Author's Note: Special thanks to
SONG PROMPT #78 - JJ/HOTCH
"Slipping Through My Fingers" - ABBA
There was picture that he kept of the two of them in his back pocket all the time.
He brought it out when he was feeling sad or alone or as if the world was closing in on him. Often times in the middle of a case it was enough for him to caress the smooth paper while it remained in his pocket to calm him from the ugliness around them.
The picture had been taken at a Fourth of July party that Garcia threw the previous year. The two of them were standing off to the side watching their sons play football with Reid and Morgan. He couldn't remember exactly what it was that she said to make him laugh, but the camera capture they both mid-chortle, their eyes locked on each other. Garcia had given him a copy as proof that he could smile.
He was stroking the picture as they waited in the waiting room for her doctor to tell them how she was. She had tumbled down the stairs with an unsub, knocking her unconscious. The doctor and a nurse came out to tell them that she would be fine, a broken wrist and a concussion, but no permanent damage. The nurse handed Hotch her things before telling him that he could go check on her.
He sent everyone back to the hotel, then went to her room. He sat faithfully by her bed waiting for her to wake, occasionally stroking her hand with his fingers. A noise in the hallway caused him to shift in his sit and the clothes on his lap fell to the floor. He bent down to pick them up but was stopped when he noticed a picture partway out of her back pocket.
Picking it up, he realized that it was a copy of the same picture he carried around in his own pocket. He nearly dropped it when he heard her gasp. He turned to face her. "How are you feeling?"
"You weren't suppose to see that," she replied, tears welling up in her eyes.
"JJ, don't be upset." He stood over her, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. He handed her the picture in his hand before pulling his picture from his pocket. He handed that one to her, too.
"Hotch," she mumbled, looking up at him, surprised.
He cradled her face. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "When we get back, I'd like to take you out dinner.
She licked her lips. "I'd like that."
SONG PROMPT #79 - JACK/JJ/HALEY
"The Minute I Met You" - New Found Glory
"Hey, Jack," JJ said, quietly, knocking on his bedroom door. "Can I come in?"
The nine-year-old looked up from where he was sitting on the bed, staring at a picture in his hand, and nodded. JJ sat down beside him. She glanced at the picture in his hand: Jack and Haley at Jack's fourth birthday party; the last one she was able to celebrate with him. It had been taken while they were under protection.
"I think that might be my favorite picture of you and your mom," JJ told him.
He turned to her, his bottom lip quivering. "Today's my mom's birthday. I forgot until Aunt Jessica called me to see how I was holding up."
JJ wrapped her arm around him, drawing him to her side. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry we forgot, too. It's been a crazy couple of weeks with the wedding and moving and everything."
"I know," Jack agreed. "I just don't want her to think I've forgotten about her."
"She doesn't. Your mom knows just how much you love her. Trust me. I'm a mom.
I know these things." Jack gave her a small smile, but remained unconvinced. JJ
sighed. "Tell you what. Why don't you and your dad run to the florist and take some flowers to your mom?"
Jack nodded. He jumped off the bed, stopping at the doorway. "Thanks, JJ! I love you!"
Ten-year-old Jack Hotchner opened his eyes early in the morning a year later. He eyes landed to the picture of himself and his mom on his fourth birthday, now resting in a frame. Next to the picture was a note that read "Dear Jack, Whenever you are ready, come get your dad so he can take you to the florist to take birthday flowers to your mom. We're going to have her favorite meal for dinner tonight. Let me know if you want to talk. Wish your mom a Happy Birthday for me. I love you. JJ."
Jack smiled as he finished the note, warmth spreading through him as he realized just how much his stepmother loved him. He opened the drawer to the nightstand and pulled out a second picture. It was of him and JJ on his tenth birthday. He was sitting on her lap towards the end of the night, his head laying on her shoulder as he fought to stay awake. Jack put the picture up against the frame so his two moms were next to each other.
"Happy Birthday, Mom," Jack whispered. "Thank you for my gift."
SONG PROMPT #80 - ROSSI/PRENTISS
"Reasons" - New Found Glory
He swore after the last time he was going to stop this. She had begun darkening his doorstep not long after her return from the dead. At first, Rossi thought she was simply seeking comfort from the one team member not in the "know" that wasn't angry with her, but she continued to show up even after things had calmed down with the others.
The first few times Prentiss showed up, they did little but share a bottle of wine and watch a few movies. She spent the night in one of his guests rooms, but was always gone before he awoke in the morning. Her arrival after the Piano Man case didn't surprise him, but the fact that her mouth was on his the moment he opened the door was. They made it only to the living room couch before the fire consumed them both. Prentiss dressed silently afterward and quickly left the house.
Soon, she was arriving nearly every evening. No matter how much he pleaded, she refused to spend the night. He was becoming addict to her: the feel of her skin against his, the smell of her vanilla perfume mixed with her own scent, the taste of her tongue on his. He wanted her as he had never wanted any woman in his life. At the height of ecstasy, he screamed out his love for her, only to have her recoil in fear when they were through.
They got into a huge argument. She told him that this meant nothing to her, that it was all about sex and if he couldn't handle that than she would find it somewhere else. With that, she stormed out of the house. The next day in the office, he passed her with a simple, "We're done." He resolved to purge her from his system, vowing to not get caught up in her again. But she had shown up this evening with vulnerability in her eyes and he gave in.
She would leave him when they were through, taking another piece of his heart with her, but he was helpless to say no.