It had been a couple of days since Dave had been found, and all the kids had been able to come and see him at least once.
Dave had just been taken for some testing and Hunter was sitting in his room waiting for him to return while working on his computer.
Dave was wheeled back in on his bed his eyes closed.
"Went well?" Hunter asked the transport people
"Doctor will be in soon to answer your questions," the transport guy said.
"Okay, thank you," Hunter said.
"I'm okay," Dave told Hunter as he slightly opened his eyes.
"You rest," Hunter said softly to his husband as the transport people left the room.
"Hunt, I promise I'm okay," Dave said.
Hunter let out a breath, "I don't know how much I believe that right now."
Dave nodded a little. "I'm thinking your trust is something I'm going to have to earn back."
"Well, you kept a major secret about my own family from me," Hunter said.
"Your brother asked that I didn't get you involved," Dave asked.
"And that is more important than the promises made when we put these rings on our fingers?" Hunter asked pointing to his own wedding band.
Dave shook his head, "no, I should have told you."
Hunter nodded.
"I'm sorry Hunter, I just wanted to protect you, I knew if you knew your brother and his family wanted out that you would run to help them, and it would have been a lot harder for you to remain anonymous than it was for me, and in the end it was discovered who I was anyways and why I was there and that's why those who wanted to keep your brother and his family there took me," Dave said.
Hunter shook his head, "of all the things that cult is I never imagined they would go out of their way to hurt an outsider, I don't doubt they would make sure to lock my brother and his family up in one of their safe houses under heavy guard but to abduct you and torture you. I just, that's something I never heard of happening."
"Yeah, of all the things you have told me about them I didn't think there was a real risk to my safety," Dave said.
Hunter nodded.
"Are we going to be okay?" Dave asked
"I'm glad you're okay, but I'm still angry with you. I understand that the job you do comes with risks but you went out of your way to do something dangerous without backup," Hunter said.
Dave nodded, "I understand."
Hunter nodded, "Never do something like this again and give me some time, I'm sure we will get through this."
"Okay, promise," Dave said.
Hunter stood up and leaned over him and kissed him.
Dave kissed him back before Hunter sat back down.
"Anything about the kids that I don't know about?" Dave asked
Hunter let out a breath.
"What is it?" Dave asked.
"Rosie, like always putting other's needs above herself, and it has led to me having to be keeping a closer eye on her," Hunter said.
"She restricting food?" Dave asked
"She is struggling, I have been on it, and so has Noel," Hunter said.
Dave let out a breath. "Has she been going to therapy?"
"Yes, with some reluctance," Hunter said
Dave sighed and nodded, "anything else?"
"No," Hunter said.
"What about you?" Dave asked
"What about me?" Hunter asked
"Are you okay? You much like Rosie put everyone else's needs above your own," Dave said
"I'm just glad you've been found and are okay," Hunter said.
"Hunt, please talk to me," Dave said.
"If I start talking right now, I won't be able to keep it together," Hunter said a hitch in his voice.
Dave reached his hand out to Hunter.
Hunter took his hand and both squeezed gently.
"I am so sorry Hunter for what you have been through because of me," Dave said.
Hunter took a breath to steady his emotions, "I thought I lost you," he whispered
"It's going to take a lot more than a few cult-obsessed individuals to take me away from you and our kids," Dave said
"They came pretty damn close David," Hunter said.
Dave nodded.
Dr. McCarty came into the room at that moment.
Dave and Hunter looked up at him.
"Test results?" Hunter asked
"I've got them, you're lucky you are a strong healthy man, your results are getting better every day," Dr. McCarty said
"Does that mean I can go home?" Dave asked
"I'm thinking tomorrow," Dr. McCarty said.
"Come on doc, I've been getting better every day, wasting resources on me that could be used on people who actually need it," Dave said.
The doctor smiled, "Not a waste."
"David, doctor says you're staying, your staying," Hunter said.
"Yes dear," Dave said smiling at his husband.
The doctor chuckled, "Smart man, how is the pain?"
"A three," Dave said.
"Okay, and the nurse said you have been up and walking," Dr. McCarty said.
"Yes," Dave said
"He moves slowly, but he has been moving," Hunter said.
"Good," Dr. McCarty said. "Have you left his side once since he got here?" The doctor asked Hunter.
"Yes, been home a couple of times," Hunter said. "Reluctantly."
Dr. McCarty nodded "I have seen the best spouses go down if they put all their energy into taking care of their sick or injured partner, make sure you are taking care of yourself too."
Hunter nodded, "I will."
Dr. McCarty nodded, "good. I will be back to check in later." He said before he left the room.
"Hunter, you can go home. Get a full night's sleep," Dave said
"I'm not leaving you alone overnight," Hunter said.
"I'll stay with him," Aaron said coming into the room.
Hunter let out a breath.
"Please, go make sure our girls are being good," Dave said.
Hunter stood up and leaned over and kissed him "Only because I trust your team."
"I love you," Dave said.
"I love you too," Hunter said before picking up his stuff as he headed to the door, "Thank you, Aaron."
Aaron nodded and took Hunter's spot.
Once Hunter was gone Aaron looked at Dave.
"I should have told you," Dave said.
"Yeah, well, you didn't," Aaron said.
"You come here just to give me your patented Hotchner glare?" Dave asked
"I do not have a patented glare," Aaron said.
"Ask anyone on the team they will disagree with you," Dave said.
"Okay, sure," Aaron said. "But I'm not here to glare. I'm here to give your husband a break your eldest daughter is worried about him. As much as she is worried about you."
Dave let out a breath.
"Dave, you trained me, and because of that when you came back I didn't think twice about trusting your judgment, trusting that you wouldn't do something behind my back. Also because we are friends I thought if you ever needed backup for anything, case wise or personal it wouldn't be a second thought that you would ask for it, so what the hell happened?" Aaron said
"I made a judgment call, it was the wrong one," Dave said.
"I just don't understand why you thought you had to make the call to not get help from the team," Aaron said.
"I needed to keep it very quiet for the sake of a lot of people's safety. But I should have told you," Dave said.
Aaron nodded a little.
"I should suspend you," Aaron said.
"I have a feeling my husband is going to insist I take a while off anyways, more so than the doctors suggest even," Dave said
"Yeah, well. He had to keep it together for your kids while worrying about losing his husband so I don't blame him," Aaron said.
"I know the team was there for all of them, and I appreciate it," Dave said.
"Well, we all know if the roles were reversed you would be there, you have been there," Aaron said.
Dave nodded, "Have you been able to get out Hunter's brother and family?"
"Yes, and they are in a safe house right now," Aaron said.
"Thank you," Dave said.
"Oh you'll be thanking me by doing all the paperwork about this when you are able to," Aaron said.
Dave let out a soft chuckle, "Okay, no arguments."
The two kept talking for a while before Dave ended up falling asleep.