Chapter 74
When Hotch finally unlocked his front door and opened it, he came face to face with his wife. Her eyes quickly trailed up and down him and her brows rose. "So? How'd it go?"
He took a deep breath. "Alright, I guess."
She mentally winced and took his hand after he'd shut the door and locked it. "Are you tired? Want to take a shower? Just want to crawl in bed and close your eyes?" she asked as she led him into the house.
He smiled. He knew that she knew he really wasn't in the mood to talk. He tugged on her hand and spun her around to face him. "I love you."
She smiled. "Of course you do."
He chuckled. "I think a hot shower sounds pretty good."
She turned and started pulling him towards the stairs. "Good, cause you stink."
"What?"
She shrugged. "You have a tinge of something on you."
"What's it smell like?"
She stopped, turned back to him, leaned in close, cringed, and then leaned back. "I don't know, but it's not good."
He huffed and pushed her up a stair. "Just don't tell me I smell like a wet dog."
She froze and turned back to him with wide eyes. "You all did the wolf thing?"
He sighed through his nose and rolled his eyes. "Yes."
She studied him a moment, bit back all the questions she wanted to ask, and then continued up the stairs. "That sounds interesting," she offered in a nonchalant tone.
He smiled and then joined her on the stair she was on. "It was awesome," he whispered and then was gone.
"Aaron!" she yelled and then took off running.
He was already completely undressed and stepping into the shower when she joined him in their bathroom. "You can't say that and then not explain," she insisted.
He chuckled. "I got to see all of their wolf forms, and I can tell you one thing for sure."
She frowned. "What's that?"
He smiled. "That Sebastian dyes his hair."
Confusion filled her eyes. "What?"
He shrugged. "You know how my form is dark, like my hair?" he asked as he ran a hand through it.
"Yeah?"
He smiled. "Everyone's wolf looked like them in that way."
She frowned some more, and then a smile slowly spread on her lips as she giggled. "And Sebastian's wolf is light colored, but yet his hair is dark."
"Yep," he agreed and then turned the water on. "And I promise to tell you all about it tomorrow, but I really am tired, Babe."
She smiled. After the way the wolf form had made him hungry at the cabin, she figured that the form drained him more than the vampire form, so she reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand. "I'll fluff your pillow."
He smiled. "Thanks, Babe."
XXX
When Kahlan woke up the next morning, Hotch was still sound asleep, and she frowned as she propped herself up and looked at his peaceful face. Ever since he'd been changed, he had been waking up before her because he just didn't need the same amount of sleep as he did as a human. She reached up and gently smoothed down one of his cowlicks that had reared its ugly head from him going to bed with his hair wet. A small moan escaped him as he nestled into the pillow a little more, and a small smile spread on her lips. Poor baby, they really wore you out last night, huh?
She watched him for a few more seconds and then lifted off of him completely and got out of bed making sure not to disturb him. After grabbing her clothes, she left him to sleep in peace as she went to the guestroom to get ready.
By the time Hotch finally got down stairs, the kids were up and they were all at the table eating breakfast.
"Jeeze, Dad, we thought you had decided to take the day off," Jack teased with a big grin.
Hotch huffed as he sat down and accepted the cup of coffee Kahlan had gotten up to get him as soon as she saw him on the steps. He fixed his middle child with his stare after glancing at his watch. "I still have twenty minutes before I have to leave."
"Well, we still have fifteen," Wyatt pointed out before shoving a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
"And yet," Hotch started as he looked at his eldest, "I'm actually ready to go. You still have to brush your teeth and hair and such," he continued as he reached over and tussled Jack's hair.
"Hey!" Jack yelled as he shoved his father's hand away and ran his fingers through his hair trying to fix it. "I've already done my hair!"
Skepticism filled Hotch's eyes. "You did?"
"Yes!" Jack insisted.
Hotch shot a look to his wife who just shrugged, and then he shook his head as he snatched Jack's napkin away from him and grinned. "Well, at least I'm not so grossed out any more about the slimy gunk that got on my hand when I touched your hair," he explained as he wiped his hand off dramatically.
"Ewww!" Joey yelled as she scooted her chair further away from Jack.
"That's my gel," Jack defended himself, and they all laughed and Hotch balled up the napkin and threw it at him.
Once the kids were off finishing up with their morning routines, Hotch joined Kahlan in the kitchen as she loaded the dishwasher. She dried her hands off on the towel and then moved them to rest on the back of his neck as she smiled. "So should I plan to have Mom fix the kids dinner tonight?"
He frowned. "Why would you do that?" he asked as he grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.
Her brows rose. "You want to bring Sebastian and his group here and make them suffer through the kids on their first visit?"
He chuckled. "You make it sound like the kids will attack them or something."
"Well. . . All the questions they will bombard them with could be considered a verbal attack at least."
He shook his head. "Actually, I wasn't planning on inviting them here until tomorrow since that was the initial invitation."
She sighed. "Hun. . ."
"It's not our fault they chose to show up early."
A sly smirk grew on her face. "So you want five vampires to have to entertain themselves in your town tonight?"
His eyes grew wide. "You don't actually think I need to be worried about them, do you?"
She laughed. "I don't know. You're the one who met all of them."
He took a deep breath. "I think we can trust them."
Her eyes narrowed. "But you don't trust them enough to bring them to your home and family?"
He wilted a little. "I don't exactly distrust them. I just. . ."
"Don't know them well enough," she finished for him and gave him a smile and pat his chest. "I understand, Aaron." She leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "You do what you need to do with them, and I'll keep the kids from worrying about you by taking them out for dinner and a movie."
"Yes!" being yelled from outside the kitchen had them both moving out of the room. Joey was frozen halfway down the stairs with both of her hands clamped over her mouth.
Kahlan giggled, but Hotch shook his head. He hadn't even realized she was on her way down.
Wyatt and Jack come up the basement steps and looked around at the rest of the family. "What's going on?" Jack inquired.
"Mommy's taking us out for dinner and movie!" Joey exclaimed happily.
"Yes!" Wyatt agreed with a huge smile.
Jack's eyes flashed to his father and then to his mother. "Dad already knows that he has a case?" he asked as suspicion filled his eyes.
"No, but he's finally going on a Guys Night Out," Kahlan put in before Hotch could even attempt to open his mouth.
"Well, it's about time, Dad," Jack exclaimed as his whole demeanor changed and he smiled.
Hotch looked at his watch. "Isn't it time for you guys to get to the bus?"
"We're going, we're going," Wyatt assured him as he grabbed his brother's arm and dragged him to the door.
"See you guys when you get home," Kahlan called out to them. "Love you."
Jack turned and gave her another smile. "We love you, too, Mom."
"Hey!" Hotch yelled with a feigned hurt look as he held his arms out to the side.
Wyatt sighed heavily as he rolled his eyes. "We love you, too, Dad."
Kahlan giggled and elbowed her husband in the ribs. "Yeah, but they love me more."
Hotch shot her a mean look which made Joey giggle.
Once Joey had gone, Kahlan and Hotch walked to the door together. She glanced at him as he opened the door for her. "You still owe me a synopsis of last night."
He nodded as he pulled the door shut behind them. "I know. I'll add it on top of tonight's when I get home." She smirked, and he sighed. "I will try my best to be home by a decent time and not be so tired when I do get here."
She smiled as he opened her car door for her. "I will keep you to that, Mr. Hotchner."
His grin revealed his dimples. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Mrs. Hotchner." She got in and he shut her door for her. "Now get your ass to work."
She laughed as she rolled her window down. "I love you."
He leaned down into the vehicle and gave her a kiss. "I love you, too, Babe."
XXX
Thankfully, the BAU didn't get called out onto a case, so they spent the day doing more paperwork and a few consults. After finishing another file, Hotch took a moment and called Sebastian. The man answered on the first ring and the first thing he wanted to know was how Hotch was doing.
"I'm fine. In fact, I made sure I was fine before I even went home last night."
"I'm glad to hear it, Aaron. Do you have any plans for tonight?"
Hotch chuckled. "Apparently you do."
Sebastian cleared his throat. "I thought we could take you out in appreciation for saving Michael."
"That's not necessary. After the. . ."
"I don't want to hear it," the ancient vampire interrupted. "Besides, the others would like to get to know you better."
Hotch sighed. "I guess I could join you all for a few hours," he offered hoping that they wouldn't want to be out too late.
"What time can we expect you?"
Hotch licked his lips as he looked at the stack of files that he had to sign-off on. "I should be able to get out of here right around five. Where would you want to meet?"
"Why don't you just meet us here at the hotel? Do you happen to know the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in DC?"
Hotch almost choked on his own breath. He knew the Mandarin; it was of the most expensive luxury hotels in DC and it was close to the Mall. He'd seen it many times as he drove in and out of the nation's capital and had always wondered what the massive hotel looked like on the inside. "I know it."
"Then we will see you about six."
"I'll be there barring any traffic problems," Hotch offered and then ended the call. He ran a hand along his chin. I guess we won't be doing the wolf thing again. I wonder if we're going to stay in the city.
He went ahead and text his wife: 'Sebastian wants me to meet them in DC. I hate to say it, but I don't think I'll be home anytime soon.'
'That's fine. Go, have fun, but don't do anything I wouldn't do,' she text back almost instantly.
'That means I can do anything, then, right?'
' Yep!'
He shook his head. 'I love you. Enjoy dinner and the movie with the kids.'
'I love you, too, Hun.'
He sighed as he watched his phone's screen turn dark. Is it sad that I wish I was going with you instead?
Shaking his head, he slid his phone back into his pocket and grabbed the next file on his stack. As he was reading over it, his mind trailed to the vampire who had changed him and his made family. I guess I shouldn't be surprised they have money. If I'd been alive for almost seven hundred years, I'd have money, too. He ran a hand along the back of his neck. I wonder what he meant by 'show me their appreciation'.
He took a deep breath as he shook his head and forced himself to concentrate on the file in front of him. Stop worrying about what may or might happen tonight. You need to get these files done and get out of here on time or you won't have the opportunity to find out what they have planned.
