Chapter 24

They returned from New York and without a new case, they were allowed to focus on the paper work that had piled up with the previous three consecutive cases. By 6:00, Hotch was finally ready to call it a night and go home to his son. As he packed his briefcase, he noticed Morgan get up and get ready to leave, too. Hotch groaned and attempted to get to the elevator without him, but Morgan was too quick. "You heading home?" Morgan asked nonchalantly.

Hotch sighed. "Yes."

"Got any plans, or are you just hanging out with the little man?"

Hotch looked at him as the elevator door opened. "Rossi put you up to this?"

Morgan gave him his best innocent look as they walked out of the building. "What do you mean?"

"Are you planning on following me home?"

"I wouldn't technically be following you, you do live on my way," Morgan told him with a grin.

Hotch just shook his head and got in his car.

Morgan followed him to Jessica's as Hotch picked up Jack. Then he followed Hotch to his house, pulled up on the side of the street, and didn't leave until Hotch turned on the porch light letting him know that the house was clear.

XXX

Three days later and not once feeling like he was being watched, Hotch started to think that he had just been paranoid, that or Morgan scared the man off in New York. He even convinced the team that they didn't need to babysit him anymore. He was glad that it was over, too, because he had talked with Kahlan and knew she was on her way in a moving truck. He was hoping they wouldn't get a case so they could help her move in. She told him not to worry, though, because she could get her family to help her if needed.

He was excited to see her almost as much as Jack was to see Wyatt. They had bonded at Garcia's, and Hotch was surprised at how well they got along. Wyatt was only ten months older than Jack, but Wyatt looked like he was a lot older because of his size. Since Kahlan wasn't overly tall, Hotch figured Wyatt's father must have been huge. Wyatt was also very mature for his age, and Hotch knew that had to do with his intelligence and the horrors of living on that ranch for three years. Hotch's stomach hurt at the thought of those boys having to grow up quickly or probably die. He wasn't sure what would happen with Wyatt as far as school went and missing three years, but he had the feeling Wyatt wouldn't have any trouble catching up.

He found himself smiling as he thought of Kahlan and realized he had actually been doing a lot of smiling lately. He had been getting ribbed about it from the team, but it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. He chuckled to himself. He would gladly take a little shit from the team if it meant that things were working out with Kahlan.

XXX

The next morning the two Hotchner men left for school and work. After dropping off Jack, Hotch pulled into the parking garage like so many other mornings. He shut his door and pressed the lock button as he started walking toward the building. He suddenly sensed someone behind him. He drew his pistol and turned around in one fluid motion, but he wasn't fast enough. Before he even turned enough to face whoever was behind him, he was stripped of his pistol and his left hand was gripped forcibly, bent, and twisted. It took every ounce of strength Hotch had to not let his knees buckle from the pain. He instantly recognized the man from the photos JJ had taken at the bar.

The man stared Hotch down, but Hotch stood his ground as he twisted a little to try and relieve the pain shooting up his arm. "Wow! You would let me break your wrist before you yielded?"

Hotch answered with a swing of his right arm at the man's face. Hotch had a longer reach and the man had to release Hotch's left hand to avoid the punch. As soon as Hotch felt his hand be released he dove at the man, ramming his shoulder into the man's stomach and driving him back against his car. The man smiled at Hotch, grabbed his shoulders, and slammed his knee into Hotch's stomach. Hotch stumbled back a few feet and the man swiftly took Hotch's legs out from under him and jumped on him, pinning him to the ground.

Hotch struggled to get the man off of him, but the man subdued him with a jab of his elbow to Hotch's sternum. "Would you just stop fighting for a second," the man yelled as the air left Hotch's lungs in a gush. The man then penned Hotch's arms down to the concrete. "Damn! I didn't think you were going to be this feisty!"

Hotch stopped struggling and tried to get air back into his lungs, but it wasn't easy because the man was sitting on his chest. He panted and stared up at the man who smiling at him again. Hotch didn't know who the man was, and he had no clue as to why the man had attacked him; but he knew that the wrist attack was the same move Kahlan had used on Rossi. He figured if the man wanted him dead, he would have already killed him. At least I think so. God knows what kind of torture this guy knows! Hotch tried to relax his body because he didn't want to give the man an excuse to hit him again. Besides, the only other cars he saw parked in their section were Blake's and Reid's, so he knew more of his team would be showing up at any time.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?" Hotch demanded to know.

"If you think you can behave yourself, I'll let you up," the man told him. Hotch nodded; he wasn't sure if he believed him or not. The man swiftly jumped up and moved back to let Hotch get up. For a split second, Hotch thought about going for the gun at his ankle, but he could tell the man was poised to attack if he had to. Hotch pressed his right hand down on the concrete and pushed himself up. He didn't think his left wrist could handle the pressure. Once Hotch was standing, the man smiled at him again.

"Are you going to tell me what this is about?" Hotch asked him coldly.

"I had to check you out. I had to know what type of a man you are."

"Are you going to tell me why?"

"Kahlan's like a sister to me. I couldn't not check you out, and I needed to tell you that if you hurt her, I'll hunt you down and make you regret ever being born."

"And what, attacking me was your way of checking me out?" Hotch asked; his voice full of anger.

"I didn't attack you. You drew your weapon before I even had I chance to say anything, and then you attacked me. That was impressive, by the way," the man told him with another smile.

"Are you in the habit of sneaking up on people?"

"Yes," is all he said.

Hotch shook his head. He came to the conclusion that the man could have easily killed him, and all he had done was try to subdue him, but it still pissed him off. "And you are?"

"Chuck," the man told him as he stuck out his hand for a shake as if he had just met Hotch at some party.

Hotch didn't take it. He is crazy, Hotch thought as he looked him up and down. "And you're a friend of Kahlan's?"

"Yes."

"And a coworker it would seem."

Chuck smiled again. "I see she's told you about her past."

"It's none of your damn business what she has or has not told me. Who do you think you are coming here and threatening me?" Hotch could feel his anger starting to boil.

Suddenly the man wasn't smiling anymore. "It wasn't a threat, Agent Hotchner," the man told him and Hotch could tell he was deadly serious. "Kahlan has saved my life countless times. I owe her more than you could ever imagine, and I will not stand idly by and let you hurt her or use her."

A car pulled into the garage and both men looked at it. Hotch noticed it was Morgan.

Morgan immediately saw Hotch, brought his car to a stop, and jumped out with his gun drawn.

Hotch turned to say something to Chuck, but he was gone. Hotch shook his head and walked over and picked up his pistol. Morgan came around Hotch's car and was confused at seeing his boss there alone. "What the hell, Hotch?" Morgan asked as he took in Hotch's dirty suit.

"I had a run in with my stalker," is all Hotch said as he picked up his briefcase.

"Where'd he go? What'd he want?" Morgan asked as he scanned the garage. "You alright?"

Hotch nodded and told him to park his car. Morgan wasn't sure if he was going to tell him what happened or not, but Hotch waited for him and they walked to the building together as Hotch told him the story.

XXX

Kahlan arrived the next afternoon and knocked on Hotch's door. He opened it and a smile spread across his face. Before he could even say anything she leaned up and gave him a kiss to let him know exactly how much she had missed him. He pulled her to him and deepened the kiss. When they finally came up for air, Hotch looked past her expecting to see a moving truck. "Come see the house," she said with a smile and grabbed his hand to lead him away.

Hotch couldn't stop the moan of pain as she turned his wrist and he pulled his hand away from hers.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Hotch told her as he rubbed his wrist.

"Let me see it," she demanded in a tone that told Hotch she wouldn't let it go.

He gave her a small smile and held his arm out for her to inspect. He knew there wasn't a mark on it.

She grabbed his forearm and turned it over as she inspected it.

"See, it's nothing."

She raised her brows and bent his wrist a little, and he jerked at the pain. "Who?" is all she asked knowing full well what move had been used on him.

"I ran into an old friend of yours," he tried to play it off, but could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't going to let him. "I ran into Chuck."

"You ran into him? What, did he just happen to show up at the same coffee shop as you?"

Hotch told her about the encounter, but he left out the part where he threatened Hotch.

"I'm gonna kill him," she said as she shook her head.

"It's fine. He seemed to genuinely care about you."

"Yeah, well, he needs to mind his own business."

He pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry about him. You're here now. That's all that matters to me."

She finally smiled at him and led him just two houses down from his. Hotch hadn't even realized the house was for sale. Wyatt was already carrying stuff out of the truck and into the house. He stopped long enough to say hello and ask where Jack was. Hotch told him that he was still at school, but that he would be going to pick him up shortly. Kahlan gave Hotch a quick tour of the modest three bedroom, and Hotch called Rossi to let him know Kahlan had arrived.

By the time Hotch had returned with Jack, the whole team was there along with Will and Henry. Rossi had turned it into a party by buying pizza and drinks and in no time they had the truck emptied. As the adults relaxed, the boys played in the back yard that was enclosed with a privacy fence to everyone's approval. The girls were helping Kahlan unpack her kitchen when the doorbell rang. Everyone looked at Kahlan but she wasn't surprised as she walked to the door. She opened it, stepped outside, and they heard a yelp before she could shut the door behind her. With a look to Rossi, Hotch quickly went to the door.

"What the hell, Kay!" Chuck yelled as he rubbed the spot at the base of his throat. She didn't answer as she quickly grabbed his hand and wrenched his wrist.

Hotch pulled the door open to see Chuck on his knees and his hand in Kahlan's. With a smile of satisfaction, he just quietly shut the door. He knew she'd be fine.

"Don't ever think you are big and bad enough to check up on me or anyone I want to be with!" she told him through clenched teeth as she applied even more pressure to his hand making sure to damage the tendons and ligaments even more than his move had done to Hotch.

"Alright! I'm sorry!" he pleaded and she finally let him go. He stood up sheepishly and rubbed his chest some more.

"You will apologize to Aaron."

He knew it wasn't a request and he sighed heavily. "Alright. Jeeze, Kay. Did you have to hit me so hard?"

"You're lucky I didn't break your collar bone. I can't believe you did that to Aaron."

"I had to check him out. I had to know if he's good enough for you."

"I think I'm the only one who gets to decide that. Do I need to worry about this going any further?"

"No. I'm sorry. Ok?"

"You are going to go in there and apologize, or you are not going to be welcomed here again."

"Ok. Damn."

She opened the door and motioned for him to go in. She led him into the family room, and introduced him. He apologized to Hotch and Hotch accepted it as he saw a bruise forming on the man's neck. Hotch almost felt sorry for him, he knew how bad that move hurt.

"Exactly why did you feel it necessary to follow me around for two weeks before you confronted me?" Hotch asked him seriously.

"I didn't follow you around for two weeks," Chuck told him. With the look on Hotch's face he continued. "I followed you to a bar, but that was the only time until I saw you yesterday." With a look from Kahlan he added, "I swear!"