I don't know why, but this idea just kept coming to me and I had to write it. Maybe it's because I love the close relationship Hotch and Reid have on Criminal Minds. Anyway, I don't own Criminal Minds, if I did then I would be dating Matthew Gray Gubbler ;)

Aaron shot up when he heard the front door slam open. The usually calm fourteen year old cursed under his breathe and then twisted in his bed. Sleeping next to him- and without trouble for once- was his adopted younger brother Spencer. Aaron hesitated for about a minute before he heard footsteps storming up the stairs and then proceeded to shake the boy. The skittish child grumbled before waking up and looking around the dark room frightened- Aaron had promised to get him a nightlight bit .

"Spencer, we have to get into the closet," Aaron said as he got of bed, picking up the frightened child while hearing something crash to the floor. He breathed a sign of relief since it bought them a little more time.

"What 'bout Sean," Spencer said in a near whisper while Aaron opened the closet door and went in.

"Sean knows what do, Spencer, I'm sure he'll be fine," Aaron said more to himself than anything. Yes, Sean knew to hide when the door slammed open in the middle of the night, but he also knew Sean could sleep past it.

Aaron closed the door just as the footsteps came back and soon after another door was slammed open with bang, causing Spencer to gasp and cling to Aaron's shirt. The sound was close, as in next door Sean's room close, and Aaron had prayed Sean hid in the closet as instructed. He couldn't handle seeing his younger brother with a bruised face again. Aaron doubt he could pass off the injury as Sean being a little too rough in footballl, and it wouldn't matter because Aaron was also sure he would be going to jail for murder. As much as he wanted to beat in the man's face until no one could recognize him, Aaron also understood he had to be there for his brothers. Who else could be there for him? Their mother who would travel for days on end just to avoid the abuse herself, leaving her children to deal with the pain.

"Sean, you worthless piece of shit, where are you?!" a slurred voice yelled, "And where is that ungrateful little bastard?!"
Spencer let out a scared sob that Aaron had to shush while also running his fingers ran through Spencer's chestnut brown hair that was overdo for a haircut. His breathing was extra quiet as he heard furniture crashing and more slurred yelling, but nothing from Sean, which was good. Aaron was letting out a breath of relief just as his bedroom door slammed open. He jumped, nearly dropping Spencer who was clinging onto Aaron more.

"Aaron, where are you! I know you have that brat and Sean, so come out!" the yelling went on and clumsy footsteps were heard on the other side of the closet door, "Aaron! Aaron, you bastard!"
The yelling went on and Aaron could hear crashing. Spencer was shaking in his arms, crying silently and uncontrolably in his chest during the whole seven minutes before it stopped, and clumsy footsteps left, mumbling about ungrateful little bastards. Once again, Spencer let out a relieved sigh before sitting down on the closet floor and tried to calm Spencer down.

"Shh...it's okay, he's gone now." Aaron kept telling the little guy that for ten minutes before he deemed it safe to leave the closet.

His room was a mess. The desk chair was smashed, his books were scattered everywhere, and the blanket on his bed had a giant tear down the middle. Aaron had wanted to scream at the mess but held his tongue and carefully walked over to the mess and out the door. He heard snoring coming down from his parents' bedroom, and Aaron glared at the direction.

"Aaron?" Spencer whispered, his eyes widened with fear.

"Don't worry Spencer, he's out for the count," Aaron whispered back while making the short trip to Sean's room, "Come on, we're going to a friend's"
Sean's room wasn't any better. Half his trophies were on bent and on the floor, his desk was completely smashed, his matress was overturned, and the posters were torn off and hanging next to holes punched in no doubt. Biting his lip to hold back his anger, Aaron went to the untouched closet door and managed to open it with one hand.

"It's safe?" a seven year old with light brown hair asked.

Aaron nodded but also held a finger to his lips, telling Sean to keep quiet. Sean nodded and gestured to Spencer who still clinging to Aaron for dear life but also started showing signs of exhaustion.

"Scared, but he'll be alright," Aaron said, "Now come on, we need to get out of here before dad wakes up."

Again Sean nodded and then followed Aaron out of his room and to the front door. Usually they would take the time to pack a few clothes, but Aaron didn't want to take the chance after tonight. Yes, their dad had been violent when drunk, but he had never been this violent. He'd just have to sneak back in tommorow after his dad left for work.

Grabbing his keys on the rack, Aaron quietly opened the door and allowed Sean to leave first before closing the door afterwards. Thankfully the night fair because he doubt Spencer could handle the cold well.

"So what's gonna be our excuse this time?" Sean asked as they went down the street.

"Simple, we tell the Thompsons that we saw a pervert hanging around our house and snuck out after we knew he was gone. Dad was once again working late." Aaron instructed as he readjusted a now sleeping Spencer.

"Okay," Sean said, but Aaron could tell he was tired. He couldn't blame him, Aaron himself was tired.

Their mom had always told him and Sean that their dad's work as a lawyer was just stressful, so he indulges in adult drinks more than most to relieve some of it. That didn't explain why he would occasionally smack her so hard that blood came from lip or that he had grabbed Aaron's hair so hard that he thought it would be ripped out and then thrown against the wall. What about the time that he twisted Sean's arm and dislocated his shoulder? She never had an answer, and the boys saw her less and less. The only time she was around a little more was when Spencer came to live with them.

Spencer's dad was apparently a law school buddy with Aaron's dad, so their mom's had become close as well. Aaron had heard snippets of Spencer during the four years Spencer was alive but hadn't actually met the kid since he lived in Vegas and they lived in a suburb not too far from D.C. Just six months ago, Spencer's dad William had suddenly left without a word, and his mother was placed in a psychiatric institution under the diagnosis of paranoia schizophrenia. The Hotchners, well; Mrs. Hotchner took Spencer in. That trying to be the perfect mother lasted for all about a month before again, the woman was hardly around and Spencer became a new target for Mr. Hotchner's rage. Aaron would never forgive himself after he saw the bruise on Spencer's neck a month ago.

"Sean, don't worry, the day I turn eighteen is the day I'm getting you out of here," Aaron said, giving his brother an encouraging smile.

Sean huffed, "Yeah, just four more years."
Four years, not only would Aaron be old enough to move out, he would also receive the trust his grandfather on his mother's side. He would have more than enough to get a nice apartment near Georgetown- his dream school- and big enough for him and his brother's to get their own room. Yes, Aaron was planning on suing for custody of Sean and Spencer, and he knew his father wouldn't fight him if it meant revealing his love for alcohol and violence.

Yes, four years and then everything would be fine.

Good? Bad? So-so? Tell me.