A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. I have trouble writing dialogue for small children and struggled trying to get it just right. Hope I somewhat succeeded. Also, there are four or five chapters more.

Chapter 41

"Daddy!" shouted Jack as he raced into the room just ahead of his aunt, Jessica Brooks, who held the door open for him. Hotch and Haley both looked in the direction of the door to witness the small tornado racing into the room.

"Hey, buddy," Hotch said with a wide smile. "I've missed you so much." He elevated the head of his bed just a bit.

"I missed you too, daddy," Jack replied. Jessica sat her shopping bag on the floor near Haley's chair. She waited as her sister picked up Jack, and placed him on the opposite side of the bed away from her husband's injured knee. Jack climbed into his father's lap.

"Jack, remember what we discussed," Jessica reminded her nephew. "Be careful with your father's injured knee. And you're not to touch the cuts on his face."

Jack wrapped his short arms around his father's neck, laying the side of his head on his father's shoulder, mindful of the wounds to his face. Hotch wrapped his arms around his son, and held him tightly against him, resting his chin on top of the boy's head, inhaling his scent. "Are you okay, daddy?"

"I am now that you're here," Hotch replied in a husky voice. He looked over at Jessica who stood beside the bed with a smile on her lips. "Thank you for bringing him, Jess." As Hotch rubbed small circles on Jack's back, the little boy closed his eyes and snuggled closer to his dad.

"You don't need to thank me, Aaron," Jess explained. "He was so excited knowing last night he was coming here today, I had trouble getting him to go to sleep. And this morning he was twice as excited." An affectionate smile appeared on her face as her nephew and his father interacted, and she hated to interrupt the moment. "Jack, don't you have something to give your dad?" she asked reaching into the shopping bag.

"Thanks, Aunt Jess," Jack replied excitedly as he raised his head and looked over at his aunt. "I forgot." Jess pulled out a get-well card the boy had worked so hard on for his dad, and handed it to Jack. He turned back to his father. "Dad, I made this for you myself."

"You did?" Hotch replied with a wide grin. He studied the front of the card. It showed three figures, all drawn in crayon. A tall one, a slightly shorter one, and a small one between them. The two bigger ones were holding the hands of the small one. "Who are these guys?"

"That's us, silly," Jack said. "That's you, me, and mommy. We's holding hands." Written at the top of the card in sparkles were the words 'Get Well Dad.' "Aunt Jess helped me with the words."

"She did?" Hotch opened the card and read the message. His eyes became moist. Haley, seeing his reaction, placed a hand on his arm. "You guys did a great job," his voice was shaky.

A frown appeared on Jack's face. "Why are you sad? Don't you like my card?"

Hotch ran a hand over his son's hair. "I love it, buddy."

"Then why are you crying?"

Hotch wiped at a tear starting to run down his cheek. "I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because I love your card so much. I really do." He sat it on the night stand beside his bed. "And I'm putting it right here so everybody can see it."

The boy looked quizzically at his father. "I thought people only cried when they were sad?"

"People also cry when they're really, really happy. Like your mom and I did when we found out mom was expecting you. We both were so happy we cried."

"So those are happy tears?"

Hotch hugged his son close to him again. "Yes they are, buddy. Thank you so much for the card. I love it."

Jack reached out a hand and touched his father's long hair in the back. He laughed.

Hotch arched an eyebrow. "And just what is so funny, young man?"

Jack failed at trying to control himself. "Aunt Jess went to the store 'fore we's came here, and bought you a pair of pj's with stripes. You're gonna look like a hairy candy cane, daddy." He burst out laughing again. (1)

"You're funny," Hotch chuckled as he tickled Jack's tummy causing the youngster to squeal with laughter. Haley and Jess both laughed watching the father and son interaction. When things had calmed down, Hotch glanced at his sister-in-law as she pulled out a plastic bag containing a pair of striped pajamas. She handed them to Haley.

"I realize you can't wear them right now, Aaron, because of your knee. But once things improve, I figured you would want to change out of that gown you're wearing."

"Thanks, Jess," Aaron replied with a smile.

"How are you, Aaron? Really," Jessica asked.

Hotch let out a deep breath, looked at her, and shrugged. Jack had climbed off his father's lap and snuggled beside his dad. Hotch wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders. "Okay, for the most part. I'm still having discomfort in my knee and face. Other areas are taking more time. But I'm getting better slowly." Jessica nodded her understanding.

Jack looked up at his father. "When are you coming home, daddy? I miss you."

Hotch let out a deep breath through his mouth. "Not for a while I'm afraid, buddy. I still have to have these cuts on my face fixed, and I need physical therapy to strengthen my left knee."

"Does your knee hurt?"

"Not as much as it did a few weeks ago, buddy."

"What happened to it, daddy?" Jack was looking directly into his father's dark brown eyes.

Aaron licked his lips before he spoke as he needed to choose his words carefully.

"Jack, remember a year ago when you fell off your bike and injured your knee?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the same thing happened to me. The bad man injured my left knee. And once it heals, unlike you, I'm going to have to do exercises to strengthen it and make it all better. Do you understand?"

"Yeah." Jack tilted his head slightly studying his dad's face. "Does your face hurt, daddy?"

"Not as much as it did a few weeks ago."

"Will you be okay?"

"I promise you I will be fine." Hotch said. "The doctors here will make sure. Are you being good for Aunt Jess?"

"Yeah."

Aaron's eyebrows knitted together when he noticed his son's lower lip tremble. "What's wrong, buddy?"

"When I couldn't see you, I thought you were gonna die and nobody would tell me." Tears ran down Jack's cheeks. Hotch leaned close and pressed his lips to his son's head. Haley reached out and put a hand on her son's back. She ran her hand up and down his back. Hotch helped his son climb back into his lap.

"Jack, I want you to look at me," he said.

The boy raised his head to stare into his father's dark brown eyes. Hotch waited until he had his son's complete attention.

"I want you to listen to me carefully. I promise you I am not going to die. I was injured by a bad man, that's all."

Jack hugged his father. He buried his face in his dad's chest. "I don't want you to die," he sobbed.

Hotch kissed the top of his head and held him tightly. He felt the front of his hospital gown getting wet. He shushed him softly until his sobs subsided and became sniffles.

"I promise you I'm fine, and I'm not going anywhere for a long time."

Jack pulled away from Hotch and wiped his face. "You sure?"

Hotch smiled. "I'm positive. The reason you couldn't visit me earlier is that for a while I was in California. When I came here, I needed to adjust to being here, and the doctors needed time to examine me and run their own tests. So only your mother and Uncle Dave were allowed to visit. I wanted to see you so badly. But I had to wait for the doctors to say it was okay. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"I think so. I love you, daddy."

Hotch's smile widened. "And I love you, buddy. Very, very much."

Satisfied with his dad's explanation, Jack let his eyes scan the room. They fell on all the trolls lining the window sills and around the room. He looked at his father curiously. "Daddy, was Aunt Penelope here?"

Hotch sighed and lifted his eyes toward the ceiling. "Yes, she was, Jack. They're called trolls. She brought them with her when she stopped by on her way to work." He was glad he had stuck Betsy in the drawer of his night table before his son arrived.

"Why?"

"She thought my room looked too plain and needed to be more colorful."

Jack chuckled. "They look funny."

Hotch smirked. "They are, aren't they?"

"Aaron, did Penelope bring the bear also?" asked Jessica with a smirk on her face as she patted the bear on the head. "With the suit and the stare he looks like you."

Hotch stared at his sister-in-law and a low growl was heard. "That's not funny, Jess," he replied.

Jack looked at the bear and a smile appeared. "He does look like you, daddy."

Hotch could only roll his eyes while Haley covered her mouth with one hand to hide the laugh that was threatening to erupt. He made a mental note to remind himself when he returned to work, to have a long talk with Garcia. Then Hotch smirked as an idea came to him. He looked at his son.

"Jack, do you want this bear?"

Jack looked at the bear and then at his father. "I'd love to, daddy, but Aunt Penelope might get mad. You don't wanna make Aunt Penelope mad, do you?"

Hotch shuddered at the thought of what Penelope might do if he gave the bear away. But the teasing he was forced to endure was driving him to his limit. He sighed and looked at his son.

"No, Jack. We wouldn't want to upset Aunt Penelope. I guess we'll just leave him where he is."

"What's his name, Aaron?" asked Jessica.

"I have no idea," Hotch growled hoping to change the discussion to something else. He was mistaken.

Jessica sensed her brother-in-law didn't want to discuss the bear, but she wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. Besides, she enjoyed teasing the man.

"C'mon, Aaron. You can tell us. And we promise not to laugh if it's something embarrassing. I promise."

Haley chuckled as she looked at her sister. "He's called Hotch the Second, sis." She noticed her husband roll his eyes and growl.

"Thanks, Haley," he said. "Thanks a lot. Now I'll never hear the end of it."

Jess snickered as Hotch glared at her. "Hotch the Second? I love it. How about you, Jack?"

"I like it, Aunt Jess." Jack turned to his father. "It's cool!"

All Hotch could do was sigh and shake his head. It was never going to end.

After Jack and Jessica had gone home, the day had been uneventful. A nurse had changed his urine bag, but that was it. Hotch had sent Haley home to rest. He knew she was exhausted. And despite all her arguments, he had won out, and she reluctantly went home taking the pajamas with her, promising to come back during evening visiting hours. Hotch pressed the remote and watched the news on television while eating lunch. After lunch, he turned off the television, and closed his eyes, deciding to get a few hours sleep before his team arrived later for a visit.

Minutes later his door opened, and Penelope Garcia followed closely by Derek Morgan entered, deciding to stop by the hospital an hour before the others.

"The Boss-man looks so peaceful, my chocolate stud muffin," Garcia smiled. "It's hard to believe he's injured until you see his face."

"Looks like he's sleeping, baby girl," Morgan spoke softly. "Maybe we'd best come back later when the rest of the team gets here." He noticed the trolls and the bear, and just shook his head and smiled.

Morgan started to leave Hotch's room, but was stopped by Garcia's hand on his arm. He looked back at her and saw her lower lip trembling and tears rolling down her cheeks. He took her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his calloused thumbs.

"What's got my sweetness in tears?" he asked gently. "Why is my Baby Girl so upset? If it's about Hotch, don't worry. His doctors say he's gonna recover, even though it'll take time."

"That's not what I'm upset about, Derek," Garcia sniffed. Morgan held up a hand guessing what she wanted to talk about with him. They both glanced over at Hotch to make sure he was still asleep. They watched the rise and fall of his chest for a few seconds before Morgan led Garcia a few steps away from the bed for privacy.

"I know what you want to talk to me about, sweetness," he said softly.

"Derek, I'm scared. Hotch has been so down since he found out about…you know. I mean, what's he gonna be like if he doesn't recover? How will he live with it? How would any man?"

"Baby Girl, listen to me. Hotch is strong. He will come back from his problem. You'll see." He exhaled through his mouth. "I just don't know what he's gonna be like until he does."

"But what if he doesn't, Derek? Suppose Hotch is never whole again? I'm so afraid for him. He might believe himself less of a man because of it."

"Then we'll just have to make sure he understands we don't see him that way."

"Derek…" Tears started down Garcia's cheeks again. "I wouldn't have any idea what to say. I mean, his injuries in no way affect his job. And I don't care what he can or can't do if you get my drift. It's his mind that makes him who he is as far as I'm concerned. And it's his mind we want and need. Bottom line is, Derek, I just want our Unit Chief back. And I will help do anything I can to help Hotch in any way I can. Because I love him like a brother. A big brother who can be a little demanding, but a brother nonetheless. Besides, I can't see myself working for anybody else."

Morgan chuckled. "Sounds like you know exactly what to say to Hotch, sweetness."

Garcia punched Morgan in the chest but not hard. "Derek Morgan, don't you dare make fun of me. None of us have any idea what Hotch is going through, or what difficulties he's gonna face."

Morgan winced at Garcia's words. Reaching a quick but uncomfortable decision, he placed both hands on her shoulders, and stared into her eyes. He licked his lips.

"Garcia, I do know what Hotch is facing and the difficulties he has ahead of him."

"I don't understand," Garcia stammered.

"What I'm gonna tell you I have never told another soul."

Penelope studied the man's face intently. She could see something was deeply troubling her friend. "It's not something bad, is it? Because you don't have…" Morgan held up a hand to silence her.

"Baby Girl, remember when the team went to Chicago a year ago to investigate a series of murders?"

The tech analyst nodded her head. "Wasn't that the case where you had to face the bastard who abused you as a child?"

Morgan nodded. "Carl Buford. He sexually abused me when I was a kid and it went on for years. I was a teenager by the time it ended. Anyway, when I met with Buford in jail last year, I uh…" His lower lip quivered and his eyes moistened. "That is, I developed a problem when the memories of what he did to me started coming back." (2)

"What problem?" Garcia asked, not liking where this conversation was heading.

"Before I tell you, I need you to promise me this will stay between us."

"I promise, my chocolate thunder."

"I uh…I became impotent afterward. It was the most horrible time of my life. It lasted for weeks, and believe me when I say as a man, I never felt more humiliated, ashamed, or embarrassed in my entire life. I was angry at everybody. I'd lash out at everybody and anybody because of it. I felt like less of a man because of it."

"Did you talk to anybody about it?" Garcia asked shakily. Morgan shook his head.

"I couldn't, Baby Girl. Not even my mom or my sisters. I couldn't tell anybody about my humiliation so I just kept it to myself. And that only made things worse."

"How?"

"I started believing I would never be whole again, and this was my punishment for getting into trouble when I was a kid. Then without warning, my problem resolved itself. So I have an idea how Hotch feels after being told, and I have an idea what he faces as he tries to recover from this. And I will do everything in my power to help him get through this. And so will JJ, Reid, Emily, Rossi, and Haley. That's where Hotch is lucky. He not only has a wife who loves him unconditionally, but is surrounded by people who are willing to help him get through this."

"Oh, my poor sweet Chocolate Adonis," Garcia said sadly. "Why didn't you tell me?" She wrapped her arms around Morgan's neck and pressed herself against him. She kissed his cheek. "I would have understood and so would the others. But I can understand why you kept it to yourself."

Morgan closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose. After planting a kiss on Garcia's head, he pulled back and studied her face. "I couldn't tell anybody any more than Hotch can. It was too humiliating, degrading, and embarrassing."

"Derek, you needn't have felt either humiliated or embarrassed and neither should Hotch. You're both good and decent men, and there is so much more to both of you than whether you can or you can't. And in your case whether you could or couldn't. I love both of you."

Morgan smiled with tears rolling down his cheeks. He suddenly crushed Garcia against him. "Thank you, Baby Girl, thank you." He pulled back again and wiped his face as Garcia wiped hers. They both smiled at each other. Garcia glanced over at her still sleeping boss and smiled.

"I think we both can use some coffee. Let's say we blow this place and hit the cafeteria? My treat."

Morgan chuckled. He took Garcia's hand and led her out of their boss's hospital room. It was as the door closed that Aaron Hotchner opened his eyes. He hadn't been asleep. He had been awake the entire time, and heard everything Morgan and Garcia had said. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he sucked in his lower lip.

(1) That one line is from an episode of DUCK DYNASTY which I don't watch, but saw a coming attraction for an episode using that line and I loved it. Plus, I could see Jack saying it.

(2) The episode with Morgan revisiting Chicago and having to see Buford again is RESTORATION, Season 8. Morgan's little problem was made up by me and did not happen at all.