Who is the Victim Here

I would love to hear your opinions and look to working further on the story.

I do not own or have connection with the "Criminal Minds" program or its characters.

Chapter Sixteen.

Later that afternoon

Sean is once again on the phone with Angie, he feels at a loss of what he should do. If he doesn't want to put Aaron in a home than he needs to take care of him at home, but he has no idea of how to take care of a small baby let alone an adult baby like Aaron is right now. He decided to go on-line and look into what he should do and there are thousands of ideas out there. He is shocked at how big the adult baby community is and is talking to Angie about what he should do.

"The first thing you do is relax, take a deep breath and then decide on how exactly you want to deal with him."

"What do mean?"

"Aaron is not a baby, not really although he is acting a great deal like one, I believe it is by choice not by psychological deficiency. He is in a situation where he feels that the only way he can protect the people he loves is by sacrificing his own sanity and life. That is what the problem is here. If you want to truly infantilize him by fully involving him as the way he is currently acting, well there are a lot of places where you can purchase furniture, clothing and accessories for him as an adult baby. Do you want to do that Sean?"

"I don't know I just want my brother back. This sounds like a lot of struggle, I don't know if I can do it."

"Well then what is the alternative?"

"The alternative? Putting him into one of those group homes or a nursing home is the alternative."

"Which is the lesser of the two evils in your mind?"

"I don't want him in one of those places, but can I really take care of him?"

"Remember Sean, there are support groups, you have friends and family that can help and support you. Don't leave them in the dark. If you want him at home, then prepare a place for him. What do you think you will need to provide him a safe and enjoyable environment for him to live?"

"Okay, well, let's look at furniture, what should I get him? I mean, should I put him in a crib, what about a high chair, a playpen, or a changing table. What about diapers, I mean I know you and the hospital were using disposable, what about cloth with plastic or rubber pants, would that be better for him? What about clothes, should l get crawlers and sleepers and onesies or just keep in adult style clothes just slightly modified? What about food, is he completely still bottle fed, how do I make sure he gets enough nutrients? What about outside the house, do I keep him in a wheelchair or should I have a stroller made? How about a car seat for protection in the car? What about if he gets sick, what kind of medicine do I give him, adult or baby? What about a play area or things that keep him occupied and safe? I need to get outlet covers and make the place baby safe too. This is overwhelming to me Angie, where do I start?"

"You called me and that is a good place to start. First of all, with the diapers, it all depends on whether you want to wash the cloth diapers and the plastic or rubber pants that you would use with them. If you don't want to wash them, then use disposable. But remember they are not a cheap alternative to cloth."

"Okay, maybe a little of both styles. I'll think about that. What about furniture? Should I get a crib for him?"

"Do you think a crib would help him feel more safe or secure in the home? Remember, he spent a lot of his childhood and life in a crib and we don't want to make the problem worse for the man."

"You know something Angie; if he has chosen to do this to himself then he deserves to be treated in the way that he has chosen to live. If he wants to live like a baby, then we should treat him like one. I think I will get a crib for him, but most of them that I see online require 28 days or more of building before I get one, Aaron comes home in 9 days. Do you know of a place where I can get it expedited?"

"Are you sure about a crib?"

"Yes."

"Then I will send you one that I have here. Mine are specially made to my specifications and Aaron is getting used to the style."

"Great, when can you send it?"

"In a few days, what else do you want to get for your brother?"

"Well, since he is wearing diapers, he will probably need a changing table and I think I can get one of those easily. What about a high chair? Do you think that would really be necessary? Can't I just put him in an armchair and feed him in that?"

"Yes, that is definitely doable. You don't need a high chair and he doesn't really feed like that anyway. You can give him a bottle anywhere, besides he likes to be held when he has a bottle, so you might consider getting a double rocker."

"A double rocker, okay, any particular brand or kind that you recommend?"

"No, they are all good and just choose one that is going to be comfortable on you and him. When it comes to feeding, comfort matters on both the baby and the person feeding the baby."

"Okay, comfort matters when feeding. How about play? What would you recommend?"

"When it comes to play, make your own choices on what you think Aaron would enjoy doing and go from there."

"How about clothes, should I buy baby clothes or can I just get a larger size of adult clothes to fit over his diapers."

"Again, that would be your choice and how you want to deal with Aaron, as an adult in baby form or a baby in adult form. That is up to you."

"Okay, you've given me a lot to think about and prepare for. Don't forget to let me know when you are sending the crib. Thanks Angie."

"You're welcome and I will let you know about the crib, Good bye Sean."

She hangs up and leans back in her chair to ponder what this means for that man in the other room. How will he react to what his brother is doing? Will it help him or hurt him? Angie continues working on what she had been doing when Sean called. She likes to check out the security cameras every few days to see if something came up that she needed to attend to, when she saw the video of Aaron's room from the night before, she saw something that chilled her to the bone. At least now she understands his regression. She takes the video feed and emails it to Garcia in Quantico to have her and the team check it out. Looking at the current feed, she notices her man is waking up from his afternoon nap and gets up to go get him.

"Hello Sweetie, did you rest well?" He nods his head yes while reaching out to her. She picks him up and takes him to be changed. "Sean called and we had a long talk about you." He wrinkled his forehead at that. "He's afraid that he can't handle the situation. He doesn't want to put you in a home but is afraid that he can't do a good job and care for you as you deserve. He wants what is best for you, not himself or anyone else, but you. You aren't able to care for yourself right now but he is afraid that he can't do it. He called me for advice about what he needed to do in order to take care of you. What do you think he should do?" The man wanted to answer that Sean did not have to do anything, that he can take care of himself, but he did not say anything. In his heart he knew he could take care of himself but his mind says that he must stay a baby in order to protect those he loves. How can Sean protect and take care of him when he is doing this to protect Sean? It is his responsibility, not Sean's. Angie watches as the facial expression of this man ponder the dilemma inside of his head. Does he progress or does he continue to be regressive and a baby? He is doing this to protect his brother. Which way would protect him the most?

She carries him to the feeding chair and provides him with a bottle of fruit juice. As she rocks, she continues to talk and says, "He has decided that he going to try to take of you and provide a home for you. He asked for advice as to what he should get. What type of furniture, food, clothing and toys should he get for you? He is thinking long term that your situation won't be changing anytime soon. He has gone online and found a lot of information and places that he can get cribs, changing tables, high chairs, play pens and clothing for adult babies. I guess that is what you are right now, an adult baby. Of course most of the furniture he wants won't be ready before you come home in nine days because the furniture has to be custom made. But he really thinks that you should have a crib so I have offered one of the cribs that I have here and will be sending it down later in the week. He didn't really want to get a high chair and thought just an armchair at the table should do fine for that. Of course, since you will only take a bottle, it doesn't matter. You can take your bottle anywhere. I did suggest a double rocker similar to the one we are in now in case he wants to feed you like this. He asked about clothes and toys, I told him to make that type of decision himself as to what he thinks is best for you. You have a very good, sweet brother, who wants to do right by you. I am very proud of the way he has stepped up to do this. It is a good tribute to Kathy, don't you think?" When she said that, Aaron smiled beneath the bottle because he agrees that it is a good tribute to Kathy, since she did a lot to raise both these Hotchner boys. But he is still not happy that Sean wants to take care of him like a baby. He doesn't want to be a baby.

When he has finished his bottle, Angie puts him down on the floor and gets down with him and the two play whatever game or toy that Aaron wants to play, until his night bottle and change.