Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

- Ambrose Redmoon-

Hotch pulled his eyes open, the light from the street lamp shown through the shattered windshield. A pained groan escaped his lips His head was about to split! He slammed his eyes closed and clamped his hands over his ears, "Erin!" He called.

Her head lolled to one side and she forced her eyes open, why did everything hurt?

"What happened?" She asked, her voice sounded like gravel and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. "What the hell happened?" She asked again, coughing back the dust from the airbags that invaded her lungs.

"The truck," Hotch bit out, "he hit us." Hotch pushed the pain aside and took stock of the damage. In horror, he looked towards the back seat and saw the door was caved in against :Jack's booster seat. His heart stalled in his chest in a moment of panic. He tore his gaze away and for once he was grateful for Jessica taking control of his son.

"Are you alright?" He asked, he wipe his face with the back of his hand, he knew immediately that his nose would never be the same.

"Yeah," she murmured against the tightness in her face. She glanced toward her lap and tried to remove the seat belt.

Fear bubbled in her throat, "I can't move my arm."

In one swift movement, he reached over and unlatched her belt before he grabbed the door handle.

"Get out of the car," he said as plumes of black smoke puffed from the engine.

"Don't be stupid, Aaron," she fired back in urgency, "we go together."

Sirens whirred in the distance, the lights from the emergency vehicles shone in the windows.

"Help is coming," Hotch said tightly as stabbing pain cut through his head, he covered his ears to block out the noise.

"You need to get out of the car!" Hotch peeled his eyes open to look at the cop standing next to the car, "the engine is smoking!"

"Get her out!" Hotch demanded holding his head tighter in pure determination not to pass out from the pain.

"Can you move?" Came the officer's reply.

"Yeah," Hotch turned as EMTs swarmed the vehicle. He watched them fasten a collar around Erin's neck and carry her from the vehicle.

Reaching for the door handle, he stepped onto the pavement, his vision blurred and his stomach clenched he wanted to be sick. Stumbling towards the ambulance visions of Jack filled his head. He needed to get home, suddenly, his son's face was replaced by the image of his best friend. Dave would be devastated if he lost Erin.

"What's your name, Sir?" He could barely make out the paramedic escorting him into the ambulance.

"Aaron Hotchner, what happened to the other driver?" He peered around the wreckage that was his SUV the driver was pulled from the car and handcuffed.

"He's fine," the medic and strapped a collar around Hotch's neck and helped him in inside the ambulance.

"What about Erin?" Hotch asked as the medic shone a light in his eyes and he fought the urge to vomit.

"I'm fine," Hotch bit out and waved the medic off. "I'm fine, go to her." He struggled upright from the gurney.

"She's being taken care of-" the medic said as strong hands forced Hotch on his back.

"Give me my phone." He growled in aggravation.

"Are you refusing treatment?"

"No."

"Good, don't be stupid," the medic warned and picked up Hotch's cell phone from the floor of the ambulance.

With the pain in his face intensifying, Hotch dialed Dave's number from memory.

"Dave, we were hit..." Hotch said as his vision began to fade. "Saint Sebastian's..."

"I'm on my way," Dave said as fear clutched his heart. He wanted to press for more details, but the calls of paramedics that worked furiously over Hotch filled Dave's ears, 'I'm starting another line...' etc

He snatched his keys off the table and hurried out the door.

Dave stormed the Emergency Department of Saint Sebastian's Hospital. With his heart beating an erratic tattoo against his breastbone. "How is Aaron Hotchner?"

Dave flashed his badge at the nurse and silently begged for answers. There was no doubt that Jack was waiting for his dad and it was one phone call Dave didn't want to make.

"I'll show you to his room," the nurse said and consulted her chart. As they walked down the hallway. "His eardrum ruptured when the airbag deployed and he has a mild concussion he'll need a ride home tomorrow,"

she said and they stopped at the door. ''Thank God,' he praised silently.

Dave knocked twice and let himself inside, some of the tension fell away from Dave's shoulders.

Hotch was reclined in bed flipping absently through the TV channels. A few bruises and a broken nose shone in the backlight of the TV.

"How's Erin?" He asked and put down the remote.

"Erin?" Dave's heart sped and panic gripped him tightly. "She was with you?"

Hotch nodded, "she needed to speak to me and the conversation ran long, I was driving her home when we were rear ended. Dave I'm so sorry-"

What's happening?" Erin asked and forced her eyes open. She needed to see, even as the world spun in a sea of white hospital walls and sterile rooms she had never been so grateful.

"Look who's awake," the man's kind eyes instantly reminded her of Dave, she realized with a stab of guilt.

"We are going to take good care of you," he assured her. As they continued down the hallway.

"My baby?" She asked, the two simple words took her breath away as she struggled against the oxygen mask forcing air into her lungs.

"Everything is just fine..." The calm and gentle voice assured, "you're having a CT scan and getting a cast for your arm and then you can rest."

"You're sure?" She gasped, she needed clarification. She tilted her head to glance at the man behind her.

"Are you a doctor?"

"I'm a radiologist,"

She glanced up again, he looked far too young to be a doctor. "You're a tech."

His kind eyes stared down at her. Good God, she missed Dave, would someone call him? What about Aaron? Her mind reeled with unspoken questions.

"You need to stay still."

"Dad, I can't go in there-"

Erin listened as Paige argued with her father from outside of her hospital room.

"Just go and talk to your mom,"

"Come on, Paige," Erin cheered silently, "let's talk."

"What if she's mad at me?" Erin pictured the way her daughter's gaze would drop to the floor.

"She isn't," Mark assured, "she called me, Paige. She wants to make it right with you, Not Paul, not McKenzie. You."

For the first time since the divorce, Erin found herself thankful for Mark. He was an asshole on his best day, but no one else could plead her case to their daughter.

Come on, Paige...come on, Baby...let's make it right.

The door opened and Paige shuffled inside with her eyes on her sneakers.

"There she is," Erin said softly and reached for her despite the heavy cast encasing her left arm.

"Mom!" Paige croaked and rushed towards her mother.

"I'm so sorry," Paige said against Erin's shoulder, "I didn't mean it..."

"I know..." Erin soothed, and cleared Paige's hair away from her face.

Paige pulled away to meet Erin's eyes, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Erin answered and she was considering what could have been. "My arm is fractured and I have a concussion, but I'm okay." She tried to reassure, Paige's gaze dropped to Erin's stomach. Her eyes filled with tears."What about the baby? I didn't mean what I said, Mom I swear."

"I know that," Erin tried to comfort her, "this wasn't your fault." She said against Paige's shoulder as she sobbed. Erin's eyes pooled and she held her tighter despite the pressure on her ribs.

"It's not your fault, Baby."

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