Chapter 52
Before Hotch could pull the door shut behind him, Sampson wormed his way out with him. Hotch gave him a look and then headed for the sidewalk. He needed to clear his head, so he was going to take a walk. After about a block, he looked down at the Doberman. "I would know, wouldn't I?"
Sampson whined.
Hotch huffed. "I would know if I had slept with someone else. That's not something you forget."
Sampson looked up at him as they walked, but he didn't offer any advice.
Hotch ran a hand down his face. "There are ways, though, I guess," he offered quietly. He sighed deeply. I can't accept that! He shook his head roughly. I won't! He stopped and moved to the curb and sat down. He searched the quiet night around him as Sampson sat down beside him. Hotch reached up and stroked him down his back. "Mom believes her, Boy, but I can't."
Sampson whined and laid down beside him.
"I don't think Mom is accusing me of doing anything wrong, but she thinks that woman has done something to me."
Sampson laid his head on Hotch's leg and whined a little more.
"Mom's not mad or upset with me, but if it's true. . ." He huffed. "My God, I couldn't live with myself. I couldn't handle being unfaithful. . ." He dropped his head into his hands. I couldn't have done anything.
Sampson nuzzled his leg and Hotch rubbed his head affectionately. "How else could she know those things? If I can answer that, then I can prove I haven't done anything." He nodded. "Yeah. That's what I have to do. I have to prove how she could know."
After a while, he stood up resolved to take things into his own hands. "Come on, Boy. We need to get some sleep, and I have someone I need to talk to tomorrow."
Man and dog made their way back to the house. Hotch made his way to his room and Sampson made his way down to Wyatt's. Hotch opened the door to his room to find Kahlan already asleep. He sighed heavily and went to the bathroom to take his shower and get his pajamas on. When he climbed into bed, he didn't snuggle up to his wife like normal; he laid on his back on his side of the bed and stared at the ceiling. He looked over at his wife's sleeping form. I will figure this out and prove to you, Babe, that I haven't done anything! He took a deep breath, rolled over on his side, and grabbed one of the extra pillows off the floor. He squeezed it to his chest and fell asleep thinking about everything he could do.
Kahlan huffed slightly as she stared at the wall on her side of the bed. I shouldn't have said anything. Now he's mad at me. She shook her head and rolled over to see him facing away from her. No damn it! I will not let this bitch come between us! She scooted over and snuggled up to his back as she wrapped an arm around him. He wrapped his arm around hers, but she wasn't sure if he was awake or not. I'll figure out who she is, Aaron. And then I'm going to kill her!
XXX
Hotch came into the kitchen the next morning fully dressed and carrying his briefcase. Kahlan looked at him questioningly. "You're not eating breakfast?"
"No. I have a couple things I need to take care of at work, so I'm going to get an early start," Hotch told her as he sat down his briefcase, grabbed a to-go mug out of the cabinet, and filled it up with coffee.
"A couple things?" she asked warily.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Yeah. I'll text you later if we get a case. If not, then I'll see you tonight."
Her brows rose in question, but he gave her a smile and headed to the door.
"Aaron?" she tried as she followed him.
"What?" he asked as he grabbed the doorknob, but he didn't turn around to look at her.
"Nothing. Have a good day."
"Yep," he told her simply and left.
She shook her head and headed up to get ready for work.
XXX
Once Hotch was in his office, he paced back and forth as he contemplated what to do. He knew Kahlan was going to work and the kids were going to Jessica's, so he knew the house would be empty. Will he do it? Will he help me without Kahlan's approval? He bit his lip as he considered it. I guess there's only one way to find out. He took a deep breath and took out his cell phone. He found Cameron in his contacts and touched the call button as he sat down at his desk.
"Hey, Hotch. What's going on?" Cameron asked him joyfully.
"I need a favor, and I don't want Kahlan to know," Hotch started.
"Ok," Cameron said slowly wondering why Hotch was being so cryptic. "What exactly?"
"Can you do something for me without involving her?"
Cam hesitated. "You can't give me a clue?"
"It's nothing dangerous," Hotch offered.
"Is it going to piss her off?"
Hotch chuckled. "No, or at least. . . Well, I guess, that depends on the outcome, but either way she won't be pissed at you," he assured him.
Cam swallowed hard. "This about your stalker?"
"Yes."
"My curiosity is peaked. I'll do it."
"And you promise to not tell Kahlan if I say so?" Hotch wanted to be sure.
"If you say so?"
"It depends on the outcome. If it's nothing, then I don't want her to know. If it's something, she's going to have to know," Hotch tried to explain.
"Oh, I see." He took a deep breath. "Sure. I promise."
"Thanks. Are you available today if I don't get a case?"
"So we're going somewhere?"
"Just to the house."
"The house?"
"Yep. I want you to search the house for anything my stalker might have planted."
"Oh my God! Why didn't we think of that before?" He shook his head at his own stupidity. "That's genius, Hotch."
"Yeah, but if it doesn't reveal anything, I don't want Kahlan to know."
"Alright," Cam assured him not understanding why, but it didn't matter why. He was glad to be doing it to make sure.
"I'm available all day. Call me when you want to do it."
"Alright. Thanks, Cam."
"You know, I could even do it without you if you do get a case," Cam tried.
"Let me see what we get, then I'll call you."
"Ok. I'll get everything ready."
"Yep," Hotch agreed and then ended the call. He took a deep breath. At least we'll know for sure. He pinched the bridge of his nose. And I really hope we find something that will explain how she knows those things!
XXX
After the conference room meeting, the BAU had to go down to Mobile, Alabama to help stop a killer who had targeted the police force. With officers in trouble, there was no way Hotch was going to step out to help Cam in his house. Once they were on the jet, he contemplated whether or not to let Cameron do it on his own. Rossi saw the turmoil on his face and joined him at the back of the jet. "What's going on?"
Hotch winced and then told him about the last stalker's last call and his idea for Cam. "Do you think I should let him do it alone?"
Rossi thought about it for a moment. "I don't see why not, especially if you make sure he doesn't do anything with whatever he finds until he talks to you." He nodded as he thought about it some more. "In fact, if he does find something, you need to come up with a plan of how you want to handle it."
Hotch nodded. "Yeah. If something's found, though, Kahlan is going to go ballistic."
Rossi chocked back a chuckle. "Yeah. I can see that."
Hotch took a deep breath. "Well, I guess I'll have him go in and give it a once over. There's no sense speculating or coming up with a plan if there doesn't need to be one."
"Yep. First things first," Rossi offered with a grin.
Hotch took out his phone and called Cameron. Cam said he head over there within the hour and promised to call Hotch as soon as he had anything to report.
