The Trial

Chapter 1

Take-Away

John McClane asked, "Why does this keep on happening to us?"

Aaron held Spencer close to him, one hand in his hair, the other around his waist. Spence leaned on him, his head against Aaron's shoulder, his hands pressing his bare back. Aaron had his head tilted forwards, his lips against Spencer's hair while Erasure played softly in the background. They had started by moving to the music, but now they stood still in the centre of the room clinging onto each other, rocking to the beat, breathing in the other's scent, feeling the warmth of their closeness.

"Sweetheart, this is perfect." Aaron kissed Spencer gently, Spence held him tighter. He pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I still can't believe we have this. I still expect to wake up."

Spencer reached up and touched Aaron's lips with his finger tips. "You won't Love. This is for real."

Spencer drew Aaron to the couch, and they sat down. Aaron held Spence's face in his hands, and drew him closer. He brushed his lips softly against Spencer's, and pulled him close against his body. They held each other as the music played on.

Aaron pulled away, and stroked Spencer's face with the back of his hand.

"Spence, are you ok with Monday? You've not talked about it."

"I'm fine. I've not given evidence at a capital trial before, but it shouldn't be any different to any other trial. If I just stick to what I know, I'll be fine." Spencer smiled. "You will be there, though, won't you?"

Aaron nodded. "Sure, I'll be there." He stood up. "I'll get us something to eat."

"Where from?" said Spence. "You're not thinking of...erm...cooking, are you?"

"I thought I might..." Aaron bit his lip.

"Let's go out and get something." Spencer stood up, grinning. He picked up his money and put it in this pocket, and took Aaron's hand. "Come on, Babe."

Aaron pulled on his tee shirt, and Spence grabbed his.

The night was bright with a full moon, and they decided to walk to the shop. Hand in hand they went down the drive towards the road. There were no lights, but the moonlight lit the way with silvery fingers through the trees on either side of the drive.

"Let's run, Aaron!" Spence said, pulling Him along after him. Aaron started to laugh, trying to keep up. He was glad when they reached the road. Although he was healed from the pelvic injury, sometimes it hurt when he ran. Spence let go of his hand, and Aaron leaned forward with his hands on his knees. Spence put his arm around his waist.

"You ok Babe?" Spence leaned forward and looked up at Aaron. "Sorry, I forgot it hurts you doesn't it?"

Aaron smiled. "No, it's ok." He straightened. "Let's get some food."

The Take-Away was about a mile down the lane at the edge of town. As they walked, Aaron squeezed Spencer's hand tighter.

"We're being followed, Sweetheart."

"Just keep walking."

Then Aaron felt an arm around his neck. He let go of Spencer's hand and grabbed at the arm. Spencer swung round in time to get a fist in his mouth. He staggered back against the wall, unable to move for a moment as shock stunned him. Aaron was fighting to get the assailant from his back. Spencer stepped forward towards Aaron.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Someone grabbed Spencer's arm and swung him round, hitting him across the stomach with something he couldn't see. Spencer doubled up, and Aaron saw the base ball bat come down on the back of Spencer's head, and he went down.

Aaron tried to call out to him but the arm around his neck was tightening, and Aaron was starting to feel light headed. With all the strength he elbowed his attacker in the belly. The pressure on his neck was immediately loosened as the man fell to the ground. Aaron began to turn round to face him, when he was pushed against the wall, his face impacting with the hard stone. He felt blood run down over his lips. Some one was holding his arms. He struggled to escape, but he was being held fast. His assailants turned him round, and faced him.

"My money is in my back pocket." Aaron said, spitting blood from his mouth. "Just take it!"

"We don't want your money, we want you!"

Aaron tried to pull his arms away, to fight these men holding him. "What do you want with me?"

His question was ignored. Aaron struggled in the grip of the two men. "Tell me what you want!"

"Shut up, dammit!" One of them punched Aaron in the face. His head jerked to the side, he groaned as blood sprayed from his mouth across his assailant's face. It ran down Aaron's chin, and dripped onto his shirt.

Someone got hold of Aaron's hair at the front. He pulled his head forward, and cracked it back against the wall. Aaron let out a cry of pain and heard his skull splinter. His vision blurred and as his head impacted the wall again, he tried to look for Spencer. He was conscious of warm blood soaking the back of his tee shirt. The third time his head was cracked on the wall, he lost consciousness, and hung in the grip of the two men.

-0-0-0-

Spencer became conscious of self as he awoke. He tried to move but he felt as if his head would explode. He groaned and raised his hand to his head, and it came away bloody. Very slowly Spencer sat up and leaned against the wall.

"Aaron, Babe? Are you ok?" He looked round for him in the moonlight. "Aaron?"

Spencer rubbed at his eyes, his vision still blurred from the crack on the head. He couldn't concentrate, he thought he was going to faint.

"Aaron! Where are you?" he said softly. He felt sick and dizzy. He took his phone out of his pocket, and speed dialled Morgan.

"Morgan, we need your help..." The phone slipped from his fingers, and he fainted.

-0-0-0-

"Reid, Reid, wake up!"

Spencer opened his eyes, and looked up at Morgan.

"Derek, where's Aaron?" Spencer said. "I couldn't see him."

"Aaron isn't here, Reid. What happened?"

"We were attacked, Derek. Someone hit me, and attacked Aaron. He must be here!"

"I'll call an ambulance, Reid."

"No! Help me up. I need to find Aaron. He was here."

Morgan helped Spencer to his feet. For a moment, Spencer leaned on the wall to get his bearings back. Then he looked around.

"Where is he?"

Morgan looked around, shining his torch onto the pavement. "There's blood here." He moved the beam up the wall, and they saw a darker patch on the stonework. Derek touched it with his fingers. "There is more blood here."

The patch of blood where Aaron's head had been hit against the wall was sticky and shiny, strands of dark hair was caught in the stone work, and streams of blood ran down the wall and pooled at the base.

"Oh god, Morgan. Where is he?"

Morgan was on his phone to Rossi. "Dave, we've got a problem."

Spencer sat on the pavement, head in his hands. How could this be happening to them again? Why couldn't they just leave them alone? Morgan came and sat beside him.

"He's not here, Reid. I've called the CSU, and they are going to process the scene, but from what I can see, the UnSubs have taken Hotch with them."

Spencer looked at Morgan in confusion. Morgan put his arm round Spencer's shoulders. "Whatever's happened, we'll find out soon enough."

Morgan was worried. The only reason he could think of why they would have taken Hotch, was if they'd killed him. He felt sick, thinking of what they had done to him. He so hoped he was wrong. He pulled Spencer closer, and Spencer leaned on him.