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Chapter 10: The Challenge
The morning sun was out already and here Rossi's eyes were hurting. They just wanted to close now but he shifted in his chair again, just to stir up his sleeping mind. He was still in the police station with JJ as Hotch was being investigated. He stretched a little noticing how JJ's head was falling to a side. She was asleep.
The door slowly opened and an officer stepped in.
"Our team is still searching for Dr. Reid since agent Hotchner never revealed anything" he told Rossi.
"So, now?" Rossi asked.
"I'm not sure if he actually did anything. I mean while examining his body before registering in the police office we noticed a fresh bullet wound on his back. It's all stitched up and healing. I think he was shot a couple of days ago. Do you know anything about this?" he replied. Rossi's mouth fell open. How come Hotch never talked about it?
"What?" JJ asked rubbing her eyes with her fists.
"Yes but there's no hospital records for any surgery or even a clinic visit for Agent Hotchner. So who sew him then?" Asked the officer, leaving the agents more lost than ever.
"Ohh-my" JJ gasped.
"I think someone else is behind all this." Rossi finally replied "He wasn't being himself for last few days. I mean-God!"
"For now, he's in the prison but I hope we can find the source of this mess soon" Officer answered.
"Did you ask him about the bullet wound?" JJ said.
"He's not answering. He's not talking to any of us" He said. Rossi stood up to leave. He walked with the officer to the temporary prison and from the corner stared where Hotch was sitting. His head had fallen down, in his hands, like he was in a state of shock. He looked devastated. Rossi's heart melted. Someone was ruining Hotch's name and it was up to Rossi to do justice now. He wanted to talk to Hotch but what good would that do. Hotch was in wrong hands. This time their boss was the victim. He needed to gather the team and get started on this case. But, what team. Reid was still missing and Morgan was still healing in the hospital. Maybe, it was time to work alone. Rossi exhaled tension out of his lungs and slowly moved out of the sight.
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"Actually, Human cloning"
"Excuse me?" Reid almost yelled.
"I know, I know. It is impossible, this and that" Professor went on "but just imagine how lucky you are to stand here before me, meeting the greatest scientist to ever exist. I have done it what millions couldn't even dream of".
The clone watched the expressions on Agent's face changing from anger to fear then amazement. He smiled when the agent finally shifted his eyes on him. He was completely analyzing every part of him, trying to match him with his Hotch's body. Of course, he looked the same. In his fifties. How?
Reid had read books, thousands of journal articles on stem cell research, on attempts of regenerating new organs, on gene therapy, on replacing DNA sequences, of virus being the vectors. He knew a lot. He remembered how Dolly the sheep was cloned. The DNA copying, annealing, decoding all in his mind as he pictured a new Hotch forming before his eyes. He felt his feet losing blood. Where had he come?
"I never expected silence from you" Professor stepped forward.
"Hotch-Ho" Reid mumbled, every piece falling in pieces, the slap, the threats, the shoving in the elevator, the firing of Morgan, the chasing of black van, the kidnapping. It wasn't Hotch. It was never Hotch. He didn't know what to feel anymore, happy or sad.
His Hotch was missing but all this time, all the pain and betrayal wasn't from him. Reid's head started to hurt realizing what was going on in this world. Why Hotch? Why the clone?
"Dr. Reid, say something" Professor said.
"Where's Hotch?" He asked, trying to calm his senses.
"Will you work for me?" Professor asked instead. The clone just watched them both. Reid couldn't take his eyes off him.
"No!" He exclaimed.
The rejection, it fell like thunder on Professor's heart. For once, he was thinking of not being lonely anymore.
"Dr. Reid, please think about it" He insisted.
"You're gone mad!" Reid yelled "Where's Hotch?"
"It's greatest project ever. Don't you want to be part of it?" He asked.
"NO! Human cloning is illegal!" He said.
"Okay. I can wait then..." The professor quickly retrieved a gun from his back pocket. Reid's eyes widened.
"You're no use to me anymore" He unlocked his weapon and pointed forward. Reid instinctively backed off.
"On the bright side, I'll make my own Dr. Reid from your DNA and he will not say no. I can probably even speed up the process now that your whole body will be at my disposal" he said aiming the gun at him.
"Please...listen" Reid stumbled as he moved back. The so-intelligent looking professor was suddenly a psychopath, ready to murder him for his disobedience.
"Hear him out" The clone suggested and the professor's anger elevator to another degree but he lowered the gun.
"You-never order me again" Professor replied to the Clone.
"You know nothing! This agent in front of you is the master manipulator. He works for the FBI. He's smarter than everything you'll ever encounter. You think he not going to try to save his old Hotch!" Professor turned back to look at Reid "He's lying to me, to you. He's gonna try every mind trick he knows to escape. But, this time it's not going to work. Because he's against me. I'm his match. I'll intersect his every move cause I'm just as smart as him"
Reid knew how bad guys liked to brag about their greatness in attempt to cover up their evil acts but here he was playing him, flattering him and insulting him at the same time. This was going to be the toughest brain he'll ever encounter in his career. After all this psycho actually had the clone of Hotch standing right beside him. An impossibility of science!
The professor scolded the clone a little more giving Reid time to think. The challenge from this unsub really appealed him. Reid wanted to prove him right and show how smart he actually was by arresting this illegal scientist. Reid wanted to crush his ego and save the day. This drive, he rarely felt it in everyday cases but this was his chance. The unsub sure was his match which was interesting.
"I accept your offer" Reid suddenly spoke, shocking the professor who rapidly turned back with a smile on his face.
"Great! But, I know you're saying yes because you want to challenge me. Good competition is healthy for the research. We'll have tons of fun!"
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The bars blocked parts of his sight as he tried to look outside. The officers chatting around and running with papers, coffees and their files. Hotch's heart ached seeing how the roles were switched. He bent his head away not looking at betrayal anymore. For me, the whole world had gone against him. How will he ever forget the way Rossi talked to him in the car. The tears were threatening to break free but Hotch gulped them down. Wasn't this what he had done all his life? He drank his tears, his pains, his sufferings all this time?
Hotch never wanted to break down. He felt this was letting the miseries of his life to win over him. Nowadays, he life had become much better. Jack was adjusting and his team was like his family. He had found a friend, Rossi, who stood with him all this time. And, suddenly over night, all of this was gone. So, he was on the verge of breaking down. He closed his eyes.
He couldn't remember shooting Morgan. How could they even think of accusing him for such a treachery act? His back ached again as he rested against the wall. He was shot himself. Someone tried to kill him too. He rubbed his back against the wall harder, as pain teased in harder. He wanted the pain to clear his foggy memories. He pushed harder, scraping the wound roughly. Another great wave of pain swapped inside him.
Who shot me? Why was I shot? When was I shot?
Another wave of pain and a room of darkness. Another scrap and the behind of his couch. Another push and the man holding the gun at him.
"Come out come out where ever you are. It's time to say goodbye"
Hotch opened his eyes. The bullet hit him in his memories. He remembered falling on the ground. He knew two people were talking after that. He moved away from the wall as finally he felt a piece of his mind returning. Two people invaded his house, shot him and then...
He was in the car, with Rossi and others. The police chasing him for abduction of Reid. Hotch's mind wanted to make more stories, anything to fill the gaps. He banged his fist against the floor in frustration.
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