"HOTCH! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

"AARON! SOMEONE CALL 9-1-1!"

The rest of the team gathered around their now unconscious BAU unit chief. He was breathing but wasn't responding. The team had been working a case in their hometown of Quantico. He'd been chasing an unsub and had been hit by a car. He'd been thrown clear but knocked unconscious. His leg was also clearly badly broken from where the car had hit him.

"PARAMEDICS ARE HERE GUYS!"

Two paramedics ran over with equipment and bags.

"What do we have guys?"

"This is Agent Aaron Hotchner, FBI and our Unit Chief. He was chasing a suspect and got hit by a car. He was thrown clear but knocked unconscious. He hasn't regained consciousness for the last 5 minutes. He's also got a badly broken right leg."

"AGENT HOTCHNER? CAN YOU HEAR ME?" One of the paramedics, holding an oxygen mask over is face, tried calling to Aaron but he didn't respond. Whilst the other got an I.V line going and quickly assessed their patient

"Okay let's get his leg in a splint then get him on the backboard Tom! Has he got family agents?"

"A son, a brother and a sister in law. But he's a single dad to a 10 year old boy. Help him please!"

"We'll do what we can. Let's just get him to hospital, see what the docs say. One of you guys wanna come with us? The rest of you will have to follow."

"Where you taking him?"

"Trinity? It's the closest. Only 10 minutes away."

"Dave you got medical power of attorney, you go with him, I'll go with the rest of the guys. Meet you there." BAU Section Chief Matt Cruz, who'd been with his BAU team on the case turned to Dave.

"Sure Matt. Meet you guys there but thanks."

The team helped load Aaron, still unconscious and unresponsive and on a backboard, onto the gurney in the ambulance. Dave climbed in as Matt and Morgan closed the doors and the ambulance sped towards the hospital and the others rushed to get into the SUV's and quickly follow the ambulance.

In the back of the speeding ambulance, as one paramedic monitored Aaron and made sure his patient stayed alive. He monitored and watched over his patient, he couldn't do much more as Aaron stayed unconscious and unresponsive. Dave could only sit there and watch in shock as Aaron, his oldest friend, BAU team member and leader and the guy he'd known for years. lay there unconscious with a badly broken leg. Dave was really worried as Aaron hadn't woken up or responded.

Very soon the ambulance sped to a halt and the doors were pulled open where 2 doctors and 2 nurses were standing by.

"Welcome to Trinity General. What do we have Tom?"

"This is FBI Agent Aaron Hotchner, 50, single dad, he was hit by a car, thrown clear but knocked unconscious and has a badly broken right leg. He's breathing and has a good heartbeat but he hasn't responded to anyone's calls. The rest of his team are right behind us."

"Hi, I'm Dr White. Are you family?"

"No, not exactly. I'm part of his BAU team but I'm his oldest friend, Agent David Rossi, I have medical power of attorney for Aaron and can sign anything and can make medical decisions on his behalf."

"Great, cuts through red tape. Let's get him inside guys. How are his vitals Tom?"

"BP is steady at…." The paramedic rolled off all of Aaron's vital signs as the doctors, nurses, paramedics and Dave rushed to get him inside.

"Call radiology, we'll need a CAT scan, an MRI too maybe, definitely a CT of the right leg. Get orthopaedics here to assess…." They got him into one of the trauma rooms.

"Okay let's get these clothes off and start assessing. Agent Rossi, as you know best, would you take his guns off and hold onto them?"

"Sure, but his back up is on his right ankle…"

Dave took Aaron's main gun from Aaron's right hip and carefully managed to take off his side gun from his broken right leg.

"Okay let's get these clothes off so we can assess him….is there anything we should know about Agent Hotchner Agent Rossi? Any allergies, any history, any medical conditions, any prior problems?"

"No. He was stabbed by a serial killer about 6 years ago. About 18 months ago, he collapsed with internal bleeding due to the stab wounds and the scar tissue. He was rushed here and operated on. He pulled through, recovered and he's had no problems since. Been real healthy."

"He was bought here and operated on here?"

"Yeah, but you'd best talk to the head surgeon, a Dr Winters, who treated and operated on him."

"Tina, page Dr Winters. Get his files down from records. If he's been treated here before they'll be there."

"Yes doctor."

"Radiology can take him in 10 minutes doctor."

"Great! Okay, cut those pants off. and get a catheter in him. Agent Rossi, as you have medical power of attorney, I need you to sign this consent for treatment for Agent Hotchner and possible surgery."

"Sure, do anything he needs. He's got full coverage. Got top notch FBI health insurance. Pay for anything. But just do anything you can. He's a single dad to a great 10 year old son who lost his mom 6 years ago to the same serial killer who stabbed Aaron. Jack's already lost his mom, he can't lose his dad too."

"Jack? Hotchner? I thought the surname sounded familiar. Hasn't Jack got an aunt who helps take care of him? A Jessica Brooks? Paediatric nurse here?"

"Yeah, Jess, in fact I need to call her…."

"We'll page her, tell her, her brother in law is here. Is his son okay?" The nurse recognised the surname and put two and two together.

"Yeah, Jack's in school at the moment so he's fine. We were working a case and Aaron here was chasing the unsub who was bought down only moments later by a police dog but Aaron was hit by a car, thrown clear but broke his leg and was knocked unconscious. He's got a brother too, Sean, who lives and works in New York."

"Ann, page Nurse Brooks. AGENT HOTCHNER, CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Aaron still didn't respond "If you can hear me, squeeze my hand…" Aaron lay motionless as the doctor assessed him all over.

"What do we have guys?" Two surgeons came in.

"This is FBI Agent Aaron Hotchner. Hit by a car whilst chasing a suspect. Thrown clear but knocked unconscious and badly broken his right leg. May need surgery. We'll get a CT of his leg after his CAT scan."

The 2 surgeons quickly got down to looking at and assessing Aaron's broken right leg. With his pants off, his leg did look worse than it had done to Dave.

"From the looks of it, he's got 2 breaks but both look clean. I reckon if we pin it, set it right, it should heal on it's own. Don't you agree Dr Peters?"

"Yeah, breaks look clean. We'll operate to pin it and set his leg and put a good cast on but he looks lucky. Breaks look clean and bones look like they'll come together nicely. We'll book him in for surgery once he's had his scans and you've finished assessing his brain injury and coma scale Dr White."

"Fine with me."

Aaron lay motionless and unresponsive to everything and, although he was still breathing on his own and had a strong heartbeat, he was clearly in a coma.

"Radiology is ready for him doctor…"

"Let's go. We can't wait. We'll bring him right back here Agent Rossi. Scans might take up to about a half hour."

"Sure, no problem."

"Oh, we had to empty his pockets. We put his wallet, cell phone, keys, credentials, handcuffs, all in here with his shoes. Had to cut his clothes off I'm afraid."

"Sure, no problem. I'll make sure these stay safe along with the guns."

"Agent Rossi? There are several FBI agents crowded in the waiting room demanding answers on Agent Hotchner. Could you possibly come and calm your friends down? They have guns and are scaring us…."

"Sure, I'm coming…"

"Dave? Oh my god! Aaron? Dave what happened? I was paged, told Aaron was here. But what in the world happened to him this time? Is he unconscious? And what happened to his leg?" Jess appeared and hurried to where Dave was next to Aaron as he stood by his friend's bedside as the staff hurriedly prepared their patient for transport and the scanner.

"Hey Jess. Aaron was chasing an unsub but got hit by a car. He was thrown clear, but the car broke his right leg badly and he was knocked unconscious. He's breathing and he's got a strong heartbeat but he hasn't responded to anyone. I'm so sorry I let this happen Jess."

"You can't stop or help Aaron being hurt Dave. It's part of the job. Is he in a coma Dr White?"

"We think so Jess. He's not responding. We're taking him for a CAT scan of his brain and a CT of his leg. He's gonna have surgery to pin and set the leg but orthopaedics say it should heal okay on it's own after that. At the moment he's only scoring 4 on the Glasgow coma scale. He's responding to painful stimuli but not to verbal commands, not to much else. He hasn't opened his eyes or responded to any verbal commands as of yet but he's breathing on his own and he's kept a strong heartbeat and blood pressure so it could be his body's way of responding, you know Jess, it's very early days so it's basically a case of wait and see but we have to get up to radiology right now for the scans. You wanna come with him or stay here?"

"I'll come with him. Aaron? It's me Jess! Come on bro! You gotta wake up! Jack needs you! I know your only pretending to be asleep so please wake up?"

Aaron still didn't respond

"If you don't I'll have to tell everyone about your drunken days in college…"

Aaron didn't respond as Jess helped quickly wheel him out of the room.

"Thanks Dave, and we'll be back soon. Come on Aaron, wake up! Please?" Jess held his hand as she helped wheel Aaron towards the elevator. Dave watched them with a heavy heart before heading towards the waiting area.

"Come on man, you gotta let us see him! We're FBI!"

"I don't care Agent Morgan. We've told you what we can. Agent Hotchner is still being assessed. I'm sorry but I can't tell you any more."

"Morgan calm down will you?" Dave walked up to the guy.

"Dave? How is he?"

"Spencer you'd know the Glasgow coma scale wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, it's for assessing patients in comas. The higher the score the better the patient."

"He's got a score of 4 at the moment. He's not opened his eyes, he doesn't respond to verbal commands, even from Jess, who's gone up to radiology with him, he has had some response to painful stimuli but that's all. But he's breathing strong on his own, got a good strong heartbeat and blood pressure. His leg is broken guys. In 2 places but the surgeons say their clean breaks and will operate to pin and set his leg but that it should heal okay. He's gone up for a CAT scan on his brain and a CT on his leg."

"But why hasn't he woken up or responded Dave?"

"They don't know. Doc said it could just be his body's way of responding but he's in a coma right now and lying there unresponsive."

"Will he wake up Rossi?"

"I don't know Kate, hope so but doc said it was a case of wait and see. He's in the best hands guys, all we can do is wait. Hey Kate, isn't Chris off today?"

"Yeah."

"Can you get him to pick both the boys up with Meg, take them back to your house for a while? We'll have to figure stuff out for Jack. But at least he can go home after school with Meg and Henry and Chris for a while?"

"Sure, no problem. I'll text him now. You gonna call his brother?"

"I'll wait and see what the scans say first Kate, I can call him later. He's in New York anyway and can't do anything. A couple more hours won't hurt…I'm gonna head up to radiology, see if I can't be with Jess and Aaron. You guys stay calm down here?"

"Sure, come on Morgan, buy you a cup of coffee…."

"Fine Matt. Rossi man he'd better be okay. He's Hotch!"

"I know Morgan. I want him to be okay too. Oh J.J, hold onto theses? His guns, all his FBI stuff. In fact, Morgan, hold onto my guns and stuff for me? Dave handed J.J Aaron's belongings bag and then quickly handed Morgan his guns, handcuffs, keys, credentials.

"Sure Rossi."

Back soon guys. Er what floor is radiology on?"

"7th Agent Rossi. Elevator is just there. I'll call ahead, tell them you're going up to be with Agent Hotchner."

"Thanks. Back soon guys."

Dave headed into the elevator and up to the 7th floor.

"Agent Rossi? Nurse Black called ahead. Agent Hotchner is in the CAT scan there. Jess is there right outside. If you wanna go in with Agent Hotchner, there's no metal in the room."

"That's okay, I'll stand with Jess. But thanks."

Dave went over to where Jess was standing really worried and watching through the clear glass as Aaron lay in the scanner. Dave pulled her onto his shoulder for comfort.

"Dave he can't die! He just can't! It's Aaron! Jack's lost his mom, he can't lose his dad too! It would kill him and he's only a little boy…"

"He'll be okay Jess. I reckon you were right downstairs…"

"About what?"

"Him pretending to be asleep?" Dave hoped joking would help Jess cheer up a little and comfort her and it seem to work and she did smile.

"Yeah? But you know how stubborn Aaron can be?"

"Don't I ever Jess? But he'll be okay. You'll see. Just give the guy time. It's not even been an hour since he was injured. He pulled back and recovered from that major internal bleeding and major abdominal surgery. He lived to tell the tale and survived a serial killer not twice but three times, he's been in worse than this Jess. Aaron's tough, he'll pull through. He's killed 3 unsubs with his bare hands, one of the being the serial killer no one else could stop. He won the fight against Foyet, killed the guy with only his bare hands and that was after surviving a major stabbing attack from the guy. Foyet returned from the grave but Aaron beat him again. He's never let anything beat him. He won't let this beat him, that's for sure. I'm sure of it."

"But what if he never wakes up Dave?"

"He'll wake up Jess, just give the guy time."

"I really hope your right Dave….."

"So do I Jess…so do I but all we can do is hope and wait and see…"