So, it's been TWO whole years since i've posted here and I feel pretty sad about it :( I'm back now though and hope to post once a month until I run out of ideas. I have a new blog dedicated to my writing especially with this story. It can be found at .com.

The smell of antiseptic and cologne filled his nostrils; it was an odd combination. The obnoxiously bright lights were trying to assault his eyes although they were closed. All of this combined with the rough, scratchy sheets and it was apparent that he was in some kind of medical facility; the hospital. The last thing he remembered was a loud flash and a crushing feeling before it all went dark.

Slowly the pain seeped into his body as he became more conscious. There was a dull ache that felt like damage to his ribs, a cage like structure on his left knee and a cast covering his left hand. Clearly the flash had been some kind of explosive. Now he was thinking more clearly he could tell that the cologne belonged to his unit chief and the small hand on his uninjured one was likely to be Jack's. The one thing he had failed to notice until now was that there was a ringing in his ears that spoke to damage to his hearing.

Reid forced his eyes open slowly, ignoring how the lights hurt even more than he had anticipated. As he had surmised both Hotchner's were moving their mouths as if to talk to him but he couldn't hear even a little bit. The younger Hotchner squeezed his okay hand to let him know that he understood. "Deaf."

Aaron hadn't seen the young operative wake up. It was the excited babbling of his son that pulled him from his trance like state. All of the various surgeries had been a success and Reid would walk with a slight limp for a while but that was nothing that physiotherapy couldn't fix. The real worry was his hearing. The doctor had told him that Reid's hearing may return, it might not. It was all a waiting game.

"Jack, Reid is having trouble hearing right now. Maybe you should wait outside with uncle Rossi."
"No, the magician might need me. I can sign to him. Kelly can't hear at school so she taught us." The young man argued and moved his hands to sign what he was speaking to back up his point. He rolled his eyes and hugged his son before moving his chair to sit closer to his agent. He helped Reid to sit more upright.

"Do you want a whiteboard (*) Reid? To write on?" Jack signed and Reid simply nodded slightly and tried his best to smile despite the pain. Rossi, Garcia, Morgan and JJ filed in, all looking uncomfortably upset. He could see that Garcia had been crying and was trying to stop herself from flinging herself at him. He tried to put on his best wince-free smile and the effect that it had on the room made him fairly certain he had fooled a room full of profilers. Aaron put on his serious face and everyone in the room frowned again. He'd obviously explained the situation.

The days spent in the hospital passed quicker than he thought although he knew that time was constant and couldn't really move any quicker or slower. His hearing was coming back slowly although at the moment all he could hear was indescribable sounds. The whiteboard that Jack had given him had proven to be very useful; being ambidextrous had it's uses. His knee was healing nicely and his hand could come out of it's cast within the next few weeks. His hearing was still hit or miss. You can go home today, Reid. Dad said that you should come stay with us. Can you? I'm not sure. You should be at school. Summer break. Please. Please. Please. If Hotch is sure.

"It's fine. You're more than welcome." Hotch said, looking directly at Reid and speaking slowly so he knew he would be able to read his lips. The medical consultant for the FBI had signed all the relevant documents that meant Reid was free to go as long as he was supervised for the next two weeks while he began his recovery away from the hospital. Hotch sent his son home with Haleys sister Jessica. The first few days would be easier with the two of them.

The Unit Chief stood by his car with one eyebrow raised watching as Reid insisted that he could get into the car by himself…On one leg… With crutches. Needless to say it didn't go his way. Hotch rolled his eyes and helped the young man into his car, putting the crutches on the back seat. The drive back to his house was silent and Reid spent his time contemplating how he could convince Hotch to let him go back to work as soon as humanly possible.

"I'll set up the guest room for you." Aaron said to Reid once he had him settled on the couch. The young man was pretending that he was independent but the other man saw the pain in his eyes when he tried to move. He got the young man the pile of their current cases and a drink; that would keep him busy long enough for Hotch to make up the room. Reid had told him before the explosion that he had finally been sleeping through the night without any issues. He himself had not been so lucky.

The young agent was sound asleep when he had returned from making up the spare room and returning all of Jack's toys to their bin. He grabbed the blanket from the other couch and covered him, taking the case that was laid on the young man's chest and placing it safely in the drawer. The mac and cheese that Aaron had decided to cook - Spencer's favourite - was beginning to get cold when he finally decided to wake the young man up.

"C'mon." He said, feeling stupid because he knew Reid couldn't hear him whether he was asleep or not. He put a hand on his hair and ran his fingers through it gently. "Mmm... Wake." The young man stirred and smiled when he saw Hotch sitting on the floor by the couch. Reid locked eyes with him and stared into his brown eyes sleepily for what felt like forever. He may have been imagining things in his medicinal haze but he could have sworn he saw Hotch move in closer and then thought better of it. Strange.

"My favourite" Reid said and Aaron grinned triumphantly. The silence between them was lengthy but amicable as they ate their food. Once they were done and the dishes had been washed they decided to sit and watch a movie. Aaron settled on Die Hard; it was a guilty pleasure of his. Aaron turned off the light, turned on the subtitles and sat by Reid on the couch. Throughout the duration of the movie he was consciously aware that the other man was slowly falling asleep again; moving closer to him. He decided to bridge the gap and pulled him into his side, wrapping his arm around his waist.

* I'm not sure whether this is an English term? It's like a dry erase board thing?