Monday Blues Final Chapter

Aaron Hotchner stared at the offending object with utter disdain, he hated it, he wanted no part of it, even as he fastened his shirt and straightened the collar making himself look his usual dignified self. He glared, hard. Much to Emily and Dave's amusement as they hid their smirks as the wheel chair sat in front of Hotch almost taunting him.

"I'm not using it." He declared with utter defiance. Mustering up every single ounce of his best unit chief voice as he could manage.

"Aaron... Just until we get to the car." Dave struggled to hide his amusement.

"It's not remotely funny." He looked up levelling his glare from the wheel chair to his friend. "And don't you start." He switched his attention to Emily who choked back a laugh.

"Hotch its hospital policy and it really isn't going to bite. Just a few minutes then we'll be at the car." She tried to keep her voice level and controlled.

"Just be have Aaron come on..." Dave moved closer and held out and arm helping his friend up, Emily quickly moving to his other side and together they guided him to the chair. For all of his objection to being it all three of them knew that he wouldn't have had the strength to walk any further. Though none of them said anything even as he settled into the chair. One arm draped over his injured abdomen, a thick bandage still wrapped round his head. As he settled he looked pale and a little breathless.

"Ready?" Emily put a hand on his shoulder in a show of support.

He didn't trust himself to speak so he just nodded and reached up patting her hand gently to say he was. Dave nodded and all three began to file out of the hospital, much to all of their relief, it had after all been a horrific week for them all. Thankfully Hotch's memory lapses were becoming fewer and the hospital was confident that as his body healed they would stop all together. He just needed time.

The walk to the car was quick enough and Rossi helped Hotch into the passenger side of his car before taking the wheel chair back.

"Is Jess at home with Jack?" He asked once he'd composed himself in the car.

"Yes, and when she has to go back to work you and Jack will be going to Rossi's where I'm staying as well... Your own personal nurse." She smiled slightly mischievously.

"Who could say no to that?" Hotch was quick to match her cheeky smile causing Emily to cough in surprise.

Rossi made the short drive home to Hotch's apartment where he was eager to get back and see Jack, to assure his son everything was going to be okay.

Together Emily and Dave walked either side of Hotch using an arm each to guide him and offer any support they could, resting when he needed, and steadying him when he became slightly unbalanced. Jack of course was expecting them and kept peering out the front door to the apartment.

All three could see his eyes light up the second he saw his father and he charged down the hall. "DADDY!" He cried out and ran to shuffle his way to his dad's side wanting to help him just as much, he wrapped his arm around his dads legs, Rossi moving slightly to let Jack in but staying close enough to offer support where he needed.

"Thanks buddy." Hotch smiled down at his son, doing his best to mask his discomfort as they entered the apartment together. Jess patted the sofa as the group guided Hotch over to it and helped him to sit down. It was clear to the adults the walk had taken its toll and he was sweating and out of breath.

"I'll get some water." Jess offered handing Emily a blanket and pillow which she carefully placed behind Hotch's head and helped him lay back covering him with the blanket.

"Take it easy Hotch." She patted his arm gently as she helped him settle.

"I'm okay." He offered his usual standard line, no matter what was going on.

"Of course you are Aaron." Rossi smiled giving Jack a wink. "Are you going to help us look after your dad kiddo?"

"Uh huh... I'll do everything, all the food and drinks and tablets and everything" Jack informed them eagerly.

Jess returned with the water and Rossi handed Hotch his pain meds, it was a testament to how much discomfort he was in that he took them without objection.

"And I'll be helping too." Emily pulled paperwork from her bag. "I've got all your appointments here Hotch, follow ups, phyiso, Bureau reviews, psych evals. The whole lot and I'll make sure you pass them all with flying colours." She grinned at Hotch's sleepy glare, lacking its usual power now that sleep was taking over.

"You're going to be a pain in my..." Hotch glanced at Jack and re thought his sentence "You're going to be a real pain Emily Prentiss."

"Yes. Every step of the way." She confirmed with a grin high fiving Jack who giggled with her.

"God help me." Hotch smiled tiredly resting his head back on the pillow.

"I don't think god can help you now Aaron, the best thing you can do is get better fast and get back to work." Rossi chuckled and glanced at the conspiring between Emily and Jack, they were now in full flow on the best way to help Hotch and make sure he recovered totally.

"I'll be back within the month." Hotch cracked an eye open seeing what Emily and Jack where doing and let out a low groan as they planned his every activity, best meals, medication times, and how best to get him to appointments, Jess quickly joining in offering to drive when she could with Emily promising to drive the rest of the time. "Make that within the next two weeks."

Rossi patted his friends arm gently and looked at the conspiring trio, unable to hide the amusement as Jack was clearly enjoying being in charge over his dad for once.

"Atta boy. Help yourself before those three drive you insane."

Hotch didn't get a chance to respond as Jack marched over with hands on hips and tutting shaking his head at his uncle Dave.

"Not now Uncle Dave, he needs to sleep and your spoiling that. Dinner in three hours so sleep until then. . Sleep well buddy." Jack leaned over his kissing his dad's head and pulling the blanket up higher.

Hotch rolled his eyes, Dave, Emily and Jess all laughed as Jack entered full 'father mode' and began shushing them all so Hotch could sleep.

"Well since Jack has things in hand I'll make a move" Dave smiled. "Morgan and I will cover you til your back. See you in the next two weeks?" He asked with a wink at Hotch.

"Count on it." Hotch smiled and drifted off into a restful, recuperating sleep.

FIN

AN – Thank you, each and every one of you. For all of your reviews and praise. You've helped make this my most successful story to date and that means so much to me. I'll be back with a new story and more Hotch action/angst when the muse strikes again. Thank you all.