Sorry I took so long to update but RL has been a pain. As usual Criminal Minds isn't mine. If it was, that blond bitch wouldn't be in the team photo.

Chapter 9

There is nothing more beautiful than a blade of grass when seen through the eyes of a child - Anonymous

"Is she asleep?" Hotch asked as Dave walked out of one of the bedrooms in the suite.

"Yeah," Dave said. "She's already at the 'I don't need Dad to help me get ready for bed' stage." He sat on the couch with a groan

"Wouldn't let you in the bathroom, huh?" Hotch smiled.

"She shut the door in my face," Dave said. "It didn't take her long to fall asleep, though."

"I'm not surprised," Hotch said. "It's been a busy couple of days. The stop this afternoon just added to it."

Flashback

When they got outside the building Dave set Skylar down. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him down the sidewalk. She sped up when they got to the car where she could see Hotch waiting. "Hello, Skylar," he said as they walked up to him. "You ready to go?" She quickly nodded her head. "Alright," he smiled. Dave got her into the backseat and buckled in then got into the front seat. It didn't take long for them to leave the institute behind them.

"I don't know about you two," Hotch began, "but I'm hungry and I'm not in the mood for room service for the third night in a row."

"So what do you have in mind?" Dave asked.

"I know just the place," Hotch grinned. He had spotted the place he wanted to take Skylar on the way to the institute for Dave's first visit.

"You have got to be kidding me," Dave said as they pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later.

"What?" Hotch chuckled. "Don't tell me you've never been to MacDonald's before." He found a space and parked the car.

"I do have nieces and nephews," Dave said. "They have had two or three birthday parties at these places."

"Yeah, but have you actually ever ate at one?" Hotch asked.

"I've managed to avoid that fate so far," Dave said as they climbed out of the car.

"Look at your daughter," Hotch said quietly. Dave turned to look at Skylar.

Skylar's face held a look of wonder on it. It was then that Dave realized it was highly probable that she had never been to a MacDonald's before now. The hatred he felt for his little girl's mother just hit a new high.

"Besides," Hotch continued, "every kid has to go to MacDonald's at least once a week. It's a rule."

"Who told you that?"

"Jack did," Hotch dead-panned.

"Well, there's an unimpeachable source," Dave muttered. "I like my burgers off the grill."

"For that, we'd have to go to Burger King," Hotch informed him. "I promise I won't let anything poison you. If you like, we'll get you a salad."

"They have salads here?"

They went inside and walked up to the counter. Hotch looked down at Skylar. "Chicken nuggets?" he asked. She shook her head. "Cheeseburger it is. Chocolate milk?" That got him a look. "Right. What was I thinking? Dave, do you trust me?"

"With my life, yes," Dave said. "I'm not so sure about my food."

"Do you like your chicken crispy or grilled?"

"I don't even want to know."

Once their food was delivered, they went to sit by the playground. "Is it usually this quiet?" Dave asked.

"Not during the evening," Hotch said. "School's still in session and it's past lunchtime." He turned to the little girl. "When you're through eating, would you like to play on the playground?" Skylar looked at her father who nodded. She smiled as she picked up a fry and ate it.

'Playing on the playground' first meant that Dave had to buy a pair of socks since Skylar was wearing sandals. She spent forty-five minutes running and playing with the few kids that were there. By the time they left, all three were tired.

End Flashback

"We need to go shopping tomorrow," Dave said.

"Another present?" Hotch asked.

Dave shook his head. "I looked in her suitcase while she was in the bathroom," he said. "All her clothes, with very few exceptions, are hand-me-downs."

"Are you sure?" Hotch asked.

"Oh, yeah," Dave said. "We need to go shopping."

"Dave, what do you know about buying little girls' clothes?" Hotch asked.

"How hard can it be?" Dave asked.

"So smart, yet so naive," Hotch chuckled. "You're going to need help and I'm not talking about me." He pulled out his cell phone and hit his speed dial.

"You have reach the oracle of all things knowable," Penelope said. "Speak and be recognized, mortal."

"Hey, Garcia," Hotch said.

"My liege," she said. "How are things in Atlanta?"

"Why am I not surprised you know where we are?" he asked.

"I am the oracle," she reminded him.

"JJ told you, didn't she?" he asked.

"It was an accident and I haven't told anyone," she swore.

"Do you know why?"

"I curbed my natural curiosity," she said imperiously.

"You got sidetracked, huh?" he smiled.

"Strauss has been on a tear," she told him. "She's kicked back a couple of dozen reports, insisting they be completely redone. Everyone's ready to kill her. Derek even said he has a friend that was a sniper in the marine corps that would do it for him cheap. Prentiss offered to take up a collection."

"No killing the section chief," Hotch said. "The paperwork would bury us."

"True," she said with a sigh.

"How would you like to escape that?" Hotch asked. "We need your help here."

"Is it a case?" she asked.

"No, this is personal," Hotch said. "You can pick the ticket up in the morning at the airport. I'll email you the info."

"Anything I need to know?"

"I don't even know how to begin to tell you," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow." He hung up.

While Hotch was talking to Penelope, Dave was on the phone getting her a ticket. By the time they both hung up, plans were made and finalized. Hotch sent the details to Penelope, telling her he would pick her up when she landed.

"Do I really want Quantico's most colorful technical analyst picking out my daughter's clothes?" Dave asked.

"I think we'll be able to rein in her more... outlandish ideas," Hotch assured him.

"You coming with us?" Dave asked.

"Yeah, you'll need another pack mule," Hotch said.

"Pack mule?"

"Didn't you ever go shopping with any of your wives?" Hotch asked.

"Very rarely," Dave said. "I had ways of getting out of it."

"One thing you will learn is that when women go shopping at a mall, and yes, we're going to a mall," Hotch said, "the only thing men are used for is to carry packages and in your case, pay for everything." He got up and poured them both a drink.

"Is that what you did for Haley?" Dave asked. He took the drink Hotch handed him.

"I have but Haley generally only went to the mall when she had to go," Hotch said, sitting back down. "She went even less after Jack was born. I'm the same way."

"Mall shopping with my daughter and Garcia," Dave mused. "Will I survive this?"

"Oh, you'll survive it," Hotch said, doing his best not to laugh, "but neither you or your wallet will ever be the same."

TBC