Author's Note: Thank you for the trememdous words of support and encouragement.
Hotch stood uncertainly at the door of the unfamiliar elementary school's Principal's Office. Knocking quickly on the door, he smirked slightly at the thought that he had yet to visit his own son's elementary school for a visit to the Principal's Office.
But the secretary had been nearly frantic.
Apparently JJ wasn't answering and Will was unavailable. The thought that JJ would not answer her phone was downright flabbergasting, but he quickly dismissed the thought as he realized that JJ hadn't worked for him in years.
While the pair had remained friends, her life at the Department of Defense seemed perfect.
Her life in general seemed the picturesque depiction of a scene from Better Homes and Gardens.
And while he smirked with pride that the younger woman had managed to keep everything together, the pride was far easier to acknowledge than the jealousy that William La Montagne Jr. had somehow managed to steal the woman of his dreams out from under him.
As always, his timing sucked.
Because just as he was ready to act on his feelings, he discovered JJ was pregnant.
That was almost seven years ago, and the biting pain that seemed to tear at his heart every time he caught a glimpse of the blonde hadn't lessened with the passing of time.
However, she seemed genuinely happy.
And if anyone deserved happiness, it was her.
He was aware of her upbringing, far to similar to his own, and he took comfort in the thought that JJ could at least find happiness where he had failed.
Failed miserably would be a more accurate description.
"Agent Hotchner?" The principal asked, relief washing over the man's face as he gestured the agent inside. "Thank you for coming."
"No problem." Hotch assured, still slightly confused as to why he had been called. "Hi Henry." He greeted, smiling at the seven-year-old who squirmed uncomfortably in the chair that seemed to engulf him on the other side of the principal's desk.
Henry nodded, silently scuffing his own feet across the floor as if wanting to hide from the inevitable trouble he knew was on its way.
"I'm sorry to bother you Agent Hotchner, but Ms. Jareau and Detective La Montagne were unavailable." The principal apologized as he took his seat behind the desk.
"It's fine." Hotch brushed the apology away and sat down next to Henry, "but I was a little surprised that I was the next contact."
The principal frowned as he looked through the papers. "You have been Henry's emergency contact since Henry here started school."
Hotch's brow quirked in surprise, but decided to let the issue drop. "What seems to be the problem?"
The principal sighed as the balding man attempted to explain, "Apparently while Henry and the other children on the 'Individualized Educational' tract were doing an art project with the mainstream group, Henry knocked over a bottle of paint."
Hotch glanced between the principal and the seven year old boy, wondering just where this led to an emergency trip to the Principal's Office. "And?"
"According to Mrs. West a boy at his table called him stupid."
"Oh." Hotch furrowed his brow in confusion, still not entirely understanding. "I'm sorry, but why is that—"
"Henry ran away from school while Mrs. West's back was turned. The janitor managed to catch him before he left school grounds." The principal explained and Hotch wondered why the portly balding man hadn't started off with that fact.
Hotch nodded with understanding of the situation finally starting to dawn. "Oh. Well—"
"Agent Hotchner, I know I need to speak with Henry's parents, and I've already left a message for them to speak with me. But since this is not the first time Henry has run away from school, we're going to have to ask you to take him home early."
"Sure." Hotch agreed easily. After all, JJ had done plenty of things for him in the past, he certainly could help her out with Henry.
But why wasn't Will answering?
"Come on Henry, Let's go home." Hotch gestured to the boy to follow him.
Hotch smiled as he dribbled the basketball, waiting for the two boys to make their defensive move. While he wasn't the type of parent to go easy on his son, he also refused to beat Jack by more than two points.
And lately, the ten year old was giving his father a run for his money.
Even Henry seemed to be picking up the game.
"Hotch?" Will sighed with relief as he came around the corner of the house. Hotch picked up the basketball and felt the cogs in his mind turning as Henry stopped abruptly, his shoulders slumping forward as if defeated.
"Hey Will." Hotch smiled easily, approaching the other man with an outstretched hand.
Will smiled amicably and gripped Hotch's hand tightly. "Thanks for watching him. I just got the message from the school." He narrowed his gaze at his son who was nearly pleading for the earth to swallow him whole. "Henry. Let's go home."
Henry shook his head and backed away slowly from his father.
"Damn it Henry, I don't have time for this." Will groaned, shooting Hotch an apologetic look, he furrowed his brow seriously. "Let's go. Now."
Henry glanced over at Hotch pleadingly before slowly stepping toward his furious father.
Hotch frowned, uncertain why he felt a tingling of familiarity at the back of his mind. He too had gotten in trouble in school, but he had an alcoholic mother and an abusive father.
So the situations weren't exactly the same.
Still, there was something…off…about this. "Go easy on him." Hotch insisted, speaking up for the boy who had spent the afternoon at his home. "He's a good kid."
Will nodded tersely. "Running away from your problems don't make it any better." He grumbled and Henry quickened his step to run toward his father.
Hotch looked around in surprise. "Where's JJ?"
"Probably at home on the couch." Will muttered as if Hotch couldn't hear him.
Hotch's brow quirked in surprise. Where the hell was JJ?
"Let's go." Will grumbled, smiling at Hotch apologetically. "Thanks for watching him." Will said gratefully as he placed his hand on the back of Henry's neck and guided the boy back toward the car.
"Sure." Hotch waved, turning back toward his own son and scratching his head in surprise.
That was odd.