Hello everyone! Here's the new chapter, but first I want to thank you so much everybody for reading, alerting and adding this fic to your favorites. That makes me really, really happy : D

Again, thanks to kisaitaluvr for the beta.

I don't owe Criminal Minds or any of his characters.

OoOoO

Chapter II: Mistakes

They came to a quiet bar near the BAU, it was a familiar place to them. They always used to go there when it was just the two of them, when they go out with all the team; they usually went to places a little more big and noisy.

Both settled at one of the tables in the corner, without saying anything. A few minutes later the waiter served their drinks, leaving a glass in front of them. Scotch, a taste they shared.

Taking a sip of his drink, Dave looked at the man before him. Hotch was sitting quietly, just looking at his glass. His lips pressed into a tight line.

"All right. What's going on with you?" Dave asked finally, his eyes fixed on Hotch's face.

Hotch looked at Rossi, with what he hoped was a blank expression on his face.

"What do you mean?" He asked quietly before bringing the glass to his lips.

Dave just raised an eyebrow, giving his friend a look that made it clear he wasn't buying that.

Hotch sighed lowering his eyes again. He knew David Rossi way too well to really think he was going to let this go. Absently, he ran his fingers over the lip of his glass.

"I... I had some trouble with Jack," Hotch said finally.

Dave narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean by problems? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he's fine. I think." Hotch said, before taking another sip of his drink, this bigger than the previous one. When he looked at Dave, he saw the other man was frowning and looking back at him with an expectant expression.

He just sighed again. "I had some problems with Jack a couple of days."

Hotch started to tell his best friend what had happened.

/***/

Hotch was in the kitchen making breakfast, while Jack was in the living room watching TV.

The past few weeks had been quite heavy; going from city to city, case after case, and on top of that, Strauss over his shoulder the whole time, making sure he could still do his job.

And then, yesterday when he had gone to pick up Jack at Jessica's, she had told him Jack had been moody and cranky all day. She had tried to get Jack to talk to her but she hadn't succeeded. It was a little late, so Jack had gone to bed shortly after they arrived to their apartment, so he hadn't spoken with Jack; he was hoping to do it after breakfast.

"Hey buddy, breakfast is almost ready; go wash your hands please!" Hotch called into the living room to Jack.

This was something new, of course Haley's death had affected him, he had been quieter and sad, but he hadn't been upset or had stopped talking to Jess or him. In fact, it had been quite the opposite; he had grown close to them, clinging to the familiar figures he had left, so this was a bit... different, he just hoped it wasn't anything serious.

He was making pancakes -Jack's favorites- as breakfast, he flipped the pancakes over and got plates out of the cabinet.

He sighed. Normally, when he could spend the whole day with his son, Jack was always excited, making plans to go to the park or the movies and talking almost non-stop about school and friends, and even asking for 'his uncles and aunts' on the team, which these past months have been supporting and helping him with anything.

He served on two plates, took them to the table and got some grape juice for Jack.

"Jack, breakfast is ready, go wash your hands." He called again and then went to get the syrup and butter.

As Hotch returned to the table, he frowned seeing Jack hadn't moved from the couch.

"Jack, go wash your hands." He called again, looking at the living room.

He waited a moment, but nothing happened. Still with a frown on his face, he walked toward the living room, stopping next to Jack.

"Jack, go wash your hands please." He repeated, trying not to raise his voice.

Jack didn't even look at him; instead, it seemed he hadn't even heard him. Taking a deep breath, he took the remote control that was on the coffee table, and turned off the TV.

He just kept staring at Jack, who was watching him. After a moment, the little boy stood and left the room.

Hotch pinched the bridge of nose as he walked toward the kitchen. Jack had never acted like that. Never. He was a sweet and loving little boy. Something was definitely wrong here. Shaking his head, he went to pour a cup of coffee; he took a small sip as he went to sit at the table.

A moment later Jack was back, sitting at the table.

Hotch started eating without saying anything; he just looked at Jack out of the corner of his eye. He frowned. His son wasn't eating; he just sat here looking at his plate.

Jack didn't even looked at him, he just keep watching his plate without moving.

Hotch closed his hands into fists and took a deep breath.

"Jack, you're not leaving this table until you've eat you breakfast."

"I don't like this, I don't want it, you don't make it like mommy. I want my mommy!" Jack cried, throwing the plate away.

"Jack…" Hotch said, his voice hard.

"No! I want my mommy, don't want you!" Jack whined before start running to his room.

He felt as if he had received a punch in the gut listening to his son say that, but he quickly put his hurt aside and went after Jack, he took him by the arm.

"Let me go, I don't want you!" Jack screamed, trying to break free from the grip of his father.

Then, he didn't know what happened. The next thing he remembers is seeing directly into the frightened eyes of his son. 'What's wrong? Why is he looking at me like that?' He wondered himself confused. Then he froze.

He was grabbing Jack by the arm with more force than necessary, and his other hand was up in the air, about to... No he couldn't be about...

Immediately, he let go of Jack's arm, and watched as his son ran away from him, his cries strong enough to be heard even after the door was closed. He just stood there, unable to move, just trying to breathe.

How could he had been about to do something like that? To his son. Something he promised himself he never would even try, the same night he held his little baby in the hospital, next to Haley.

He stood there, unable to move for near 10 minutes, and once he could do it, he took a couple of minutes to calm down before taking the phone and dial the familiar number.

"Hello?" Said the person on the other side.

"Hey Jess, it's me." He said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Aaron. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine, I just wanted to ask if you could come over."

"I- what? What happened?" She responded with concern evident in her voice.

"We... we had a little discussion and Jack is in his room. I think he needs to have someone with him." He took a deep breath. "Someone other than me."

"Is he okay? I think if you had problems with Jack you should talk to him." She said seriously.

"Yeah, he's fine. I just... I need a little time. Can you come over? Please."

"I ... okay I'll be there in a couple of minutes."

"Thanks." Hotch said hanging up.

25 minutes later there was a knock at the door.

"Hey," Jessica said quietly.

"Thanks for coming; he's still in his room." He told her without closing the door.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to leave for a moment. I'll be back soon." He replied, and without waiting for an answer left the apartment.

He drove for a couple of minutes, stopping at the park near his apartment. He took a deep breath and left his car, going to sit on a bench.

He didn't know how long he had been sitting there, or even why he had driven here. He had done it subconsciously, the supposed; coming to where innocent children were playing and having fun. If he analyzed more carefully, he knew he could get why of all places where he could have gone, he had come here, but he had no intention of doing so.

As he kept watching the children running and laughing, a sound distracted him. It was his cell phone, he frowned. He didn't remember bringing it with him. Without looking who was calling, he answered.

"Hotchner."

"Aaron? It's me. Where are you?" Jessica asked with dismay in her voice.

"Hey, is he okay?" He asked just above a whisper.

"Yes, he's okay. It looks like some kid at school told him bad things and that's why he was acting like that. I've already talked to him and explained that what that kid said was wrong. He told me… he told me what happened," She cleared her throat. "He wants to see you, he want to apologize."

"I… actually wanted to ask if you could take him home with you." Hotch said quietly. If Jack had told her what happened surely she knew what he had been about to do to Jack. She couldn't face her, not now.

"What? What are you talking about? He wants to see you. Don't you hear me?" Jessica said with obvious confusion in her voice.

"Yes, I hear you. I... I just need some time alone."

"Alright, I'll take him home with me." She sighed, "Can you at least talk with him now?"

"I have to go now; I'll talk to him later. Thanks for everything. Bye."

/***/

Hotch took another sip of his scotch, without looking at his friend's eyes.

OoOoO

A/N:Thanks to all who read it. I hope you all have enjoyed, and as always feedback is appreciated. Thank you all.