Aaron Hotchner opened his eyes to a view of his bedroom ceiling, and the sound of his alarm ringing in his ear. He turned the beeping off before it could wake his son in the next room. Then he remembered that his son no longer lived with him.

His apartment was empty of all other people. Foyet had killed his wife, and he sent his son to live with his aunt. Hotch was alone.

Something in him still made him get up every morning, and get dressed, and leave his cave. His team. They were practically the only family Hotch had left. He sighed and grabed his keys, and left his apartment.

When he opened the door he stumbled into a package that was left on his door mat. He picked it up and closed his door, locked it, and proceeded to his car.

When he arrived at the BAU office he took his briefcase and the package inside. He walked into the meeting room where the team was gathered, talking amongst them selves.

"Morning everyone" Hotch said to his team as he walked in and placed his stuff on the table.

"Mornin"' they answered back and continued talking to one an other. JJ and Prentiss were talking lightly over mugs of steaming coffee, Rossi was looking through a file, and Morgan was talking to Garcia, and Hotch did not have the heart to ask her what exactly was in her hair today.

Hotch turned his attention to the package and pulling a small pocket knife from his coat he cut through the tape. He pulled back the flaps and looked into the box. He reached in and what he pulled out was a blue sweater vest. It was wadded up and when he transferred it to his right hand, his left was stained with blood.

"Guy's" Hotch said, his brow knit together, panic building in his blood. They continued talking. "Guy's" he said with more force. They looked up at him, as he held the sweater vest out, "Have any of you seen Reid today?"


This is just a teaser! Full length chapter on the way soon!