Chapter 9

After Kahlan took her pills, she sat down on the couch and she and Hotch settled in to watch a movie. Within twenty minutes, Kahlan could feel Hotch's muscles slowly relaxing beneath her. When his head bobbed down, he snapped it back up and shook it trying to rid himself of the sleep that was trying to overtake him. She pulled away and looked at him with a smile. "Go take a nap, Hun."

He shook his head. "No. I'm alright. I. . ."

"I know you didn't sleep worth shit last night because of being worried about me." She stood up and pulled him up by the arm. "Go take a nap. I'll fix lunch when it's time and wake you up when it's ready."

He put the back of his hand on her forehead, but she pushed it away before he could say anything. "I'm fine, Aaron."

He appraised her. "I don't want you to wear yourself out, Babe."

She huffed and folded her arms across her chest. "Stop worrying about me. . ."

He pulled her into a hug. "But that's my job."

She squeezed him as she sighed. "Go take a damn nap."

He chuckled. "You sure you'll be alright?" He was tired and he knew he had to drive home that evening.

She shoved him towards the bedroom. "Go lay down before I kick your ass."

His smile revealed his dimples. "Yes, Ma'am."

XXX

Hotch stretched as he awoke and then looked around and smiled; he actually felt pretty good. He took a deep breath as he looked at his watch; he'd been able to sleep for two hours. He rubbed a hand down his face and got up and went to the restroom. As he emerged and went out into the main part of the cabin, he wondered what Kahlan was doing because the cabin was way too quiet. He searched the cabin and couldn't find her anywhere and started to get a little nervous. What the hell are you doing, Babe? He shook his head. We have to pack up and leave in a few hours if we want to be home before dinner. He sighed as he looked to the door and then ran a hand across the back of his neck. Although, I guess as long as we're home before the kids go to bed. He heard a strange noise and his brows furrowed as he looked towards where he thought the noise was coming from.

He stepped into the entryway and looked around for the repeating noise he had never heard before. It sort of sounded like a cell phone vibrating, but both of the Hotchners' phones were resting on the island in the kitchen, so he knew it wasn't either one of them. He traced the annoying sound to Kahlan's jacket that was hanging by the door, so he searched the pockets. After looking through the two normal pockets and not finding anything, he picked up the jacket and pulled it through his hand trying to find whatever it was that was making the noise. His thumb and forefinger found it; he could feel it and see the shape of it through the material, but he couldn't figure out how to get to it. He was about to take the whole jacket and go in search of his wife, but then he finally saw a hidden zipper. He huffed and unzipped the secret pocket. His fingers pulled out a small rectangle that reminded him of the pagers of old.

As he looked at the device, it lit up and the display showed a few numbers and symbols, and his heart sank. Son of a bitch! He sighed and went in search of his wife because while he couldn't read the message, he recognized the code that Kahlan and Chuck used. I wonder what the hell is going on. He walked out onto the deck and looked around; Kahlan wasn't anywhere to be seen. He inhaled deeply and went down the steps as he called out her name. Not hearing a response, he started for the trail that led into the woods.

Once he got into the woods a little, he called her name again. He looked around and tried to figure out where she was; he couldn't and he shook his head. If she's hiding, I'll never find her. "Kahlan, where are you?"

Suddenly hands grabbed his sides and he jumped about a foot in the air as he turned. "Damn it, Kahlan! Why do you always have to do that?!"

She giggled. "Cause it's so much fun to see your reaction."

He shook his head. "One of these days. . ."

"You not supposed to peak! I don't have everything ready yet."

"I wasn't trying to peak. Your. . ." he started but then stopped because he had no idea what to call the device, so he held it out to her. "Apparently ET needs to phone home."

She laughed at his wit but her smile quickly left as she saw what was in his hand. "No!" she exclaimed as she wilted.

He handed it to her and watched her carefully as she manipulated it. His stomach clenched as the color drained from her face. "What?"

She sighed as she shook her head and bit her lip. "I need to call Jim," is all she offered as she turned on her heal and started back for the cabin.

"Kahlan!" he yelled as he jumped to catch up with her. "What is it?"

She shrugged. "I don't know details yet, but I think we're going to have to go." She stopped and locked eyes with him. "I'm so sorry, Aaron."

He put his hands on her shoulders. "Stop. We both know we can't control our jobs." She huffed and he reached up with a gentle finger and wiped the single tear that escaped her eye. "It's not like we don't have hundreds of other weekends."

She gave him a small smile. "But it was going to be so nice. . ."

"You don't even know what's going on. Maybe it isn't as bad as you think," he suggested, but his chest tightened because he knew that wasn't the case.

"Maybe," she offered and went to the cabin.

He quickly got in step with her as he tried to keep his mind from going to all of the dark places his imagination was creating.

He paced in the kitchen as she called Director Clapper, and only hearing her side of the conversation was making his insides twist. He could tell she was getting mad but he couldn't tell why exactly.

"Damn it! I told you Riker was an idiot! No!. . . He should have. . . I know!"

Hotch got more and more worried as he watched her ball her free hand into a fist.

"I'd make him. . . Alright. . . Yes," she told Clapper.

When her face scrunched up in disgust and she kicked the island, Hotch winced. Son of a bitch! What the hell is going on? He took a deep breath to try and calm his heart.

"Yes, Jim. Of course. . . Ok. . . I'll be ready," she finished and then ended then call. She looked at her watch and then shook her head slowly and turned to her husband.

"So?" Hotch drew out. When he saw her visibly swallow, his heart skipped a beat.

She inhaled through her noise. "I'm sorry, Aaron, but I have to go. . ."

He nodded and took a step toward the bedroom. "We can be packed and in the car in five. . ." he started.

She shook her head. "Actually, Jim's already sent a chopper."

"A helicopter? Jesus! What the hell is going on?"

She shook her head again. "A CIA strike team has gotten themselves into trouble down in South America. Jim wants us to go down and help them."

"South America?" he asked as his brows reached his hairline. "What kind of trouble? What exactly are you saying, Babe?"

She stepped to him and put her hand on his chest. "Calm down, Hun. I am not going to do anything except be in the command center. I'm just coordinating everything."

He took a breath and calmed down a little. "You won't be in the field?"

She gave him a small smile. "Not unless it becomes absolutely necessary. I know you don't like that. . ."

"It's not that. . ." he started to defend himself.

"I know," she agreed and then gave him a smile. "But I think the team can handle this without me holding their hands."

He straightened up. "So you're taking Chuck and them?"

She nodded. "Of course."

"And Cam?"

She shook her head. "No. He's staying in his office in Langley so he can run his sats."

He smiled mentally. Then maybe Garcia can keep us in the loop. He gave her a grim look. "But if a helicopter is picking you up, that means that you won't be able to tell the kids goodbye."

"I'll video chat with them from the rendezvous point in South Carolina."

"What about your stuff, your bag?"

"Chuck will bring it."

He took a deep breath. "Alright."

She turned towards the door. "I guess I better hurry; they'll be here soon."

He looked back towards the bedroom where all of their stuff was and then looked at her opening the door. "Where are you going?" he asked as he caught up with her.

She frowned. "I have to go clean everything up," she told him as they went down the porch stairs.

"I'll help," he told her as he grabbed her hand and she led him into the trees. When he saw what she had prepared, he sighed. There was a blanket spread out on the ground, a picnic basket next to it, and a bucket with a few beers on ice.

She saw him looking dejected and she wrapped her arm around his waist. "I'm so sorry, Hun. We just can't seem to catch a break."

He pulled her around in front of him and he put his hands on her waist. "I know."

She gave him a small smile. "We'll plan something when I get back."

He nodded but mentally sighed. Unless I'm on a case. She pulled away from him and bent down and picked up the blanket. He went to the basket and opened it. He chuckled and looked at her. "Sandwiches?"

She shrugged. "There wasn't much to choose from. The oysters were dead," she told him as she folded the blanket.

He shut the basket and picked it and the pail of beers up. "How long do you think you'll be gone?"

The edges of her mouth quirked as she thought about it. "I wouldn't think it would take more than a day once we're there."

He appraised her. "So maybe two days?"

She nodded as they turned back to the cabin. As they walked, she wrapped her arm around his waist. "I'll be back before you even start to miss me."

He huffed. "I miss you already."

She giggled and they both looked toward the sky as a loud beating noise told them a helicopter was approaching.

"Damn, that was quick."

She pulled away from him as she quickened her steps and basically jumped onto the porch.

"Where the hell are they even going to land?" he asked as they made their way inside.

She turned back to him and grinned. "They're not," she told him and went and grabbed her phone.

He shook his head. "Is that even going to work where you're headed?" he asked as he placed the basket and stuff on the island and then pointed at her hand.

She looked down at the phone and then back to him. "Probably not. I'll call you on the sat phone if need be."

He pulled her to him. "You'll call me as soon as everything is over?"

She smiled. "I'll call you if anything changes, too. I won't do anything without you knowing, Hun."

He nodded as he looked her in the eyes. "I just want to know. . ." he paused as her phone vibrated.

She looked at it and then looked at him. "They're here."

His heart skipped a beat as worry filled his chest, but he led her to the door and out onto the porch. He saw the helicopter lowering a cable and his stomach clenched. Son of a bitch! That's how you're getting on there?

She felt him tense and rubbed a hand down his arm. "I've done it a thousand times, Aaron."

He gave her a look that said it didn't matter; he still didn't like it and then pulled her to his chest and hugged her tightly. "Promise me you'll be careful?"

"Of course. Give the kids a kiss and a hug for me, and be careful driving home."

He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss, but she pulled him back to her lips and gave him a kiss that showed him exactly how much she loved him. His mind flashed to the helicopter and whoever was in it, but the thought of his wife going away on a dangerous mission overpowered his normal aversion to showing deep affection in front of others. He pulled her closer as one hand went to the small of her back and the other went to the back of her neck and he deepened the kiss even further.

She melted into him for a few moments and then forced herself away from him and her heart ached for having to leave him. "I gotta go."

He licked his lips as he tried to get his breathing back under control. "I know."

"I'll be fine, Hun."

He forced a smile for her benefit, but his chest was tightening. "I know; that's the only way you know how to be."

She gave him a smile. "I love you," she told him as she grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

He returned the gesture and locked eyes with her. "I love you more."

She giggled as she stepped away from him, and he held her hand as long as he could. He sighed as he watched her make her way to the lowered cable. Please, God, watch over her and bring her back home safely.

Once she got to the cable, she put her foot in the loop at the bottom, wrapped her forearm around it, and then held on with her hand and signaled the man in the chopper. Hotch watched as she ascended and she gave him a small wave. He waved back, but once she got about fifteen feet up in the air, he had to turn away; fear of her falling made his stomach lurch.

Suddenly his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and shook his head. 'You can look now. I'm safely sitting down inside it.' He looked up just as the helicopter banked to the left and started away.

'Be safe!' he sent her.

'You, too!'

He took a deep breath and watched until he could no longer see the helicopter. Please be safe, Babe.