.

Agent Prentiss had collaborated on the flowers with JJ. She was the newest addition, the younger sister who worried about fitting in, but didn't need to. She was unsure, eager to prove herself to all, having come in after a blow to the team. She strived to be perfect without knowing that she already was.

Dave had left his badge, knowing it was a source of comfort when so much was wrong. He was the brother with whom he could communicate without words, who hadn't started off as a team player but turned into one.

Morgan had bought him a walkman. The simple gesture managed to put a smile on Hotch's face. The man was an older brother to some, yet a younger brother to Hotch himself. The older man watched out for him, kept him in line, smiled when he did something he was proud of, worried whenever his hero complex came into play.

Reid had mixed him a CD of jazz music, relaxation for when his eyes grew tired of reading. Dr. Reid was the son that Hotch had not expected, the young genius that he feared he'd failed, only to realize he was stronger than he'd thought.

Gideon had been Hotch's second in command, a trusted confident, the one who had gotten the team on their feet. Without him, nothing would have been possible, he'd been the mother. His book, sent without a note, needed no explanation. It was just there, as he'd always been.

Garcia's teddy bear reminded Hotch of exactly what she was to all of them – the big sister, care-taker, and best friend rolled into one. She was the one who fought your battles from behind the scenes, the Mary Poppins who brought the spoonful of sugar wherever she went. She was the reason that they remembered to smile.

The best present that Aaron Hotchner received, however, did not come from a team member. The greatest gift he received could not be gift-wrapped, and, in fact, the more time that passed, the harder it would become for the unit chief to hold on to this one.

For now, Hotchner would hold onto his son with all of his remaining strength.

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TBC

Author's Note:

For all of you who are about to yell at me – the story isn't over yet! The next chapter is about Jack as well, a continuation of this one. This chapter takes place the day after Rossi's chapter. I hope that you liked this chapter – I enjoyed writing it. Please review! I did, after all, give you two chapters in one day.