The X Files
Hatochiisai
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Criminal Minds, OR the X Files
Hotch/Reid
Chapter 8
Hotch was woken at 10 am by his phone ringing.
"Hotchner." He grumbled into it, and Reid opened his eyes and looked at him. Hotch frowned, then sat straight up. "Where?!" He got up from the bed and began fumbling for his clothes. "… We'll be right there." And he hung up. "An officer on patrol spotted Nagi Naoe going into an office building that's undergoing renovations. And two blocks away from there we have another body." Reid nodded and got to his feet. "How are you feeling?"
"A lot better, thank you." Reid said with a nod, changing. "And… I'm sorry about last night."
"For what?"
"… For… lashing out at you like that. It was just… really unnerving, having someone in my head like that, it…"
"It's okay." Hotch said. The pair slid their credentials into their pockets, holstered their guns and went outside. Hotch banged on Rossi and Morgan's door and Reid went to wake the girls. A moment later, Mulder came out of his room.
"You got the call?" He asked. Reid nodded.
"Yeah." He said, and he and Mulder headed downstairs and over to one of the cars. Hotch got into the driver's seat, and Reid took shotgun.
"The others will meet us there." Hotch said, and they took off, lights flashing.
"Who will go to the body?" Reid asked.
"We'll worry about that after we've checked out the office building."
When they got to the building they pulled on their assault gear and split up, not willing to wait for the police SWAT backup. Mulder covered the front entrance, Hotch the back and Reid took the side maintenance entrance. When the others got there, Rossi joined Hotch, Morgan and Prentiss joined Reid and JJ and Scully stayed with Mulder.
"Everyone move in." Hotch's voice ordered over the radios. The three groups entered the building, guns and flashlights raised in the darkened corridors. After a few minutes they three teams met at the elevator and stairs corridor.
"Clear." Morgan said.
"Clear." Rossi confirmed with a nod.
"All clear." Mulder finished.
"Let's move up." Hotch said, and the group of eight did just that, heading up the stairs. Morgan and Prentiss went first. They were followed closely by Hotch and Rossi. Reid and Mulder came up next, and JJ and Scully took up the rear. They reached the second floor and stepped out. Before them was a large window, and standing before it was Nagi, staring out.
"Nagi Naoe!" Morgan shouted. "FBI!"
"I know." Nagi said calmly. The group spanned out in a line, slowly approaching him but stopping halfway across the large room. Nagi turned and looked at them. "You should go before the others realize you're here."
"Others?" Rossi asked.
"My team." Nagi stated. "Schwartz."
"Schwartz." Mulder repeated. "What is that?" Nagi was silent.
"Your team." Hotch said, frowning. "Bradley Crawford? Schuldig? The man who held a knife to my Agent's throat?!"
"Yes." Nagi sighed. "You can all go home. Darren Lundquist was the last."
"Is that the name of the man you just killed?" Scully asked.
"Yes."
"why is he the last?" Reid called across the room. "Is your work done?"
"No. But I will be unable to finish. I must leave. You will never have to worry about me again." Nagi said. "I won't be killing these people anymore. I'm moving on."
"Moving on?" Rossi asked.
"I have more important things to do. These were just work outs… practice."
"Practice?" Mulder repeated.
"If murder is practice… Then what are you practicing for?!" Prentiss exclaimed, looking alarmed.
"Nothing you need to worry about." Nagi said.
"You know we can't let you leave." Hotch said.
"I just want a chance to be happy." Nagi said and turned to look at them… to look at Reid. "To find what you found."
"What do you mean?" Reid asked.
"You told me that your entire life, you were alone. You didn't find happiness until you found a family. Within your team." Nagi said, and Reid flushed slightly. His team mates glanced at him. "Now I have been given a chance to join a team. I hope I will be happy and find a family within it."
"With murderers and criminals?" Reid asked, shaking his head. "Doubtful." He glanced at Hotch. The man eyed him, then nodded. Reid gave him a small smile and lowered his gun, beginning to move closer. Hotch held up a hand, telling the others silently to stay back. "Nagi." Reid lowered his gun and reached out a hand to the boy. "How do you even know that they care? How do you know that they're not using you for what you can do?"
"How do you know that your team isn't using you for what YOU can do?!" Nagi shot back, facing Reid.
"Read my mind." Reid told the boy, smiling slightly. "I put those doubts and fears to rest long ago."
"But you did have them once." Nagi pointed out.
"Everyone doubts." Reid said. "We all have times of weakness in our lives. We just have to learn when to silence our thoughts and listen to our hearts. What is your heart telling you about this team of yours?"
Nagi stared at Reid and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he opened them again. "Nothing. It is silent. As it always has been."
"I don't believe that." Reid said, shaking his head.
"That doesn't matter. What does matter is this; Do you trust your team with your life?"
Reid answered without hesitation. "Yes."
"Even if you are in their way?" Nagi asked. Reid blinked.
"Why would I ever be in their way?"
"… If I put you there." Nagi said. Reid gasped when he felt a cold pressure suddenly settle over him. He couldn't move. At least, not on his own accord. His body straightened up and he found himself walking towards Nagi.
You will take him outside. Came a voice in his head. But it wasn't Nagi. It was the man with the fiery red hair… Schuldig.
"No." Reid gasped, eyes wide as he felt his own hands reaching up and stripping off his ballistics vest, tossing it aside.
"Reid?! What are you doing?!" Morgan shouted. Reid's body turned and he pulled his gun, pointing it at his fellow Agents.
"Spence?!" JJ cried.
"… He's not in control." Mulder hissed, seeing the look of horror on Reid's face… the fear in his eyes as he leveled the gun onto Agent Hotchner.
"Drop your guns." Reid heard his own voice say. "Or I'll shoot."
"Nagi! Let him go!" Mulder ordered.
"I'm not doing anything." Nagi said, stepping closer and hiding right behind Reid so that no one had a clear shot of him.
Then, they heard the elevator ping. The doors opened and three men stepped out. Bradley Crawford stood there, looking smug and amused. On his left was Schuldig, on his right the one eyed man.
Schuldig smirked and then he and Reid both spoke in perfect unison. "Drop your guns and put your hands in the air. Or I will kill you."
"… How…?" Scully gasped, frowning.
"Who do you think is teaching Nagi how to use his telepathic abilities?" Crawford asked. "He learns from a Master."
"You son of a bitch…" Morgan hissed, looking back and forth between Reid and Schuldig.
"Drop your guns or I'll make him shoot." Schuldig commanded, a lopsided grin of amusement on his face. "How do you think he'll feel if he kills his lover?" Hotch turned and looked back at Reid, torn. The boy's eyes were full of fear and tears ran down his face.
"Aaron… please…" He whimpered.
"Yeah, Aaron…" Schuldig chuckled. Slowly Hotch lowered his gun, then knelt and slid it across the floor and into the wall.
"And the other." Crawford said with a smirk. Hotch glared, but removed the gun from his ankle holster and slid it across the polished floor after the first. "And the rest of you." One by one the others gave in, kneeling and sliding their guns away, Morgan also removing the one he kept strapped to his ankle.
"Good. Now come here, Nagi. These Agents will step aside and let you pass." Crawford said. Nagi stepped out from behind Reid and strolled across the floor. The Agents all shuffled to the side and allowed Nagi to pass unmolested. All but Hotch. He did not move, nor did he break eye contact with Reid.
"Let's go." Crawford said and pushed the button to summon the elevator.
"Tell me Agent Hotchner…" Schuldig said, suddenly. "You told Dr. Reid there how SWAT breaks it down… 'Front Sight. Trigger Press. Follow Through. If you do those three things you'll hit your target every time.' That's what you told him, right? Well… let's see if that's true." And he narrowed his eyes, a sadistic smirk on his face. Reid's eyes widened.
"No…" The boy gasped as he felt his finger tightening on the trigger. "No… No!" He cried out at the deafening report of his revolver.
"AHN!!!" Hotch yelped, his body jerking. He stumbled back and fell to the floor. A moment later, Reid saw the blood.
"NO!!!!" He screamed, and his free hand twitched as the devastated tears flooded down his face. His hand twitched again. "NO!!!"
"Hotch!" Rossi gasped, and he and Morgan ran to the man, dropping to their knees beside the Unit Chief.
"Schuldig!" Nagi gasped, looking shocked. The elevator opened and they stepped into it.
"NO!!!" Reid screamed, and jerked his body back into his own control, his other hand coming up to grip the gun. "I WILL NOT LET YOU LEAVE!!!" He saw red and he took aim at that arrogant grin…
"Hotch…" Morgan gasped, when the man slowly sat up.
"I'm okay…" Hotch groaned, clutching the wound. "Just my arm..."
"Reid no!" Prentiss shouted, and Hotch, Rossi and Morgan turned.
"BASTARDS!!!" Reid shouted, pulled the trigger. And he kept pulling it. The shots rang out. But the bullets stopped several feet away from Schuldig as Nagi's eyes glowed red.
"You will not hurt my team!" Nagi hissed, then threw his hand out. A shockwave sent all the agents falling to the floor. Reid gasped at the sudden impact into his chest. Glass shattered. The eyes of seven Agents turned up and watched in horror as the body of the eighth crashed straight through the window, flew through the air in a graceful arc, then dropped out of sight. A moment later, they heard the sickening thud of flesh and bone slamming down onto concrete… the elevator doors closed, and all was silent…
No one moved. No one spoke. They were all frozen in shock.
Mulder and Scully moved first. They glanced at each other, then ran to the window and stared down.
"Oh God…" Scully breathed, closing her eyes and looking away. Mulder said nothing. He just stared at the body sprawled out below, limbs thrown around haphazardly, a pool of dark red slowly forming a macabre halo around the young man's head. Trickles of red streaked down the pale face from the boy's nose and mouth. Mulder let out a long, sad sigh… But then, he frowned. A finger twitched…
"My God…" He gasped, then turned and ran across the room, pulling out his phone. "He's alive!"
The Agents all scrambled to their feet and ran down the stairs, Mulder in front calling for an ambulance. Hotch nearly knocked people down the stairs as he fought to get past them. He ran across the lobby of the building and out the door, skidding to a stop as he reached Reid. He stared down and felt his chest constricting his heart, the pain in his arm forgotten. Slowly, he knelt beside the broken body of his lover, reaching out and gently placing his hand over Reid's hand, afraid to touch anything else…
Scully dropped to her knees and reached out, pressing her fingers to Reid's throat. "… He has a pulse. It's weak, but it's steady." She said, looking up at Hotch.
"Spencer…" Hotch called, his voice thin and choked. He reached up and laid a shaking hand on Reid's cheek. The boy didn't move.
Hotch didn't notice the arrival of the ambulance. He just watched in silent terror as Rossi pulled him away to let the EMT's work on him and Reid both…
"… FBI?"
The team looked up when a woman walked into the hospital room where Hotch was sitting on the edge of the bed, his arm in a sling.
"Yes." Rossi said. She nodded.
"I'm Dr. Clarisse McKay. Aaron Hotchner?" She asked, looking over the papers in her hands, then at the man on the bed.
"Yes." Hotch said, standing.
"I need to speak with you." She said.
"This team is a family." Hotch said. "You can speak with all of us." She looked around, nervously.
"Mr. Hotchner…"
"Agent." Hotch said.
"Agent Hotchner. The thing is… you are Dr. Reid's… well… you hold Power of Attorney." She said. Hotch's heart clenched.
"… What's wrong with him?" He gasped, eyes wide.
"I'm afraid that the news I have isn't good, Agent Hotchner." Dr. McKay said. "We did all we could, but… He's fallen into coma. We've had to put him on full life support."
"… I want to see him." Hotch whispered in a dry tone.
"Sir—"
"Please."
"… this way." Dr. McKay said, but held up her hand to the team. "I'm sorry. Just Agent Hotchner at this time." Hotch looked back at his team.
"… Go." Morgan said, looking pained. Hotch nodded and followed the doctor.
"… What are his chances?" Hotch asked, softly. Dr. McKay sighed.
"I don't know for sure. I've called in a neurologist to review the case."
"But your opinion? Your HONEST opinion… don't hold back. I have to know."
"… He may never come out of it, Agent Hotchner. And even if he does, it could be years. And, there is also significant probability of brain damage. If he wakes up… he may never be the same again." She said, and they stepped into a room. Hotch stared, devastated. "I'm sorry. I… I'll let you have a moment." And she stepped out, closing the door.
Hotch stood there in silence for several minutes. Finally, he forced his feet to carry him over to the bed side. He didn't even notice the hot tears running down his own face as he reached out with a shaking hand. Reid lay sprawled out before him, pale and broken… it was only because of the machines around him that he was even alive. His bruised chest rose and fell mechanically as the respirator did his breathing for him. Little censors were placed over his head and chest taking readings… of what, Hotch did not know. An oxygen mask was in place on Reid's face, and a tube ran down his throat. IV catheters had been placed in his arms and fed his body much needed fluids and medications, and also replenished the large volume of blood that he had lost.
Hotch looked down at the long fingers that he held in his own hand… they were so cold and frail… And Hotch couldn't take it any longer. Tears rolling down his face, he sunk to his knees and rested his forehead on the cold hand and cried as he was overcome with guilt and despair…
Sorry the update was so late. I was really busy training and preparing for my Black Belt Midterm. But here you go!
