Three weeks had passed since the team first began their off-duty investigation into the whereabouts of George Foyet. The man was a chameleon, used to leading a nomadic existence, moving from place to place at a moments notice. From the leads that they were currently following, The Reaper had yet to arrive in the D.C. Area. This bit of information gave the team some breathing room, but the clock was still ticking...louder with each passing day.

"Okay, Boss-man..." chirped Garcia happily, "I now have the video feeds of all airports, marinas, bus stations, train stations and toll booths within a hundred mile radius being fed real-time through our facial recognition software. Unless he drops from the sky, we have our transportation corridors covered."

Hotch smiled as he paced. "Penelope...thank you so much. Why don't you go ahead and take off early. I have Jack this weekend, and I think we all need some downtime."

Garcia grinned and began gathering her things. "Sir, I have my system set up to alert me if it gets a hit...so even if we aren't technically working the case...we're still working the case!"

Hotch walked over to the hyperactive technical analyst, and gave her a tender hug. "I never for a moment doubted it. Call Reid or I anytime, day or night if you find anything."

After helping Garcia carry her laptop to the elevator, Hotch made his way back to his office, and collapsed into his chair. Aaron looked down into the Bullpen, watching Reid gather mounds of paperwork into his satchel. He smiled as Spencer's first few attempts ended up strewn all over the floor. He was just about to go down and lend a hand, when his phone rang.

"Hotchner." said Aaron gruffly.

"Aaron? Its Haley."

"Hi, Haley. Is something wrong? We were just headed over to pick up Jack, and..."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Aaron. Did you tell Jack that he could have a puppy? I specifically told him that he was not allowed to have a pet until he was older. You should've talked to me before..."

Hotch was confused. "Haley...Haley what are to talking about? I never told him that he could have a dog. In fact I don't think we've ever spoken about..."

"Then why," said Haley angrily, "did I find a puppy living under his bed? First he told me that he found it...then he told me he saved it...then he just started crying uncontrollably. Between the sobs I'm positive that he was saying that you knew."

Hotch was perplexed. "Okay, Haley. We're leaving the office now, and we'll head straight over to pick up Jack. I'll figure this out when we get there, Okay?"

Haley responded with a hint of disdain in her voice. "Aaron. Must you bring him with you? I am really not in the mood to entertain your boy toy..."

Hotch cut her off abruptly. "Haley. Spencer will be with me. Deal with it." He hung up the phone forcefully and stood up, before running his hands through his hair in frustration.

It was at that moment that Reid poked his head into his lover's office. "Something wrong?" he asked with concern.

The older man smiled and shook his head as he gathered up his things. "Do you remember us telling Jack that he could have a dog?" Spencer looked confused, and shook his head.

oOo

Hotch parked in the driveway of his old home, behind Haley's SUV. The young genius glanced up at his supervisor with a look that somehow combined fear and dread. "Are you sure that you want me to come in? I can just wait out here and...I have some books I could..."

Aaron smiled. "You are coming in. We have to get to the bottom of this puppy thing, and I want you there so he can't try to blame you."

Reluctantly, the young agent joined his partner, and walked to the door.

Haley opened the door abruptly, before Aaron had a chance to knock. "Come in and talk to him, please. He's locked himself in his room, and told me that he won't come out until he can talk to you and SPENCER." She gritted her teeth as she spoke, as if the young man's name made her physically ill.

Aaron and Spencer look at each other, then back at Haley. "We'll go up and talk to him, Haley...and we'll make sure that the puppy situation is resolved."

The two men reached the second floor, and took sharp right down the hall. The toddler's bedroom door was covered in stickers, crayola drawings and pictures of his favorite superheros. Aaron smiled, fondly remembering Jack at this age. Hotch raised his hand and knocked quietly on the door.

"Jack? Jack, Buddy...open the door. Your Mom is worried, and Spencer and I are here to take you for the weekend."

There was a slight pause, before they heard the door lock unlatch. Slowly the door opened...just far enough for the small boy to peer up at the men suspiciously. "Mommy isn't out there, is she?"

Hotch smiled. "No, Buddy. Your Mom is downstairs...its just Spencer and I up here. Do you want to tell us what's going on?"

Jack lowered his voice to a tiny whisper. "Okay, come in quick." said the boy as he open his bedroom door far enough for them to squeeze through.

As soon as the men got into the bedroom, Jack pushed the door closed and locked it behind them. "Okay," said Jack, "I'll show you, so you know."

Aaron and Spencer tried to hide their confusion, as Jack hit the floor, and squirmed quickly under his bed. Seconds later, he reappeared, cradling a tiny puppy in his arms. Both agents smiled automatically at the adorableness of of the scene before them.

"Jack, Buddy...he is a very cute puppy, but your Mom..."

The child interrupted his father impatiently, and looked imploringly at Spencer.. "Daddy! Look at him!"

While the father and son were arguing, Spencer took a good look at the puppy in Jack's arms. Being that pattern recognition was one of his most obvious skills, he saw immediately what Jack was talking about.

"Aaron," interjected Spencer. His lover, still in a power play with his four year old, didn't acknowledge him. "Aaron! Shut up for a second and look."

Startled by Reid's unexpected outburst, he turned his gaze to his partner. "Spencer?"

"Aaron...it's our dog...Bandit. Look at the markings."

Bandit, a Springer Spaniel, had been a rescue dog that they had adopted shortly after the couple had moved in together. The small boy had instantly bonded with the canine, and since then, they had been inseparable.

The elder man turned his attention to the small canine, before addressing his son. "Jack?"

The toddler's face was a mixture of embarrassment, guilt and a bit of pride. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you before! Please don't be mad at me. Bandit hunted me down a few days after we came here."

Hotch's confusion showed on his face. "Came where, Buddy?"

"Here, Dad. To the past."

The two agents looked at each other. Aaron looked confused, but Spencer understood.

Spencer was the first to speak up. "How old are you, Big Guy?"

The toddler smiled brightly. "Well, aside from the fact that Mommy still puts pull-ups on me at night, I'm actually almost eight. I should be in third grade, but...well, you guys are both in the same boat, so you know."

Noticing the four year old's miraculously advanced verbal skills, Spencer chuckled.

Aaron began to pace the small room before he growled at his son. "You have known this whole time and never said anything?"

"Dad...I am so, so sorry. It had been so long since...since Mommy...I wanted to be with her."

Hotch gave a sad smile. "Buddy...you still could have told us. I would never have kept you from your Mom."

"Can we take Bandit home with us? Mommy won't let him stay, but we need to take care of him. He remembers us...We still love him, right?"

Both men smiled broadly at their son. "Absolutely." said both men concurrently.

oOo

"Spencer...take Bandit to the car. I'll help Jack finish packing, and we'll be right behind you."

Spencer tucked the wiggling puppy tight into the crook of his arm, and headed down the stairs quickly, hoping to avoid Haley's condemnation. The young man made it to the foyer, when he was stopped in his tracks.

"This was your doing, wasn't it?" said Haley with venom.

"Haley..." began Spencer.

"Shut up. I don't need to hear your excuses. You are trying to come between me and my son. You already took my husband."

Reid considered his words very carefully before he spoke. "Haley...neither Aaron or I knew about the dog..."

"I could care less about the dog!" screamed Haley. "You are trying to take my family. You and your stupid facts, your magic tricks, and mismatched socks. You act like a child. What does Aaron see in you? I know your game though...you're a pedophile, and you're trying to get to Jack through my idiot ex-husband."

Spencer was dumbfounded. He couldn't wrap his head around the abuse that was being hurled at him. "I would never..." began the young genius, before Haley slapped him hard across the face.

Spencer shook his head to clear the star from his eyes, when he heard his lover roar from the top of the stairs. "HALEY! What in the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Haley spun in Hotch's direction defiantly. "I'm doing what you are apparently incapable of...protecting my son!"

Hotch took the stairs two at a time to get down and check on Spencer, and shield him from his ex-wife. "Are you insane, Haley? You just assaulted a Federal Agent."

"He's a fucking whore, Aaron. When are you going to realize that? He's got your dick in his mouth, distracting you while he seduces our son!"

The two agents stood in shock, listening to the Haley's rant. Neither had been prepared, and had no idea how to respond...until Jack did it for them.

"Mommy! Stop it, stop it, stop it!"

The three adults turned to face the young boy, now at the foot of the stairs.

"Stop being mean. Spencer is nice, and he plays with me. I love him." The small boy stood in front of the agents, shielding them from his mother. "If you don't like them, then I don't like you."

Spencer heard the linguistic cadence. Much younger than his actual age, but effective.

"Jack, Sweetie!" purred Haley. "Your Dad is confused. He doesn't understand like I do."

"I understand, Mommy." stated Jack, now in his seven year old voice. "I understand that you are not nice. Carl is mean, and you don't care about how he treats me. You're mad because Dad loves Spencer and me more than you."

Haley's shock quickly morphed back into anger. She grabbed the small boy by the arm, and yanked him roughly to her side. "This is your doing, Aaron! You're trying to turn my son against me...you two are brainwashing him."

Hotch's countenance was a reflection of the controlled rage he was currently feeling. Spencer watched his lover warily, having seen that look only a handful of times, normally directed at particularly heinous serial killers.

Slowly, Hotch took a deep breath. Without taking his eyes off of his ex-wife, he stepped forward, and placed his hand gently on top of Haley's, still holding Jack's arm in a death grip.

Without raising his voice, Aaron spoke steadily. "Let him go, Haley...now."

The angry woman slowly loosened her grip, until Hotch was able to pull Jack's arm free. He then knelt down and rubbed the boy's arm gently before maneuvering him deftly into Spencer's waiting arms. "Spencer," asked his lover with an icy calm. "could you take Jack and Bandit out to the car? I'll be there in a few minutes."

Jack and Spencer shared a nervous look. "Are you sure we should leave, Aaron?" asked Spencer carefully.

The senior agent looked at his family and smiled. "Everything is fine, don't worry. Haley and I just need to have a conversation. I just want to make sure that if she refuses to keep a civil tongue, neither of you have to hear it."

Nodding in affirmation, Jack scooped up his overnight bag, and grabbed onto the back of Spencer's jacket. Puppy in one hand, Spencer reached for the door.

"JACK IS NOT LEAVING!" screamed Haley vehemently.

Making eye contact with his now terrified lover, Aaron winked and nodded towards the door. "Go on...I'll be out soon."

Not needing to be told a third time, Spencer and Jack made a run for it.

Closing the door behind his family, Hotch turned slowly to face the hysterical woman.

Lowering his voice an octave, Aaron spoke slowly and deliberately. "Haley...sit down...NOW!"

oOo

Standing next to Aaron's SUV, Spencer began to panic.

"I need to do something, Jack...but I don't understand. I know she wasn't happy about your Dad and I, but this is different. Why does your mother think I would hurt you?"

Jack looked down at his shoes, then slowly back up at Spencer. "Carl tells her that. He says all sorts of bad stuff about you and Dad. He wants Mommy to say that I can't see you guys any more. He wants to live here, and he doesn't want Dad around."

"But she can't believe that your Dad could love someone that would hurt you."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Why not. She does."

Spencer was confused. "What do you mean? What happened?"

The toddler continued. "Bandit snuck out of my room today, and peed on Carl's shoes...that's how they found out I had him. Carl got really, really mad, and drug me to my room. He spanked me...hard."

"Wait, wait...he spanked you?" asked Reid with concern.

"Really hard. I was crying. He had me by the arm, and was yelling about his shoes...Mommy was yelling about Bandit...everyone was yelling."

Spencer knelt down to Jack's level. "Then what happened?"

"I told Mommy that she was mean, and that me and Bandit wanted to go live with you and Dad."

Cautiously, the young genius prodded. "And?"

"And she called Dad and you perverts. Four year old me may not have known what that word meant, but I'm almost eight, and I have two Dads...I know exactly what it means."

"And?" asked Spencer carefully.

The young boy crossed his arms and looked at his step-father defiantly. "I told her I would rather live with a pervert, than Carl...then I crawled under the bed with Bandit, and hid."

"Buddy...has Carl spanked you before?" Spencer asked, because he knew that Aaron had some very hard and fast rules regarding disciplining children in general, and Jack specifically.

"A few times...not in the past...only now, but never as hard as today. He said his shoes cost a lot."

Spencer stood and laid the sleeping puppy in the car before pulling Jack into a hug. The toddler inhaled sharply from the embrace, causing the young agent to pull back in alarm.

"Jack?"

Jack looked embarrassed. "Sorry, Daddy. My back just still stings a little."

Spencer became worried. "Hey, Buddy...mind if I take a look?"

The little boy shrugged, and slipped out of his jacket. He dropped it to the ground carelessly, and turned his back to Spencer as he lifted up his shirt.

Two long, angry welts striped the child's back. They had obviously been made by a leather strap of some kind...probably a belt. The skin was not broken, but the contusions were deep purple, and surrounded by webs of broken capillaries. Tears welled up in Spencer's eyes, as he fought to control his rage. He could only imagine Aaron's reaction.

Reid quickly took a few pictures with his cell phone, then helped the toddler pull his shirt down. "Okay, Jack...I'm gonna call Uncle Dave. I don't want you to say anything else about this until he gets here. And...if your Dad comes out before then, you still don't say anything. Do you understand?"

Jack nodded. "Daddy...it's okay, really. Carl was just upset about the shoes...he had an important meeting..."

"This is not okay, little man...not okay at all."

After several rings, a distracted Dave answered his phone. "Rossi. What?"

"Well, if you had actually been looking at your phone, you would know that its Spencer..."

"Oh, god, Reid. Did something happen? Did we locate Foyet?"

"No, Dave...this is something else. I sent you a picture. I need you to get over to Aaron's old house as soon as you can."

"Kid...What am I looking at?"

Spencer cleared his throat. "That's a picture of some marks I found on Jack's back. He told me he got a spanking, and I found that."

"Jeez...he's only four."

"Dave...Hotch is in talking to Haley about something else. He doesn't know yet, but when he finds out..."

"Shit! I'm out the door as we speak. Whatever you do, Kid...do not let him see that before I get there. I'm calling Morgan too...he's closer. Hide him if you have to, but don't let Aaron know!"

oOo

Reid chuckled when Morgan's vehicle came screeching up the driveway less than four minutes after hanging up with Dave.

The muscular agent jumped out of his car and jogged up to his friend. "Hey, Pretty Boy...Big Jack...are we clear so far?"

Jack looked up, amused. "Dad hasn't come out yet, Uncle Morgan, so yea...we're clear."

Derek gave Spencer a sideways glance. "What was that?"

The genius laughed. "That's Hotch's progeny...did you expect anything less?"

The three were soon made four, when Rossi arrived, addressing Morgan as he approached. "So...Aaron and Haley are still inside, huh?"

"Yep" answered Morgan succinctly.

"Has anyone checked on them?" asked Rossi again.

Jack giggled. "Uncle Dave, you told us to wait here."

"And he knew that because..."

"Because I told him what you said, Dave. Are you changing your mind now? If so, you might want to knock on the door." stated Spencer.

"Nothing to worry about yet...you can hear her yelling from out here." added Morgan. "She just keeps screaming about Pretty Boy. Apparently, he's a homewrecker."

"And a whore." added Jack. "What's a whore?"

The adults looked down at the young boy, aghast. "Never repeat that, Buddy!" cried Spencer. "And when you are old enough to find out what a whore is...I'm definitely not one!"

Finally, Hotch exited the home, slamming the door as he went. Walk towards the SUV, he was surprised to find Rossi and Morgan standing with Reid and Jack. "Okay..." Aaron began tentatively, "We called the Calvary because...?"

Rossi stepped forward, followed shortly by Morgan.

"Aaron, Spencer called me..." began the elder agent.

"And Dave called me." stated Derek.

Hotch look at his lover carefully. "Babe, did you really think that I'd lose control? I would never hit Haley!"

"Oh god, no Aaron. You don't understand. The argument worried me, but it was what Jack told me...I needed backup."

Now Hotch was suspicious. He turned to his son. "Buddy? What did you tell Daddy?"

The young boy gripped Spencer's hand tightly. "Please don't be mad, Dad. I just told Daddy that I thought the reason she was calling him all those bad names was because, before... Mommy called Daddy a pervert...and I said that I'd rather live with a pervert, than Carl."

Hotch suppressed a chuckle, then glanced at his partner. "You called backup for that?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Not that...I called them because of this."

The young genius carefully turned the toddler around, and slowly raised the back of his shirt, exposing the reddening welts. "This is all I've seen so far..."

Hotch's eyes widened, and a low growl formed in his throat, as he turned towards the house and broke into a run. He was quick, but Morgan had been prepared, stopping the senior agent in his tracks before he hit the front lawn.

Rossi jogged up to the two men. "Aaron...let's not do this here. Before you go ballistic on Haley, let's take him to the Docs at Quantico, let them examine him and get a Child Advocate to talk to him. If anything needs to happen, we want the locals to do it."

Hotch desire for vengeance was palpable. He stood stiff and tense...until Jack walked over and grabbed his shaking hand. "Dad...I need you...please come with us?" The senior agent looked from his son to his lover, who was distraught and fighting back tears.

Aaron took a deep breath and held his son's hand tightly. "Spencer?" He cried in a broken voice.

Immediately, the young man was by his side. "We need to do what Rossi suggested, Babe." He put an arm around his lover's waist, and guided him to the car. "Jack will be okay, Aaron...but he needs us with him, not in jail."

Spencer put Jack into his car seat, and placed Bandit on his lap. Aaron wordlessly slid into the passenger seat of the SUV, while Reid walked back to talk with Rossi and Morgan.

"Guys...I want to go talk to Haley. I think that she needs to be there for Jack...and I also suspect that Jack wasn't Carl's only victim."

Rossi nodded in agreement. "I thought the same thing myself...this scumbag has anger issues in spades. If he acted this way over a pair of shoes..."

"Agreed." said Morgan. "I'll take Hotch and Jack to Quantico. You two go talk to Haley and convince her to come. And, Dave..." added Morgan seriously, "I expect Pretty Boy here to show up in one piece."

Rossi chuckled and clapped Morgan on the back. "I promise, Derek. If necessary, I will throw myself in front of our genius, to protect him from the angry soccer mom."

Morgan smirked at the older man. "You know what I mean, Rossi. I won't be having her throwing a guilt complex his way either."

Spencer smiled. "Thanks for the concern, Morgan. I can take care of myself, and I have nothing to feel guilty for. Despite her perception, I did not steal her husband."

Derek chuckled as he got in the SUV. Hotch rolled down the window and smiled up at his lover. "Please promise me that you won't listen to a thing she says about us."

The young Doctor grinned as he gave Aaron a tender kiss. "We'll be there soon." Giving Jack a little wave, he backed up and knocked on the roof, signaling Morgan that he was clear.

As the SUV pulled out of the driveway, Spencer looked towards Rossi and nodded. "Let's get this over with."

oOo

Reid stood behind Rossi as he knocked on the door, hoping to create as little visual presence as possible. After a few moments, Haley swung open the door angrily and glared at Rossi.

"Why are you here, Dave. Aaron just left...but you probably knew that. Did he ask you to come by and try and charm me out of suing him for sole custody?"

The agent looked gravely at the woman. "I'm not here about that, Haley...and Aaron didn't call me, Spencer did. He was worried about Jack...and about you."

The Ex-Mrs. Hotchner huffed out a condescending laugh. "That's rich...the poor little Boy Toy is worried about the family that he ruined?"

Shyly, the genius stepped forward. "Haley...Jack told me that Carl hit him..."

"That's a lie!" growled Haley. "Carl loves Jack like a son! Once I get full custody, he's going to adopt him." Moving towards Spencer, she began poking him in the chest with her finger to punctuate each word. "You took my husband, and now you want my son too."

With each poke, Haley stepped towards the young genius, causing him to backpedal until he finally tripped, and landed on the ground with a thud.

Rossi reached out and grabbed the woman's arm, preventing any further assault. He cleared his throat before he spoke. "Haley...you know that Aaron and I are friends, right?"

"Yes, Dave," answered the woman sarcastically. "I know you're friends...so what?"

It was obvious to Spencer that Rossi was having trouble controlling his anger.

The older agent looked exasperated as he continued. "Then you should know that I have been aware that you were cheating with Carl long before YOU left Aaron. Quit with the bullshit sob story about the jilted wife and leave the kid out of this...he's just trying to help."

Haley began to protest, but Dave stopped her with a raised hand. "Can it, Haley. Reid and I are trying to do you a favor here. Carl hit your son, and he's probably done the same to you. Aaron's taking Jack to get examined by FBI specialists trained in recognizing abuse. From what I saw, it's not gonna be too hard to prove. Now...you can either act like Jack's mother and be there for your son, or you can stay here and hope you aren't charged as an accessory."

Frustrated, Rossi reached down and grabbed the young man's elbow, helping him to his feet. "Come on Reid, let's go."

Spencer brushed off the back of his pants, before turning once more to his lover's ex-wife. "I'm sure that the first time he hit you, he apologized immediately...maybe he even brought you a gift the next day, and promised that it would never happen again...but it did. After a while, he probably got you to believe that it was all your fault...if you had only been nicer, or smarter, or sexier...he wouldn't have to hit you. But I don't understand, Haley. He doesn't live here, and you aren't financially dependent on him...you also know that if you were afraid, Hotch would have the entire FBI out here to protect you. In your situation, staying with an abusive partner is a choice. You can make it for yourself, but I will not allow you to choose that for Jack."

With that, Spencer strode purposefully to Morgan's SUV and drove away.

Rossi looked over and saw that Haley was crying.

oOo

Spencer was waiting at Hotch's apartment when he and Jack finally got home. It was nearly eleven o'clock at night, and the toddler was sound asleep in his father's arms.

Spencer smiled at the sight. "Let me take him...I'll get him to bed. Bandit already settled in on his pillow. Sit...you look like you're about ready to pass out."

The genius gingerly extricated the young boy from his boss, and tip-toed his way to the boy's bedroom. Returning a few moments later, Spencer found his lover still standing where he left him. He chuckled, and guided the older agent to the couch, divesting him of his suit coat and tie on the way.

"Did you guys eat?" asked Reid as he walked towards the kitchen.

Hotch leaned his head back onto the couch cushions. "Yea. I had Morgan run down and get us some take-out. You?"

"Rossi and I picked up Thai after we stopped at the pet store." answered the young doctor as he maneuvered around several squeaky toys. "There're leftovers if you're still hungry."

Hotch shook his head as Spencer joined him on the couch, handing him a glass of scotch, before snuggling up against Aaron's side.

"So, how's Haley doing?"

"Well...after she finally agreed to an examination, they found several rib fractures, in various states of remodeling. She had one large contusion in the kidney area that looked to be only a few days old. Even after seeing what he'd done to Jack, she was hesitant to press charges...I'm still dumbfounded. Once she realized that I was going to do it, with or without her, she finally relented."

"And, Carl?"

"The LEOs were waiting for him when he got home from work. They told me that he cried when they slapped the cuffs on him. Is it wrong that I found that funny?"

Spencer chuckled and rubbed his lover's thigh. "When is his bail hearing? We should go if..."

"Oh!" cried Hotch, cutting Spencer off mid-sentence. "That's the best part...I forgot that you'd already left...he had a three year old warrant out of California for assault and criminal menacing. He's being extradited on Monday."

Spencer smiled broadly. "That takes a huge load off..."

After a few moments of quiet relaxation with Spencer in his arms, Aaron's head cleared enough for him to glace around the living room. The young genius had been researching something. Books were strewn everywhere, with subjects ranging from physics to eastern religions.

"What is all this? Are you thinking about some additional doctorates?" asked Aaron with a grin. "If you have extra time on your hands, I might have a few suggestions to keep you occupied."

Spencer giggled and hugged his lover tightly before sitting up and starting to bounce. "Okay, I wasn't really going to say anything to you yet...in case I'm wrong..."

"But you're never wrong." said Hotch with a smile.

"Exactly!" exclaimed Reid. "Which is why I'm going to tell you."

The young man took a few moments arranging the books in piles that made little sense to Aaron, but seemed to please the young genius. When his ministrations were complete, he began.

"Okay...Ever since this afternoon, I've been trying to wrap my head around the concept of why certain things are happening differently in this reality, than how they played out in ours."

Hotch furrowed his brow. "Different, how?"

Spencer took a breath before continuing. "Alright...I started analyzing the events that have happened since we've been here. We know that three of the anthrax victims have since died by other means, after the incident. That to me seems plausible if we are to consider that certain deaths may be unpreventable...as in, those deaths were causal factors that would precipitate future circumstances."

"I'm following you, go ahead..." said Aaron with a nod.

Spencer smiled. "The theory that I've been researching, is that there are certain cosmic inevitabilities that will not change, no matter what we do...fate will course correct, to account for our actions. This afternoon, I realized that we're no longer seeing the corrections after the fact, but before they occurred in our time."

The senior agent looked at his lover quizzically. "You are losing me a bit."

"Okay...take the Turners and the Hightowers..."

"How is that relevant? The same three people died..."

Spencer smiled brightly. "Yes, you're exactly right, just like before...except for one thing...in our reality, William never took Lynn to a rehab facility in Canada. They shouldn't have been on that road, at that time."

"Okay. So?" asked Aaron cautiously.

"It means that something compelled William to deviate from the original course of events. I was curious, so I called the rehab facility. He contacted them to arrange for her care three days before we came up with the camping trip idea. It's as if the universe anticipated our plan, and made sure that even though we altered the time-line, the Hightowers and the Turners still touched each other in the end."

Wide-eyed, Hotch nodded. "And you're enthusiastic about this, why?"

"The situation with Carl...is a very positive sign."

Aaron frowned. "You're planning on explaining that, right?"

Reid's leg began to bounce again, his enthusiasm shining. "Yes...yes, of course. You see, in our time-line, Carl never touched Jack...and yes, I verified that with him."

Aaron was beginning to follow the younger man's reasoning. "So...originally, Haley stopped seeing Carl when she and Jack went into WitSec, which won't happen if we stop Foyet. So, they had to break up for another reason...but, why would the universe care if Haley dates Carl?"

"How would I know that?" asked Spencer incredulously, before pausing to consider the question. "I'd be speculating, but maybe he needs to be in California...since that's where they're sending him. Either way, my hypothesis regarding OUR situation, is that this deviation may actually portend a successful outcome for us."

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Portend a successful outcome? Just say, we're gonna catch Foyet."

Spencer laughed and wiggled his way onto Aaron's lap. "We're gonna catch Foyet, Babe."