A KIND OF WILD JUSTICE
At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst. - Aristotle
Chapter 1
It was coming towards the end of the last shift. Sean had hoped by now he would have progressed a little more working here, but the competition was tough. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to be a top chef. Sean was convinced that he did have what it takes, and would make it in the end.
He looked round the kitchen. Everybody else had gone home, except the boss, who was still in the office ordering for the next week.
The kitchen was clean and ready for the morning.
It was tough going, but he was learning from the best, and he loved New York. He still didn't regret not going to Georgetown.
He took the net off his hair. He was glad Aaron couldn't see it. He hadn't had it cut since thanksgiving…….two years ago!
He smiled to himself as he changed out of his work clothes and into his jeans and leather jacket.
That's another thing Aaron wouldn't approve of.
Still grinning, he took his helmet off the top of the locker and went out to his bike.
It had been raining, and the roads were shiny, the street lights reflecting the city.
Yes. He wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
His bike was parked in the corner behind his boss's car.
As he crossed the car park, he thought he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He stopped and looked around, but he saw nothing. He went behind the car, this time he did see something.
As he turned around, he was just in time to see the tyre iron as it swung towards him.
He put his hands up in defense, but not quickly enough.
The iron caught him on the side of the head and he went down.
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Aaron looked down at the pile of mail on his desk. Getting back to work had been good for him, but he wasn't sure about Reid. He seemed to have lost his confidence in himself. It had taken a few years to build it up, and now he was back at the beginning again. He didn't want to suggest a holiday, after the last fiasco. He was just going to have to keep a watchful eye on him.
After their recovery in hospital, Aaron and Spencer were questioned extensively about the men who held them in Gideon's cabin. But they could remember so little. They had both been traumatized by the whole thing.
There was no evidence left at the scene. The local PD had done their best, but now, months later, the investigation had been de-prioritised, and although it was still an open investigation, the lack of evidence had brought them up to a dead end. And with no more leads, the manpower was needed elsewhere.
Two FBI agents held hostage and beaten, and it looked as if they might get away with it. Aaron got angry when he thought about it, but the investigation was not his, and he had to sit back and wait for the PD to do their job. But it was frustrating.
He pushed it to the back of his mind, and concentrated on what he could do.
Look after Spence.
At least three times a week they ate their evening meal together. Sometimes at Aaron's house, sometimes at Reid's. It wasn't much, but Aaron hoped it would help. He watched his team through the window. Morgan still walked with a limp, and Aaron knew it bothered him immensely, not having the 'perfect' physique that he prided himself on. Vanity, thought Aaron, shaking his head. Everything is vanity.
He suspected there was a new dimension to the relationship between Reid and Garcia. Reid had not spoken about it to him, but the little looks and smiles told the profiler more than words ever could.
When he was ready, Aaron was sure Reid would tell him. No need to push.
He called Reid up to his office, and started to go through his mail.
The third one down was from Sean. He knew that handwriting anywhere.
Puzzled, he opened the envelope and tipped the contents onto his desk.
He was still staring at the contents when Reid came in.
Spencer stood at the door, not wanting to intrude. Aaron looked up at him.
"It's ok, Reid. Come in."
Aaron put the envelope on top of what was on his desk, but he could see from Spencer's face that it was too late and he had already seen it.
Aaron sighed, head in his hands.
"It's Sean."
"Your brother? Is he all right?"
Aaron moved the envelope so that Spencer could see.
A lock of blond bloodstained hair taped to a printed letter. Reid moved around the desk so that he could read it.
'we have your brother hotchner and you will pay for his release you will deposit $500,000 in used mixed notes in 3rd garbage can on 326th street manhatten at 0100hrs on November 12th no feds no police come alone or the next letter you get will contain something more personal wait in street for contact and we will return your brother disobey and he dies'
"You just got this?" Reid asked. Aaron nodded.
"I'll get the others."
"No!" said Aaron. "I'm doing this alone. It's my brother. I will not endanger anyone else."
Reid picked up the letter with a tissue. "Doesn't tell us much, not New Yorker, because they've spelt 'Manhattan' wrong." said Reid. "$500,000 isn't a lot to ask for these days."
"I agree." said Aaron. "Maybe they have another agenda. It's printed on a standard computer printer, impossible to trace."
"Can you get the money?"
"Yes, that's not a problem. I've got to take them the money on the third, that's two days. I'll tell the others it's family business."
"I'm coming with you."
"No you're…."
"I am, Aaron. You can't do this alone."
Aaron gave Reid a grateful look, picked up his phone and called his bank.
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Aaron told the team he was going to be away on family business for a couple of days, but he would be back on the third. They were a bit surprised that Reid was going with him, but no-one said anything. Garcia tried to get him to spill by cornering him in the corridor, but Reid wouldn't tell.
"Maybe when I get back."
She leaned over and pecked him on the lips. "Ok, Sweet Cheeks, I won't forget!"
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Aaron took Spencer back to his to pick up some fresh clothes, then they went back to Aaron's.
"I'm picking the money up from the bank in the morning. After that, we'll drive straight to Manhattan."
Neither Aaron nor Spence went to bed that night. Neither could have slept even if they had. They sat up together talking, sitting together on the couch, Aaron with his arm around Spence. Eventually, Spencer fell asleep with his head on Aaron's shoulder. He slept fitfully for an hour, and Aaron held him close.
He thought over the past year, when so much had happened to Spencer. The pains he had suffered, the emotional turmoil he had been through. There were times when Aaron thought Spence had broken; when he was violated by Cross, when Brady died, when he thought that Aaron himself had died. But each time his almost child like resilience pulled him through.
Aaron was worried that Spencer had insisted on coming with him, but he also knew that he would not have let Aaron leave him behind.
Aaron looked down at Spencer asleep. The rush of love he felt had nothing to do with sexuality. It was a deeper, more profound love that he had not felt for anyone else. Not for Haley, not even for Jack.
He knew this was special, and sitting there with him on that night, he delighted in it.