Chapter 36

Emily asks to walk me inside when we make it to Aaron's house and I take her up on her offer. Aaron's much less likely to kill me with a witness present.

I knock on the door and 2 ½ seconds later Hotch opens it. "Inside." He growls. I scoot past him and land my behind in the nearest chair before he can get to it. As Emily tries to enter, he stops her. "Thank you for bringing him here, Prentiss. You can wait outside. We won't be long."

The look in his eyes suggests it's a command not to be argued with.

Emily shoots me a sympathetic look and waves good-bye.

Aaron doesn't sit down. He stands in front of me, pacing back and forth, with his arms crossed over his chest. I don't try to make conversation. I don't want to speed up this meeting so the end comes faster.

"Alright," Aaron finally stops pacing. "Explain. Why did you tell my son to hit the boy who's been picking on him?"

"Because…the kid was bullying him. I was only trying to help him out."

"Fighting is never the answer."

"Are you telling me that you never got into a fight while you were in school? I know it was like a hundred years ago, but kids are still the same."

Aaron snarls at me. "Jack could've been suspended, Alex. The only reason he got out of it with just a slap on the wrists was because he's a good kid. I understand you mean well but if my son comes to you about any issue, you tell me."

I roll my eyes and mumble a few obscenities under my breath.

"What was that?" Aaron growls.

I shrink back in my seat. Then I stutter out an explanation. "I…I still think he should stand up to his bullies, not cower with that 'you're hurting my feelings' bullshit. I've been where he has. I know what it's like to be…powerless. I don't ever want anything like that to happen to him."

Aaron sighs and sits on the coffee table in front of me. "Alex…I'm sorry. I mistook your intent. I've taught Jack to stand up for himself and for others but I've never taught him to fight. I hoped he'd never have to. But, if it would ease your conscience, I could sign him up for some boxing classes. There's a kid's class in my gym and he's expressed interest in joining it before. He can learn it, but he isn't allowed to use it in school. School bullies can easily be dealt with if a teacher or parent is consulted, so no more telling him to fight."

I smirk in satisfaction. Aaron's face becomes hard again.

"Don't think this excuses you. Your intentions were good but if you thought you were doing the right thing by telling him to fight you wouldn't have kept it from me. Would you?"

I shrug.

"Not to mention what you did to my son last night."

My knee bounces with anxiety. "He…he hit me first. I could've done worse than just toss him across the bed a little rough."

"You are not helping your case."

I smirk and try for those puppy-dog eyes Jack's so good at. "I'm sorry. The next time the kid tells me about a bully, I'll tell you. I promise. And I won't ever get physical with him again."

Aaron sighs again and stands up. I fear he's reaching for his belt but he just puts his hands on his waist.

"The next time you put your hands on my son, I'm putting my hands on you. Do you understand me?" His voice is flat but stern.

"Y-yes sir. I understand, perfectly clear, not gonna happen again, I swear." I can't help but smile realizing I dodged another bullet.

"Good. Now then," He walks over to the front door and opens it. "Go back to work. I have to stay here with Jack until his babysitter comes."

I'm all too eager to get out of the house. When I get back to the car with Emily, she can tell the meeting went well because of the smile on my face so she doesn't question me on the ride back to the office.

I assume I've gotten off scot-free until I walk into the bullpen and see Dave leaning against Derek's desk talking to him and laughing about something. They stop talking when I walk up.

"Uh, afternoon," I greet them uneasily. Derek's smirking and I don't know if it's because he's forgiven me or because he's told Dave about what I did and knows something I don't.

"Hey, how's it going?" Dave asks. "The last time I talked to you, you were going home with Neal."

I look back at Derek. Apparently he didn't tell Dave about last night so what is he smiling about?

"Uh, yeah." I answer. "I could come over tonight."

"No good. I'm having a…a friend over tonight." Geez, is everyone going out on dates this week? "But tomorrow, we can spend the entire day together."

"Okay, sounds like a plan."

"Agent Rossi," We all look up to the platform where Strauss stands by her door. "May I see you in my office for a moment?" She goes back into the office and Derek and I share knowing looks with each other.

"Uh, seems I'm wanted." Rossi says coyly. "Alex, at least call me tonight. I like to know you're safe."

I nod and Dave heads up to the platform.

When he leaves, Derek says, "They still think we don't know. I wonder what they're doing in there."

I grimace at the thought. "I'd rather not imagine." Then I sit on the side of Derek's desk and say, "Why didn't you tell Dave what I did to Jack last night?"

He smirks, folds his arms over his chest, and sits back in his chair. "What's the matter? Conscience getting guilty?"

"No," I growl. "I'll have you know I've already been forgiven by Aaron."

"Really. He sure forgives quickly these days."

"Oh c'mon, after this morning-" I quickly shut up realizing where I am. Surrounded by other agents who, as far as I'm aware, don't know about our family arrangement. "You can't be mad at me forever." I mumble.

"I'm not mad, kid."

"Oh…you're not?"

"Nope," He stands up and puts an arm around my shoulders. "Especially since you're going to make up for getting me caught by being my caddy during the Bureau Annual Golf Tournament next weekend."

"Really?" I whine. "Do I have to? Neal already asked me to come watch him play and I told him no because I hate golf."

"Aw, too bad. But hey, at least you two get to see each other while you're there."

"Yeah," I moan realizing there's no way of getting out of this. "I guess."

Derek removes his arm and sits against his desk beside me. "But you can't talk to each other."

"What? Why not?"

"The departments are going against each other. He's White Collar so no fraternizing with the enemy."

"Oh great, so you literally meant 'see each other' and that's it."

"Yep, sorry baby boy. But we can't have you blabbing off our secrets at a pretty face."

"But I don't know the first thing about golf."

"I'll teach you this weekend. All you have to do is recognize the clubs, I'll do the rest."

Just as I'm about to snarl out a smart-alecky comeback, Spencer walks up. "Hey, what are you guys talking about?" He asks.

"Derek's forcing me to be his caddy for the Bureau Annual Golf Tournament next weekend."

Spencer suddenly looks confused. "But…I'm always your caddy at the tournament."

"Yeah, but you hate being my caddy. Heck, you hate golf."

"I hate golf too." I gripe.

Derek smacks me on the back and says, "But you owe me one so suck it up."

Spencer runs an obviously frustrated had through his hair. He's upset about something but I'm not sure why he's upset. I'm the one being forced to go to a stupid golf tournament.

"But…you didn't even ask me this time." Spencer says.

"Does it matter? You would've said no, forcing me to beg you for the next two weeks until you finally gave in, and then during the tournament, you would've just complained the entire time. You should be happy; I saved us both some time and energy."

"Yeah…yeah I guess you're right." Spencer goes to his desk and that's the last I hear from him for the rest of the day until quittin' time.

"Hey, uh, Reid, I need you to take Alex home tonight." Derek says standing in front of Spencer's desk.

"I'm not a puppy, y'know." I call from my desk. "You can't just pass me off from house to house."

"I hear ya, baby boy." Derek yells back to me, acknowledging my existence but ignoring my argument. Then he continues talking to Spencer. "So whataya say? Just for a few hours."

"I can't." Spencer answers aloofly, not looking up from the book in his hands.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm busy. I have a life too in case you haven't noticed."

"C'mon man, it's just for a few hours. Emily, Penelope, and JJ are going on a girls night out, Dave has a date, and Hotch is….well, you know we can't leave Hotch and Alex in a room together for more than five minutes without them butting heads over something."

Spencer shots a cold glare at me. "Fine." He groans. "He can stay until midnight but that's it."

"Gee," I say loud enough for them to hear me. "I feel so welcomed."

To my wonderful reviewers and people who love my story the way it is: thank you for all your love and support. I really do appreciate it, you have no idea. Getting reviews like "You are a great writer and are now my number one 'must read' list." and "Can't wait for the next chapter," and"For the first time in my life I am finally looking forward to Mondays," is why I spend all day thinking about where to take the story next (and also why I can't pay attention in class sometimes). And who ever the Guest reviewer is, you're beautiful buddy, you really are. Shakespeare said, "to thy own self be true"; that inspired me to do some serious thinking and meditation about my story. Thank you.