The pounding on the door came at 6:30 in the morning. Hotch growled, and grabbed a robe as he made his way to the front door of his apartment. Spencer slid out of bed, and ruffled his hair. He ran into Jack and Bandit in the hallway, where he had them pause, until he was sure that the coast was clear, and that they were in no danger.
Once Jack heard his Uncle Dave's voice, he smiled and ran back to his room for a moment, to grab Bandit's leash. "He needs a walk." said Jack definitively. He attached the leash to the puppy, and led him into the living room. "Hey Coach!" greeted Jack comfortably as he passed the older Agent. He held his hand out in anticipation of a high-five, and giggled a bit when Rossi looked confused.
Hotch looked up and spoke directly to his son. "We told you that you couldn't go outside alone. Take your Daddy with you."
"I'm on it, Aaron," said Reid hurriedly, as he pulled on a pair of sweats and chucks. "We'll be right back."
The trio left the apartment, and Dave looked to his friend. "What was that, Aaron? I meant to ask you yesterday, but with all the excitement...and why did he call me Coach?
Hotch chuckled lightly. "He called you Coach because you are his soccer coach...in a few years."
"...in a few years?"
Aaron's smile was genuine and comforting. "Apparently, Jack came with Spencer and I into the past. He confessed yesterday after Haley found our dog..."
"Your dog?" asked Rossi incredulously. "I think I need a cup of coffee."
oOo
The apartment door opened, with Spencer and Jack leading in the tiny puppy. Aaron smiled, and continued to explain. "The night that this incident happened, there were four of us in the house. Obviously Spencer and myself, but also Jack and Bandit. From what I can gather from Jack, we all traveled back in time, including the dog. Apparently we all have our memories, and loyalties." said Aaron as he petted Bandit playfully. "Jack didn't tell us at first because he wanted time with Haley..."
"So, Rossi..." asked Spencer as he finished dressing. "Why are you here?"
"Ah, well...Garcia called me this morning...her facial recognition software had a hit this morning. Foyet has arrived in DC."
OoO
"Hotch...you're sure that it's okay for us to be talking about all of this with Jack around?" asked JJ with motherly concern.
Hotch chuckled a bit. "No, obviously not, but since it was his wish that brought us here...it isn't as if he doesn't understand what we're trying to prevent."
"I've got him!" yelled Garcia with excitement.
The team crowded around her laptop as they watched the streaming video of Foyet's rental car as it moved from one traffic cam to the next.
"Where is he headed, all knowing Oracle?" asked Derek with anticipation.
"OMG teammates!" cried Garcia. "He has just parked outside of the apartment complex that Jr. G-Man and Hotch told us about before."
"So he hasn't been watching until now." added Rossi carefully. "That is a very good thing. At this point he has no knowledge of your habits, Aaron...or of our visits...or anything about Haley, Jack or Spencer."
Aaron exhaled noticeably, and gave the group a smile. "This is going to work, people."
OoO
"Haley...I really need you to take Jack on a vacation. I don't care where, just away from DC for the next week or two. I will pay for everything...What? No, this has absolutely nothing to do with Spencer...You are being ridiculous...Everything is not about you...please, just do what I ask..."
Aaron listened to his ex-wife complain for several minutes before finally cut her off. "Haley! I don't care what you have planned, or what meetings you can't possibly miss. You and Jack could be in danger, and I need you to be out of reach...away. Can you do that for me?" There was a pause in the conversation, then Aaron smiled. "Thank you." sighed Hotch with relief.
Their supervisor smiled as he made his way back to the table. "Okay, she agreed to take Jack to his grandparent's house for the next week. Since Foyet isn't focused on them yet, I think that they'll be okay for now."
OoO
The team set up an off-duty command center at Reid's apartment, making sure that their presence at Hotch's place was negligible. The tiny puppy scuffled around under their feet as they discussed their options.
"We have less than a week to figure out how much he knows, where he's getting his intelligence regarding our travel, and how to second guess him. Garcia leaned down and picked up Bandit, cradling him in her arms. The puppy snuggled against her comfortably, and slowly closed his eyes as the Technical Analyst began to update the team.
"Okay, we've installed hidden cameras in Hotch's apartment, covering every inch of the place. There is no way that Foyet can get in or out without tripping the motion sensors and cameras."
Rossi continued. "We have surveillance teams watching him around the clock. Nobody is pulling more than a two hour shift on this, so...hopefully...they won't be recognized. The bureau also rented an apartment in the same building, and Anderson is staying there for the time being, to keep a closer eye on him."
"Rossi," began Hotch carefully, "How did you get approval for all of this?"
The elder agent chuckled in amusement. "It was actually Reid's comment that motivated me."
"Which comment?" asked the young doctor curiously.
"You mentioned that perhaps Erin and I might...hit it off."
JJ giggled and nodded as Garcia screamed. "Oh my god! You're sleeping with the boss?"
Morgan sat forward. "Way to go, My Man!" he added as he high-fived his fellow agent.
"Taking one for the team, Rossi?" asked Prentiss with a delighted smile.
Rossi grinned. "I simply took a page out of Reid's handbook." said Dave with the raise of an eyebrow.
The agents laughed heartily, rousing the small puppy from his nap.
oOo
The team was in the field when the call came. Back at the office, Garcia patched the surveillance supervisor's call to the team's makeshift workspace in the Greenville Police station. Their case was completed, and they were finishing up the paperwork.
"Hotchner," answered the senior agent. The team saw him clench his jaw, as he listened and nodded for several minutes. "Okay, Agent. Thank you for the update. We are finishing up here, and should be back at Quantico within the hour." Aaron hung up the phone and looked to his team.
"Okay, it's show-time." announced Hotch tentatively.
Realizing that any information regarding Foyet might trigger an amount of fear and insecurity in his supervisor, Rossi stood and took control. "What did he say, Aaron?"
Hotch gave a somewhat resigned smile, and took Reid's hand in his before he continued. "This morning, Anderson reported that he overheard Foyet listening to the morning news. They played a clip from JJ's news conference last night, which announced the capture of our Unsub. Immediately, he heard Foyet gather some things, and run out of his apartment. Anderson notified the surveillance team, who were able to get a tail on him. He stopped for a latte, and connected to the Internet via the free WI-fi at Starbucks. Garcia tracked his online activity, and..."
"He monitored the news reports, didn't he?" asked Prentiss knowingly.
"Which is apparently how he knew of our whereabouts." finished Hotch.
"Well, I for one am glad it was that, as opposed to some freaky mind-reading Unsub super-power." announced Morgan.
The team laughed for a moment, and relaxed a bit. "So, Aaron..." asked Reid with some concern, "where is he now?"
Well," said Hotch, "for the up to the minute news, Andy Swann told me that I should check in with Garcia."
Anticipating the response, Morgan had already dialed the technical analyst. "Hey, Baby Girl!" said Derek, "you're on speaker, so behave!"
"Oh! Chocolate Bear, I am not about to behave on this one...this guy is too much. He broke in to your apartment about an hour ago, and I am about ready to drive over there myself and give him a piece of my mind!"
Hotch smiled silently, and squeezed his lover's hand. "Garcia...you are covering the video feeds from my apartment. What is he doing?"
"Sir...I am so sorry, and I really don't want to be the one to..."
"Garcia...it's okay. I realize that you are just relaying facts...calm down and tell us what is he doing?" asked Hotch carefully.
"Okay," began Penelope, "he entered your apartment at 10:17am and did a standard sweep. I would just like to add that I think that he has spent way to much time watching TV cop shows..."
"Baby Girl," warned Morgan, "facts, please."
"Of course, my liege, I'm sorry. To continue...after he searched your apartment, he began an unusually intense examination of your DVD collection."
"My DVDs?" asked Hotch incredulously.
"That would be an affirmative, Sir. He finally settled on one that peaked his interest, made some popcorn, and is currently half-way through what appears to be...Finding Nemo."
"So, a serial killer is at my house watching cartoons, waiting to stab me?"
The team gave out a nervous laugh, before JJ spoke. "Does anyone else find that highly creepy?"
oOo
The team arrived back at Quantico just as one of the surveillance teams returned. Hotch talked a few moments with Andy Swann, before calling the team to the conference room.
"Go ahead, Andy." said Hotch. "Get us up to date."
"Well..." began Andy carefully. "Once your scumbag settled in, we started to speculate on how, exactly, he was going to know when you were on your way in. We had our tech guys down the street, and I had them sweep the area for any residual transmissions that weren't a result of our surveillance."
"And you found something?" asked Prentiss hopefully.
Yea. This guy has a jerry-rigged motion sensor directed at the entrance to the lobby of your building. Anytime one of your neighbors enters or exits, he checks some hand-held device. None of the cameras in the apartment give us a direct look at the device itself, but after watching his behavior, it fits."
"Andy, thank you so much. Your team is doing a excellent job." said Hotch with determination. "All of this helps us tremendously."
Swann's team, and the tactical unit ordered in lunch, and, along with the rest of the BAU, they planned their entry.
Reid furrowed his brow. "Has anyone bothered to check if he's monitoring the maintenance entrance?" asked Spencer carefully after reviewing the building schematics. "I mean...is he monitoring that entrance as well? Garcia?"
Penelope's screens lit up as she rewound the surveillance feeds in time with his responses to his hand-held device. "Reid, you are a genius!" shouted Garcia. "Every time someone comes in the front door, this scum-bag checks his magic box, but he's not monitoring the roof, maintenance or delivery entrances."
Rossi looked up. "He was obviously counting on the element of surprise...if he thought for a second that we knew he was in town, he would have been much more careful..."
"Agreed." said Aaron with confidence. "We need to make our move soon."
oOo
Several minutes before he would again come face to face with his ex-wife's murderer, SSA Aaron Hotchner paced nervously in the background, as plans for the SWAT team's breach were finalized. He smiled when he noticed Spencer sitting in the corner, knees pulled up to his chest, staring at him like a scared puppy.
The senior agent approached the genius, and knelt down, so they could talk at eye level. "Babe, I'll be fine. Quit worrying."
"I'll quit worrying when you do." said Spencer with an amused, but fearful smile. "And don't even try to tell me you're not nervous. I read body language for a living...in case you've forgotten. And I'm a definitely a certified expert in YOUR body language."
Placing a tender kiss on Spencer's cheek, he rose, pulling the young man up and into his arms. Aaron could feel the hand in his trembling. He wanted to be strong, and assure Reid that he would be okay, but the words would not come. All he could do was look into his lover's eyes and smile as he held on tight to that hand...his life, and lifeline.
The teams met one final time before SSA Hotchner would once more walk into the moment of his nightmares. As the SWAT leader reviewed the plans, Spencer held on to Aaron's hand tightly, not wanting to let go.
Finally it was time.
oOo
Rossi sat with the young genius in the surveillance van, watching the screens intently. "He's gonna be okay, Kid. He's covered twelve ways to Sunday. No one is gonna let him get close to Aaron."
Reid nodded mindlessly, hearing the older agent speaking, but not registering the meaning of the words...his complete concentration focused solely on the images playing out on the screens in front of him.
Finally noticing that his words were not registering, Rossi placed his hand on Reid's shoulder, causing the young man to jump violently.
"Breathe, Spencer. Breathe"
Reid gave Dave a forced smile. "I'm sorry, Rossi. It's just that I have comforted Aaron through more terrible nightmares than I care to remember...most of them about the moment he is about to relive." The Doctor took a deep breath before continuing. "He beat that man to death with his bare hands, and he's about to face him...alive again."
oOo
The time had come, and SSA Aaron Hotchner was ready. Parked in his government issued SUV, around the corner from his apartment, he closed his eyes and focused his mind. Everything was coming to a head at this moment, and failure was not an option. He felt the pocket of his suit coat one more time, his backup weapon carefully ensconced there, rather than at his ankle. He was ready.
He started the SUV and turned the corner, sparing a glance at the surveillance van, where the love of his life was currently situated. Spencer. Spencer and Jack...his family. They were his sole reason for being, and he was doing this for them. The thought relaxed him slightly. There was a purpose and a goal in sight. Not just the take down of Foyet, or the prevention of further bloodshed. The people he loves...the people who love him, need him to be strong.
He approached his building, and pulled deftly into his assigned spot. Straightening his jacket as he exited the vehicle, he walked briskly into the lobby, passing several undercover agents as he went. He smiled and nodded to Andy Swann, who was posing as the desk clerk, and entered the elevator.
The three story ride up to his apartment seemed painfully long. 'It's heightened awareness and anticipation...' he said to himself, as the elevator crawled slowly towards its destination. The opening of the doors, broke him from his reverie. He was prepared. He had to be.
In the van, Spencer leaned forward and touched the screen that captured Aaron's image as he exited the elevator. "I'm with you." he whispered.
As his key entered the lock, a wave of calm swept over the senior agent. This time, Foyet will not get what he wants. He turned the key, and entered his apartment, just like he had thousands of times before, by himself, but not alone.
Born of habit, he threw his key on the table, and set his briefcase on the chair. Unlike the first time, though, he set his weapon down on the table in front of him as he poured himself a drink. He took a sip, and then turned slowly, gun in hand, once again face to face with the monster of his nightmares. It was then that all hell broke loose.
The moment that the cameras showed that Foyet had left the shadows of Aaron's bedroom, Rossi shouted. "Move! Move!"
Two SWAT officers, rappelling from the roof, crashed through Hotch's living room windows, followed by a contingent led by Morgan and Prentiss through the front door. Glass flew, weapons were drawn, and at the end of it all, Foyet got to his knees with a smile, and put his hands behind his head.
"Aaron, Aaron, Aaron. I have to hand it to you. You got me...I'm impressed. You're almost as smart as I am, but you still should have taken the deal." drawled the killer with a grin. "But if I was you, I'd look keep an eye open at night...you know how I hate to lose."
"You're the one who needs to look out, Foyet." growled Morgan as he yanked The Reaper from the floor and began the pat down.
Spencer, who had jumped from the van the minute that Rossi had initiated the take down, barreled through the door of Aaron's apartment, and straight into his lover's arms. Holding Aaron tightly, he turned to glare when Foyet began to laugh.
"Ho, ho, Aaron. I didn't know you swung that way...but I can see it, I really can. He is such a pretty boy...right Morgan?"
Morgan roared with rage, and grabbed Foyet by the front of his hooded jacket. "Don't you ever talk about..." was all that Morgan was able to utter before Foyet head-butted him and grabbed Derek's gun from its holster.
With lightning quickness, George Foyet...The Reaper, turned the gun towards Hotch and pulled the trigger.