Granddad

When they reached the hospital Aaron was sped into OR with a doctor on his chest as he began crashing. Seeing she was about to break Dave wrapped his arm around Valarie and pulled her close. She leaned in closer to him. She didn't know why but she already trusted him completely. Was it the fact he was Aaron's best friend or something more?

He sat them both down knowing they couldn't do him any good just gazing in the direction he'd just been taken crashing. He swallowed a lump but knew Aaron would make it. He'd always done and he was certain this wouldn't be the time they lost him.

"It's all my fault," she cried. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't told him he was my son he wouldn't have done this to him."

"It isn't your fault. It was Michael Petersman's. You couldn't predict what he was going to do. You were trying to pretend your son. That's just parental instinct. Even Aaron will tell you that..." She nodded looking down and he raised her chin. "Believe me, he'll survive. He's the biggest fighter I've ever known."

"You didn't even bat an eyelid when he called me dad," she remembered. "You already knew, didn't you?"

He nodded. "We had a case many years ago when Aaron had just joined the BAU where a woman was hunting down and killing transgendered men and women. I noticed he was really affected so I pulled him aside and asked him what was going on. That's when he told me his dad was a transsexual. As soon as I saw you I knew you were his dad."

"You don't mind?" she answered nervously.

"I'll tell you what I told him. No-one should be denied their true identity. You're an incredibly, brave beautiful woman with or without the final operation."

"Thanks," she smiled slightly.

They then heard footsteps and looked up to see the rest of the team run up. She swallowed a lump of nervousness and looked over to the surgery ward where she'd seen her son rushed through.

She felt Dave slip his hand into hers and squeeze her fingers. "Don't worry, they'll accept you," he whispered.

She nodded and faced her son's team letting go of his hand though she felt tingles run up her arms when she had held his hand. Maybe there was something more but she didn't even want to process it until she knew her son was going to be alright.

"Has there been any news?" Reid asked nervously looking down at his feet. He prayed that his boss and friend would make it through. He just couldn't lose him. He'd known for a while now he had feelings for him; he'd just been too afraid to tell him. Now there was a chance he could lose him it was killing him inside.

"Not yet," he answered shaking his head. "They only took him into surgery fifteen minutes ago." He looked down then back up again swallowing the lump in his throat. "He was crashing on his way to the OR but they haven't come back to give us any more information."

Reid looked down crestfallen. Valarie could see how deeply he cared about her son and went over to him wrapping him in her arms. "My son will make it. He'll need our help to help him recover but he'll make it. He's a fighter. He always has been ever since he was a boy."

He nodded and pulled away. "You're really his father?" he answered nervously.

She nodded.

"She sure is baby genius," Garcia smiled slightly. "Sorry I did a little digging before I got here. I'm Garcia, their tech wiz."

She smiled slightly and answered, "It's alright."

Spencer hugged her close to him again and she wrapped her arms around him stroking his hair. "You love him, don't you?" she asked quietly.

He nodded feeling he could trust her with his heart's secrets. "More than life and death. I've just been too afraid to tell him," he whispered.

She stroked his hair answering, "You'll get a chance, I promise you, you'll get a chance."

He pulled away again as they heard footsteps running up. She looked up to see a young boy and a middle-aged blonde woman arrive. She could see tears in the boy's eyes and felt sorry for him. Was her son married with a child?

The boy crashed into Dave and hugged his waist. He looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "Uncle Dave, is my dad going to be alright?" he asked.

He sat down and got the ten year old boy to sit beside him. "Jack, of course he'll be alright. He'll need some help to recover and might be in the hospital for a week or so but he's going to be alright, you hear me," he soothed.

He nodded. "He's my hero."

"I know, buddy, I know..." Looking up to see the tears in Valarie's eyes while she gazed at her grandson he added, "Jack, I have someone important for you to meet." He took her hand and added, "This is your granddad. Miss Hotchner, this is your grandson, Jack."

"You're my granddad?" he asked confused. She nodded. Suddenly he beamed and smiled, "Cool. My friend, Janie's transgender and I try to protect her at school. At first I was confused where Jamie had gone but then dad explained it to me so I try my best to protect her from the bullies."

They both smiled at him proudly. Aaron had told Dave about Jack's friend Janie and he was so proud Jack hadn't turned away from her and was trying his best to protect her. Valarie was proud her grandson was such a sweet, caring boy and her son had taught him to accept anyone that was LGBT from a young age and Jack had put it to practice.

Jack got back up and hugged her. "I'll protect you too and so will dad. I asked him why he was sad when he explained transgender to me and he told me he felt guilty that he hadn't stood up for you but that didn't stop him being my hero because I know he will now that he's older," he said.

She smiled down at him and stroked his hair. Soon they heard footsteps and looked up to see the doctor come up to them holding a chart they hoped was Aaron's.