Agent Aaron Hotchner couldn't believe what had just happened. How had he missed him? It should have been relatively simple; they had tracked Jonathon Keaton who had been killing authority figures for the last month from his car and had his home surrounded. He had been hiding in the roof waiting for them, and Hotch had missed him with the cursory glance he had sent that way after focusing on the windows and grounds instead. Then he had cleared the team to go in... big mistake. The moment Agents Morgan, Prentiss and Fuller had moved into range the Keaton opened fire and chaos ensued.
Hotch ran in to cover Prentiss as they took refuge behind the Red Chevrolet Camaro that had led them here to begin with. In the wide open, Morgan and Fuller had no cover available and as Morgan positioned himself swiftly in front of Fuller to take a shot – perfect aim, straight through the heart – Fuller hit the ground. It seemed almost slow motion to the rest of the agents as their back-up moved past them to reach Keaton's body, and Morgan screamed the words they always dread – 'Agent down! We need a medic over here! Agent down!' Horror stricken, Prentiss and Hotch raced from their shelter to Fuller's side – lying in a rapidly forming puddle of blood, Fuller was barely conscious whispering 'sorry' over and over again. Morgan sat next to her cradling her head, smoothing her hair gently and telling her it would be ok and it wasn't her fault in a strained voice.
Hotch looked on with haunted eyes as the medics arrived and worked to stem the blood flow before loading her into the ambulance and leaving for the hospital with Morgan holding her hand the whole time, refusing to let go. 'This is my fault' thought Hotch. 'I gave clearance, and now... there had been so much blood...she had only been working with them for a year, she was still so young and fresh...how could I have missed him!' He winced as the image of his agent lying on the ground pushed its way to the forefront of his mind, it was all he could see for a moment. He was jolted back to reality as the thought that he had to go and tell the rest of the team hit him. Had to tell them why it had happened... 'Because of me, my stupid mistake.' Hotch jumped slightly as Prentiss put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
'I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. It isn't your fault. None of us saw him there, you weren't the only one checking the area, you know that. He fooled us all, Fuller was unlucky... very unlucky...' She trailed off slightly and shook her head, a distant look in her eyes as her thoughts went to her young friend.
'But I gave the clearance Em, it was my call and –'
'And nothing.' Prentiss interrupted before continuing in a softer tone 'Don't do this to yourself. You'll see, give it a bit of time and Fuller will be the one telling you this. She's strong Aaron, you know she is, she'll make it just fine and be back before you know it.'
Prentiss squeezed his shoulder slightly before moving away towards the cars. 'Come on, we have to tell the others and get down to the hospital, I'll take Morgan's car back and meet you there.' She looked back questioningly as she reached the SUV when she heard him groan.
'Reid's going to kill me'
Prentiss laughed briefly 'Well, I can't really argue with that, he probably will. Now come on, he'll want to be there as soon as and he'll only want to kill you more if you delay it.' She finished with a wink and a laugh.
With a sigh Hotch joined Prentiss by the cars and drove back the local PD where his agents were waiting for news. 'Here goes nothing...'