Thanks for the reviews. (just a little busy with summer things!)
Chapter 4: The New Face
"What do you want from me?" Hotch insisted again tugging at the belts pressing him into the bed.
The professor just walked around him who seemed to be lost in his own work. Hotch signed loudly and placed his head back down. He had been questioning the man countless times since he regained consciousness but he had no luck. The man just hummed around him. Based on his surrounding, he knew he was in a lab, a very advanced science lab with posters of human karotypes charts and DNA images. Hotch was confused. He had no idea why his back was on fire, why he was here, and if his team was on the lookout for him already or not.
The evening approached pretty quietly and the team remained busy with their work. It was still pinching them how Hotch treated Reid in the morning. Maybe he was upset over something, perhaps need help but they refrained from any more scenes. Hotch too didn't come out of his room until it was time to leave. He left without any goodbyes and the team just stared his exit.
Morgan gulped thinking back to how Hotch got mad at the trio relation. It could explain why he treated Reid so harsh in the morning. He placed his arm around the tall lean shoulder beside him. Reid stared at him in amazement.
"I guess he needs some space" Reid told Morgan who signed.
"There's something else too" Morgan finally let out to his friend of what occurred yesterday.
The clone was eager to rush home and end the hell already. His training was nothing close to the real life. It was all too much, so many people, so many expectations, so many tasks. He felt overwhelmed. On top, when he got home to escape everything, a little human was awaiting him. The son was the most difficult to handle. He asked questions, showed his drawings, his toys. He demanded food in the middle of the night. This was happening too fast. Maybe, he should start his mission right away before anything else is exposed. He went to bed tonight thinking tomorrow he will plant the first seed of destruction.
So, the morning arrived with a case awaiting at the round table. The team went on with usual but Hotch remained exceptionally quiet. He didn't take much part in the details. He had no clue about profiling. He was just a very new life in this world. The pictures on the screen spoke horror stories. He studied the faces around him, realizing how easy it was for them to stare at them and not wonder.
He knew at the end of all talks, he had to call for wheels up. He remembered his lessons. The chairs moved backed as everyone rose to leave but Reid remained back and threw a weak smile back at his boss. Hotch looked away to show he was not about to have any company.
"Reid, get ready to leave. We'll catch on things after" clone spoke when the agent refused to leave.
"Sure. Just know I'm here if you need anything"
In the plane, it was strange for the clone to travel in air for the first time. He was holding the arms of the seat as it took off. The team watched seeing their boss in a new avatar. He was never afraid of flying before, Rossi noted.
Hotch quickly realized and straightened up. He assigned the team their tasks before landing. He made sure the trio was separated at all costs. He took Emily with him when the plane finally came to a stop. He let Emily drive the van to the police station. He still wasn't excellent in his driving skills yet. After setting up the station, he sat back recalling his next task. Emily.
"Emily, there's something you need to know" He began and she turned around to see him. She made a face.
"I can't have you dating around two of my agents" He spoke but received a laugh in response.
"I am serious" He said and she regained her posture.
"What?" she asked.
"You need to sort it out before any consequences arise" he went on.
"Is the problem with the relation or with doing it with two agents?" She asked.
"Both"
"But-it's nothing serious" she explained.
"I'm not a fool" Hotch answered back. Emily felt like receiving a slap from a man she trusted more than her life.
"I don't get it" she said not knowing Hotch was coming from.
"It's simple. There must be no dating amongst the team. Anyways, if you think Morgan has lot of other women and it's only a matter of time before he cheats on you. And, Reid. Well, he's just a desperate little boy" He explained. Emily almost fell back hearing him. She had no words to say to such an unimaginable situation.
"You, on the other hand is one fine lady. You can still explore for better options" Hotch went on and on with the bashing of her lovers. Tears built behind her eyes and she chose to leave immediately. She ran for the restroom not believing it was not her dream but reality. Hotch, out of all people called Morgan a cheater and Reid desperate.
Emily had no courage left to ask Hotch anything anymore. She ignored him for the rest of the day until Morgan and Reid joined her in the lobby of the hotel they were staying in. She was pacing madly when the boys joined her. The distress on her face melted both their hearts. Morgan went first.
"Princess, what's killing you?" he asked.
"Hotch-he's-" she spoke but Morgan understood immediately and pulled her in a hug.
"NO worries, we'll figure out something" he patted her back. She stared back at concerned Reid who too pulled a calming smile on his face. The words haunted back in her ears. But, suddenly her arm pulled back forcefully when a strong hand broke their hug. Emily stumbled back.
"What 'the hell, man?" Morgan snapped but his jaw fell when he saw Hotch sternly standing there.
"Ho-tch?" Morgan asked.
"Keep your distance" Hotch ordered.
"But Hotch that's not how you treat someone, that too in middle of a public spot" Reid forwarded not liking how some people around were now staring their way. Emily was still shaken up with the impact of the pull.
"Really?" Hotch stepped closer to him.
"And, we are currently off our work anyways. You can't-" Reid kept on talking until a loud slap on his right cheek pushed his head aside. Morgan quickly pushed Hotch back not understanding what just happened. Emily gasped.
"Back off man, something wrong with you?" Morgan yelled. By now, everyone in the lobby had their attention. Reid couldn't raise his eyes any longer.
"This is my team, my rules, my orders and you better learn to follow them!" Hotch sneered and left the trio is chaos. Without wasting a second, Reid too rushed away, hiding his face. Morgan and Emily followed him but they were stunned. It didn't make sense. Hotch was not himself. He would never physically abuse his agent like this. It broke them, totally.
"Reid!" Morgan called out to the agent running for his room. He caught up to him and grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't" Reid pushed him back, his face red with embarrassment .
"REID!" Morgan grabbed his face and tilted it to examine the impact.
"Let go" Reid pulled his hands off himself, feeling ashamed.
"I am sorry. I couldn't control" The clone spoke over the phone.
"You know they are profilers!" Professor yelled "they'll have us figured out in days!"
"I know but I can't control my anger. He was talking back to me. He was so rude" clone justified.
"Oh, stop it! Hotch loves his team. He would never slap any one of them!" Professor smashed the glass in his hand as Hotch stared him. He couldn't understand what he was talking about. It was surely about him and his team.
"What should I do now?" The clone asked.
"Damage control!" Professor threw the phone aside, fused in anger.
"Are you going to tell me what's happening?" Hotch tugged at the belts.
"Please!"
"Why am I here?"
"Are you even listening?"
The clone knew he had to undo the harm before it got out of his hands. He rushed to his agent's room and knocked twice. Reid opened the door in his pajamas. He looked clearly hurt.
"Can I come in?" He spoke in his sweetest voice.
"Only if you will tell me 'why'" Reid said and clone quickly nodded and allowed himself inside. Reid sat or almost fell on the bed. The silence stole the moment between them. The clone watched the agent squirming under his stare. He knew he had to apologize but he just wanted to slap him again. It was something about the boy, forcing him to beat him, just for pleasure of it. He quickly blinked the thoughts aside.
"You didn't had to hurt me" Reid spoke up. Hotch snapped out from the trance.
"I know...and I'm sorry" Hotch said. Reid looked up. Not even a hint of guilt on that face. It was odd. He gave Hotch time to explain himself. He was never slapped in his life by anyone, not his mother, not his father nor any elder. So tonight it felt bad. He could even report such incident to the Chief.
The silence clearly showed that Hotch clearly didn't know how to explains himself.
"Why did you slap me?" Reid stood up, eye to eye.
"You were being rude, disobedient. After all I am your Boss" Hotch answered.
"Disobedient? Hotch, what happened to you? You're talking like some stranger" He went on. The clone couldn't let the conversation stir this way. He started to sweat, afraid that the profiler was up to something.
"No, why are thinking I'm any different now" Hotch gulped down. The professor would get so mad if this agent figured him out.
"Since the last case, you're not quiet yourself anymore" Agent stated. The clone lost it at that. He was being profiled so easily. He suddenly grasped the agent's arm and jerked him close.
"So what if I have changed? You better learn to deal with it" Hotch sneered scaring Reid for the first time.
"Hotch, let go of me" Reid demanded.
"And if I don't" Clone grabbed his other arm as well and shook the slim agent violently.
"This is your last warning, you talk back to me ever again or in fact if you even tell anyone about our meeting, I'll make sure you don't see another light of the day" Hotch's grip tightened twisting the agent's face in agony.
"Hotch?" Reid lost his words, too shocked to say anything.
"Don't test me" clone said and forcefully threw the agent behind. He liked how powerful it made him feel when the agent full of attitude fell to his feet and whimpered.
"I'm done being nice to you" Hotch said and finally slammed the door on his way back. Reid felt he was in a dream. His mouth was wide open, his ears disbelieving, his eyes denying the reality. Hotch could never said those things. Hotch was like his big brother, his guardian almost. It hurt to see him change into someone like this. Maybe, it was time Hotch's sanity slipped away from constant emotional troll. Maybe, he was suffering a mental disorder now. Or what if he is just tired of Reid, of taking care of him. Reid felt lonely, suddenly. Hotch's threats stirred all unsettled thoughts. He was afraid to admit that his beloved ones might be tired of him now.
Please Review. Of Course the clone is the evil Hotch lol! He's gonna mess up everything soon :) You have any ideas for the messing up part. Is there something you guys want to read about related to clone and team.