I don't make deals.

[Too much had been going on in his mind lately. And by too much, that meant coming back from the darkness. Seeing his son of fifteen years. Trying to fight the nightmares that he could never see Spencer again, when he was really curled up in bed next to him. Knowing Moonlight was alive and out there again, as was his bastard husband, Foyet. Seeing Dave and Dashelle and their twins. It was too much to assimulate at once, and it suddenly felt like his walls were crumbling. Like he wouldn't be able to take much more of it at this rate; and he knew he wouldn't.

That was why he had set himself down near the waterside. One hand on his head and silently sobbing. Here was the phoenix: the protector of the group that had just returned after ten years of being away, and all he could do was sit there and cry. Having a war in his mind, and emotionally unstable, he lay back in the sands and forced himself to take a deep breath. A very deep breath, with shoulders heaving and everything. He closed his eyes, laying there on the beach, sounds of waves crashing on the shore again.]

Dammit, Aaron... pull yourself together. You can do it. [Practically berating himself.] You can fucking do it. You've done it before. You did it ten years ago. What the hell is stopping you now...?

[And yet the answer was there in front of him. The only thing stopping Aaron Hotchner... was himself.]