/ Chapter 7 is here, mainly to celebrate I have officially finished college except for my final two exams which are next month. I wasn't going to upload it until tomorrow because that should be my last day, but the lecturer is at a wedding, so all's good :D. Enjoy this chapter; comments and reviews are appreciated :) /

The past week had been the longest week in Hotch's life – and Rossi's, for that matter. Aaron was just thankful that most of his withdrawal symptoms had gone. It felt like he had travelled to hell and back, several times over. He took a deep breath and forced his tired eyes open, staring at the ceiling. He glanced to the clock quickly. Twelve hours. He had been asleep for twelve hours and he still felt the worse for wear. He was drained; physically, emotionally and mentally.

Hotch forced himself to sit up, releasing a shaky breath. His muscles were screaming blue murder. He stood up, swaying slightly as he gave himself time to steady his balance. Rossi was still asleep in the bed and the bruises over his chest were darker. He winced and reminded himself to apologise to Dave for the abuse he had given him since everything had begun.

Eventually, he willed his legs to move, he made his way to the bathroom, despite the fact they were still in an incredible amount of pain and felt relatively weak compared to how they used to be. Hotch had intended to go back to bed as soon as he relieved himself, but he found he was much more interested in examining what his withdrawal had done to him.

His eyes looked like they had been rubbed red raw and the tears hadn't really helped. He kicked himself now for the whole crying thing; it embarrassed him. The whole thing embarrassed him full stop. He knew he should never have turned to drugs, but the past was the past and there was nothing that he could do to change it. Aaron ran his hand over his stubble as he looked at himself in the mirror. He never realised how much the stubble aged him. He looked like he was in his late fifties, not his early forties. It suited some people, but not him. He hated it.

Aaron took a deep breath as he ran his fingers down the scratches on his face, received after he had tried to leave the room and got into a fight with Rossi. All for Heroin. He closed his eyes as he thought about the drug, his muscles tensing as his brain told him that he needed it. He hated that he was addicted. He hated that he still craved the thing. His fingers gripped the sink tightly, his mind filtering through things to try and distract him from wanting it. Nothing was working.

"Aaron, is everything alright?" Rossi asked, watching Aaron carefully. Aaron just shook his head, his hands shaking as he turned himself around. He made sure to keep hold of the sink, still not trusting his legs enough to keep him up. He locked eyes with his friend.

"I-I still want Heroin. I still feel like I need it, like I want it. I know that once I go back home with Jack, I'll just fall into it again," he said, looking away from his friend. He couldn't bear to look at him, feeling like he lacked the self control in his life. Rossi just nodded his head, approaching his friend. He placed his hand on his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Listen to me, Aaron," he said, making him look at him. "Everything's going to be alright. I was there for you for the worst bit and I'm not going to let you go through the rest of it alone," he explained, offering him a supportive smile. Hotch nods, thankful for a friend in his time of need.

"Can you," he said, pausing. "Can you help me back to bed? I don't think I can make it," he explained, finally telling himself that he can let Rossi know how he was feeling and that he didn't need to keep it to himself. Rossi smirked and helped him back to the bed.

"I'll make you something to eat," he told him as Hotch clambered onto the bed, lying down and close his eyes. A yawn escaped his lips as he nodded.

"Sounds good," he whispered, too exhausted to say much more. He finally drifted to sleep and for the first time in a long time, he dreamt of nothing.

Rossi doesn't voice it, but he's concerned for his friend. At least they're through the worst of it. It wouldn't surprise Rossi if they had to go through it again soon, but for now, that was a distant thought. He took the next couple of hours to look after himself, as well as do a bit of tidying up around the house. It had been neglected recently.

He headed downstairs, deciding on his way that he was going to have scrambled eggs and ketchup for breakfast. As for what he would make Aaron; that would depend on what he could rustle up. The cupboards and fridge were lacking in food. He made a mental note to take Aaron shopping with him when he felt up to it within the next couple of days.

Breakfast ended quickly, making Rossi realise just how hungry he had actually been. It hadn't exactly been the first thing on his mind. He opened the cupboards, finding a few tins of chicken soup. That would have to do. He put them on the side next to the microwave; he would put it on when Hotch woke up. No point in giving it to him now, only for it to end up cold.

Rossi stood at the sink, slowly washing the dishes. He had a dish washer, but washing the dishes helped him think; whether it was for his most recent book or something else. After awhile, a smile appeared on the older man's lips as he thought of something to take Aaron's mind off everything. He would prepare everything later when Aaron had been fed and the house was clean.

Making his way back upstairs, he took the time to check in on Aaron, thankful to see he was still asleep, albeit muttering things under his breath. It just made Rossi smirk. He went over to the bed and picked up all the dirty clothes from around it. They were mainly Hotch's from the last week after he'd gotten too hot or the clothes had gotten too wet.

He didn't mean to, but he ended up listening to his friend's mutterings for a bit, sighing as he realised that they were about Heroin.

"Everything's going to be fine," he whispered, using his spare hand to push Hotch's hair out of his face. The sleeping man just smiled, pulling the covers close.

"Dave," he mumbled, the smile remaining. Rossi bit his lip, ignoring the fact that his best friend had just whispered his name. He held the dirty clothes tighter to him before he left the room; planning to get everything ready for the following day.