Armistead

As soon as the gunshots went off Dave and Derek ran in the direction they'd come. No-one got away with harming their boss and friend on his wedding day in front of his teenage son and baby daughter. They'd catch this scum-bag and make him pay for what he'd done.

They cornered him just outside on the steps but he tried to run off again. Dave tried to keep the shock from his face as he recognised Aaron's shooter as a former agent, Mark Armistead. He'd been the head of his own unit in white collar crime when his relationship with his subordinate, Donald Harrison, was discovered. Subsequently he lost his job and no-one had heard of him until now.

Dave had always seen his dismissal as unfair but that didn't give him any reason to shoot Aaron on his wedding day. Nothing could have given him a reason for that. Aaron had even agreed with him how the dismissal was unfair.

Armistead numbly let them go behind him and arrest him. It was all over now and he didn't give a flying fart in space. He'd got his message across. How comes Agent Hotchner had been allowed to keep his job after coming out about his relationship with Agent Reid? When his relationship with Donny had been discovered they'd both had their lives ruined by losing theirs.

He'd worked just as hard as Agent Hotchner to get his position in the FBI. Yet when his gay relationship with his subordinate had come out he'd had it all stripped from him just because he'd had the audacity to fall in love with one of his employees. It had angered him when he'd heard about Agent Hotchner and his relationship with Agent Reid. Not only had he been able to keep the position he'd worked equally hard for they were even allowing them to marry and still keep their jobs.

"It's not fair," he said as they placed the cuffs on. "What's so special about golden boy that he gets to keep his god damn job?"

"Shall I tell you what's truly unfair, Armistead? Agent Hotchner thought your dismissal was just as unfair but you shoot him in the back on his wedding day in front of his kids. How fair is that?"

Just then they heard an ambulance coming up the road and tightened the handcuffs on his wrists. They'd been sorry for him when he'd lost his job but now he was trying to take Hotch down with him that had quickly gone. That hadn't been the way to react. He hadn't done anything but to support him.

They took him down to the car as they saw the stretcher come out breathing a sigh of relief as the blanket wasn't brought up over Aaron's head. That gave them some hope he'd actually survive the shooting. Spencer ran down holding Aaron's hand as he was put in the ambulance and Morgan dragged Armistead to the car and placed him inside.

Seeing the rest of them come out shell-shocked with Jack and Jessica holding Maggie in her arms he ran up to them.

"I'm going with Morgan to hand Armistead to the locals and interview him. I'll join up with you at the hospital later but please keep me informed," he said concerned about his best friend.

"We will," they assured thankful he'd caught the shooter but still a little numb from what had just transpired in front of all of them.

He ran off to the car and they sped off while everyone quickly climbed into their cars speeding off to the hospital following the ambulance. They were all just so thankful Aaron was still alive though worried over his injuries. They also hoped once Rossi and Morgan rejoined them they'd get answers of why why this had happened.

Spencer held onto Aaron's hand as they sped off to the hospital assuring his lover he'd pull through that he'd make it and no matter what he loved him and would always love him.

Suddenly all the machines went haywire and they pushed Spencer out of the way placing the pedals on Aaron's chest after unbuttoning his shirt. They placed them on repeatedly until they finally had a heartbeat while Spencer tried to remain calm though praying to God his partner would survive. He couldn't lose him. Not today not on what should have been their wedding day. Not after everything they'd been through already.

Once they'd put away the pedals Spencer sat back beside him holding his hand trying to keep the tears inside and swallow the lump that had formed. "Aaron, you're going to make it. You're the strongest person I know. Whatever happens you've got all of us and we'll help you through but I know you're going to be alright. You're going to make it through, Aaron. Jack, Maggie and I need you as do the team. They've caught the shooter. You're going to be alright," he assured him.

He nodded gritting his teeth trying to mask the pain he was feeling in his lower back. He didn't want to give into the pain but it hurt more than anything he could remember going through. He wouldn't give into the pain. What would happen if he did?

"Aaron, it's alright, you're in safe hands. You can close your eyes. You don't have to be strong all the time..." Aaron looked at him vulnerably still trying to grin and bear the pain. "You can give in, you're in safe hands and I'll be here when you wake up. You'll be in less to no pain when you wake up."

"Promise?" he asked vulnerably.

"Promise," he answered kissing his forehead wiping his hair away.

Aaron closed his eyes while Spencer watched the monitors relieved that his heart beat was still normal while holding his hand. He wouldn't let go until he was made to at the hospital. He just wouldn't let go of his man. It was comforting them both. It reminded him he was still living while it assured Aaron Spencer would always be there for him.