A/N This chapter Aaron is going to make a decision

"I thought you wanted to take a few days off, Agent Hotchner? At least Agent Rossi told me so." Strauss pointed to the chair in front of her desk. "You look awful, if I may say so, Aaron. And, what happened to your hand?"
"Just...It´s nothing, Erin. It´s not important. I need some time off. There are things, I need to fix. Private things. Derek Morgan can lead the team as long as I 'm not there, he has done this already, very successfully."
"How much time are we talking about, Aaron? There is no problem for you to stay at home for a couple of weeks. Your overtime is exceeding every normal level and you didn't leave for vacation since...well. Since Haley´s death. Shall we say six weeks?" Strauss suggested.
"I rather thought about six months, Erin. Maybe more."
Strauss stared at Hotch. Who are you and what have you done to Agent Hotchner?, crossed her mind. This was...strange.
"Six months? I don´t want to be indiscreet, but...you and Jack, are you all right?"
"I've thought about it. Very seriously. It´s about something I promised to my wife, that´s all I want to say. "

Surprisingly, Strauss accepted Hotch 's answer, even it was no answer at all. "So well. Your exemption is effective immediately, I will handle this with the personnel office. I hope you´ll find what you are looking for, Agent Hotchner. I told you before, if there is anything I can do, you just have to ask."

Hotch nodded. "I know, Erin. Thank you."

Strauss watched Hotch, as he left the office. Still in shock. Normally, she would have been glad, not to see Hotchner for a while. She always had the feeling of being inferior, for any reason whatsoever. However, it was obvious, Hotchner was struck. Although there was no reason to put his work into doubt, he was still one of the best, if not the best agent she had. But still, a break was more than overdue. Strauss picked up the phone.

oOo

"Any ideas, what´s on Strauss mind?" JJ asked in the small meeting room. Strauss call caught them right in the middle of leaving. Unanimous head-shaking was the answer. Dave, however, made up his own thoughts, he was sure it was about Hotch.
Strauss entered the conference room. "Thank you for staying. I know you were already on your way home. An hour ago, I talked to Agent Hotchner."

Strauss took a break, to get all the attention. But by mentioning Aaron´s name, everyone was looking at her. JJ threw Rossi a questioning look, he shrugged his shoulders.

"Agent Hotchner asked me for a sabbatical leave and I have complied with this request. Agent Morgan, for the next six months, the team belongs to you. Thank you, that´s it. "

"Oh, right. That was so so damn clear," Derek snapped.
"Agent Morgan? Any comments from you?"
"I said, it was clear to me that you have complied with Agent Hotchner 's request, Chief Strauss." Derek caustically repeated. Emily put her hand on his arm.
"No, Derek. Don´t." she said softly. Em knew, Derek wasn´t really mad at Strauss, he was mad at Hotch, who made a decision without involving them. But Emily knew that Hotch had to have serious reasons when he acted so radically. And she knew, Hotch was going to explain everything, when he felt ready for it.

Strauss stood in front of Derek and gave him an angry look. "I know, what you believe, all of you. That I 'm just waiting for an opportunity get rid of Agent Hotchner. We're no friends, that's right, but to kick a man, when he´s already down, isn´t my style. You know much better than me, in what condition Agent Hotchner is at the moment. My opinion? He did the right thing, he pulled the emergency brake, Agent Morgan. I will not condemn him for that. Anything else, you have to say? No? Then goodbye for now." Strauss left without another word.

"Did you know that?" Derek asked, looking reproachfully at Rossi. Someone had to answer to him, if not Strauss, then Rossi.

"Did I know it? No, Derek. Did I suspected it? Yeah, honestly I did. And if you're honest, Derek, you know, he needs a break. He is about to crash and burn. He is my friend and he has not to justify what he does. He asked me, not interfere into his life and I respect that, and you should do that too." Rossi left and slammed the door.

"I think Rossi is right," Reid said. He remembered Elle and Gideon. And he asked himself, what might bring him to this point of no return.

Garcia agreed, too. "Hotch knows, we are here for him and we´ll check up on him. Everyday."
" So you simply want to accept that?" Derek asked frustrated.
"We don´t want to, but we will," JJ said with determination and Emily nodded. "What about some Chinese food? Reid, there is this new one in Georgetown, you´ve already been there?"
"Small and very cozy, the food is excellent, Emily. " Reid said. It was a good idea to spend some time together, no one wanted to be alone now, Hotch 's lonely decision was a shock to everyone.

oOo

Callie was still half asleep, but felt Hotch´s arms gently wrapped around her and his warm, regular breathing on her neck.
"So you came back, Aaron."
"Sure. I had to sort out a couple of things. I won´t leave, I love you, Callie."

Hotch saw no sense in not saying those three words. They expressed what he felt and he didn´t wanna waste a second. Earlier, he was talking to Ike Malone again. He was smiling at him, when he opened the door. Saying, he knew, he was coming back. Malone had told him again, how limited their time would be. And he also told him, what he had to expect. And he offered him, to talk. Whenever Hotch needed to. Malone left, calling Hotch son, again. Aaron remembered his father, calling him son. It always sounded like a curse to him. Ike´s way of calling him son sounded more like a warm and gentle blessing to Hotch. And it somehow reassured him, reassured him, his decision was right. He needed Callie, just as much as she needed him. And it would be an example for Jack, for unconditional love.

Callie turned to Hotch, "I love you too, Aaron. But you have to be sure, you know? You´re so lost, love. And I don´t want to hurt you, but I know I will. And what about Jack? He is still so small, he will not understand, Aaron. Yet, I don´t understand it myself," Callie clung to Hotch.
"Jack is very mature for his age, Callie. He will understand, maybe not everything, but I´ll be as careful as possible." Hotch held Callie held as tightly as he could, like he was able to exclude evil and keep it out.
"You have to promise me something, Aaron. Please."
"Anything you want, love."
Callie caressed his cheek and kissed him tenderly.
"Don´t ask me, how I feel. When I feel bad, then I'm gonna tell you. And I want you, not to treat me like I´m dying. Let's just live, Aaron, please. As long as it´s possible. "
"As long as it´s possible," Aaron replied. "I promise."

oOo

"David," Jess said in surprise and welcomed the unexpected visitor inside.
" Hotch isn´t here, is he?" He hugged Jess and kissed her cheek.
"No, he's with Callie. "
"Uncle Dave!" Jack heard who just arrived and jumped into Dave 's arms.
"Hello buddy! Is everything all right?"
Jack nodded vigorously, "Uncle Dave, Daddy said maybe we visit Ferdinand 's Mom, isn´t it great? "
"Ferdinand 's Mom?" Rossi repeated.
"Ye-hes. Daddy said, she´s nice. And she painted something for me, Uncle Dave. Let me show you." Jack dragged his beloved uncle into his room. "This is Ferdinand. He´s a rabbit and he is special Uncle Dave, because he has purple-colored ears." Jack squeezed Callie´s book in Rossi 's hand.
"For little Jack, who is as lovable as his Dad." Dave read out aloud.
"Callie has also painted Ferdinand and his Dad for me," Jack was beaming all over.
Rossi ruffled Jack's hair, "which is really great, Jack. But I have to talk to your Aunty Jess, you think, you can play by yourself a little? "
Jack wrinkled his nose , "but only very briefly," he said firmly.
"I`ll be right back, Jack. "

oOo

"Aaron took a sabbatical leave for six months, you know that?"
"Yes, I know David. We talked about it."

Jess handed Rossi a glass of red wine and sat down beside him on the couch. Suddenly Jess started to cry.
"It's so horrible, Dave " Jess sobbed and Rossi put his arm around her.
"Callie is horrible? " Rossi asked, confused. To him, she had made a very nice impression.
"Callie is great, Dave. She is such a lovely person and Aaron, he...," Jess sniffled and grabbed a tissue. "Callie will die, Dave. Very soon. Aaron wants to stay with her until ... Oh Dave, I don´t know, how he wants to get through all of this. He isn´t over Haley yet. I 'm so scared, Dave. What if...he is already broken and hurt and...the way he talks about her, she has his heart, I know. And I don´t have the heart, to talk him out of it. I don´t know, how this is supposed to work. What about Jack? He needs his Dad so much, Aaron is his hero, he can´t lose him, he just can´t. I support him, in every possible way, but this is beyond my power."
Rossi pulled Jess close. "You are one of the most selfless people I know, Jess. I love you and there is nothing, I wouldn´t do for you. You´re not alone, Jess. I was so mistaken, by letting you go."
"You know why I had to, David."
" Yes, I know Jessy. " Rossi put his arms around the woman he loved. Callie was about to die? Oh, Aaron. What the hell are you doing, Rossi thought. Aaron was his closest friend and Dave was deeply concerned. And he was angry. Life was a bitch. Destiny was hunting Hotch down and there was nothing, anyone could do.

oOo

Hotch woke up, because he missed Callie. He found it funny how quickly he had become accustomed to Callie's closeness and how much it irritated him, when she wasn´t around. He stood up, looking for her and noticed a candle was burning on the roof terrace.
"I woke up and you were not there, Callie. Why you´re sitting outside, don´t you feel cold?" Hotch sat down beside her on the roof terrace and put a blanket around Callie and himself.
"I look at the stars, Aaron. I always liked, watching them. Soon it will be time for the Perseids, you know?"
" Shooting stars? I never paid attention to them, guess I...don´t believe in wishes coming true."
"Oh no, Aaron. Don´t say so. Some do come true. We´ll watch them together. There are still a few things, I really want to do. Maybe with you, if you dare, to jump out of an airplane with me?" Callie smiled a bit. "Do you think your colleagues may get along without you, from time to time?"
Hotch kissed her, "they will have to. I´m on Sabbatical leave for the next couple of months. There will be only you and me and Jack. I don´t wanna miss a second, Callie. But I owe them an explanation, I´ll be in the office tomorrow morning, I caught them flat-footed, that wasn´t right. They´re more than colleagues, they´re friends. And I have to talk to Jack. Very carefully, I promise."
Callie nodded and leaned against Hotch. "If he's just a bit like you, then he is a fine little boy. I really like to meet him, Aaron."