Saving Agent Hotchner | 1

4. Arranging a visit

The case was now over. The team - excluding Hotch and Y/N - had caught the unsub just as they were about to murder their next victim. The unsub was a 42-year-old man who was getting revenge for his deceased 16-year-old daughter. They had been driving down a highway when - out of nowhere - a car swerved and crashed into them head-on. The girl died when the car crashed into a nearby street light, which empaled her. The father assumed that the drivers of the other car were drunk or high, but it turns out that witnesses saw the car swerving to avoid someone dangerously wondering on and off the road.

They caught him dragging his next victim - a male - toward the large stake that had been precisely positioned in the victim's backyard.

———

Y/N
Hotch had been talking to the team since the unsub's arrest. He was congratulating them on finding and apprehending the unsub, as well as apologising for his absence. Of course, everyone was aware of the situation and allowed him a bit of leeway.

While Hotch was chatting to the team over the phone, you were in his kitchen, getting into contact with Haley. At first, she didn't want to drive Jack to come and visit him. She out-right refused and said that Hotch should've considered the consequences of choosing his job over his family. But, when you explained how you found him days prior, she hesitantly agreed and said that she'd drop Jack off and return that night to come and pick him up.

So, at 10 AM on Friday, Y/N excused herself from Hotch's apartment and went to go and get his son from Haley, who didn't want to get out of her car.

For 8 hours, Hotch hung out with Jack. It was cute, watching Hotch be so loving and caring toward his son. You felt bad that this couldn't happen every day, considering how overprotective and restrictive Haley had become since the divorce. You liked Haley, and you loved watching her being a mother, but only allowing Hotch to see his son on her terms, it sucked.

When Hotch and Jack started hanging out at 10:15, you left his apartment, not wanting to intrude on the father-son day they suddenly had.

———

With no new cases to interrupt the team's weekend, everyone got to relax for 3 days, happily returning to work on Monday for whatever case was coming their way.

You entered the bullpen, placing your bag on your desk. Usually, Hotch would beat everyone to work and you'd see him working on paperwork in his office, but not this morning. This morning, he showed up 10 minutes after everyone else had settled in and gotten themselves some coffee.

"You're chipper this morning." Derek noted, watching as Hotch walked up to his office, a slight smile on his face.

"I managed to spend the entire weekend with Jack. Haley dropped him off on Friday morning, and she intended to pick him up that night, but I managed to convince her to let him spend the weekend with me." Hotch nodded.

"That's amazing, Hotch. How is Jack doing?" JJ asked, curious.

"He's great. He's confused as to why I'm not around as much anymore, but he's fine." Hotch explained before entering his office.

Shortly after entering his office, he walked back out, calling your name.

"Y/N. A moment please?" He asked. You nodded, getting off your chair and heading toward his office, ignoring the confused looks on your friends faces.

Entering his office, you sat down opposite him. You watched as he closed his door, but left the blinds open.

"I never got to properly thank you." He explained.

"Thank me, for what?" You asked, confused.

"For getting me out of bed. For getting me to work on a case." Hotch smiled.

"Of course Hotch. Any of our friends would've done the same thing." You nodded.

"But, I'm most thankful for the visit you arranged. It's not your job to communicate to Haley for me. Hell, it's not even your job to make sure that I stay sane. But you deserve a "thank you" for being a good friend and for convincing Haley to let me see Jack." Hotch exhaled.

"You didn't want to get out of bed, Hotch. I could see the fear on your face at the idea of not being able to see Jack again." You smiled.

"Nevertheless, thank you." Hotch smiled back.

"You're welcome, Hotch." You exhaled, nodding. With that, you excused yourself from Hotch's office and got back to whatever paperwork had been waiting for you on your desk.