Well, here it is. The last chapter.
Chapter Eight
His Solace
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Calls were made.
First for an ambulance.
Then the medical examiner.
The team…..
The paramedics arrived six minutes after the call came in, followed shortly by the ME.
Aaron still hadn't moved from his position on the floor, cradling his lover in a protective embrace.
Rossi pulled one of the medics to the side to explain the situation. He was a young man in his mid-twenties with short, sandy blonde hair and concerned blue eyes. His name badge read Matt.
After speaking with Rossi, Matt entered the bathroom and slowly kneeled in front of Aaron.
He took in the sight before him.
The man looked completely oblivious to his surroundings as he clung to the body lying between them. Matt shifted his focus down to the one he held in his arms.
.
God, he looks so young.
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He observed the young doctor's face, eyes closed and features relaxed. He might have thought he was only sleeping if it weren't for the complete and utter lack of movement and the unmistakable pallor of death that was slowly creeping into the young man's visage.
Matt placed his hands lightly on Aaron's upper arms and spoke gently to him, "Aaron, can you let Spencer go?"
Aaron showed no comprehension that the younger man had asked him a question. He just continued to clutch Spencer's body in his lap, sporadic tears falling from his unfocused eyes.
The other paramedic, Rowena, a thirty-something red headed woman with green eyes and a heavy Scottish accent, entered the bathroom to help try and coax the unresponsive man back to consciousness.
They needed to move the body.
Aaron needed medical attention.
"Sir, we need to get you to the hospital," she began, "There's some people here to take care of Spencer." She looked over to the younger medic when she received no response and shook her head slightly.
Matt continued after her, "Aaron, can you please let them take Spencer?"
There was still no reaction.
They finally gave up trying to get the grieving man to respond. Spencer needed to be taken to the ME's office and Aaron needed to be seen by a doctor.
Delicately, they lifted the young doctor out of his lover's arms; and those arms fell limply to Aaron's sides as he continued to stare blindly straight ahead.
Spencer's body was moved out of the room and both paramedics helped lift Aaron up off the bathroom floor and out to a waiting gurney. He walked where he was directed, pliantly and obediently. They raised the gurney into the back of the ambulance and headed to Sentara Medical Center, lights and sirens fading into the distance.
The rest of the team met Rossi at the hospital.
They'd already heard of Reid's fate and Rossi had explained Aaron's current condition to them.
Garcia had streaks of black eyeliner trailing down her cheeks as Morgan hugged her tightly in his arms. She couldn't believe they were back here again, grieving the loss of another member of their family and waiting to see the fate of one more.
Morgan looked like he could fall apart at any moment. He clung to the hope that his Unit Chief would snap out of whatever trap his mind had placed him in. He needed to hear some good news after being informed of his best friend's death. His Pretty Boy was gone and he couldn't fathom that reality. He had no idea what a world without Spencer Reid would look like, and he didn't want to find out.
What he wanted to do was punch something.
Instead, he held on to Garcia a little tighter.
JJ's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen as she tried to hold back more sobs. Will held her tight in one arm while cradling Henry's head at his side in the other as they mourned the loss of their son's godfather.
The young boy looked up at his parents. His eyes held an air of confusion. "Mommy, where's Uncle Spence?"
JJ's face fell at her son's innocent question. She shed more tears as she buried her face into Will's chest. Will held his family tighter and closed his eyes in a desperate attempt to stop his own tears that were threatening to escape.
Kate bent down to Henry and spoke, "You know, buddy, I think they've got some ice cream in the cafeteria. You wanna go see if we can find some?" She looked to Will for permission and with a nod he let Henry go and brought his free hand up to stroke JJ's hair.
As the pair started down the hallway in search of frozen treats the rest of the group sat down and prepared for another waiting room vigil.
An hour and a half later, Dr. Wilson walked into the waiting room, his trusty cane at his side. He was the ER physician on call again that night.
"Aaron Hotchner?"
They all stood up and walked over to the doctor who, only a few days ago had told them another family member had been lost.
"How is he, Doc?" Rossi.
With a tired sigh, Dr. Wilson began, "Well, at this time Mr. Hotchner appears to be in a catatonic state. He's not reacting to any external stimuli and is not making eye contact with any personnel. I believe his condition was brought on by PTSD after finding Dr. Reid. He was already in a psychologically vulnerable state of mind and I'm afraid this pushed him over the edge and he fell into a stupor."
Morgan looked up, "What can we do for him?"
The doctor continued, "We can try to treat his symptoms with benzodiazepines. I'll start him on a low dose of lorazepam to begin with. He will be admitted to the psychiatric floor for the time being."
Rossi continued the questioning, "Will the meds work, Doctor? Will he wake up soon?"
"We'll have to wait and see, I'm afraid. The medication usually results in a marked improvement, but if it doesn't then there are other options we can try. There's ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy, and antipsychotics. They are, however, a bit riskier and therefore we'd like to try the lorazepam first."
Rossi moved a step closer and somberly held out his hand to Dr. Wilson. "Thank you, doctor. Can we see him?"
The doctor shook the agent's hand while gesturing to the group, "Of course. We're still waiting on a room for him up on the psychiatric unit, but you can see him for a few minutes."
They all piled into their Unit Chief's hospital room and gaped at the sight before them.
Aaron was lying supine on the bed, his arms resting at his sides. There was an IV line running from the pole down into the back of his right hand. His eyes stared up toward the ceiling, as though he were in a trance. He made no movements or noises when the members of his team spoke to him. There was no indication that the stoic man knew they were there at all.
His body was there, lying utterly still except for the slight rise and fall of his chest and the occasional drop of water that would fall from the corner of his eye and down his temple. But for all intents and purposes, SSA Aaron Hotchner was not there at all.
"Aaron."
He looks over and sees Spencer lounging on a beach towel smiling at him.
That radiant smile.
It's perhaps most gorgeous sight he's ever seen; his doctor, his beloved, his genius staring back at him.
The light is glistening off his wispy brunette locks, creating a prism of crimson, caramel, and chocolate hues that gleam and dance with one another as the breeze lightly whips the strands around the genius' face.
The sun is warm on Aaron's body and the smell of the ocean prominent. The sounds of seagulls, waves, and kids laughing fill the background.
It's peaceful.
It's absolutely fucking perfect.
"Where were you just now? You zoned out on us." Spencer looks over to where Jack is working on the sand castle, then returns his gaze to the man he loves. He quirks an eyebrow and smirks as he waits for Aaron to respond.
"Hmm? I don't know. I guess I was just enjoying the moment."
"Well...don't zone out on me again, Love. I've got plans for you later..." Spencer purrs mischievously into his ear as he leans in closer and places a gentle kiss to his lover's neck. He trails light kisses up the older man's jawline until he reaches his lips.
It seems like it's been so long….
Aaron moans at the contact.
As his mouth opens, Spencer deepens the kiss, caressing his superior's tongue with his own. It's fevered, and passionate, and wanting.
There's a promise of more to come later.
Slowly Spencer pulls away and lays his head down on Aaron's chest, his wavy brown locks falling into a halo around him. Aaron cards his fingers through the silken strands and savors the moment.
Jack yells from the beach in front of them, "Papa, can you help me with the rest of the sand?"
"I'm being summoned, Aaron..." Spencer murmurs. He lazily sits up and looks down at the older man. "You rest. We'll be here when you wake up."
With that, Spencer stands, turns and runs to Jack.
Aaron looks to his son and his lover as they put the finishing touches on the sand castle.
That's when he knows, with perfect clarity...
He's found his solace.
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"I remained too much inside my head, and ended up losing my mind."
-Edgar Allen Poe
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Fin
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I finished my first fanfiction! I hope the ending was ok...it's a somewhat happy ending, right? In a way...
Please, I would love to know your final thoughts.