Victimology

A year and a half had passed since the wedding and nothing much had really changed. Spencer had stayed within the BAU and had gotten used to loving Aaron from afar. They were still the best of friends but Spencer kept his feelings inside. He'd decided it was better to still be near him as it would only hurt him to be apart from him and not be able to see him every day and how he was doing.

Six months ago the youngest Hotchner had been born. A beautiful baby girl looking just like her mother who they had named Margaret Jasmine Hotchner better known as Maggie. They'd made Spencer godfather and he was more than happy to help look after the little girl. They'd spend a lot of time together outside of work and his life now revolved around his goddaughter and her brother even if he couldn't have their father. He wasn't even jealous of Vicki; he was just glad she made him happy.

They were currently working a case in Virginia concerning middle-aged, brunette nurses who had recently become mothers and only just gone back to work. There had been three bodies found so far; Annabel Smithson, Jenna Smithsonian and Casey Bridges. They'd all had their hair cut off and been strangled by a cord.

Aaron was becoming more and more affected by the case and Spencer was trying to keep him calm. He understood though. Vicki fit the victimology and he'd seen him take a call not so long ago then come back in even more concerned. She was 37 and brunette, Maggie had only been born six months ago and she went back to work only a couple of weeks ago.

"Aaron, is everything alright?" he asked concerned.

"Everything's fine," he answered firmly trying to shake off the bad feeling he had but Spencer wouldn't buy it. He could see the fear and worry in his eyes.

"What is it? Who was that on the phone?"

"Jessica. Vicki's missing. She was meant to have come back from her shift hours ago but no-one's seen her."

"Aaron," he said covering his hand with hand. "We'll find her."

He nodded.

That evening they found what they'd been looking for. They finally got their break. Someone called them clandestinely that they'd seen a man matching the profile taking a middle-aged, brunette in a nurse's uniform into a disused factory.

Aaron ran to the SUVs while his team followed. Spencer climbed in with his boss and best friend being the only one knowing just who the victim might be. They didn't say anything to each other while they raced towards the factory but Aaron was more than thankful that it was Spencer with him and not any of the others. He knew they'd be asking questions while Spencer already knew and believed in him.

They entered the factory with their guns drawn as silently as they could. He saw a body lying on the floor and ran to it while his chest tightened and tears filled his eyes. He drew a big breath in and turned over the body. He closed his eyes and tried to control his emotions as he saw the face of his wife looking back up at him.

"Vicki," Spencer gasped trying hard to keep the tears from his eyes and swallow the lump in his throat. "Oh Aaron, I'm so sorry..."

Aaron suddenly saw movement towards the stairs and ran towards James Coxton with his gun drawn and the anger boiling in his veins. He wasn't going to get away with this. He'd just taken his sweet Vicki from him and his children. The only woman who had been able to make him feel like a person again after he was kidnapped and suffered ECT. Maggie was only six months and would never know her mother. Jack had lost yet another mother and he'd only just become a teenager.

He chased him up to the roof dodging bullets as he went up and shooting them back. He'd pay for taking his wife from him. When he got up to the roof he jumped onto him and they struggled getting their guns off each other. Unfortunately they both succeeded and rolled to the edge of the roof.

Suddenly he felt himself hit the edge and clung onto it for dear life. Thoughts of his children passed through his mind as he tried to hold on as tight as he could. They'd just lost their mother they couldn't lose their father too.

Spencer had just reached the roof when he saw Coxton on the edge of the roof. He looked around for Aaron then he saw the hands clutching onto the edge while his chest tightened. He ran over as quietly as he could.

He saw Coxton step on Aaron's hand as he asked, "Why was she so important to you? She your wife or something?"

Feeling the anger boil in his veins at how his Aaron had not only lost his wife but was being treated Spencer answered, "Yes she was." Stunned by the voice behind him Coxton looked back only for Spencer to punch him around the head knocking him off the roof.

Aaron looked up to see Spencer offer him his hand. He breathed a sigh of relief and took it allowing his closest friend to pull him up and back onto the roof. Once back onto the roof he fell apart remembering Vicki was Coxton's last victim as Spencer enveloped him into his arms. Aaron held onto Spencer as he cried.

No matter what Spencer would be there for him. He'd help him through his grief and help him raise the children. He'd help him with all the arrangements for the funeral and explaining her death to the children. He'd even help him over his unneeded guilt which he knew he'd feel even though he had nothing to feel guilty for. He'd do it all without expecting anything in return simply because he loved him.