Taking it Back

The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions: - Thich Nhat Hanh

Disclaimer: Criminal Minds is not mine.

A/N: A bit shorter than I have been posting recently, but it was the right place to stop for his chapter.

Hotch continued to drip the sports drink into Reid's mouth as Floyd stood over them and watched. He moistened Reid's cracked and bleeding lips with the liquid.

"I just don't understand you. Why do you do this to him? What fun do you get out of degrading someone to these depths?"

"You think I enjoy this?"

"Why else would you do it? Were you seeing how long it would take for him to die? What was the point it in Floyd? What do you really think he might have learned from this?"

Floyd looked at Reid for a while and then walked away. "I expect him to learn to do what is expected of him." He reached down and picked up his work box.

"I wouldn't treat a dog like this Floyd. Any one else would be in jail for this."

Floyd sat down crossed legged next to Spencer. "He's not a dog Aaron. He is Spence and thus gets this special treatment. Keep giving him that drink. I have more of them if needed." He pulled a small collection of things out of his bag and pulled Spencer's right hand over to rest on his lap. Hotch looked over at him and frowned.

"What are you doing?" He leaned closer.

"Stitching. It needs a few stitches. He pulled on the blade when he was having the muscle spasms."

Aaron's eyes went wide for a split second then his hand moved over to Floyd's and slapped the things out of his hand. "Is this what this mess up his arm is? Your handiwork again? Wait for the medics. Just wait."

"The handiwork as you so nicely put it is mine. I could have left him laying on the bathroom floor bleeding out from where he had sliced into his arm though. You are unpredictable Hotchner. I thought you wanted him alive."

Aaron continued to drop the blue sports drink down Reid's throat and slowly Spencer began to flex his fingers and curl his toes. "Where the hell is that ambulance? Leave his hands Floyd. Let the medics deal with it."

Floyd picked up his sewing things again. "There is not going to be an ambulance Aaron. I will fix him. It was only two days and for one of those I was here watching him. He is fine. Well OK he's not fine, but he will be - eventually and then I can see if this worked."

"What do you mean no ambulance? I saw you call them. He needs to be in hospital Floyd. Get me the phone."

"He needs a drink and a shower. Stop mothering him Aaron. You are stunting his emotional growth."

Hotch stood up and looked down at Floyd who had begun to sew Reid's hand back together. "Get up." Floyd looked up at him.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said get up. Get up off the floor."

"I need to do this Aaron."

Hotch reached down and grabbed Floyd by the hair and pulled it upwards towards him. "I told you to get up."

Slowly Floyd stood. "You need to let go of me Aaron. I am not in the mood for this."

Hotch released Floyd's hair and moved his hand down to his neck. Aaron pushed Floyd back so his back was against the wall and their noses where nearly touching. "You will leave Spencer alone. You will walk out of this place and never return. Do you hear me Floyd? This is it. This is the last time. I hope you enjoyed it because now I have a far better insight into what makes you tick and I know what you have put Reid through and it will not happen again. No more. Get your stuff and go. Now."

Floyd put his hand around the back of Hotch's neck and slid his fingers though the hair touching his collar. "You don't mean that. I know you don't mean it. Come on Aaron. We can have fun. Reid won't mind. Actually it will give him a break. What say you Agent Aaron Hotchner? Fancy a shower?"

"Take your hand away now Floyd. I am not Reid. You haven't drugged me into submission. You haven't degraded me to the point where I exist only to please you. So Floyd – no I don't fancy a shower. Get your things and leave."

Floyd's hand moved down Aaron's back. "You look lovely when you are angry. I can't leave without Spence and I have a feeling you wont be letting me take him along."

"Go."

Floyd's hands dropped to his sides. "You have no idea of what he has done do you? You have no comprehension of the pain he has caused me. I may – just may have over reacted a tad, but you don't know what he has done Aaron."

"Nothing that deserves that." Indicating a Spencer who had rolled over onto his side. "Nothing ever deserves what you did."

Floyd shouted – the phlegm hit Hotch in the face. His eyes seemed to burn with rage but still he just stood with his arms at his side. "He let them take her!" he shouted in Aaron's face. "He let them take my Rosa! You know how hard it was to get her back and Reid let them take her! He should have died before he let them do that. A half arsed scratch on his fucking arm! That is all my daughter is worth to him – nothing. She is a child Aaron. A little girl and he whimped out and let them take her. Do you KNOW what they are going to do with her? No you don't. I know. I have first hand experience of what they do. YOU know what they are like and he – Dr Spencer Reid let them take her. No wonder you kicked him out of the BAU. He is nothing. He is dirt. He is scum and filth, but he is mine."

Hotch took a step back and wiped his face. "He needs our help. Turn the shower on. I haven't the time or energy to play your mind games." Aaron turned his back on Floyd and returned to kneeling next to Spencer.

"Did you hear a word I said?" Floyd was talking in a low hiss.

Hotch gently undid the tie holding Reid's hair back. "I heard you Floyd. You are a compulsive liar. Give me time to work out the BS from the truth. Get the water running and don't for one minute think I am going to permit you to shower him."

"He is MINE!" Floyd was still standing with this back to the wall where Aaron had pushed him.

It felt good. It felt different and he liked it. He was hoping to annoy Hotch enough for him to strike him. At least then he would know he cared. He moved from the wall pushing himself away with the palms of his hands and moved to stand behind Aaron who was talking quietly to Spencer. He put a hand on Hotch's head and gently twisted the hair around his fingers. "I could take you now if I wanted. Right now. Across Spencer. Let him feel and hear your lust."

"I know you could. But you won't. You will go and turn the shower on." Aaron knew what Floyd was trying to get him to do and he wasn't going to comply to his twisted needs.

"Cant you just leave it for a while and look at me." Aaron could feel hot breath on the back of his neck, and he felt his skin crawl.

"It? – leave it?" He stood and turned to face Floyd.

"Spence then, my Spence. It, him, whatever you want to call it."

"This isn't going to work Floyd. I'm not sure what it is you want but I am not going to hit you. I'll do the shower, you pick him up and follow me."

Flanders just stared at this man who accepted everything he threw at him yesterday, the man who needed him so much not so long ago and now wouldn't even touch him. "You trust me with him?"

"Yes – yes I trust you with him. You don't have it in you to kill him outright. It will be the end of your game and I don't think you have another victim lined up yet. Not one who is going to cave into your desires anyway."

"He will. I just need to find that button."

The three of them walked to the bathroom. There was no sign of blood in the bathroom now. It was spotless. There was a strong smell of bleach though.

Floyd sat Reid on the floor and started to undo his shirt buttons. "Babes – I am going to give you a shower. It will feel good on your skin." He looked over at Hotch who was adjusting the temperature of the shower water. "Aaron – on the counter in the kitchen is some for of that sports drink."

Aaron stood and looked at the hands which where so spiteful now appear so gentle as he carefully removed Reid's clothing. There was nothing sleazy or unkind there. It was gentle and comforting. Hotch left at a run. He didn't want to leave Reid with Floyd but he also needed to get the drink and he didn't want to keep arguing with Floyd like two spatting lovers.

When he got back Floyd was carrying Reid into the shower. He stood in the doorway and watched with an envious twist tying it's self around in his stomach. Floyd stood with his back to the wall and slid slowly to the floor with Reid still in his arms. He had his legs crossed and Reid laying now over his lap. Hotch watched the hands washing the blood out of Reid's hair and allowing small amounts of water drip into his mouth. Aaron could see the blood and filth slowly washing off from Floyd's clothes. He put the drink down on the bathroom shelf and then again Aaron stepped out of the bathroom and walked to the bedroom where he picked out some fresh clothes for both men to put on. Considering the vast amount of weird and wonderful items of clothing Floyd owned Hotch thought he would change out of the stinking things he would wear for months at a time.

Floyd held onto Reid tightly. He kissed the top of his head. Why did he have to make him so angry? He rocked him gently back and forth and talked quietly to him. Why did everyone make him so angry? Floyd closed his eyes and just took in the comfort of having Reid on his lap. A hand on his face made him look down.

Spencer was smiling at him. "What happened?"

The voice from the doorway answered. "You were dehydrated Spencer. We are just fixing you up again." Hotch walked over towards the shower after dumping the fresh clothes in the hallway picking the drink up again on his way.

Reid put a hand out to him. "Join us."

"You are in the shower Spencer."

"I know. Join us. Please."

Floyd looked at Aaron and gave a small nod and so he handed the drink to Flanders.

Reid's eyesight was still not how it should be and the image he got was very blurred. Floyd wasn't wearing his glasses, but that was fine, he still enjoyed watching Hotch slowly strip down to his underwear. He watched him step under the water and walk so he was next to Floyd also with his back to the wall. He sat down next to him and pulled Reid's legs onto his lap. Floyd washed Reid's hair and face as Aaron massaged his legs and feet. They both heard Spencer's small contented sigh.

At first the arm around Floyd's shoulder made him want to pull away but the grip became tighter. "My terms remember." Hotch said quietly.

Aaron felt Floyd's body tense up and then relax and even lean on him slightly. One of Reid's hands was holding onto Floyd's hand as though if he let go he would die. His other torn hand was clutching hold of Aaron's hand in the same manner. Hotch felt one Floyd's other hand rest on his knee where he placed his own hand over the top and squeezed gently.

"You both need help. You know that don't you?"

No answers.

"I can move in. I can sell up and move in."

Reid grinned and Floyd spoke.

"About bleeding time."