Monday Blues Chapter 10

The warm summer wind blew lightly around the woods, the trees adding to the effect as the woods took on a beautiful summer glow. The birds were high in the sky singing their approval that for just this moment in time. The world was perfect. David Rossi followed his dog mudgie through the old worn path, he couldn't help but smile as the dog bounded through the tall grass freely.

He took a long breath and enjoyed the warmth as it his lungs, no cases, no work, no FBI just him and his dog enjoying the freedom of the outdoors. Life couldn't be better. He picked up the pace a little to keep up with his beloved canine and watched the dog meander down to the river. The glow from the water in the hot summer sun was just too tempting for the dog and he jumped in to cool off.

Rossi climbed down the bank to stand by the water's edge, looking across he had to hand it to mudgie he couldn't have found a better spot if he'd been trying. He glanced around finding what seemed to be a nice spot to relax and sat down stretching his legs out and laid back on the grass. The sound of his dog splashing around as he watched the clouds float by just seemed to be perfect. Nothing could ruin such a perfect day.

He'd lost track of how long he'd laid there, not that he cared, how often did he get the chance to sit back and enjoy himself like this with his usually hectic life. This was a moment to be savoured and enjoyed.

Except for that infernal beeping that seemed to be interrupting his peace and quiet. He looked round the beautiful surroundings and couldn't see anything that would cause the beeping which seemed to be growing louder and more prominent. Pushing himself to sit up he spotted his dog who was now trying to play with some fish in the water. The fish didn't seem to keen but Mudgie was very eager to play; he didn't seem to bothered by the beeping. Rossi tried to ignore it but it just wouldn't go away and was definitely getting much more annoying and too hard to ignore.

He closed his eyes willing the noise to go; whoever was making it was getting very irritating. He'd put money on it being someone who had brought some infernal piece of technology out here to ruin the solitude of the place.

"Uncle Dave!" The voice filtered through and he sat bolt upright staring at Mudgie who was sat watching him with a wagging tail, tongue lolling out. Had his dog just spoken to him?! He stared at the dog for a few more minutes til the voice sounded again. "Uncle Dave!"

He eyed the dog warily trying to judge why all of a sudden Mudgie seemed to have developed the function of speech. Surely that was impossible? Well it was? Wasn't it?

Sitting up with a start, David Rossi looked around and blinked to clear his vision. He'd fallen asleep in the chair. Sadly he wasn't in the forest enjoying a warm summers day, he was still sat at his friends bedside, and the voice that was calling wasn't Mudgie (He didn't believe it was really. Honestly. He tried to convince himself) but it was that of young Jack calling him.

It took a few minutes to realise why Jack was so insistent on waking him up, the monitors his dad was attached too were now screaming for attention. That heart rate that had stayed so steady at 85 was now shooting up, far too high. It was over 92 now and still rising. The other numbers were his blood pressure they seemed to be dropping. Fast. Low blood pressure was bad, very bad. Aaron himself still looked peaceful, he certainly didn't look in any major discomfort but the monitors told the entire story. Something was very wrong.

He got to his feet quickly hovering at his friend's side and scooped Jack into his arms who now looked panic stricken.

"We need some help in here!" He demanded stepping back as the room filled with Doctors and nurses.

"Sir we need you to wait outside. The nurse will take you to the relative's room." Her voice left no room for argument so he carried Jack along to the relative's room and sat down.

"Daddy's okay isn't he?" Jacks bottom lip was out, the young face on the verge of tears.

"Yeah, Yeah he'll be fine. The doctors just need to check some things." Rossi tried to keep his own voice calm and quiet. Mentally kicking himself for falling asleep he pulled Jack closer to him for a hug, rubbing the youngsters back in some small comfort. He felt the boys grip tighten around him and new the youngster was terrified. Who could blame him seeing doctors and nurses rushing round his dad in obvious panic?

Despite his calm confident voice to the youngest Hotchner, Rossi knew from experience that those machines going crazy rarely meant anything good.

"Mr Rossi?" A doctor peered in the door, obviously cautious about what to say in front of the frightened young boy.

"Jack, why don't you go with a nurse to get a drink? Get me a juice too please?" He tried to prise the boy away from his neck but Jack shook his head, his jaw set in grim determination. Rossi had seen that look on his father often enough to know there was no getting around it.

"It's okay Doctor... Carry on."

"Agent Hotchner's blood pressure dropped which indicates there's still some bleeding that we haven't accounted for that has caused this sudden drop in blood pressure. We're going to rush through some tests and get him straight back into surgery. Think of it as a ticking time bomb, it could have gone off any time. We have our best surgeon on this, I'm sorry... If there's anyone you need to call. Now would be the time."

He bowed his head and left leaving Rossi to take in the news. Damn. He looked at Jack now had tears streaming down his face. He may not have understood the in and outs of what was said but he knew enough to be frightened and upset. Smart like his father.

"It's okay kiddo, It's okay. They'll fix him good as new. Soon as he's better we'll go to that food place you like. My treat to you both. Okay?"

Jack nodded slowly, clearly not entirely convinced. So he wrapped his arms around Dave's neck and sobbed on his shoulder. The tears soaking through the good shirt and Rossi allowed one or two of his own to join them in a few minutes grief before he had to start letting people know what was going on.

Not again. How much more could one man take?!

TBC...

It was never going to easy was it... haha