Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Accident

Thank you for all the reviews I've received!

I'll be working on the next chapter, soon.

And I will let you guys know that while I have done my research, I may make some mistakes in the medical portion of this fic, but I am trying. I'm a writer, not a doctor. Sorry to anyone if you notice any mistakes in the regard!

"Mom! When is Dad coming home?" Sam whined, throwing herself down on the couch.

"Soon," JJ responded, stirring the mashed potatoes some more. She bit down on her lip in concentration while she added a bit more milk.

"How soon?" Samantha demanded, wandering into the kitchen. Sam inhaled deeply. Dinner smelt wonderful.

"Very soon," JJ said, shooting a quick look to the clock before back down to the mashed potatoes. Some of these lumps just did not want to come out today.

"Like what time?" Sam asked, getting a bit impatient.

"I don't know." JJ sighed in defeat. Those mashed potatoes were as mashed as they were going to get. Still watching Sam out of the corner of her eye, she took the chicken out of the oven. It was always hard on the kids when Hotch was away on a case. She was sure he'd be home within the hour, but Sam and Henry got more anxious with each minute that went by. She could see Jack peering through the curtains every time a car went by. She knew that Jack often missed his dad, but Jack was getting to an age where he tried not to show it as much. But it was in his eyes every time he spoke to his dad on the phone when he was away on a case, or when he said good bye to his dad in the morning knowing he wouldn't be home that night.

JJ empathized with them. She felt a twinge of guilt as she wondered how they must feel when she was with the team, too. She wanted to be out there putting the serial killers away and anyone else that shouldn't be in the same world that her children were growing up in, but spending time with her family was also incredibly important to her. Doing a week on and a week off work was getting difficult. Hotch had to pull special strings for her to be able to do that, and she knew she'd have to make a choice soon. But how could she?

A car drove by, and she saw all three children this time run to the window to see. She heard the groans of disappointment when the car kept going by. Hotch should be here by now, what was taking him?

"How much longer?" Henry asked, trying to see what was for dinner.

"Not much longer," JJ told him. "Go wash your hands." She gave him a gentle nudge.

Sighing, Henry went to do just that with Sam at his heels.

But she wasn't to escape the questions. Jack came in next, chewing on his lip thoughtfully. "How long ago did Dad call?"

"About a half hour ago," JJ said trying not to let the worry show on her face. It was only a fifteen minute drive. He said he was leaving the BAU, so he should be home by now.

"How come he's not here yet?" Jack asked, watching the window carefully for any lights. He pressed his nose against the glass, narrowing his eyes to peer down the street.

"Maybe he got held up at work," JJ suggested not quite believing this herself. What was taking him so long? It wasn't just the kids that were anxious, but her as well.

Jack, however, seemed to accept this and he walked over to the counter. He reached into the drawer for the forks to begin setting the table. JJ smiled at him. Aaron would be here soon.

"We washed our hands, is Dad home yet?" Sam asked, cheerfully walking in the kitchen with Henry right behind her.

"Not yet," JJ said, letting out a small sigh.

"How much longer?"

Aaron Hotchner sighed as he set the phone down. He shot a glance at the piles of paperwork on his desk, knowing they needed to be taken care of, but JJ had said the kids were anxious to see him. They were making dinner. And he missed them. The paperwork would still be there in the morning. It wasn't going anywhere.

Shooting the unwanted papers a quick glare, he stood up and slipped his coat on. His stomach growled at the thought of what JJ had cooked up tonight, and he longed to hug her and the kids.

His eyes flickered one last time to the work that would await him in the morning, but then he shut the door behind him and proceeded to walk down the stairs towards the elevator.

While he went down on the elevator toward the parking lot, he thought about his life. He thought of his family, his job, and even his place in the world. Nothing was ever perfect, but right now he was truly happy.

"One day, you'll think of her and you won't hurt. You'll be happy."

JJ had said that to him, quite a few years ago. And she was right. However, neither of them had expected that she would have such an important role in his happiness.

A small smile touched his lips as he got into his car. He paused for a couple more moments, taking the picture of his family out from the visor. He remembered that day as if it was was yesterday. It'd been so difficult to get all the kids into their nice outfits, and to have them all smile at the same time. The first time they'd snapped the picture Jack had been giving Henry the typical bunny ears and the second time, Sam had stuck her tongue out at the camera. It took awhile, but they'd finally taken exactly the photo he hoped to have. JJ still had the other pictures developed. She said it expressed who they were as a family.

Aaron put the picture back where it belonged and pulled out his wallet. In there, he pulled out the picture of Haley and Jack. JJ knew that Haley would always hold a place in his heart, and JJ accepted this. This was a relief to him, as he couldn't imagine ever forgetting about Haley, but JJ was the one in his life now. And he did love her. Hotch tried not to get emotional as he put the picture back.

"I want him to believe in love because it is the most important thing. You need to show him. Promise me."

Minutes later, he was on the road. A quiet song played on the radio, and Hotch checked his watch anxiously. It'd take another five minutes to get home. That was all. That was it. But it felt like so long...

When he lifted his gaze up to look back at the road, that was when Hotch's stomach did a flip. Headlights. There were headlights in his lane. Brakes. He turned the wheel. It was no use. The seconds it took to impact seemed like an eternity. There he sat, knowing that it would be no use. He was going to hit the truck and yet all he could think of was JJ, Jack, Henry and Sam.

During those seconds, Aaron saw their faces clearly in his head. His breathing stopped in his panic. His heart hammered so hard it hurt. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. This wasn't real. His family needed him. It wasn't his time to die.

He could hear JJ's voice in his head, calling his name.

The last thing Hotch heard was the crunching of metal. The last thing he saw was their faces. And the last thing he felt was pain. Not the physical kind, but the emotional kind. In that moment, he felt like he'd never see his family again. And this was enough bring him to tears.

That's when darkness overtook him.

Thanks to SpencerReidfan7 for looking this over! As always, she's awesome. Go check out her stuff.