Disclaimer: I still own nothing

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People had started arriving at the shelter, most dressed in tattered clothes nowhere near warm enough for this weather. They were cold, dirty and hungry but strangely enough, for most of them, their spirits were high. Every day they survived. They worried not about politics, what was playing at the movies, who was hot on music charts or on the best sellers list. Late planes, trains or busses and missed phone calls meant nothing to them. The next meal and a safe place to sleep, that was their concern. The other stuff was just window dressing.

As the people started to trickle in Dot went to work. She cared for them, just like she had for the team when they arrived. She got them hot drinks and wrapped them in warm blankets. The team stood in awe of her energy and compassion. A young woman entered with two little children who were shaking from the cold. "Blankets," Emily said and headed in the direction she'd seen Dot go to get the blankets.

"I'll get the hot chocolate," Garcia headed for the kitchen.

JJ approached the newcomers and brought them over near the heat to warm as the team had when they arrived. Emily soon came with the blankets, wrapping them around the little family. Garcia arrived with three mugs of hot chocolate and some cookies for the children, whose eyes lit up when they saw them.

"Well Reid," Rossi said, "Is that a good enough reason to put on a Santa suit and ho ho ho?" He inclined his head toward the children. The boy was about five and the girl was about four. Hotch did not know what had put this woman and two small children out on the street but he was going to find out.

Another group of people came in. Morgan said, "I'll get the blankets."

Reid turned to the kitchen, "I'll get the hot chocolate."

"I guess I'll go greet them," Rossi said walking toward the new arrivals.

Hotch surveyed the scene. Garcia had the little boy on her knee, wrapped tightly in her arms. JJ was removing her sweater and putting it on the mother. Emily was on the floor, removing her boots, then her socks. She took the wet socks off the little girl and put her socks on the child. She then put her boots back on and took the child's socks to the heater. Morgan was wrapping people in blankets while Reid was handing out hot chocolate. Rossi was greeting people, taking their cold hands in his warm ones, touching them. There were other teams of profilers in the BAU that did as good a job as his team but he would bet his life that you couldn't find better people than these six. They were the best.

A man came in with two children. They didn't appear homeless. Their clothes were clean and in good repair. Dot met them at the door and ushered them in. The little girl looked to be about six. She saw Reid carrying a tray of hot chocolate and asked if she could have some. Reid replied, "I don't know, do you have a quarter?" The little girl shook her head, dejected. Reid reached behind her ear. "Well look here, you do so have a quarter." The child's eyes grew big as she saw the quarter Reid pulled from behind her ear. He smiled and handed the surprised child a mug of hot chocolate.

Hotch came up behind Reid, "Why don't I take that? You've got to get ready Santa."

Morgan and Garcia were helping Reid get prepared for his debut as Santa. With Morgan's help Reid had secured the much needed padding to his thin form. The pants, jacket and boots followed and he was in the middle of doing up the large black belt when Garcia commanded, "Sit on the chair Reid and I'll put the beard and wig on you," Reid sat obediently. Garcia swept Reid's own hair up and fit the wig over his head snugly, pulling his hair in the process.

"Ow, Garcia watch it," Reid reached up to grab Garcia's hand but she lightly slapped his away.

"Reid, don't be a baby," she said as she straightened the long white wig and began affixing the beard and mustache.

Emily and JJ entered. "Oh, looking good Reid," Emily said.

"Thanks Emily."

JJ said, "Okay Reid, listen up the boy and girl who first came are Brandon, five years old and Paula, four years old and the second set of kids are Melissa, known as Missy, age six and Connor, age four. Here, I wrote them out for you, you'll remember them if you read them." She handed him the slip of paper.

Hotch and Rossi arrived and barely managed not to laugh at the panicked Reid. "Let's hear your ho ho ho," Hotch suggested.

"Ho ho ho," Reid squeaked.

"No, deeper Reid," Garcia offered, "Santa doesn't squeak."

"Ho ho ho," Reid tried again.

"Deeper," the team said in unison.

"Ho…ho…ho," Reid went as deep as his range would let him.

"That's pretty good, huh Hotch," Morgan checked with the boss.

"Yeah, it'll do," Hotch replied.

"It'll do," Reid squeaked. "I'm willing to trade places right now Hotch."

"No no Reid, you'll be great," Hotch looked at the ceiling.

"Here's your little bells, don't forget to shake them. Oh and your Santa glasses." Garcia placed them on the end of his nose.

"The toys are marked boys and girls and the ages,' Dot said, coming back to see how their Santa was doing. "You look very good Spencer."

"Thanks Dot," Reid replied as he put on the white gloves.

"Are you ready," Garcia asked.

"Yeah, no, yeah, I don't know, okay let's do this," Reid followed Dot who was going to announce him.

Hotch stood behind Morgan. "So this coin toss, it really was-"

"Heads, Hotch, it was heads all the way." Morgan giggled as he watched Reid, dressed in a red Santa suit, follow Dot like a man being led to the gallows.