Authors Note: I do not own Criminal Minds, I simply bring them out to play. Thank you for the reviews, favourites and follows. They inspire me always. Guest, yes i am hoping to update a chapter a day.
The long since cold coffee cup hit the floor with an angry crash, spilling its contents carelessly on the cold floor of the family room, laying there at his feet almost taunting him that in his moment of anger he had achieved precisely nothing. Except make a mess that he was now going to have to either clean up or apologise to the medical staff and get them to clean up. Rossi sighed and sat back down, either way it could way. He really didn't feel like dealing with it, anger still flowed through his veins. Anger at the damned unfairness of the way the entire day had gone to hell and his best friend was.. He stopped the thought. Refusing to think of anything until the medial team came to see him.
He glanced at his watch, 73 minutes since they'd arrived and only 9 minutes since he last looked. He rolled his eyes realising that maybe Reid was rubbing off on him. Glancing down at the coffee cup the eye roll turned into a smile as he realised the fit of anger was very much Morgans influence shining through. Casting his mind back to there frantic arrival and the way he'd in no uncertain terms made damn sure the nurse knew how important there patient was. Then how the male nurse looked like running in fear at his tone and glare, the smile he had been wearing turned into a chuckle as he recognised Hotch's influence.
That's exactly why he was on the phone constantly with updates, or lack of, to the team. They were a family, and one of them was suffering. So they all suffered and closed ranks. The team working flat out now to get this case finished so they could be at the hospital. He'd almost called Jess three times since there arrival but wasn't sure what to say, his normally calm and friendly manner with the young woman had evaded him in a blind panic. Maybe he could draw on the power of JJ's people skills since he seemed to be channelling the other team members anyway.
He did get on well with Jess, since Haleys death he'd gotten to know her quite well when he helped Hotch out with his Son and he thought very highly of the way Jess was there for the two of them no matter what. Of course there was also Jack to consider, what did they say to the 8 year old who only a few years ago lost his mom and now he was being dragged back in to see his dad so ill.
His thoughts were interrupted by a doctor who came in silently taking a seat, if he saw the spilled coffee he politely chose not to say anything. Rossi tried to read the man, to see if he could find a hint to what he was about to say. As usual though with Doctors they seemed to excel in that damned infuriatingly blank face.
"Agent Rossi, we've ran a number of tests and confirmed that due to some underlying scar tissue from his previous attack the left side was slightly more vulnerable to further injury. It may never have bothered him at all except for the impact of the bullet. It caused some damage internally and his lung collapsed." Rossi felt the colour drain from his face and he was mightily relieved he was already sitting down. "We are rushing him into surgery as we speak, he's very weak and ideally I'd like to wait until he's a little stronger but that's not going to happen. He doesn't have the sort of time. We'll update you as soon as we can but for now we have to trust the surgeons"
Rossi nodded, his mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to comprehend what was being told to him now. "He.. He has a young son. He's only 8, and has no mother." The voice that came out certainly wasn't Rossi's normal voice, it was a more an emotional squeak. There was Garcia coming through.
"You should get any family here." The doctor rested a hand on Rossi's. Those simple few words saying enough to know that there was serious doubt in the man's mind whether Hotch would make it through. Another nod from Rossi and he cleared his throat picking up his cell phone finding Jess's number. The doctor slipped out to let him make the call in private.
Alone with his thoughts some 45 minutes later, Rossi jumped when the door opened and he looked straight into the eyes of a scared and upset Jess, with Jack stood next to her and Rossi's heart immediately broke. His own tears now finding a path down his face as he looked at the youngest Hotchner who was sobbing, wiping his nose on his sleeve, his eyes bright red from so many tears. In that moment it hit Rossi that Jack had been to young to properly understand his mom's death. Now however, he was certainly old enough to understand that this was bad. He knelt down when the boy ran over and pulled him into a hug, letting Jack sob on his shoulder as he rubbed his back.
It didn't feel right to talk, to discuss the situation, not yet. The silence that echoed as solemn and scared looks passed between the adults seemed to be the only thing that was needed. Rossi's phone buzzed on the table and he glanced at the caller ID not surprised to find it was JJ calling. The team obivously taking it turns to call in for updates since they last two calls had been from Reid, then Morgan. He reached out and cancelled the call lifting himself and Jack onto the chair he kept hold of the sobbing youngster as he returned JJ's call with a text 'No news. Can't talk yet, got Jack with me'. He new she'd understand, they all would.
The movement was enough for the youngster to raise his head and watch as Uncle Dave as he had affectionately become known slipped his phone away. Rossi got the impression that Jack wanted to ask something but he wouldn't push the kid, he'd let him find the words in his own time.
"Uncle Dave, If daddy's poorly in hospital gain, does that mean i gotta go way.. like.. before." The young Hotchner finally found the courage to ask, breaking the silence in the room. Jess bit back a sob, and Rossi found his own emotions threatening to boil over again. Hating the fact that the youngster held these fears even now.
"No kiddo, not at all. I promise. In fact this time, you get to help look after your dad. Make sure he rests and gets better quick" He assured in the strongest voice he could find at that moment.
"Good, cos.. cos.. i don't want aunty Jess to die like mommy" With that he nestled his head back on Rossi's shoulder. Oblivious to the heart break the adults were feeling. So much burden for a young child to carry around with him. Damn this whole mess, Rossi cursed to himself. Damn the lunatics with the gun, and Damn Foyet for all those years ago, and Damn anyone else that had left a child without innocence, living with such tragic fears.
The silence had stretched on for what felt like hours now, Jack had fallen asleep on Rossi and his watch was trapped under the child so he couldn't see how long had really passed. The mountain of coffee the nurse kept bringing, that always went cold and remained untouched, was the only indicator of a lengthy passage of time. When the door opened and a new doctor stepped in Rossi guessed he was the surgeon who thankfully had cleaned himself of any blood before coming to speak to them. He glanced at the man's face expecting the same impassive look Doctors wore. Only this time he didn't see it, what he saw made him afraid. It made him sick, and all of a sudden he felt claustrophobic.
"Agent Rossi, Miss Brooks." He stepped in and sat down. Rossi wanted to throttle the man, just damn well tell us already. His mind screamed but he new right now he couldn't speak. "Agent Hotchner coded twice on the table while we were repairing the damage. We managed to get him back but..."
No one heard the rest.
TBC..
