Fic: Daddy Duality (Criminal Minds, Hotch / Chad, Reid / Morgan)
Title: Daddy Duality
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairings: Spencer Reid / Derek Morgan,
Aaron Hotchner / Chad Christensen
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: They are not mine, just using them for amusement...
Feedback: Makes the World Turn.
Criminal Minds Main List
“No, I mean it.” Hotch sighed and prodded his phone more securely against this ear. “Just don’t do anything till I get back. We’re just wrapping up the last loose ends here, I’ll be home tonight. Bye.”
He hung up. Morgan gave him a curious glance across the table.
“Trouble in paradise?”
“Jack’s birthday`s coming up.”
“I’m not following.”
“Chad wanted to get him a new bike.”
“Every small boy has to have a bike.” Morgan grinned. “It’s in the rule book. Every kid should fall off and have scratches his knees at least once.”
“That’s not the issue. If I don’t go to the store with him, he’ll go overboard. He’ll get the latest thing and then I can’t do anything about it without upsetting Jack.”
“I heard all of that, but I still don’t know what the problem is.”
“Spoiling. It’s great that he and Jack are close, but I’m a parent. It’s my duty to set the boundaries.”
“For Jack, not Chad. He’s like the funny uncle who takes him to play ball and all that stuff. Let them have their fun.” Morgan emptied his coffee cup and dumped the plastic mug to the trash. “Or are you afraid Jack will like him better than you?”
“That was such a juvenile suggestion, I will not even target that. I give Jack presents on Christmas and on his birthday. When there’s a reason to give a gift. Chad gives them when he feels like it.”
“And you don’t wanna compete?”
“I do not compete with gifts.”
“It wouldn’t be an even match anyway…”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, just that Chad doesn’t need to get by on his bureau pay. If he wants to get a bike for your kid, let him. He can afford it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Money. You two don’t exactly stand on the same line there.”
“We’re both in supervisory position-”
“Haven’t you thought about how much money he actually has?” Morgan’s smirk widened till it almost reached his ears. “Reid got a good sum on that cut of Mrs. Christensen’s inheritance and that was just a small piece compared to what Chad and his siblings got.”
Hotch`s face went blank.
“I never thought about that.”
“I got a good advice for you.” Morgan got up and grabbed the stack of case notes from the table. “Hope they’ll make gay marriages legal, because this could be your one chance to marry a wealthy benefactor. I’ll do the same with Pretty Boy.”
He grinned at Hotch`s stunned expression and marched out to finish his paperwork. Hotch stood still for a minute before he managed to force his thoughts back to the case.
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Hotch walked through the front door at exactly ten thirty-five. The house was quiet, and the only light was coming from the living room. He walked in and found Chad dozing on the couch.
“I’m home.”
The only reaction from Chad was a slight stirring in his sleep. Hotch sat down on the edge of the couch and leaned down to kiss him.
“Morning…” Chad groaned, forcing his eyes open. “It thought I’d wait for you, but I fell asleep. How was the case?”
“Messy.”
“When did you eat?”
“Around lunchtime.”
“There’s a plate in the fridge.” Chad pushed himself up from the couch and staggered to the kitchen. “You got tomorrow off?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” He shoved the plate to the microwave oven. “I was thinking we could go looking for bikes.”
“About that…”
“You’re still objecting?”
“I don’t mind you getting him a gift, but can you just scale it back a little bit? Just something simple.”
“How complicated can a bike be?”
“Not the point. Jack adores you, and you got there on your own. There’s no need to get him something too extravagant.”
“Wait a minute, rewind back. Did you just say I’m trying to buy him?”
“No, I meant just the opposite. You always take him to play ball, or teach him karate or something like that, you don’t need to prove anything with expensive gifts.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” Chad gave him sharp glare. “I like playing with him, I like having movie night when he’s here, I like when we all go to the park together. None of that has anything to do with money.”
“I know-”
“You know how many times I see my niece and nephews? Two, maybe three times a year.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean that.” Hotch interrupted. “I know you mean well, but Jack knows you can’t say no to him.”
“Why would I say no when he hasn’t asked me for anything? At least with kids you know where you stand, unlike adults.” The micro oven binged and he snapped it open. “Eat.”
He showed the plate to Hotch`s hand and walked back to the living room. Hotch sat down next to the counter, pulled a fork from the drawer and started shovelling in the reheated pasta.
When he came to the living room ten minutes later, the room was dark. The rumpled blanket from the couch was now neatly folded and the TV was turned off.
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“I can’t believe you told him that…” Reid complained. "Are you trying to whip up trouble or were you just bored?”
“I pointed out that a new bike’s not gonna bankrupt the guy.”
“It’s one of the basic rules of human interaction. Men don’t compare incomes or assets, because that can lead to serious trouble.”
“Says who?”
“Your own magazine.” Reid picked up a glossy magazine from the nightstand and tossed it over the bed.
“You actually read this?”
“I was bored. It was when you tried to train Clooney to fetch your overnight bag in case we need to leave in a hurry.”
“And you read this?”
“It took less than two minutes, so don’t look so surprised.” Reid stated. “Money is the one thing you should never talk about with your partner, because it brings up the male competitive streak.”
“What’s there to compete about?”
“Just leave it…” Reid groaned and settled under the covers. “But if Hotch spends the night on the couch in his office, I’ll blame you for it.”
“It’s his house, you don’t think-”
“Given enough reason, Chad could kick him all the way to Canada. He doesn’t get mad often, but when he does you better stay far away.”
“I still don’t know what the big deal is.” Morgan shrugged. “I had a lot of fun when we played Hot Toy Boy and his Young, Pretty Sugardaddy.”
“Can you imagine Hotch as someone’s toy boy?”
“No… I couldn’t even imagine him wearing flip-flips till I saw it myself.”
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Hotch knocked on the bedroom door and walked in. Chad was sitting on the carpet with his leg thrown over the opposite shoulder.
“Little late for yoga.”
“It’s relaxes tension.”
“Sorry.”
“What was that about? And don’t say it was about Jack, because I’m not buying it.”
“It started from Jack and then Morgan said something that… got under my skin.”
“What?”
“I talked about you and the bike thing, and he said something about how you can afford it.”
“Go on.” Chad straightened his body and waited, leaned back against his arms.
“It sounds immature and childish, but it got to me.” Hotch admitted. “When I was with Hailey, she stayed home most of the time, and I was the breadwinner. I’ve hardly gotten used to the fact that you have your own job, and then Morgan reminded me that you don’t need me in any way. Not like…”
“Not like Hailey?”
“Something like that. And with Jack… When I was growing up we got gifts for Christmas and birthdays.”
“Are you saying I should get you a bike too?” Chad grinned. “Okay, we’ll go shopping tomorrow.”
“No!” Hotch started laughing. “No, I just meant that… I’m not sure what I meant.”
“Ego or insecurity?”
“Little bit of both, probably. Are you going to kick me to the couch?”
“If I wanna kick you to the couch, you don’t need to ask. You’ll be downstairs with a blanket so quickly you won’t know what hit you.”
“I can believe that…” Hotch agreed. “So I’m not in the doghouse?”
“We don’t have a doghouse. Or a dog.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to get Jack a dog too…”
“No. But I’m getting him the bike, his old one is falling to pieces.”
“Okay, but get a normal bike. Nothing too extravagant.”
“It’s a bicycle, not a formula one.” Chad grinned. “Anything more you wanna talk about before bed?”
“Yeah.” Hotch took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t even about money. Not really.”
“Then what?”
“You don’t get called to work when you’re supposed to take Jack to the movies or when you take him to the football practice.” Hotch sighed. “And when he comes here for the weekend the first thing he asks is “where’s Chaddy?”. I feel guilty about not being there anyway, without you upstaging me.”
“I’m not trying to take your place-”
“I know that. And I’m happy you like him, it just…”
“Think about it this way: You play the strict daddy and I get to be the fun one.”
“That’s not really comforting.” Hotch smirked. “But those two could make a very good combination.”
“See? Great minds think alike.” Chad leaned closed and gave him a quick kiss. “Are you sure you don’t want a bike?”