Post Revelations

By Iceprince1

He'd seen Reid take the vials and didn't say anything. He looked to see if Gideon was going to say something. Anything.

Stepping back to Reid he supported him to where the ambulance waited. "You okay?" he asked again and again. Getting a tight nod from Reid. And once a small smile.

"You aren't a narcissist. You're the last person who'd be called that." Reid seemed to be encouraging or absolving, Hotch frowned and nodded.

"I know, I know what you meant. Reid don't ever do that again, what if I hadn't gotten it?"

"I knew you would. You're our logic minder Hotch. "

Hotch helped the younger man into the ambulance. He felt empty, completely used up. He scrubbed at his forehead trying to get his mind working. The sick feeling that had started in the farmhouse seemed to increase by the moment.

He walked over to the side of the SUV he'd driven to the scene, then he worked at not vomiting. He was bent in two. His gut in violent revolt.

Morgan stood by him a few moments in. Morgan's strong hand on his shoulder.

He looked up from his near doubled over posture. "Thanks for not saying it's going to be okay."

Morgan nodded and helped him to right himself. Holding on to both Hotch's shoulders, staring into his eyes, trying to gauge where he was in reaction.

"I'm okay." Hotch mumbled.

"Hotch listen to me, it's okay, whatever you're feeling it's okay."

"It was a long time ago."

Morgan held Hotch's shoulders, made eye contact, lifted his chin.

"My father."

"Your father was a bully?"

Hotch would have shrugged but he was engulfed in Morgan's hands.

"Yes, he, he wanted me to be perfect."

"He beat you." Derek had already figured that out from his boss's reaction to cases. Abused kids always made Hotch seethe.

"I tried Morgan. Oh fuck Derek, I really tried."

"Take it easy Hotch. Just ease up."

Hotch blinked against burning eyes, swallowed hard and nodded.

"You'll know how to help Spencer when the time comes."

"I don't think I can. He doesn't trust me like he does Gideon."

"Hotch, listen, when it came down to it, it wasn't Gideon's profiling skills that Spencer trusted. It was yours, you're the guy who gets all the information and then can fill in the blanks, the guy who knows and understands a kid genius."

Reaching for Morgan, he held the man close. "Thank you."

"Any time."

Rubbing his eyes he pulled himself into the SUV, turned on the engine, forgot the vials until Reid showed up for a meeting late two weeks later.