AN: Hello, my lovelies! Here's the next chapter of "Like A Hero". This and the next two chapters are written with Aaron as the main person, but at the same time it all revolves around Derek. Enjoy and review!


Chapter 2

"Aaron, Erin, Dave"


They all were about to go in the second week of their downtime when it all changed. The minute Aaron got the call, he knew that the team, no, the ragtag family they had formed over the years, would never be the same.

It was early in the morning when his mobile started to vibrate on the nightstand. Thinking that they were about to be called back for a very urgent case, Aaron was more than surprised to see the name of his second in command flashing on the screen.

"Derek, this better be good", he muttered before answering with "Hotchner".

"Agent Hotchner?"

To his surprise, the voice was female and somewhat familiar, though he couldn't place it at the moment.

"Yes it is. Who am I talking to?"

"Oh, my bad. Agent Hotchner, this is Fran Morgan, Derek's mom. I guess we met when my son was suspected for murder several years ago."

"Yes, Mrs. Morgan, we did. Is Derek alright?"

He hadn't even finished his inquiry when he heard a series of sniffles, followed by the sound of a mobile being handed over to someone else.

"Agent Hotchner, Desiree Morgan speaking. Sorry for the change, but…", he heard her taking a deep breath, as if to calm herself, "but Derek's dead. My brother is dead."

Aaron was thankful that he had the initial idea to sit back on his bed before he answered the phone. Otherwise, he probably would find himself on the floor right now. It took some time to comprehend the news. Derek dead – but how? Why? Why him?

"What… what happened?" Aaron asked, his voice carrying the shock he was experiencing.

"We were about to have a barbeque when Mom noticed that we had run out of some things that were necessary for the BBQ. And before any of us could react, Derek was out of the door, calling back over his shoulder that he would go down to the small grocery store. Next thing we hear police sirens heading down the same street. And a few minutes later, Det. Gordinski is standing at our front door, telling us about an attempted robbery… and that Derek was shot." She paused, and once again, Aaron could hear sniffles. "At first, we thought that Gordinski was joking, but then I took another look at his face, and that told me that he wasn't joking at all. Sarah took Mom back to the living room, and I asked Gordinski to tell me all the details. And he did. Derek was just inside the shop when two boys stormed in, guns drawn, demanding money. Derek just wanted to talk them down, but instead they shot him." Aaron had to strain his ears to hear the last part, as Desiree's voice was more and more quivering as she was fighting the tears.

"Desiree, first of all, my deepest sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Agent Hotchner, but I give it back to you. I know that he was more than just colleague to all of you. He told us that he considered all of you as a second family. And I speak for all of us that we would appreciate if you would come for the funeral."

"I take it that it will be held in Chicago."

"Yes it will. As soon as I know the date and place, I will contact you."

"I would appreciate that. There is one thing I need to know as I know that at least one of our colleagues will want to have an answer to that. Was he dead in an instant?"

"No, they took him to Cook County, where he underwent surgery to remove the bullets almost upon arrival, but the damage was too big to save him. He died on the table." He could hear a doorbell ringing in the background. "Agent Hotchner…"

"Go, Desiree, and thank you for letting me know."

"Thank you, Agent Hotchner."

With that, she hang up, leaving Aaron to his thoughts, memories and a task he would rather not have to do – letting the team know about the next tragedy.


The first call on his list was to Erin Strauss. Putting their personal differences aside, Aaron thought that as their boss, she should know it before the team. He called her office, only to be told that she was on vacation as well. Suppressing a small grin, he dialed her mobile, which she answered after the second ring.

"Strauss."

"Chief Strauss, Aaron Hotchner speaking."

"Aaron, has something happened?"

"Yes, ma'am, it has. And I would suggest that you sit down before I continue." He heard the shuffle of a chair.

"Alright, I'm sitting. What's so urgent?"

"Derek Morgan is dead."

He was met with dead silence at first, then he heard a dog barking (which he identified as Mudgie), followed by a gruff "Cara, you're okay?", laced with worry. At next Aaron heard the phone being placed down and a button being operated.

"I take it I'm on speaker."

"Yeah, Aaron, you are. What in the world did you tell Erin to cause her to go into shock?"

"Dave, Derek's dead."

"WHAT!? Are you kidding?"

"No, Dave, I'm not. I just got the call myself." He could hear his long-time friend sitting down. "And believe me when I say that I wish for myself that this is just a dream I just can't wake up from."

For several seconds, none of them said a word. Erin was the first to get over the initial shock, but only to utter a tear-laced "How?"

"As far as Desiree, Derek's sister, told me, he tried to stop a robbery at a small shop. He was unarmed, but he tried nonetheless, resulting in him being shot several times."

"Did they get those bastards?" came from David, the initial worry replaced by open anger.

"I don't know, but as soon as I'm done calling the team, I will contact Det. Gordinski."

"Agent Hotchner, did you just say Gordinski?"

"Yes, ma'am, I did. I know, quite the irony that exact the same Detective who wanted to nail Derek for murder is the one to notify the family."

"Aaron, should we call some from the team for you? You shouldn't…"

"No, Dave, I can handle it. Sure, it's definitely a task I rather would do not, but I'm the team leader. It's better to hear it from me than from anyone else."

"Alright, Aaron, but just keep it in mind that we are a family, and therefore we help each other."

And with that, both men hung up.


next chapter: Baby Girl and JJ...