Go to bed - Aaron Hotchner (second take)
Sleep was a struggle. You weren’t sure why, but every time you got into bed, you just couldn’t manage to fall asleep. That’s why even on winter break you found yourself awake in the middle of the night getting a head start on school work for the next semester. You weren’t sure how long you’d been working as you stared at the words in your textbook, only that you managed to get through a few chapters already and weren’t even beginning to feel tired. You’d put your younger brother, Jack, to bed at 9:00, so you’d definitely been at it for a few hours. Knowing yourself, you knew you’d be up for several more too.
Your restless nature was always worse during breaks. Maybe it was the lack of structure. At least during the school year, you had 8am classes forcing you to at least try to get some sleep. During the holidays, however, you had none of that. Your dad often worked late, so you didn’t have a lot of obligations during break. Without a regular schedule like you had during school, you often stayed up well into the night working on homework, not falling asleep until early morning. With how late you stayed up, you tended to sleep in until the afternoon. While this wasn’t a problem while on break, you knew it’d make those first few weeks transitioning back to classes absolute hell, but it wasn’t like there was anything you could do about it. You’d been trying to fix your sleep schedule. Chamomile tea, no screens an hour before bed, even melatonin. Nothing seemed to work.
You’d just started your fifth chapter of the night when you were pulled out of your thoughts. “Bug? What’re you doing still up?” You nearly fell out of your chair at the sound of your dad’s voice. When did he get home? More importantly, how did he manage to get upstairs to your room and open the door without you noticing?
You turned to face your dad, taking a moment to catch your breath. “Jesus, dad! When did you get home?”
Aaron frowned at you as he stood in the doorway. “You didn’t answer my question. It’s nearly 3am, kid. You need sleep.”
You just shrugged. You didn’t want to tell your dad you couldn’t sleep. He dealt with enough as it was. He’d just gotten off work and from the looks of it, it’d been a rough night. “I’m working ahead. Guess I lost track of time. I’ll just finish this chapter and then I’ll head to bed. Night, dad!”
Aaron knew you better than that. It didn’t take being a profiler to know you had no intention of going to bed any time soon. He was your dad. He had 20 years to pick up on your tells. He just sighed. His kid had definitely picked up his workaholic tendencies. “You can work on it in the morning. Go to bed.”
“I will. Just one more chapter.”
“Kid, you and I both know it’s not just one more chapter. Put the book away and get in your pjs. I’ll make hot chocolate.” Aaron gave you a small smile before he headed back down to the kitchen.
You frowned. While there was no hint of anger in his voice, you knew this wasn’t a request. Besides, if your workaholic of a dad was telling you to take a break, then you definitely needed one. Once your dad left, you closed your textbook and went to change into pajamas, per his request.
By the time you made your way downstairs, the sweet smell of hot chocolate had filled the kitchen and living room. Your dad was sitting on the couch, two mugs of hot chocolate sitting on the coffee table and some old movie musical playing on TV. “There you are. I was just about to check on you. Make sure you hadn’t gone back to studying.”
You went to sit on the couch next to him. “That was an option?”
Aaron chuckled. “Absolutely not. I know I’m the last person that should be saying this, but you need to stop overworking yourself. And for god’s sake you need to sleep.”
You scoffed, picking up your mug of hot chocolate and taking a sip. The warm liquid was comforting. It reminded you of simpler days. Cold winter nights curled up on the couch with your parents and baby brother with hot chocolate and holiday movies. “Yeah, you’re one to talk.”
Aaron rolled his eyes. “I know, but I’ll work on it. And so will you.”
The two of you spent the rest of the night on the couch watching golden age musicals. Your dad knew there was no use forcing you to go to bed. You’d just find another way to distract yourself. But he could make you stop working for a bit and relax. And who knows? Maybe the mindless television and hot chocolate would relax your mind enough that you could get a few more hours of sleep than usual.