RUNAWAY , criminal minds

009 :: TWO WEEKS INTO TWO HOURS.

Aaron let out a laugh, leaning down to kiss his daughter's head, before she left to walk to the store.

───

AFTER Jennie had brought home Jack's formula, she had began the finalization of her father's cake. Haley and her sister were almost done with the actual cake, so Jennie took it amongst herself to make the frosting.

"Jennie?" She could hear her father by the entryway of the kitchen.

The teen still had her back turned to the entry, stirring the mixture "Okay─ so, I have like─ three different flavors? Now, at first I was going to do chocolate, but then I thought about that time you ate that whole butterscotch cake in one sittin─"

That's when Jennie turned around, and her face fell. Her father had his work clothes on.

Jennie deflated, her face written with disappointment, "On your birthday?"

Aaron had a slightly guilty expression on his face, sighing as he walked up to his daughter, slowly pulling her into a hug, along with pressing a kiss on her head, "I know. I'm sorry, Jennie."

He kept her in his arms for an extended moment, before they finally pulled away. Jennie sighed, turning back to her mixture, "Well, which flavor did you want? I can't promise I won't eat it all before you get back, but you can still pick your flavored frosting."

Aaron let out a small chuckle. That was one of the things he loved about Jennie. Despite her being disappointed that he couldn't take the day off, she still remained as optimistic as she could, usually by cracking a joke.

"Chocolate's fine."

Jennie smiled, nodding, "I was hoping you'd say that."

Aaron let his small smile remain on his face for another moment, before finally ruffling his daughter's hair, and began walking out the door, "Bye Jennie.."

"Bye." She called out, her smile still formed on her lips. However, as the door closed, and he was gone, Jennie couldn't help but let her face fall.

She always admired what her dad did for living. How could she not? He saved lives and brought justice to families and victims. He did what was best for the people.

However, she couldn't help but wish that he would be able to at least spend a day with her. Just a day. No work calls, no case files, no nothing.

She just wanted a day with her dad.

───

"TWO weeks?"

"Yup." Aaron told his daughter, as they sorted out old things in the garage into keep and donate boxes.

"Like a full two weeks off from work? No calls, no 'hey, there was a double homicide in Arizona, get to the office immediately'?" Jennie asked again, still shocked that her father and the rest of the team were off for two weeks.

"No calls, no double homicides." The man told his daughter, a small smile on his lips.

Jennie's mouth turned into a big smile, high-fiving her dad out of pure excitement. It had been a while since her dad and her had the time to actually spend time together.