AN: So, this is a short chapter for me but I liked how it ended so the next section I have in mind will start chapter 12. Hope you enjoy it. Jekkah, here is your Birthday chapter for this year. Sorry it's late!
The sound of the tires turning on the pavement seemed to be thundering in his ears as Hotch steered his SUV in the direction of the hospital. It was a sound that he often found soothing, as he knew it was getting him to where he wanted, or needed, to be. This evening though, there was nothing soothing about it. All he wanted was to be back at the hospital and be able to see for himself that Will really was holding his own.
Hotch knew the delay at the apartment was fueling his anxiousness now. He had been hoping to simply drop off the boys and Alice's luggage and then head for the hospital, knowing that Will's mother was anxious to see her son.
Henry, however, had other plans.
The young boy had been talkative on the way home from Regan International Airport. The excitement of seeing his grandmother had allowed Henry to forget about his father being hurt for a little bit. With Alice responding at the appropriate places to her grandson's chatter, and Jack interjecting comments when he could, Hotch had been able to concentrate on his driving instead of trying to keep small talk going.
Jessica had changed the sheets on Will's bed and freshened up the apartment a bit by the time they had arrived home from the airport. Upon their arrival, Jessica had attempted to distract the boys while Hotch had shown Alice to Will's room. He figured it was the easiest arrangement until Will was released from the hospital and he could make other arraignments then. Henry was determined not to be separated from his grandmother though. The young boy escorted his grandmother to his Daddy's room and offered to help her unpack. As Alice had tried to explain to Henry that she was going to wait to unpack until she got back from visiting his Daddy, Henry wanted to go. Over her grandson's cries, Alice tried to explain to him why he couldn't go at this time.
Alice was able to make headway with her grandson, and she and Hotch had finally left while Jessica held tightly to Henry. The little boy was screaming at the top of his lungs that he wanted to come with him and see his daddy. Though neither of them had said anything, Hotch had a feeling that Alice felt just as guilty about it as he did. Unfortunately, it couldn't be helped given the hospital's visitation rules. Hotch was hopeful he might be able to get special permission to bring Henry by for a short visit the next day. He had a feeling that both father and son would benefit from it.
Finally, Hotch was able to pull the SUV between two white lines in the hospital's parking lot. Shutting off the vehicle, Hotch quickly got out and hurried around to the passenger side to open Alice's door.
"Thank-you," Alice murmured softly as she accepted Hotch's helping hand from the vehicle. Not that she needed help climbing out of the vehicle but it was nice to know that manners hadn't been lost on the younger generation.
"You're welcome," Hotch murmured, shutting the door behind her and then the two of them headed across the parking lot side by side.
Knowing where he was going, Hotch walked right by the information desk to the bank of elevators that would take him to the unit Will was on. He wanted to say something reassuring to Alice but everything he thought of sounded like flimsy platitudes in his head. Perhaps this was one of those situations where his simple presence was more comforting than anything he could say.
Walking onto the recovery unit, Hotch stepped up to the nurse's station to check in with the head nurse.
"He's doing well considering the circumstances," the nurse, whose name tag read Doris, told him when Hotch told her who they were there to see. "Vital signs have been stable and he's been awake off and on. His sister just left here a half hour ago."
Hotch mentally cursed himself for not mentioning the little white lie Sarah Merson had told so that she could see her partner following the surgery. To his relief, Alice didn't so much as bat an eye at the nurse's words.
"Yeah, she probably needed to get home to put her kids to bed," Hotch replied, trying to play along with Sarah's story. "We're probably not going to stay long ourselves as late as it is," he assured the nurse."
The nurse nodded politely. "If you need anything or have any questions just let one of the staff members know."
"Thank-you," Hotch replied, stepping away from the desk.
Alice followed his lead, falling into step with her son's boyfriend. When she was sure they were far enough away from any hospital staff that they wouldn't be overheard she whispered, "When did I end up with a daughter?"
Hotch glanced over to find Alice looking up at him with questioning eyes. "Will's partner, Detective Merson, told the surgeon that she was his sister so that she would be allowed to see him."
"Sounds like a smart girl," Alice replied with admiration in her voice.
"As close as the two of them are, it's not really much of a stretch. The two of them care about each other as much as any siblings would," Hotch replied thinking about his own brother. Though he and Sean were often at odds with each other, there wasn't much that Hotch wouldn't do for his younger brother. Being a sibling wasn't just about getting along. It was about being there when it really mattered.
"Good. Will's had nothing but good things to say about his partner up here, but it's a relief to hear someone else say they're close. Will isn't the type of person to talk badly about anyone and with him being a cop, it's a relief to know he's got someone watching his back who takes that job seriously."
"Will is well liked and respected by the metro police force," Hotch assured her, thinking about the crowd he had witnessed in the surgical waiting room earlier. "Don't be surprised to find officers dropping in to check up on him once he's allowed visitors."
"I would welcome it. I've always worried about Will being a police officer, just like I worried about his father. Since he moved up north, and I can't meet the people he's working with, I've got to admit I worry a little bit more."
At a lost for words once again, Hotch reached out and took the older woman's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He wouldn't even try to talk her out of her worry, because a career in any branch of law enforcement was dangerous, as he knew first hand.
"Will is serving with some fine officers," Hotch assured her instead as they reached Will's room.
Falling silent, Hotch allowed Alice to proceed him into the room, stopping quickly behind her as the older woman stopped a few steps in. His skills as a profiler weren't needed to interpret her concerned gasp.
Hotch could hardly blame her. Will's face was as pale as the snow that fell during the winter's month, and the bandages enveloping his left shoulder were partially visible underneath the blue hospital gown. Hotch didn't even bother counting the number of things attached to the Cajun, though the steady beeping of the heart machine and slow but even rise and fall of Will's chest were reassuring signs. Having seen him briefly earlier, Hotch had known what he was walking into. He was starting to wish he had thought to prepare Alice a little bit better.
"Hey mom, you didn't have to come," Will said softly from the bed, prompting Alice to move from the spot she had frozen on.
"Yeah, like that was going to happen," Alice replied, stepping toward the hospital bed. Approaching the right side of the bed, she reached out and took her son's hand, mindful of the IV there. "I don't care how far you kids move away, if one of you needs me, I'm going to be here and I plan on hanging around until you're well on your way to recovery."
"Thanks, mom," Will said, squeezing her hand slightly. Moving his head slightly he looked toward Hotch who was hanging back toward the door. "And I guess I pulled you away from the case. I"m sorry."
Hotch shook his head as he took a step forward. "The team can handle the case," he assured his boyfriend, as he moved to stand next to Alice. "There is no need for you to apologize," he added. "What happened was out of your control. Now, if you had shot yourself while cleaning your gun or something, then you would owe me an apology."
Will gave a tired chuckle at Hotch's words before asking, "How's Henry?"
"He's at home with Jessica," Hotch assured him. 'He's a little upset but don't worry about him. We'll take care of him and as soon as I can get it okayed I'll bring him in for a visit."
"I feel bad that I can't be there for him and he doesn't even have his mother around either. Yet, I know if JJ were here, than you wouldn't be able to and I'd rather have you here," Will admitted, holding Hotch's gaze. "I know that's selfish though. I shouldn't be putting my wants ahead of what Henry needs."
"You're not. Henry is going to be well-taken care of between Jessica, your mother and myself," Hotch assured him.
"Besides, it's only natural for you to want the person you love here at a time like this," Alice assured her son, still holding his hand. "I'm glad to see you've got someone in your life who cares so much about you and Henry, although this wasn't the circumstance I wanted to meet Aaron under."
"Believe me, this isn't the way I wanted you to meet him either," Will told her. "You're really okay with this though?"
Alice could hear the same doubt in her son's voice as she had heard when he was visiting her in New Orleans. "I love you unconditionally, Will. All I want is for you to be happy."
Will nodded as his eyes started to drift shut.
Alice leaned over and kissed his forehead. "I'll be back in the morning," she told him. "Right now I think you need to get some sleep."
"I don't think that is going to be a problem," Will replied, already drifting back toward sleep.
"Goodnight, son," she said, leaning down to kiss his forehead again. Alice gave the hand she was holding one more reassuring squeeze before letting go and stepping away from the bed.
As Alice moved away from the bed, Hotch stepped up closer to the head of the bed. "I'll be back in the morning," he told Will.
"Okay," Will replied sleepily, his eyes still closed.
From her spot near the doorway, Alice smiled as she watched Hotch lean down to give Will a quick good-bye kiss. It was a good feeling to know that her baby boy was finally in a relationship where the other person loved him just as much as Will loved them. She had known before how much Will cared about Aaron. Now that she had met him, albeit it be for a short amount of time, she could see that Aaron cared about Will, and Henry, just as much. Every interaction she'd had with her son's boyfriend today had shown her that and the fact that he was willing to kiss him in front of her just sealed the deal.
Alice saw Hotch's lips move as he spoke a few final words. She may not have been able to hear the words but she still knew what his parting words were. They were the same three words she had said to Will's father before he had left for work each morning.