A Delicate Light

Part 24

5x16 - "Mosley Lane"
March 3, 2010
     To say his first case back was troubling would be an understatement. It all started when eight year old Aimee Lynch was taken from right under her mother's nose at a local fair in Ashburn, Virginia. He hated child abduction cases. Most of the time they were random and the unsub's actions could never be determined down to a science like a serial killer's could. The case had become more complicated when Sarah Hillridge showed up claiming that her son, Charlie Hillridge, was kidnapped eight years ago by the same people who took Aimee.
   They weren't sure if they could believe her at first. Sarah had come in whenever a local child went missing. Most of the time she was drunk which made her credibility almost useless to them. JJ insisted that this time Sarah might be right and once the grieving mother agreed to stop drinking in order to aid in the investigation, Hotch began to trust JJ's judgment and believe Sarah's suspicion. They uncovered that four children, including Aimee, were kidnapped near each other over the last eight years and the parents all reported the same rouse of hearing a woman yelling for her child before theirs went missing.
    It broke him when only three out of the four children returned alive. Watching Charlie Hillridge console Stephen's parents is a sight he'll never get out of his head. He calls Emily when he's alone in his office. "Hi honey. How's your first day back?" She asks in a cheerful tone. He sighs, "Aaron, what's wrong?" "Have you heard about the missing girl from Ashburn? Aimee Lynch?" "I saw something about it on the news earlier but then Lila woke up from her nap. What happened?" He hears Lila squeaking in the background.
   A small smile escapes his lips as he imagines their baby girl nestled against Emily's chest. "She was kidnapped from a winter festival. Turns out the people who kidnapped her had been doing it for almost a decade: four kids in eight years. We only brought home three of the kids." He sighs. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" "I hate child abduction cases." "I know, and to have one as your first case back after a month and a half of paternity leave probably isn't ideal, but at least you reunited three children with their parents and brought closure to another family."
    She hears him sigh again. "I just can't wait to get home and wrap you and Lila and Jack up in my arms. I can't imagine anything ever happening to the three of you." "Nothing is going to happen to us, alright? We're safe and we're okay. I know you wouldn't let anyone ever hurt us. I feel safe with you and so do our kids." She assures him. "When do you think you'll be home?" She asks after a few moments of silence. "I don't know. We've gotta meet with the families for grief counseling suggestions and then I've got to do the reports for this case."
    "So late?" "It seems like it. I'm sorry, sweetheart." "Don't apologize, Aaron. I know it's your job. I used to do it too, remember?" He smiles, "We can't wait to have you back here. The BAU doesn't feel whole without you." "That's funny. Our home doesn't feel whole without you." She retorts and it makes him smile. He hears scuffling and then what sounds like Jack yelling from the top of the stairs, "Jack is up from his nap and Lila will be hungry again soon, so I have to go."
    "Okay. Kiss them both for me." "Do I get a kiss?" She asks teasingly. He chuckles, "I'm saving yours for when I get home." He replies. He hears her giggle, "I love you, Em." "I love you too, Hotch." They end the phone call just as JJ knocks on his office door, "The families of the children who survived are in the round table room. Stephen's parents are still in the bullpen. Who would you like to see first?" JJ asks. Aaron sighs, "Bring Stephen's parents up here. They shouldn't have to wait after everything they've gone through." JJ nods and grabs the two grieving parents.
    In Garcia's tech room, the analyst's phone rings. "Penelope Garcia, BAU tech analyst speaking, do your worst." "Hi Garcia. It's Em." "Oh my gosh! Hi! Oh, how are you? How are those sweet munchkins of mine?" Emily chuckles, "They're good. Jack is doing amazing with everything and Lila changes everyday. I just got off the phone with Aaron. He told me about the case." "Yeah, it was a doozy." "From what he told me, I agree. I want to bring the kids there to see him, but I know he's meeting with the families. If I get the kids ready, can you let me know when he's done meeting with them so I can stop by?"
    "Of course! Is this a surprise?" "I'd like it to be." "Consider my lips zipped. I will see you and those delicious babies soon!" Back at the house, Emily laughs as she hangs up with Garcia and Jack comes down the stairs. "Hey, how did you nap?" Emily asks the little boy as he sits next to her and Lila on the couch. "Good. Is Daddy home?" He asks as he looks around the house.
    "Not yet, Sweet Boy. I was thinking we could go visit Daddy at work. How does that sound?" Jack's face lights up immediately. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He screams. Lila shrieks against her mother's chest at the loud noise, "Jack, remember what Daddy and I told you about being loud around the baby." She gently reminds the young boy. Jack sits back down on the couch and looks at the baby, "Sorry Lila." He whispers before pressing a kiss against the back of her head. Emily smiles, "Okay, let's go get ready to see Daddy." She says and they make their way upstairs.
    Hotch leaves the conference room of the BAU as the families bring their children home. He looks out at his team. He wonders how these cases affect them. Are they able to move on after? Or do these cases haunt them for weeks like they do him? His focus is cut short when the door to the BAU doors open and he spots his family walk through. The team immediately becomes excited upon seeing Emily, Jack, and Lila. He rushes down the steps to join them. "What are you doing here?" Hotch asks with a smile on his face.
    "I know this was a rough one. I figure some Jack and Lila time was what everyone needed. Especially their Daddy." Emily smiles. Jack is already glued to Derek while Hotch leans down to kiss Emily before happily taking Lila from her arms. "How're things been going?" JJ asks. "Good, she's actually a pretty easy baby. She's very mellow and calm like her dad." Emily smiles. It's not long before Lila is taken from her father's arms and passed around the members of the BAU. Derek is holding her when he looks up at Emily, "So, when are you coming back to join us, Prentiss?"
    "Probably not for another few months. With the vacation days I have, I could wait up until she's a year old. I'll probably come back around August or September." She explains. "We miss you." Reid says. Emily smiles. "I miss you guys too." They stay for a little while longer before Jack keeps complaining he's hungry. "Let's get these guys home. I'll do the reports tomorrow." Hotch says. They say goodnight to the team and then make their way to their favorite diner to get food to take home before they eat and get Jack and Lila settled for the evening.
    Hotch collapses in bed beside Emily whose just finished feeding Lila and placed her in the bedside bassinet. She curls herself against his chest, "I'm sorry you had to go through that today." She whispers. He runs his fingers up and down her arm. "Part of the job. I just wish you were there, but I also know you're enjoying being home with the kids." He whispers. "I'll be back soon and then you'll get tired of me." She jokes. He shifts so he can look down at her, "Never." He promises.
    He leans down and kisses her, "I'm going to go shower. You get some sleep." He whispers. He kisses her again, "I love you." "I love you too." She smiles and snuggles under the bedding as she watches him undress as he makes his way to their master bathroom. She tries to stay awake until he returns, but the sound of the shower water running lulls her to sleep. When Aaron re-emerges to find her fast asleep, he smiles. He joins her under the covers and kisses her forehead before cuddling up against her and joining her in sleep.
Part 24! Sorry about the delay in updates. I'm back at school so I probably won't get to update as regularly. Please bear with me! I hope you enjoyed this update :)