Disclaimer: I do not own the team. Title and quotes from Tennyson's In Memoriam.

Summary: Mourning is never linear. Gideon's death, viewed through an ongoing series of drabbles.

Our Father's Dust

53

"Than that the victor Hours should scorn/ The long result of love, and boast,/

`Behold the man that loved and lost,/ But all he was is overworn.'"

"Jack asked me yesterday how many people you can miss."

Morgan looks up from his paperwork but Hotch's head stays down. His face, posture, and tone suggest small talk, and maybe for Hotch that's the only way he can say what he needs to.

Morgan tries to be equally nonchalant with his response- "What did you say?"- like it doesn't matter.

"You know. That it's like love. You can miss as many people as you need to."

"Think that's true?"

"I don't know. Sometimes I think there just isn't enough time."

"Mm-hm," Morgan agrees automatically, but it's a tough question.