Dave woke up in a sweat. He shivered, the blanket having fallen off in his uneasy slumber. He leaned forward in his, his head hanging between his legs as tears slipped down his face. He couldn't get the image of Aaron's still body out of his mind. His body shook with quiet sobs as he tried so hard to regain his composure, but the nightmare had been too much for him to handle. Fear spiked in his chest, his breathing ragged.

"Dave?" Aaron had been awake since the nurse came to check on him and change out his IV's about thirty minutes ago. He hadn't been able to fall back asleep.

Dave blinked and rubbed his eyes, drying his face with his hands. He raised his head and caught Aaron's eyes, mentally cursing himself for letting his fear show. He sniffled and swallowed. "Oh hey...hey kiddo." He whispered, turning his body to face Aaron.

Aaron's shadowed face was clear with worry despite his own discomfort. "Dave...what's wrong?" He shivered, pulling his blankets up to his chin. He could see the tracks that the tears had left on his mentor's face, and his heart wrenched. He knew that it wasn't something Dave could brush off as 'nothing.'

Dave bit his lip and sighed. He shook his head. He couldn't lie to Aaron knowing that the ill man would do everything in his power to find out what was actually wrong, no matter what he said. "It was just a nightmare, nothing to be worried about." He assured quietly. Aaron's lifeless body flashed behind his eyes once again causing him to shiver. His gaze fell to the ground as he shook his head again, his voice caught in his throat. He was afraid that if he spoke he would fall apart again.

"D..Dave...please." Aaron pushed quietly, reaching his hand out from the blanket.

Dave smiled sadly and held Aaron's hand in his two. He almost felt a sense of relief wash over him. Aaron was alive. The warmth in his hand assured him of that. He took a deep breath and lifted his gaze, meeting Aaron's sickly eyes. "I...um.." he cleared his throat, continuing the statement harder than he ever though imaginable. He shook his head. "I dreamed that you died..." his voice was barely audible by the time he finished. He was terrified at the thought of losing yet another person so close to him.

Aaron swallowed, his own fear causing his stomach to lurch. He blinked, his gaze falling. He knew the terrible outcomes of his illness, but the only thing he could do was fight and beat the odds no matter how against him they were. Silence rang between the two as he tried to find the right words, wanting to comfort the older man. "Dave." He breathed, mulling the words over in his sick brain. He hated the thought of death, but he had had plenty of time to think about the possibility. He weakly shook his head. He blinked, exhaustion threatening him once again. "I..." he paused, continuing to turn the words in his head. "It could happen Dave..." he whispered, his own fear clear in his voice.

Dave shook his head, biting his lip as fresh tears welled in his eyes. "Don't say that, Aaron, please don't say that." He squeezed Aaron's hand.

Aaron shook his head. "No..let me finish." He swallowed. He wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, but he wanted to talk to Dave exactly just what was on his mind. "I..I want to thank you." By now Aaron's own voice was trembling, unable to hold back his tears. He took a deep breath before he continued. "When I first met you, honestly...I didn't know what was going to happen." He blinked again, his eyes slowly opening. "But then you took me under your wing, and...and I couldn't have asked for a better mentor."

"Hotch stop," Dave shook his head. He stood up and pulled his hands from Aaron's. He pushed hair from the man's eyes and shook his head. "Now is not the time to say goodbye, kiddo. I need you to keep fighting no matter how hard it gets." He looked down at his son. "Now is not the time to say goodbye." He repeated, his voice barely a whisper. "You will fight this, Aaron. And I will be here through every bit of it."

Aaron nodded weakly, his eyes fluttering closed. He relaxed into the sheets, unable to fight his exhaustion anymore. He quickly fell into a light sleep.

Dave's heart sped when he saw Aaron shut his eyes. Once again, the same image flashing over his eyes. Then he saw Aaron's chest rise and fall with a steady rhythm. He sighed heavily and shook his head, wanting to clear it of his nightmare all together. He kissed Aaron's forehead and made sure the man was resting comfortably before he stepped out of the room, pulling his phone from his pocket. He glanced at the time and shook his head. '3:48' He didn't expect him to be up...but he plugged the number in anyway. He walked down the hallway, his phone to his ear.

"Morgan..." the exhausted reply answered.

"Hey Morgan...sorry to wake you." Rossi sighed lightly, pulling his jacket on tighter as he stepped out of the hospital into the crisp winter air. He shivered.

Morgan was awake in a second. "Rossi? How's Hotch? What happened?"

Rossi shook his head. "He's okay Morgan. Really, He's okay." He hugged himself tighter. "I just...I need somebody to talk to right now." He bit his lip, leaning against the wall.

"Of course Rossi, I can get there in like ten minutes, just let me-"

"No Morgan it's fine." Rossi shook his head again, shivering in the weather. "I just..." he paused. "I had a nightmare." He knew how childish that sounded, but his dream felt so...real and he couldn't shake it. Every time he blinked he saw the same scene replay, over and over again.

"What about, Rossi?" Morgan asked quietly. He understood the feeling. It wasn't uncommon for some people on the team to experience nightmares, especially with everything they've seen.

"Hotch...he didn't make it."

Morgan was silent for a minute. He hadn't wanted to think of that possibility. He had shoved that thought to the back of his mind. He nodded slowly. "He'll be okay Rossi, you know that. He's Hotch and he's going to fight." He assured quietly.

Rustling could be heard on the other line as Morgan disobeyed Rossi as he got dressed, wanting to go and comfort his friend at the hospital.

Rossi heard Morgan getting ready, but didn't say anything. All he could do was smile. He shook his head. "He almost told me goodbye, Morgan...he wanted to tell me goodbye." He ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't believe that Aaron had tried to tell him that. He didn't want Aaron to give up fighting when this was only the beginning.

Morgan froze.

The line was silent.

"Morgan?"

Morgan took a deep breath. "Rossi I'm coming over there." He shook his head. "I'll be there soon." He promised lightly. Now Rossi didn't fight him.

Dave nodded. "Thanks Morgan..." He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. He sighed heavily, slowly sliding down the wall. He pulled his knees to his chest, his head between his legs. He didn't even mind the winter chill. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, wanting to calm himself. He shivered as he leaned back against the wall.

Morgan quickly got ready and kept his promise, making it to the hospital in ten minutes flat. He got out of his car, zipping up his jacket and popping up his collar against the wind. He walked up to the emergency room, stopping in his tracks when he saw the hunched body of his friend outside the door. He collected himself and quickened his pace. "Rossi? Hey Rossi!" The man didn't move. Morgan's heart began to race. He kneeled beside his friend, resting his hand on Rossi's shoulder. He lightly shook the older man. "Hey, Rossi?" He murmured, watching as the man visibly shook from the cold.

"Hm?" Rossi sighed heavily, his own exhaustion having taken over. He slowly opened his eyes. "What? Morgan?" He blinked, shivering. How the hell did he fall asleep out here.

Morgan stood up and offered Rossi a hand. He shook his head, Dave taking his hand. Morgan helped him up. "This is why I told to you to go home." He sighed.

Rossi sighed and shook his head. "You know I won't leave." They stepped into the warm building, however Rossi was still shivering uncontrollably.

Morgan sighed and wrapped his arm around Rossi's shoulders, worry in his eyes as he looked over Dave. He stopped at the nurses station. "Can I please get a blanket for him?" He asked quietly, pointing over his shoulder as Rossi continued to shiver.

The nurse looked up from her paperwork and nodded. She walked out from behind the desk and down the hall. She grabbed a blanket from the cart and came back. She handed him the blanket.

Morgan thanked her quietly and took the thick blanket. He walked back to Rossi and shoved the blanket towards him. "Wrap yourself up. I told you that we can't have you sick too."

Rossi rolled his eyes, but obliged. "I'm fine." He wrapped the blanket over his shoulders like a cape as they walked towards Aaron's room.

A nurse was standing beside Hotch, her hand on his shoulder. She glanced up when they entered. "Oh, I wondered where you went." She said quietly.

Dave snuck a look at Aaron. The man had turned onto his other side. His previous deep breaths were how short and quick, his heart racing.

Dave bit his lip to keep his teeth from chattering. He shook his head. "What happened?" He asked quietly, worry blossoming in his chest.

The nurses eyes fell. She shook her head. "He had another seizure."