Author's Note: Hi! I hope there are still people out there reading my work! I know I took a mini-hiatus over the summer, but I'm back (please see the one-shot "Time" and the now-completed series, "Jake's Companion"). Anyways, in regards Segment 7, they are both "sequels" to prior chapters. Let me know what you think! And thank you for reading (if you are?).

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Hotch Chronicles – Segment 7

/13/

It's been one of those days.

After this last meeting, which was filled with political agendas at their finest, you deserve a pat on the back. You feel as though this day of meetings tired you out more so than when you're out on the field. In fact, today made you wish you were out in the field somewhere far away. You sigh, mildly exhausted, but thankful the day is done. For once, you'll be leaving before seven, something you're sure your son will appreciate.

You walk towards your office where you left Jack to do his homework. There was a miscommunication with Jessica so you had to leave Jack in your office while you attended your last bureaucratic meeting of the day. Normally you'd never leave him unattended, especially in the BAU, but you were desperate and he's a good kid. If you tell him to stay put, he'll listen. Also, Morgan and JJ were still around when Jack was dropped off and graciously offered to check in on him in your absence. After warnings of no junk food, you left your son under theirs and his math homework's care.

However, as you enter your office you are surprised to find it empty. Your son's backpack is on your couch and his math homework lies abandoned on your coffee table.

"Jack?" you call out, concerned. You drop your files onto the table and glance at his homework to see if it is finished. It seems to be, and you expect it took him at least a half hour to complete it so he can't be far. "Buddy?"

You glance into the bullpen, but no one is in sight this late on a Friday.

Your cell begins to ring.

"Hotchner."

"Hey, I'm sorry about today, I just couldn't cancel."

"It's not a problem, Jessica. How did everything go?"

"Fine. I'll get the results later this week. I'm on my way home now, but if you'd rather I stop by and start dinner I can."

"It's not a problem, Jess. I'm going to take him out for pizza, I think."

When you find him, that is.

"How's Jack? I felt so bad leaving him there."

"He's…" you look around and walk towards the conference room, in search of your son. "Fine. He's good." You think. Where was he? "Ah Jessica I need to go," you say, seeing an empty conference room. "Have a good night, okay? Get some rest."

"Sure thing, Aaron. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Have fun with Jack."

"Thanks," you mumble just before you hang up, feeling slightly guilty you failed to disclose you have no idea where Jack is.

You are about to call JJ when you see that you have a text.

RM A106 -JJ

You crease your brows, confused, but make your way to A106. You feel like you're on a wild goose chase trying to find your son, and at your office to beat. You expertly navigate the halls and eventually reach the hallway where room A106 is. You slow down when you hear excited cheering. Amongst the "woo hoos!" and "horays!" you hear enthusiastic clapping. You're certain you've found your son, but your curiosity is definitely peaked. The door is slightly ajar so you lightly push it open.

The sight before you is unexpected. The first thing that catches your attention is the large meeting table pushed against the wall with multiple chairs haphazardly placed around it. Garcia, who you didn't even know was still here, is sitting on the tabletop with her feet on a chair and her trusty tablet in hand. She's giggling as she, what you can only assume, is snapping pictures. Glancing in the direction her camera is aimed, you see Jack and JJ kicking around your son's soccer ball.

"That's it! Keep it guarded, Jack! Get ready to set up the goal," JJ instructs him.

Jack follows JJ's coaching to a T, taking his time before kicking the ball into a makeshift goal they made out of two chairs. "Goal!" your eight-year-old son shouts.

"Go Jack!" Garcia cheers, enthusiasm at 200%.

"Nice job!" JJ holds out her hand and gives Jack a high five. She has her sleeves rolled up and hair pulled back which makes you smirk. She clearly means business.

"Thanks! Can we try again?"

"Sure!" JJ complies, kicking the ball back. "Remember, keep your eyes up." JJ points to her eyes with two fingers, as she bends over to meet Jack's level. "Got it?"

"Yep."

JJ smiles and glances at Garcia, effectively placing you in her line of vision. "Hotch!" she says, straightening.

Your son's head turns and the big smile plastered on his face tells you he's having all the fun in the world. "Dad! JJ taught me a new soccer move! Wanna see?"

You glance at the women before answering. Garcia is biting her lip, trying to hold back a smile, and JJ is giving you a big grin, because she knows you can't find it in yourself to be annoyed.

"Sure, Bud!" You move to take a seat on the table next to Garcia. You, too place your feet on a chair, leaning forward to rest your elbows on your knees. You catch Garcia giving you an astonished look. "What?" you ask her with a smirk.

She opens and closes her mouth, unsure of what to say to you. You know this is because she's most likely never seen you act this casual within a mile of Quantico. "Uhm, nothing, sir," she says with a smile.

"Ok, Jack, you rea—"

"Who wants pizza?" Morgan proclaims, entering the room. He's holding two pizza boxes with a bag of drinks, napkins and paper plates. He nods a greeting at you and seems unsurprised at your presence.

"Me!" Your son shouts, running over to Derek.

Morgan places the food down onto the table and smiles at Jack. You know he's one of Jack's favorite BAU "uncles" and you wonder if Morgan realizes that. "Okay my man," he tells Jack.

You see Jack is about to help himself to one of the sodas from the bag. "Jack," you reprimand.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, kid. Take it easy." Morgan lifts a personal-sized drink. "Chocolate milk for you, my man."

"Chocolate?! Cool!"

You're impressed and give Morgan a smirk. He shrugs and proceeds to set out the food and drinks.

Garcia claps behind you. "Okay my peeps, time to dig in!" she says, hopping off the table.

As you make small talk while getting your plate, you hear Garcia ask Morgan to take a picture of her and Jack. Just as he is taking the picture, JJ photo bombs it. Jack cracks up and Morgan gives JJ a high five. Once you are all seated, you watch the light interaction between Jack and your agents. You've always known your team is protective of Jack, especially after Foyet, but the efforts they've made make you grateful. JJ didn't have to play soccer with your son and Garcia didn't have to stay late. Morgan, who you assume helped move the table for Jack and JJ, didn't need to make sure your son was fed. Their generosity touches you, especially when you see how much fun your son is having.

Fun. You should try it more often.

The next hour passed by too fast. You laughed a few times and participated in teasing sessions. You poked JJ in her side when she and Jack explained how terrible you are with a soccer ball. You gave Morgan a high five when the two of you managed to convince Garcia to make cupcakes for the next day. When Jack requested it, you made funny faces.

You simply let go, and it felt good.

/14/

You and Dave just finished interviewing a witness and are heading back to the SUV parked out front. The air is cold and you are cranky.

"You going to call Garcia?"

You slow your pace a little and attempt to keep the irritated look off your face. "She disobeyed an order."

"She stood up for something she believed in," your friend counters.

"While that may be so, I can't have my agents simply doing as they please in situations—"

"She's not an agent she's a tech analyst."

"And I'm her boss."

You know what Dave is doing and he needs to stop. While he may think he has a point, when someone under your authority ignores an order, it is serious. No, you're not trying to catch a ride on your high horse, you and your team have mutual respect for one another and both know you aren't the king of all things. However, you are in charge. You're in charge when things go right and when things go south. The team is your responsibility and no one else's. Your duty is to protect them and you can't do that if you aren't sure they will follow your orders. You value the team—your family—too much to keep things on an "if" basis.

"Aaron, let it go this time."

"I can't."

"No one got hurt."

"No, but things could have easily gone the other way."

"But they didn't," Rossi said with finality. "You aren't normally this gun-ho on punishment. What's going on?"

You stop and sigh. Leave it to Dave to call you out.

"Dave. I can't have tinsel and jungle bells all over the bullpen. There is mistletoe…" Your memory is triggered and you wince at the two times you and Reid have been caught under the holiday garnish. "…everywhere and my office exploded with snowflakes."

Dave begins to laugh. It irritates you.

"A few harmless cut outs and fake snow on your coffee table is hardly what I call exploding."

You fix him with a glare and he immediately shuts up.

"I told her minimal. Not crazy."

"I see." Dave stops talking and the two of you get settled in the SUV. Of course, your friend can't and won't stay quiet for long. "I'm pretty sure you're a profiler, so I'm pretty sure you had to have seen this coming."

This being the sight you walked into this morning at Quantico before immediately being called away on a case. Garcia was saved by the bell, in your opinion. You give Dave a sharp look and frown.

"I took a misguided leap of faith and assumed she'd listen."

Dave begins to laugh again and you can't help but go along and let out a small chuckle.

/XXX/