"Here it is...home sweets home," Jessica said while entering Hotch's apartment. Hotch hesitantly entered and flicked the lights on. It would have been another tear jerking moment for him, if the team and Allison weren't gleefully watching from the hallway. Leaving Quantico Medical after nearly eight months felt weird, especially after he remembered that he wasn't heading back there if he could help it.

He was home.

Everything looked the same to him; the living room and kitchen were spotless, his briefcase placed in the same spot as he had left from when he had returned from San Francisco back in January.

"Hotch, how do you feel?" Prentiss asked with a toothy grin.

"I guess I'm in shock." Why do I feel like a stranger in my own home?

"Well, it's been awhile," Allison told him, quietly picking up on Hotch's confused and lost demeanor. She watched his gaze trace the apartment until it landed on his bedroom door. "Hey guys, why don't we give Aaron a few minutes alone?" She suggested. Let him acclimate without an audience...

She ushered everyone out in the hallway where Reid asked, "Is something wrong?"

"No, he just needs a few where we aren't breathing down his neck," she answered, "It's a lot to take in all at once."

"Understandable," Morgan responded," I'm just glad he's home."

"How about you guys go home and come back tomorrow?"

"Sounds alright," Rossi answered." We'll come by during lunch. The rest of you, I'll see you at 8am." He gave Jack a quick wave and left, soon followed by the rest of the team.

Turing to Jessica, Allison said, "How about you take Jack tonight and then he can start staying with his dad tomorrow? I'll stay with him tonight."

"Allison, you don't have to do this. You've done so much already!"Jessica exclaimed

"It's the least I can do. I really care about Aaron and I want to make sure he's ok." She glanced into the apartment and found that Hotch had disappeared into his room. "Don't worry. He'll be safe with me."

"Thank you." Jessica picked up Jack and told him, "You're going to stay at my house tonight, ok? We just want Daddy to get adjusted to being home before you start living with him again."

"You promise, Auntie?"

"I promise, Jack. Go say bye to Daddy." Jack nodded and sprinted into the apartment. After a minute or so, he ran back and said, "Why's Daddy sad?"

"He's just confused. He'll be ok in the morning." I hope.

"Aaron, are you alright?" Allison asked once she found him in his bedroom. She touched his arm and saw that he was staring where Garcia had held him after his suicide attempt. He frowned and muttered, "I don't think I wanted to die that day."

"I think it's interesting that you chose to go out the same why Foyet tried to take you out."

"I found it to be appropriate."

"I'm just thankful that you failed," she placed her hand into his, "I wouldn't have been able to meet you."

"Thanks," he chuckled, "...Allison, what am I supposed to do next?"

She pulled a DVD from her purse and said, "Well, here's what you and I are going to do. You and I are going to watch Never Say Never and eat pizza. You are going to worry about the rest of your life tomorrow. Alright?"

Hotch sat down on the side of the bed. "Alright...Allison?"

"Yes?"

"What are we? I know that we've past nurse- patient relations..."

She sat next to him on the bed. "You tell me."

Four Weeks later- August

"That's the point, Reid; it's a rhetorical question," JJ told Reid as they walked out of the FBI bullpen. Prentiss replied, "I've tried that. He'll never get it, Jay."

"Should have thought this through," she muttered while Reid asked, "Why did you ask it if it can't be answered?"

"Cause that's the fun of it, "Morgan added, earning a playful nudge from Prentiss.

The four agents disappeared from Rossi's view as he stood on the ramp near Hotch's old office. It was empty; Camen had moved out of it right after the case in Knoxville. Watching Camen leave had been a joyous affair for the team.

"Agent Rossi, a word?" He heard from a familiar voice. Strauss appeared at the end of the ramp and pointed towards his office. Over the last month, his disdain for her had lessened as she kept up an interest in Hotch's recovery post-release. Rossi wasn't sure what her intentions were; Strauss was known for being unpredictable.

"How is he doing?" She asked as she sat down in one of his guest chairs.

"The same as he was last week and the week before: bored and little down. Life without this job isn't the same for him."

"I see-"

Rossi rolled his eyes. "Is there a point to these questions? You've been watching him like a hawk since May, but haven't told me why."

Strauss pulled out a manila envelope and placed it on Rossi's desk. He took it slowly and pulled out a sheet of paper from the FBI director. He read the first line and looked up, shocked.

"You want to offer his job back?"

"It wouldn't be the same; the best I could get from the director is a Special Agent position, but he'd be able to get his spot back on the team. If he accepts, the FBI director would have him go through a few refreshers for two weeks and test under an agent, and if he passes their evaluation along with the psych eval, he's back into the FBI."

Wow- this would have been so much easier if she hadn't fired him in the first place. "Wow...do you want to talk to him or should I?"

"I was hoping that you would do the honors." Strauss stood up and said," I'll think it'll mean more if you do it."

Rossi chuckled and said," Thanks, Erin." Never thought I say those words.

"He was a good agent...bring him back, Dave."

All depends on Aaron."I'll try."

9:45- Hotch's apartment

"Sorry, it's so late," Rossi said as Hotch let him into the apartment. Hotch had Jack asleep in his arms; behind Hotch, Rossi could see Allison's purse."It's alright," he replied," What's up?"

"There is something pretty important that you and I need to discuss."

"Alright, let me put Jack down." Hotch disappeared into his son's bedroom while Rossi sat down on the couch. Why am I so nervous?Rossi thought as his friend emerged from the bedroom and sat down across from him.

"Dave, what's up?"

Here goes nothing. Rossi pulled out the envelope Strauss had given him and placed it on the table. Hotch picked it up and stared at Rossi for a second; the Bureau insignia made him tense and nervous.

"Strauss spoke with the head of the FBI and found that you shouldn't be done with the Bureau after all. They are offering you a Special Agent position on our team."

Hotch examined the letter slowly, picking up on every word. When finished, he said in a soft voice, "I didn't think this could happen..."

"It would take two weeks of training, but just a bit of review- you know to get back in shape in their eyes."

Hotch looked up and smiled. "While Jack is at school, I...I go running with Allison in the morning and look over case files that I have here. I guess a part of me knew that I would be allowed back. " He ran his thumb over the insignia, feeling like a child on Christmas morning.

"So I'm guessing that this is a...yes?"

Hotch laughed and said, "Of course."

Rossi stood up and sighed. "Well, I'll leave you alone...you've got a lot of paperwork to catch up on."

"Thanks...Dave? Don't tell the rest of the team...I want to do this on my own. Plus, they don't need the extra distraction."

"Distracted? Our team?" He stood up and walked to the door. "I don't know what you think of. Oh-" Rossi stepped over to the hallway and called out, "Hey, Allison."

With a tired smile, Allison stuck her head out of one of the bedrooms and answered, "Hey, Dave. Good night."

Rossi turned towards Hotch, grinning ear to ear. "So she's sleeping over…so have you two-"

"Good night, Dave," Hotch cut him off with a playful wave.

"Hey, you guys act like husband and wife already…you two just need to seal the deal-"

"Dave…."

"Alright, alright. I'm out of here. See you in the morning."

Hotch smiled as his friend left the apartment. Yes...I'm definitely back.