Story I – Chapter 20
Once they were all settled on the jet, Chuck secretly took out his phone.
A few seconds later, Kahlan's head snapped up and looked around as familiar music started, and everyone joined her in trying to figure out where Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' was coming from, and several of them tried to muffle laughter and giggles, but Hotch's stare emerged as he looked at them.
"Charles!" Kahlan yelled once she figured out who it was.
He ducked his head as he chuckled. "Too soon?"
Hotch sighed as he shook his head and Chuck stopped the song but slid forward in his seat. "Just think of how awesome it will be when we're all changed and you all become the world's best BAU!"
Hotch frowned as he looked at him and the others. Some of them were smiling as they considered it, some of them had blank expressions so he couldn't figure out what they were thinking, and some of them were shaking their heads in complete disagreement.
"Now, just a minute, Chuck. No one has said anything about that happening," Kahlan offered as she watched her husband trying to sink into his seat even more, obviously not wanting to even discuss it.
"What? But that would be awesome! They'd be invincible!" Chuck argued as he frowned not understanding why someone wouldn't jump at the chance to be a vampire.
Kahlan shook her head. "I don't think they all want to leave the BAU so quickly."
"What? What do you mean?" Morgan asked her. He had been one to actually seem to consider Chuck's idea.
She took a deep breath. She didn't want to start this discussion without having talked with her husband about all of her thoughts, first, but she knew she had to put a stop to any fantasies any of them were having about it. "Well, think about it. Hotch won't age anymore. He has what, maybe five years before we have to worry about someone noticing. Sure, with hair dye and such we can probably make it where he can maybe last for ten, but eventually he will have to go ahead and retire before someone starts to suspect something isn't right." She took a deep breath to give them all time to swallow that. "And once that happens, if Hotch wants to keep working, which I don't know why he wouldn't, we'll have to relocate and change our identities, but he won't be able to stay with the FBI or any other agency for that matter because he's too well known in those circles." She looked around at all of them slowly. "There's a lot more to this then it just being cool. This will change everything eventually."
Morgan frowned apparently not liking the idea of all that.
"And what about families?" she continued. "You can't become a vampire and tell them, so that means leaving them, too, eventually. Are you willing to do that?" She sighed. "Hotch was changed and brought into this life because that was the only option available to keep him with us." She turned to her husband and gave him a sympathetic smile. "But I'm not even sure, had he the chance to analyze every detail of this new life, that he would have even chose it."
Hotch slid his fingertips across his forehead and then rested his head on them. He hadn't thought about all of that and it was just too much to process right then.
Rossi cleared his throat as he stood up. "This has been overwhelming for all of us, but imagine how Hotch feels. I say we table this until we've all had a little more time to get used to it and not to mention think about it rationally." His look told the team it would probably be better to discuss it when Hotch wasn't around, and they all nodded agreements.
Chuck ducked into his seat. "Sorry. I need to learn to shut up."
Rossi pat him on the shoulder and went towards the galley, and they all knew what he was getting.
"It's alright, Chuck. I know you're excited about all of this," Hotch offered as he sat up and looked at him.
Chuck gave him a little grin. "Yeah, but I need to curb my enthusiasm a little. I didn't mean to overstep any bounds."
"It's alright," Hotch assured him and then looked at everyone. "It's been a long couple of days. I think I'm going to go try and take a nap," he offered as he stood up and headed to his seat in the back.
Kahlan mentally sighed and let him leave. She knew he wouldn't be sleeping but thinking, but she also knew he needed it. She smiled at everyone else. "Cards?"
JJ chuckled and nudged Reid. "Get them out, Spence."
Rossi walked back through carrying two glasses and Kahlan gave him a nod of approval as he went passed them to Hotch. He handed him the glass and sat down. He didn't bother him with thoughts or questions; he just sat there and silently offered his support, and Hotch was glad for it.
XXX
After getting back to the bullpen and turning in the case files, the Hotchners headed home. Hotch took a deep breath as he turned down the street to the house. "We're not telling the kids about this now, are we?"
She reached over and took his hand. "No. We will not tell them until you are ready to do so, Hun."
He nodded and gave her a small smile. "Or until they figure out something is different."
She giggled. "There is that." She knew the kids weren't expecting anything to be amiss; the cover story had worked. She had told them before she left, that their father had been hurt, but didn't know enough to give them any details. Once she had figured out that her husband would be returning home with them, she had called them to say that he had been unconscious after a scuffle with an unsub but that he was going to be fine with some rest, and when Hotch had called them the previous night, they had finally relaxed.
"You'll just have to be careful around them," she offered as he pulled into the drive.
He nodded. "I know."
She giggled as he put the car in park. "Just try not to throw Joey into the ceiling when you pick her up."
He balked. "Kahlan!"
She giggled even harder and got out.
Hotch shook his head and got out and went to the trunk to get both of their bags. Kahlan waited for him on the sidewalk and they both looked towards the door as it opened and both dogs and three children came out.
Joey ran up to her father and Hotch put down the bags and caught her as she jumped into his arms. "Are you alright, Daddy?"
He smiled. "Yes, Angel, I'm fine."
Jack and Wyatt each gave him a hug around their sister and then grabbed a bag as they studied him and apparently found him to their liking and they all went into the house together. "Jack made pasta," Wyatt offered as Hotch shut and locked the door.
Kahlan smiled. "It smells amazing."
"You are hungry, right, Dad?" Jack asked quickly.
Hotch nodded as he sat Joey down. "Starving."
Brooke got up from the island. "It's about time you get home," she offered playfully as she pulled her aunt into a hug.
"Thanks for staying with them," Kahlan told her.
"What? You have a hot date?" Hotch asked Donna's youngest daughter with a grin.
She grabbed her keys and headed to the door. "Maybe."
They all laughed. "Table's set. You ready to eat now?" Wyatt asked his parents.
"Sure," Kahlan told him as she followed her husband into the kitchen.
He went to the fridge and opened it. "Who wants what to drink?" he asked.
Kahlan smiled to herself knowing he was checking the fridge for the blood she had said was already at home. She leaned in close to him. "Really, Aaron? You think I'd have it put in next to the kids' drinks?" she asked in a whisper.
He stood up and half shrugged as his cheeks heated a little, embarrassed at being caught.
"I want Kool-Aid, please," Joey hollered.
"I'll take a soda," Wyatt chirped in.
"I'll have the same," Jack offered as he came in and grabbed the big bowl of chicken pasta.
"Grab me a beer," Kahlan told him with a smile and grabbed the basket of bread off the stove and followed Jack to the dining room.
He sighed as he filled his arm with the orders. So far, so good.
XXX
As Hotch pushed a piece of chicken onto his fork, he looked up and noticed Jack staring at him. He frowned. "What?"
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes. Why?" Hotch asked him as he shot a look to Kahlan. Really, already?
"You seem quiet or worried or something," Jack explained.
"It was a tough case, guys. Give Dad a break," Kahlan offered as she pushed the basket of bread to Jack trying to get his attention off his father.
"He doesn't look tired," Joey offered with a grin.
Hotch shook his head. "No. I'm not tired. Poppi and your mother made me take it easy yesterday and today."
Wyatt grinned. "Do you want to throw the football around after dinner, then?"
Jack sat up excitedly with a massive grin at the suggestion.
Hotch chuckled. "Sure."
Both of the boys cheered as Kahlan shot him a concerned look, but Hotch gave her a wink and took another bite of his dinner.
Once dishes were properly installed in the dishwasher, Hotch and his boys went out back while Kahlan and Joey sat down to watch a show about baby animals. After about ten minutes, and Joey spending more time watching the Hotchner men out the door than watching the TV, she turned to her mother. "What's wrong with Daddy?"
Kahlan, who had just taken a drink of her coffee, almost spit it out and ended up choking and sputtering on it.
Joey's Hotch stare emerged as she waited for her mother to be able to breathe normally again.
Kahlan wiped her mouth and looked into her daughter's eyes that were the match of her fathers. "Why do you think there is?"
She huffed. "You didn't deny it and you almost choked, that tells me there is something wrong."
Kahlan took a deep breath and looked out the door as the males' laughter drifted in. After a moment, she turned back to her daughter. "There isn't anything wrong with him per say."
Joey's stare intensified. "Is he going to be alright?"
Kahlan nodded quickly. "Yes."
"He's not hurt?"
"No."
Joey took a deep breath. "He's not sick or something, is he?"
"No."
"Do I need to be worried about him?"
Kahlan reached out and tucked Joey's long brown hair behind her ear. "No, Pumpkin. He'll be fine."
Joey's eyes searched her mothers. "You want me to drop this, huh?"
Kahlan licked her lips and shrugged a little. "Dad just needs time is all."
Joey sighed and then finally nodded. "Ok," she agreed and then settled back into the couch to watch the show.
After several minutes, Kahlan's brows furrowed. "Why did you think he wasn't alright?" she asked really wanting to know because she'd thought Hotch was doing pretty well and she wasn't sure what gave it away.
Joey shrugged. "He seems different."
"How so?"
"He didn't quietly groan when he picked me up, he didn't look worn out like he usually does when he comes home, he ate way too much, and he's beating the boys at football."
Kahlan frowned as she turned to watch them through the door.
"He's faster and it's obvious that the only time the boys can catch him is when he lets them," Joey explained as if it was a simple matter.
Kahlan snorted, shook her head, and wrapped her arm around her daughter. "You are too much like your father."
Joey beamed with the compliment and giggled as Kahlan started tickling her.
Hotch opened the back door and found both of his girls laughing and Joey squirming around on the couch trying to get away from her mother's fingers. He laughed.
Kahlan turned and smiled at all three of her men. She mentally cringed, though, as she studied them. Wyatt and Jack were both red cheeked, winded, and sweating and Hotch was perfectly fine.
Joey nudged her mother and shot her a look that said she's noticed it, too. Kahlan mentally sighed and got up. "Hot cocoa?"
"Yeah!" Wyatt exclaimed as he peeled off his jacket.
"I'll get the marshmallows!" Joey yelled and took off for the kitchen.
Hotch chuckled as he watched her and then tossed the football to Jack. "Put that away."
