Hello everyone! First off, thank you to all who have voted for my story on the Profilers Choice Awards 2013! It meant a lot that my story was nominated so thank you to all!
I apologize for not updating as much as I wish to, school is simply brutal! Essays and labs seem easy but not when they are piled up onto one another! It's now the holiday vacations and I have a month to just relax before it all starts again .. Life of a college student, it's so rough!
Anyhow, here is the follow up! Hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
It had been four days since they discovered that Lynch and a doctor at the hospital had been trying to murder Garcia. Rossi had done everything he could, called all his contacts but nobody wished to open Penelope Garcia's file. ''Come on Oliver, you owe me one!'' he said, ''I'm sorry Dave but I just can't. I don't have the clearance to open her file. What you got is what I got'' replied Oliver. Rossi hung up and resolved himself that he wouldn't be able to get the full file.
''What the hell did you do to get a file like this Kitten?'' he whispered to himself as he went over the blackened pages. Only a word or two stuck out, the rest were highlighted in black. With a deep sigh he headed back to the hospital where it was his turn to stay by her side. The new doctor had said that she would be alright, that she will wake up when she feels like it, ''it was after all a traumatic experience for Ms .Garcia'' he had said the previous night.
As Rossi drove towards the hospital, he couldn't help thinking about Hotch. He was holding something back but refused to talk about it; ''stop trying to get inside my head'' he had replied angrily two days ago when Rossi tried yet again to see what his friend was hiding. Rossi knew that Hotch knew he could talk to him but for some reason he refused to. He shook his head, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He knew that Garcia had been in love with Hotch for a long time, figured it out the first time he met her. He had observed Hotch for months and never saw anything that led him to believe that he returned her feelings; he treated her the same as everyone else. Rossi knew everybody at the Hoover building loved Garcia, what wasn't there to love anyways? She was the kindest person he had ever met, everybody would be willing to die to save her. The Hoover building felt cold without Garcia and everybody looked like they were about the murder one another. Why was Hotch treating her the same as everybody else? Did he love her and kept control on his emotions that way or was it simply because he didn't think she was something special? All this thinking was giving him a headache.
Hotch had hardly slept since the whole thing had happened. He hadn't seen her ghost either since four days ago. He wondered why she wasn't coming to him, did it mean that she was getting better and would be waking up soon? Rossi arrived in the room and looked at Hotch carefully, ''when's the last time you slept?'' he asked. Hotch just shrugged, ''where's Jack?'' he tried again. ''At a camp with a couple friends'' he answered in a monotone voice.
Rossi sighed and sat down across from Hotch. ''I tried Aaron, but nobody has what it needs to open her file. Hell, I even tried Strauss and she doesn't have the clearance for it, neither does the director of the FBI'' he said. Aaron hung his head, ''none of this makes any sense. Why the hell would her ex boyfriend try to kill her? A revenge for breaking up with him? What about the doctor?'' he couldn't continue anymore. He desperately wanted to see her, to hear her voice. He wanted to tell her that he loved her.
''You're in love with her, aren't you?'' said Rossi casually. Hotch looked at him, wondering how he had figured it out and if he should tell him or not. Hotch had heard from Garcia that her and Rossi weren't dating but he still had his doubts about the whole thing. 'Yeah, I love her. Been in love with her for a while now'' he said with a sigh. Rossi just smiled, ''I'm glad for you. She's good Aaron, she'll keep you grounded when you fear you'll go airborne'' he said. Hotch smiled and then looked at him. Rossi looked at Garcia with adoration, ''do you love her?'' he asked suddenly. Rossi smiled, ''I do, but not like you. She's like my best friend or my daughter, but not a lover. I'd give it a chance though if it were to happen but I don't feel that way towards her.'' Hotch nodded but wasn't fully convinced, ''Aaron. I knew since I first met her she was in love with you. I don't walk into other peoples territory, you know that. She loved you and I pushed her towards you. We're not lovers, never were and never will be.'' Hotch closed his eyes a minute, ''are you seriously doubting me?'' Rossi asked. ''Why was she at your place? It's not a secret at the office that you two are close. Morgan seems to think that you two are together'' answered Hotch. Rossi sighed, ''we're good friends. She comes over every week, helps me unwind in a none sexual way. We talk, I teach her how to cook, play some video games, drink, and that's it. Morgan can think all he wants but we're not involved in any way'' he said.
A doctor came in, ''Dr. Hamilton'' greeted Hotch as he moved to let him get to the monitors. ''Agent Hotchner, Agent Rossi'' he greeted back. ''Agent Hotchner, you should consider going to bed, you look like you will pass out at any moment'' he said with a concerned look. Hotch smiled, ''don't worry about it, Doc. Agent Hotchner is a stubborn mule and will go to bed when things turn out well again. It might be better to sedate him to make him sleep instead of prescribing it'' replied Rossi before Hotch could say a word. He was met with one of Hotch's famous glares, to which he only smiled. The doctor smiled at the agents and returned to his task.
''How is she doing?'' asked Hotch. ''All looks well. She doesn't seem to have any long term injuries or trauma due to what the other doctor did. I assume she will wake up soon'' he said. Hotch looked at Rossi and then at the doctor again, ''when will she wake up?'' asked Hotch. The doctor smiled, ''My answer hasn't changed from yesterday, agent Hotchner. She will wake up on her own time. This was a traumatic experience; first the car accident and then being nearly killed by a doctor. When she feels safe and ready, she will wake up. It may be in a couple hours, a couple weeks, just like it can be next month or in a year. She'll wake up when she is ready'' he said before leaving. Hotch sat down again and put his head in his hands.
''Penelope, please wake up. We all miss you, I miss you. Penelope, I love you'' said Hotch with a small sob. He held her hand and let the tears fall freely.
So what did you all think of this chapter? Love it? Hate it? You could do better? As always, I love receiving comments, it brings a smile to my face! :)
I will update as soon as possible, not sure when but hopefully before I have to return to school! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)