A/N I do not own Criminal Minds. Hello again! I had an explanation on the real reason why my updates have been lacking recently but no one needs to be bummed out with that - and besides the problem has already been remedied, so what I really want and should be saying is that, you all are very, very kind and lovely supporters and I just want to let you all know that I greatly appreciate it! So, thank you! (And just stick with me on this very long journey that this story is going to be, it will all make sense...I promise!)
Warning: Strong Violence & Coarse Language
Please, enjoy!
Heart of Hades
Chapter I: Part II Oculi
"We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered." - Tom Stoppard
The jagged metal; scratched and dented – across the doors of the cobalt blue '77 Pontiac Trans Am, seemed to taunt the young teenager.
Kicking the front tire with his red high tops; mind racing with logical solutions, only to be muddled by the panic now coursing through his veins – and even though his face was heated; ears burning from his stupidity and fear of consequences, he couldn't help the shudder that rippled through his gangly body from the crisp, chill of the morning dew.
Brushing his shaggy chestnut hair out of his face, which constantly covered those dark whiskey eyes that held a wisdom too mature for his age – he glanced around once more; his quick panting breath, the only companion to his thudding heart.
Dogs started to bark; probably from the continuous horn that could be heard blaring in the distance and the rather slim chances the teen had of making it back inside the house and upstairs to the safety of his room, was diminishing by the minute. Groaning when the streetlamps flickered off with the onset of the rising sun; revealing pristine lawns ready for a typical suburban Sunday.
"Dads, gonna kill you!" the harsh whisper; with just the slightest air of smugness, startled a strangled and embarrassingly pitchy yelp from his thin lips.
Wiping sweaty palms against his torn denim jeans; he turned around to glare at the young boy.
"What are you doing out of bed?" the oldest, and always so…responsible.
"You didn't come home last night," he tutted, bouncing from slipper to slipper in his flannel pajamas.
"I was…," looking back at the car. "Busy."
"He's been waiting up for you," glancing quickly towards the house. "Had a few drinks too," and though his brother had been amused earlier, he was nothing but concerned now.
"Damn," he wasn't one to swear, but the slamming of the front door had sealed his fate.
HOTCH!
"Get inside…Sean," voice gruff, and slurred. "You ain't…supposed to be…outta bed!"
The blonde boy; bottom lip quivering, bravely took a step in front of his older brother, only to jump back from his father's command.
"Now!" he growled, dark eyes bristling with anger.
"Aaron?" bright blue eyes; just like their mother's, were storming with fear.
"Go…it's okay," forcing a smile, bracing for the worst.
Sean took a few deep breaths, doing his best to square his ten-year-old shoulders as he ran past their father and back into the house.
"The fuck…were you, boy!" unshaven and glossy eyed with a stained white tank and leather belt, loose around his work pants – his father was every 6 feet and 5 inches of menacing brute.
HOTCH!
Head snapping to the side; catching a pungent whiff of liquor.
"I asked you…a question."
"I'm s-sorry," throat constricting; willing the prickling tears to stay back.
Making the mistake of shuffling to the side; hearing the sharp intake of breath – he could only clamp his eyes shut at the string of expletives.
"Why you…stupid little fucker!"
The blow to the side of his face wasn't a surprise, but the impact of his head slamming into the cold metal of the car was jarring – sending a shooting pain down his neck and into his shoulders.
"Who said…you could drive…my car!" he growled; fingers grasping the soft cotton of Aaron's shirt as he yanked him back and forth. "Who!"
"N-Nobody…I didn't, I just…" mumbling through the splitting headache.
He had wanted to impress the cute girl – the one he had joined the theater club to impress, despite the constant teasing from his friends. The girl with the toothy grin and sparkling eyes that had him trip over his sneakers in the middle of the cafeteria; spilling his food all over himself, only to land flat on his face.
She had giggled, along with everyone else; though she was the only one to cross the room, and help him up.
And that's when he had the great idea to borrow the car to really impress her. Deciding to take her to a drive-in movie; saving up money for two weeks so he could afford tickets and treats – and though his father's temper was directed at him, he couldn't help but to smile.
Because…
Haley Brooks had kissed him on the cheek…and as his head slammed into the hood of the car once more; mouth coated with the acerbic taste of iron, left eye already swelling – Aaron knew, if he had the chance, he would risk it all over again.
Though as his stomach churned; nausea gripping his senses, it became a little harder to remember the joy he had felt just a mere two hours ago, especially since his back had gotten pinned into the crater dent; between the two doors – scratching his back as his shirt lifted.
"You, stupid fuck!" his father's large hand smacked him across the face – this time splitting his son's lip. "Look what you did, Aaron. You can't do anything right!"
HOTCH!
His knees locked and he slumped forward; finding it odd that he could smell smoke, ears ringing with that annoying car horn, that just wouldn't stop!
"Can you hear me?"
Vision blurring, he tried to focus on the older man's face; letting out a chuckle when his father sounded, rather feminine. Almost like…a girl?
"Come on, wake up!"
Fingers dug into his chest, shaking him harder.
"Stop it…please!" Aaron, croaked out.
God, just don't move him anymore; the urge to vomit was getting stronger – forcing him to gasp for breath.
HOTCH! OPEN YOUR EYES!
"Dad?" confused, he tried to push away.
Aaron's vision fractured into spirals of prickling sensations – color and sound melding into a disjointed conglomerate of pain; his neural synapses working overtime, trying to piece together a broken puzzle.
AARON, PLEASE…WAKE UP!
That voice he recognized…a deep feminine drawl; soft yet, demanding.
Emily?
Darkness engulfed him, followed by a blinding white light – revealing his father; eyes narrowed, hand raised to swing once more and his body convulsed.
And he finally woke up.
The memory washed over him like a cold glass of water – making him wish he could go back to sleep.
Pain ravaged his body and he couldn't help but to groan. Blinking rapidly, he tried to take a deep breath only to breathe in blood – sputtering, nearly choking; relieved when a hand rubbed soothing circles on his back.
Opening his only good eye, finding the concerned dark gaze of Prentiss staring back at him.
"Hey," though her eyes were glistening, her smile spoke volumes. "You're awake!"
"W-What," looking around, catching sight of smoke billowing out from the front of the SUV.
"Hey, don't move!" clipped professionalism barked back at him, and he internally rolled his eyes at her emotional avoidance.
"Prentiss," doing his best to remind her that he was still in charge, and he wanted answers.
Though he lost his chance for inquiries as the gurgled groan forced his attention to the right; causing his lungs to seize and gasp for air that was thick with ash – engulfing his body in panic, as he took in the chaos around him.
Slumped over in the passenger seat, Strauss' fair skin was a hue of pallor that Hotch didn't need any medical expertise to know was a huge indicator that something was terribly wrong. Lowering his gaze, his stomach flip flopped – quickly pushing Prentiss aside as the acidic burn flooded his throat; vomiting that mornings breakfast.
"Look at me Baby Girl!" came Morgan's growl behind him.
Aaron's mind was racing; remembering Garcia was in the backseat behind the Unit Chief. Fumbling with his seat belt; much to Emily's protest, he struggled to stand up – but he needed to get out; feeling claustrophobic and…selfishly needing a moment to be ignorant of his team's suffering.
For the crushing guilt was almost suffocating. Aaron was their boss; he was the person driving the SUV, the one who thought it would be a great idea to cut out forty minutes of driving by taking the back roads of Virginia.
Stumbling away from the mangled vehicle; filling his lungs with fresh air, he couldn't help but feel like a major fuck up – his father's taunting voice; a visceral reminder that he was every inch the failure, his old man told him he would be…left him feeling like the sixteen-year-old teenager standing in front of that old Pontiac.
Why that memory seemed so fresh in his mind was beyond him – but it wasn't helping matters, so taking a few pointers from Prentiss, and years of training with the BAU…he shut off his emotions and submerged himself into stoicism.
"Did you...call 911?" he mumbled through nasally pants; clearing his throat with little success. "We need…ambulances."
"You need to sit down," though Emily's thin frame may be deceiving, there was no denying her strength as she gripped his arm to get his attention. "Your airbag didn't deploy and your nose is broken," she narrowed her eyes, head tilted to the side. "And I'm thinking you have a concussion," reaching a hand out, caressing his cheek – looking away, when he stepped back.
"Ambulances," a stern, demanding growl.
"JJ and Reid are on it," avoiding his gaze; staring down the road behind him. "But, they can't get a signal," the small catch in her voice didn't go unnoticed by Hotch; though neither would bring it up.
Following her dark eyes, he caught sight of JJ, who was standing on the hood of the other SUV waving the cell phone around to find service – while Reid; cradling his injured arm, leaned awkwardly inside the driver's seat, fiddling with the two-way radio.
"Fuck!" Morgan grunted inside the vehicle; having taken Reid's spot, which was miraculously undamaged, in order to be next to Garcia.
Whipping around; tension in his neck shooting hot, spearing pain into the base of his skull.
"It doesn't look good," her voice; bare of emotion, was a strangled whisper. "But, we need to get them out."
Noticing the thick, black plumes of smoke were only getting worse; taking a fortifying breath, ignoring his tender ribs, pounding head and throbbing nose – Aaron squared his shoulders and headed back towards the accident; Prentiss following closely behind him.
Reaching the driver's door, he spotted Rossi on the passenger side; squeezed between the tree trunk and the SUV – trying to help Strauss the best he could through the shattered window.
Aaron's concerned whiskey eyes; fluttered shut – saying a quick prayer before glancing back down at the tree branch that was lodged through the door…cruelly spearing the older women's thigh; pooling blood down her grey pin striped slacks.
Thankfully she was still alert, though her unfocused gaze – and incoherent groaning was disconcerting.
Feeling bile rise once more, he looked away – catching Rossi's simmering gaze; silent understanding passing between them.
Taking a deep breath, getting closer; heart thrumming in his chest – he needed to check on Garcia.
Peering over Morgan's shoulders; cursing when he spotted the bubbly blonde unconscious in the backseat.
Sensing his presence; the darker man turned around, arms never leaving her listless form.
"I-I can't…she won't wake up," came Derek's gruff voice; eyes glistening – lost like an abandoned child.
"Morgan," needing them to change places – whispering something to Prentiss; who took off running, he turned his attention back on the broken man.
"Penelope," he murmured; brushing the blood-soaked bangs away from her face – the nasty gash, still oozing dark liquid across her forehead.
"Derek," raising his voice. "Look at me!" grabbing his shoulders. "I need to help Garcia, but I need you to move…okay," hearing footsteps behind him, pulling Morgan out, as Spencer jogged towards them, Emily and JJ not far behind.
"No!" he yelled, struggling against him. "I need to get her out!"
"Derek, she's stuck!" clutching his shirt, forcing the shorter man to look at him. "Her legs are pinned, I need Reid to check her vitals," his eyes widened with recognition; slightly nodding his head and finally, but slowly stepping away – though his amber eyes never left her.
Watching with bated breath as Reid clamored back inside, gently putting two fingers against the pale column of her neck – feeling suddenly overwhelmed; needing control, his instincts took over.
"Prentiss," waiting for her to peel her eyes off of Penelope; briefly wondering when she put her hair into a ponytail. "I need you to help Rossi with Strauss," once she nodded and swiftly headed around the vehicle, he brought his narrowed gaze to JJ – who couldn't seem to settle down.
"JJ," using her name to get her attention.
Feeling guilty when she jumped, grasping the cell phone to her chest – blue eyes wide, but focused.
"I need you to gather the First Aid kits and grab the fire extinguishers," she stared back at him; little panting breaths her only movement.
"Jennifer!" he barked, watching as she took a deep breath; nodding her head with renewed determination – she quickly took off; heading towards the other SUV…only to stop dead in her tracks with Reid's sudden exclamation; one that turned his blood cold.
"Garcia's not breathing!"
To be continued…
Title Chapter - Oculi: Eyes
