A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating this story, but my allergies have been kicking my butt of late, and then I caught a cold which didn't help any. Also, thanks to all who voted for Forgotten Memories as a co-winner for the 2011 Profiler's Award as the Best Hotch/Reid Fanfic. And congrats to all the other winners and nominees.

Chapter 16

Rossi continued pacing nervously back and forth in the waiting area as he waited for news on the man he considered like a son. He occasionally glanced at JJ and Reid who were seated side-by-side on a cushioned couch with the media liaison clutching the hand of the younger agent tightly. It had been at least two hours since Hotch had been brought to the hospital and rushed into the emergency area where a team had been waiting, informed of his pending arrival by the EMTs.

Sighing, JJ looked up at Rossi. "Has anybody contacted Haley and Jessica yet?"

Rossi stopped his pacing and stood in front of her. "Not yet. I wanted to wait until we had some news on his condition first before I did that." He exhaled deeply. "What the hell is taking so damn long for somebody to tell us anything?" he hissed. "This waiting is worse than not knowing where Aaron was for three years."

JJ got to her feet. "I'll see what I can find out," she said as she walked away in the direction of the nurses' station at the end of the hall. Rossi then resumed his pacing before he noticed Reid was staring at his own hands as he picked at his nails.

"You okay, kid?" the older profiler asked again halting his pacing.

Reid shrugged without looking up at the man. "Reid, talk to me," Rossi urged. "Don't keep it bottled up inside. Believe me when I say I know from personal experience it doesn't work."

When the younger agent looked up this time, Rossi could see his eyes bright with unshed tears as if Reid was struggling to keep himself together. "I was just wondering what we're going to do if the Hotch we all know is lost forever. What then?"

Rossi folded his arms across his chest and sighed wearily. "I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that question," he said solemnly. "But try not to think about that. Tell yourself that Hotch, in time, will get better and recover those parts of him that were stolen."

"I've been trying to tell myself that repeatedly," Reid explained. "But statistics aren't in his favor of a complete recovery. In fact, statistics show that…."

"Reid, stop," Rossi interrupted a bit harsher than he wanted to. "I don't care what the stats say. This is Aaron Hotchner. If anybody can beat the odds it's him. You just have to tell yourself that, and never mind what the statistics tell you. Can you do that?"

Before Reid could open his mouth and reply, the sound of heels was heard and turning, both men saw JJ coming their way with a look of frustration on her face.

"Well?" Rossi asked her already suspecting the answer.

"Nothing," she reply gruffly. "They're still examining him and running tests. All I was told was that a doctor would come out and talk with us when he was finished."

Exhaling deeply through his nose, Rossi ran a hand over his salt-and-pepper hair and returned to his nervous pacing. JJ sat back down beside Reid and draped an arm around his shoulders as everybody continued to wait.

Rossi was the first to notice her approaching and offered a weak smile. The others looked over at the sound of high heels to see Emily Prentiss walking quickly towards them. "They told me I would find you all here," she said. "Any news?" She saw Rossi shake his head.

"What about Daria Hunt?" he asked.

"She's being examined by a doctor in emergency and will be admitted. I made sure the evidence was gathered, photos were also taken of her injuries, and two of Chief Madison's officers are standing guard outside the exam room as a precaution and will be posted outside her hospital room once she's moved into one. I also advised the doctor-in-charge he could find us in the emergency waiting room for his report."

"Ummm," was all Rossi replied.

"Anybody hear from Morgan yet?" Prentiss asked looking back and forth between her three friends.

"Not yet," said Reid looking up at the raven-haired agent. Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw a man in a white coat carrying a clipboard approaching; he rose to his feet as did JJ. Rossi and Prentiss both turned.

"Family of Aaron Hotchner?" the doctor asked.

"That's us," Rossi answered for all of them holding out his hand. The doctor, a gray-haired man with deep brown eyes, had a grim look on his face. "And it's Agent Hotchner, doctor. He's with the FBI as are all of us. How is he?" Rossi asked as he and the others gathered in front of the doctor.

"I'm Doctor Sherman. We took blood samples from Agent Hotchner and I put a rush on them so we should know what drugs were used on him. He has no broken bones or internal injuries that we can tell and I've ordered a cat scan to be done as well. There's no sign of rape or sexual assault of any kind. But his heart rate is somewhat erratic. We have him on oxygen to help ease his breathing until such time as his heart rate returns to normal." The doctor crossed his arms across his chest. "I was told Agent Hotchner was subjected to electroshock therapy?"

"That's correct," Rossi informed him. "We were told he was subjected to at least three treatments that we know of but there could have been more. We're not really sure."

Dr. Sherman nodded his head. "That explains the circular burn-like marks we found on his temples. Did he suffer from depression, or is he being treated for it currently?"

"Look, let me be straight with you so there is no misunderstanding. Agent Hotchner was, has never been, and is not currently under any psychiatric care whatsoever," Rossi said. "This man was kidnapped three years ago and was subjected to these treatments against his will along with whatever drugs you may find in his system."

"I see," replied the doctor. "That would explain a few things."

"How so?" asked Reid.

"What I mean is now that you've informed me about the electroshock treatments and the drugs, it would explain why when we asked him a few simple questions, he couldn't answer them."

"You said questions," Rossi repeated. "What kind of questions?"

"Nothing complicated. Just like did he know his name, what was the last thing he remembered, did he know where he was. He didn't know the answers and became agitated and frightened."

"Can we see him?" asked Reid.

Dr. Sherman sighed. "With the exception of Agent Rossi, I suggest the rest of you wait until tomorrow. However, the EMTs informed me he seemed to calm down while you were in the ambulance with him," the doctor said looking at Rossi intently. "And as I said he is very agitated, confused and frightened, but that may be due to the ECT treatments. Only time will tell. We'll soon be moving him to a room and I'd like him to get some rest. So I will allow you to sit with him and see if you can calm him down. I'll have a nurse come and get you once he's in a room."

"Thank you, doctor," Rossi replied. "I need to phone Agent Hotchner's wife. She'll want to be here as well."

"Of course," replied the doctor. "But I suggest you recommend to her that she wait until tomorrow as well. I believe in his current condition, seeing her husband this way would only upset her, thus upsetting him. I want him to rest and then we'll see how he is in the morning before we allow other visitors."

"I understand. But I don't know how his five-year-old son will react knowing his daddy is alive and can't see him," Rossi added.

"May I suggest Agent Hotchner's son not be allowed to see his father, at least not yet." He saw the agents about to protest and held up a hand quieting them. "I'm not saying this to be cruel, believe me. But given the situation, I believe subjecting a five-year old to seeing a father who may not even remember him at this point will only upset the child, and I'm sure none of you want that."

Rossi, looking grim, could only nod in agreement. He knew exactly how Jack would react if he saw Hotch and his daddy had no idea who he was or didn't remember him at all. The little boy would be crushed. He silently agreed it would be for the best for now. He exhaled deeply.

"Will…will he regain his memories?" asked a scared Reid.

Dr. Sherman sighed loudly. "Only time will tell. He may, or he may not. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my patient."

"Thank you doctor," Rossi replied; then, Sherman smiled, turned, and walked away. Once they were alone, the older profiler reached inside his pocket and took out his cell. "I'm gonna call Haley and let her know what's happening, and then phone Strauss and update her. If Morgan shows up, fill him in on what we know, then, I want all of you to go back to the hotel and get some sleep."

Prentiss glanced at both Reid and JJ, and then faced the older profiler. "I think I speak for JJ and Reid when I say we aren't leaving here until Hotch does. And if he can't leave until after the case is over, then neither are we, and you can tell Strauss that when you speak with her." She sat down next to Reid with JJ on the other side; all three looked up at Rossi.

Rossi smiled knowing the others wouldn't budge unless ordered to do so. And if Strauss gave him any grief about it, he would just have to 'persuade ' her as he usually could. He walked to the far corner of the waiting room, pressed the buttons, and held the phone against his ear.

Prentiss sat with arms resting on thighs, hands clasped and dangling between her knees, foot tapping on the floor as she was wont to do when nervous. From the corner of her eye she could see Reid and JJ holding each other's hand tightly. She looked down at her own hands and began picking at her nails as she often did. She turned towards the others.

"I know what the doctor said about perhaps in time Hotch might recover his memories," she ran a tongue over her lower lip. "But what do we do if he doesn't? What do we do if his memories are gone along with all memories of Haley and Jack? How do we and them deal with that?"

"I have no idea," JJ replied quietly. "We were discussing that before you arrived. We're just going to have to wait and see what happens with time." She let out a deep breath and sadly shook her head. "I'd hate to think what this will do to Haley and Jack if Hotch never regains his memories of either of them."

"I know what you mean," Prentiss replied just as quietly. "Haley will have difficulty dealing with it, and Jack even more so as he's too little and won't be able to understand his daddy not knowing who he is and that he may never again know him."

Reid looked back and forth between the two women. "It's a documented fact that impairment of the memory is the worst side effect of ECT, and the most frequently cited by patients who have undergone the treatment. The other most common side effects are headaches, nausea, confusion, and soreness or muscle aches. Sometimes memories return, but there are cases where patients have reported longer-lasting problems with recall of some of these lost memories, and some patients have claimed to have suffered permanent brain damage even though there's no evidence to substantiate that fact."(1)

Prentiss and JJ exchanged grim expressions. "Spence, I know you mean well, but right now we don't need any statistics," the blond replied with a sad smile on her face as her blue eyes met his hazel ones.

"Sorry," Reid replied hanging his head. He felt JJ's hand stroking his hair gently.

The trio looked up when Rossi walked back in their direction. "You reach Haley?" Prentiss asked.

Rossi nodded. "I did. She was overjoyed of course and wanted to head out on the next plane here, but I managed to persuade her to wait until tomorrow as she wouldn't be able to see him tonight, and I emphasized that for now, she must not tell Jack anything. I then had to explain the reason behind that request and she understood and agreed. She'll be here sometime tomorrow." He exhaled tiredly. "I told her to call me when she knows what flight she'll be on and her ETA so one of us can meet her at the airport and bring her here."

"Just let me know and I'll pick her up," JJ offered. Rossi smiled at the blond and nodded showing his appreciation.

"What about Strauss?" asked Reid after awhile lifting his eyes upward to look into the older man's face.

Rossi found himself smirking. "Erin was, how shall I say, stunned, for lack of a better word, that we had found Aaron after all this time, and that he was alive. When I updated her on his condition, she suggested once the case is wrapped up that we all return back to Quantico. I told her we weren't leaving until we knew for sure that Hotch was out of danger and to forget it."

"How'd she take it?" asked Prentiss with a slight smirk on her otherwise worried face.

"In the end I got her to see things my way," Rossi explained stroking his beard and smirking. "After this case is wrapped up, I convinced her to give us two weeks of downtime so we can be here for Hotch."

Prentiss saw Reid about to ask the older agent how he managed to accomplish that knowing what a hard-ass Strauss could be and put a hand over his mouth stopping him. He looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Sometimes it's best not to look a gift-horse in the mouth and this is one of those times," she said before removing her hand. Rossi and JJ were heard chuckling as Reid looked at the raven-haired agent, confused.

Just then, a nurse approached the small group. "Agent Rossi?" she asked looking at the group.

"That would be me," Rossi said.

The nurse, whose name-tag said Bellamy on it, smiled at the profiler. "Agent Hotchner's been moved into a private room and Dr. Sherman asked me to bring you to his room."

"Lead the way then."

Morgan eased the federal vehicle to a stop outside the home of Ronald Hunt. Four squad cars, lights flashing, pulled up as well. Morgan exited the SUV with the Police Chief beside him, followed by two officers. Morgan knocked loudly on the door. Not receiving an answer, he knocked again, more loudly this time. After waiting for several minutes, the door finally opened and Morgan and Chief Madison found themselves confronted by Ron Hunt. The young man looked back and forth between the two men curiously.

"Chief Madison, what are you doing here? What's happened?" Ron asked trying to appear concerned, but Morgan could sense the man was more nervous instead of concerned and obviously expecting someone else.

"Mr. Hunt, would you please step outside and turn around," Morgan asked keeping a tight reign on his anger.

"Why? What's going on?" Hunt asked the agent.

"Ron, do as Agent Morgan asks and there won't be any trouble," said Chief Madison solemnly. He then placed both hands on his hips. "Is you father here?"

"Yeah, he is," Ron said as he stepped onto the front steps where Morgan roughly grabbed the man by one arm, spun him around, and fastened his handcuffs on the man's wrists while reading him his rights. "Hey, dad!" he yelled. Soon, Dr. Jackson Hunt appeared in the doorway. He did not look happy seeing all the law enforcement officials gathered in front of his son's house nor his son in handcuffs.

"Just what the hell is going on here? Chief?" Dr. Hunt hissed.

Madison sighed. "Dr. Jackson Hunt, you and your son are both under arrest. Now, I'm sure neither of us want any trouble, so, if you'll just step outside and…."

"Like hell I will!" Hunt interrupted in a loud voice. "Neither my family or I have done anything wrong. And exactly what are these so-called charges?"

Madison looked at Morgan who was staring with hard eyes at the doctor. "You, your son, and daughter-in-law, are under arrest for the murders of six women here, six women in Louisville, and the kidnapping and assault of a Federal agent."

Dr. Hunt chortled at Morgan's words. "That is utter nonsense," he hissed. "I haven't killed anybody, nor have I kidnapped or assaulted any Federal agent, and neither has my son and daughter-in-law."

"Then you won't object to coming to the precinct and answering some questions," said Madison as he reached for the doctor's arm.

The doctor sighed as his hands were cuffed behind his back and he, too, was read his rights. He chuckled as Madison led him to the patrol car and opened the back passenger-side door. "This is all a mistake and you'll see that. And I can't believe, Chief, that you would even believe crap like that about me. I haven't done anything except improve the reputation of Sierra Vista Hospital which was going downhill until I took over and brought it back." Chief Madison watched as the older man slid beside his son; then closed the door, and turned to Morgan.

"We'll take them in if you want to go to the hospital and check on Agent Hotchner," he said quietly.

Morgan ran a hand over his bald head and exhaled through his nose. As much as he wanted to be at the hospital for Hotch, he also knew it was important that a confession be obtained as there were no witnesses to their crimes nor any direct link. Also, in his current condition, Morgan was pretty sure Hotch wouldn't be of much help. No, Morgan decided he would interrogate the suspects and obtain a confession for everything, including what happened to Hotch. And he knew the best way to accomplish that would be to play the doctor and his son against each other.

Rossi stood outside the closed door and took a deep breath trying to steady himself. After the nurse had taken him to Hotch's room, he thanked her and watched her walk away. Now alone, Rossi wasn't exactly sure what he could do for Hotch in his current condition, but he was willing to do whatever was necessary to help his best friend regain what he had lost. Determined, Rossi pushed open the door and entered; but nothing prepared him for the sight that met his eyes.

Hotch lay on his back in bed, a breathing mask covering his mouth and nose, with tubes and wires connected everywhere. But what broke Rossi's heart were the sobs that wracked Hotch's body as his face was turned away from the door. The older profiler walked toward the bed, grabbed the chair beside the door and moved it beside the bed and sat down. He reached out a hand and laid it on top of Hotch's; the younger man turned his head and looked the older man in the face. Rossi immediately saw the fear, the panic, and the confusion. He tightened his grip on Hotch's hand.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Aaron," the older man said quietly. "You're safe now. And I'm gonna make sure the people who hurt you never hurt you again. If you believe anything I say, you can believe that." He saw Hotch wipe at his eyes as he seemed to calm down a bit at Rossi's words. With his other hand, Hotch moved the breathing mask aside. Rossi noticed Hotch look at him oddly after hearing the older man address him as Aaron.

"Aaron," Hotch said. "I don't...but you…there's some…something…feel like I…should know you…" He didn't get to say anything else as Rossi put the breathing mask back in place and dissuaded his friend from moving it again.

"Don't talk, just listen," Rossi stated. "Don't try and remember everything now. It'll all come back to you in time. But you need to rest. Just close your eyes and get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise." He smiled as he saw Hotch's eyes close and his breathing even out. He secretly hoped he hadn't just lied to his friend.

(1) Side effects of ECT from Electroshock Therapy Treatment article on ECT and how it works.