Hotch sat in his office looking through the photo album he kept in his drawer. He missed his former life so much. Ever since she left him there was no laughter in it. He was always so serious, depressed even. He wanted to be carefree like he used to be, but it was hard to smile without Dharma
Montgomery Industries went bankrupt thanks to his former best friend Pete Cavanaugh. White Collar Unit investigated; Pete made up the story about insider trading to sleep with the SCC representative who came in to review the merger. White collar unit of the FBI came in and cleared Greg and his father, but he had to leave San Fran because Larry, his father-in-law gathered former employees in a protest, and they wanted to assassinate the Montgomery father and son. Dharma was upset and Greg went by himself because his parents refused to go stating they hired the absolute best in security and would remain at their home
Also, His mother was disappointed in Greg's choice of friends and wife, so he left with Dharma and their 10-year-old son, Jack
Jack wanted to stay with Greg, and they moved to DC where he was a prosecutor for a time a then the FBI recruited him after he met Gideon, who groomed him as the next unit chief of the Behavior Analysis Unit. Eventually Dharma joined them, but it was hard for her to change who she was so she left taking JCK with her back to San Francisco and moving in with Abby. She refuses to let Kitty see Jack or say where Greg is per his request.
His office phone rang. "Hotchner."
"I'm sorry, I'm looking for Gregory Montgomery and was told you could help me."
It was his mother!
"I'm sorry that is classified information.. There has been a string of killings here, but they refuse to request help from you. My husband was one of the men killed! I Need to find my son to let him know." Hotch was quiet for a minute.
"Hello?"
"Yes Ma'am, I will investigate this, but I cannot promise anything.
"yes, of course, thank you."
Greg hung up. His father was dead? JJ knocked on the door, we have a case, Hotch"
"I'll be right there."
"Three high powered men have been killed in San Francisco. The latest one, Edward Montgomery, former owner of Montgomery Industries until it went bankrupt about five years ago. Since then, Mr. Montgomery was on a downward spiral since his son, Gregory disappeared from his life."
"Any word on where his son ended up, JJ?" Emily asked.
"Not yet but Garcia is trying to figure it out"
Hotch took a deep breath, it was time to come out of hiding. The Director and Rossi already knew but he was tired of Keeping his true self a secret. "No need to have Garcia look for him. I do know who and where he is. In fact, so do all of you."
"Rossi raised his eyebrow.
"Sir?"
"Garcia, pull up a picture of him and you'll understand. If you'll excuse me for a minute please?"
Rossi followed him out of the conference room
"Oh!" Penelope said. Got it!" a few clicks later, Greg Montgomery was on the screen.
"What the hell? Morgan said. "That's Hotch!"
"Yes, "Penelope said sadly, "And that means his father was murdered."
Aaron, are you sure this is how you want them to find out about you?"
"Yes, When we get there I won't be able to hide it from them for much longer. Besides Greg Montgomery is who I really am.; I was raised as him and married the love of my life as him."
Rossi nodded. That kid was an amazing prosecutor. It took a year in the BAU for him to turn so serious. It would be good for him to see his wife and son again.
Hotch popped into the conference room again. "Wheels up in 30."
He was the first on the plane and took a seat in one of pilot chairs towards the back. He couldn't believe his father had been murdered and he spoke to his mother on the phone for the first time in years.
The rest of the team piled into the plane, surprisingly leaving him alone. JJ came over and sat next to him. "How are you doing? I asked them not to say anything, but he is your father."
He smiled and stood up. "I'm doing ok, thanks JJ."
"Everything I'm going to tell you is known the director, Rossi and my wife." Taking a deep breath, he said, "I'm in witness protection. I was a Federal prosecutor in San Francisco,. When I was in my early thirties, I met my wife, Dharma. Our first date we had some pie then drove to Reno where we got married."
"Wait a minute," Morgan said. "You got married the day you met?"
"Yes, I loved her. I still do but everything fell apart when my dad's company went bankrupt. My former best friend messed things up with the SCC regarding a merger. He thought if he made somethings up about insider trading the rep they sent would sleep with just screwed things up and my dad was arrested. Peter burke from the White-Collar Unit helped clear us. Unfortunately for
Pete he was arrested for falsifying reports to the government. Somehow, my father-in-law get the idea to form a protest with former employees leading to an assassination attempt of my father and I. Burke introduced me to Gideon and he thought DC could use a decent federal prosecutor. He got me a new name and Aaron Hotchner was born."
"But what about your wife? "Emily asked "What does she think about all this?"
"She came to live with me for a few months, but Dharma is a carefree spirit, and she couldn't deal with changing her name or living with an FBI agent. The latter was instilled in her by her father who always wants to 'Stick it to the man'
"How did your parents and hers get along?"
"long story short, they didn't. Especially when I had to leave. Mother decided to tell all her friends I died but she hasn't tried to find me until today when she called looking for Greg."
"Which is why JJ and I are going to speak with Katherine Montgomery, Hotch needs to see his wife and son, Prentiss and Reid, the morgue, Morgan, the police station."
Prentiss opened the door and faced Reid. "Did Rossi mention Hotch, or Greg has a son?"
"Yes he did, I was actually waiting for you to bring it up. I guess when his wife left she decided to take him with her."
"That's gotta be rough. How could you do that to a person? Especially when they had to leave their entire life behind because of something your father did?" Hotch misses. He's hardly ever smiles This must be part of the reason. I feel bad for him."
"So do I," Reid replied.
Hotch knocked on the door. "Oh, Greg, it's so good to see you. Please let me ask for forgiveness before you enter." He nodded. "Go ahead, Abby."
"Please forgive me in my part for what Larry did. Not only destroying your fathers business but causing the ripple effect that sent you to hell's door in Washington DC. Jack and Dharma have missed you terribly."
Ms. Montgomery, there are FBI agents here to see you."
JJ was surprised at the slightly anxious looking woman who entered the room. She seemed nothing like Hotch and hoped Greg wasn't like her either. "Thank you Celia, could you get us some tea please? Have you had any word on my son, Gregory? He needs to know about his father."
"Not yet, ma'am," JJ said, We have someone researching his last known whereabouts now. As soon as we know, we'll put him in contact with you."
"Oh, thank you so much my dear. Edward was hoping he'd come home once more, before…"
"Of course, I love my son dearly, but he had to go into hiding because of Finkelstein and now Dharma refuses to let me see my only grandson. I had hoped that if Gregory came home he could convince her to bring him here so we can meet.
"Greg!" Dharma exclaimed jumping into his arms. He caught her easily and accepted the sweet kisses that he missed so much."
"Oh, honey!"
"What?"
"Abby, did you notice it too?'
"I did. Greg your aura is out of whack. "It must be the horrible things you've witnessed. I don't like your job , it's a heavy burden but I know its you're calling to help people. I am so sorry about your father. He was a good man."
"No, I don't think so Bednar, Ed Montgomery deserved what he got, don't you think? Its Karma biting him on the ass…." He trailed off when he saw Greg. "Uh oh, gotta go!"
Larry hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch then ran out the door."
Greg was mad and all the anger that had been pent up for all these years was about to burst forth. Dharma placed a hand on his shoulder. "Greg, close your eyes and take a deep breath."
"Dharma, let him speak about what is bothering him."
"Right, you refuse to let my mother see our son, but he can see Larry 'I destroyed my son in law's family' every day. Does Jack even know about me?"
"No. You have a scary job, and I didn't want to expose him to that."
"No but you can expose him to a grandfather who hates everything his father stands for. Look, I don't love my job and yes I have nightmares sometime, but one of these evil men killed my father and it's my job to find him and keep him from killing someone else's' father!"
"Dharma, what's all the shouting about? Where's Larry?"
"He had to go out for a minute."
"But he was supposed to tell me about Montgomery Industries and the fact they framed him. I really need to hear this one. He said it had to do with the jerk in the picture on the mantle." He looked at Greg and pointed. "Hey look, there he is! What timing!"
He was seething again. This is What his son was being taught? Greg Montgomery died when Dharma left him. He knew that sometimes Dharma didn't always understand his feelings on things, but she seemed to have changed as well. In the past she wouldn't have let Larry bulldoze her happiness but since they were no longer together he had. It seemed that Dharma Finkelstein Montgomery had died as well. She even once told him she wouldn't stand in his way of succeeding but here they were years later, and she left him when he did.
Abby, who seemed to be like Dharma was years ago spoke up. "Jack, that man isn't a jerk, he's your father and he loves you."
"Right, that's why I barely know him."
Greg knelt in front of him. "I'm sorry, Jack, I do love you and I miss you. It's just that I didn't have a choice."
"Are you going to blame mom for that?"
"No, of course not. It was a set of unfortunate circumstances, that's all. If you and your mom would like to, maybe you can let me make it up to you. Just discuss it with her."
"Oh, I Will, Dad, and thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Celia, hi!"
"Oh, Mr. Gregory, It's so good to see you. I'm sorry about your father."
"Thank you. Is Mother home?"
"Yes, she is talking to some FBI agents in the living room. Mr. Larry would be upset."
Hotch nodded. "Well let's not worry about him right now. I have someone important for Mother to meet."
"OH goodness, is this your son? So handsome! He looks almost as handsome as you did at that age."
"Let's go Jack."
"Yes, sir!"
Hotch entered the living room where Greg had crossed into Aaron's life. He never thought this day would come but he was happy about it. "Mother."
"OH, Gregory, it's so good to see you."
"You too, mother (And yes he meant it even though she sometimes got on his nerves he still loved and missed her terribly.) Mother, this your grandson, Jack."
Jack stepped forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, grandmother."
"You as well, Jack. You remind me of your father. Oh, Gregory, we need to see the tailor about getting Jack fitted for a suit."
"No mother."
"No? But why not? You always wore a suit."
"Yes, I know, and that's how I became so anal and never went outside to play. Jack doesn't need to worry about ruining a nice suit, he can play soccer if he wants to."
"Thanks, Dad but I prefer yoga,"
Hotch smiled. "Of course, you do."
"Gregory please don't say that word."
"What grandmother? Anal?" Jack asked giggling
"Well, I never! That is too much lax discipline with that Finkelstein!"
"Well mother, we'd better get going, we do have a case to solve."
"Just a moment I have a letter your father wrote to you. Oh yes, here it is. Please don't wait until I die to visit."
"Mother…. I'll stop by for dinner later this week to talk."
"Ok, and please bring this lovely young woman with you."
He glanced at JJ who shrugged, and he nodded. He had to get Jack home before heading to the police department.
Jack ran into the house. "Dharma, can we move with dad to DC? I've always wanted to go there."
"I don't know, Jack, it means we have to be different people."
"Why? We can be the same. Isn't dad?"
"No, sadly he isn't. they changed his name, and he has become a different person. His personality is not so good."
"What do you mean?'
"His Aura is way too dark now."
""Oh, but isn't that expected when you have to get into the minds of serial killers?'
"what do you mean?"
"Didn't dad tell you about his job?'
"Yes he puts bad guys in jail."
"Not just any bad guys. People like Ted Bundy. Guys that kill more than one person in horrible ways all over the country."
"Oh my, Dharma, this sounds worse than I thought. Greg barely cracked a smile when he was here. You need to go back to him. This job is going to put him into an early grave."
"Oh goodness, I think you two are overreacting. I'll just look him up online, I'm sure there's a logical not so horrible explanation for his mood. His dad did die after all."
Dharma began searching for FBI agent Aaron Hotchner. Many links popped up included you tube videos of press conferences. Hours later she leaned back on the couch, staring at a photo of Greg Montgomery. She had to find him again. She blamed herself for his downward spiral." Dharma, honey, are you ok?'
"No Abby." She said crying. "I killed Greg. I don't know if I can get him back. Maybe he likes his life over there. I don't know. I could have at least been there for him. You know like a light in the darkness."
"The sheriff kept mentioning a guy named Larry Finkelstein," Morgan said after the team joined them. His DNA was all over Montgomery's suit jacket, fingerprints on his wallet, and the knife found near his body. He swears he didn't do it, but the police are sure of it because he was the man who caused Montgomery Industries to go bankrupt.
"There's no way he would do that," Hotch said. "Larry may be eccentric, but he loathes violence. Despite what happened, He and my father got along well."
"People can change, Hotch." Morgan said. You're proof of that. You're not the same Greg Montgomery you were when you lived here."
Hotch nodded. "Yes, I know that better than anyone. I need to talk to Dharma. She always helped when I felt lost."
"
Hotch, this guy is asking to speak to Greg Montgomery." Emily said.
He nodded and went in. Meanwhile, Dharma arrived and asked if she could see him. JJ told her he was interrogating a suspect. She grinned. "Ooh, can I watch?"
"Um., sure but he's going to be an FBI agent in there, not the man you married."
"I'm sure it would be fine. It took us three years of marriage before we really knew each other."
"Ok, if you're sure."
Morgan gave JJ a look before sitting back down. Hotch was already getting to the nitty gritty with this guy. For a second he noticed the agent starting to get a bit nervous, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
Dharma was a little uncomfortable seeing her husband like that. She tried to convince herself it wasn't her fault, after all he was a grown man. Even he would say as much. Then it happened, the man he was interrogating got mad and stood up, knocking the chair over. If he hadn't been cuffed, he would have thrown the chair at Greg.
"Wow, he was angry wasn't he?" Dharma said trying to laugh about it. She turned to leave the room. She felt better being out in the open room but jumped at a loud bang. The agents and officers all ran to the interrogation room Greg was in. She heard someone shout about calling 911. Dharma tried to figure out what was happening but there were too many people in the way. Finally, JJ came over. "What happened? Is Greg ok?"
"Well, whoever put the cuffs on him didn't secure them well enough. He barely yanked it at first but the second time he broke free and hit him over the head with the chair. He's unconscious right now."
"You can ride with him in the ambulance."
Dharma paced back and forth waiting for the paramedics to load Greg into the ambulance. What could be taking them so long? She stood outside because it didn't look like there was room for her.
"Are you coming, Ma'am?"
"Yes, thanks," she replied as she climbed in. how is he?"
"It looks like he has a concussion, but they'll do an CT to check on the extent of the injury. As long as there's no bleeding he should be okay."
Kitty rushed to the waiting room where she found Dharma. "Oh, my dear, what happened? Is Gregory Okay?"
"I don't know they haven't said yet because his ID says Hotchner not Montgomery."
"Oh dear. Now what?"
"Maybe I can help, I'm listed as his emergency contact," Rossi said. "He's getting a CT scan now. Once it's done they'll bring him to a room but he's still unconscious."
"Agent Rossi, They're bringing him to his room."
"Thank you, this is his wife and mother, I'm sure he would like to see them as well."
"Of course, only two at a time anyway. He'll be in room 1410."
"Thank you."
There was a man standing at the door to his room. "Hello, Im Dr. Bender. Mr. Hotchner—"
„Montgomery." Kitty interrupted. Dharma placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at Rossi.
"Doctor, Agent Hotchner is in witness protection and that is not his real name. Its Greg Montgomery."
"Thank you, that will be helpful when we go over the memory questions."
Dharma was there when he finally woke up, but she could tell there was confusion when he did. She took his hand. "Greg, I'm right here, do you remember what happened?"
"No.. Dharma, why do I keep having flashes of working as an FBI agent?'
"Because you were doing that."
"The last thing I remember is leaving San Francisco to go into witness protection."
"You did and you were working on the east coast as an prosecutor then an FBI agent."
"Wow, which was actually what I used to dream of doing when I was a kid."
"Really? Its good you did then."
Greg was quiet a few minutes. So, he remembers a little about being this FBI agent but why didn't he feel happy about it? Glancing at Dharma he remembered why.
She left him alone in the sterilized sad life. He had been a single man with no wife or child all alone the only joy he had in his life was stopping bad guys and being a hero but that was opposite Greg Montgomery, husband of Dharma Finkelstein.
Was it bad that he wanted both these lives? The lawyer and the Agent are two sides of the same coin. He really needed to talk to Dharma and Rossi about this. He wanted the light to balance the dark. Isn't that the Ying and yang thing? Balance.
Dharma watched as Greg went through his emotions. She knew that look. He was questioning everything. She wasn't sure what life he was going to choose but she hoped he would let her be a part of it. She wanted to be his light. She understood there would be long hours and there would be events he could miss but if they were together, she'd be there for him.
Abby smiled as she sat at the table. Once Greg had been released from the hospital, he, Dharma, and Jack discussed their future. Greg had come a long way and realized to be his current self he needed to remain a part of his older self. Abby invited them over for dinner since Dharma and Jack were going back to DC with Greg.
Rossi climbed into the plane. Everyone became silent when they saw he was alone.
"Did Hotch decide to stay?" Emily asked. "Yes and no. He's coming back but as Agent Greg Montgomery as per the Director. Dharma and their son are going to come back. They're flying back after his dad's funeral. He also wanted to spend time with his mom as well."
About three years later even Dharma found her place in the area. She was teaching yoga at a small spiritual center not too far from their house. Jack was about to start high school and doing well for being the first Finkelstein to not be homeschooled in years. Abby agreed with it and Dharma knew Greg faired very well in school. She was proud of Jack and soon they would have a daughter to be proud of as well. Of course, Kitty had already decided she wanted to parade her granddaughter around DC's Debutante scene. Dharma was not interested, and Greg refused that as well. He saw how miserable some of those girls were at times. Now Greg he was mostly back to the man she married. Dharma now understood more about how her behavior had been in the past. She still does bizarre things but tries to tone them down a bit. Greg wasn't as embarrassed as he used to be, He was still very much in love with her and that was the best thing. It helped that he invited her to come into the office for lunch sex. He didn't do that when they first moved out there. Their relationship was much stronger now. Even her relationship with Kitty was better.
Greg tossed his briefcase onto the couch. It had been a rough day. Lying to his team was the worst feeling. He hadn't lied since he was in witness protection, but Strauss produced the 'perfect' plan when Doyle hurt Prentiss. She thought it was best to fake her death and who was allowed to know?" Only he and JJ. He had to lie straight faced to his team about it. The looks on Garcia and Reid's faces about killed him. When Morgan found out he would be dead himself.
