Mr Grump

AN – I'd like to dedicate this chapter to HotchRocks, John, and SouthunLady all of whom asked for this one. It was a lot of fun to write.

Emily Prentiss walked around the car with a smile and opened the passenger door quickly receiving a glare from Hotch, he was 9 days into his care routine and she knew he was incredibly sick of having them all monitor his every move, not to mention testing his memory just to be sure he was recovering as well as he seemed to be.

"I'm not an invalid, I'm fine. " He growled getting out the car as she put a hand on his arm to steady him up.

"Stop being a grump Hotch, you know I promised while Jack's at school I'd take good care of you." She grinned guiding them both into the building where Hotch's apartment was.

"How many times? I'm fine, I don't need... coddling." The growl got deeper.

"Yes yes of course you are." She patted his arm gently. "Now when we get back Jess will have lunch almost prepared so you can rest up until it's ready."

"I don't need to rest up. We only went for a check up for crying out loud." The growl was still there. "I want a shower any way."

"Ah... No way. You know Jack's rule, as he's the only boy with you showers wait till he's home so he can check on you." She was quick to remind him of one of Jack's many rules.

"I am quite capable of showering alone; I don't need my 8 year old coming in to check every 30 flaming seconds." His growl was filled with anger as he pushed open the door to the apartment, the smell of cooking hitting them straight away as Jess had lunch well under way.

"Oh I see Mr Grumpy is still in full flow." Jess peered round at Hotch's raised voice; she shared a mischievous grin with Emily. Yes they were very much enjoying themselves.

"I'm not Mr Gru... Forget it. I'm going in the shower, and I'm locking the door" He pulled his arm free and vanished to his room to get clean sweats. Both Emily and Jess jumped slightly when the bathroom door shut hard before bursting into fits of giggles.

After his shower Hotch made his way to the table and opened up the case file of the bank raid, he wanted to try and do as much of a report as he could remember and with Emily clearing up and Jess picking Jack up. Now seemed like the perfect time.

"30 Minutes Hotch then you have to rest." Emily piped up, hiding a snigger when he almost snapped the pen in his hand.

"I am working, something I do a lot and I do not need a nurse while I do it."

"Oh come on Mr grump I'm only following Jack's rules" she tapped the rules written in crayon that Jack had worked out and where now pinned neatly to the fridge.

"Emily so help me god if you call me that one more time..." He let the empty threat hang in the air causing more giggles from Emily.

"Rule 4 Hotch, can't tell me off because you're not my boss anymore."

"Leave me alone." He growled and opened the file to carry on work ignoring her 30 minute cut off and 1 hour later after picking some things from the store Jack returned with Jess.

He stood in the room watching his dad, his arms folded across his chest and glaring at his dad's back. Emily watched and had to leave the room to hide her laughter as he looked very much his father's son and she knew what was coming.

"How long you been working Mr." Jack asked in the most commanding voice an 8 year old could have.

"Not long buddy, just getting this done for Uncle Dave that's all."

Jack however was every bit the profilers son and marched over to the table peering at the almost completed report, he knew instantly that his dad had been working a lot longer than he claimed.

"Ah ah dad... Rule 1 no lying about how you feel or what you've been doing so we know the truth. Pen down Mr."

"Jack I'm almost done then we can have a movie night?" It was more a question than an order, he'd long since given up trying to 'pull rank'.

"Nope." Jack moved round and took the pen out of his dad's hand putting it in his pocket. "That goes with the others, how many more pens have you got?"

"None."

"Daaad..."

"Really. None."

"Mr Grump tell me the truth right now."

"Three. In my brief case." Hotch admitted eventually, and at that point Jess almost doubled over in fits of laughter, she'd done her best to hold it in but the exchange had been too much.

"Fine. I get them and hide those ones as well. You can have the TV remote." As quick as a flash he took his dad's hand and guided him to the sofa handing the TV remote. "Shoes off on the furniture dad."

"I don't want to watch TV." Hotch argued.

"Well you can go to bed then." Jack nodded. "We'll wake you up later when foods ready."

"Pizza?!" Hotch asked hopefully looking at his son.

"No that's bad food. You need healthy food to heal right." Jack declared. "Rule 8 dad. I think you need to read them again." He shook his head retrieving the pen's and running off to hide them while Emily and Jess tried to control their laughter and worked to prepare a healthy meal as per Jack's orders.

Evening meal over with, the kitchen was tidy and everything was in order again when Jack came out of his room glancing at the adults and shook his head.

"I don't know. I gotta do everything. Aunty Jess you're supposed to give Dad his tablets and make sure he takes them." He ordered pointing to the rota in his hand.

"Yeah Aunty Jess" Emily teased with a laugh.

"Sorry Jack I have them right here." She heard Hotch groan from the sofa.

He folded his arms and both woman shared a guilt ridden look at being told off by the youngster. Jess immediately took Hotch his med's while Emily finished up.

"Dad what do you wanna watch tonight. You pick the movie?" Jack stood going through the DVDs.

"I don't want to watch a movie." The sound in Hotch's voice was an unmistakable pout.

"Movie, then a shower and early night for the FBI Doctor tomorrow." Jack insisted.

"I showered earlier." Hotch pointed out, smirking as Emily dropped the cutlery she'd been washing.

"Gee thanks Hotch." She muttered knowing exactly what was coming.

"Aunty Emily! You know the rules he's only allowed to shower when I'm here!" Jack stormed into the kitchen. "You did a bad thing Aunty Emily, you can't be trusted."

"I'm sorry Jack..."

"No excuses. Say sorry for putting dad at risk on his own." Jack's glare much like his dad's was back and focused on her.

"Hotch, I'm sorry for putting you at risk on your own." She apologised through gritted teeth noticing the obvious smirk on Hotch's face as he enjoyed every second.

"That's quite alright Emily." Hotch replied with a smile.

"Movie now dad which one?" Jack came in with an armful causing another groan from Hotch.

"I've been cooped up in here for almost ten days, can't we go for a walk?"

"No and if you won't pick the movie, I will. Finding Nemoooo!" He found the DVD with excitement and handed it to Jess to put on.

"Oh god not again." Hotch groaned pulling the pillow over his face.

The following day free from Jack's rule as he was at school Emily and Jess had escorted Hotch to the FBI doctor with orders to come straight home and let Hotch rest again. Hotch insisted on seeing the doctor alone to get a brief break from the constant fussing and Jess almost felt sorry for him, almost.

"You're recovering well Agent Hotchner, another week and I'd say you were fit for duty."

"A week?" Hotch questioned slightly despondent.

"Yes. Problem?"

"I was hoping for... I don't know... Monday?"

"That's a little soon... any particular reason?"

"I'm feeling fine but I'm going crazy with those three looking after me. Jack's taken all my pens, I have a strict meal and bed times and if I see finding Nemo one more time... I'll shoot the fish myself." Hotch explained, almost pleaded.

The doctor laughed, he knew he shouldn't, certainly not at his patient's expense but the situation was so surreal for a unit chief in the FBI that he couldn't help it. He pulled out a fresh form and filled it in again.

"Take it easy, short days to start off with, no field work for the first week... and you can start pack Monday."

"Thank you Doctor." Hotch shook his hand and arranged for all the clearance to be sent straight through to Cruz so that he was prepared for Hotch's return sooner than anticipated.

Monday morning came around and with a clean suit on Hotch returned to the office triumphantly. Jess and Emily were both still helping with Jack and of course keeping an eye on him to make sure his first week back went with no hitches at all.

Sat at his desk with file open Hotch felt at ease, even as he looked over the pile of pending cases it felt good to be back in the saddle so to speak, and free from the strict rules at home. He made a mental note to lighten up on his son when they were back in routine again.

"Hey, what you doing here? Thought you were off another week?" Rossi walked into his office taking a seat opposite Hotch's desk.

"Doctor was happy to let me back now. Just have to take it easy in the field." A white lie, but a small one. Kind of.

"What made him change his mind?" Rossi asked puzzled.

"Guess I was doing better than he expected." Hotch shrugged and picked up a pen grateful he had extra in his desk.

"Good to have you back Aaron." Rossi stood and headed for the door pausing and looking back. "By the way you ever thought about getting something extra in your office... Maybe a fish..." he smirked causing Hotch too look up from his file.

"Don't make me give all this paper work to you Dave. Because I will if you push it."

"Alright I'm sorry, Emily told me about Finding Nemo and I couldn't resist... Mr Grump."

"Out! Now. Just go!" Hotch threw his pen which collided with the door as a laughing David Rossi pulled it shut to avoid the projectile. He sat back in his chair with a smile to himself as he heard Dave laughing all the way to his office. Yep, It was good to be back.

FIN.

Thank you all for the inspiration.