Chapter 6
Garcia stormed into the hospital room.
"Is my liege fine?" Garcia asked.
"Yes," Rossi said, "Hotch is fine." Hotch smiled at his tech analyst's obvious concern.
"Garcia, I'll be alright," Hotch himself reassured, "although emotionally I'm a wreck and I'm ugly as hell."
"No Bossman," Garcia scolded, "do not say that. Burns or no burns, you are still a very handsome man. Jack can see that. Why can't you?!"
"Garcia.." Rossi started.
"It's okay, Rossi," Hotch said.
"Arnold!" Garcia exclaimed, "tell me you got Arnold!"
"We got him kitten," Rossi stated, "he tripped over his own sulfuric acid and burned to death."
"NO! NO!" Garcia shouted, "that is not good enough. I wanna watch him suffer and bleed to death. I wanna see him burn with my own eyes! I want him to go through exactly what Hotch went through and..." she panted.
"Garcia.." Hotch chucked.
"Sorry," Garcia apologized, "it's just that what he did to you was awful and cruel. But, you're alive. You're alive."
"Remind me to never piss you off," Rossi quipped.
"Touche," Hotch agreed. Returning to her happy, jaunty self, Garcia pulled out a basket.
"I brought you something!" she exclaimed.
"Oh no," Hotch groaned.
"It's your favorite...chocolate covered almonds and Peeps!" Like a little kid, Hotch's eyes widened in shock.
"Garcia! This is amazing. How did you know these were my favorites?" Rossi put a hand on Garcia's back.
"Well, Hotch, I guess I'd better get going," Garcia said, "but I'll be in the waiting room with the team so don't you hestitate to call if you need something."
"I won't Garcia. Thank you." Then, without thinking, Garcia reached out and hugged her boss and planted a kiss on his deformed cheek. She watched as Hotch recoiled.
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know. I'm so sorry."
"Garcia," Hotch said firmly as he took his hand in hers, "it's okay." She smiled at the touch of his rough hands.
"Wild horses, sir. Just wild horses."
Hotch was still in the hospital for a week. His vital signs were good and he was responding to the medications. His face and hands were still burned. He had nightmares from the attack. Rossi, however, kept watch and was able to subdue him most of the time. The nurse approached the team.
"I have good news!"
"What is it doctor?" Reid asked, "can his face be healed?"
"The good news is that he is going to go home today. His vital signs are good, and he's in good condition for release. The bad news is that he will have to wait about six months before his face can be fixed. Even that is a hit or miss. We won't be able to remove all the burns, but we'll do the best we can." The team nodded. As the nurse and Rossi wheeled Hotch out, the team looked out. Then, Reid asked the question everyone was thinking.
"Do you think he'll ever come back?"