As if things weren't difficult enough, the next morning Rossi had to field calls from J.J. and Kate, asking after Hotch's wellbeing.
J.J. had tried contacting the Unit Chief directly, but hadn't been able to raise him. She didn't know that the men had confiscated his phone and were shielding Aaron from all incoming calls thanks to Peter Lewis's initial attempts to reach him.
Rossi told both ladies the same thing. "He needs rest. I'm gonna make sure he gets it, so I'll probably stick close to home today. I'll tell him you called when he wakes up, though." Dave was a smooth liar.
Morgan had a harder time when Garcia phoned, asking him if he'd heard how their fearless leader was. Lying to Penelope was something that went against the grain. And Derek's grain ran all the way through him. He decided to trade on their unique friendship instead.
"Mama, you have to promise me you'll keep this to yourself. No telling J.J. or Kate, okay?"
"Wha-why? What's going on?" The tech analyst's voice wobbled with concern.
"We're gonna try what I thought might work, you know? Taking Hotch to see Lewis, but…I'm not so sure anymore." Morgan rubbed at the stubble on his jaw. Shaving hadn't seemed a priority this morning. "Thing is, Lewis called and asked to meet with Hotch. That kinda throws me off. I thought gettin' them together would push Bossman past whatever that bastard did to him, would make him mad…and it might…but not in the way I was hopin'." He faded out, mind running over possible scenarios involving the Unit Chief turning into an attack animal.
"But, shouldn't J.J. and Kate be there? And me? I could come and then Mon Capitan would know we're all behind him…"
"No! You don't know what that dude's like, Baby Girl. Hotch doesn't want anyone else getting close enough for Lewis to use them like they're game pieces. So this stays between us. You have to keep away and let us see how it plays out."
Several beats of silence passed before Garcia spoke in a small voice. "You sound scared. So now I'm scared, too."
"I can't tell you not to worry, Mama. You will no matter what. But you know I'll stand by Hotch and I'll be all the strength he needs. You know that, right?"
"I do…I do…" He could hear her throat tightening with emotion. "Derek, be careful and call me as soon as you can?"
"You know I will."
" 'Kay…Bye…I guess…"
Morgan couldn't hang up knowing Garcia would be tortured by her overactive imagination and fears. He had to give her something to occupy her time. "Baby Girl? When I come back, could you have some comfort food waiting? Like…chocolate chip cookies, maybe?"
"Mmm-hmmm…" It was an affirmative murmur, but he could tell she'd hung up before the tears could break through.
Still, Morgan knew she'd stay busy doing something that would calm her and help her resist the siren call of her cell…and of J.J.…and of Kate.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rossi was somewhat refreshed, although he hadn't slept well.
Reid, however, was bleary and irritable.
He'd spent the night combing through massive amounts of data, and had come up empty. He snapped at Morgan's suggestion he go home and let the others play escort to Hotch.
"No way, Morgan! I'm in this to the end." His voice was thready with emotion and fatigue. "And just because I didn't find a way out yet, doesn't mean I'm useless. I've got everything I researched for the last 8 hours in my head. Maybe some of it'll come in handy. I'm not leaving."
Derek backed down. You never knew when some magical process in the genius's mind might bear fruit. One could always hope.
And sometimes that's all one can do… "Alright, Pretty Boy. You're in."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Hotch refused breakfast.
He moved like an automaton, partly from the abuse his muscles had suffered at the hands of both the unsub and Morgan, but mostly because he was finding it more and more difficult to ignore the hissing whispers and taunts assaulting his mind.
There was nothing he could do to prepare for the meeting with Peter Lewis. He just wanted to get it over with and find peace on the other side…one way or another.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Morgan drove.
Reid kept him sullen company in the front, leaving the backseat for Rossi and Hotch. Dave kept a wary eye on his best friend.
"You're not obligated to go through with this, Aaron."
"Dave, I don't have a choice! You can't understand…" Hotch spat the words out, voice gritty.
"I'm just saying that so you'll know you have the freedom to roll with the punches. We'll support you no matter what you decide…no matter when you decide it."
Hotch's response was to huddle into the corner against the door, pulling in on himself with only an unsub's mutterings winding through his mind for company.
Morgan studied the Unit Chief in the rearview mirror and grew more concerned with each passing mile. He's getting desperate. And desperate men make mistakes…mistakes in judgment…mistakes in action…I'll have to keep a tight hold on him the whole time we're there.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Up and at 'em, Lewis. You got visitors."
The guard stood back after unlocking the prisoner's cell. He didn't know what it was exactly, but something about this inmate made him feel unclean after contact. Even verbal contact.
Peter Lewis's satisfied smirk made him look like one of the villains in the comic books the guard's 12 year old son lived for. Creepy. Creepy and oily and always plotting. "C'mon, Lewis. Haven't got all day."
Lewis would have liked more time to savor the moment. I knew Hotchner would come. I knew he'd bring backup. Poor, simple, stupid man.
He sighed and rolled off his bunk, consoling himself with the thought that even if he was being hurried along now, once he had the FBI agent before him, he could take his time. I said I'd free him; I didn't say I wouldn't enjoy myself first, though. And really, when you get down to it…they have no choice.
The leader of the BAU with a tattered mind; it would be a delightful image to preserve in his eidetic memory.
Lewis sauntered into the corridor, moving at a leisurely pace…using the time to recall the tragic, brown eyes of the man he decided might very well be his masterpiece. My magnum opus. My sad, little Aaron…
XXXXXXXXXXX
When the guard opened the interrogation room door and ushered Lewis in, the unsub smiled, shaking his head at the predictability of these poor, ignorant, posturing people.
In a heartbeat, he'd taken in the picture of dejected defeat that Hotch presented. That's what gave rise to the smile. He stopped short of the chair toward which the jailer was pushing him, bracing himself, resistant to moving forward. "Hello, Agent Hotchner. Nice to see you again."
Aaron shivered. He was seated. Morgan stood at his side and slightly behind him, one hand resting on Hotch's shoulder. Derek felt the tremor run through his boss; saw the glee in Lewis's eyes as he reveled in the man's discomfort.
The unsub sighed. "I'm afraid this won't do. Agent Hotchner and I will meet in private…or not at all." His smooth, oily grin widened. "And you need me, don't you, Mr. Hotchner? Yeeeesssss…you certainly do. By now, you can think of little else…" It was all Lewis could do to keep a giggle at bay.
"What?! No! That's not gonna happen." Morgan bristled, taking a tighter grip on Aaron. "No way, Lewis. It's this, or nothing."
The unsub shrugged, unable to wipe the smirk from his face. "Guess it's nothing then. Have a nice life, Agent Hotchner." He turned, moving toward the door, relishing the panic he knew must be building inside Aaron's mind at the prospect of continuing in his present mental state.
"Wait!" Hotch was visibly trembling now, desperation palpable.
"Hotch, no!" Morgan knew what was coming, just as Lewis did.
"I'll see him alone." Aaron's eyes locked on Derek's, pleading. "I have to. I have to."
"I promise I won't harm him, Agent." Lewis pressed his advantage. "I promise on…" The smirk faded, replaced by a painful sincerity Morgan hadn't seen this man display up to now. "…on the graves of my family. I will not hurt him. I'll free him."
"Morgan…please…"
Derek couldn't take the pain in Hotch's eyes anymore. He studied both men and came to a decision. "Okay. But I'll be right outside that door; my hand on the knob. If I hear anything…" He ended with a threatening look that lingered on Lewis.
"I won't hurt him." The unsub continued to smile as the guard and the FBI agent made their reluctant way out, leaving him alone with his masterpiece.
Peter Lewis gave a happy, satisfied little sigh, and took a seat opposite Hotch.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Rossi and Reid watched the drama play itself out from the viewing room just around the corner.
The door jerked open. Morgan looked in, anger and protective ferocity evident in every abrupt movement.
"You guys look sharp. I'm right outside the door. You see anything…anything!...suspicious, you yell. I'll be in there before that bastard knows what hit him." He left the door ajar as he returned to his post.
Dave and Spencer exchanged worried looks, then focused on the occupants of the interrogation room.
XXXXXXXXX
Something was bothering Reid.
Nibbling at the edges of his awareness.
Since it wouldn't come forth, he chose to ignore it. Sometimes that worked better than struggling to grasp what was just beyond reach. Sometimes the thing-in-hiding would poke its nose forth like a timid, woodland creature emerging from the underbrush, if you left it alone.
It happened.
As the unsub took his time, gloating over what he'd done, the woodland creature nosed its way out.
Then it bounded forth.
Reid's eyes widened. No…oh, NO!
Before Rossi knew what was happening, the young genius bolted to the door, yelling.
"Morgan! Get Lewis out! I know what he's planning! GO!"
XXXXXXXXXXX
Derek barreled through the interrogation room door like a force of nature, startling both men within.
Heedless of everything but Reid's cries, he collared Lewis and yanked him backwards into the corridor. Spencer was at the door; Rossi in close pursuit.
"Get him away from there." Spencer reached in and pulled the door shut, leaving Hotch in isolation.
"He'll go insane if you don't let me help him." Lewis twisted in Morgan's grip. "I already said I won't hurt him!"
Reid turned on the unsub, mind and heart racing. "It's okay. You'll get your meeting. We just need a minute. My fault. I forgot something, that's all." He gave Derek a look that was mixed relief and a plea to play along. "Wait out here. I'll be just a minute."
"What the…?" Morgan looked to Rossi for an explanation.
The older agent shrugged and then followed Reid as he went to Hotch, closing the door behind him...
...leaving a very annoyed, very dissatisfied Lewis to wonder what they could possibly do that would make any difference in the way he knew things would play out.
