When Morgan got back to the station Hotch and him had a discussion before Hotch went to the hotel. Based on what Morgan had told him he knew he needed to go talk to her immediately. He went and knocked on the room door.
Lorelai went and opened it. She wasn't expecting him so soon. "Aaron…I'm sorry" she started.
Hotch came in and closed the door. "Lorelai. I'm still not sure what to say to you."
Lorelai looked down.
"Nope. Look at me." He said sternly.
Lorelai looked up at him tears in her eyes.
"But I am -not giving up on you. Never Lorelai." He said
Lorelai realized Morgan had told him. She wasn't angry though.
Hotch handed her a folder. "Read it." He told her
Lorelai opened it expecting to see a case report or statement but was surprised. They were adoption paperwork. For her. "You want to adopt me?" She asked softly. "I don't understand."
"What don't you understand? Lorelai. Since the day I met you, I knew there was something different about you. Than when I found out I could foster you. Then I realized you were not planning an emancipation anymore. You have told me before you believe in fate. To me this is the biggest proof of fate. You are my daughter. Paperwork or not." He told her
"Aaron. I…" She said
"Which is why I am unbelievable confused, angry, and hurt Lorelai." He told her. "I understand why you might have felt you couldn't trust Morgan in that moment, Not, that you couldn't but what did I do? Explain it Lorelai." He told her
"I really cant explain it. I don't know." She said
"There has to be something." He said
"All I can think is when it comes to this town and my past. When things happen all, I see is black. I remember that the adults in my life in the past let me down. And even though you never have… I cant shake it." She said putting her head in her hands
"Lorelai. I will tell you this as many times as you need to hear it. You can trust me. You can trust your family. All of us. We don't like having to come here after the fact to bail you out of trouble. But we will always have your back." He said
Lorelai nodded. "I know it doesn't change anything, but I really am sorry. I will apologize to the team. I have apologized to Morgan. I will try and be better."
Aaron nodded. 'I know your sorry. You are always sorry when you're caught."
Lorelai looked at her hands. "Can we just get it over with?"
Hotch raised an eyebrow. "You don't get to dictate how this goes."
Lorelai rubbed her temples. "Yes Sir."
"Are you okay?" He asked
"Headache." She answered
Hotch got up and grabbed her a bottle of water. "Drink." He said
Lorelai did what she was told.
"Morgan mentioned you ate but he wasn't sure you ate enough. Was he correct?" He asked her
"I'm really not all that hungry." She said
Hotch nodded. "You promise you will eat when your hungry?"
"Yes Sir." She answered
"You sure you are okay to deal with the consequences right now?" He asked. She was going to be punished but he didn't want to do it if it was going to do more harm than good.
"Yes sir. I'm okay. I promise." She assured him
Hotch sat next to her and quickly pulled her over his lap pushing down her pants and underwear. She had been warned the last time they were in this exact room having a very similar conversation.
"Why are we here Lorelai? He asked
"I lied. I went behind your back. I didn't trust my family. I put myself in unnecessary danger" She said
"Correct." He answered as he started spanking her. He was not going easy on her. He had been lenient on her the first time. Maybe the reason they were here again was because he needed to be less lenient.
Lorelai yelped. He was most definitely not going easy on her. Her butt was on fire, and she knew this was just the beginning.
Hotch continued. He didn't feel he needed to lecture her. She knew what she did. He just continued bring his hand down on her bared backside and occasionally her sit spots.
Lorelai was crying before long and sobbing before Hotch felt she had been sufficiently punished. He stopped and fixed her clothes before sitting her up and hugging her close.
Lorelai sobbed for several minutes. As she calmed down, she realized something. What she had felt last time she was here. What she was feeling right now. And that was safe. She for the first time in her life. She felt safe.
Once she was calmed Hotch moved her to sitting back on the bed. "You alright?" He asked
Lorelai nodded. "Yes. I am okay."
Hotch looked at his phone. "Be at the jet in 1 hour." He told her. "I have something to do."
"Aaron wait. What about Rachel. Is she okay?" She asked quickly.
"She is fine. I need to figure out where she is going now. I am going to talk to a new social worker for her." He said
Lorelai nodded. "Okay. I'll be at the jet in an hour."
Hotch left and went to talk to the social worker.
