London Calling
Hotch was working on the case in Texas when his phone rang. He noticed it was a number he didn't recognise but he answered it anyway. It could be important. It looked like a British number so he hoped to God nothing had gone wrong with his family in London.
"Hotchner," he said answering it.
"Excuse me, is this Aaron Hotchner?" a British woman asked.
His chest tightened as her realised something must have happened back in London. He was scared something serious had happened to them.
"Yes," he answered. "What's wrong? Has something happened?"
"Emily McClaren and her two children were brought in here this morning after a car accident and your name's been put down as their emergency contact."
His heart started thumping loudly and his chest tightened further. He sat down and closed his eyes taking a deep breath. The woman he loved, their son and his goddaughter had been involved in a car accident and were now in hospital. Wait a minute! What had happened to Daniel? Where was he?
"Mr McClaren?" he asked.
"I'm sorry to say he was killed instantly," the person on the other end answered gently.
Oh god! Poor Emily! Even though he'd been in love with her for six years it was clear she loved Daniel now he was dead. He felt a great loss as he and Daniel had become great friends for Adam and Emily.
"I'll be there as soon as I can but I'm currently in Texas," he informed them.
"We'll expect your arrival, sir."
He then hung up and placed the phone down in shock. They'd been in a car accident and he knew nothing of their injuries. What if they were serious? What if he lost them?
There was no question he was going to London as he got his things ready Rossi came in.
"What's happened, Aaron?" he asked.
"I have to go to London," he answered not looking up at him getting his go bag ready for his next trip.
He instantly knew something had happened if he was suddenly leaving a case for London. Something had to have happened to Emily or Adam if he was leaving so suddenly. He hoped it was nothing truly terrible.
"What's happening, Aaron?" he asked again.
"There's been a car accident. Emily and the kids have been taken into hospital..."
"Daniel?"
"He was killed instantly," he answered looking up at Dave worried. He had no idea how badly hurt his family were. He just had to get to London as quickly as possible. "Don't tell the others. It will distract them from the case."
He nodded and answered, "Everything will be alright, Aaron. Whatever injuries they have they'll recover from. Just be there for them."
"You know I will be," he answered then left for the airport.
He'd just reached London when he climbed into a taxi and rushed to the hospital. When he got there he went to the A&E where he knew they'd been taken. When he arrived he rushed to the desk.
"I'm Mr Hotchner, I was told Mrs Emily McClaren and her children Adam and Lucy were brought in here," he said worried. The worry was currently fighting off his jet lag which made him thankful.
A nurse in the back looked up at his name and came over. "Mr Hotchner?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered hoping maybe she could take him to his son, Emily and Lucy. He just wanted to be by their bedsides. He loved them so much and he hoped Jack would understand why he left so suddenly.
She took him to the room they'd put the family in and saw them all in hospital beds. Lucy's head was bandaged and she had the teddy she took everywhere under her arm. Adam had his leg up and bandaged but the one that really made him want to cry was Emily whose head was in a vice. The doctor came up to them while he couldn't take his eyes off the woman he loved while a lump formed in his throat.
"This is Mr Hotchner," the nurse told the doctor and he nodded in answer.
"I'm Adam's birth father and Lucy's godfather," he explained. "I've just come straight from Texas."
"I think its best we talk outside," Aaron nodded and followed him out. When they were out he turned to him and said, "Miss McClaren has suffered a concussion. Master McClaren has a few broken ribs and a broken leg..."
"Mrs McClaren?" he asked concerned about Emily.
"She has a head trauma and some broken bones," he answered.
"Will there be any serious damage?"
"There is a slight possibility of paralysis."
He nodded feeling tears fill his eyes. He hoped to God Emily didn't wake up paralysed. She was such an active woman it would break her. He nodded and walked back in to sit by their bedsides.