Bishop to Queen

Hotch positioned the curtain to divide Reid from Gideon, but more to block Gideon from Reid. Even subconsciously he was enraged at the man, even if he himself refused to let the man out of his scrutinizing glare. He set a small box from his pocket onto a mobile tray that was pushed to the side of Reid's bed.

This was a waiting game, he knew them well, and every time it was a victim his heart ached for them, but never as much as it did now. Did that make him cold? He supposed it was normal that he shielded himself from the victims' to some degree lest he really would go insane. He looked at Gideon, that could be a very warped mirror of his future self. Or could have been, had it not been for having Reid in his own life. Reid grounded him, he completed him.

"Spencer, please wake up…" He whispered into Reid's ear as he brushed the hair out of his face. The tox report was still out, going into it, all the doctors knew was that he was drugged with an unknown amount of sedative against his will and that he had lost blood both prior to today's crisis and during the crisis. In all, Reid required eight more stitches, and for his sutures to be replaced and wound redressed. In his drugged state he was mumbling a constant script all dedicating to keeping Gideon alive, which pissed Hotch off more than he supposed it should.

Spencer hadn't said anything to him about any undying love, but he supposed that was better… for one, it meant Reid had unfinished business and a very big reason to pull through, two it kept collateral damage to a minimum. As it were, Hotch was already brushing off questions about why he was the one looking for Reid or how come he didn't bring his team. There were a lot of questions like that, ones that he skillfully was able to deter, deflect, or debase depending on his exact answer. He opted to go with the 'go over your head and this case is our case because it includes both kidnapping AND federal agents' option. After all, if it was his case, he wouldn't have to deal with these questions until it came to prosecuting… which he knew full well this case wouldn't make it to. Spencer would never allow it.

He took Reid's hand in his, squeezing it gently, "I know you've got to be really tired, but I really want to hear your voice. Please, for me?"

"N-Aaron, d'you know what time it is…?"

Hotch smiled sadly, worry weighed down on his glance making his bags under his eyes especially haggard. "Well, you're the one who blew me off." He jested, it didn't upset him, not now after all, how could it? Reid was alive, he was going to be alright… sure he could lecture him about the merits of communicating or telling him about his plans to have visited Gideon, but he hadn't and at this point it was moot. He was just glad he had found Reid and had enough time to intervene, that everyone who went in there came out alive. Those kind of wins were rare for the BAU and he relished in the important victory.

"Sorry 'bout that… you know I didn' wanna miss it…" Reid's voice was riddled with sleepiness.

"I know, I forgive you, but don't do it again." His smile was softer now, "How are you holding up…?

He could see Reid sniffle, "He drugged me… Aaron… he… he did it." The accusation though unspoken was clear to Hotch, he watched as Reid's mask slipped and tears painted his cheek.

"Shh… shh, Reid it's going to be okay. This wasn't your fault, the doctors are finding out right now what he slipped you." Hotch was careful not to use the phrase 'gave you' in order to prevent the debacle of making Reid feel persecuted when he'd done nothing wrong. He realized Reid must be wondering how Gideon was, even if he refused to say it—probably for Hotch's own benefit, but he couldn't be selfish and keep the truth from Reid, it would hurt him and that wasn't worth protecting his own ego. "Gideon's alive, Reid. Thanks to you. The paramedics were able to stabilize him, he's unconscious still, they think he might stay that way for a while… but, he'll live."

Reid squeezed Hotch's hand, "Good… but Aaron…"

"Yeah, Spencer?" He massaged Reid's hand gently in his own, "What do you need…?"

Reid shook his head, apparently unwilling to say whatever thought had struck him. Had he been off? Did Reid not want to even hear about the other man? It was possible, it only increased the likelihood that whatever 'selfish' thought Reid would have, the young man would be stymied over and suppress. He really was just genuinely that good of a person.

"I need to let the doctors know that you woke up. I'll be right back, so you stay awake for me, you got that?"

Reid nodded once, his eyelids droopy. Hotch arranged for the fastest room reassignment he could by waving around his badge and abusing his powers properly. He also was sure to inform a nurse of Reid's change in levels of consciousness before going back into the room to spot Reid, his eyes locked onto a small box with a questionable gaze.

"Did… someone…? Someone must have left it… but how…?" Reid said, obviously today he was anything but optimistic.

Aaron smiled, "I'll take care of that, just give me a few minutes okay?"

Spencer nodded, "The nurses'll probably have a lost-and-found or something…"

Aaron nodded, "I'm sure they do. But I think I know who it belongs to." Spencer's glance became more suspicious, but he said nothing as Aaron moved the box back to his pocket. Aaron wouldn't let anyone encroach upon their moment, Gideon be damned, to hell with the nurses… so he'd wait.

He was almost ready to break the silence when a doctor broke it for him, entering with lab print-outs. "Good morning, gentlemen. Dr. Reid, how do you feel today?"

Reid just gave him a sleepy none-too-pleased look. "Been better, been worse."

The doctor nodded, "I have your results back. Your toxicology panel came back. We're going to have to run some panels to make sure your kidney and liver functions aren't impeded, you were given a large dose of acetaminophen and doxylamine succinate."

Reid's demeanor soured, "You mean he tried to OD me on NyQuil…? Seriously…?" Reid let out an anguished groan of grogginess.

"Seems like." The doctor watched as Reid raked his fingers through his hair. "Have the nurses come in to change your bandages yet?"

Reid shook his head as Hotch nodded. "No…"

"Yes."

"Really… when…?" Reid looked at Hotch in confusion.

"You were still out of it, it was about two hours ago."

The doctor nodded, "Good, good. If you don't mind stepping outside for a moment, this requires some privacy, for me to gather the sample…" He held up a urine sampling cup as to drop the hint. Hotch met Reid's eyes seeking for his approval, whichever Reid wanted would be how he'd proceed, forget what the doctor suggested.

Reid grabbed Hotch's sleeve. "I'll see you when you get back."

Hotch nodded and raised his hand, he'd take the opportunity to check in with the team and find out how Gideon was doing.

Outside of the small alcove that was Reid's hospital suite, Morgan, Prentiss, JJ and Garcia were buzzing around waiting for any sort of news. Rossi, nowhere to be seen, was presumably with Gideon. Hotch shot Morgan a look.

"Rossi's having a chat with an old friend." He explained with a hand roll, "He figured it would be fitting for Gideon to wake up to hearing HIM going on and on. We're all inclined to agree."

"What room number is he in?" Hotch looked back at Reid's room before adding, "Reid's awake now, but he's still a bit out of it."

"Yeah, we pounced the doctor before he could get inside." Prentiss announced.

"Reid said it was an OD on the equivalent of NyQuil."

"It's room 208, just down the hall." Morgan pointed, letting the information sink in. "I can't believe Gideon drugged him… that's just… it's so wrong."

"Feel free to take it up with him. I'll be back shortly. When the doctor leaves Reid's room, someone should go in with him. He shouldn't have to be alone in there." The others nodded, Garcia quickly making it clear it would be her turn to sit in and visit him.

Hotch knocked once on the door to warn Rossi and then entered. Rossi smiled back at Hotch.

"Hotch, there you are. I was just telling Gideon about how the office has been livening up thanks to Kevin and Garcia, and Emily and myself. Spring must be in the air." He smiled and Hotch could practically see Gideon reeling behind his eyelids just at the sound of Rossi's grading voice. He deserved having his nerves graded for what he did, hell Hotch was sure he'd be able to arrange hot coals raking up him for what he pulled but wouldn't bring himself to it.

After all, Nietzsche had hit the nail on the head when he said, "If you stare into the Abyss long enough, the Abyss stares back at you." Hotch reminded himself this, and that Gideon deserved pity, not hatred. It didn't make him feel less anger, but it made him feel guilty about some of the anger at least. That was short lived though, because the second he imagined his lover, down the hall, so hurt and devastated and so vulnerable thanks to that much more of his fragile trust being ripped away from him, and he just couldn't feel guilty for despising his 'til late, possibly his longest-held friend. That was about right, wasn't it? Rossi and Gideon had been working together when Hotch had joined the BAU, but he had joined under Rossi. So, Rossi had been his mentor, they didn't have the same centralizing force at the time of a Unit Chief, the dynamics were different and by time it came to that, Gideon had invented the role and Rossi had surreptitiously retired. Honestly, most of the old-blood had been on the way out at that point. Hotch had briefly worked with Max Ryans before the old dog had went off to write books, in fact that was the retirement method of choice to bolster the pension.

"He's still out, huh?"

"Oh you know he's faking it. He just isn't man enough to have a heart to heart with me about romance." Rossi strutted. Reid would have called the bravado peacocking, he was sure. That he was masquerading his own woeful feelings with a show of superiority, to feel like he was the furthest thing from what Gideon had become and proof that the job would not consume him of all people.

Hotch smiled back to Rossi before glaring at Gideon, "Well, if he isn't still asleep, he should think long and hard about what he just did to someone as important to him as Spencer and realize there is no repairing that. No one's that understanding. Not even Reid, and certainly not the rest of us. You don't have allies here right now, Jason. You've burned that bridge twice now."

He turned and left Rossi to his conversations, he felt better saying that to the unconscious man, it was his own brave front. Because as much as he wished what he said was true, he knew it was almost entirely a lie. Reid probably would forgive him, he's indefinitely understand him, and though he had betrayed the BAU, Spencer, twice the young genius would still probably try to help him. It was just his nature.

That was the thought that carried his feet back into Reid's room to spot Garcia blubbering over him, enthusiastically cheering for him to recover. He gave the techie a sympathetic look before she excused herself.

Reid glanced at Hotch before looking back down at the corner of the hospital bed, in a coy attempt to prompt him to sit down, Hotch supposed, but he wasn't ready for that just yet. He closed the door behind him as he approached the bed.

"Spence, I'm making some calls, I think we can make up that dinner sometime tomorrow if you're up to it."

Reid smiled, still exhausted. "That would be nice, I'm so sorry I ruined this evening for you… I know you were trying so hard to…"

"You don't know how to ruin anything, Spencer. You're alive, and pending lab results will be perfectly fine… how can I see that as anything but a win?" He kissed Reid's hand, "You and I both know when an unsub is dedicated enough to something, that they'll make it happen. And that's what Gideon was… I don't want to hear arguments, I know he's sick, I know the old him wouldn't have done this… but the Gideon that did do this has thoroughly pissed me off."

"Me too." Reid admitted in a small voice, "I don't… really want to try to categorize that right now though. It's too raw." He squeezed Hotch's hand, "I love you. You're the best thing to ever happen to me in my entire life, you know that, right?"

"Funny… I was going to say something similar about you." Hotch smiled.

Reid rolled his eyes, "You've definitely been spending too much time with Morgan and Rossi if you're reduced to recycling pick-up lines." He laughed slightly before diverting his eyes. "So that box… did you find the rightful owner yet…?"

Hotch smiled, "It hasn't made itself into the right hands yet, but I know who it belongs to."

"You just don't want to do it in the hospital, huh…?" Reid smiled, his confidence seemed to be returning and Hotch was sure Garcia had something to do with it.

"You should just concentrate on resting right now. As soon as you feel better, we can talk about who that might belong to."

"I thought you said you know who it belongs to." Reid smiled, it warmed Hotch to see him so expectant.

"Now, I didn't say that…" He touched the tip of Reid's nose, "The others will tear my throat out if I don't let them come in and visit, you know that, right?"

"Well, we can hardly have any more BAU members cross the crazy line, so you better let them in." Reid said, dismissively, he knew Hotch was changing subjects and realized he should just let him in this instance, it was for Hotch to decide when and how, but he was really hopeful Hotch hadn't just been really thoughtful and bought him a watch for his anniversary. He'd probably snap, not with how he was hinting at things.

Garcia and Morgan's return had been what encouraged Reid to think along the lines of DC's reformed policies about domestic partnership and gay marriage. While he was sure some things were stickier than others, a few things were worth cutting the red tape to have. Aaron Hotchner was always one of those things. So Reid focused on exactly what Hotch had suggested he focus on, getting out of the hospital with enough time to make a 7PM seating at a swank restaurant he was supposed to visit the night before.

TBC.