"There would be no passion in this world if we never had to fight for what we love." Susie Switzer
As Hotch started his work week he couldn't help but be distracted. Everyone knew his pain, and even though he was an incredibly private person he couldn't help but wear the pain on his sleeve. He had spent so many years hiding his feelings, pushing those emotions so far down he wondered if he could even feel. When Haley died he wondered if he could ever feel anything besides pain again. He explained to the team that he would be staying in Quantico while they went to Charleston, South Carolina. No one questioned him. He would still be in touch with them and work the case but he just didn't have the heart to put on the brave face this week.
He tried calling the hospital but she was discharged. He tried her number but she changed it, which he was happy about.
Gabby barely got out of bed for the next week. Not that her father minded waiting on her hand and foot. She hated putting him out that like. But what she hated the most was needing someone. Everyone changed the way they saw her. She was damaged, her body was broken, and she was violated. Who could love her after that?
She knew she shouldn't blame herself and it was his entire fault. It was his obsession and his anger and hatred that caused this. But she couldn't help blaming herself. If she hadn't been with Aaron…
She also knew deep down that Daniel was watching her before. She would get that feeling of someone staring at you. She could get "surprise" packages on her steps on their last two anniversaries. It was never anything special and no name was ever given but she knew. She knew he was still here in D.C and she knew he was going to hurt her again and she did nothing.
She would have to go to court and explain everything he did—in detail. Aaron would be there. No way could she be intimate again. She had completely pushed that from her mind. And those feelings she had for Aaron were easily ignored. Her mom would be up from Arizona in a few days but honestly she just wished everyone would pretend it didn't happen.
They all looked at her with sad eyes. No one said anything and no one asked her if she was ok but they couldn't hide it in their eyes. She forced herself out of bed and went to the restroom. When she first came home her father had went with her, although she begged him not to he stayed right outside the door. It took forever for her to pee when he did that.
Weeks passed, Hotch got back into the groove and only thought of Gabby every two seconds instead of every second. Jack kept him very busy and he stayed engrossed in his job, but her face so perfect and her raven hair…he could only not think of her for a few moments.
Gabby was moving around pretty well and most of her bruises had faded or were that ugly yellow before they disappear. She had moved back into her place against the expressed objections of both her father and her mother—something they could agree on for once. But she knew she couldn't stay or she would slip into the darkest places in her mind where she would eventually kill herself. She looked at her phone, debating on calling him. She set the phone back down and double checked the locks to which she added 3 more. Her father had cleaned up the apartment and started to box things up before she told him she wouldn't be moving in with him.
She hadn't really left the house since she moved in. But she felt like maybe it would be a good idea. She thought maybe a drink or two would be fun. She dressed up, although she didn't wear what she would normally wear to the club.
"I just think it would be nice for us all to go out for a few drinks after this case." Emily explained to her boss.
"I don't see the point. I really just want to go home." Aaron answered.
"It's not like you would do anything at home aside from more case work. Take a break, lately you've been here working or at home working. You need to get out. I mean ever since Daniel…Hotch I am sorry." She quickly tried to recover.
"It's ok Emily. Ok fine but only for one drink." He reasoned.
"One drink of my choice?" She flirted a little.
"No." He smiled. The rest of the team all had a smile of approval that their boss had agreed to go out.
Gabby walked into the club and not even ten minutes later had already downed three shots of tequila.
"You know you should slow down if you want to walk out of her by yourself at the end of the night." The bartender commented.
"I'll worry about that myself." She stated ordering another two shots and a beer.
"Alright, but just know I enforce my right to cut you off if things get out of hand."
"Got it boss. Hit me up another one." She said finishing the first shot and taking a swig from her beer.
She scanned the room noticing the couples, noticing the women waiting for a man to make a move. She bobbed her head to the loud beat of whatever mix song was playing.
Hotch went home changed into a pair of jeans and a dark grey top and checked with Jessica and Jack. Jessica was a godsend and she understood his need to get out for a bit without work.
He combed his fingers through his hair as he sat down next to Emily and Rossi. He ordered a beer and nursed it slowly.
He scanned the room noticing all the exits and that's when she caught his eye.
Gabby was headed to the bathroom area with a blonde curly hair blue eyes guy. Hotch moved instantly towards them without thought. Maybe it was just his eyes playing tricks on him and it wasn't her.
He knew her body too well for it to not be her.
Gabby pushed the man up against the empty bathroom stall. It wasn't the perfect place for this but she really didn't care. She needed this. She needed to feel again. She slowly started to remove his belt and didn't bother shutting the stall door. She didn't care at all who saw her.
The guy cupped her breasts but they both were sloppy drunk, sloppily kissing and touching each other.
Hotch walked in slowly, searching quickly the urinal area, then he slowly opened the first stall door.
Gabby moaned slightly as the man slide a finger into her. Her panties rested on his shoulder her foot was on the top of the toilet. Hotch finally reached the last stall and with horror saw the two enthralled in each other.
"What the fuck!" The guy called out as Hotch yanked him off of Gabby.
"Dude, what the hell is your problem?" The man asked.
"Get the fuck out of here." Hotch stated without taking his eyes off Gabby.
"What? Gabby is this guy your dad?" He asked trying to force his drunken brain to work out the situation at hand.
"No. He used to be my lover." She responded not breaking eye contact with Hotch.
"This shit is messed up. I am out of here." It didn't matter if he had stayed; neither Gabby nor Hotch paid him any attention. She crossed her arms over her chest slightly pushing her breasts up.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked noting her bruises had faded but the scars on her arm were still visible.
"I don't answer to you. Get out of my way." She snapped trying to push past him.
"No, you don't, but you tell me to leave you alone for a while, then I find you hooking up in a bathroom stall. This is not you." He stated.
"Oh, cause the two time we have spent alone has given you plenty of time to 'know who I am' right? Sorry I think you were a little busy both times fucking me to get to know me." She retorted.
"What is your problem? What happened between us was consensual. Don't cheapen it." He replied.
"Just leave me alone like I asked." She said putting her head down trying to hide the tears. In truth she knew that he was probably the only person who really knew her. Even though they didn't spend much time together he knew her. And she knew him. They shared something with each other neither of them knew could happen again. But she couldn't deal with that now.
"Are you in counseling?" He asked following her out of the men's restroom.
"Leave. Me. The. Fuck. Alone." She said punctually.
"You need help. You shouldn't be acting out this way. I can set you up with someone to help you." He tried again.
"MY GOD! I told you I don't want you in my life anymore. You were fun while it lasted but let's not pretend we care about each other. Let's not pretend you care at all." She tried to grab her keys from the bartender.
"You're not driving home like this." Hotch stated taking the keys from the bartender before she could take them. He took her arm rather harshly and put into the passenger seat of his SUV.