Chapter 6

Devices

Morgan carefully looked at the seat of the fire in Hotch's house, what was left of it. It was in the fuse box next to the front door. He couldn't see anything amiss that would make him think it was anything other than faulty wiring, but then, he really needed a proper look with better light. He took out a screwdriver and carefully undid the screws holding the fuse box to the wall, making sure that he did not disturb anything. He placed the box in an evidence bag. He would take it back to BAU and get it to the lab, and check it out.

When Reid told him what had been going on, he was certain that he would find something. The fire service hadn't found ant signs of accelerant being used, but not all arsonists were that obvious.

On the drive back, Morgan thought of the motives behind arson.

Political statement. Hotch was not involved in anything political. Morgan had never even heard him mention politics.

Vandalism. This was not likely. Vandals do not usually put life in danger, usually it was only property, and the buzz was watching the fire services tackle the blaze.

Crime concealment. An UnSub concealing a crime would use an accelerant. This one didn't.

That left profit or revenge.

Morgan parked in the underground car park and took his evidence bag up to the lab. This was in his own time. If there was anything in this arson theory, he would find it.

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Aaron and Spence were discussing the same thing, sitting in Spencer's little kitchen.

"Profit or revenge."

Spencer had entered his apartment with his gun drawn, leaning on the crutches he had been given. Things seemed ok today. The strange feeling he had had the last time he had been home was gone. He thought back to then. Was he being irrational, hyper vigilant, as Aaron had said?

Maybe. But he wasn't going to take chances with Aaron's life at stake.

So they had checked each room. There was nothing.

"So who would profit from torching your house?"

"Me." Aaron said. "And I'm not likely to do it with us in the house."

"So. Revenge."

"That could be any one of hundreds of people I've prosecuted, without even thinking of our BAU arrests."

"But why now? There has to be a reason why the UnSub has chosen now."

"Spence, I'm too tired to think straight. I need to sleep, and think this through in the morning."

"Morgan's checking out the scene."

They got up. Aaron passed Spencer his crutches, and Spencer refilled his coffee cup to take with him.

"Spencer, we'll do this in the morning."

"When he confirms arson, we can start pulling your past cases."

He poured sugar into his mug, and stirred it.

"Let's have a stress free night. We'll talk about it in the morning."

They walked together out of the kitchen.

"We'll get Garcia to…."

"Spence! In the morning!"

"Sorry." Spencer bit his bottom lip in that cute way that Aaron loved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

Two men sat outside Spencer's building in the car.

"How the hell did he get out? I can't believe it! Both of them!"

"The Boss is going to be so mad. The fire was supposed to be the last resort!"

"Well I'm not damn well gonna tell her! You can!"

"Tomorrow. We'll see what happens tomorrow."

"I don't like sitting here. Not after I almost got caught in that freak-boy's apartment."

"Yeah. Too close."

They sat in silence watching the lights go out in Spencer's apartment. All except one.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Yes. There was something. It was so tiny, so insignificant, he would never have found it if he had not been specifically looking.

Morgan pushed the magnifier to one side.

Very sophisticated, very clever. Morgan had not come across it before, but there it was.

A tiny explosive device attached between two cables. When the device detonated, the wires shorted, and a fire was inevitable, and the device was almost destroyed by the blaze.

But Morgan could see the evidence.

He called Hotch.

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Aaron slept badly that night. He was afraid to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Spencer in the flames, the horrific image of him burning up before him. Spence was lying with his head on his chest, as usual, and Aaron had to keep affirming that he was there, and alive and breathing. The repeated vision was exhausting him. Knowing it was a dream and not real didn't help. The tears that washed his face were real and the fear he felt was too. He pushed his hand into Spencer's hair and the other on his back. He pressed Spencer closer. Spence sighed contentedly in his sleep.

Then phone call from Morgan had frankly scared him. He really wanted this to all be a horrible coincidence. But the call confirmed that someone really wanted to hurt him. Kill him even. He held onto Spence. He was putting him in danger.

He had to get Spence away.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Aaron was awake first in the morning. Very gently, without waking him, Aaron laid Spencer's head on a pillow and got out of bed. He went through to the kitchen and refilled the espresso machine. Spence liked fresh coffee in the morning; Aaron liked to make it for him.

He took Spencer's into the bedroom for him. He was just waking up.

He rubbed his eyes, and smiled at Aaron.

"Thanks."

Spencer pulled himself up and took the coffee off Aaron. Perfect. Just the right amount of sugar. He sipped the drink, watching Aaron over the rim of his cup.

"I'll get a shower; you stay in bed if you want."

Spencer pulled all the pillows behind him and leaned back. He took his comic off the bedside table, and looked at the artwork. Not brilliant, he thought. But the story was good.

He enjoyed comics. He couldn't read them as fast as prose, and it gave him an idea of the pleasure other people got from reading. He had never really enjoyed a novel. It was just a means of absorbing knowledge. He had tried to read slowly, but he quickly became frustrated and sped up to his normal speed.

Reading comics was different though.

He heard the shower turn on, and Aaron breaking into song.

Spence pulled a face. It wouldn't be so bad if Aaron could learn another note.

He smiled. Five safe minutes. Just enjoy!

The shower stopped and so did the singing.

"Spence, would you bring me a towel, Sweetie."

Spence swung his legs out of the bed and reached for his crutches. He went out to the hall, and opened the airing cupboard.

"Coming up!"

He reached in for a towel.

He froze. Inches from his hand he saw the snake, coiled up in the warmth of the towels. He didn't move. He knew that however fast he could draw back his hand, the snake would be faster.

"Aaron." Spencer whispered the name. He didn't dare shout.

"Aaron! Please!"

He heard the rattle. The snake moved its heavy coils.

Spencer was hyperventilating.

"Aaron! Aaron! I need you! Please!"

Spencer saw the diamond patterns on the back of the snake. It stared into Spencer's frightened eyes.

Spencer felt his body start to shake. His hand shook.

The snake sunk it's fangs into Spencer's hand and withdrew into the pile of towels. For a second, Spencer looked at the two holes in the back of his hand. He turned, and dropped the crutches. He held the wall and took a step into the bathroom, hanging onto the doorframe.

He could see Aaron, but as if through a mist.

Aaron looked over at him.

"Spence? Spencer! Are you all right?"

"Aaron." Spencer breathed. He fell onto his knees, reaching out for his lover.

"Aaron…..help……"

Spencer's eyes rolled upwards, and he crashed forward onto the bathroom floor.