I would like to apologize for being so late in posting updates to this story. I started with a case of writer's block, which was then exacerbated by a hurricane named Harvey. While I came through okay, some of my friends weren't so lucky. Hopefully, everything is back to normal and I am planning to post regular updates.
I remember someone asking (sorry, but I can't remember who) why Hotch had originally been targeted and abducted. It was just that he appeared to be what the pirates were looking for and, after checking him out, they grabbed him. Hope this answers your question.
"What kind of trouble did Jessica get into yesterday?" Lynn asked quietly. She had waited until after they had arrived at the soccer field and Jack had gone off to report to his coach to ask.
"Trouble with the TSA," Hotch sighed. "It seems that yesterday she was prowling around the baggage claim area at Dulles Airport for an extended period of time, apparently waiting for each flight from Puerto Rico to arrive. Eventually, airport security got suspicious and took her in for questioning. When she couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation about who she was supposed to be meeting, she ended up giving them my contact information. They called me and I convinced them to let her go."
"It's probably just as well we came into the regional airport then," Lynn sighed. "Poor Jessica! I really wouldn't want Jack to see his aunt acting like that."
"You're concerned about Jessica?" Hotch questioned, surprised.
"I'm more worried about Jack," Lynn replied. "He has such an idealized view of her I would hate to see that crushed."
"Well, unfortunately, I have a feeling that is going to happen sooner rather than later," Hotch sighed as they followed Jacob as he led the way towards the bleachers. "I only hope he can deal with it when the time comes."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"JACK!" Jessica's voice resounded across the soccer field the minute the game ended. "Jack – Over Here!" She rudely pushed her way past the other spectators and then stood waiting behind his soccer team's bench area.
"Aunt Jessica!" Jack called out as soon as he saw her. "Did you see me? The last play I made - Did you see it? I didn't think I could make it, but I did!" He was grinning widely.
"Not bad Hotchner!" one of his teammates slapped him on the back as he passed by. "Not bad at all."
"Jack – What in heaven's name happened to you?" Jessica exclaimed when he got closer to her. "You look like a – a - " She struggled to find the word.
"A field hand," she finally concluded. "Your skin is all dark and you need a haircut. And probably a bath, too! What did they do to you on that island?"
"Nobody did anything to me Aunt Jessica," Jack protested as he held up his arm to look at it. "I just got a sun tan from being outside all the time. And, maybe I do need a haircut, but you are always saying that I need one anyway."
"And your hands are all covered with callouses," Jessica continued her tirade. "What did they make you do out there?"
She angrily turned to Hotch, who had joined the group of players and parents gathered around the bench. "Aaron, what did you let them do to your son? His clothes don't even fit him properly."
"Aunt Jessica, I grew two inches during the summer," Jack protested. "Of course my soccer uniform doesn't fit me. I ended up leaving all my clothes in the common wardrobe and getting some new ones from there that fit me."
"Common Wardrobe ?!" Jessica stormed. "What exactly does that mean?"
"Hey, Hotchner!" a man's voice rang out.
"Yes, Coach," Jack immediately responded.
"I don't know what soccer camp you went to over the past few weeks," the man was making his way through the crowd of parents and players. "But it was worth it. You have never played as good as you did today. Keep it up and you'll be in line to move up to the next level this season."
"Thanks, Coach," Jack told him happily. "I have been working on some new moves."
"Coach is right, Kid," one of the other parents spoke up. "I've watched you play over the past few years and you have definitely improved. Keep up the good work!"
"Jack, you're coming with me!" Jessica declared. "We're going home! Go get your things – Assuming you still have anything left to get."
"Jessica!" Hotch said warningly. "Remember what we discussed! And, remember too that Jack is to be delivered to our house Monday morning – No later than 8:00 a.m. You can drop him off on your way to work."
"HUMPH!" Jessica snorted and, with Jack following along behind her, she headed towards the parking lot.
"Aaron?" Lynn, carrying Lilly and holding Jacob's hand, joined him. "What do you think is going to happen?"
"I don't know," Hotch said thoughtfully. "But I do know I'm not leaving for work tomorrow morning until I am sure that Jack has been safely returned home."