Visit

They went inside to find him still sleeping off the anaesthetic. He had a needle inserted into his arm that the tubes of blood and painkillers were linked to. He looked so peaceful but they knew under the sheets it would be a completely different story. The only parts of his body left unbandaged were his head, neck and arms.

"He's just sleeping," the doctor assured. "He should come round soon..." They nodded hoping he was right. "I should warn you though he should be kept from stressful situations until he's recovered."

They nodded vowing to try and keep his stress levels low though they knew with his stubbornness it would be difficult. He'd want to come back to work before he was fully healed and they wouldn't let that happen again. He'd almost lost his hearing last time. Now he could lose his legs or worse his life.

He then left them alone with him and they stayed there watching him until he finally slowly opened his eyes. He smiled slightly when he saw them all there especially his father and son. He tried sitting up but it hurt so much he sunk back into the bed but even that hurt.

"Stay down," Valarie said pressing gently down on his shoulder and with his hand pressing the button for morphine. It killed her to see her oldest son in such pain and he knew how stubborn he could be about taking painkillers.

"I know you just pressed the morphine button," Aaron grumbled though he had to admit it did relieve the pain he was currently in from the injuries he'd sustained from Petersman.

"I did and you needed it..." When he rolled his eyes she answered, "I know how you can be with pain and painkillers. You can't grin and bear it all. Though you're an amazing person and I'm so proud of you you're not superhuman. Just take it when you really need it. You were just as stubborn when you were fourteen."

"What happened when you were fourteen?" Dave asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I fell out of a tree just outside of my bedroom and broke my arm, leg and a couple of ribs," he replied.

"That's why I can't climb into the tree outside of mine," Jack asked.

"Exactly."

Jack hugged him carefully while Aaron winced a tiny bit. "Dad, are you alright?" he asked.

"I will be, buddy, I will be," he assured him. "What did the doctor say?" he added after Jack let go.

"They had to reconstruct your legs but have managed to save them without any rabies. They also had to reconstruct your knee after the gunshot wound. You had internal damage and bleeding but none of your organs were harmed. You only have more scar tissue. They've also managed to clean up your whip lashes and they want to keep you in for observation due to the internal damage and bleeding which is why you're in ICU and you must keep out of stressful situations," his dad informed him.

He bit his lip wanting to answer being in hospital was stressful. How was he meant to remain calm in a place he hated? He just wanted to go home and recover there but he was too ill to.

"I know you hate being in hospital but if you behave you'll be out of here soon enough," Valarie soothed.

He nodded reluctantly.

They soon filtered out leaving only Valarie behind standing at the foot of her son's bed. Jessica and Jack were the last to leave and he watched them walk off sadly hoping he'd be able to get back home to his son soon.

"You have a lovely wife, son?" she smiled. Upon seeing him look confused she added, "the woman who left with Jack. I thought she was your wife."

"She's Jack's aunt. When his mother died she persuaded me to let her help raise him on my own while I stayed with the BAU," he answered looking down. Even after all these years he still felt incredibly guilty he hadn't got there in time to save her. "She's been a godsend."

"What happened?" she asked gently.

"An UnSub I was chasing got hold of Jack and Haley. I was too late to save her," he answered swallowing a lump in his throat. "Same man who gave me my abdominal scars."

"You saved Jack, son. You have nothing to feel guilty about. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be able to get to know my grandson."

He heard someone say, "but who'll save you," turning both their blood cold. It couldn't be, could it? Hadn't he been caught?