A/N: What kind of Beta edits a chapter while on vacation? A wonderful one. Thanks Natzinoo!

Readers: Thanks for the reviews and follows. Much appreciated!

Chapter 38

~~~~~CM~~~~~

A nurse interrupted, knocking on the door frame, "Mr. Hotchner, we need to check your vitals. And, Ms. Prentiss, Dr. Mills would like to see you at the nurses station."

Hotch relaxed his grip on her hand, and she stood. She pushed the chair back against the wall, and left the room.

The nurse clucked her tongue as Prentiss passed her, "Ice it, honey. It will help the swelling. Now, Mr. Hotchner, let's get your blood pressure. Then we will check your sutures."

Introducing herself, Nurse Kapur checked Hotch from head to toe, noting her findings on the chart. "Looking good. Now, for the lecture because I know your type, Mister!"

She wagged her finger at him, "You are seriously injured, and you have more stitches than Frankenstein's monster. You will use the bed controls to assist you in sitting up or laying back. You will not try to get up on your will use the medicine pump, just hit it once, you won't get too much."

She held up her hand to quell his protests, "Pain management is serious business! And you will tell one of your nurses if you feel off, your body is ripe for infections and we don't want to risk it. Got it?"

Hotch stared at the petite woman wearing bright pink scrubs as she stared right back at him. He focused his look into a glare that would make any unsub confess on the spot. She patted his face, "Nice try, honey. You can't intimidate a nurse."

"That's for sure," Dave's voice came through the doorway, "A nurse on the sixth floor just called security on me."

Nurse Kapur laughed at Dave, "Did you try to flirt for information with Nurse Eastman?"

Dave nodded, and settled in Prentiss' chair, "So, how's our patient?"

"Well behaved and healing, and we are going to keep it that way, right Mr. Hotchner?"

Nodding, Hotch resigned himself to staying in his hospital bed until her shift ended.

She walked out, calling over her shoulder, "And I know what you are thinking. Unfortunately for you, I've just started a double shift."

Prentiss returned with an ice pack held to her face, and Dave stood up, giving her the chair. Hotch picked up on the silent conversation they had with their eyes, "What's going on?"

"So Aaron, do you know what has happened in the last day or so?" Dave asked smugly, "Your team, minus Prentiss, who babysat you, solved a case in less than ten hours. Saving a father and son, and preventing a suicide by cop. No other team could have done that."

"Dave," Prentiss warned, and Hotch looked back and forth between them.

"Fine, Emily," Dave shrugged, "I wanted to wait to tell you. Spencer was shot in the leg but the bullet went through and through. He had a short little surgery, and he's going to be on crutches for awhile."

Hotch sat up at the news of Reid being shot, his body protested and he groaned in pain.

A moment later, Morgan and Garcia joined them. Garcia emitted high pitched noises as she looked from Hotch to Prentiss. Apparently, the team hadn't seen either of them since the attack.

Morgan set his jaw, and his eyes were hard as he took in the scene before him.

"Princess, if you hadn't killed Foyet, I'd put a bullet in his brain myself." Morgan said as he pulled her into a tight hug. He reached around her, and patted Hotch's leg. "I'm sorry, man."

"How is Spencer?" Prentiss asked.

"He's spouting off surgical site infection statistics, so I'd say he's fine. He's asking about you. JJ is up there with him." Garcia filled her in, "Room 620."

Prentiss excused herself, and remaining team gathered closer to Hotch's bed. Before they could start talking, Nurse Kapur entered the room, "All right, my friends, you have confirmed that he's okay. Say your goodbyes and let him rest."

"But I need to…"

Garcia started to speak, but the tiny nurse put her hand on Garcia's back and gently escorted her from the room. "Mr. Hotchner endured hours of surgery. He needs to rest now."

Morgan followed them out of the room, leaving Dave behind.

"Aaron, I called Sean. He's on his way down. Do you want me to let Haley know?"

"Do you know where my phone is? I'll call her." Hotch asked, while looking around the room.

Dave shook his head, "It's in evidence. IA is all over this, as are the local police. Garcia is ordering new ones for you and Emily." Dave pushed the hospital room phone towards Hotch, "I'll be back in twenty minutes or so."

~~~~~CM~~~~~

Tired, and in pain, Hotch stared at the phone. "How does someone call their ex-wife, and tell her a crazed serial killer stabbed them nine times?" He asked himself.

Dialing Haley's number, he sucked in a nervous breath as it rang. He wasn't sure if he would prefer to leave a voicemail, or talk to her in person.

"Hello," Haley answered.

"Haley, It's me. How are you?"

"Aaron, I didn't recognize the number. I'm sorry, Jack went to bed about an hour ago."

Hotch closed his eyes, trying to formulate a succinct way to tell her. "I didn't call to speak with Jack. Ah, I was, well, I was injured, and I wanted to let you know that I am in the hospital."

"Hospital? Aaron, what happened?" Haley's voice rose steadily as the news sunk in.

"I'm okay, really. An unsub got the upper hand. I should be out of the hospital in a day or so."

"They don't keep you in the hospital overnight for something small, Aaron."

"I had surgery, and they just want to monitor me for awhile."

Haley was quiet on the other end of the line before speaking softly, "I'm not your emergency contact anymore, am I? Despite everything, I should have been informed; I should have been there if you were hurt, or in surgery."

"Honestly Haley, I never thought about it. I completed the paperwork in Human Resources when the divorce was final, and jotted Sean's name down. I'll update the paperwork, and I'll let the team know to call you. I'm sorry."

Hotch could hear her crying over the phone.

She sniffed, "I'm sorry too, Aaron. I really am. Can I come see you? Should I bring Jack? I can call Jess to watch him if you think..."

"Haley, it's fine. I am really worn out. I'm just going to go to sleep. Why don't you and Jack come by in the morning?"

"I will, get some rest, okay?"

Emotionally and physically exhausted, Hotch hung up the phone. He pushed the button to recline the bed, and was asleep before it had fully straightened out.

~~~~~CM~~~~~

Episode referenced Season 5, Episode 1: Nameless, Faceless