A/N 1: This story is a challenge I gave myself: to tell a case fic without any narrative or descriptions, only words that Hotch thinks and hears (well, plus a couple of noises here and there, marked with * *). It's 100% from Hotch's point of view. However, his thoughts are not as clear as they would normally be. You'll found out why, soon. For the reader, it's a bit like being blind, but hopefully, not too boring. I'm asking you to step in his shoes. It may be a bit confusing, but that's also done on purpose. Clarity comes later.
His thoughts are in italics, his spoken words in double quotes, the rest should be obvious. I recommend reading the text not too fast, at the pace of your normal thought processes and the dialogues on the show.
Warning: Some cursing in all the chapters. Hotch is not censoring his thoughts, obviously, but I tried not to overdo it.
A/N 2: Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, nor its characters. They were borrowed simply for entertainment purposes, without any hope of financial gain. They are the property of CBS, etc.
CHAPTER 1 – The Long Walk
Keep going.
...
Keep going.
There are more lights here!
...
There's got to be somebody around.
Or a phone.
...
No! Straight ahead! Don't look down!
...
Can't fall again...
...
I need to stride.
I'm barely moving!
...
Must be getting close to midnight?
Maybe later?
...
Tired...
Don't stop, not yet.
Getting close.
...
I hear noises... No, a voice!
Stop—slowly!
Who's talking?
MAN'S VOICE: ... buddy? Everything okay, there?
Where is he...? Whoa! I can't turn too fast!
A policeman! My luck is changing!
POLICEMAN'S VOICE: Hey, careful there! Hang on! Hang on. Had a bit too much to drink, pal?
2ND POLICEMAN: I don't think he's drunk, Cam.
1ST POLICEMAN: Well, he can barely stand on—huff! I knew it. Easy, there! You're heavier than you look!... Huh! That's blood—Hey, does he look familiar to you? What's your name, sir?
"...Hoshh—"
*cough*
I can't speak? My mouth's too dry.
*throat clearing*
2ND POLICEMAN: Yeah, I've seen his face—I know! He's the agent that went missing at the shooting this morning! What's his name...?
1st POLICEMAN: Hotchner! You're right!... Stay down, sir! Don't move, you're injured... Give me some water for him, Ted, will you? And call it in! Tell them to send an ambulance!
"... Help—help them..."
1st POLICEMAN: Who? Help who, agent?
"..."
1st POLICEMAN: Stay with me! Stay with me!
...
...
Damn! My head! What happened?
It feels like I'm floating on a boat—
...
What's this place?
This isn't—
It sounds like an ER.
Can't open my eyes...
...
Someone's approaching.
Are they speaking?
Maybe... later...
...
...
Who's here?
MORGAN'S VOICE (on speakerphone): ... we were able to follow the blood trail for about a mile into the industrial park, a straight line going north along Abbott's street, but there's less and less, so not enough to keep going, even with the glow-in-the-dark stuff. Garcia, can you map our position and get the names of the companies north of here?
GARCIA'S VOICE (on speakerphone): I've already mapped the area where you are and I'll have a list for you in a few minutes.
REID: Crime scene collected the dust and debris from Hotch's hair and clothes; it didn't look like your typical dirt. They're trying to identify it. We might be able to know where he's been.
ROSSI: Okay, I know it's getting late, but Morgan and Prentiss, I'd like you to continue to canvass the area a while longer, see if you can find any more signs of where he's been. I also called JJ to let her know we've found Hotch, but told her to stay home, for now. Reid and I will take the first shift here; we'll need her well-rested, in the morning.
This isn't my bed.
Dave, Reid.
Where are we?
MORGAN (on speakerphone): There's not much she could do to help us either, at this point. We'll keep looking, but it's pretty dark out here, hard to see, many street lights are burned... but we'll try.
The team is on a case.
What happened?
MAN'S VOICE: I'm back!
ROSSI: The doctor's here; we'll call you back!
GARCIA (on speakerphone): Please do!
ROSSI: Yes, doctor.
A hospital?
DOCTOR: Okay, agents, I'll have the body scan results later, but so far, there doesn't seem to be any internal injuries. His head scan does show that he has suffered a double concussion. First, a hit on the side of the head, then, a few hours later, on the back.
REID: We have already determined that a blunt object caused the wound on his right side, and we think he hit the ground at the back of his head.
DOCTOR: I think so, too. I think he fell from a height and hit the ground on his back side. That would explain why his muscles are spastic all over the body, especially in the back and neck, and his clothes and scalp were embedded with little pieces—
REID: We know. We sent some samples to our Crime Scene unit.
"..."
I can hardly move! The pain...
DOCTOR: I think he's waking up! Agent Hotchner? Can you hear me?
Yes.
ROSSI: Aaron?
DOCTOR: Keep your eyes open. Good. Hello again...
I'm trying... 'Hello again'? I don't remember meeting him! What happened?
"What... happened?"
Is that my voice?
It's hard to speak.
So dizzy...
ROSSI: We were hoping you'd tell us.
DOCTOR: What is the last thing you remember?
I don't know. I was trying to remember something...
This headache is killing me.
Concussion? He said two...
Is there one spot in my body that doesn't hurt? Even my feet—
ROSSI: Aaron? Can you hear us?
Yeah, but you're blurry...
"Yes."
DOCTOR: Aaron? I examined you earlier. My name is Dr. Sturm. Do you remember?
I think I'm going to be sick...
I remember something.
"The battery—it's dead—"
REID: Yes, your cell phone. We found it, the battery was dead. You left it in your car, this morning. You were on your way to work, remember?
Jack was playing on the floor last night, under the table—I didn't realize my charger got unplugged until this morning.
ROSSI: What else do you remember?
"What happened?"
DOCTOR: You have suffered head injuries; you will be a bit confused for a while, maybe dizzy, nauseous...
Definitely nauseous.
I wanted to call Garcia. A license plate—
"V-1-7-5-1...3...8."
DOCTOR: What's that?
REID: The license plate on a van.
ROSSI: We found the van, Aaron, and its driver. We also found your car, with your cell; they were nearby. Do you remember what happened this morning?
"The boy..."
ROSSI: What boy? Aaron? 'The boy'?
My God. The boy.
REID: Are you talking about Jack?
ROSSI: Jack is with his aunt. I called Jessica to let her know you've reappeared. She's waiting for my call, once we know more about your condition.
"..."
ROSSI: Aaron?
...
Big fans of CM might recognize the license plate number, I took it from one of the episodes. Care to guess?