Affected
A month later Hotch was given a case he knew he was going to have to try his hardest to stay professional on. Six year old boys were being kidnapped and killed three days later. They'd been called in after three boys, Christopher Daniels, James Hutchins and Milo Jonesey had been found dead in a street corner a week after each other.
Arthur Fisher had been kidnapped six hours ago and they had to head out to Boise, Idaho to find him. They flew out almost immediately. He debriefed his team on the jet and they could all see he was affected. They understood he was thinking of Toby.
They'd help pick up the slack for him. They all understood it reminded him of when he lost Toby. They knew it would only spur him on to find the UnSub and they trusted he could keep his mind on the case. He was the consummate professional.
Hotch sent himself and JJ to talk to Arthur's parents. They had to get information about him that would help find him. Elaine, Arthur's mother, snapped at them saying they were asking too many questions.
"We understand how you're feeling, Mrs Fisher," Hotch said.
"No, you don't. You have no idea what it's like for your son to go missing," she snapped. "He's only six years old."
He looked down and stepped aside trying to keep his emotions inside. He couldn't lose control right now. She didn't know he'd lost his son two years ago and he had only been six. She didn't know he understood just how it felt.
"Something happened, didn't it?" Elaine asked guiltily watching Agent Hotchner.
"His six year old son was kidnapped and murdered two years ago but I assure you we will find your son. You have the best team of profilers looking for him."
She nodded and looked over at Agent Hotchner feeling a little guilty. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She was just worried about her little boy. She hoped to God she'd see her son again.
Thankfully the next day they found little Arthur. Aaron hadn't been able to get much sleep that night thinking about what had happened with his own son. Everyone decided to let Aaron be the one to bring him out to his parents.
He smiled sadly as he guided him out to Mr and Mrs Fisher laying his hand on Arthur's shoulder. He just wished he and his wife had had the same outcome. He smiled even more as he saw Arthur run up to his parents and then hug him. He smiled back as the parents smiled at him silently thanking him.
Elaine took him aside which puzzled him.
"Agent Hotchner, I just want to say I'm so sorry for what I said when we first met...i just wish you and your wife had had as good an outcome..." He looked at her surprised. "Your blonde agent told me."
He nodded in understanding. "Please there's no need to apologise. You were understandably worried about your son."
"Thank you once again for finding him."
"I was only doing my job."