A/N: Sorry I can't update sooner on both my stories. But my left hand hurts so much I find I sometimes need to not write for 2 or 3 days to let the pain subside. I have an appointment in 2 weeks with a doctor. Also, with this particular chapter, and possibly several subsequent chapters, I had to wait for the answers to medical questions I had from a Urologist and a medical doctor, and that took time. I realize some people will be upset. Sorry. Again, I will try and update as often as I can on both stories.

Chapter 22

Emily Prentiss found David Rossi in the waiting room pacing back and forth. He was rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. His other was stuffed in one pocket of his jeans. The look on his face scared her. Since she'd known him, she never recalled seeing the older man so frightened before, and it worried her greatly.

"Rossi!" she shouted. The older man stopped his pacing and looked in her direction. "How's Hotch? Is there any news?" she asked.

Rossi let out a deep breath facing her. "Nothing. He was rushed into an examination room the moment we arrived." He stood facing her, ran a hand down the back of his hair, and let out another deep breath. "You should have seen 'im in the ambulance," his lower lip quivered. "We lost him twice, but they brought 'im back. Also, his body was spasming the entire time." He bowed his head and shook it. "Emily, for the first time in my life, I'm afraid." He raised his head and looked at the woman. "We could actually lose him this time."

Prentiss touched the older man's shoulder. "Stop it, Rossi. Just stop it. Hotch is and always has been a fighter. And this time will be no different. He will fight with everything he's got," she said as she led them both to the row of plastic chairs against the wall, and sat down side-by-side, facing each other. "We just can't give up on him." She paused when the older man nodded. "I spoke with Reid while driving here. He and JJ are on their way. Morgan promised he'd call Garcia," she added.

Rossi nodded and shifted on the hard, uncomfortable chair. He placed both elbows on his thighs and clasped his hands, letting them hang between his knees. He hung his head. "Thanks. I'm just so worried about Hotch after what that bastard did to 'im. I don't know what I'm going to tell Haley and Jack if he doesn't make it."

"He'll make it," Prentiss assured him patting his knee gently. She offered Rossi a reassuring smile when he offered her one of his own.

An hour later, they were still waiting when they heard a commotion at the opposite end of the hall. They turned hoping somebody was approaching who might be able to tell them what was happening with their friend. Instead, they spotted Reid and JJ hurrying toward them. Prentiss got to her feet to greet them, her eyes focused on the blond who appeared to look better than when she had last seen her. She gestured for the blond to take her seat.

"I'm fine," JJ said ignoring the gesture though appreciative. Her eyes were focused on her friends.

"Any news on Hotch?" asked Reid.

"Not yet," Prentiss said. She then repeated what Rossi had told her. JJ and Reid both wince as they listened. "How are you doing, JJ?" Prentiss asked.

"I'm all right," JJ explained again, brushing a long strand of hair over her shoulder as she sat down next to Rossi. "It's Hotch I'm worried about right now." The blond slowly sat in the seat earlier occupied by Prentiss. She put a hand on Rossi's shoulder. "How are you holding up, Rossi?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose," the older man replied. "I just wish somebody would tell us something. It's been over an hour."

"Where's Morgan?" asked Reid not seeing his best friend. He sat beside JJ.

"He's helping at the crime scene," Prentiss explained sitting on the opposite side of Rossi. "He said he'll be here as soon as he can."

"Did anybody contact Garcia?" JJ asked looking back and forth between Rossi and Emily.

"Morgan said he'd contact both her and Haley," Prentiss added.

JJ was about to ask another question when the brunette woman's eyes looked past her, and the blond turned her head. A woman wearing her gray hair up in a bun in the back of her head, was walking briskly in their direction. Her facial expression showed nothing. The four agents quickly got to their feet with worried expressions on their faces.

"Family of Aaron Hotchner?" the woman asked, hazel eyes darting from one to the other of the small group.

"That's Agent Hotchner," Rossi corrected the woman gently. "How is he?"

"And you are?" Fleming asked studying the man in front of her.

"Agent David Rossi." Rossi produced his credentials for the woman. He was not in the mood for games. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.

"Are you a member of Agent Hotchner's immediate family?"

"No." Rossi struggled to control his rising temper. "His wife is back in Quantico, Virginia, and she's on her way. But I am authorized to handle any and all decisions pertaining to Agent Hotchner's health in the absence of his spouse. Whatever you have to say you can say in front of all of us. He is not only our boss, but our friend."

The woman looked Rossi up-and-down before deciding this man would tell the others anyway, so it might be better to update the entire group.

"I am Doctor Sylvia Fleming. Let me begin by saying that Agent Hotchner is a lucky man. He is in no danger of dying and his heart is fine. First, I'll start with the obvious injuries, and they are many, but none are life-threatening. An x-ray showed his left knee is displaced but not broken, so he won't need surgery to repair it. As we were unable right now to straighten out the knee, we've stabilized it with a splint. The ligaments and cartilage are bruised, but not damaged, so they should heal in time. If necessary, we'll put the knee in a cast for three weeks and then begin physical therapy."

"Will he regain full use of his knee?" asked a worried JJ.

"He should. But he'll have a long, painful road ahead of him."

"How about his feet?" asked Prentiss.

"His feet are a problem. There is damage to the tissue, but no broken bones thankfully. Both feet will need a soft cast which he'll have to wear for at least six weeks. But they should heal in time. The punctures on his chin and upper chest, and the cut on his chest were treated with a medicated ointment and covered with gauze. The carvings on his face were also treated with a medicated ointment and must be allowed to heal for six weeks before plastic surgery can even be considered. We will be monitoring him for infections. But it's the electric shocks his body has suffered that worry me the most."

"How so?" asked Rossi.

Fleming cleared her throat and avoided looking at JJ and Prentiss. Rossi understood, and looked at JJ and Prentiss. His eyes asked the two women to give them a little privacy. Both women opened their mouths to protest, but shut them right away instead and nod. Prentiss led the way to a far corner out of hearing range where she and JJ watched.

Fleming took a deep breath. "Fortunately for Agent Hotchner, the electrical shocks he received did not affect his heart in any way as I said. The current ran away from the heart and toward the genitalia. To be perfectly honest, Agent Rossi, if those shocks had been directed toward his heart, he would be dead."

A small smile appeared on Reid's face, but Rossi sensed the worse was still to come. "What aren't you telling us?" he asked.

Fleming hesitated. She knew what she had to tell them would not be easy to accept much less hear.

"Agent Hotchner suffered burns on his penis and testicles with direct tissue damage. The first treatment will be debridement in which we will surgically remove all the dead tissue. That will be followed by pain management, fluid resuscitation, antibiotics and whatever other measures may be necessary. I have asked our best urologist, Dr. Simon Betters, to take over Agent Hotchner's case for that aspect of his care only. I will handle the other injuries. Dr. Betters will be out to speak with you after he finishes his examination."

"What will he be looking for with his examination?" asked a worried Rossi.

Before Fleming opened her mouth, Reid beat her to it. "Examinations of the penis and scrotum are typically done with a direct examination," he said waving his hands around as he became excited. "They'll do a scrotal ultrasound and maybe a CT or MRI scan to check for fractures or dislocations." He saw Fleming's face, and shut his mouth, looking embarrassed. His eyes looked at the floor. "Sorry," he murmured softly.

Fleming looked at the younger agent, impressed. It took her a few minutes to gather herself enough to continue. "That is not Agent Hotchner's only problem."

"There's more?" Rossi asked. How much worse could things get for Hotch?

"As I said, Agent Hotchner suffered burns on the skin of his penis and testicles, but there can also be some deeper in the muscle, along with nerve tissue damage which, if found, can lead to long term problems."

"What problems?" asked Rossi, not liking where this discussion was heading.

"There's a chance he might suffer complete loss of of his sexual organs, meaning he, as a man, could no longer become aroused sexually," Reid added quietly.

Reid noticed Rossi was staring at him. The older man then turned toward Fleming. "Your friend is correct. Agent Hotchner might permanently lose all ability of becoming sexually aroused and unable to have sex again. He might even be forced to use a catheter for the rest of his life." Rossi closed his eyes momentarily and grimaced. He didn't even want to imagine how his friend would handle this. And if he had to use a catheter he would be finished as a field agent. But worse than that would be how would he handle not being able to be a man.

"But something can be done, can't it?" Rossi asked Fleming. "I mean, you can fix it, can't you?"

Fleming sighed. "I can't answer that," she replied grimly. "All we can do is wait and hope. A rare number of men do make a complete recovery, but many don't. Only time will tell in which category Agent Hotchner will fall. Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to my patient. Dr. Betters will be out soon as he can." She started to turn away, but was stopped by Rossi's hand on her arm. She looked at the agent not without compassion.

"Doctor Fleming, tell us honestly. What are the chances that Agent Hotchner will regain full function?"

The doctor bit her lower lip before she answered. "I wish I can give you a positive yes or no answer, but I can't. There is just no way to know."

Reid's lower lip quivered and his eyes were moist. "But his work is everything to him. None of us know what he'll do if he can't do his job."

"I understand that, and I sympathize. Believe me I do. But only time will tell how much he'll recover. And now, I really must return to my patient."

Rossi sighed as Fleming turned and walked away. JJ and Prentiss approached the two men wanting to know what was discussed. Rossi reluctantly repeated what the doctor had said. JJ covered her mouth with a hand while Emily gasped in horror.

"Is…is there anything they can do?" Emily asked haltingly. "What I mean is…this can't be permanent, can it?"

"It might be," Reid explained slowly. "Only time will tell."

"Only time will tell what?" a familiar voice asked. Everybody turned to find the concerned face of one Derek Morgan staring at his friends. "I just got here," he said. "What's going on?"

Once again, Rossi repeated what they had been told. Morgan grimaced as he listened. Rossi watched the man grind his lower jaw. When he finished, he saw Morgan run a hand over his bald dome as he turned his back and walk away from him. Without warning, Morgan balled his fist and punched the wall so hard Rossi was afraid the black agent might have broken his hand.

Reid warily approached his best friend. "Morgan…take it easy." He stepped back when Morgan turned on him, face full of anger.

"Don't tell me what to feel, Reid," he hissed pointing a finger at the younger man. "Because of that worthless piece of shit, Hotch might not be able to…man, I can't even say it."

Rossi sighed and put a hand on Morgan's shoulder. "I know how you feel, Derek. But we'll get Hotch through this no matter how long it takes."

Morgan spun around and glared at the older man. "Get him through this? How do you propose we do that, Rossi?" he hissed. "How do you propose we help Hotch get through not feeling like a man? Please tell me how one does that?" He clenched and unclenched his fists hanging at his sides.

"Stop it!" JJ said stepping between the two men. "Just stop it! Fighting among ourselves isn't going to help Hotch. He's going to need us no matter what, and we need to be there for him even if he doesn't want us to be."

"JJ's right," Prentiss agreed. "Hotch is going to need us more than ever. Which reminds me. Morgan, did you contact Garcia?"

Morgan looked at the brunette. "Yeah. She said she'll pick up Haley and explain everything to her. They'll both be on the next flight out, and should be here in a few hours." He face softened as he again faced Rossi. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to blow up at you like I did. It's just…it's just that when I think about what Hotch might lose, I wish I could kill that bastard again."

Rossi allowed a small smile to appear. "No apology necessary. We're all angry right now. But Hotch has a chance although a slim one. And as long as there's a chance, we can't let him give up."

"Family of Aaron Hotchner?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

Morgan, Rossi, Reid, JJ and Prentiss gathered around the doctor whose name-tag read: Dr. S. Betters.

"That's us," Rossi stated eying the man with the dirty blond hair somewhere in his forties. "How is Aaron Hotchner?"

"Excuse me, but I really should be discussing this with the wife. Is Mrs. Hotchner here?"

"She's on her way from Virgina, but won't be here for a few hours yet," Rossi stated. "In her absence, I make any decisions on Agent Hotchner's health. I'm David Rossi."

Betters studied the unusual group curiously. He had heard from Sylvia Fleming that these people were Hotchner's family as well as his coworkers. One look at them told Betters she was right. He shook hands with Rossi.

"I'm Dr. Betters. I'm the urologist who will be handling Agent Hotchner's case involving the damage to his genital area." His eyes shifted to JJ and Emily. "Uh…perhaps you ladies might want to uh…"

"Just tell us," Prentiss insisted. Her dark eyes indicated she was serious. The doctor nodded.

"Very well," Betters said. "Agent Hotchner suffered second-degree burns in his genital area. Keep in mind that while the burns themselves are not serious, nor are they minor. We have treated them with a topical antibiotic ointment and applied a dressing to them. We'll have to wait and see if it's enough. If not, we'll have to surgically remove all the dead tissue. His testicles are not only bruised but burned as well, and as of the moment, he has no feeling in his genitals at all."

"Oh God!" JJ cried covering her mouth with one hand and closing her eyes.

Betters licked his lips and then continued. "I had him undergo a scrotal ultrasound to check for any burns within the muscles themselves, as well as tissue damage which can lead to long-term problems. He suffered tissue loss, and right now he has lost all use of his genitalia."

Rossi ran both hands down his face and let out a deep breath. This couldn't be happening. "Doctor, what are the chances that Agent Hotchner will regain full function of that part of his body?"

Betters made a noise and crossed his arms across his chest. "It's difficult to say. With an injury like this, it can go either way. There's always a chance that Agent Hotchner can regain full use of his genitals, or perhaps partial use. Worse case scenario is he'll never regain use again. But for the time being, he will need a catheter temporarily. He will also be on IV antibiotics as well as fluids, pain medications, and fed through a feeding tube. Dr. Fleming will probably authorize Agent Hotchner be placed in a medically induced coma for two weeks to give his body a chance to heal." He looked at the stunned group. "Are their any questions?"

"Only one, doc," Morgan stammered. "Agent Hotchner has a wife at home. What are the chances his sex life can return to normal with time?"

"That's a difficult question. Only time will be the deciding factor. But let me add that recovery could take a while. I hope your Agent Hotchner is a patient man because he's going to need a lot of it as well as an understanding and patient spouse."

Rossi's mind went back to Haley and there were no doubts in his mind. He smiled. "Don't worry on that account, doc. Agent Hotchner's wife is a very patient and understanding woman who loves her husband very much. And he also has all of us to help him as well."

Betters smiled. He sensed his patient had a good support system and knew the man would need it especially if the worse case scenario arose.

"When can we see him, doctor?" asked Morgan.

"We'll be putting him in a medically induced coma followed by attaching the catheter. I'd suggest you all wait here and a nurse will come and get you when he's been moved into the ICU. Sorry I couldn't have better news for you." The doctor turned and walked away leaving a stunned group of agents.

Rossi collapsed back onto a chair with both JJ and Prentiss seated on opposite sides of him offering whatever comfort they could. Meanwhile, Morgan leaned his back against the wall with arms crossed across his chest. And Reid, hands stuffed into the pockets of his corduroy pants, leaned his back against a wall opposite Morgan. He slowly slid down the wall until he sat on the floor. He drew up his knees and wrapped his arms around his legs. Tears slid down his cheeks and he didn't bother brushing them away. They were all thinking the same thing.

Their Unit Chief had survived a lot of horrible things during his lifetime, and could handle pretty much whatever was thrown at him. But none of them, including Rossi, had any idea how Hotch would handle the obstacles which were now being thrown in his direction. Obstacles which he may not be able to overcome this time.