10X20 Place at the table

Katie brought her homework in the living room. "Hi grandpa Roy!"

"There's my beautiful girl. How are you feeling?"

"A little tired but good."

"Good, being sick is no fun. 'Not at all," she replied giving him a hug.

"You know your dad and aunt want to put me in a retirement home. They want to throw me away with the trash."

"Oh, no way. That's not true, they just want to make sure you're safe wherever you are."

'Sure, he said gruffly. Just be careful or they'll stick you in hospice and forget about you too."

"Dad don't say that "Jessica said.

"Why not, it's true."

Katie ignored him. He was ill and didn't mean what he said she knew that but God if she didn't miss the man who taught her how to plant her own garden and ride a bike.

She took a breath and started to hum the song her mom sang to her when she was little. It helped to calm down when she was feeling anxious.

Aaron closed his eyes as he listened to Katie sing. She sounded just like Haley, and it was beautiful. Until a loud crash broke the spell, she cast over him.

"Dad!" Jessica exclaimed "What was that for?

Aaron went to the dining room to see the dishes and silverware were scattered on the floor.

"What happened ?"Katie asked, shocked at the sight before her. She placed a hand on Roy's shoulder. "Grandpa?"

He stepped aside. ?"Get away from me! I knew it! You and your father had a conspiracy, premeditated to have your mom murdered. How else could he get away with it? It's easy when the man you framed dies, right Mr. Hotshot FBI man? Thays because you want to throw me into a retirement home.

"Katie, never sing that song in front of me again. That was Haley's song, and you don't deserve it because of your conspiracy to kill Haley.'

"Dad, "Jessica said come on, let's go home you should get some rest for you appointment tomorrow."

Jessica muttered am apology as they left. Aaron glanced over at Katie. Her face was pale as silent tears fell. He immediately pulled her into a hug. "Oh baby, I'm so sorry"

"You don't have to apologize, Daddy. Alzheimer's just sucks. I know he doesn't mean anything by it. He still loves me…. When he remembers…"

Aaron nodded and began cleaning up the broken dishes. "Sing the song, Katie."

She began as she helped him clean. By the time they were finished she stood up 'I'm ready for bed, "she said with a yawn.

Aaron watched her leave the room. He sighed. She really didn't need this now. Why couldn't she catch a break? He decided sleep would be good for him too. Tomorrow was Katie's first official appointment with the oncologist. They were going to discuss the CT scans and chemotherapy options.

Rossi entered the conference room. "Hotch is going to be a bit late. Katies first appointment with her oncologist is today, but they also had a rough night.

"Katie all right?" JJ asked.

Haley's dad yelled at her for singing the song Haley sang to her when she was little. He told her only Haley could sing it then blamed Hotch and her for orchestrating Haley's death by Foyet,"

"Damn," Morgan said.

"As if Little Hotch need anything else to have a complex about, "Penelope said. "Poor girl. I want to do something special for her. Maybe do something she's always wanted to do but never has?"

"Good idea, "Emily nodded.

"Well, "Dave began "The one wish that never came true for 8-year-old Kathryn. She didn't get to go to Disney and have a Princess makeover."

"Now that!" Penelope said, "breaks my heart. I will look into those make a wish programs, there has to be one for adults and maybe other people who want to join in the fun?" she added with a smirk. She didn't get to go to Disney as a child either. Then it didn't matter because at the time she only wore black and used a computer, but now it does. When she realized all the fun she missed as she caught up on years of beautifully animated Princess movies."

The only sound in the room when Hotch arrived was the tapping of computer keys. Rossi stood up, concerned with the paleness of his friends face. How did the appointment go?"

"The doctor said they should be able to remove most of the tumor with surgery. It will be a smaller size for chemotherapy to destroy. Katie almost said no because she doesn't want to shave her head but realized if she did, it will be her choice not because of chemo."

"Hotch let us know if there's anything we can do for you or her. You two are not alone, man" Morgan said patting him on the shoulder. Thanks, I appreciate that."

Katie put the finishing touches on her letters and videos to say goodbye. She was surprised she didn't cry during them, but she didn't want them to know how scared she really was. How much she didn't want to leave her dad. She took a dep breath and looked at the calendar to see what days she had to choose from for surgery then reached up to run her fingers through her hair. She loved her hair. But she decided shaving was going to be better than losing it. She wanted to feel in control of something. Determined, Katie pulled out her phone and called the hair salon. She wanted to get it done now before she changed her mind.

Katie wasn't expecting visitors when she got home but her BAU family was there. Dave was in the kitchen cooking something that smelled amazing. Good thing too because her appetite came back.

"So, what do you all think? Smooth as a baby's bottom."

"Uh I wouldn't know, "Reid said.

Katie chuckled. "I don't know either but its just an expression." She noticed her dad's face. Maybe he wasn't as ready for this change as she thought. She excused herself and came back with her hair.

'What just happened?" Dave asked.

"MY friend cut my hair and made a wig out of it for me to wear."

"In one day?" Aaron asked

"I didn't ask her how. She just said she could do it. I got it because I knew I would buy a wig anyway may as well be my hair."

"Hotch, has Katies surgery been scheduled" Emily asked.

"Yes, next week. She wanted the first available to get it over with." He noticed Garcia peering over her laptop at them then continued typing. "Probably another week or two for recovery. Then well go from there."

"What's going on?" he asked.

Garcia sighed "OH fine, you know now! I'm signing Katie up for the Dream Foundation they grant wishes for terminally ill adults. I just needed to list a date."

Hotch smiled. "Thank you, she would like that. Let me know if you need anything."

Hotch arrived home to see Katie sitting on the couch with tissue paper surrounding her. "Dad, do you know what this is? It's from the Dream Foundation! Did you set this up for me?"

"I'm not sure, it doesn't say?" he asked, teasing her.

"they say to go online to a link on their website that talks about the wish and who it's from. I was waiting to watch it in your office."

"Let's go then!"

He logged on then asked Katie for the web address. It loaded quickly. He smiled at the picture of Katie in her Cinderella costume from when she was four. Either Jessica gave it to Garcia or Dave broke in.

"Miss Kathryn Hotchner, your family loves you very much and wanted to make one of your childhoods wishes come true. So, on June 22- June June27, you'll be headed to Orlando, Fl to spend the week in Walt Disney World!"

"Whaaaat? Omg!" she cried, clapping with excitement.

"Your trip includes Park hopper tickets as well as a stay in the Art of Animation Resort. Hers a message from your family:"

"Katie Kat, we wanted you to know how special you are to all of us," Dave said. "We hope you have a magical trip."

Aaron noticed that Katie was quiet now. He moved to sit next to her on the floor and realized she was crying so he placed an arm over her shoulder. "Penny for your thoughts?"

She looked up, siffled. "Gosh dad I'm so thankful. Happy and thankful. Its been a long time since I was 8 and we had to cancel the trip because of chicken pox. The doctor said I was ok to travel?"

"She did and gave us local doctors and medical center information if needed."

Katie grabbed the pair of Minnie mouse ears that were in the box and put them on Hotch. Before she could say a thing, she snapped a picture and sent it to Penelope.

"Kathryn," he warned.

"Too late!"

"Baby girl, just what are you doing?" Morgan asked as she hung up a photo of Hotch with Disney ears. 'Have you seen me?"

"You've gone insane, Hotch is going to be pissed."

"He can't, Katie took the picture."

"So, you're hiding behind his daughter?"

"Yeah, so?"

Hotch was already in a bad mood. He stubbed his little toe on the dresser, left his ID badge at home and had to go back, stuck in traffic, and to top it all off. Everyone kept telling him to have a Disney Day due to Katie and that damn picture she took of him last night. The only way people saw it at work was that Garcia printed it and hung it up. His mood would not be pleasant all day he could feel it.

"Oh, and Agent Hotchner, have a Disney day!" a cadet told him. He even impersonated Mickey. If looks could kill. "Excuse me?"

"I mean…"

There was coming from inside the conference room but silence when Hotch entered. "Garcia could you take down those pictures. NOW!"

"yes, sir."

"Aw come on, Hotch, have a sense of humor," Morgan said. Hotch shook his head.

"let's get serious, we have a case."

Katie was reading the email from Penelope about the magical World of Disney within the walls of the BAU. It was nice to take her mind off cancer survival statistics for a good 45 minutes. Especially of the cadet talking to her dad as Mickey Mouse. She had the DVD cued up with a Mickey short to play the moment he stepped through the door. When he did, he cropped his briefcase on the floor and glared at her.

"What? I love you, daddy!"

"you can play that all night if you want but I'm going to bed. Were flying to Maine in the morning. Jessica is picking up breakfast for you and Garcia will be over to discuss more of the trip. He went over, shook his head at the mouse, then placed a kiss on her forehead. "Love you, beautiful girl. Make sure to get some rest."

"Dad don't be too hard on your team; it was my idea. I just wanted to see you laugh.

He smiled. I know and I would have been if I was in a good mood."

"What happened this morning, I heard you yowling in pain."

"Stubbed my damn toe, forgot my id badge, then stuck in traffic. That stupid cadet talking like mickey, I yelled at him so I wouldn't laugh."

Hotch didn't sleep well so he fell asleep on the plane a two-hour nap seemed nice until he heard the dulcet tones of a singing cricket along with quiet chuckling. Hotch then realized they were on a conference call. "What is going on?" he asked, turning the laptop. Garcia and Katie they were laughing so hard they were crying. He slammed the laptop shut. "Seriously? Are you not adults?

"I'm sorry Hotch," Dave said "but can't you take a joke? You seem to have a stick up your butt lately."

"Rossi!" Morgan muttered. Even he knew not to poke the beast when he was in a mood.

Aaron took a deep breath and sat down. "I'm Sorry, I'm still trying to process Katies diagnosis. She doesn't deserve this and it's not something I can fight or destroy."

"You're right, Aaron, but Katie can because you gave her the strength to fight. All this teasing is just her way to make sure you're happy no matter what."

"I feel bad for laughing when she's getting sick from chemo. Now she's going to have her skull removed to get rid of this tumor that wants to take her away from me. My last link to Haley.