Chapter 26
Dave Rossi was glad he was alone in his hotel room because of the colorful swear words leaving his mouth as a hand appeared from beneath his covers. He hadn't been asleep for long when his cell phone, sitting on the charger on the night table, rang. A glance at the clock showed it was approaching 2a.m. He grabbed the cell from its charger, and leaning up on one elbow, pressed the phone to his ear. "Rossi."
"David, it's Erin Strauss. I'm sorry to be calling you so late, but I just got your message."
Rossi sat up in bed and ran a hand over his messy, salt and pepper hair. "Don't worry about it, Erin," he said with a yawn. "I only need an hour's sleep anyway."
"Again I apologize. Has there been any change in Aaron's condition since your earlier message?"
"He's still the same, so I suppose that can be considered good news."
"And how is his wife doing? Is there anything she needs or wants?"
"Except for wanting her husband to fully recover, nothing that I can think of. Erin, while I have you on the phone, I need to ask you a favor."
"Which is?"
"I'd like downtime for the team for the next two weeks. Aaron's in a medically induced coma, and we'd like to be here for him and Haley." There was silence on the other end. "Erin? You still there?"
"I'm here. I can't promise anything, but I'll see what I can do. Call me tomorrow after you speak with the doctors and get an update on Aaron's condition."
"I will." He sensed there was something else his Section Chief wanted to say and he gave her a few seconds before he encouraged her. "Is there something else, Erin?"
"Only that I'm glad the bastard is dead. I normally don't like to say things like that about someone. But I remember what Aaron went through ten years ago because of that man."
Rossi couldn't be sure, but for a moment he thought he sensed a tremor in Strauss's voice. Was she becoming emotional?
"Thank God he's no longer alive, and hopefully Aaron can recover fully this time as well. Please pass along my wishes for a speedy recovery to him, and tell his wife if there's anything she or Aaron need, to not hesitate to ask. The bureau takes care of it's own."
A sad smile formed on Rossi's face despite how tired he was. "Why Erin, are those tears in your voice for Aaron?"
"Don't be a bastard, David," Strauss replied with a smirk she was aware he couldn't see. "I'll be expecting your call later. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Rossi replied. He put the phone back on the charger and slid back under the covers. It only took a few minutes before darkness claimed him again.
Penelope Garcia wasn't quite sure what it was which woke her until she opened her eyes just a crack. At first she didn't recognize where she was, but then she remembered she was in a hotel room. It wasn't until she heard whimpering beside her, that she realized she wasn't alone in bed. Careful not to wake her companion, Penelope looked over to see Haley Hotchner laying beside her. She sounded like she was crying. Concerned, Penelope reached out a hand, and gently touched the woman's shoulder. Startled, Haley turned her head and looked at the other woman. Even in the dim light of the moon shining through the curtains, Penelope could see the remnants of tears on Haley's cheeks.
"Hey." Garcia sat up in the bed. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Haley sat up and quickly wiped her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Penelope. I didn't mean to wake you. Please go back to sleep."
Garcia reached over on her side of the bed, turned on the night lamp, and looked at her companion. "Oh no you don't, missy. You don't get off that easily. If you ask my chocolate stud muffin, he will tell you nobody escapes the third degree by Penelope Garcia. Now spill. What's got Mrs. Boss man unable to sleep at this hour?"
Haley arched her eyebrows. "Chocolate stud muffin?"
"That's my pet name for Derek Morgan. I have pet names for all my babies. And don't change the subject. Now what's wrong?"
Haley let out a deep breath, and looked at her hands as they sat in her lap. She picked at her nails. "I had a bad dream about Aaron."
"Tell me."
"I…I dreamt that the team found Aaron, and he was rushed to the hospital, but he died while in a coma. He just never woke up again. I never got the chance to tell him how much I love him." Her face contorted and fresh tears fell. Garcia put an arm around the other woman's shoulders and pulled her close. Haley rested her head on Garcia's shoulder as she leaned into the embrace.
"I want you to listen very carefully to me, okay? Hotch is a strong man, a fighter. He will not give up ever. Besides, didn't the doctors say he should recover? You have to believe in that."
"But what if he doesn't?" Haley sniffled.
"There are no buts here. My liege will fight with everything he has in him. You need to believe that."
Haley wiped her cheeks with the palms of her hand. "I…I'll try, Penelope."
Garcia shook her head. "Don't try, sweetie. Do. Hotch is one of the best profilers next to my chocolate love God. If he senses you believe he won't make it, then he'll believe it too. And that would not be a good thing. So I want you to repeat after me. Aaron will make it."
Haley offered a sad smile. "Penelope…"
"Say. It."
Haley sighed. "Aaron will make it."
"Good. Aaron is a fighter. He will make it. Say it."
"Aaron is a fighter. He will make it."
Garcia smiled. "Good. You keep saying that. No more negative vibes. I know you're scared for him. We all are. But Hotch would never give up on any of us if the situation was reversed. So, we cannot give up on him. And if I find out you are having or thinking negative vibes again, I will smack you. Understand?"
Haley smiled and wiped her cheeks again. "Understood." She let out a deep breath. "Penelope, how did you become so smart?"
Penelope shrugged her shoulders. "After hanging around for years with profilers, something was bound to rub off, I guess."
"Thank you. I mean it."
"And you're welcome. Now please try and get a few hours sleep at least. And remember, only happy thoughts and positive vibes."
"On one condition." Haley said. Penelope stared at her, puzzled. "And that is you call me Haley. Mrs. Boss man sounds so formal."
Garcia chuckled. "I can do that, Mrs. Boss…Haley. Now please try and sleep. It's late and you need your rest."
Haley slid down in bed on her back. "Goodnight, Penelope. And thank you again."
Garcia turned off the lamp and slid down in bed herself. "You're welcome again. Goodnight, Haley. Sleep tight."
The following morning found the entire team and Haley in the hotel coffee shop enjoying breakfast before heading to the hospital. Haley sat between Garcia and Rossi.
"So, how did you ladies sleep?" asked Rossi eying Penelope with a knowing grin.
"Like a log, my Italian love God," Garcia replied in-between bites of her cinnamon raisin bagel loaded with crème cheese and strawberry jam.
"I had a bad dream but Penelope talked me through it," Haley admitted taking a sip of her coffee with downcast eyes. She didn't want to discuss the nightmare again, and hoped Rossi would not pursue it. Fortunately, he didn't. He just nodded and took a drink of coffee.
"Good," was all he said patting the back of her hand. He looked at Penelope with a silent 'thank you.'
Morgan looked at the older man. "So, have you talked to Strauss yet?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did," Rossi replied. He then told everybody what the two had discussed leaving out how emotional the Section Chief became when speaking about Aaron. He concluded by passing on her well wishes to Haley for Aaron's speedy and complete recovery. "She doesn't know the full extent of Aaron's injuries," he added seeing Haley's worried face. "I led her to believe the burns to his genital area were to his chest area instead so if surgery is needed, she'll think it's to his chest. She won't question it." After that, everybody quickly finished their breakfast wanting to head for the hospital and check on their boss and friend.
Nearly two hours later, everybody walked into the hospital and took the elevator to the third floor and ICU. They were met at the nurses' station by Doctor Fleming. The woman smiled at the group.
"How is my husband this morning?" Haley asked.
"Aaron had a restful night," Fleming began. "I put a rush on the testing of the blood we drew yesterday, and it confirmed what I told you. His low potassium levels caused his bradycardia. So we increased the medication. This morning showed a slight elevation in his potassium levels."
"So the increase in the dosage is working?" asked JJ.
"Yes. We are going to continue the dosage as is. We did an EEG after all of you left yesterday as well, and it showed Aaron's brain activity is normal. This morning we've changed his dressings, and taken care of both the catheter and urine bag. Doctor Betters is with him now. But if you'd like to wait, he will update you as soon as he finishes his examination."
"Thank you, doctor," Haley said with a faint smile, relief showing on her face as with the others. Fleming smiled in return and walked away to make her rounds. After she left, Rossi turned to the others.
"Let's wait outside Aaron's room for Doctor Betters to finish his exam," he said.
The group followed him to Hotchner's room and sat in the uncomfortable hard plastic chairs to wait. The curtain was drawn in their friend's room, with two nurses and Doctor Betters moving around behind the curtain. But they weren't too worried this time as the report from Doctor Fleming had left them with a good feeling.
It was nearly an hour later before the drawn curtain was pulled back, and the two nurses left the room followed by Doctor Betters. The man's face was expressionless as his eyes fell on the seven people waiting. They got to their feet and approached the doctor. Rossi could tell something wasn't right.
"What's wrong, doctor?" Rossi asked. "Has something happened to Aaron?"
"Yes and no," Betters replied.
Rossi noticed Morgan's face change after the doctor's comment, and sensed he was about to say something in anger. But one look told Morgan this was not the time.
"What does that mean?" Rossi asked, holding Morgan's eyes. "Is Hotch all right or not?"
Betters wrapped his arms around himself and looked at the older man. "Let me explain. The injuries to Agent Hotchner's genitalia are not healing as I hoped." He paused when Haley put a hand over her mouth, and her eyes glistened. Garcia gasped and JJ grabbed her hand and held it tightly. The others remained silent. "Keep in mind it's only the second day. But there's not even the slightest improvement."
"So what happens now?" asked Haley fighting to regain control of her emotions.
"First let me explain this is by no means life threatening. All it means is that his injury shows no sign of improvement. I'm going to give it two more days. If there's no change, I will have to do a surgical debridement to remove the dead tissue from his genitals."
Haley's head was spinning as she tried to process all this new information she was being given. "What does that involve exactly?" she asked.
Before Betters opened his mouth to respond, Reid beat him to it. "Debridement is a procedure performed under general anesthesia to remove necrotic tissue to promote healing, and the body's ability to fight infection."
Betters closed his mouth and gaped at Reid in awe for one so young to explain the procedure so exactly. "Doctor Reid is it?" he asked. The young agent nodded and lowered his eyes, embarrassed. "Doctor Reid is correct in describing the procedure. With burns, there's always the chance bacteria can get in and cause inflammation, and put a strain on the body's ability to fight the infection. The debridement is done as a last resort when the method we are now using doesn't work and promote healing. But the procedure itself is not dangerous by any means. Right now we've changed his dressing and applied more ointment to his injured areas. I'll be stopping by later to check on him." The doctor studied the group, and noticed the deflated look on their faces. It was clear they all cared about his patient very much, and wanted him to recover fully; so did he. But it was out of his hands. "Are there any more questions?"
"Can we visit my husband?" Haley asked in a husky voice.
Betters smiled. "Of course." He turned and walked away leaving the group to themselves.
Rossi rubbed the back of his neck. He let out a deep breath and faced the others. "Haley, you should be there with Aaron. You're his wife. Besides, I have to phone Strauss and give her an update."
"Thank you," Haley smiled at Rossi. "But the others haven't had a chance to visit Aaron yet. Somebody can come with me and visit."
The team looked among themselves. Morgan sighed. "JJ, go with Haley."
JJ seemed hesitant about Morgan's offer. "Derek…"
Prentiss touched her arm gently. "Morgan's right, JJ. You should go with Haley. You were injured trying to keep Hotch from being taken by Armitage. You know you won't be able to breathe again until you see Hotch for yourself."
JJ let out a deep breath and with a glance at Haley, nodded, and the two women walked inside the agent's room. The minute she saw all the machines and wires Hotch was hooked up to, she froze in the doorway, unable to move. She was use to her boss being an active man, so full of energy and life. To see him now so still and silent was too much to handle. She stood rooted in place as Haley approached the head of the bed, and sat in the chair she earlier had used. Haley gripped her husband's hand closest to her and with her other hand, stroked his dark hair lovingly.
"Aaron, it's Haley. I just spoke with both of your doctors. Both of them say you're doing so well. Jack sends his love. I spoke with him last night, and he says to tell you he's going to make you a big get well card with plenty of sparkles on it." She glanced at JJ still standing in the doorway before turning back to Hotch. "Guess what, my love. JJ came with me. She wants to see you very much." She turned to JJ again and gestured with her head for the woman to come closer.
JJ swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly approached the bed. The guilt she still felt over Hotch being taken still manifested itself in her. She couldn't take her eyes off how pale Hotch's skin looked compared to his dark hair. He resembled a ghost. Chewing her lower lip, the blond picked up a chair on the opposite side of the bed, and moved it to the head of the bed. After sitting down, she reached out and gripped Hotch's fingers in one hand mindful of the IVs.
"Hotch, it's JJ. I'm glad you're getting better." She licked her lips. "The rest of the team is here with me. They'll be coming to visit you later. They wanted to come and see you with me, but the doctor says you need your rest, but he's like Strauss and being a hard ass," she chuckled. "Henry sends his love, and Will sends his best. Henry is also making you a get well card." She blinked away her tears. "Henry says he can't wait for his Uncle Aaron to visit him again and to bring Jack. He says next to his daddy, Uncle Aaron is really cool. I bet you never thought of yourself as being a really cool guy, did you, Hotch? I bet you didn't." She chuckled again.
"Did you hear that, sweetheart?" asked Haley, biting her lower lip. "When you're released, we need to take Jack for a play date with Henry LaMontagne. Both Jack and Henry will love it." While continuing to stroke her husband's hair, she leaned over and kissed her husband's lips gently. "Also, we're going to plan a vacation, just the two of us. Jack can stay with JJ and Will if she doesn't mind?" Haley looked at JJ.
"I don't mind at all, Hotch. Henry will be thrilled," JJ added with as much of a smile as she could muster considering her guilt. "And you have no excuse anyway. You probably have more vacation time than the rest of the team put together. So you just concentrate on getting better."
Rossi stood in the waiting area of the ICU with his cell phone pressed to his ear, listening to the ringing on the other end. He had wanted to be alone when he phoned Strauss with his update. He heard a click on the other end.
"Erin Strauss."
"Erin, it's Dave Rossi. You asked me to call you after I spoke with Hotch's doctors today."
"How is he?"
Rossi repeated everything he had been told again omitting the injury to the genitalia. He explained about the possible debridement surgery in two days to remove the dead tissue from Hotch's chest area if there was no improvement. He knew Strauss wouldn't question it, and would accept what he said as fact. Strauss must never find out about that one injury. It's enough that the team knows.
"Erin, what about the team getting downtime?" Strauss sighed over the phone, and Rossi got the feeling the news wasn't good.
"I tried, David. But the director wants your team back here by the end of the week. That means you only have three more days. I wasn't able to get him to budge despite his concern about Aaron."
"He can't be serious," Rossi complained.
"I'm sorry, David. He said if you defy his orders there will be consequences."
"I have a message for the director I would like you to pass on to him for me. Tell him the rest of team will return to Quantico within seventy-two hours, but I am staying here until Aaron is at least out of the hospital. Morgan can take over as Acting Unit Chief in my absence. But I am not leaving Haley alone right now. She's gonna need somebody to help her with Aaron. I cannot and will not leave her alone to handle this situation. And if the director wants my badge, he can have it. Make sure you tell him that for me, Erin."
"Can I get you to reconsider what you're doing, David?" Strauss already knew the answer to her question, but she asked anyway.
"What do you think?" Rossi smirked knowing Strauss already knew what his answer would be.
"I'll pass along your message to the director," said Strauss. "I just hope you know what you're doing. But for what it's worth, David, I didn't expect you to respond any other way when it comes to Aaron."
"I know. I have to go. But I'll keep you informed as much as I can."