Do No Harm
Chapter 1
Hospital Visit
Erma Bombeck said, "Getting out of hospital is alot like resigning from a book club. You're not out of it until the computer says you're out of it."
Aaron sat uncomfortably in the conference room. His back was driving him mad with itching. He knew that this meant that the graft had taken, but he also knew that he shouldn't scratch. The temptation to rub against the back of the chair was too much. He stood and started to walk up and down, hoping that the movement would bring some relief. His arms still ached from the breaks, and he had had to have his hair cut short to disguise the shaved area. He thought mentally he was ready to come back to work. He hoped he was physically.
He flashed a glance at Spencer. As always, he had been there every step of his recovery. Spence caught his eye, and his face creased into a smile. Aaron smiled a tiny smileback, but only Spence could read it.
"So, are these all the victims?" Aaron was studying the list he had been given, and shrugging his shoulders against the infernal itching.
"They are the definite ones. There are about seventy five more suspicious deaths in the last five years. Those names are on the second list, together with reasons why the deaths are suspect. But only those on the first list, from the last eighteen months and who were not cremated, can be confirmed."
"Is there any connection between them?" Reid asked, "Apart from the fact that they were all sick and in hospital."
"There is very little. They weren't under the same consultant, some were medical, some surgical, some terminal, some not. One even died in the emergency room, and she came in with a broken leg. That's number five on the list. She died of heart failure. They all died in different ways. On the list you can see that I've appended cause of death. "
"Are these COD's the same as on the death certificates?" asked Rossi, without looking up.
"No. In most cases the doctor treating the patient was fooled into thinking it was natural causes."
"So why do they need us?" asked Hotch. "Doesn't it sound like 'Angel of Death' syndrome? It has to be someone who works there."
"That's what the police thought, until they checked all the records, and there is no-one at the hospital that could have been responsible for all the deaths. Every possible suspect has been interviewed and eliminated. They had a possible but he died in an RTA. The killings carried on though."
"Do we have the details of the suspect?" asked Emily.
JJ pointed her remote at the screen "This man. sixty three years old Leslie Freeland, worked at the hospital for ten years as a laundryman He died six weeks ago, since which, six more people have died."
"Any family?" asked Morgan.
"A wife. I have an address."
Reid ran his finger down the dates."This seems inconsistent with what we know about serial killers." he said. "Look here, two in a week, then none for a week, then one, then a space of three weeks, during which Freeland was killed. Then five in a week! Then nothing for ten days, then one, yesterday. There is no pattern, no escalation here."
"That certainly looks unusual." said Aaron. "And that merits our assistance." said Aaron. "Ok, team, get your things together, wheels up in fifteen."
It was a thirty five minute flight. Reid sat alone at one end of the cabin, Aaron sat with the others. After fifteen minutes or so, he crossed the cabin and sat opposite Spence.
"What is it, Spence? What's worrying you?"
"I've got a couple of issues I need to think through. I was hoping this situation wouldn't come up, but now it has, I need to deal with it."
Aaron reached under the table for Spencer's hand. "Tell me, Spencer."
"An UnSub in a hospital. It's been a while since Philip Dowd, but I still have nightmares about it." Spencer was shaking, remembering his first kill, and how close Aaron had come to being shot. Aaron squeezed his hand.
"I understand, Spence. But I also know that you are a good Agent, and you will always do what is necessary to protect your team members and the public." Aaron said, looking deep into Spencer's eyes. "I have no qualms about trusting you with my life. I know you can do this, Spence."
Spencer hung onto Aaron's hand.
"We're landing in ten, Spence. Take those minutes to think about what I've said. You'll be fine."
Aaron left him and returned to the others. He got questioning looks of several members. They could be in a position where they needed to rely on Reid. They needed to be assured that he could be counted on in a crisis.
"He's fine." was all Aaron needed to say. His colleagues relaxed, and carried on chatting.
They were met at the airport by an SUV driven by a receptionist.
"I'm Judy Woods. Sergeant Mallory sends his apologies, Sir," she said, shaking their hands in turn. "He is snowed under by yesterdays killing, and he just got word of a possible new on as I was leaving."
"Not a problem." said Aaron. "If we could get started straight away..."
Woods drove the team to the HQ and led them to the Mallory's office. Aaron extended a hand. "If you could give us some office space to work in, Agent Jareau can set up while we gather some data."
JJ went off with Woods to a spare office. Morgan and Rossi went with her to work on Victimology with Garcia. Hotch went to the hospital to see the Consultants involved, while Emily and Spencer visited Mary Freeland, the wife of Leslie.
Mary appeared to be a lot older than her late husband, probably in her late seventies. Emily and Spencer were shown into a sitting room that seemed to be bursting at the seams with doilies and lace. It was difficult to know where to sit. She indicated two arm chairs for them Emily moved an armful of knitted dolls and sat down. Reid remained standing. He felt he could think better standing up. That and he was still a bit nervous about the case. He stood behind Emily, gripping the back of her chair. He left her to do the talking.
"WE are so sorry for your loss, Mrs Freeland." began Emily. She and Reid were both surprised by her response.
"Well I'm not, so don't waste your sympathy." she snapped. "Miserable man he was. I'm glad he's gone. The last few years were horrible!"
"How was that?"
"He totally changed. He became snappy and unpleasant. Nothing was ever right for him. I would have probably killed him myself if he hadn't had the crash. Right up until the last month or so. He got a little better then. But the damage was done. Good riddance is what I say."
When Prentiss left, they didn't speak until they were in the car and driving away.
"And she accused him of being miserable!" said Reid.
Emily laughed. "Sounds like they deserved each other!" she said.
"It was interesting though, that she said he changed in the last month." said Reid. "That could be significant."
They had arranged to meet Hotch at the hospital. There were four consultants to see, and Hotch didn't know how long each would take. They met him in the dining room. They bought sandwiches and coffee and joined him at a table.
"Well, we've had an interesting time." said Emily. "Seems that she's not exactly upset about losing her husband."
"She said he had been miserable and difficult for quite a few years, up until a few weeks ago, when he 'got a little better'." Reid said. "She even said she would probably have killed him herself had he not had the accident!"
"Did she indeed?" said Hotch, clearly interested.
"Are there any more Consultants to see?" asked Emily.
"I've managed to see three of the four." said Hotch. "The fourth isn't in until two." He glanced at his watch. "Half an hour."
They all three jumped, as a bell began clanging. Someone in a security uniform ran into the room.
"That is the fire bell." he announced. "If you would please leave in an orderly fashion, everyone will be ok."
Hotch went to the man and showed him his ID. "We will help you clear the room, if you wish."
The man nodded briefly, and began to round up the people. One of the diners, a visitor, was in a panic. Emily went to her, and gently led her out.
Reid and Hotch helped the security guard to clear the room. The clanging was giving Aaron a headache.
Itchy back, headache, arms hurting...maybe I shouldn't be at work yet.
As the two agents followed the group down the stairs and into a corridor, some others joined them, including several nurses with patients. Smoke started to filter along the ceiling. Hotch began to cough. He was still bruised and sore from being hit across the throat.
As they passed a door at the end of the corridor, next to the exit, Reid stopped.
"I heard a door slam through there." he said to Hotch.
"Do you think there's someone in there?" Hotch said, his eyes now watering.
"There could be. Should we check?"
Hotch caught the attention of one of the nurses.
"What's through there?" He was coughing harshly now. He really needed to get some fresh air. He seemed to be the only one affected yet.
"That leads to the basement. No-one works down there." She rushed off, leading her patient outside into the fresh air. Hotch watched her wistfully.
"Reid, you and I will check it out. If there is someone down there, they may not have heard the alarm."
Hand over his mouth and nose, he opened the door. He started down the concrete stairs into the basement with Reid following. There was no smoke down here, and Hotch's coughing began to ease. Reid put his hand on Aaron's shoulder.
"Are you ok, Aaron?"
Before he could answer, something exploded. The door behind them blew inwards with a burst of flame and threw the two men down the rest of the steps into the basement. Concrete and debris rained down on the two men, as they came to a stop against a metal construct bolted to the floor. As the dust settled, neither man moved.