AN: This is my only excuse – I've been fighting Reid over this chapter for a few months now. But I finally figured out what will happen next, and it opens up a whole new direction for the series to continue.
For a Father's Love, Part 3
Whatever Reid's plan, Frank Harding doesn't give him time to execute it.
Hotch winds up staying late a few nights later. He heads out to his car, ready to go home and enjoy his family's company for the rest of the night. If there is one thing he truly hates about his job, it's the paperwork. He pulls the car into the driveway (never thought he'd have one of those again, not after Hailey) and gets out. He's halfway to the door when he sees it.
The power goes out.
His gun is in his hands before he even thinks of drawing it. He takes the last of the steps in a jump and moves to open the door. He curses under his breath when he finds it locked, takes a step back, and kicks the door in. He'll apologize to Rossi later. Reid! He casts out his mind as he enters the living room, searching for his team. Reid, Morgan!
Kitchen! Morgan calls back. Hotch, the bastard has Reid!
Hotch darts into the kitchen. Morgan is on the ground, hand pressed to his bleeding leg. He looks up at Hotch in panic. It's a look Hotch hasn't seen since the anthrax incident. He kneels down next to Morgan. What happened?
Bastard ambushed me. Morgan says darkly. Hit me in the leg with a crowbar. Reid went with him – I think they're in the basement. The girls are upstairs.
Where's Rossi?
He went out for pizza. Reid called him – he's either staying away or coming back, I don't know which. Morgan shakes his head. Hotch, he's gonna hurt Reid!
Over my dead body. Hotch mutters darkly. Stay here. If Rossi comes back, let him know where we are. Morgan nods assent. He's not going anywhere with a bloody chunk taken out of his leg, even if Hotch can already see the wound slowly healing. Hotch stands up and makes his way to the basement stairs. JJ and Prentiss are already there, guns drawn, waiting for him. He nods to them and goes down the stairs first. Reid, we're coming.
Reid doesn't respond. That has the hairs on the back of Hotch's neck standing on end. Reid always responds, even if only to acknowledge him. The three practically race down the stairs.
The single light in the basement is more than enough to see by, and Hotch hears JJ gag behind him. Reid must be shielding himself – Hotch didn't think that was possible anymore – that's the only way they couldn't know how hurt he is. Their youngest is covered in blood. There's a gash across his forehead, deep bruising around his left eye, and Hotch knows by the way he's kneeling on the ground that there are broken ribs. And that's only the injuries that are immediately apparent.
The barrier between them is flimsy, but Hotch doesn't dare push on it. If he breaks it, if he unleashes all that pain, there will be no way for him to concentrate. They need to diffuse the situation, not make it worse.
Especially since Frank has a gun pressed to the back of Reid's head. Frank looks like he's been sent through a meat grinder – his entire body trembles with exertion. Reid may have been beaten up, but he damn near pulverized Frank, and Hotch spares a moment for fierce pride.
"Drop the gun." Hotch orders, and he's glad his voice doesn't shake. Reid's gaze snaps up, locking onto Hotch. Hotch acknowledges him with barely a nod. Frank grins.
"I figured this one would bring you running." he sneers. "Always did have a soft spot for the freaks, didn't you, Agent Hotchner?" He digs the gun into Reid's scalp. The young agent barely flinches. Hotch wonders if he can even feel it. Frank laughs. "Did you know that sometimes, my dad would play Russian Roulette with me? I never did know which of us would die on those nights. Those were bad nights for him, when the killing didn't make the screaming stop." He looks up at Hotch. "Would you like to play with me tonight?"
There are footsteps upstairs. Faintly, Hotch is aware of Rossi talking with Morgan, of Garcia making her way downstairs to stay with him, then Rossi is behind the girls, his own gun drawn. "You don't want to do this, kid." Rossi says. "There's no way out of here for you."
"True." Frank muses. "I might as well hit you where it hurts then."
Hotch has had enough. "Drop the gun!"
With a surprised grunt, Frank does so. Reid flinches at the sound, but he never takes his gaze from Hotch. Hotch can feel the tell-tale trickle of blood down his face. Frank stares at him, eyes wide. "What kind of freak are you?" he shouts. He keeps his grip on the back of Reid's shirt, and Hotch hates that.
"Let him go." he orders, and his words carry the weight of a push. More blood trickles from his nose, but he doesn't relent, shoving his will against the young man threatening his youngest. Still, Frank persists, tightening his grip instead of letting go. Now there's blood coming from his nose, and suddenly Hotch is afraid.
Only Alan Foyet was able to resist a push, and even then not for long. Who is this guy?
"Let him go!"
Finally Frank lets go, shoving Reid away from him. Hotch takes a step forward –
And he's still too slow to stop Frank from slamming a crowbar into Reid's scull.
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AN: Okay, so short chapter, I know, but bear with me. One, maybe two more to go, and that will wrap up this section of Shadows Within. Have I lost all my reviewers yet? Please let me know you're still reading.