Story I – Chapter 19
Once the blood touched Hotch's tongue, he gasped, titled the cup up, and gulped it down. Sebastian watched him carefully and then smiled as he took the cup back. "You really liked that one, didn't you?"
Hotch's eyes slid shut as he wilted and nodded.
"You don't need to feel ashamed, Aaron. It's what the vampire wants."
Hotch took a deep breath and his hands balled into fists. He looked at the older vampire. "I can feel. . ." He stood up straighter and gasped. "I can feel something."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he watched him. Hotch had yet to change back into normal, but he smiled. "I told you, human blood makes a difference. What does it feel like?"
Hotch shut his eyes again and slowly inhaled through his nose. "Like I'm. . . Like I've been recharged." He frowned as he looked at Sebastian. "And yet I didn't feel run down or anything beforehand. I don't understand."
Sebastian watched as Hotch changed back into normal and then shrugged. "Maybe you just didn't realize you were hungry. I remember, in the beginning, that blood would make me change no matter what, but I wouldn't ache from the hunger unless I was actually hungry." He sighed. "I'm not sure when it comes to you, though."
"Will I always feel like this after drinking it?"
Sebastian watched a shiver run through the new vampire. "Probably. You feel even more powerful?"
Hotch took a deep breath and blew it out as he nodded. "Yes."
Sebastian ran a hand along his goatee as he studied the younger man. "I wonder. . ." he moved to stand in front of Hotch. "Try to push me."
Hotch balked. "What?"
Sebastian leaned forward a little obviously rooting himself in place. "Try to move me back."
Hotch shook his head. "No. I couldn't. . ."
"Please, Aaron. I want to know if you are powerful enough to do it." Hotch sighed and then moved and put his hands on the man's chest and pushed on him, but he didn't budge. Sebastian shook his head. "You aren't even trying."
"But I don't want to find out I'm even more messed up," Hotch tired as he started to let go of him.
Sebastian grabbed his hands and held him, though, and looked him in the eyes. "Push me!" he compelled him.
Hotch's eyes changed and his teeth clenched as he pushed with all he had. The cement beneath Sebastian's feet started to give way as Hotch pushed him back and before he stopped, there were two gouges about ten feet long in the floor and Sebastian's back was up against the wall. Hotch saw what he had done and he quickly changed back and took a step away from the man.
Sebastian smiled, though. "Well done, Aaron."
Hotch shook his head as he sighed. "Don't try to pretend this is a good thing, Sebastian. I can see it in your eyes. I scare you."
Sebastian moved to put the containers of animal blood back in their prospective coolers. "It does bother me, Aaron, but I'm not afraid of you. I am afraid of what it means and what others will think."
Hotch frowned as he studied him. "You really haven't ever heard of or run across anyone who didn't fit the norms, have you?"
Sebastian shook his head as he grabbed the chalice and motioned for Hotch to leave the room. "No, but I will discuss this with a few trusted friends."
Hotch went through the door and waited for Sebastian to take the lead. "You think other vampires will have a problem with me?"
Sebastian turned and locked eyes with him. "If you ever come across another, do not let them know how powerful you are. They could be jealous or see you as a threat. Keep your abilities just between us. Don't even point that out to your team or anyone else, except, of course, for your wife or David. You need someone to talk to."
Hotch searched his eyes and then nodded. "I understand."
Sebastian gave him a small smile and started back towards the stairs. "But keep track of your abilities. I will want a full report when I check up on you."
"Keep track?"
He turned again. "You will only get stronger with time, Aaron." He took a deep breath. "I can't even fathom what you will be like in a hundred years."
Hotch huffed. "Who's to say that will happen? Maybe I will be the opposite and get weaker or something."
Sebastian laughed. "I guess we won't know until it happens," he offered and then led Hotch to the kitchen, dropped the chalice off in the sink, and then went to the back door.
XXX
Rossi and Willie were busy having a chat a little further down the bank of the lake while Kahlan smiled as she watched two swans swimming close to each other.
"He was right. The lake is beautiful with all of the fall leaves around it," Hotch agreed as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
She gasped and startled. "Damn it, Aaron!"
He bit back a chuckle. "Sorry."
"No you're not! You are enjoying every minute of payback for all of the times I snuck up on you."
His smile was so big that both dimples emerged. "Yep." He nestled his chin on her shoulder and then sighed.
She turned to him. "Everything alright?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
She searched his eyes and knew he had found out something else, but she also knew he needed time to process it on his own before he'd want to talk so she turned back to the lake. "Then I guess we better get going."
He nodded.
"The swans are beautiful. I would love to spend some time here relaxing."
He smiled as he moved to stand beside her. "There's a beaver right over there chewing on a branch," he offered as he pointed it out further down the bank to the right.
Her eyes searched and then she smiled once she saw it. She giggled as they watched it pulled a branch back towards the water.
"And two squirrels up there playing," he explained as he pointed to a tree top not far to the left.
She looked and her smile grew as they watched the squirrels chittering and chasing one another.
"And there's a deer way over there in the clearing munching on the fallen apples," he added as he pointed off behind them.
She turned and then shook her head. "You can hear all that?"
He shrugged. "I guess."
She shook her head in bewilderment. "That's amazing."
He smiled. "It is."
After a moment she turned to him and frowned. "It's wonderful out here, but what the hell is it going to be like back in the city or even the bullpen?"
He frowned as he ran a hand over the back of his neck. "I don't know. I guess I haven't thought about that."
She winced. She hadn't meant to give him something else to worry about. "It must not be too bad, though. Sebastian and Willie handle it, so you'll be able to."
Hotch's gazed traveled to the young looking vampire and his lip flared.
Kahlan smacked him on the chest. "Aaron!"
He turned to her. "He likes you; it's obvious."
Disgust filled her face. "He's just a baby! Damn. Make me feel like a pedophile or something."
He huffed. "That baby is old enough to be your great, great, great. . ."
"Shut up, Aaron! He looks like a baby. All I thought when I looked at him was whether or not Wyatt or Jack was going to look like him when they get a little older."
He grinned. "So am I the hottest vampire you know, then?"
She frowned as she pretended to think about it. "If Sebastian was just a little taller. . ."
"Kahlan!"
She giggled and she pulled him to her chest. "Don't worry, Hun. You are still the sexiest man on the face of this planet."
He shook his head, but his dimples emerged. "Come on. We better go," he offered as he grabbed her hand and started her back towards the house.
"I'll text the team and tell them we're on our way so they can get ready."
He nodded as Rossi and Willie moved to walked with them. Willie looked at Hotch. "Dave told me about how you were brought over, and I am sorry about what happened, but Sebastian is one of kindest men I have ever met. He will help you through all of this."
Hotch nodded. "I know."
"And I will, too. We're like family," he offered with a big grin.
Kahlan laughed. "And how many other family members does Aaron have?"
"There are four of us now. Michael's the oldest, then Jenny, me and now him." He laughed. "I'm sure once Sebastian lets him get comfortable with all this he will want to have a family meeting so Aaron can meet the others and their families."
Rossi laughed as he put an arm around Hotch's shoulder. "Your family just keeps getting bigger and bigger. . ."
Hotch pushed him away playfully. "Shut up, Dave."
"You don't like families?" Willie asked with a frown.
"No, not at all. It's just that Aaron comes from a very small family but when he married Kahlan it grew tremendously," Rossi tried to explain.
"You and your team were his family before he ever met me!" Kahlan insisted.
Rossi smiled. "Yes, yes we were."
Sebastian was waiting for them by the SUV and he looked at Kahlan. "Do I need to provide sustenance for Aaron to give you time to figure out how you are going to handle things?"
She grinned. "It's already taken care of. He has some already waiting at home."
Hotch's shook his head knowing she'd had Cam do something but he wasn't sure what and he wasn't sure he even wanted to know.
Sebastian smiled. "It's nice to know that someone will see to it that he gets what he needs."
"I always try to take care of my man," she offered lightly. He nodded and she moved in to hug him. "Thank you for saving him."
He pulled back and smiled again. "It was my pleasure."
She smiled and moved to give Willie a hug. "And it was nice meeting you. I hope to see you both again."
Willie's goofy smile made her chuckle and his cheeks heated. "Of course." He moved and opened the back door for her and she nodded her thanks.
Hotch rolled his eyes behind his back and Rossi chuckled and stuck out his hand to Sebastian. "Thank you for everything you've done for him."
Sebastian shook his hand and smiled. "You're welcome. Watch over him."
Rossi nodded. "I always do," he told him and then moved to the passenger seat.
Willie gave him a quick wave and then stuck out his hand to Hotch. "Welcome to the family."
Hotch shook it, but he fixed him with his stare. "Thank you."
Willie shot a look to Sebastian. "Well, I guess I'll see you later," he offered as he ducked his head.
Kahlan shook her head at her husband, but Hotch chose to ignore her.
Sebastian fixed Hotch with a serious look. "I will check on you in a week, but you can call me anytime, Aaron. Anytime you have a question, a concern, or you just need to talk, please call me."
Hotch nodded as he shook his hand. "You may regret that."
Sebastian laughed. "I doubt it." He turned to the others. "Have a safe journey," he offered and then he and Willie headed back towards the house.
Hotch got in and took a deep breath.
"If you need more time with him, Aaron, we can head back and figure out a cover story to give you a couple more days," Rossi offered as he studied him.
Hotch shook his head. "No. I'm fine. I need to see the kids."
Rossi pat his thigh and nodded knowingly. He wasn't sure if Hotch needed to see the kids because he had almost died a few days before or if he needed to see them to reassure himself of his role as a father and thus his own humanity, but it didn't matter; he was able to go home and that's what was important.
*Finally got the new story on the website. Pictures of the vampires are on it, if you want to go see what they look like.
