Chapter 14
Hotch drove as fast as he could to his old house. When he got there, he did an entire police search of the house. There, lying in a pool of blood was the corpse of Haley Hotchner. He picked her up and cradled her. He looked around. Something wasn't right. There, he saw a figure hiding in the windows and he shot at the figure three times. He looked over. It was George Foyet—and he was wearing a vest. Foyet lunged for Hotch. They fought all over the house. They rolled down the stairs.
"After I finish you," taunted Foyet, "I'm gonna find that little bastard son of yours. Then I'm gonna show him both of his dead parents and tell him it was all your fault. Then I'm gonna-"
Hotch wacked him hard. But, Foyet kept going.
"Then I'm gonna find Denise and Anna and I'm gonna make Anna watch as I-"
That did it. Hotch punched Foyet as hard as he could. He didn't stop. He headbutted the man. All he could see was rage. All of Foyet's victims, Haley, Denise, Anna, Jack—he didn't care anymore.
"Hotch, stop!" the unit chief heard a voice, "he's dead. Hotch,it's over! It's over!" Morgan was cradling the distraught man.
Hotch was in tears and ran up to his office. Where's Jack? What if he's- But, Hotch opened the trunk and Jack's little voice rang out, "I worked the case with you Daddy, just like you said."
Hotch hugged the little boy as tight as he could.
"Go outside with Agent Jareau," he commanded, his voice barely a whisper. Then, he grabbed his phone.
Denise was pacing frantically around her parents' house. What if he's dead she thought. Oh no. Suddenly, the phone rang.
"Aaron?!" Denise breathed.
"Denise!"
"Are you—are you okay?"
Hotch broke down, sobbing.
"He killed...killed...Haley!" Hotch cried.
Denise cried too.
"I'm SO sorry, Aaron! What about you?"
"I'm a little banged up, but I'll live. Denise, he's gone. I killed him. With my own hands." Hotch was still shaking.
"I'm sorry you had to do that. At least he's not in our lives anymore. What about Jack? Tell me the bastard didn't-"
"Jack's fine. I had him hide in a trunk. How's Anna?"
"She's worried about you. And I am too. I'm gonna tell the pharmacy and daycare that lockdown is over."
"Put Anna on the phone," Hotch commanded.
"Anna, Daddy wants to talk to you," Denise finally said.
"Daddy?" Anna asked.
"Anna, are you alright?"
"I..I miss you," Anna cried, "please don't leave again."
"I won't," Hotch could barely keep his composure, "listen, Anna. There's no more bad guy. He can't hurt us anymore."
"You got the bad guy?"
"Yeah, I got the bad guy," Hotch gave a small smile. Denise got the phone from Anna.
"I'm coming over," Denise said.
"Denise, I don't think you should."
"I said I'm coming over right now. Aaron, you don't need to be alone during this time. Anna needs you and quite frankly, so do I."
"Okay."
"Maybe Jack can meet Anna."
"Jack doesn't quite understand everything that's going on."
"It's probably better that way. I'm catching the first flight out. I love you Aaron Michael Hotchner," Denise choked out.
"I...I... love... you..too," Hotch sobbed then hung up. He buried his face in his hands, thankful he had not lost anyone else.
"I don't have to think, I know he would've killed my son too. And my girlfriend Denise and her four year old, Anna," Hotch explained.
"That's good enough for me," Strauss decided.
Hotch stood up and faced his Section Chief.
"Agent Hotchner, I'm so sorry for your loss. And if you need anything-"
"Thank you."
"Agent Hotchner, you met Denise Rogers while on the Darrin Call case, right?"
"Yes," Hotch stated, perplexed as to where this was going.
"She proved herself to be a kind and generous heart. The team hasn't seen you that happy in years," Strauss observed.
"What are you saying?" Hotch asked.
"You've got a good woman," Strauss observed in an out-of-charachter moment, "don't push her away. Actually, that's an order. You're going to need her now more than ever. Isn't this what Haley would've wanted? For you to be happy?" She smiled as Hotch walked to his office.
As Hotch sat in his office, mourning, Morgan brought Jack.
"Daddy!" Jack exclaimed.
"Hey, buddy," he picked up his son.
"Hey yourself," a voice called out.
"Denise, what are you doing here?"
"Being there for you." She went over to Jack and said, "Hi Jack. I'm Denise, a friend of your dad's. We're going to get through this together, alright?"
"OK!" Jack exclaimed. Hotch put down Jack and Denise wrapped him up in an embrace.
"I'm so, so, sorry, Aaron. I know how much you loved her."
"I never stopped loving her. Even after we got divorced."
"I know. I know." Denise patted his back, "There's someone else who would like to see you."
"Daddy!" Anna ran to him and threw her little arms around him.
"Anna! Hey. Did you have a good time and grandma's?"
"Yeah, we did! I missed you though."
"I missed you too."
"Hey, Anna," Hotch said, gently guiding her over to Jack, "I'd like for you to meet my son, Jack. Jack, this is Anna."
"Hi, Anna!" Jack said, "Daddy's a superhero! He got the bad guy George!"
"Daddy is a hero," Anna agreed, "he saved me from him."
"I love superheroes!"
"I love princesses!"
As the children talked, Denise asked, "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I don't know."
"Can Anna and I stay with you?"
"But the pharmacy-"
"Screw that. You're more important. You, Jack, and Anna are more important."
"Denise, you don't have to do that."
"But I want to. Please. I love you." Her eyes begged and pleaded. Hotch froze, remembering Haley's final words. Haley wanted Hotch to be with Denise. She TOLD him not to push her away.
"Okay. Let's go," he said, solemnly.
"Jack, Anna," he called, "we're ready."
The two kids walked hand in hand behind the couple.
"Aaron, I'm so, so, sorry...again," Denise mourned, "if you need anything. Please. Talk to me."
"I'm not good at talking," Hotch admitted.
"I know. I'll stay as long as I need to. Please. Let me in. She wouldn't want you to be like this."
Hotch finally resisted and Denise and Hotch held hands all the way to the car. They never wanted to let go of each other, or of the kids.