A/N: First off, a belated Happy New Year to one and all. Second, my muse has still not returned but continues to play hide-and-seek so I'm pretty much on my own. I've also got a case of writer's block which I am trying to work through so please bear with me. This story is quickly winding down, and I intend to finish it regardless. This chapter is kind of short.

Chapter 37

Aaron Hotchner lay on his back in bed staring up at the ceiling, counting the number of ceiling panels. He had counted them so many times he'd lost track of the exact number of times. But it gave him something to do to occupy his mind as he was bored. Bored and still reeling from earlier today.

Nobody stopped by his room since he ordered Rossi and Haley out of his room. The telephone had rung several times, but he chose not to answer it. He didn't want to speak to anybody right now. And despite being upset with his wife and best friend for hiding the truth from him, he found himself missing their company. Especially Haley's. He loved her with all his heart, and understood she meant well, and was trying to protect him. But after Doctor Markus gave him the complete diagnosis, he became so angry, he wanted to lash out at somebody. Anybody. And the person he most wanted to lash out at was dead.

He admitted to himself he was still angry with Rossi and needed more time to get over it. But what he felt the most guilt over, was how he had treated his wife, and hoped she'd come back later today so he could apologize. But that was several hours ago. And all visiting hours were nearly over for the day. He turned his head toward the door as if willing his wife to magically walk into the room. When she didn't, he sighed sadly and swallowed the building lump in his throat. Was she angry or upset with him after he blamed her unfairly for keeping the truth from him? Was that why she hadn't returned?

"I'm sorry, Haley," he said in a voice choked with emotion. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean what I said."

Dave Rossi sat in his favorite recliner with his feet up, sipping Scotch from a tumbler, while listening to one of his favorite Frank Sinatra songs on his stereo. His hunting dog, Mudgie, lay on his side next to the chair asleep. Rossi sighed. After an enjoyable and relaxing dinner with Haley Hotchner, he dropped her off home. He then returned to his own home, and poured himself a drink. He was exhausted, and the situation with Hotch only added to his fatigue. He took another sip of the amber liquid and let it burn as it slid down his throat. A phone call to the team from the restaurant, advised them not to visit Hotch until he told them it was okay to do so. When asked to explain why, Rossi did not lie to his teammates. The doctor told Hotch the truth, and he wasn't taking it well. He sensed they still wanted to visit their ailing leader, but he knew them well enough that they would follow his advice and stay away.

Rossi took another sip. He then let out a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. When he opened his eyes, he let out another deep breath. It was then his eyes fell on the framed photo hanging on the wall across from him. It was of him and Aaron, both smiling, with their arms around each other's shoulders. It had been taken a year ago after he invited the Unit Chief to spend a weekend with him at his hunting cabin in Little Creek Reservoir, Virginia. Jack was away visiting his grandparents. He remembered the good time they had as Aaron had never been duck hunting. He also recalled the huge smile on his friend's face when Aaron bagged a duck on his first try. Rossi was determined to put that smile back on his best friend's face again.

"I won't let you shut us out, Aaron. And neither will the rest of the team, or Haley. We're gonna get you through this no matter what. And I don't care if you never speak to me again after this."

He downed the rest of his drink in one gulp and forced himself out of his recliner.

Haley Hotchner lay awake in her bed hugging a pillow close to her, imagining it was her husband she was hugging. She missed Aaron so much, especially at night. Missed snuggling against him when she went to bed. Missed his arms wrapped around her waist holding her close to him. Missed how he smelled after his shower before he came to bed, his strength, his very presence.

A small smile appeared on her face as she recalled the dinner she had with Dave Rossi. She admitted to herself it was just what she needed to take her mind off of things with Aaron, even if for a few hours. Once she returned home, the first person to greet her was Jack. He threw himself against her legs, and wrapped his short arms around them. He looked up into her face wanting to know about his daddy and when could he see him. A smile appeared as she recalled the conversation with her son.

(Flashback):

"I finished daddy's get well card, mommy," he said excitedly as Haley crouched down to eye-level. "Wanna see?" He was bouncing excitedly on his toes.

Haley smiled and looked up at her sister, Jessica, who had entered the living room. Her eyes asked the question she didn't want to put into words because her nephew was present.

"I'd love to, honey. Why don't you go and get it and show me."

"Okay!" Jack turned and hurried upstairs to his room as fast as his short legs would carry him. Now alone, Jessica looked down at her sister.

"How's Aaron?"

Haley exhaled through her nose. "He's upset, Jess. The urologist told him the entire truth, and he didn't take it very well. He ordered both myself and Dave Rossi to leave."

Jess shook her head. "I'm so sorry, sis. Are you okay?"

Haley let out a deep breath. "I'm okay. Dave thinks Aaron needs time to adjust to what he's been told and I agree. So, Dave took me out to dinner then brought me home. He thought it best if we both leave Aaron alone until visiting hours tomorrow."

Jess folded her arms across her chest. "I think he's right." She was about to ask another question but shut her mouth hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairs. She and Haley both watched Jack race down the stairs and towards his mother. He held up the card he made in his hand.

"He worked on it all day," Jessica told her sister with a proud smile as her sister took the card from her son.

"You think daddy will like it?"

Haley's eyes became moist as she studied the outside, then read the inside of the card. "It's beautiful, Jack. You're dad's going to love this," she replied. "You obviously worked very hard on this."

A toothy grin appeared on Jack's face. "I used a lotta sparkles so it would look real nice."

Haley looked into her son's hazel eyes. She handed the card back to him. "That card's going to make your dad very happy."

"When can I see daddy? Can we goes tomorrow?"

"Of course we can. We can visit your dad after dinner. So put this card in a safe place until then."

"I will," Jack promised as he wrapped his arms around his mother's neck and she around his waist. "I love you, mommy."

"I love you too, sweetie. Now off to bed. You have school in the morning."

"Okay, mommy." Jack raced up the stairs. "Night, Aunt Jess. Night, mommy," he hollered over his shoulder not looking back.

(End of Flashback)

Haley turned onto her back and sighed. She then looked at the pillow beside her and ran a hand lovingly up and down its smooth surface.

"I love you, Aaron," she addressed the pillow. "I love you with all my heart. And nothing is going to change that. And we will get through this together. I promise you." She turned back on her side again, hugged the spare pillow close, and let the darkness take her away.

Jack Hotchner found himself too excited to sleep after his mother had tucked him in, read him a story, and kissed him goodnight. Then she turned on the small nightlight on his night table, and turned off the overhead light before leaving his room and closing the door. He couldn't wait for tomorrow to arrive and school to be over, so he could visit his daddy. He missed him so much, and not being able to see him didn't help. It had been at least two or three weeks since he had seen him. He knew his father had gone out of town to catch a bad man, and had been hurt in the process. And while his mother had called him every night to update him on his father's condition, he suspected something was being kept from him. Could daddy have been hurt more than mommy said? It wasn't that he didn't believe his mother, but he wanted to see for himself.

The child had to admit that grownups were hard to understand most of the time. But his dad needed him. And he had a plan. He recalled when he had skinned his knee due to a fall. He cried and cried because it hurt. After his mom treated it, she kissed the bandage. That simple gesture took the hurt away. So Jack's plan was to give his dad plenty of hugs and kisses to help him get better. He stared at the framed photo on his night table of his mother, father, and him, taken during a picnic the three of them enjoyed during the summer.

"I loves you, daddy," he murmured.

Jack yawned loudly and turned onto his side. He hugged his stuffed bear tight in his arms, closed his eyes, and dreamt of his dad coming home.

Dave Rossi lay on his back in his king-size bed with Mudgie, asleep, curled up on the foot of the bed. The dog was making a gentle snoring sound indicating he was in a deep sleep. Rossi envied his dog right now, as he wished sleep would come to him as easily. His thoughts were still on his best friend. In the end, all he can do is be there for Aaron. And whatever Aaron needed, Rossi would see that he got it. If the Bureau and/or his insurance didn't cover it, Rossi would pay for it out-of-his own pocket, no matter what the cost.

He turned onto his side facing his bedroom door, Rossi felt Mudgie shift his position because of his owner's movement. As his eyelids became heavy, Rossi at last believed sleep was overtaking him and closed his eyes. It wasn't long before he entered the world of darkness.