Aaron Hotchner Appreciation Week

Marchwhumpness fic challenge

Written for @marchwhumpness ‘s fic challenge: Appendicitis.

Probably more comfort/fluff than whump, but kid in pain causing dad emotional distress counts, right? This is a few missing scenes from a Season 6 Law and Order SVU  episode, where Stabler is off the case as his son has appendicitis. 

“ He’s got a fever of 101, he hardly ate any dinner last night, and you know how Dickie feels about my mom’s mac and cheese! Then he vomited everything up again. I’ve made an emergency appointment with Dr Archer, for tomorrow morning. The patient wants to talk to you, El, I’ll pass you over now.”

Elliot sighed, waiting for his wife to pass the phone to his son. It really sounded like Dickie was sick, as his kid had no energy, was off his food and was complaining of a stomach ache.

“Hi Dad. I don’t feel good at all. Please can you come and see me if I have to stay home from school?” Dickie implored, using his most pitiful tone.

He sounded so young and so sad, and Elliot just wanted to scoop him up in a hug. He swallowed thickly before replying.

 “Yeah, of course I’ll come see you, kiddo. It must be bad if you’re turning down Grandma Ruth’s mac and cheese, it’s the best. Mom’ll give me a call when you’ve seen the doctor. Until then, Dr Dad says rest and make sure you drink lots of water, OK?” 

Elliot hoped his attempt at humour would help his son feel a little brighter. 

Dickie let out a giggle at the idea of his father being a medical professional.

“Yeah, thanks, Dad. Hope you solve the case.” Dickie replied.

“Thanks, buddy. Hope you feel better soon. I love you” 

“Love you too, Dad. Do you want to talk to Mom again?”

Elliot responded in the negative and hung up, before returning to his mountain of case files. 

The next morning, after Kathy’s call to the precinct.

Elliot grabbed his jacket, his wallet, phone and keys before dashing to his car. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, considering taking a police car to St Luke’s hospital, sirens blaring and thus having to avoid all the traffic lights. He was sure Cragen would understand, but the IAB would probably have something to say about it, so it wasn’t worth the headache.

The journey seemed interminable, and why were all the traffic lights red today? Elliot honked impatiently at any driver who paused for a fraction of a second before moving away from the light. 

He finally pulled into the hospital car park, threw some coins into the parking meter, ensuring it was enough to cover a whole day of parking, though the price made him wince.

He ran inside the building, and only stopped when a nurse called out to him with a warning that he couldn’t just barge in without his identity being verified.

“I need to see my son, Dickie Stabler. He has suspected appendicitis!” he barked at the nurse.

She frowned, checking the in-patient list.

“I’m sorry, sir, we don’t have a Dickie Stabler here”

Elliot’s heart pounded as if it were going to burst out of his chest. His palms felt moist, his head was spinning, he couldn’t breathe… Where the hell was his kid?

“We have a Richard Matthew Stabler though” she continued, unaware that the man in front of her had nearly become the latest casualty on the ward.

“Yes, that’s him!” Elliot gabbled, having extricated his ID from his jacket pocket.

The nurse carefully and quickly checked it before handing it back to him, then giving him the room number. Elliot thanked her quickly. 

As Elliot made his way down the corridor as fast as his legs could carry him,  untying his tie as he did so , while also listening intently for the sounds of Kathy or his son’s voice. 

A familiar chatter reached his ears as he rounded the corner.

“ Yeah, he’s the coolest! He’s super brave, really smart ‘cause he always solves the case. Olivia, his partner is super cool too, she helps him too. When I was little, he came to my school and showed everyone his badge. He said if kids didn’t have a safe adult to talk to, they should talk to me and I could tell him about it and he’d fix it… He’ll be here soon, you’ll see” Dickie chattered away to the nurse who was taking his temperature.

Kathy was sitting in a chair on the other side of his bed, her hand patting his leg affectionately. 

The nurse finished her ministrations and moved away from the bed, revealing Elliot standing in the doorway.

Kathy offered him a small smile and a hello, followed by thanking him for coming so quickly.

His son’s face lit up, his grin almost splitting his face in half. 

“Dad!” he exclaimed, wriggling so vigorously that he almost dislodged his IV.

“Hey, kiddo, how are you feeling?” he asked, pulling up a chair opposite his wife, before cupping his son’s face with his hands, then pressing a kiss to his still too warm forehead and smoothing his hair off his pale face, soothing and stilling  him. 

“My stomach still hurts, Dad. Like, a lot. I have to have an operation! And I’m starving!” Dickie complained, grabbing hold of his father’s hand, seeking comfort and reassurance. Elliot squeezed it gently. 

“ You’ll feel better once you’ve had your operation, buddy. And once you’re allowed to eat again, you can get whatever you want, I promise.” 

Dickie nodded and tightened his grasp on his dad’s hand. 

Whatever medication Dickie had been given started to take effect, as his boy’s eyelids fluttered closed, his grip slackening as he drifted off.

Once he was asleep, Kathy quickly explained that their son did indeed have appendicitis and would be operated on later that afternoon.

Eventually, the doctor came to explain the procedure to them and Dickie, and gave them a surgery time. 

Then the nurse came in to give Dickie an injection of pain meds. 

“Hey, look at me, Dickie. You can squeeze my hand as hard as you want, if it hurts. Do you remember that summer we went to the beach? You and Lizzie decided to dig to China, we had swimming races and we found the best ice cream stand…” Elliot said, trying to distract his son from what the nurse was doing, knowing how much his son hated having injections. 

“Yeah, and Grandma B and Kitkat made that massive sandcastle! They covered it in seashells and seaweed.”

“Ah yes, the sand palace. We’ll have to look for a picture of it in the photo albums when we get home.” Elliot continued, as the nurse caught his eye, letting him know the procedure she had been performing on Dickie had been completed. 

Kathy then came back with  coffee and some lunch for herself and Elliot, as Dickie had been  most insistent that his father not leave his side even for an instant. 

Elliot promised him he’d be there when he woke up from his operation.

After the operation

“Hey buddy, it’s OK, everything went fine” Elliot told Dickie, whose eyelids were fluttering open as the effects of the anaesthetic wore off. 

Dickie eventually got the all clear to go home, where he would have to stay for a few days to fully recuperate before returning to school.

At Dickie’s insistence, Elliot was going to be staying with him for that period.

“I’ll swing by my place and pick up what I need while you get settled with your movie and ice-cream, OK, buddy?” Elliot told his son, who was clinging to him like a limpet to a rock.

Dickie nodded, still reluctant to be apart from his father. 

Elliot pressed a kiss to the top of his son’s head, gave him a final gentle hug as Dickie squeezed him hard before letting go and heading off with Kathy to her car.

Elliot quickly returned to the family home and packed a suitcase for himself with everything he would need for his stay at his mother-in-law’s house. Sleeping on the couch was going to suck, but his little boy needed him, so that’s what he had to do.

He swung by the supermarket to stock up on cookie dough ice cream for his recovering child, as that is what he wanted to eat. 

He hated having to ring the doorbell to see his kids, but his mother-in-law opened the door for him and took the bag full of tubs of ice cream from him. He abandoned his suitcase by the coat rack and made his way into the lounge, after removing his jacket and hanging it up.

Dickie was sitting on the couch, a blanket draped over himself, and his hands full with a gigantic tub of ice cream and a spoon. He was so focused on the movie playing on the TV screen that he didn’t notice Elliot settling down next to him.

Elliot slid his arm around his son, tugging him closer and smoothing his hair.

Dickie leaned his head against his shoulder, tucking himself into his father’s side.

“What are we watching, kiddo?” he questioned.

“It’s called Jackass, Dad. It’s the best!” Dickie replied.

For the next few days, if Dickie wasn’t sleeping, he was eating cookie dough ice cream and watching the seriously overrated so-called comedy. Even Lizzie had begun complaining about it. 

Weather: my family, friends, reading, arts and crafts, food...

Dove: I express love through writing encouraging notes, buying little “I saw this and thought of you!”, themed gifts and just generally finding the perfect gift for a birthday. Also hugs, I give lots of hugs!

Friendship bracelet: being in the same room as my friend, just reading or watching TV/a film in comfortable silence, shopping or cinema trips, with a meal before/during/after. In-jokes that can be communicated with a look and then uncontrollable giggling

Love seat: a cosy place with a comfy lounge for reading/watching TV, an art room, an indoor pool, a kitchen with lots of appliances, two ovens and a view of the garden, plus a big table and lots of chairs so my friends and family can com3 to eat, a bedroom with a double bed, walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom with shower and bath, lots of guest rooms for potential babies.

Record player: Break-up songs if I’m feeling sad/need a good cry, love songs if I’m happy ( though sometimes they make me cry!)

Stargaze: If dead celebs are allowed, Gregory Peck, Steve Mc Queen and Paul Newman- really handsome yet manly men. Modern/still alive George Clooney definitely still has it, and Jake Gyllenhall is very easy on the eye!  Planter: Black thumb here!  Linen: Purely theoretical, but I would like to be friends with someone before getting romantically involved.

Hot cocoa: my eye for colour ( makes m3 good at picking out outfits for myself/others), my creativity and ability to be by myself perfectly contentedly!  Valentine: Again, theoretical, but a little bit is cute ( hand-holding, little kisses)

Succulent: brother’s wedding, giving the kids I nanny their birthday presents and cards, the cinemas and restaurants re-opening!

Bath bomb: doing something creative, watching a film ( for a good healing cry or to make me laugh), yummy snacks and meals, looking for perfect themed presents for people either online or in shops...

Road trip: university. It was hard being so far away from my family while all my coursemates were going home for weekends/Reading week.

Brown sugar: children running up for hugs in the creche where I work, rewatching a favourite TV show, eating yummy good and finding some great presents for a friend’s daughter!

Pearls: yes! Now all I need is a partner!

Seaside: first date would be a drink at a coffee shop and a trip to a bookstore, established couple date would be a fancy dinner out or a home-cooked meal, followed by a film ( either at home or at the cinema) 

Luna Moth: city with lots of green spaces and close proximity to beach  and/or forest.

Velvet: practical when I am working ( hoodies, jeans/tracksuit bottoms, trainers) but pretty dresses with cardigans and flats plus cute accessories ( scarves, jewellery, hair clips and bags) when I am seeing friends or going to events!

Cupcake: not with anyone else, but definitely with myself!

Romcom: A mixture of both tragedy and comedy!

Warm Hearted Asks

Weather - What do you love most?

Dove - How do you express love?

Friendship Bracelet - What does friendship mean to you?

Loveseat- Describe your ideal house

Record Player - Love songs or breakup songs?

Stargaze - Celebrity crush?

Planter - Do you have a green thumb?

Linen - Do you prefer being friends with someone before starting a romantic relationship with them or starting straight into love?

Hot Cocoa - Three things you love about yourself?

Valentine - Do you like pda?

Succulent - What are you looking forward to?

Bath bomb - What is the best form of self care?

Roadtrip - Where is the farthest you’ve been from home?

Brown Sugar - What is making your heart warm today?

Pearls - Do you want to get married?

Seaside - Ideal date?

Luna Moth - City or country?

Velvet - What is your style?

Cupcake - Are you in love?

Romcom - Is your story a comedy or tragedy?

Sunset - Ask anything you want!

Relationship status: chronically single

Favourite colour: purple or teal

Three favourite foods: pizza, chocolate and cereal

Song stuck in my head: usually a nursery rhyme, as I work in a crèche/nursery

Last song I listened to: see above!

Last thing I googled: correct spelling of arachnid

Time: 18.19

Dream trip: New York or Amsterdam

Anything I want right now: to meet my nephew, new clothes, Mc Donald’s and ice-cream!

Tagged by @goobzoop and @ssa-sarahsunshine !

Relationship status: singleeeee

Favorite color: yellow and blue!

Three favorite foods: spaghetti, beer battered haddock (being extra specific today), and scrapple but only if I make it lol

Song stuck in my head: English Folk Song Suite lmao

Last song I listened to: down under by men at work

Last thing I googled: “Spencer shot in neck” lmao

Time: 1:16 pm

Dream trip: Greece

Anything i really want right now: weed :)

@ the dash again hehe

Coffee shop/ fix-it/ childhood friends/fluff/pining/modern au/soulmate/fake dating/proposals and weddings/established relationship/domestic fluff/hurt and comfort/meet cute/parallel universe

Thanks for the tag @ssa-sarahsunshine !

Coffee shop or flower shop • alternate universe or fix-it • enemies to lover or childhood friends • angst or fluff • love at first site or pining • modern au or historical au • soulmate or unrequited • fake dating or secret dating • breakup and makeup or proposals and weddings • get together or established relationship • oblivious pining or domestic fluff • hurt/comfort or crack • meet the parents or meet cute • time travel or parallel universe

This is so cute I love it

I don’t know who’s been tagged to @the dash!

Please reblog if you think that “they/them/theirs” is a valid set of pronouns.

Of course they are

Some more thoughts on Season 16 of Law and Order SVU.

I miss Munch, particularly his snarky exchanges with Fin, which brought some levity to the darker episodes. Those two together were comedy gold and such a great partnership.

I’ve enjoyed seeing Carisi working with Rollins, he is v respectful of her and lets her take the lead, and offers to work with her quite a few times, and openly admits to her that he still has a lot to learn about the job. 

It is refreshing to see a team where everyone works well together, as Fin complained whenever he was paired with Stabler, and I think Stabler was a bit annoyed at being paired with Munch a few times too. 

Loved seeing Barba as a son and grandson, actually getting emotional, as, up until that point, I had found him a bit cold/robotic. 

The way he held Noah was hysterical as well, like he was holding a bag of toxic waste! Should have called Stabler or Carisi instead, Liv!

Adored meeting Bella, Carisi’s sister. I liked how non-judgemental he was about her maybe not keeping her baby as he didn’t say anything but was just quietly supportive. Stabler would have been more vocal in his Catholic views, I believe, 

Sonny’s anger is always so righteous but I feel he is always in control of it, so even though he was rough with Tommy, he didn’t go too far and beat him to a pulp/hit him. 

He also has a lot of empathy for the victims and their families, just like Olivia does, and he connects with people very easily, like with the lawyer daughter in the Marcia Cross episode where her character is married to a writer with ailing health. 

I love that he’s told his family about Olivia is awesome and that he loves his job and working for her, that was a sweet moment! 

Also, good job to the casting directors for the actress who plays Bella, she and Peter Scanavino look like they could actually be siblings!

He also did an awesome job being undercover, and looked super hot with the gelled back hair and the glasses.

The episode with Amaro’s dad reminded me a lot of Stabler and his equally awful childhood. They are both really hot-headed and internalise everything until they take it out on their lockers. At least Amaro is going to Anger Management classes!

I liked seeing Amaro with his ex’s boy, who he considers to be his son. He is also a good dad to his daughter, so that has made me warm to him a little more, though I still don’t miss him if he’s not there! 

Just finished watching the serial killer who is a doctor who has committed crimes in Chicago, New York and elsewhere. He was terrifying in the courtroom scene, loved seeing Coroner Warner, she’s so great and one of my favourite minor characters. 

I now want to rewatch the ep he is in from somewhere between Season 5-8, as the passing of time on this show is Very Wonky ™! 

I am approaching the end of the Season, I think I will be getting Seasons 17 to present day too, even if they are in French and I have to deal with names being mispronounced ( Ezzer for Heather was particularly bad!).

I also googled the William Lewis scenario and it seems like I bypassed it and there is zero chance he will ever come back, as K could barely cope with reading about it let alone watch it! 

Happy 1st tumblr birthday 🎂🎁🎈🎉🥳🪅🎊🛍, Sumayyah! Could I have 💐 for Gotcha ( Hotch and Garcia), please? Love you and your writing so very much.

Thank you! That's the cutest ship name ever, petition to change it to that because it sounds prettier!! And also: Aww, I love you too <3

💐and a character/ship for a happy headcanon

platonic: Garcia is well-aware that Hotch's apartment can feel too quiet during the summer months when Jack has sleepovers, or summer camp, or is just out in the park, so she always has a reason to come over and keep him company.

Whether it's: here's a new craft I took up or: I made too much of this thing and it just so happens to be your favourite so you can you please take some? Hotch knows she's only doing it so he's not left alone, but he appreciates the thought, and always makes sure he's got something either on DVD or recorded that they can watch together.

romantic: because Hotch has been making packed lunches since he was a kid- both for himself, and for Sean, and then for Jack, he finds the whole process quite therapeutic and fun to carry out. So, when him and Garcia move in together- which was a very long and stressful process, filled with Jack opening every single box to see what was in there and Garcia being more than a little worried at Hotch's lack of possessions- he makes all three of them their lunches.

Garcia's always has a little love letter. It's usually just a compliment about how pretty her outfits always are, or how lovely the size of her heart is, or how much he's still in awe of the fact that she loves him.

Garcia's response is always to pin it in place on her corkboard- everyone deserves to know how much of a romantic Hotch really is- and then going up to the 6th floor to kiss him on the cheek (which almost always results in a mark he can't quite wipe away, that the higher ups find strangely endearing)

🌼 and i’ll hand letter either a word or your url for you

Which I know you didn't ask for, but you need to know how "radiant" you are, and I'm actually really enjoying calligraphy again!

i'm hosting a first anniversary sleepover!

One of my favourite scenes from Organized Crime from series 2, The Christmas Episode.

When Elliot goes to get Eli and take him home, the doctor wants a word with Elliot. He is reluctant to listen at first but Liv, who has accompanied him for support, calms him and gets him to listen.

The doctor talks about Eli's upset about his possible involvement in Mia's death but says he was just as upset and maybe more frightened how his father would react.

Elliot takes a second to process this before asking if this means Eli is afraid of him. The doctor clarifies that no, Eli is not afraid of him, but for him.

As Elliot reacts to this, there's a beautiful shot of both him and Mariska, before reacting to what was said. Elliot struggling to contain his emotions and Liv unsure what to do to support him. She steps back, behind Elliot as he goes to collect Eli and as he's moved away from her, she puts her hand to her chest.

Elliot goes and embraces him son, realising just how much he is going through himself and tells him 'Let's go home'. Olivia watches from outside, still affected by it all. Elliot wipes at his eyes as they leave and Liv walks side by side with Elliot as they head home.