Welcome to my first ever Criminal Minds fanfiction!

Two days ago I had this very vivid dream about Hotch. (Lucky me, I know.) I woke up, sat down to my laptop and wrote this story in two days. I hope you'll like reading it as much as I liked writing it.

The story is set in season 4 before The Reaper. Hotch and Haley are divorced and Hotch is ready to move on.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story and Joy Dalton's character.

Visit my profile page to view the book cover I designed for this story.

Have fun reading!

When Special Agent Derek Morgan entered the profilers' conference room, the members of the team had already been sitting at the round table. JJ stood in front of the whiteboard, ready to share the details of a new case with the team. Numerous photos of brutally murdered people were scattered on the table. "Just another ordinary day at the BAU," Derek Morgan thought to himself, and looked around to greet his colleagues.

"Wait," he said, frowning. "Where is Hotch?"

Prentiss and Garcia exchanged a meaningful look, JJ turned her attention to the whiteboard, and Ried, in his own awkward way, pretended to be busily reading a police file. Realizing that he probably wouldn't get an answer from them, Morgan turned to Rossi.

"Is he at the hospital again?" he asked, not even trying to hide his annoyance.

Rossi looked straight into his eyes and spoke in a calm voice, devoid of emotion.

"Hotch told me to start the briefing without him."

Morgan grimaced and sat down between Garcia and Prentiss.

"Am I the only one who thinks that Hotch's behavior has been a bit unprofessional lately?"

"He just needs some time," Prentiss said quietly, without looking at Morgan.

"Time? For God's sake, it's Hotch we are talking about. He is the boss. Don't you think that he should at least attend the briefings? Ever since we saved that girl..."

"He saved that girl," Rossi said.

"Okay, he saved that girl. But that doesn't mean he is responsible for her. He is the one who always preaches about how important it is to not get emotionally attached to the victims," Morgan said, expecting his colleagues' approval, but they didn't seem willing to respond. "Do you think it's normal to sit at the hospital bed of a victim all the time? Don't you think it's attachment?"

"I would like to remind you that the case isn't closed yet. We still didn't find the kidnapper. And Hotch wants to be there when she comes round," Rossi said.

Morgan sighed. "All I say is that Hotch pays way too much attention to the victim."

"Hotch not only saved her." Ried joined the conversation much to everyone's surprise. "He had to keep her alive for three days. He could only do it by getting close to her. They formed a bond. It's natural that he feels responsible for her."

"Look, Morgan", Prentiss said, "I know that you're worried about Hotch. But even if he's become emotionally attached to her, he knows how to deal with it. He is professional."

"Yeah," Morgan said. "He might be professional, but he isn't always as tough as he seems."

(-)

"Look, that's the guy I was talking about," hospital nurse, Betty Palmer whispered to her colleague, gesturing toward a tall dark man, who stood in front of the coffee machine. The two women were sitting behind the reception desk of the intensive care unit. As always they were hungry for gossip and right now this attractive mysterious stranger proved to be the most interesting thing in the whole hospital.

"You were right," the other nurse said. "He is gorgeous."

The man, looking powerful in his dark grey suit, had drunk his coffee, and now was walking in their direction. As he passed by the reception desk, the two nurses gave him a provocative smile, but he continued his way without noticing them.

"Yes, he is." Betty sighed. "Unfortunately, he doesn't care about anyone but that girl. You know the one in room 1A."

"Oh, yes, she's another mystery. Why is a police officer in front of her door? What could have happened to her?"

"I have no idea. It's confidential, I guess. They never tell us anything important. But she is one lucky girl because Mr. Hottie here is watching her almost all the time."

"Do you think he's her husband?"

"I hope he isn't. Because in that case I might have a chance with him," Betty said and took out a pocket mirror from the drawer to check her makeup.

"You wish," the other nurse said, and they both burst out into laughter.

Special Agent Aaron Hotchner had no idea that his identity and relationship with the patient of room 1A were subject to gossip among the hospital staff. Hotch stood next to the bed and watched the girl, who, despite of Betty Palmer's assumption, was not a lucky one. Under numerous bruises, wounds and scars lay unconscious Joy Dalton, a beautiful girl who once had an incredible zest for life. At least this is what others told about her, because when Hotch first talked to her she was only a terrified human being, broken into pieces, desperately needing his help. Joy Dalton was raped, beaten almost to death and locked up in a dark place along with her dead brother.

Hotch noticed that the bruises on her face were less bad than they had been yesterday. "A young and healthy body recovers surprisingly easily," he thought to himself, "most of the injuries will vanish as if they had never even existed." But the brain and the heart were different. They would never forget; Hotch knew that better than anybody.

He pulled a chair over to the side of the bed and sat down. The girl's ivory skin seemed almost translucent as he gently took her hand into his. He leaned forward and spoke in a quiet, gentle voice.

"Joy? It's Aaron. I'm still here. I'm with you. You need to wake up and tell me who did this to you. You can do this, I know."

Any thoughts?