* I have to announce that I will be taking a short hiatus. I am actually moving back to the east coast. (YAY!) I will be busy packing, moving, unpacking and all that stuff – soooo, I won't be posting for a little while. I am sorry about not having the time to write and post, but I'm not sorry for the reason behind it! If you decide to stick with me (and I understand if you choose not to) the story will continue once I get settled again, I promise! I actually have four of these little AUs planned so this is far from over.
Story I – Chapter 8
After he fled the hotel, Hotch walked around aimlessly as he tried to calm down. I can't believe I almost attacked my own wife! I must be evil! He shook his head as he berated himself some more. He was sticking to the shadows as much as possible. Even though most of his skin was covered, he'd pulled his sleeves down as soon as his arms started stinging, the sun was uncomfortable. It didn't hurt per say, but it was bothersome. He ran a hand down his face. Think, Hotchner! What can you do?
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard pounding in his ears. He quickly looked up and a young woman was walking towards him. His mouth watered as she smiled politely as she passed him and continued on her way. He felt his stomach constrict and his fangs drop as he stopped and looked after her. Take her! A voice screamed in his head. No! He forced himself to turn back around. You need to feed! The voice urged. He shook his head. No! I'd rather die! He forced himself to start walking again. The voice laughed. You can't die!
He took a deep breath and looked around. Another woman was walking towards him and she wasn't alone. She was pushing a stroller with a baby in it, and as soon as they were within ten feet of him, he could hear both of their hearts. The tiny rapidly beating heart and the stronger, louder rhythmic beating of the mother's heart made his stomach hurt so much his knees almost gave out on him. He bit his lip as he groaned and moved off the sidewalk towards the trees. You have to get away from people!
Once he was far enough away he felt his fangs go back in, but his stomach didn't let up. In fact, the pain grew with each step, and he knew he was in trouble. Have to find someplace safe. He told himself and willed his feet to keep moving.
The trees cleared and his heart sank. Right on the other side of a strip of grass and a fence was a park, and it was full of families and kids. Really! Come on! A tear dripped from his eye as he turned and went another way. After about fifteen minutes, he found the more abandoned part of the city and made his way to an overpass. He climbed up the embankment and sat down on the hard concrete up under the bridge in the darkness. He wrapped his arms around his midsection and rocked himself as he moaned, trying to will the pain and the urge to kill and feed away. Please, God! Help me! He bit back a scream and then lowered his head down to his knees. God's not going to help me! I'm an evil monster who can't even hold a bible, why would God help me?
A quick breeze rustled his hair and when he brought his head up, he startled to see someone right next to him. When his eyes took in who it was, they went wide. "You?!" he screamed and then lunged.
Bartles was expecting it and broke Hotch's grip from his neck, spun him around, and squeezed his back to his chest in a bear hug. He was shorter than Hotch, but he was a lot stronger. He held him close as Hotch fought to get free. "Calm down, Aaron. I'm here to help!"
"Help?!" Hotch screamed as he tried to get away from the man's vicelike grip. "Help?! I think you're the one who did this to me!"
Bartles let him struggle knowing he would eventually tire. "Yes. I am the one who changed you, but I only did it to save you!"
"Save me? It seems like you are the one I need saving from!"
"You need to feed, Aaron! Once you do, you'll be able to think clearly again and then I will explain everything."
"I don't want to feed! Just kill me! I don't want to be a monster!"
Bartles sighed. "You're not thinking straight because the hunger is driving you crazy. Come with me, and everything will be alright," he tried.
Hotch went limp in his arms, all his strength had left him. All he could feel was the deep aching hunger. "Just kill me," he pleaded.
Bartles lifted him in his arms. "I'll take care of you," he vowed and then they were gone.
XXX
Hotch was trembling as he sat in an oversized chair in a dimly lit room. He had no idea where he was or how he'd gotten there, all he knew was that he was in pain; horrible aching pain that he was sure was going to kill him. He whimpered and tried to ball himself up.
"Here. Drink this," Bartles offered as he suddenly appeared beside him.
Hotch startled, and as soon as Bartles knelt down next to him, Hotch could smell the blood that he was holding up by his face. Hotch turned his face away from the massive chalice and buried his head in his hands. "No!" he screamed even as his fangs dropped and his eyes changed.
"You have to feed, Aaron. It will take the pain away, I promise!"
"I don't care! Kill me! I don't want to be a monster!"
Bartles sat the receptacle down on the table next to him and grabbed Hotch's chin and made him look at him. "I'll tell you what, you drink this and after I explain everything to you, if you still want me to kill you, I will."
Hotch studied him. "You promise?" he got out through gasps. The nearness of the blood made his pain even worse.
"If you promise to hear me out completely, yes, I promise." Hotch swallowed and nodded. "Good, then drink this," he urged as he grabbed the cup and held it out to him.
Hotch took the ancient looking metal goblet and brought it towards his lips. He thought his stomach should lurch from the contents, but it growled in hunger and his mouth watered. He bit his lips and moved it away. "I can't," he confessed as his eyes watered.
"It's not human!" Bartles quickly assured him.
Hotch looked at him. "It's not?"
Bartles shook his head. "No, I swear!" When Hotch still looked unsure, Bartles knelt down in front of him again and placed a hand on his thigh. "I have to be honest with you. You will get to the point that you will lose awareness from the pain, and I will just force feed it to you then if need be. Save yourself some pain and drink it now."
Hotch looked into the cup. God forgive me. He took a deep breath and lifted it to his lips. He mentally cringed expecting a horrible taste, but as soon as it graced his tongue, he started gulping it down. He couldn't drink it fast enough and in his hurry, he tilted it too much and it spilled over the rim and down his chin, but he didn't notice.
When the cup was finally empty, he lowered it and felt himself already calming down and the pain receding. He licked his lips and looked up at the man who had changed him.
"Better?" Bartles asked with a sympathetic smile.
Hotch nodded, unable to find his voice as he felt himself getting weaker. "What's wrong with me?" he asked as he sank back against the soft cushion.
"You're exhausted because you went too long without feeding. Sleep. You'll feel better in just a little bit."
Hotch didn't even get a chance to respond as his eyes slid shut.
Bartles took a deep breath and shook his head as he looked at the man in front of him. "I'm sorry, Aaron," he whispered and then left to let him rest.
XXX
As Hotch started his journey back into the land of consciousness, he felt someone running their fingers through his hair. As he remembered who he was last with, he sat up and pulled away from the hand. "Easy!" Kahlan urged. "It's ok, Aaron. It's just me."
Hotch's eyes took her in and then looked at the room around him. "Where am I?"
"Detective Bartles' house, I guess. How do you feel?" she asked as she studied him.
He ran a hand along the back of his neck. "Alright, I guess. How long have you been here?" He sat up a little more. "Wait! You know about Bartles?"
She winced as she sat down on the edge of the chair beside his knees. "He came looking for you at the hotel. I guessed he was the vampire."
He stood up. "Did he hurt you?!"
She stood up and put a hand on his chest. "No, Aaron. Calm down."
He took a deep breath and wilted as he looked at her. "I'm so sorry, Kahlan."
"Stop! This is not your fault! We will get this figured out and we will get through this, Aaron."
He huffed. "Yeah, right!"
"Let's get you cleaned up and then let's talk."
"Cleaned u. . ." he looked down at his shirt and cringed when he saw the front of it covered in blood. He reached up and felt dried blood on his chin and he turned away from her. "I'm a monster," he muttered.
She shook her head. "No, you're not, Aaron."
He turned back in a flash. "Does this look normal to you?!" he screamed. She flinched from his tone and his look and he wilted. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell," he offered and flopped back down into the chair.
She went to him and grabbed one of his hands in hers. "It's going to be alright, Aaron."
He huffed. "How can you say that? Look at me!" he demanded as he held the front of his shirt out.
"If you're worried about your shirt, I can get that out. . ."
He stood up and pulled his shirt off and threw it in the corner. "I don't give a damn about the shirt! Look at me! Look at what I've become! How can you say things are going to be alright when you've seen me?" he asked as he teared up.
She stepped to him and caressed his cheeks with her hands. "Because I love you, Aaron. I don't care what you are now because that doesn't change what you have been!"
"Been? What do you mean?"
"You've been my best friend, my lover, my husband, and the father to my children, Aaron, and nothing will ever change that!"
"But I'm a monster," he cried softly.
She wiped his tears away with her thumb. "No you are not, Aaron. Being a vampire doesn't automatically make you a monster; how you behave does, and I know beyond a doubt that you will never let that happen."
His eyes locked with hers. "How can you be so sure?"
She smiled. "Because I know you and know you don't have it in you to lose control. You can manage this, Hun. I know you can," she insisted as she let him go.
He swallowed. "You really think so?"
"You met Bartles your first day here, correct?" He nodded. "And you've worked with him throughout the week?"
"Yes."
"Did you think he was a monster?"
His eyes darted around and he shook his head. "No."
She smiled. "Did you think he was a decent guy?"
He nodded. "I thought he was a good guy and a good cop," he confessed. "I would never have thought he was what he is."
She smiled again. "So maybe that gives you some evidence that just because you are a vampire it doesn't make you a monster."
He nodded. "You have a point."
"All you have to do is figure out how to control it. Once you do, you can go about your life like usual."
He studied her. "You honestly think I can just go about my life and act like this hasn't happened?"
She nodded. "Yes, I do."
"But the world thinks I'm dead."
She giggled. "No, the only people who think you're dead are the team and the locals you've been working with. The team can be handled and you don't have to worry about the locals; chances are you'll never see any of them ever again. And if you ever do, you can feign ignorance and act like they don't know what the hell they're talking about."
His mind raced as he tried to make sense of everything she said. "You've really thought this through, haven't you?"
She shrugged. "I get a second chance at being with you, Aaron. Of course I've thought about how we can make it work. Call me selfish, but I need you with me, and if there's a way for that to happen, then I'm all for it."
He huffed and shook his head.
"What?"
"Only you would find out that your husband is a vampire and instead of running for the hills or trying to kill me, you're trying to figure out a way I can continue on with my life." He went to her and placed his hands on her waist. "You're really alright with this?"
She smiled. "Of course. You know how much I love the macabre. Why would you think I wouldn't be? My husband is a freaking vampire for Christ's sake, how cool is that?!"
He shook his head and chuckled. "Only my wife."
