At about 4.45, he heard Jack run to the bathroom. A couple of minutes later he heard Jack calling from the bathroom and went to check everything was okay. He knocked lightly on the door and talked through the closed door.
"You okay in there buddy?"
"Yeah, I used the bottle. Where do I leave it?"
"Just leave it on top of the toilet. I'll get it in a minute buddy. Don't forget to wash your hands though…"
"Okay dad."
"And Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Good job on remembering to go in the bottle buddy."
When Jack came out of the bathroom, Aaron took an empty backpack in and, after putting the bottle, which he made sure the top was screwed on tightly, into a plastic bag, he put it into the backpack and left it by the front door ready.
"I know you don't need to pee but go get ready buddy whilst I do the same. We should go in 10 minutes."
They'd gone to Dr Frost. Aaron had gone in alone first to explain about Jack's bed wetting before Jack joined them and the doctor gave a Jack a full physical examination whilst a nurse took Jack's bottled urine sample to test for problems. Dr Frost found no medical reason for Jack's bed wetting. Then Jack and the doctor had talked alone, where Dr Frost had told Jack how he'd seen and known a lot of kids who had the same problem he did and that it was most likely just a phase he was going through and would soon grow out of it.
Then, whilst Jack waited outside in the waiting area, feeling a little happier after having a good chat with the friendly doctor, Aaron had talked with Dr Frost alone again who had told Aaron about ways he could help Jack until the problem resolved itself. He suggested things like restricting liquid intake a few hours before Jack went to bed, possibly installing a bed wetting alarm that would wake Jack up when he started to wet the bed, to maybe get Jack up halfway through the night so that Jack could use the toilet. He also suggested the use of the pull-ups and mattress covers that Aaron had already bought earlier with Jessica' s help.
When he'd come out from the doctor's office at nearer 6, he'd been surprised to see no Jack in the waiting area until the secretary had seen his worried face and told him that Jack had just popped to the bathroom.
When they'd left the building, Aaron had texted Spencer to let him know that they'd be home in about a half hour and that Jack wanted to talk with him.
They'd only been home for about 10 minutes when there was a knock at the door, whereupon Aaron found Spencer standing in his doorway.
After making the guy a cup of coffee, into which he'd had to put a lot of sugar, too much for his liking, he'd handed Spencer the cup and the guy and Jack had gone into Jack's bedroom for a good long talk, in which Spencer told Jack about his bed wetting and how there was nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. He even told him facts about what caused bed wetting and how many kids suffered with the same problem and went on to say how some of his mates most likely also wet their beds. Jack had been able to ask his Uncle Spencer all the questions he needed answers to, questions his dad couldn't answer. Jack had even told him about the solutions his dad had bought for him, which Spencer agreed were the best things he could use to help him through this bed wetting stage. He'd told Jack how Jack was lucky to have such a great dad and aunt who would help him through this phase without making a big deal out of it. Spencer had ended the conversation by telling Jack that he'd be happy to talk with him anytime Jack wanted or needed to talk to someone who knew how hard bed wetting was.
Aaron had been sitting in his kitchen reading the paper whilst sipping a cup of coffee when he heard Jack's door open and saw his son come out with a smile on his face and clearly looking more relaxed after his long talk with Spencer.
"Feel better buddy?" Aaron smiled at his son.
"Yeah, Uncle Spencer helped me find the answers I needed and helped explain how I don't have to feel embarrassed or ashamed of it. Thanks Uncle Spencer. And thanks for offering to talk again if I need to talk to someone who knows."
"No problem. Glad I can help you. And please don't worry about. You will eventually grow out of it and will then not wet the bed again."
"I really hope that's sooner rather than later Uncle Spencer."
"Hopefully it will be Jack. Until then you have a great dad here who will help you deal with it."
"Dad, I'm hungry…."
"I'll go order us a pizza. Thanks Spencer. Think your talk did Jack here the world of good."
"No problem Hotch. I'm just glad that I can help him get through it."
"Do you like pepperoni or cheese best?"
"I like both. Jack what's your favourite?"
"Cheese…."
Once the pizza had been ordered and delivered, the 3 of the had sat down at the table and eaten the huge pizza, during which time Aaron had tried starting to limit the amount of liquid Jack drank as he would be due to go to bed at 9pm. After the pizza dinner, Spencer had left, but not before leaving his cell phone number for Jack to call him anytime, even at night. Jack had thanked his Uncle Spencer as much as he could.
About 8.30pm, after having decided that, as he would be showering every morning for a while, Jack could forego his evening bath, Aaron had gone to find Jack in the living room. He'd already lain pyjamas and a pull up out on Jack's bed.
"Jack buddy it's time for pj's."
"What about my normal bath dad?"
"I thought that as you'd be having a quick shower every morning for a while you may as well forego your nightly bath and just shower in the morning. Means you have to get up about 15 minutes earlier so you can shower in time for school."
"Okay dad"
"I've put you pj's and a new pull on your bed for you to wear. Hopefully the pull up will at least allow you to sleep through the night. If you wake up and find its wet and you want to change the packets are in my wardrobe so just come into my room and take one if you need it."
"Okay. Thanks dad!"
"No problem buddy."
Jack went into his bedroom to change into his pyjamas. The pull felt weird but felt almost like normal underpants as he pulled it on. Once he was dressed he went back into the living room.
"How's it feel buddy? Feel okay?"
"Yeah feels a little weird but I think they'll be okay. They fit like normal underpants."
"Good. Almost forgot to tell you. The doctor did suggest that maybe I get you up around midnight so you can pee in the toilet which might stop you wetting the pull up or bed."
"I don't mind that dad. Anything to stop me waking up wet."
"Good boy.
At just before 9, Aaron had made Jack brush his teeth and make sure that he used the toilet before he tucked his son into bed, reassuring him again that hopefully he would stay dry but that if it did happen again not to worry about it, especially since the pull up should contain it all and keep his pj's and bed dry. He also reminded Jack that he'd get him up to pee when he went to bed himself about 11.30.
After waiting until his son had fallen asleep, Aaron had left the room, leaving his nightlight on as usual. He'd then spent the next couple of hours checking his email and watching sports on TV. At just after 11, he started locking up and switching things off ready to go to bed. He changed into his own pj's, brushed his teeth and used the bathroom before going into his son's room where by he managed to get the sleepy boy up and waited until Jack had used the toilet before tucking boy back into his bed, whereupon Jack had fallen back to sleep.
At 6am the next morning Aaron had woken up realising he had not been woken up halfway through the night. He'd quickly showered, shaved and put on a suit before going to Jack's room at just before half 6.
He knelt down beside Jack's bed and gently shook the boy awake.
"Morning buddy!"
"Morning dad!"
"So any luck?"
Jack's face fell as he realised the pull up was soaking wet.
"I'm sorry dad. It's happened again…"
"Don't worry about it buddy. You were wearing one of the new pull ups so at least your pj's and bed are dry. Come on buddy, you need to get up as you need to shower before school."
Jack got up to go have a quick shower. Aaron made the dry bed before leaving the room. By the time Jack walked into the kitchen at 7am, freshly showered and fully dressed, Aaron had laid out a bowl of cereal and a small glass of juice for him and was sitting at the table drinking a mug of coffee and eating some toast whilst reading the paper.
Later that morning Aaron was sitting in his office at the BAU doing some paperwork when Dave knocked on his open door holding the bottle of scotch and 2 clean glasses again, like he had done yesterday when Aaron had told him about Jack's bed wetting problem. Without saying a word, Dave had entered the office, closing the door behind him before sitting down opposite Aaron, pouring scotch into both glasses and handing one glass to Aaron.
"So how'd yesterday go?"
"Better than I expected in some ways."
"Did you talk to Jessica?"
"Yeah, she was brilliant. She said she'd help Jack if it happened at her house which is great. She even ended up helping me buy plastic sheets to protect his mattress and pull-up's for him to wear at night to keep his pyjama's and bed dry."
"Did the doc find anything up with Jack then when you took him?"
"Unfortunately he couldn't find anything to explain it. But, because he's had plenty of experience with other child patients going through the same problem, he knew how to try to help. He and Jack talked alone for a while then he and I talked alone, during which time he explained different things I could do to help Jack until he stopped wetting the bed."
"Has our Dr Reid down there had a chat with him yet?"
"Yeah, he came over between the time of us getting home from the doctor's office to when he shared our pizza dinner and he and Jack spent ages talking in Jack's room. Think Jack got all the answers he needed from Spencer that I couldn't give him. He found the talk really did him the world of good as he came out a lot happier afterwards. Spencer even gave Jack his cell phone number to call if he wanted to talk again, anytime day or night."
"That is so good of Spencer. So is he wearing those pull up things at night now?"
"Yeah. Last night was the first night he'd worn one to bed. But even though I restricted his drinks in the evening, he used the toilet before bed, and even though I'd gotten him up to pee just before I went to bed around half 11, by this morning the pull was still soaking wet, though it had given him the chance to sleep through the night and to wake up in a dry bed and pyjamas."
For the next few months the night time routine stayed the same. At 8.30 Jack pulled on a pull up and his pyjamas, having had very little to drink in the couple of hours before he went to bed. At 9 he would brush his teeth and make sure he used the toilet before his dad would tuck him into bed. Then at around 11.30 his dad would wake him up so that he could go pee into the toilet before falling back to sleep. When his dad was away on a case, and he was staying with his Aunt Jess, his aunt took the role of his dad. Jack found he didn't mind having his bed wetting problem whilst staying in his aunt's house.
For those few months, every morning Jack would wake up with his pull up soaking wet and would have to take a quick shower before school.
Throughout those few months, his Uncle Spencer kept his promise and Jack was able to talk with him anytime he wanted or needed to, which helped the boy deal with the embarrassment, shame and problems the bed wetting caused him.
About 6 months after he had started wetting the bed, at 6.30 one Saturday morning Jack woke up feeling really strange. He was in his bed in his dad's apartment, his dad not being away on a case. He got out bed trying to figure out what felt different when realised – the pull up he was wearing was dry! After having to run to use the toilet, Jack ran into his dad's bedroom, where his dad was still sleeping, really happy.
"DAD!" he was so happy he forgot to be quiet
That woke Aaron up with a start and he opened his eyes to see his son standing there smiling in his pj's.
"Buddy, what's wrong?"
"It's dry dad! It's dry!"
Aaron quickly caught on and joined in his son's excitement.
"Well done buddy. I knew it couldn't last forever!"
"Thanks for helping me dad!"
"No problem buddy. That's what I'm here for. But what do you say we give it a few more nights just to make sure before you stop having to wear the pull ups?"
"Sure. I don't mind making sure it's stopped for good."
"Why don't you jump in bed you can lie here with me for a while? Then I'll make us a special breakfast and we can do whatever you want today. Your choice."
"Whatever we do can we invite Uncle Spencer?"
"Why Uncle Spencer buddy?"
"He's been so good to me dad and has let me talk to him about my bed wetting whenever I've wanted to talk. He's always known how I've felt and I feel he deserves to join in our celebration day."
"Great idea buddy. So what would you like to do today for a special treat?"
"Can we go to the zoo? And then eat pizza and ice cream?"
"Sure. Tell you what why don't you go phone Uncle Spencer now with your good news and invite him to join us for a day at the zoo followed by pizza and ice cream?"
"Sure. Can I call Aunt Jess as well?"
"Sure buddy if you want to..."
At 6.45 on a Saturday morning, Spencer was sleeping in his own bed when his cell phone rang. He saw the caller I.D say 'Hotch' and groaned. Surely Hotch couldn't be calling this early on Saturday morning with a new case?
He accepted the call and put the phone to his to hear Jack Hotchner's voice.
"Uncle Spencer? Is that you?"
"Yeah Jack its me? What's up?"
"Uncle Spencer. IT'S DRY!"
"What's dry Jack?"
"My pull up this morning. Its DRY!"
"Oh my god! That is excellent news. Well done Jack! I knew you could make it!"
"Dad says I gotta keep wearing them for a few more nights to make sure I stay dry but I can't believe it's finally dry this morning!"
"I can't believe it either Jack. Definitely well done though! You've finally grown out of that stage! I knew you would!"
"Thanks for all the talks we had Uncle Spencer. They really did help me get through it."
"No problem Jack. Just glad I could help you get through it."
"Dad says today we can go to the zoo and then eat pizza and ice cream. Please say you'll come with us? I want you to as you've been so much help to me."
"Sure I'll come Jack. Just ask your dad after he gets up to call me with the details of meeting up."
"Okay. And Uncle Spencer?"
"Yeah Jack?"
"Thanks again!"
Jack hung the phone, really happy and quickly dialled his Aunt Jess's number.
"Hello?" she sounded sleepy.
"Aunt Jess its me"
"Hey Jack, you okay?"
"Yeah. Got awesome news to tell you!"
"What's that then?"
"It's DRY Aunt Jess!"
Jessica quickly caught on to what her nephew was talking about.
"Well done Jack! I knew you could do it buddy! Have you told your dad the great news?"
"Yeah. He said I still have to wear the pull-ups for a few more nights to make sure I stay dry but today I'm DRY!"
"That is such great news Jack. I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks Aunt Jess!"
"Is your dad awake then I take it?"
"Yeah, he said I could call you to tell you my awesome news!"
"And that news really IS awesome Jack. You've finally done it buddy! I'm so happy for you AND am SO proud of you! Definitely well done!"
"Thanks Aunt Jess!"
"Can I speak to your dad for a minute buddy?"
"Course you can Aunt Jess."
"And Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks Aunt Jess. Here's dad."
He walked into his dad's room. "Aunt Jess wants to talk to you dad." He held the phone out to his dad who took it and put it to his ear.
"Jess?"
"Jack just told me the great news!"
"I know. It's unbelievable! I am SO proud of him!" He smiled at his son, who could only stand there smiling back.
"Think this deserves a big reward!"
"I told him today was his day as a treat for being dry and so we're going to the zoo and then to eat pizza and ice cream."
"Dad can you invite Aunt Jess too? She was so good to me!"
"Jack says do you want to join us and Spencer in a day out?"
"I'd love to. What time and where are we meeting?"
"How about me and Jack pick you up at say 10? We'll then pick up Spencer on our way to the zoo."
"Sure see you guys then. Oh and Aaron?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell him this is probably the greatest news of the year!"
"Will do. Bye Jess. See you soon."
"Bye Aaron."
Aaron hung up the phone.
"Is she coming with us?"
"Yeah buddy. We'll pick them both up on our way to the zoo. And she said to tell that this is probably the greatest news of the year..."
"Most definitely dad!"
He then called Spencer to tell him about picking him up on their way to the zoo. Even Spencer sounded please and was clearly proud that Jack had finally done it!
"I know you're dry buddy and i'm so pleased that you are but you didn't have a bath last night so you'll still have to shower this morning. Okay?"
"Sure dad. I don't mind anything today dad as i'm so happy!"
"I bet you are buddy. Hey mind if I call Uncle Dave with the great news? He did help me figure some solutions out and he did also keep your secret safe and didn't tell anyone."
"Can I call him myself?"
"Sure. Think he'd love that."
"And can we invite him along too?"
"If he wants to come yeah buddy."
Jack sat on his dad's bed and dialled his Uncle Dave's number. Eventually a sleepy man's voice answered.
"David Rossi"
"Uncle Dave? It's me Jack!"
"Hey Jack, you okay? Why you calling me at 7am on a Saturday morning?"
"I'm DRY Uncle Dave!"
"Dry Jack? "
"The pull up its DRY!"
"You mean you've finally beaten it?"
"Yeah. It's the most awesomeness news of the year! Dad says I still gotta wear the pull ups for a few more nights to make sure its stopped but for today at least I'm finally DRY!"
"Well Done Jack buddy! You've finally made it!"
"Thanks Uncle Dave. And thanks for keeping my secret safe and not telling anyone. Oh and thanks for helping Dad figure solutions for me out!"
"Your more than welcome Jack. But definitely well done and congratulations!"
"Thanks Uncle Dave! I'm SO happy!"
"I bet you are Jack!"
"Dad says that as this is a special day, we're going to the zoo and then to eat pizza and ice cream. Aunt Jess and Uncle Spencer are coming as they deserve to join in for helping me so much. Cos you've also helped and kept my secret safe, please say you'll come with us?"
"I'd love to Jack. And WELL DONE! I'm proud of you for finally making it!"
"Thanks Uncle Dave! Do you wanna speak to dad about meeting up?"
"Sure put him on."
Aaron took the phone from his smiling son.
"Dave?"
"Aaron, that is great news!"
"I know and i'm so proud of my buddy."
"So what time we all meeting up?"
"We were picking up Jess and Spencer just after 10 on our way. Seeing as the SUV is big enough we'll pick you up too at say 10.15 on our way there?"
"Sure see you then. And tell him that's the best news I've heard all year!"
"Will do! And Dave, thanks for all your advice and for not telling anyone Jack's secret. At least he knows there are adults he can trust to keep secrets like this safe..."
"I wouldn't have told anyone anyway. I can only guess how hard it was on Jack so tell him I'll keep any secret he has safe, no matter what it is. As for the advice, that's no problem. I'm glad I could be of help to you guys and will always be here to talk with either of you."
"Thanks Dave. Appreciate it. See you later"
Aaron hung up the phone.
"Uncle Dave says its the best news he's heard all year buddy. He also said to tell you he'd always keep any secret you had safe and would never tell anyone any of your secrets."
"I like that I have grownups like you, Aunt Jess, Uncle Spencer and Uncle Dave who I can talk to but who will keep embarrassing secrets like this safe for me."
"I know that buddy. And i'm glad you have adults like me and them who you know you can talk to and confide whilst knowing they will keep any secret you tell them safe. But buddy?"
"Yeah dad?"
"WELL DONE! I'M SO SO PROUD OF YOU!"
"Thanks Dad! I love you!"
"And I love you too buddy! This is the best day of the whole year!"
"Yeah! Definitely!"
From that day on Jack Hotchner never had any more bed wetting problems, for which he and his dad were happy about.