I don't own any of the CM characters; can only wish that I did.

Chapter 2

Two police officers greeted JJ, Morgan and Prentiss at Hotch's building. There was already a small group of onlookers and JJ groaned when she caught sight of a news van. She walked briskly towards it in hopes of finding out more of what had happened while keeping Hotch's identity and condition a secret.

Morgan and Prentiss flashed their ID to the officers, ducked underneath the yellow tape barrier and went up to their colleague's small, sparsely furnished apartment. Looking around, they took in the gun on the kitchen table and the broken glass, liquor and blood stains on the floor next to a wet-bar.

"He didn't see it coming, he didn't stand a chance." Prentiss said furiously.

Morgan's jaw clenched and his hands curled into fists. "It takes a god-damned coward to shoot an unarmed man."

A forensics team was just finishing up in the bedroom, dusting for fingerprints around an open window with a tired-looking Erin Strauss looking on. Upon seeing the agents, she frowned briefly then made her way over to them.

"You know that you shouldn't be here." she began.

Morgan glared at her. "Don't try to tell us we can't work this case. Our boss has been shot, that's the only reason necessary for us to be involved."

Strauss simply sighed. "I'm well aware of the closeness of the BAU team. I suspect Agent Hotchner would do no differently if it had been someone else. I'll give you the official green-light BUT ONLY WITH the proviso that I'm kept informed. Is that understood Agents?"

"Yes m'am." Prentiss replied, glancing at Morgan.

"Then there's something that you should see..."

Strauss walked into the living area and pulled a clear plastic evidence bag from a box. She handed it to Morgan.

Derek drew a sharp breath.

"What is it?" asked Emily in concern.

Morgan was already reaching for his phone as he answered in an angry hiss, "My missing badge..."

***

Hillside Hospital, DC

Hotch had heard from a few lucky survivors of severe trauma that hovering on the brink of death could be very bizarre but he had never expected to experience it for himself. He wasn't floating above his own body looking down on himself as depicted on television. Nor was he having his life played back to him like a cheap movie. It was simply an awareness. Instinct told him that he was teetering on the edge and that he needed to make a choice. He could either fight on with no ultimate guarantee of survival, or he could allow himself to slip away.

Even for Hotch, who had never willingly given up on anything in his entire life, it was a dilemma. Obviously the TV and movies got it wrong; he COULD still feel. He had never been in so much pain; it was overwhelming and the thought of letting go was very tempting. It wouldn't be quitting, exactly. Aaron knew he was in bad shape. Maybe it would be best to let it happen sooner rather than later.

On the other hand, he had people to live for, who needed and cared deeply about him. They would expect him to fight and they deserved that reaction. Whatever Hotch's flaws, Jack needed his father, Sean needed his brother and his team needed their Unit Chief. Of course, he understood others could take over these roles with equal or even greater success but he didn't shirk responsibility easily... Besides, he admitted, he loved them all too.

Something told him that he needed to decide quickly. But what decision to make? As his mind wrestled with the question of his own mortality another thought struck him and once remembered the path of action was crystal clear.

His mind made up, Hotch re-entered the darkness.

***

BAU

A partial BAU team gathered together in their conference room. Although it was nearly noon, Morgan, Prentiss and Garcia had been sent home for a few hours of sleep. Derek had also stopped by the hospital to collect Sean and drop him off at a nearby hotel; Haley would take the next shift of sitting with Hotch. Rossi, Reid and JJ had already had their break although none felt rejuvenated.

"Do you think Foyet is going to start a new killing spree?" asked JJ, cupping her hands around her coffee mug and stifling a yawn.

"I think he has some unfinished business first." Rossi said bleakly. "Hotch was personal, not random. He pissed off Foyet by not accepting his deal, which would have given the scum power and manipulation. Now Foyet's taunting Derek instead by returning just his badge and not his ID."

He shook his head in annoyance. "I just wish Morgan had accepted more than an unmarked car outside his house... he will be in danger until Foyet figures out Hotch is still alive, then he'll feel the need to try to rectify that."

JJ shuddered involuntarily. "Do we have people in place at the hospital? I can't keep the press out of this for long... the story of an FBI agent being shot in his own home is already headline news. Foyet will be watching."

Dave closed his eyes in frustration. Regardless of the media coverage, at least one BAU agent's life was at risk. "Yes, we've got a few undercover agents in the ICU. Still doesn't make me feel any better. We need to catch the bastard once and for all."

"Assuming that Foyet sticks to his past patterns, he might also try to make a deal with the next person in-charge..." Reid looked pointedly at Dave.

"Yeah, don't think I haven't been watching my back." replied Rossi. "But for now it changes nothing. Let's get down to work. What do we know from the crime scene?"

Reid flipped through the police report given to him by Emily before she went home.

"Hotch's gun was found on his kitchen table and other than the broken glass on the floor, there were no signs of a struggle. Forensics weren't able to get any prints, but we know Foyet wears gloves so that's not surprising."

Rossi stroked his beard. "Hotch was shot in the chest. Therefore, he was either leaning back against the wet-bar with his drink or turned around to face the intruder. Either way, he would have seen his assailant and recognized Foyet but wasn't given the opportunity to go for his second gun."

"Foyet must have attacked pretty quickly... the neighbour said he heard the gunshot only a minute or two after hearing Hotch come home." remarked JJ. "Thank god he went to investigate!"

"And thank god Foyet didn't stick around to kill the rescuers." muttered Rossi to no one in particular.

"Do we know what Foyet took with him?" asked Reid suddenly.

"Take?" JJ raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Yeah. Remember guys, he takes something to put on the body of his next victim, as well as leaving something. He left Morgan's badge, but what did he take? Hotch's first gun was on the table and the hospital has given us the one he carries on his ankle."

"Good job, Reid, I'd forgotten that. JJ, would you mind calling the hospital and seeing if there was anything obvious missing in Hotch's belongings... his watch maybe?"

"Yes Sir."

After JJ had left, Rossi, eyes closed, asked "Anything else in the report, Reid?"

Reid bit his bottom lip. "No. We can guess that Foyet was disturbed since he'd normally leave a symbol behind..." He hesitated. "And he'd stick around to make sure the victim has died and to enjoy watching..."

Rossi glanced up sharply at Reid's tone. "Spencer, Hotch is a fighter..."

Reid nodded mutely.

"Reid, we need to believe in him..."

Another nod.

Dave was saved from having to say things that he didn't know if even he believed by JJ's return. She wore a slightly confused expression on her face.

"What is it JJ?"

"There was no tie amongst Hotch's belongings. Could he have taken it off before being shot?"

"Highly doubtful given the timing." supplied Reid. "So now we know that Foyet is sticking to his signature, even if his victimology has changed."

The blond liaison turned to Dave. "There's something else, Sir. While I was on the phone with the ER attendant a message came through from Dr. Barton... He wants to speak to you in person and hopes you don't mind meeting him at the hospital as soon as you can. I got the impression it wasn't about Hotch's medical condition per se but he wouldn't elaborate, just insisted that I pass on the message to you. He sounded very upset..."

Rossi frowned but rose from his chair. "Okay, I'll head back over now. JJ, contact the police officer in charge of the investigation at Hotch's apartment. We need to come up with some sort of plan to flush out Foyet before he goes underground again. Reid, get your thinking cap on; see if there's anything in the profile we can use."

"Yes, Sir."

***

Hillside Hospital, DC

Having checked on Hotch and finding no visible change in his condition, Rossi sat in the ICU waiting room while Dr. Barton was paged. David was wracking his brain for a plan that didn't involve using Morgan or Hotch as bait but he couldn't. He knew Foyet's profile too well and understood that the Reaper had made an appearance solely to carry out a personal vendetta against the man that wouldn't allow himself to be manipulated; all bets were off as to whether the serial killer would keep to past patterns as he hunted Aaron and Derek.

The professional side to Rossi also recognized that the serial killer's return provided an opportunity to capture him once and for all. If they failed, it was more than two agents' lives at stake; it would be impossible to trace Foyet once he went back underground. Action was required... and quickly.

The older agent's thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of Nigel Barton. The doctor looked far more stressed than he had following Hotch's surgery. Rossi's heart began to beat faster and he felt slightly nauseous.

"Has something happened to Aaron?" he asked, dreading the answer.

Dr. Barton shook his head apologetically. "No, there's been no change. Mr. Hotchner is stable, but remains in extremely critical condition."

Rossi studied the physician. "Agent Jareau said that you wanted to see me ASAP?"

Nigel looked over both shoulders as though expecting someone to be hiding in the shadows. "Would you mind if we talked somewhere less public?"

"Sure."

The two men left the waiting room. Rossi followed the doctor through several corridors and eventually into a deserted conference room with no windows. Nigel closed the door then sat down at the table and began fidgeting with the stethoscope around his neck. David also sat down and waited patiently.

Several minutes passed. The doctor seemed to be struggling with something but abruptly made up his mind and looked at the profiler.

"I don't know what to do..." he began, desperation in his eyes. "I took an oath to save lives, not take them and I've always fought to uphold that oath."

Rossi remained silent, keeping his face neutral.

"But an hour or so ago, I received a phone call threatening the life of my son..." he hid his face in his hands. "The caller said he'd kill Jeffrey if... if I "allowed" Aaron Hotchner to live. How am I supposed to choose between a patient and my son, my own flesh and blood??!"

Rossi's blood ran cold. 'Foyet.'

"Tell me about the caller, doctor. Male?"

Nigel nodded. "He had a Boston accent."

Dave closed his eyes briefly. "I need to know exactly what he said, word for word as best you can."

The agent took out a pen and the little pocketbook he always carried and took notes as the surgeon detailed the conversation. By the time he had finished, the doctor was in tears.

"I don't mean to sound a braggart, Agent Rossi, but I'm the best emergency cardiac/thoracic trauma surgeon in the country. Although I have some excellent colleagues, given the location of the bullet I just wouldn't be as confident in a positive outcome if anyone other than me on my best day were performing Agent Hotchner's operation."

Dr. Barton looked down at his shaking hands. "And if I'm like this, I'll be good to nobody..."

"Doctor," Rossi said. "We're doing everything we can to find this man; it's the same individual who shot Aaron."

Nigel sighed. "I have faith that you'll catch him in the end, but in less than 38 hours? I don't know that I can be in that OR otherwise... I'm ashamed to say that but I wanted to be up front with you. I won't kill a man in cold blood but I can't simply hand over my son for slaughter. "

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I'm confident that we can come up with a way to have your son safe AND you in that operating room." Dave leaned forward and grasped one of the physician's hands.

"Aaron has a son too. And like you, he's a firm believer in doing the right thing... It's what put him here in the first place. You BOTH deserve better."

The doctor raised his head, interested. "What do you mean, 'it's what put him here'?"

"The man offered Hotch a deal which would have meant going against everything that we fight for. Aaron refused. The shooter has taken this rather personally."

"What should I do?"

"Go about your business as normally as you can." Rossi handed the surgeon his card. "Keep me informed if the man contacts you or your son or you notice anything suspicious either here or at home. In the meantime, I'll send one of my agents to shadow Jeffrey. Kidnapping would be new to our man, but let's not take any chances."

They rose and shook hands.

"Thank you Agent Rossi, I feel a little better."

"It's the least I can do. In addition to being an outstanding agent and human being, Aaron Hotchner is my best friend... and the son I never had. Let's make sure both of our boys are safe."

***