Shell

Dave felt a hand shaking his shoulder some time later and found he'd fallen asleep. He woke up to see the doctor looking at him and immediately shook Jessica who started shaking the others awake. They got up and prepared themselves for the news of Aaron's injuries.

"How is he?" Dave asked worried placing his hand on a sleepy Jack's shoulder.

"Physically he had a broken arm and leg that didn't fix correctly so we had to re-break and set them. His muscles are also very weak so they will have to be fixed on to restrengthen them. We also had to perform surgery on his rectum which had also become a little infected. Also there was a tiny stomach infection we've had to fix...Sadly we believe the most damage is psychological..." he answered.

"How bad?" JJ asked placing her hand on Spencer's arm.

"Our investigations proved our suspicions. Agent Hotchner received at least two bouts of electroshock therapy. Also there was no anaesthetic in his system and it's clear by the cut on his head that they had begun to perform a temporal lobotomy whilst he was still awake. While you were asleep we also ran tests to check his memory. He proved to us he has retrograde amnesia and he was answering only monosyllabic or very short sentences..."

Morgan smacked the wall while Dave tried to keep his composure. He was so glad Daniel Johnson and Stephen Myers were dead otherwise he would be currently letting Morgan beat them to a pulp. He just prayed to God there was a way they could get Aaron back to the man they all remembered rather than this apparent shell.

"What's going to be done for him? Is there any way he can be helped?" Dave asked trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

"We can put him through therapy both for his amnesia and to help him over the trauma. Hopefully he'll open up further as he grows trust but we will also need to include you in the sessions to bring back his memory. Also we can help him with occupational therapy remembering the things he used to be able to do which will aid his recovery and encourage him to write down notes and to do lists to also help him bring back his memory."

"Whatever you need us to do you've got us. We'll do whatever we can to help him," Dave said firmly while the rest of them nodded. Aaron was family and it broke their hearts to hear the state he was in. They would do whatever they had to to bring him back to the man he once was.

"Good good," he smiled back. "We'll arrange the therapy sessions and inform you of the arrangements."

"Thank you." They'd move heaven and earth to be at those appointments even if they had to plead to be put on stand down. Aaron's recovery was most important.

"We'll also schedule him to see a physical therapist when his infections have died down to rehabilitate movement in his muscles and his broken bones. Also so he can rebuild muscle memory."

"How long will he have to be in here?" Spencer asked concerned.

"It depends on how quickly his mind heals but we're saying at least four weeks. Usually we'd put him into a psychiatric hospital and bring him back for his physical therapy appointments but because of the circumstances of his case we'll be keeping him here."

"Thank you," they smiled slightly. "Thank you for being so understanding." He was right. After the last two days being held in a psychiatric hospital that was the last place he needed to be.

"We'll also deal with his case as delicately as possible."

"Thank you, we appreciate it." They all nodded in agreement. "May we see him?"

"Because his psyche is so delicate at the moment we don't want to overwhelm him so I suggest solo visits."

He nodded and they all agreed Dave should go first. He was his best friend and had the most history with him. If anyone could reach or at least help him it was Dave. Jessica and Jack would be too much affected and Jack was too young to see his dad like this.

Dave swallowed the lump in his throat and followed the doctor to Aaron's room. He swallowed another lump as he saw Aaron lying in the bed staring blankly into space then turn his eyes to him not recognising who he was.

Dave asked, "May I come in?" Aaron nodded a little frightened and Dave went in and placed his hand on his shoulder. It upset him when Aaron shrank a little from his touch so he added, "Aaron, I'm a friend."

"Friend?" Aaron asked numbly.

"Yes Aaron, friend," he smiled sadly. It broke his heart to see him like this but he tried to keep it inside not to upset him further.

"He kissed me. Didn't like it."

"Who kissed you?" he asked concerned.

"Doctor..."

"Aaron," he said gently. "He wasn't a doctor..." Aaron looked at him shocked and a little scared. "He was an UnSub..."

"UnSub?" Aaron asked confused.

He tried even harder to bite down the lump in his throat as he added, "Yes, a bad guy..." Aaron looked even more frightened and weakly grabbed Dave's arm. "it's alright, you're safe now. You're in hospital." Aaron grabbed his arm even tighter. "No, Aaron, this is a good hospital full of good people. They're only here to help you. No-one will ever get to hurt you again."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Dave was about to leave to go to the others when Aaron pulled on his arm. He looked back to see Aaron looking at him vulnerably again. "Don't leave. Not scared with you. You friend."

He looked up at the nurse and she nodded. "If it makes you feel better I won't leave," he assured his best friend.

"Good," Aaron smiled back.