Chapter 9

Hotch felt his confusion and panic dissipate a bit as his eyes focused on Daria's face. Although he couldn't remember her name right now, her face was familiar to him. He noticed the woman seemed anxious and upset for some reason.

"I'm sorry," he said nervously. "But I can't remember your name. What is it?"

Forcing a smile to her lips, Daria straightened up taking a deep breath to calm herself as she walked over to the bed, and sat down on the edge. "My name is Daria, Adam," she said hoping she sounded calmer than she felt. "You don't remember me?"

Hotch shook his head. "No," he admitted. "Sorry."

Daria looked at the man knowing that with ECT treatments, some patients had trouble remembering new things, so it was no surprise that the patient didn't remember her name. "It's all right. You'll be seeing a lot of me. Your doctor and I will give you a treatment tonight and for the next few days that will soon help you to remember things you currently can't. So don't worry about not being able to remember things right now. I assure you after these treatments are completed, you will remember everything."

"Everything?" Hotch asked with arched eyebrows. "Will these treatments help me remember the people in my dreams?"

Daria tilted her head to the side, concerned. "What dreams? Can you describe them to me?"

Hotch knitted his eyebrows and licked his lips. "Not really. There are people in my dreams. I can't see their faces but I feel like I should know them. Except…." He narrowed his eyes.

"Except what?"

"The last dream there was a woman and a child, a little boy. He kept calling me daddy. And the woman called me Aaron. She said her name was Haley and that she and Jack needed me. And while I don't remember any Haley, the name Jack sounds familiar." He looked at the woman with a sad look in his eyes. "Am I a father?" he asked.

Daria thought back to the picture she had seen in Hotch's wallet; a picture of a smiling woman with short blond hair with a smiling little boy sitting on her lap. She assumed this was the Haley and Jack he was talking about; his wife and son. She had often wondered how she would deal with the issue were it to come up and was glad she had removed his wedding ring from his finger. After all, she believed she couldn't program Hotch to desire her if he knew he was married with a family now could she? She quickly reached a decision, and smiled faintly at Hotch.

"No, Adam. You are not married and have no child. I don't know why you dreamed that, but I assure you, once the treatments are complete, you will no longer have those dreams or see those people."

JJ looked up at the sound of the door opening in the conference room to see Rossi and Morgan walk in. Both agents bore grim expressions on their faces.

"What happened?" she asked seeing their faces.

"It's not good," remarked Rossi as he pulled out a chair and plopped down on it. He then proceeded to tell the blond what he and Morgan had learned. He saw a look of horror cross JJ's face as she digested the information.

"It never ceases to amaze me how people can find new ways to torture others," she said grimly, a sad look in her eyes.

"Yeah, well, no matter what we see in this job…." said Morgan as he poured himself a cup of coffee before sitting down. "…there's always an UnSub out there that manages to show us a new method of depravity we haven't seen before."

"I gather Reid and Prentiss haven't returned yet," said Rossi.

"Not yet," said JJ. "And I haven't heard from them either."

Morgan took a drink of his coffee. "Well, here's hoping they'll have found out something that will lead us to these UnSubs because all we have so far is that Ron and Daria Hunt transferred from a hospital in Louisville to a hospital in Sacramento shortly after his father transferred from the same hospital in Louisville to the same hospital in Sacramento. We have nothing that proves they are our UnSubs."

"Or if they're responsible for Hotch's disappearance," Rossi added solemnly. He inhaled and exhaled through his nose. "I just have a funny feeling if we can prove they are our UnSubs, we might find out what happened to Aaron after all this time."

Morgan and JJ exchanged looks before Morgan took another drink of coffee. He recalled Reid's dream and it's outcome, and didn't mention anything about it to the others. He didn't want to upset his friends added to the fact Reid told him about his dream in confidence.

The door opened again, and Chief Madison walked inside. Immediately his eyes fell on the media liaison and found her cheeks with a slight touch of crimson and a twinkle in her blue eyes. She lowered her head and allowed her eyes to look at the papers in front of her, a shy smile on her face. She had to secretly admit that while Madison was a handsome man, she didn't feel even a slight attraction on her part. And she didn't need to be a profiler to know that Reid and Prentiss might be right about the police chief being interested in her in a romantic way; but she didn't want to let them know that. No sense in encouraging them when there was no return feelings on her part. She raised her head again to look at the police chief.

"Something we can help you with, Chief?" she asked.

"Just wanted to see if there's anything you folks needed or wanted?" He then looked at Rossi and Morgan. "And was the ME able to shed any light on the investigation?"

Rossi turned in his seat and explained what the ME was able to tell him and Morgan and saw Madison's face change when he learned about the dead women being subjected to ECT and were being used as lab rats in an experiment.

"My God," Madison exclaimed, shocked. "This is a peaceful town where everybody pretty much knows everybody. Who would do such a thing?"

Morgan glanced up at the lawman. "We only have two suspects right now; Ron and Daria Hunt."

Madison's eyebrows shot upward, and a look of disbelief appeared. "Ron and Daria? Ron is Jack's son and he and his wife are good people. Sierra Vista is lucky to have them and Jack. Why would you even suspect them for Christ sake?"

"Because all three of them are the only ones who originally worked in Central State Hospital in Louisville where eight women were killed," said JJ. "And now the same three are employed with Sierra Vista and six more women have died the same way as those in Louisville."

"And you believe the Hunts are responsible?"

"We're not saying they are," added JJ. "But we're not saying they aren't either. All we're saying is that right now they are suspects who have been at both hospitals where similar deaths have taken place."

Reid and Prentiss both walked into the elevator on the third floor with Reid updating Prentiss about his strange encounter with Daria Hunt, and that her husband and Dr. Hunt were not in the building. And while Prentiss didn't give a thought about Ron and Jack Hunt not being in the hospital, she did find it strange that the doctor's daughter-in-law acted so evasive although she could understand the woman's protectiveness of a patient's privacy. However, she didn't make any comments until she and Reid were both outside the hospital and heading to their parked car.

"So what caught your attention while I was waiting for the elevator to go to the third floor?" Prentiss asked as she opened the car door on the driver's side.

Reid hung his head and shrugged. "I noticed the name Adam Hefner on the door and I thought how similar it was to Hotch's name. I guess I sort of hoped…."

Prentiss paused holding the driver-side door open and tilted her head sideways. "Reid, don't tell me you were hoping to find Hotch in that room?"

Not answering, all the young genius did was lift his head and look at the raven-haired agent, a sad look in his hazel eyes. Climbing inside the SUV, he buckled his seat belt. With a shake of her head, Prentiss got in behind the wheel looking at the young agent as she buckled herself in. "Reid, look at me." She saw Reid lift his eyes and look at her.

"I know what you're going to say," he said quietly.

"You do?" asked Emily.

"You think I'm setting myself up for a big letdown by telling myself that Adam Hefner is really Hotch."

Prentiss exhaled through her nose. "I don't want to discourage you by telling you not to believe Hotch is still alive. We all want to believe he is. But we also have to keep in mind that it's entirely possible he may not be after three years. Bottom line is I just don't want to see you get your hopes up so high that you're completely devastated if we discover he isn't." She started the vehicle's engine and let it warm up a bit. "Also, we need you focused on this case."

"I know and I'm not," Reid replied. "But I have to believe Hotch is alive. I mean, Gideon left; Elle left. I can't let myself believe Hotch is gone also. It would be too difficult to handle. But it's the only way I can work on this case without going crazy considering it could be the same UnSubs who took Hotch three years ago."

As she turned the steering wheel and pulled the SUV out of it's parking space, Emily glanced at the young genius out of the corner of her eye. She was secretly worried about Reid knowing how the young man felt about Hotch as well as his issues regarding abandonment. She also prayed that their former Unit Chief was still alive, but a part of her also feared that Hotch might be dead and his body just not found yet. And if that be the case, she feared what that outcome would do to Reid who thought of Hotch as a father figure after Gideon had left. And although Prentiss had never met either Jason Gideon or Elle Greenaway, she had heard about the two former agents, and especially how Reid considered Gideon a father figure to replace the father who walked out of his life when Reid was a child and his mother was sick with schizophrenia.

She remembered how hurt and mistrustful Reid was when Gideon left; how reluctant he was to let anybody get close to him besides Morgan. Then Hotch sort of took the young man under his wing, taking over for Gideon in a way. She hated thinking what would happen to the young man if Hotch was dead, or never found. All she knew was that regardless, she would be there for Reid either way.

Daria, still sitting on the edge of Hotch's bed, began stroking his dark hair gently causing a small smile to appear on the profiler's face as he let his eyes close.

"That feels so good," he murmured sleepily.

"That's right, Adam," she said softly. "Close your eyes and rest. You're going to be just fine. Dr. Hunt and I will make sure of it. Tonight you will have another in a series of treatments to begin to restore your memory. And believe me when I tell you that after your very last treatment, you will remember." She soon heard Hotch's breathing even out and knew he was sleeping. Slowly getting to her feet so as not to awaken the now sleeping man, she quietly walked to the chair to sit down when she noticed the doorknob turning again and froze, fearful that the skinny FBI agent was again trying to gain access to the room. Glancing back over her shoulder she made sure Hotch was still asleep, then, quickly raced to the door hoping to keep whoever was on the opposite side out if that person was unwanted. But as her hand gripped the doorknob, the door opened, and Dr. Hunt walked inside, quickly closing the door behind him. He saw Daria heave a large sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" he asked seeing her expression relax.

"I thought it was that FBI agent again trying to come in," she replied. "What are you doing here? You weren't due in until later."

"I got a call from one of the staff informing me that the FBI was here, so I thought I should come in a bit earlier. Are you all right? What happened? Did they see Adam?" Hunt gripped Daria by both shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes, concerned.

"I'm fine," she lied. "And no, they didn't see Adam. But that Dr. Reid almost got in here earlier. I noticed somebody turning the doorknob and managed to open the door before he could. I was able to block the doorway and prevent him from seeing inside. But he wants to speak with me today and I stupidly agreed to call him later and set up an appointment to speak with him." She sighed. "I wanted to warn you, but I was afraid to leave Adam alone with that Dr. Reid nosing around."

"Well, one of the nurses at the front desk told me the two agents left a short time ago so they're not here." He released Daria and approached the bed looking at the sleeping man. "How is Adam doing? Has there been any change?"

Daria quickly explained to the doctor what she and Hotch had discussed and what the man had remembered but wasn't sure about, especially regarding his wife and son. Hunt rubbed his chin, then looked at his daughter-in-law.

"I want you to contact Dr. Reid and tell him you'll meet with him, and for him to come here. But before that, we need to give Adam a second ECT treatment. I must then leave and meet with Ron at his home. After your meeting with Dr. Reid, come to the house as we need to discuss a few things pertaining to Adam."

Daria seemed panicked. "Why must I meet with the FBI?"

"Because, my dear, if this Dr. Reid is suspicious as you say, you will erase that suspicion by agreeing to meet and talk with him. If you don't contact him and he has to track you down, he will become even more suspicious, and that could be disastrous for us. Now do you understand?"

"I understand. I don't like it, but I understand why I must do it." She allowed a small smile to appear.

Hunt smiled. "Good girl. Now, go and get a wheelchair so we can take Adam to the lab."

Nodding, the woman quickly hurried out of the room as Hunt approached the bed and gently shook Hotch's shoulder. "Adam, wake up. It's time for your next treatment."

Hotch slowly opened his eyes, and at first they couldn't focus. When they finally did, his body tensed and panic could be seen when he saw a strange man leaning over him, with a hand on his shoulder. He flinched as if the hand burned him, and tried to pull away from the touch. "Who….who are….who are you?" he asked, frightened.

"I am Dr. Jackson Hunt, Adam," Hunt said with a smile. "I am your doctor."

Hotch, trying to move away, found the restraints had no give to them. He was trapped. "I don't know you." He looked around frantically. "Where's Daria?" he asked nervously.

Before he could receive an answer, the door opened and Daria reentered, pushing a wheelchair in front of her. Hotch seemed to calm down a bit when he saw her which did not escape the watchful eyes of Hunt. He sensed a bond forming between the patient and his daughter-in-law and he didn't like it. But now was not the time to worry about so minor a detail. He would correct that as the treatments continued. Once the chair was beside the bed, Daria locked the wheels to keep the chair from moving.

"Now, I am going to release the restraints, Adam," Hunt explained, still smiling. "I want you to move into this wheelchair afterwards."

Hotch looked curiously at the wheelchair. "Where are you taking me?" he asked.

"We are taking you to the lab where your treatments are done," Daria explained. She noticed Hotch's apprehension. "Don't worry. I'll be with you the entire time. Do you understand me?" She saw Hotch nod his head that he did and smiled slightly. She then looked Hunt and nodded before stepping back and watching as Hunt undid the restraints freeing Hotch before he also took a step back from the man.

At first Hotch didn't move, but then he slowly sat up when he saw Daria nod her head at him. Taking a deep breath, he then just as slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed and put his feet firmly on the floor. But as he then tried to push himself up to a standing position and move to the wheelchair, he found he didn't have the strength and fell back down into a sitting position, a look of frustration on his face. After a minute, he tried again, but this time with the assistance of both Daria and Dr. Hunt. After Hotch was in the wheelchair, Daria strapped him securely into the chair including strapping down his wrists onto the arms of the wheelchair. She then looked at the doctor while Hotch looked at the restraints with a bit of apprehension and confusion as he faintly recalled he had been violent before, yet, he didn't feel any violent tendencies at the moment.

"Get Adam down to the lab and wait for me," Hunt explained to Daria. "I'll be there in a few minutes. I need to contact Ron first and let him know we are coming to his home later, to remain there, and wait for us."

"Will do," Daria replied. She then unlocked the wheels and rolled the chair out of the room. As she pushed the wheelchair down the hall, Hotch looked back at the woman.

"I don't like my doctor," he said. "Something about him creeps me out for some reason."

"Why do you say that, Adam?" she asked, curious.

Hotch shrugged. "I don't know. He just scares me. There's something evil about him. I feel it but I don't know why. Or maybe I know why but can't remember."

Daria smirked. "He's the best doctor on staff here," she said. "You couldn't ask for anybody better."

Hotch hung his head. "I hate not being able to remember."

Daria let the corners of her mouth turn upwards. "When your treatments are finished, I assure you that you will remember everything."

Hotch shrugged. "If you say so." He watched as Daria stopped in front of a door marked 'Storage Closet,' and removed a set of keys from her pocket. His eyebrows knitted together as he watched her unlock the door. A storage closet? Why am I being brought to a storage closet?

Daria must have read his mind as she opened the door and proceeded to push his chair inside and close the door. She sensed Hotch's apprehension as she noticed him looking around in confusion. "There is a lab in here," she assured him. "But we had no other place to build it but in a back room." Stopping the chair when they reached the back of the closet. Hotch watched in surprise as the woman moved the wall aside to reveal a door. Daria then opened the door to reveal a laboratory and pushed Hotch's chair inside. She then walked away and slid the wall back into place before closing the door.

Rolling the chair close to the stainless steel table, Daria again locked the wheels, then looked at Hotch. "Now we wait for Dr. Hunt," she said with a grin.

They didn't have long to wait as almost ten minutes later, they saw the door open and Dr. Hunt walk in. He slid the wall over the opening and closed the door before joining Hotch and Daria.

"Let's get Adam onto the table, Daria, shall we?" Hunt said as he undid the restraints.