Warning – Noncon and violence
MIA - NEW BEGINNINGS
Chapter
2
First day
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." - Maria Robinson
At half past one the next afternoon Hotch and Reid were all ready. They had decided that at first, Reid would show people round, Hotch would run the little shop. They weren't getting paid, but the BAU were paying them their salary, started again with back pay when they were found alive. But they both felt it would be good to do something and keep active.
Hotch felt a little silly with dark glasses on but Reid made him promise not to take them off, and he had smiled and acquiesced. There was actually a little queue outside when Reid opened the doors at two.
Dave had signed a box of his books and they sold very quickly. The section on the birth of the profiling unit was very popular – it seemed everyone wanted to be a profiler these days. Hotch put it down to the proliferation on television shows like Criminal Minds, whetting peoples appetite for something new. A few people asked lots of questions, most seemed to think it was like some kind of magical art, challenging Hotch to tell them what colour socks they were wearing!
Reid was also bombarded with questions by one particular man who also wore dark glasses indoors. The guy creeped Reid out, and he was glad when he was gone. It felt as if he was being stalked by the man – every time he turned around, there he was. But just before closing time, the man had gone, and Reid was able to relax.
They were both glad when five thirty came and they were able to close the doors. It had been a successful afternoon, and they were both tired.
Hotch started to pack away the shop and Reid went round the rooms, checking that everyone had gone.
They were both going to sleep well tonight.
-0-0-0-
At one o'clock that same afternoon, JJ strapped Jack into the back of her car ready to take him back to California. The child had spent the night in her bed. He had started off in the spare room, but ended up being cuddled up to her. He was a sweet kid, and she could understand how broken Hotch was when Haley took him to the other side of the country. She really felt for him, and was glad that he had found a measure of peace with Emily.
As she stood up after checking his straps, she heard a sound behind her. Quickly she turned around in time to see the fist which knocked her senseless. As she slid down the car, a hand caught her hair and whacked her head on the door pillar, and knocked her out.
She was vaguely aware of being dragged out of the way of the car, and the sound Jack crying. She heard the car being driven off. But she couldn't do anything to stop it.
-0-0-0-
It was dark on the top floor. Reid switched the light on and glanced around the room. This room held documents back from the early days of the Bureau when Hoover was first in charge and he weeded out the corruption and nepotism that existed in proliferation back then. It was on the top floor because most people were not interested in that kind of thing. They wanted to see weapons and UnSubs. But when Reid switched on the light there was a man reading the exhibits. A man with dark glasses.
"Excuse me sir, but the museum is closed." He said nervously, his hand going to his belt where his gun used to hang. "Please make your way down stairs. We open again tomorrow at two pm." This guy was definitely creepy. Reid could feel his scalp tingle.
The man swung round to face Reid. "You don't recognise me, do you?" He had a gun in his hand that was pointing directly at Reid.
That was when it all slipped into place. He looked different; his hair was short and he had grown a beard. But the man took off his glasses and stared at Reid with his one eye, and Reid realised why he found the man so creepy.
"Lowe!" Reid breathed. "You can't hope to get away this time. This is Quantico. There are Feds everywhere!"
"I have been wandering round here all day, Reid, and I'm still here. Now shout down to the cripple to lock the doors."
"Hotch has gone home. I'm the only one here."
"You bloody liar!" Lowe shouted, taking a step closer. "Call to him!"
Reid backed away towards the stairs. Lowe followed. Reid turned around.
"Hotch! Get..."
Lowe smashed the butt of the gun into Reid's temple, and momentarily dazed, he fell forward down the stairs. He landed face down on the gallery floor and didn't move. Lowe ran to him, and checked him. He was alive, but out cold.
Good. Now to get the other one up here.
He ran past him down the next flight towards Hotch.
-0-0-0-
Hotch had just finished cashing up when he heard Reid call him. He wheeled the chair to the bottom of the stairs and called up to him.
"Hey! Spencer, are you ok?"
That was when he saw Lowe coming down the stairs towards him.
"I have come to kill you." He announced amiably. "Lock the doors. I don't want to be disturbed."
Hotch wheeled his chair back away from Lowe. "Where is Reid. What have you done to him?"
Hotch felt sick. Reid had shouted a warning to him; Lowe had a gun. Hotch reached for the keys under the counter, and moved to the doors. He felt the gun pressing into the back of his neck as he turned the key, cutting off any hope of rescue.
"Now what?" he asked, turning back to Lowe.
"I want you up stairs. Now."
Hotch wheeled himself to the lift and was about to press the call button. Lowe grabbed the chair and tipped it over. Hotch helplessly fell to the floor, winded, completely at this madman's mercy.
"I want to see you crawl, Hotchner. Get up those stairs."
Trying to catch his breath, he pulled himself across the cold tiled floor to the bottom of the stairs.
"What have you done to Reid?" he asked again. "Have you killed him?"
Lowe shot at the floor between Hotch's feet. Pieces of tile in the form of shrapnel flew through the air and cut into the cloth of Hotch's trousers "The next one will be between your eyes!" he raged. "Now get up those goddamned stairs!"
Slowly and painfully, Hotch began the climb, all the time Lowe stood behind him, taunting him, belittling him, laughing at him. When he had reached half way, Lowe went round to stand in front of him. Hotch looked up, expecting to be shot in the head. Instead, Lowe kicked him, and Hotch fell back onto the hard floor. He lay still where he had landed, breathing heavily. Lowe followed him down.
"You were taking too long." He said, nudging him with his foot. "Now get over to the elevator."
Hotch rolled onto his front and dragged himself painfully to the lift. The call button had been installed low down so that he could reach, but it was still too high. He bravely tried to force himself onto his knees, but there was no strength there, and he was shaking too much.
Lowe pressed the call button, and pulled Hotch's head back by his hair. Just for the hell of it, he smacked his face against the lift doors. Hotch's newly healed nose began to bleed, his glasses now broken and bloody, fell to the floor. Blood ran thickly over his lips and splashed down onto his white shirt and dark blue patterned tie. Hotch's eyes were watering, but he made no sound.
The lift arrived and the blood spattered door opened. Holding onto Hotch's tie, he pulled the dazed man into the lift after him, and pressed the button for the first floor. The door slid silently closed and began to move. Lowe looked down at the semi conscious man lying next to him. This was just too easy. There was no fight left in the man. Still, he had a surprise for him upstairs, and he could hardly wait to show him.
Lowe stopped the lift and dragged Hotch up so that their faces were level. "Your colleagues killed my cousins. Left a child without a Daddy. Your life and that of your effete friend are forfeit. This time there will be no last minute rescue. I will kill you both."
He swung Hotch around and threw him against the wall. He slid down to the floor with a soft sigh. Lowe started the lift again.
-0-0-0-
Reid heard the lift coming up to his floor, the sound pressing in on his unconscious.
Hotch! I have to warn him!
He tried to move but the pounding in his head was too loud and the tiniest movement felt like an explosion. He didn't move for a moment, trying to regain his senses. He knew he needed to warn Hotch, at the moment his lips wouldn't form the name.
He heard the lift doors opening, and he forced himself onto his hands and knees.
"Hotch?" he whispered. "Oh god no! Hotch!"
Lowe threw Hotch out of the lift onto the floor. Reid climbed to his feet.
Lowe aimed his gun, pressing it into Hotch's head. Reid heard the mechanical sound of the gun cocking.
"No! Don't kill him!" Reid shouted. "Please, no!"
"Get over here." The gun didn't waver. Reid crossed the room to him.
"Now I want you to kick him." Lowe said. "And make it good. I want to hear ribs break. I want to see blood."
"I-I c-can't do that. Please, d-don't make me d-do that!"
Lowe lifted Hotch so that he was kneeling, facing away from him. He held the gun at his head, execution style.
"Now do it, or he's dead."
Reid looked at his friend, and their eyes locked. Hotch nodded ever so slightly –
It's ok, do it!
- and Reid stepped forwards.
"Right choice." Lowe said, dropping him to the floor.
Reid drew his foot back and kicked Hotch. He made a small cry, which seemed to excite Lowe.
"Kick him harder!"
Reid stood back. "I can't do it." He said. Lowe levelled his gun and fired into Hotch's hand. Hotch cried out in pain and clutched his hand to his chest.
"Now do as you are told, fag!"
With tears in his eyes, Reid kicked the man he loved over and over. He stopped when Hotch doubled over and coughed blood onto the museum floor.
"Now rape him."
"No!"
"You did before and enjoyed it!"
A look of grief passed over Reid's face. Hotch looked up at him in shock.
"You ...raped me?"
"I made love to you, Aaron."
"You didn't tell him?" Lowe was delighted. "Oh man this is priceless!"
"You raped me ... I was unconscious?"
Reid knelt down next to Hotch. He took his face in his hands. "Aaron, I love you. It wasn't rape."
Hotch was trying to understand. "Why?"
"He was going to kill you if I didn't." Reid was devastated. "I was going to tell you, Aaron. I wanted to, I just couldn't"
Hotch turned away. "Oh god..."
He was crying. Reid couldn't stand it. "Aaron, please forgive me."
Hotch looked at him with tear filled eyes. "There is nothing to forgive, Spencer." He said.
Lowe dragged Reid away. "Now I want you to...erm how did you sanitise it? Ah yes! I want you to 'make love' to him."
He pushed Reid to the floor. "Now get on with it."
With trembling fingers, Reid began to remove his clothes. Lowe took a knife from his pocket and knelt by Hotch and cut his clothes from him, all the time holding the gun against his neck.
Reid knelt astride him, and made love to him, the gun trained on him all the time. His tears fell onto his back as he violated him for a second time. Hotch tried not to move, but it hurt and he cried out with each thrust.
When it was over, Reid pulled away and with his hands on his face wept bitterly.
"And now here is your surprise!"
Reid and Hotch looked up at the mad man. Hotch screamed, "NO!"
Jack looked down at his Daddy with frightened eyes.
