Undercover Love

Regarding Healing

"Can we talk about Sean?"

Hotch knew that when he stepped into the meeting to expect to have to talk about two things. The wedding and Sean.

"If you'd like to." Hotch says without once losing his shield or gusto.

The therapist nods," good. Good but a little to eager. I double as a profiler as well, Aaron."

Hotch nods, face devoid of any reaction.

"So, tell me about your relationship with your brother."

There's no point in hiding. No point I'm not answering because even if he says nothing he's answering.

"Sean is my only sibling. My younger brother of eight years." Hotch waits for more prompting, not trying to disclose information he'd rather not think about.

The tension is unbearable and Hotch knows what this man wants to hear. "Sean and I were very close. In that way he didn't benefit in life. Recently, and through out the early stages of his life, he has gotten himself into trouble." Hotch waits for an answer, a remark, anything.

"Your parents? How was your relationship with them?"

It's a battle of wits. A pissing contest if you will. How far will Hotch go to get reinstated and how far will the therapist push before he finds himself in front of chained doors?

"Our relationship began as they all do: I thought they were hero's. My heros." Simple answer except his context.

"Thought?" The therapist questions. "As in you didn't believe that anymore at a young age? Before your adolescent years?"

Hotch decides he's at his end," yes. Before my adolescent years were upon me."

The therapist nods his understanding. "So your relationship was... troubled?"

Hotch's tight lipped expression is all the confirmation the therapist needs. "Yes." Hotch allows no emotion to seep in to his voice," I didn't allows Sean to be apart of that." Suddenly the leather couch is constricting.

"One more question and then I'll leave you with one to think about." The therapist seats up," why do you Sean have a complicated relationship?-"

"We see differently-"

"And did you ever get the other half? Why did you have a troubling relationship with your parents?"

Hotch is frozen, constricted in his chair.

He doesn't watch the therapist stand and open his door. He doesn't look up as the therapist speaks to Emily. He can't move until she comes over and takes his hand, until she moves him.

"Are you hungry?" She hadn't eaten all day. Running around and checking on him, dropping him off, picking him up, looking after Jack, and checking on Jason had taken it out on her.

"I'm fine but if you're hungry get something." Hotch doesn't make eye contact, which is odd behavior from him sense eye contact is important to him when speaking, instead he glues his eyes to the outside. The passing trees and grass. Only he isn't taking it in. His eyes scan over it, almost lifeless. Why? He never asked why.

"Okay." She'll get him something anyways because she knows he didn't eat the eggs she made this morning. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

The perfect deflection," the news on Jason."

Jason. He hasn't seen either of his sons in days. School pulls Jack away for hours and has him in bed early. Visiting hours at the hospital conflict with his P.T. and meetings with the bureau's therpist.

"Good. He passed his daily test and they are promising his soon release." Emily attempts to bring a smile to his lips but instead all she sees is that tight lip half grimace. "I was thinking about going and seeing him after we eat, with Jack."

A small nod signifies nothing more than the fact that he can move his neck. She'll mention it later, when he's actually listening.

She orders him food anyways, in hopes that he might eat it.

It doesn't surprise her when his phone goes off and he doesn't even blink, he just ignores it.

"Aaron," she reaches across the console and takes his hand. He jerks away, as if he was woken from slumber, and he looks startled. "Your phone."

He seats up and pulls his phone from his jean pocket. "Hello?"

She can hear the other end.

"Aaron Hotchner?"

"Yes, sir."

"Aaron, I'm a doctor at Saint Sebastian's. Your brother has come in, I'm afraid he's gonna need someone here to make some important decisions for him. Are you available? He listed you as his emergency contact."

Emily turns her signal on and moves over to the opposite side of the road.

"I'll be there shortly." It's a promise.

Well that was fairly shitty but I did update and it's about to get juicy... or is it?
-S.H.