Author's Note: Have a safe and fun New Year's!
"Agent Hotchner, I don't know what they're teaching you in the loony bin, but those that are under my leadership report to me, not you!" Camen screamed as soon as the door closed.
He just called me Agent..."The misuse of skills on the A team-"
"Misuse? I can do whatever the hell comes to mind with the A squad! Here's what you're going to do on the rest of the trip; I'm going to talk slow so you can handle it-"
Hotch with his voice calm and controlled, stated, "You don't have the right to run either of these teams."
"Really now! How's that?"
"First of all, you are sorting the jobs better equipped for at least eight people to only five very inexperienced agents. Your drive to humiliate and demean my team should be focused on other stuff like the case or even running a half way decent squad! The cases you've done with both squads could have been done in half the time!"
"I made decisions that were best-"
"Secondly, your team is highly unprofessional- how many cases have you let slide where one of your agents have made a crack comment about a victim or even me? The A squad has taken note of the amount of late arrivals and long lunches each member of your team have taken-"
"How did you-"
"Because I taught them how to act like a professional team of profilers."
Camen smiled maliciously. "Well, Hotchner, that's swell you have all that, but how are you going to prove it?"
Hotch opened the laptop and pulled up the webcam options. After plugging it into the projector and pressing call, Strauss' face appeared on the screen.
"Aaron," she responded flatly, placing a stack of papers to the side.
Hotch straightened and said, "I assume you received the list of concerns that I sent you."
Strauss pulled up a sheet of paper and answered, "Yes, I did. Agent Camen!"
Like a fearful child about to be punished, Camen answered quietly, "Yes, ma am."
"Agent Camen, you are done. I gave you this team to help them until a replacement Unit Chief was found. Never were you supposed to abuse them or belittle them! I want your team on a plane within the hour. Leave the jet for the A team."
"Ma am, you're just going to leave them-"
"Say one more word and you're fired. Get me Agent Rossi and get back here. Now!"
Camen bowed his head and muttered, "Yes, ma am." He slowly walked to the door and opened it. "Agent Rossi!" He yelled, "You're needed."
Rossi entered the room as Camen quietly left. Whoa, Strauss? What did Aaron do? He thought. Hotch smiled and said, "I'll leave you two alone."
Rossi watched him leave before asking nervously, "Erin, what do you need?"
"Agent Rossi, although I told you that there was no room for you to move up on the team, I feel that you would be the best suited to run this team. Agent Camen and his team are off the case and your team is back to full function."
"Thanks Erin; I happily accept." He leaned forward to end the call, but stopped when Strauss called out, "Oh, Agent Rossi?"
"Yes, ma 'am?"
"How's Aaron?"
"It's like it's a year ago. Aaron is working hard and leading well. He's doing excellent."
"I'll keep that in mind….Dave, keep me updated. I personally don't believe that…..Aaron's talents should go wasted if he gets out within the next year or so."
"Thank you ma am," he answered. He heard a knock on the door. JJ stuck her head in and said, "We're ready to give the profile."
"The unsub is the same man that killed in the 1990s; we found no evidence to show that this is a copycat. However, he may have an accomplice now that he's pushing 60. We believe that both men have training in either entomology or forestry so look at older males in those types of jobs at businesses and universities. We believe that he most likely has a higher degree because he is able to remove and inject venom into the body before he allows the spider to make a move; a task that requires some form of training, "Hotch said.
"Because of the number of spiders used, he probably has his own personal collection or regularly goes hunting for black widows. Because of his treatment with the women and the precision used with the spiders, look for someone whose fascination has become is reality. He probably has a introverted personality and is quite lonely," Reid added.
A Knoxville officer raised his hand and asked," How come the killings stopped? Also, why stop for 20 years and then start up when you're older?"
"Seventeen months ago was the 20th anniversary of the killings. We believe that the anniversary and the fact that he found someone to help them with burial and heavy labor led to him killing again. There was a curfew and warnings system in Knoxville back in the 90s- it's probably why he stopped until now," Hotch finished.
"If you have any more questions, just ask," Rossi said. The group of officers in front of the them departed. Hotch watched them leave and thought, It feels good to be back in action...even if it's just temporarily.
Midnight- Hilton Knoxville hotel
"Aaron, wake up," Allison said softly, rubbing the sleeping man's shoulder. He stirred and sat forward, as if he were alert and ready for action. After working until 9:30, Allison had threatened to send him home if he didn't get some rest. While the team continued to work into the night, Hotch had reluctantly returned to the hotel with Allison to sleep until the early hours of the morning
"Whoa, easy tiger. I just wanted you to know that they caught the guy."
Hotch's eyes widened. "When?"
"About an hour ago...wait, Aaron, what are you doing?" Hotch had slipped out of the bed and pulled off his shirt.
Oh, wow, Allison thought at the sight of the scars from Foyet. Hotch slipped on another shirt and said," I want to know and see who it is. It's not every day that you get to solve a cold case," he paused when he saw Allison staring at his shirt. "What?"
"Your scars..."
"Allison, I...I-"
"I think they're beautiful. I see scars to define a person."
Hotch ran his hands over one of them. "I'm not sure about that. All they remind me of is…." Foyet and Haley…..scars that will be stuck with me for a long time.
She took a step towards him and asked softly, "May I?"
Hotch hesitantly let out a, "Ye-es," before Allison placed a hand on his shirt over one of the scars. Something about her touch made him put his hand over hers. They stared longingly into each other's eyes for a few seconds before Allison said, "I see these as a reminder of you fighting against one of the darkest human beings and winning. You're still here-fighting everyday to get your life back. These scars will remind you of your darkest moments and what came out of it. Yes, it did take Haley away, but it gave you new things like…a new lease on life and-"
Knock, knock. Hotch blinked and pulled himself out of his daze and his hand away and answered, "Come in."
Prentiss stuck her head in and said, "Hotch, did you want to talk with the unsub before PD takes him into custody?"
"Yeah, I'm coming." Hotch slipped on his jacket and started towards the door, thinking, What just happened here?
Return Flight to Quantico- Six hours later
The jet appeared eerie quiet to Hotch as it took off from Knoxville's airport. It was sad to him, especially since that he was to return back to the psych ward and away from all of this once the jet landed in Quantico.
"Hey, that was pretty kick ass stuff you did back there," Allison said as she sat down across from Hotch. The rest of the team were sleeping, scattered throughout the plane.
"Thank you. I'm glad we finally caught this guy after twenty years."
"So, who was it?"
"A 54 year old entomologist that specialized in spiders. He found the venom to be so fascinating...sort of sexual attraction to it. The accomplice was his nephew...who was paid to do it. They slipped up and the nephew immediately copped to the charges."
"Cool...it's good to see you in action."
Thank you. I...have to say that I did enjoy it."
"I knew you would." She hugged her knees and cocked her head. "Hotch, what's up?"
He chuckled, "You trying to be the eighth member of the team?"
"Ha, ha- no, Aaron. Seriously though, I know you. What's wrong?"
"I've been thinking of Jack and what's going to happen when I eventually get out of Quantico Medical. Right now, he's pretty much parentless." My boy is strong, though. He...lost both parents in a pretty short time.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's say that I can get my job back at the Bureau, which I highly doubt will happen. Jack needs me- maybe I should just focus solely on him like Haley did."
"But what would you do?"
Hotch shrugged." I don't know. Jack is my priority right now."
"But what about you? Aaron, why do you think I've been harassing you to get out and participate in group activities? You need to learn to live. Everyone has their click and yours is catching unsubs. "
He sighed and shot a quick glance out the window towards the stars, a favorite of Haley's. "Now that I think about it...Haley would have wanted me to do what makes me happy. As Ames asked me to think about it...she'd want me to fight every day, especially for Jack. Attempting suicide and surrendering to my demons would disappoint her. This trip, getting out and experiencing life, made me realize that I miss my old life."
"I see...Aaron do you know how much you've grown since January?"She smiled and pulled a white sheet from her pocket.
"Ames gave me permission yesterday to monitor your status. He's keenly aware of your progress and wanted me to monitor whether you have the makings of a level 3 patient or a level 2." Morgan, who was now awake, sat up at her comment, clunking Reid in the head.
"What-Allison, what are you saying?"
She extended in her hand out to him, a blue patient bracelet that level 2 patients wore. He smiled and took it graciously. Morgan kicked Prentiss lightly to wake her up as Reid tapped JJ, Garcia, and Rossi awake. Hotch ignored the chorus of "Oww," and "Whatcha do that for?" and focused on Allison.
"Aaron, because I see a man who wants his life back and is dealing with his grief in a more appropriate manner, you are now, once Ames signs off on it, a level 2 patient. Most patients have to go a few months to get bumped up- you did it in 5 weeks. Overachiever."
As Garcia squealed in delight, Hotch thought, You're within reach of holding your son…Finish this; now only for him, Haley, Allison, or the team, but for you as well. Let's get our life back.