The ambulance arrived at the hospital in no time due to the FBI escort and doctors immediately took Reid into surgery. The entire team including the boys were corralled into an empty waiting room when a doctor came in.
Dr: Are you here for Agent Reid?
AH: Yes, is something wrong?
Dr: No, no. I was told the boys were with Agent Reid so I just wanted to do a quick check-up to on them.
J: We're fine.
H: Yeah, Spencer took care of us.
Dr: I'm sure he did but would you allow me to just quickly check.
W: I'll go with you Henry.
J: Dad?
AH: Let's go.
The four of them followed doctor to an empty examination room where she told the boys to take a seat on the bed while she got everything ready.
W: I know this must be hard for you. (He continued when Hotch raised his eyebrows in confusion) Spencer came to me a couple of months ago. He just wanted to gain some kind of perspective but he didn't want to go to anyone on the team so he came to me because I know the both of you and I work in law enforcement.
AH: Really?
W: Mm-hm, I'm happy for the both of you. You guys should tell the team, they'll support you guys.
AH: I know that, I'm just waiting for his say so. He said that he needed time before we told them.
W: Just don't take too much time.
AH: Thank you, for being there for him and talking to me now, I really appreciate it.
W: That's what family is for. (He smiled)
...
Dr: Okay, these two brave little men seem to be doing really well.
AH: Thank you.
J: Can we go back now?
W: Not until you thank you doctor boys, manners remember.
J & H: Thank you doctor.
Dr: It was a pleasure boys.
...
When they got back to the waiting area everyone was still in the exact same spot but they each had a coffee and sandwich.
AH: Any news?
JJ: Nothing yet. We got coffee and sandwiches and juice for the boys.
W: Thanks.
DM: Okay, I made a few calls and the guys said that they were only following orders and gave up all the info they had about the drug ring including their boss in order to get a lighter sentence.
AH: A lighter sentence? They kidnapped a federal agent and our kids.
DM: It's all about the bigger picture for them I guess.
AH: ...
DR: I made arrangements so that Reid is moved to a private room after surgery because I have a feeling no one is leaving soon. It's a double room so there's an extra bed, two couches and a couple of chairs where we can all catch a bit of shut eye.
Ah: Thanks Dave.
...
The team sat in the waiting room making idle conversation to pass the time when Reid's doctor walked in almost an hour and a half after they brought him in.
DM: How's Reid doing?
Dr: The bullet didn't pierce any vital organs and we were able to remove it without any problems. He's out of the woods but he'll have to stay here for a couple of days for observation. He was bleeding quite a bit and I was told that the two of you covered up his wound, which was the right thing to do.
JJ: Yeah, where did you learn to do that?
H: Spencer taught us.
J: We were talking about blood and getting hurt and he said that that was the best thing to do.
Dr: It is, we're busy moving him to the room Agent Rossi reserved and I'm not even going to ask you guys to go in two at a time as per hospital rules. He's sedated so he'll be asleep for a couple of hours though.
AH: Thank you very much Dr Freeman.
Dr: It's always an honour helping the folks that keep our country safe. A nurse will show you to his room as soon as everything is settled. (He said walking away)
Everyone finally released a sigh of relief only relaxing now that they knew Reid would be okay. A nurse showed them to Reid's room ten minutes late and both boys ran to his bed.
AH: Be careful boys.
J: But the doctor said that he was okay.
AH: He is but he's still asleep and his stomach might still be hurting.
J: Okay.
...
They all took a seat on the couches and various chairs in the room and soon after they all started dozing off except for the boys who were fighting their sleep and Hotch.
AH: You two should sleep, you've been up all night. Spencer won't mind.
H: We wanna be awake when he wakes up.
AH: I'll wake you up as soon as Spencer wakes up and you can even sleep on the extra bed.
J: Can you move it closer to Spencer's bed?
AH: Sure.
Hotch rolled the empty hospital bed right next to Spencer's, helping he boys climb up and pulling the blanket over them. After he kissed the both of them on their foreheads he headed over to the door diming the lights before sitting down on the chair by Spencer's bed and removing his tie.
AH: I'm so glad we found you when we did. (He whispered kissing Spencer's hand)
While looking at Spencer, the boys and the team around, Hotch thought back to the time two months ago when they finally decided to tell Jack that they were together.
``Flashback``
They decided to take Jack to the air and space museum of the Smithsonian because that was the phase the ten year old was currently in. They took a tour around half the museum before deciding to go have lunch.
SR: Do you mind if I tell him?
AH: Are you sure, I thought you'd want us to do it together.
SR: I thought about it and I really feel that I should tell him, that is if I'm not crossing any boundaries.
AH:Not at all, I'll go get our food.
Hotch took everyone's food orders before leaving his partner and son to talk.
...
SR: Your dad told me what the two of you talked about a couple weeks ago about him finding someone and we... uh. (He sighed) I really like your dad and he really likes me too and we want to see where this can go but we wanted to make sure that you're okay with all of this.
J: Are you and my dad like together, together?
SR: Yeah, will that be a problem?
J: He does smile a lot more now and he looks happier. No it's not a problem.
SR: Are you sure?
J: Yup, totally. (He said giving Spencer a hug) I really like you Spence and you make my dad happy.
And that was how Hotch found them when he came back with their food. After eating the toured the rest of the museum before heading back to the Hotchner residence.
SR: Aaron? (He said breaking Hotch out of his thoughts)
AH: I'm right here, how are you feeling?
SR: My throat...
AH: Here you go, take a sip of this.
SR: Thank you, I'm still woozy but that is to be expected other than that I'm fine.
AH: Up for some visitors? (He said making Spencer look around the room)
SR: They all stayed?
AH: Of course they did, we're a family. By promise I need to wake the boys now. They didn't want to sleep and only agreed after we moved the bed and I promised to wake them the second you woke up.
SR: Okay go ahead.
AH: I'm glad you're okay Spencer. (He said kissing his forehead, moving his hair away)
SR: So am I, Aaron.
Hotch woke the boys who in turn woke everyone else because of the cheers. The light was switched on as everyone started catching up with Reid. The boys sat on his bed careful to stay away from his wound telling everyone how they helped sending the message and bandaging up Reid's shoulder wound. The adults knew they'd soon crash when they realised the gravity of the situation and they also knew that they would all be there for them when that time came. Dr Freeman came in, introduced himself and asking Reid if his visitors had to leave for his examination.
SR: No, it's okay. The two of them need to see that I'm okay.
Dr: No problem.
The doctor examined Reid's wound and said that everything looked okay and that he'd come back later during the day.
...
SR: Guys, there is something that I need to tell you. (He said looking at Hotch and receiving a nod)
JJ: Go ahead, Spence.
SR: Okay. You all know that I'm afraid of a lot of this like germs, inheriting my mother's illness, uh, running out of...
DM: We get it Pretty Boy, go on.
SR: Oh uhm, I was scared of falling in love and then I was scared about hearing what you all thought but what happened made me realise that I can't live my life this way anymore. I'm in love and in a relationship with Aaron and I really want you all to accept my decision.
DM: As in Aaron Hotchner?
SR: Yes. (He said confidently, taking a hold of Aaron's hand)
DM: Weird... But cool as long as you're happy. (He smiled after receiving a slap on the chest from Garcia for his first remark)
The rest of the team quickly snapped out of their frozen stated congratulating the two. A nurse had to come in to tell them to tone down the noise a bit when everyone's cheering and Garcia's squealing got too loud when the two men kissed.
THE END
STORY TOTAL: 5870