A/n hey... thanks again for all the lovely support of this story. You're all awesome!
Disclaimer: Only the new characters belong to me. No copyright infringement is intended with this posting.
The Fox and Bugle Club, just off DuPont Circle in Washington DC, were lightly populated in the middle of the afternoon, in the middle of a work week. Established in 1809, it was once a gentleman's club. Now the front lobby had a maitre'd station. At both sides of the room were black leather couches and matching easy chairs. The carpet was dark red and plush. There were portraits on the walls of several prominent politicians, celebrities and Presidents of the United States. Some of the portraits were painted and some were professional photographs. The walls were wood paneled in pine and stained a dark mahogany color. It was very masculine and a little oppressive despite the fact that it was no longer restricted to male membership. It was as though the influx of the fairer sex hadn't been noticed by the management, even after forty years.
"Agent Hotchner… How good to see you again…"
The tall, thin, silver haired maitre'd bowed to the agent and gestured to the large dining room just inside the stone archway. The dining room was divided by glass partitions, and the black and red decoration theme was carried through to where several men and one couple were having lunch.
Hotch followed the man through to a table at the back of the room, next to a blackened fireplace that was made from stone that matched the archway and was darkened by years of soot. It was large enough for an entire side of beef to be cooked at one time on the turn of the 19th century spit. There was a large black pot hanging from the spit and at the moment, the flames were out. It was charming in the winter with the golden-orange fire burning and the shadows dancing on the walls.
"Your guest… Mr. Thompson." The maitre'd said to the grey haired man sitting at the heavy oak wood table.
"Thank you Victor…" The man said and Hotch nodded to him.Victor left them to their privacy.
Hotch sat down in the large stained wooden chair directly across from the man he was meeting. Harold Thompson or Commonwealth's Attorney Thompson, was six foot six inches tall. He was nearly as lean as Reid. His coffee colored skin was several shades lighter than Morgan's and had a slight golden hue to it in the sunlight. His eyes were dark brown and had laugh lines around them despite the stress of the job he did. His suit was three piece and charcoal in color. He wore a black tie and shirt, and his silk handkerchief was matching black.
"Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner… It's been a long time. You're looking well." Thompson said as they were approached by a waitress wearing black slacks, a white blouse and black tie. Her vest was black and the gold name tag gave her the unfortunate first name of Harriet. She was blond with blue eyes and a bright smile.
She gave the two men menus, and water, and asked them if they wanted anything to drink. They both decided on iced tea with lemon. She left them to their conversation and Hotch responded to the man's greeting.
"Thanks Harry… I look a lot better than I feel." He admitted to his old friend.
"Yes… I heard about Haley."
"Bad news travels fast," Hotch complained while opening his menu.
"This is Washington and you're a former prosecutor. Now you're an FBI agent at the head of his unit. What did you expect Aaron? How is Jack handling things?"
Hotch explained that his son was living with Haley and her sister. He glossed over the fact that Jack cried every time he left after a visit. He didn't say how it broke his heart every day to think about his son. He didn't tell his friend that although he would always love the mother of his son, he didn't like the person she had become over the last year.
"Do you expect me to believe that all is well Aaron?" Harry asked.
The waitress interrupted at this point and took their orders. Hotch used this time to collect his thoughts. He always thought the CA would make a great profiler. Harriet left with their orders and Hotch sighed before speaking.
"Harry, believe me when I tell you that it's for the best that Haley is gone. I only wish Jack didn't have to suffer."
"Alright… I'll leave it at that and get on to the reason you called me. I was dumbfounded to hear you tell me that we might actually have a chance at getting that son of a bitch once and for all."
"Yes… I couldn't believe it when my agent came to me with his suspicions today. You could have knocked me over with a feather."
"Can this Dr. Reid do it? Can he find something to put all of this to rest?"
Aaron put his glass of water back on the table after taking a sip. "He's one of the best profilers I've ever worked with, I trust him with my life, and more importantly with the lives of the residents of that institution."
"Good… I can't wait to hand down an indictment in court. It'll be a great way to end my career."
"So the rumors I have been hearing are true. You're retiring at the end of the year."
"Yes… you should really consider throwing your hat in the ring at election time. You could win Aaron. You could be the next CA of Virginia."
Hotch picked up his glass of water again, and looked through the clear surface to the gold place mat on the dark stained table. "I'm not going back to the Prosecutor's office. I'm a profiler. It's my life, it's who I am."
Harry caught Hotch's eye and said seriously. "I know that Aaron. I just think you might find the hours a little better." He laughed at the look on Hotch's face. Hotch smiled and laughed as well.
"Yeah… I guess your right. I'm stuck though, I love catching the bad guys. I love the people I work with."
"Same old Aaron Hotchner… You love the chase." Harry grinned at his friend and they laughed together.
Harriet came back a few minutes later and they had their lunch. Hotch bid his friend goodbye after unsuccessfully fighting over who was going to pay for their meals. CA Thompson bid his friend goodbye and they headed back to their jobs. Hotch had just gotten into his car when his phone rang. He spoke briefly to the person and then dialed another familiar number.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reid recognized the tune that the young man was singing in his beautiful tenor voice. Leia and Maria seemed transfixed by the beauty of the song. Sondra stood listening and tears began to fall down her face.
It was Mozart's Requiem. His voice was so beautiful, that Reid's mind began to hear the seven layers of music in the back ground that most people didn't take the time to hear. It was also his mother's favorite piece. His heart constricted, he wanted her to be able to hear this wonderful voice so badly.
Time seemed to stop as the young man sang. Leia usually ran away when Reid put classical music on his Hi-Fi, but this time she jumped into the young man's lap. Tommy's rocking diminished, as though the music and the cat calmed the storms in his over stimulated brain. He began to stroke the top of Leia's head and she lay down on his legs, looking as though she never wanted to leave.
When the requiem ended and the last note faded away, everyone in the room stood transfixed. Reid was about to ask the young man where he learned the song when JJ spoke from behind him.
"Reid… I just got a call from the boss. He needs me back at work." She gave him a significant look when he turned to look at her.
"Oh… ah yeah… Tommy… It was nice to meet you. I have to take Leia now." He picked up the cat. He thought Tommy would react with anger, but the young man only looked at the ceiling. He said. "Bad man…"
"What…" Reid asked kindly.
Dr. Lev stood behind JJ with a couple of other nurses including Wendell. "Bad man…" Tommy repeated, beginning to rock faster.
"Take the patient back to his room." The doctor ordered.
"Tommy stay… bad man with squeaky walk…" The young man began to rock even faster.
"Now wait just a minute." Reid said before the two nurses laid hands on the young man.Tommy erupted into a rage when they touched him. Leia jumped out of Reid's arms and ran out of the room. JJ swore like a sailor when Tommy shoved one nurse into her, and pandemonium erupted in the calm after a beautiful interpretation of musical genius.