A/N: Hello everyone. I would just like to mention that all of these chapters are completely unedited, since I'm trying to complete this story by the 31st as per the details of the challenge. These will all be cleaned up, filled out and reposted later when I have more time to work on them.
Many thanks to everyone who reviewed.
The next thing Reid knew, he was walking to the car with a happily chattering Jack holding his hand, and with someone's phone number - presumably Natalie's - in the other. All of a sudden Jack paused his rapid talking and looked up at Reid.
"Uncle Spencer? What's for dinner?"
Reid paused. This was something that he hadn't thought of before, and seeing as he had no kid-friendly food in the house (octopus, anyone?), that meant that a shopping trip was in order. It was already - he checked his watch - 4:49, so they would probably need something that could be cooked fast, or else Jack would start getting hungry, and cranky, which Reid did not want to have to deal with tonight. So, he thought, what can I make that will be ready fast? {lightbulb}
"How about mac and cheese?" Jack paused, and for a moment Reid was afraid he'd made a bad suggestion, until the young boy's face lit up.
"Shaped like dinos?"
"If we can find it at the store."
As he and a grinning Jack climbed into the car, Reid felt that his luck was starting to turn.
A couple hours later the doorbell to Reid's house rang. Jack looked up from his TV show as Reid went over to answer it. He opened the door to a haggard-looking Hotch, whose face lit up when Jack came running.
"Daddy!" the young boy cried, hugging his father's legs.
"Hey Buddy. Sorry I couldn't pick you up from camp. Did you have fun with Uncle Spencer?"
"Yup, he let me have mac and cheese shaped like dinosaurs!"
"Awesome." Hotch looked up at Reid. "Thank you so much for doing this. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."
"No, not at all, Jack's a great kid."
"Okay, buddy, let's go home. See you tomorrow, Reid."
"Um, actually sir, about that…" Reid gulped. "Uh, well, Natalie, the, uh, camp leader, mentioned that they needed someone to help out so I kinda volunteered to help since I'm done all my paperwork and don't really have anything else to do at work this week…if that's okay with you?"
Hotch paused for a moment.
"I don't see anything wrong with it. I'll clear it as vacation time. That's great that you volunteered to help. So, I guess I'll see you at the camp in the morning, then."
"Uh, yeah, I guess so. Have, um, a good night, sir. Bye Jack, see you tomorrow."
Reid closed the door behind him with a sigh. There went his last hope of a normal week at work. Well, a more normal week than usual.
Rossi held the door to the restaurant open for his sister and her best friend. After the two giggling women had passed him, he followed and once again wondered how he had gotten dragged into this.
A few weeks ago, his sister Andrea told him that her best friend Michelle was coming to DC to visit for a week, and since she couldn't get the time off work, she was hoping that Dave would be able to spend some time with her while Michelle was here and show her the sights. After some pleading, followed by threats (to which he replied that he could arrest her for threatening a federal agent, you know), and then some bribery, Andrea finally got Dave to agree to spend time with Michelle while she was in town.
He had, however, forgotten until they were in the car on the way to the restaurant some things about her. Like her love of all things girly and/or pink - she hadn't outgrown that one. Or her absolute inability to take "no" for an answer - while that might be a good thing for her as a lawyer, Dave found it very frustrating to deal with. Once again, he sighed. What had he gotten himself into?
When he walked out of the restaurant several hours later, he knew what he had gotten himself into all too well. He should have just stuck with paperwork this week...
A/N: Sorry about the short chapter. Just trying to get it all done on time...as mentioned these will all be reposted later.