"Jessica, we need to talk," Hotch called out. Rossi had driven him over to the townhouse where Jessica and Jack were now living and the two men were standing on the front porch. "And the sooner we do it the better," he added.
There was no response from inside the unit.
"I just checked and your car is in the garage," Rossi added his voice to the entreaty. "So we know you are here. Please open up."
"So, Dave, are you here to referee?" Jessica challenged as she opened the inside door. Hotch noticed that she left the screen door latched.
"To facilitate," Rossi gently corrected her. "Things between you and Aaron seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot and I'm just here to see if I can help get things back on track between the two of you."
"May we please come in?" he added. "I don't think you want the neighbors to have a front row seat to this."
"Well, okay," Jessica unlocked the screen door. "But don't plan on staying." She led the way into the living room.
"Where is Jack?" Hotch immediately asked.
"He's doing his homework," Jessica replied defiantly.
"I want to see him," Hotch stated firmly.
"I am his father," he added when Jessica hesitated.
"Why don't I go get him?" Rossi volunteered. "I know the way."
After giving the two combatants a stern look, he began walking up the stairs to the second floor.
"You moved," Hotch observed as he looked around. "And, you got new furniture."
"After Dad died Jack and I moved," Jessica commented dryly. "Too many memories."
"I heard about that," Hotch told her. "And I want you to know how sorry I am."
"Are you?" was the sarcastic response. "You do know that he never liked you, don't you? Not from the very beginning and then after what happened to my sister - "
"Still, he was Jack's grandfather," Hotch replied. "And that does count for something."
"Why don't we all sit down?" Rossi suggested as he rejoined them. "It will be easier to talk that way."
"Jack is on his way down," he added.
"Talking isn't necessary," Jessica spit out. "I just want to know how it feels to have abandoned your family, leaving them to their own devices for three whole years. And, then, you just come waltzing back into our lives with a whole new family and expect us to be happy for you? How about that SSA Aaron Hotchner?"
"I didn't voluntarily abandon you," Hotch protested. "I was kidnapped. And, for the first several months, I was chained to a cot 24/7. Then, for at least a year after that, I was still chained up every night. There are still scars around my ankle if you want to see them."
He leaned over to pull up his pant leg.
"Dad?" Jack had his eyes fixed on the scars. "What happened?"
"Jack, Buddy," Hotch's eyes filled with tears as he looked at his son. "I just want you to know that not a day went by that I didn't think about you – Not One Day! But, after a while, I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to get away and come back to you so I decided that maybe it was time to move on with certain portions of my life. But I never forgot you – Never."
"Well, you did make it back," Jessica observed dryly. "And how do you want to handle things now – Hum-m-m?"
"I would like it if you would just meet Lynn and Jacob," Hotch told her. "Get to know them. Lynn's left everything she has ever known to come with me and I am hoping you and Jack can help her adjust to this new world."
"So I am supposed to feel sorry for her and take her in and we are going to be one big happy family?" Jessica questioned sarcastically. "I don't think so. Jack and I have been just fine without you all this time and we can continue on with that."
"Jack is my son," Hotch reminded her. "And I do have the right to resume custody of him."
"Are you going to be paying his bills too?" Jessica asked. "Like I have been for the past three years? Do you want to know how hard I have had to work?"
"Aunt Jessica," Jack interrupted. "I want to see my dad – Please? He's come back now, just like we always said he was going to."
"Well, if that's what you really want," Jessica capitulated. "We will come over and meet your concubine and her kid. I suppose it is the least we can to."
"She's my wife," Hotch sternly reminded her. "And I will thank you to remember that."
He took out a business card and handed it to his sister-in-law. "Here is the address and phone number for the hotel we are staying at," he said. "Like I said, I would really appreciate it if you could help Lynn and Jacob settle in and adjust to their new life."
"We'll see," Jessica barely glanced at the card. "We'll see."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Dave, I have a question," Hotch began after Rossi had started the car and begun driving back to the hotel.
"Ask," Rossi glanced over at his friend.
"Didn't Jessica receive benefits for Jack while I was gone?" Hotch asked. "I know that as Jack's guardian she was entitled to them but she made it sound as if she didn't get them."
"Oh she got them alright," Rossi reported grimly. "Garcia made sure of that. Once we get back to the hotel, let me get her working on it. I am sure she can determine Jessica's current financial situation."