Chapter 5
"You may go see him now," the nurse said, "one at a time, though."
"I think you should go," Reid said to Rossi, "you're his best friend."
"I'm just not sure of how he'll react," Rossi stated grimly, "are Jack and Jessica on their way?"
"Yeah, they are," Prentiss whispered.
There lie Hotch, in a hospital bed. What was once a handsome face with dimples was now a burned, charred face on his cheeks and forehead. All traces of those dimples were gone. His calloused hands became even more calloused as red burns took their place. Rossi squeezed Hotch's hand. It felt like a rock.
"Aaron?" Rossi asked with uncertainty.
"Dave?" Hotch mumbled, "what happened?"
"You were attacked by an unsub. You're in the hospital now," Rossi explained, "shh. Shh... it's okay."
"My face?" Hotch asked. He reached up to touch the burns.
"No, don't touch that," Rossi commanded gently.
"Did you catch Arnold?" Hotch asked.
"Yeah, we got him."
"What happened to my face? I want to see!"
"Aaron, you were badly burned with sulfuric acid. You don't need to see that yet."
"Are my scars...permanent?" Rossi nodded solmenly.
"I want to see my face," Hotch said.
"No, Aaron, it's pretty bad!"
"Don't play me Rossi," Hotch hissed, "show me the damn mirror. I want to see what that bastard did to me." Reluctantly, Rossi handed Hotch the mirror. Hotch held it in his scarred hands. A tear rolled down the normally brave Unit Chief's face.
"I look like..." he sobbed, "I look like a monster!" He threw the mirror on the floor and it shattered.
"Aaron Michale Hotchner, you are not a monster!" Rossi affirmed with all the might in his voice.
"Yes," Hotch replied, "I am. Oh, what will Jack think of me when he sees me like this?" He threw his hands in the air.
"I'm a terrible father!" he wailed.
"Aaron, Jack loves you," Rossi scolded, "you are not a terrible father."
"But Jack almost lost me today." He chuckled bitterly.
"In a sense, he did," Hotch continued, "he's got a freak for a father now."
"AARON!" Rossi screamed, grabbing the man's face, "look at me!" Right then and there, he saw the extent of what that piece of slime did to his best friend.
"You are not a freak. You are a hero! You saved Jack! You saved everyone from the same fate. Nathan Arnold is dead. Jack loves you and we love you. The team is here for you! Please don't shut us out," Rossi pleaded. Hotch nodded.
"Okay," he whispered.
"Hey Dave?" Hotch asked.
"Yeah, Aaron?"
"I'm sorry about before."
"Aaron, you're angry and sad. We all are. But, give it time."
"How long will the team adjust to the new me?"
"Aaron, disfigured or not, you always will be our Unit Chief. You always will be our hero. You don't have to do anyting you don't want to do." With that, Rossi exited, bracing himself for how Jack would react.
"Is Daddy gonna be okay?" Jack asked.
"You're daddy's gonna be fine," Rossi said, "but he will look different. The bad guy made him look different. It's gonna take time getting used to. Do you want to go see him?"
"Yeah!" Jack agreed.
Rossi and Jack made their way to Hotch's room.
"Daddy!" Jack ran to his father's hospial bed.
"Jack!" Hotch exclaimed, ready to hug his son.
"AHHH!" Jack ran from the room shutting his eyes. Aaron Hotchner could only lay back down in tears thinking Great. Now my own son is terrified of me.
"Aaron, he just got spooked," Rossi tried to reassure.
"Dave, he was frightened!" Hotch protested.
"He's just a little kid. It's gonna take some time getting used to."
"But...but...what if he doesn't love me anymore?" Hotch asked.
"No. Don't you dare talk like that!" Rossi chided, "the little man loves you. You're his hero. He just got scared for a second. It doesn't mean he's scared of you. He doesn't love you any less."
"But what kind of father am I if my own son is scared of me?" Rossi knew where Hotch was getting at.
"Hey, hey. You are nothing like that bastard. You understand?" Hotch coud only nod. Just then, JJ and Jack opened the door.
"Daddy?" Jack asked, moving cautiously toward the bed..
"Hi buddy," Hotch choked up.
"Can I touch?" the curious child asked.
"Yes. But be careful. They still really hurt." Jack carefully reached up and touched his father's burned cheek.
"Did the bad guy really do this to you?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, son. He did."
"I'm sorry I ran," Jack apologized.
"Jack, honey. You don't need to apologize for anything."
"Yes I do," Jack retored. Hotch smiled. The guy would make a great lawyer someday.
"You're the best daddy in the whole world and I love your new face!" Jack ran up and hugged hi father. Hotch hugged him back with as much force as he could master.
"Ow, Daddy," Jack rubbed his shoulders.
"Sorry, son. I didn't mean to hurt you.
'S okay, Daddy." Jack and Hotch embraced again. Jack laid his head on Hotch's shoulder and Hotch rubbed his son's shoulder with his charred hands, both wishing this moment would never end.