The Unit Chief must have dozed off because the next time he opened his eyes he found that Dave had returned and was snoring softly in a chair nearby. He looked up at the clock: 3:44AM. Why hadn't anyone been in to talk to him? He focussed on brushing away his negative thoughts, figuring that Jack must still be alive if there had been no news to the contrary.

"Jack Hotchner?"

A figure wearing surgical garb had appeared at the ICU doorway.

Hotch was on his feet in a flash as Rossi stirred and looked up anxiously.

"Yes, I'm Jack's father. How is he, Doctor?"

The doctor looked gravely at the man standing in front of him. "As you know, Jack lost a great deal of blood. He is currently in critical condition..."

Hotch tried to swallow but found his mouth too dry. "Go on, please."

"Despite the obvious severity of his injuries, I am cautiously optimistic, Mr. Hotchner. We've stopped the haemorrhaging and begun to replace his blood volume. Although still weak, he is showing signs of responding. Jack's vital signs are stable and unless we encounter unforeseen complications, I expect a full recovery."

Dave explosively blew out the breath he had been holding and grinned at his friend. "I told you, Aaron. He's a fighter just like his dad."

Hotch was numb with relief. He pulled himself together though, to shake the doctor's hand.

"Thank you."

The doctor smiled slightly. "You've got one tough kid. I'm happy we got the ending we wanted."

"May I see him?"

"They're just getting him settled but I'll have a nurse come and get you. I'm sure Jack would love to see a familiar face when he wakes up."

"Notice how he didn't say 'a pretty face'?" Rossi remarked dryly.

Hotch ignored the jest. Something was still bothering him. He frowned and turned back to the surgeon.

"Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"What about... what about scarring?"

The doctor understood. "Jack was very lucky. The wound entries were clean, there was little actual damage. We had a plastic surgeon in the OR and she's confident that there will be very little visible marking. And any residual scarring will fade as he grows older."

Hotch closed his eyes in gratitude. He had been dreading the possibility of Jack having to relive the nightmare for the rest of his life.

"I appreciate your efforts. Please thank your team for me."

The doctor looked at the father kindly. "It looks like you needed some good news. Try and get some sleep when you're in with your son. Jack is going to need a lot of TLC for the next few weeks."

Aaron gave a tired nod. "I can't wait to give it to him."

***

Hotch pulled the chair as close to the bed as possible and sat down. He was exhausted; he hadn't slept properly for months. But he was desperate to see his son open his eyes so he fought the fatigue. Instead, he picked up one of Jack's hands and contented himself with watching his boy's chest rise and fall. There was no pain in the youngster's face, which was a huge relief.

Nevertheless, Hotch was not completely consoled.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I've tried so hard to protect you..."

The agent sighed. "Didn't do such a good job, did I? I promise I'll do better. I hope you know that I'd do anything in this world to make sure you're happy and safe..."

He began to gently stroke Jack's forehead.

"You know, Jack, you saved me tonight. If you hadn't been there, I think I would have killed the bad guy and that wouldn't have been right. You see, daddy is just supposed to catch the criminals. We put them in jail and the law decides how to punish them. I almost forgot that because I was so angry at the bad guy for hurting you and mommy... and me. And if I had killed him, I would have been lowering myself to his level."

Hotch smiled a little. "You probably don't understand all this but that's okay. Someday... someday I'll explain it to you. I was just trying to do the right thing. I don't always get it right and I just hope you'll forgive me..."

Jack stirred slightly and a slight grimace passed across his pale features.

Hotch squeezed the tiny hand, bent forward and kissed the child. "I'm so proud of you, buddy. And I love you..."

He rested his forehead against the mattress and felt his eyelids begin to close until he was suddenly jerked awake by a small voice.

"L've... you... da- ddy."

Hotch smiled his first real smile in a very long time. He then rose from the chair and carefully arranged himself on the bed to be closer to his son. Jack moaned slightly as his father gently helped him to snuggle up against him but then looked up at his dad and grinned sleepily. Hotch wrapped his arm around the youngster, avoiding the bandages and soon heard steady breathing. Only then, with the knowledge that his boy was safe, did Aaron finally allow himself to fall into a deep sleep of his own.

***

It was early afternoon by the time Haley was discharged and she & JJ arrived at Jack's room in the ICU. There they discovered both male Hotchners still sleeping peacefully.

"They've been like that for hours." A nurse commented quietly as she adjusted the child's IV. "Agent Hotchner looked as though he needed the rest as much as little Jack so we've simply left them to it. I don't think a bomb going off would wake either of them."

"They're both going to be alright?" asked Haley anxiously from the doorway.

The nurse nodded reassuringly. "Yes. The doctors are very pleased with how your son is responding. And the agent's injuries are superficial for the most part, aside from some badly bruised ribs."

Haley started to enter the room but stopped abruptly.

"Haley?" JJ asked, concerned. "Are you okay?"

"It just hit me... I've never realized how much alike they are. And not just physically."

"Jack has the best of both of his parents." JJ smiled.

Haley shook her head. "He's his father's son: incredibly stubborn..."

JJ looked at her with sympathy but the ex-Mrs. Hotchner continued,

"...but so strong and resilient..."

"He also gets that strength from his mother." JJ said firmly.

Haley continued to watch the sleeping pair on the bed. "Maybe a little... but overall Jack is more like Aaron..."

She moved forward to the bed. She carefully rested one hand on her ex-husband's forearm and her other on her son's head. "I used to worry about that..." she said softly. "But this whole nightmare has gotten me thinking... about Aaron, his job and how good he is at it, and about Jack. Jack being so like his dad has helped me stay sane all these months. It was so comforting to have a smaller Aaron around. Now, JJ, I wouldn't change their likeness for anything."

JJ nodded in understanding. In a low voice, she murmured, "They are both great human beings, Haley." She then lightly touched the other woman's elbow. "I'll wait outside. Take your time and I'll drive you home when you're ready."

The media liaison left the room but watched through the window as Haley sat down to keep vigil over the two in the bed. JJ saw her wipe tears away and smile softly as she witnessed a still-sleeping Jack shift closer to Hotch, who unconsciously tightened his wrap on his son.

JJ turned, suddenly feeling as though she was intruding. After all the horror and sadness of the past months, just maybe this family had a chance for some happiness after all.

THE END.

A/N: I'm not a Haley fan & I don't really want Hotch & Haley back together so I deliberately left this vague. But I DID want the light bulb to finally go off for her... that Aaron really is a good man and a good father. Hope this came across, please let me know. Thanks for reading!