Chapter Fourteen– Such a Big Girl

Hotch's heart rate had spiked at the end, and he'd begun screaming incoherently in rage. His fists were clenched tight and fury suffused his face.

"Wake him up, Emily!" Rossi cried out once he'd seen what was happening. If this kept up Hotch could end up hurting himself.

"I'll try, but I'm not sure I actually can."

"Be careful, Prentiss," Morgan warned. "You don't know how he'll react. At this rate he could slug you."

Emily winced but nodded. Morgan was right. If she didn't go about this just the right away it could turn out badly. Hotch likely wouldn't know where he was or who he was with right away. She pulled against her chains, trying desperately to reach his shoulder. It was a close call, but she managed to snag his shirt and pull.

"Hotch! Come on, Hotch, wake up!" she pleaded as she tugged again on his clothes.

After managing to twine her fingers around his upper arm, Emily pulled back hard. Hotch snapped awake and whirled toward Emily, fury in his eyes. Emily saw it and prepared herself to defend against his blows while she tried to pull him back to the present.

"He's dead, Hotch! Foyet's dead!"

He stared at her uncomprehendingly for a moment before he shuddered and let his raised fists drop. It took him awhile to slow his ragged breaths. When he finally managed and looked up, he found Emily still holding her hands up to let him know she wasn't a threat.

"It's okay," Emily assured when she saw his eyes on her.

She could only watch in agony as he squeezed his eyes shut and shuddered again. Before she could even consider coming up with something to say or do to help ease his pain, Hotch spoke up.

"He almost got Jack."

Morgan's head shot up.

"What?"

They'd all been there when Hotch's world had almost been completely destroyed. All of them knew what the Reaper had done and what he would have continued to do had Hotch not arrived when he did. As far as Morgan knew, Foyet hadn't come close to killing Jack after he'd been sent to hide.

"Aaron?" Rossi prodded gently when his friend remained silent.

Hotch swallowed hard before continuing, unable to meet their eyes as he spoke.

"Instead of both of us going down the stairs after I… found Haley… only I did. Foyet went to my office."

He didn't need to say the rest of the words. They all knew that was where Jack had been hiding.

"Oh, Hotch…" JJ said gently, her heart tearing for him. She couldn't even imagine how much pain he had to be in. If she had seen her own son almost killed it would break her, and what Hotch had seen had almost been a reality.

Emily snagged Hotch's wrist, forcing him to look at her.

"Listen to me," she said firmly. "That didn't happen. Jack's just fine. Understand?"

Hotch returned her gaze firmly. Only the fact that Emily had worked so long with him let her see the trembling in his eyes.

"I know."

Know or not, it was hard to get the image out of his head.

0~0~0~0

Bill tipped back in his chair to prop his feet up and tuck his hands behind his head as he gazed at the screen in front of him. He was rather enjoying the show the agents were putting on for him. It certainly would have been amusing if the team leader had actually struck one of his own agents. Oh well.

A slow smile spread across his face when Agent Hotchner started explaining what he'd seen in his dream. It was excellent really. Bill wouldn't even need to ask questions now. Agent Hotchner had simply provided him with the answers on a silver platter without realizing it.

Grabbing his notebook in giddy excitement, Bill began jotting down notes. His drug combination had worked well based on what Hotch had said, but it could have been just a teensy bit better. If it had been perfect, this Jack fellow would have been taken or found or killed or whatever it was the agent had been so afraid would happen. He twirled his pen as he began rambling to himself to determine the appropriate next steps.

"I need to up the dose somehow. Either increase just that one or keep the ratio the same while raising the overall dosage. Hm… decisions, decisions."

Well, there were three more test subjects left in this batch. If the next one didn't provide quite the right outcome then he had one more chance to get it right. Two if he didn't mind not hitting the detective with the best he had to offer.

Bill sighed morosely. He would have to just see how the next two went and go from there. First things first, he had to go retrieve his supplies from today's first experiment and perhaps feed them. Then he would deal with the next test concoction.

"I'm on my way, my dears," Bill sang excitedly as he hurried out of the observation room of his lab. "Never fear! I have not forgotten you~!"

0~0~0~0

At the sound of the door opening Emily had caught Hotch's arm. The silent conversation that had followed was enough to put Hotch in the right frame of mind to face their unsub without trying to punch his face in. After what he had seen, only Hotch would be able to appear so fully in control so quickly. He only seemed unsettled when Bill said he would be back shortly for another round.

"He's getting sloppy. Rushing," Rossi said when the door clicked closed behind Bill.

"Why? Because he's already preparing for another round?" Morgan asked.

"He didn't ask any questions," JJ said, unsure at first but growing in confidence as she continued to explain. "He has to ask what we saw or he won't get the information he wants. This time he didn't ask anything."

She glanced at Rossi to confirm that was what he'd been thinking and received a nod in agreement.

"Unless…" Emily began. When Rossi and JJ turned their attention to her she continued. "Unless he got what he wanted."

"Audio," Olivia mused, remembering how much Hotch had shared with Emily after waking up.

"So no matter what we're giving him the answers he wants," Morgan growled.

"Seems that way," Olivia returned sadly.

The room fell silent again for awhile, their individual thoughts overtaking them. Olivia couldn't help sneaking peeks at JJ every once in awhile. After JJ noticed she called Olivia out on it.

"Sorry," Olivia responded. "You're just so calm."

"Calm?"

"You're next. You have to know that."

"I know I am."

Only JJ's time in front of the media allowed her to hide her flinch and keep a straight face. She knew Olivia was right, and she was terrified of what was to come. Not that she was going to let their unsub know that. Of course if he had audio in the room he'd find out soon enough that she was scared. She had little doubt the experience would leave her screaming whether she wanted it to or not.

0~0~0~0

"JJ."

Morgan's warning pulled JJ's attention to him briefly. She nodded and focused on the door, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

Bill bounded in with his usual exuberance and headed right for JJ. He beamed down at her only to receive a steely look in response.

"Aw! That's not nice, sweetheart! You shouldn't give anyone that type of look. Seems that our little detective is being a bad influence on you~."

He shot a look over his shoulder at Olivia.

"I don't need any help in knowing how to deal with someone like you," JJ corrected firmly.

"Is that so?"

Bill tipped his head to the side, thinking for the moment. Then he simply squealed excitedly.

"Such a big girl! I bet your friends are so proud! Now let's get you all set and ready to go, shall we?"

After he had everything set up and removed the needle from her arm, he smiled at JJ.

"Now don't try to be all big~ and strong~ this time. You won't be able to fight it."

When he noticed that JJ's eyes were already drooping even as she fought to keep them open he patted her cheek.

"You see?"

Bill stood and gave them all a little wave.

"Be good!"