Prompt: This week's prompt involves song-related one-shots. I'm going to leave it very open, all I ask is that you pick a song or pieces of several songs that you like and relate it to CM. It could be related to a scene from the show, a character, however you want. Since it is thn's idea, I kind of want her to post first so that she gets first dibs and so that her one-shot can kind of serve as an example. Good luck!

A/N: This is sort of my take on what could happen after next week's big episode. The song used is "Hang" by Matchbox 20.


Aaron Hotchner sat in the waiting room with his head back against the wall. This must be what Hell feels like, he thought as he waited. And waited. And waited some more.

A faint song played through the hallways, and thought he wasn't really paying attention, the lyrics found their way into his head. As the song played on, he closed his eyes and relived the worst day of his life. Well, that is, the worst day of his life until today.

.

She grabs her magazines, she packs her things and she goes.

She leaves the pictures hanging on the wall, she burns all her notes.

And she knows, she's been here too few years to feel this old.

.

He smokes his cigarette, he stays outside 'till it's gone.

If anybody ever had a heart, he wouldn't be alone.

He knows, she's been here too few years, to be gone.

.

He walked in the front door and realized immediately that something wasn't right. It was quiet…eerily quiet. He walked through the living room and called her name. When she didn't answer he went upstairs. And one of his worst fears became reality. The drawers stood open…empty. Only his clothes hung in their closet. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe. That simple task became harder and harder as he went into his only son's room and found it just as empty. He didn't sleep that night. He didn't leave his son's room. He sat on Jack's bed and cried.

.

The trouble, understand, is she got reasons he don't.

Funny how he couldn't see at all, 'til she grabbed up her coat.

And she goes, she's been here too few years to take it all in stride.

But still it's much too long, to let hurt go (you let her go).

.

"Please don't leave me again."

He didn't realize he'd said it out loud until the comforting hand of his best friend found his shoulder.

"Haley's strong, Aaron. She'll pull through this. She'll hang on."

Hotch looked up, his eyes filled with the unshed tears he fought so desperately to hang on to. David Rossi was standing over him.

"I thought the day she left me was the worst day of my life," Hotch said as he shook his head, keeping his eyes down. "You know, I got through the divorce by convincing myself that she and Jack were safer away from me. But now…" He choked on his words.

"He went after them because of me, to get to me. She's fighting for her life because of me. And now Jack may lose his mother…"

"Aaron," Rossi knelt down in front of him, trying to meet his eyes, "this was not your fault. You didn't do this, Foyet did. He is the only one to blame here. Not you. And now, thanks to you, he can never hurt another soul ever again."

Hotch wouldn't meet his eyes. It didn't matter what Rossi said. He would blame himself for this for the rest of his life.

.

And we always say, it would be good to go away, someday.

But if there's nothing there to make things change,

If it's the same for you I'll just hang.

.

"Agent Hotchner?"

Both men jumped to their feet at the sound of the doctor's voice.

"How is she?" Hotch asked, no longer able to conceal the panic in his voice.

The doctor smiled. "She's a fighter. She lost a lot of blood but her injuries were not as severe as we had feared. She's going to be sore for a while, while the wounds heal, but I see no reason why she shouldn't recover fully."

They let out the collective breath they were holding.

"When can I see her?"

"In about an hour. I'll come get you once she's settled in ICU."

"Thank you." The doctor nodded and left.

Rossi put his hand once again on Hotch's shoulder, only this time he got a response. Unexpectedly, Hotch turned and hugged him. Rossi, knowing how out of character the gesture was, started to pull away until he noticed Hotch wasn't letting go. Then he heard the sharp intake of breath and realized Hotch was finally allowing himself to be completely overcome by all the pain and emotion he'd kept under lock and key for so long.

.

The same for you I'll always hang.

Well I always say, it would be good to go away.

But if things don't work out like we think,

And there's nothing there to ease this ache,

But if there's nothing there to make things change,

If it's the same for you, I'll just hang.

.

"I've got you, son," Rossi whispered as he kept his arms around him and let him cry.