Trigger Warning: Graphic mention of sexual assault!
"Hello, I am Chief Dexter Molinax. Thanks for coming."
"I am SSA Aaron Hotchner, and this is Dr. Spencer Hotchner, my son. The rest of our team is interviewing family and friends of the victims."
Spencer stood shyly beside his father, sipping his coffee. Something about the police chief seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it...
The days passed on. One week turned into two. Two weeks turned into three. When it seemed like there was no end, the case was finally coming to a close. They were closing in on their UNSUB.
"Spencer and me will take the front. Morgan and Prentiss, take the back. Rossi and JJ, take the basement!"
"Copy Aaron."
"Copy Hotch Sr."
"Copy Aaron."
"Copy Sir."
"Copy dad."
The takedown went down without a hitch. Unfortunately, Yuri Kuznetsov did not survive, but her sister Dasha did.
The UNSUB was 43 year old ICE Agent Paul Müller. His parents had immigrated to the US when he was two years old. He became a citizen at the age of six.
He believed that the twins were part of families who wanted to do harm to the United States and had been sent over as spies.
On the jet back home, Spencer took his usual place next to his dad. The rest of the team save for Aaron and Spencer were knocked out asleep.
"Dad, we need to talk when we get home." Aaron turned over and looked at his son. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He smiled reassuringly at his son.
Just short of five hours later, six weary agents were headed towards their cars. Visions of warm beds and the allure of the promised two week vacation Strauss dangled in front of them were dancing in their heads.
Spencer and his father were finally settled at home and changed into comfy clothes nearly a half hour later. They sat side by side on the couch, Spencer's head quickly falling on his dad's shoulder.
"What do we need to talk about son?" The younger profiler smiled. His heart soared anytime his dad called him son.
"Do you recall when you introduced us to Chief Molinax? I did not say a word but rather stood beside you sipping my coffee. I kept my distance from him the rest of the case."
"I remember son," Aaron replied. He also remembered being confused by his son's behaviour but not bringing it up at the time.
"I recognised Chief Molinax the exact moment I saw him. Due to my eidetic memory, I can never truly forget. I told you how William was cruel to me emotionally and mentally, but I never revealed the physical aspect. I remember my second birthday like it was yesterday. William had a couple of friends from LA over. One of them was Officer Dexter Molinax. William said that since I was two, it was time for me to start earning my keep. He started to sell me for sex, and the first customer was Officer Molinax. Dexter was a repeat customer."
Aaron was infuriated. How could anybody hurt such an innocent little boy little boy who was completely and utterly dependent on them? "Dad please say something? Anything!"
Spencer's voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he kissed his son's head. "I hurt when you hurt buddy. You are not to blame for what he did, what he forced you to do. Dexter and William took advantage of you, did stuff to you that you will never be able to forget."
Spencer grasped his dad's shirt tightly in his fist as tears poured down his face.
Aaron was helpless to pause his son's pain as the young man's body trembled with sobs. "Spencer Aaron Hotchner, do you think you could stop sobbing for just a moment so you can listen to me?"
Spencer took his father's hint and calmed down significantly. After the sobbing had stopped completely, his dad began to speak. "Spencer, I love you son. Nothing can or will ever change that. We can't let Dexter get away with what he did to you and possibly did to others. I will stand by your side every step of the way because you are my son. That is how family treats each other. I love you buddy," the older man said, placing a pillow in his lap.
Spencer quickly placed his head on the pillow, relaxing as soon as his dad's fingers started running through his hair. "Dad, let's go in tomorrow and talk to Strauss."
The Next Morning:
"What can I do for you two SSA and Dr. Hotchner?" Aaron started speaking. Spencer meanwhile looked down, his shoes suddenly becoming interesting.
"Do you remember the case we just came back from?" When Strauss nodded, he continued. "Spencer has informed me that he knows Chief Molinax and that their history stems from Spencer's second birthday. Go ahead son, tell her what you told me. I will be right here the whole time."
"Ma'am, I recognised Chief Molinax the exact moment I saw him. Due to my eidetic memory, I can never truly forget. I told you how William was cruel to me emotionally and mentally, but I never revealed the physical aspect. I remember my second birthday like it was yesterday. William had a couple of friends from LA over. One of them was Officer Dexter Molinax. William said that since I was two, it was time for me to start earning my keep. He started to sell me for sex, and the first customer was Officer Molinax. Dexter was a repeat customer."
Erin Strauss was horrified by what she heard. She may be known throughout the bureau for being a cold hearted bitch, but most people did not know that she was actually quite kind.
"Dr. Hotchner, will you please go into more detail? The more we know about what happened to you, the better we can be at bringing the people who hurt you to justice." Aaron immediately wrapped an arm around his son as the younger man started to talk.
"The first time I was sold to Dexter was on my second birthday. He forced me to perform oral sex on him and penetrated me with his fingers. He also performed oral sex on me. Same deal for my third, fourth, fifth, and sixth birthdays. My seventh birthday, he decided I was old enough, and he raped me in addition to forcing me into oral sex. The same deal occurred until I left for college. Even though William left when I was eight, he continued to sell me to Dexter."
"That is enough Dr. Hotchner. I will provide your statement to the team and have them investigate. For the time being, take him home Aaron. Take care of him, and I do not need to warn you two to stay away from the case. Am I understood?"
"Yes ma'am," the two Hotchner men murmured before taking their leave. As soon as they got home, they turned their phones off and went to their rooms. Spencer needed time alone to process the events of the morning, and Aaron needed time to digest what had happened to his son.
Spencer curled up under his covers in a fetal position, clutching the stuffed elephant Garcia gave him as he cried himself to sleep.
Aaron went into Spencer's room and combed through his hair. "I'll be here through the pain and the fear. I will be there through every tear. I will celebrate your accomplishments and help you learn from your defeats. I will strive every day to be the father you deserve. You are an amazing young man who deserves the world. I love you son, and I always will. Nothing can ever change that. I promise."
