AN: I'm really in the writing mood tonight, so I think I'll just write the final two chapters and finally be done in with this fic! The disclaimer is the same as the last chapter.

Prentiss was about to crack open a book on the jet when Morgan pulled out the deck.

"Game of poker," he asked, flashing one of his famous million-dollar smiles.

"Why certainly," she answered.

"Deal me in," Reid piped up from beside him.

"And have you cheat again," Morgan groaned, "Fat chance."

"Wha--"

"Just messin' with ya', kid," he said, dealing out the cards. On the other side of the jet, Hotch sat. The bags under his eyes hadn't faded, but he was content with just sifting through his thoughts right now. There would be plenty of time for sleep. Rossi approached, coming from the break room with a cup of coffee in his hand and taking a seat opposite him.

"You should probably get some sleep," the veteran profiler said before taking a sip. Hotch shrugged.

"Not tired."

"And I'm not buying that for a second," he scoffed, "Doesn't matter, I've got a story that I've been wanting to tell you."

"Really? That your way of putting me to sleep?"

"Yeah," Rossi said, chuckling, "A bedtime story for you."

"I'm all ears."

"Good. So I'm approached by this kid about eleven years ago. Jet black hair, these brown eyes that can stare laser beams through some and show nothing but compassion to others. This kid's probably around 30-years-old, give or take. He comes up to me, all professional, suit and tie, and here I am just wearing blue jeans and a sports jacket. And this kid comes up to me and tells me that he wants to join the BAU--"

"I know all this, Dave," Hotch interrupted, "I was that kid."

"Who's tellin' the story here? Anyway, so this kid comes up and asks for a job. Now I was about a year or less away from retirement at the time, already working on my book, and the last thing I wanted was some student that I was going to have to watch over."

"So why did you hire me," Hotch asked, curious now.

"This isn't about you, Aaron, sheesh! Anyway, I didn't want to hire him. I was perfectly good going solo. But there was something different about this kid. It was in his eyes. It was in how he presented himself. It was in how he spoke. He was serious and intelligent, but there were lots of guys like that. The reason I hired him was because of the fire. There was a fire blazing in his eyes, and I knew right then and there that this kid would be leading this team someday. I'm looking in your eyes right now and I still see the same fire that I saw eleven years ago."

"Is there a point to all of this, Dave?"

"Actually, there is. You've been trying to figure out why this team means so much to you. You've been trying to figure that out since I came back, probably even before that. You've lost two agents since you took over. I knew Jason, obviously, never got to meet Elle Greenaway. I know you hand-picked her, though, and I know that it is a sore spot with you. It would be just as sore if you lost any of us now. It is why you were so rough with Graves, he threatened JJ and that got under your skin. No matter how hard you try, though, you can't figure out why you are so protective of them, why you care about them so much."

"You work with people in a dangerous field long enough," Hotch said, "You become pretty close."

"Sure," Rossi nodded, "But not like your team. This is about as close to a family as I've ever seen, Aaron. Me, Jason, Max Ryan, we were never like this. I think it is more than that."

"How so?"

"I think you see a little of yourself in each one of your agents. It makes it hard on you to reprimand them and impossible for you to stay mad at them. It makes you care deeper about them than just about any other boss would. Each one of them possesses traits that you did eleven years ago when you knocked on my door and asked for that job. Traits that you still possess, though they are hidden sometimes because of your duties as Unit Chief."

"Name a few," Hotch challenged.

"Do I really need to? Fine. Morgan has that fire, that determination that I was referring to earlier. He's like a junkyard dog, and you respect that because you were the same way at his age. You don't wear your emotions on your sleeve like he does, but you've wizened up a bit with age. With Reid, you see the ability to fight through things. That will to never give up, to always pick yourself up when you are down. So no matter what he does, no matter how bad he screws up, you'll never fire him because you know that he'll bounce back better and stronger than ever. Prentiss is good with political correctness, but she absolutely hates politics. She's loyal and she won't throw her colleagues under the bus for any reason, and you absolutely love that about her. So you butt heads with her because you are both stubborn, but at the end of the day, you two have a respect for one another. And then, finally, there is JJ. JJ is to you what you were to me, Aaron. You are her mentor, and that's something that's pretty special to have. It goes deeper than that, though. You two are a lot more similar than either of you would like to admit. She's serious and professional like you are, though she'd hate to think that she is. You share the compassion for the victims that she does and the ability to feel things even though you won't let it show outwardly. There is a reason why she comes to you when she needs someone to lean on, Hotch. She trusts you, she understands you, and she admires you. There is more than just a respect there, Hotch, it is a mutual appreciation and admiration. That's why you were upset when you felt that she was upset. That's why you haven't been able to sleep since her injury. That's why you are still angry because she won't go home and rest. But you won't yell at her when you meet with her."

"Why do you say that?"

"Again, because you understand her. You wanted her to rest because you are concerned for her. Yet, at the same time, you know she is just like you. Classic workaholic, she isn't going to stop because of a broken wrist. My point, though, is that there is a reason for you to care deeply about all of them, and it is ok to admit that you do sometimes. Even ok to let them defy you sometimes, particularly when you would have done the same thing." Rossi yawned and stretched a little before continuing. "What happened to JJ wasn't your fault, she's going to be fine, and she would want you to get some rest."

Hotch paused a minute to let it soak in, studying the table as he did. When he looked up, Rossi had closed his eyes.

"Dave," he said, grabbing the profilers attention, "Thanks."

"No problem, kid," he said, "Now sleep."

"One question before I do..."

"Jesus, Aaron," Rossi said with a sigh, "You were always a curious one. Shoot!"

"How do I relate to Garcia?"

There was a pause before both men laughed, but Rossi did consider it.

"She helps us keep our heads up. Who wouldn't fall in love with that?"

"True," Hotch said before finally making himself comfortable in his chair and succumbing to slumber.