A/N: Sorry this chapter took longer to post. My muse is being difficult right now and doesn't want to cooperate. But I will forge ahead as this story is nearing the finish line.

Chapter 35

Hotch had nodded off during the trip for which both Haley and Rossi were grateful. But it was a restless sleep; a sleep riddled by nightmares. The first sign something was wrong, was Hotch whimpering in his sleep. Haley and Rossi were both seated at the head of the stretcher. Haley reached out and gripped her husband's hand, while Rossi rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. He had a suspicion about what his friend was dreaming, and swallowed the growing lump in his throat. He would allow himself to break down later in the privacy of his own home. Right now, he needed to be strong for both Hotch and Haley.

The heart machine began beeping incessantly to the increased heart rate. The body-less head of Jason Armbrister floated in front of Hotch, moving toward him, laughing manically, repeating the same words again and again without end.

"I'm coming for you, Aaron. You will not escape me this time."

Hotch's head turned from side-to-side. "No," he whimpered. The heart machine activity increased. "No! Please! Stop!" He became faintly aware of hands grabbing at him.

"Agent Hotchner, you need to calm down," somebody said. "Agent Hotchner!"

Hotch's body arched upward. He was becoming more agitated. He faintly became aware of the grip on his hand tightening, as did the pressure on his shoulder. He began to thrash about on the stretcher despite being strapped down securely for the trip.

"Your team can't protect you from me, Aaron."

"Leave me alone!" he cried out. The head came closer, laughing. "Keep away from me!"

"Agent Hotchner, you need to calm down or we're going to have to sedate you," the voice repeated. The incessant beeping had ceased. Hotch felt something cold touching his chest in three or four places.

"Don't touch me," Aaron insisted trying to move away from the hands grabbing at him.

"Prepare a sedative. Stat," the voice ordered with a touch of urgency.

"What's happening to him?" asked a familiar female voice seemingly full of panic.

"He might be having a flashback about what happened to him," explained a rougher voice which also sounded familiar. "Aaron, calm down, please. You're safe now. Armitage can't hurt you anymore. You need to open your eyes for us. We're right here and won't let anybody hurt you."

"Aaron, honey, please open your eyes and look at me. Please, sweetheart." The feminine voice sounded as if it were begging him. Hotch wanted to obey. He really did. But struggle as he did to open his eyes, he couldn't get his brain to obey. All he could do is whimper.

"Aaron, it's Dave. Haley is here with me. You're safe. Armitage is dead. Don't let the bastard win. My hand is on your shoulder. Haley is holding your hand. Open your eyes and let yourself see that you're safe. C'mon, Aaron."

Slowly, and with one tremendous effort on his part, Hotch forced his eyes open, and turned his head toward his wife. A tired smile appeared. "Hey," was all he managed as he felt the prick of a needle in his arm.

"Hey yourself," Haley replied with moist eyes and a smile as she stroked her husband's hair. She swallowed the lump in her throat when his eyes closed as sleep overtook him.

When Hotch opened his eyes hours later, he was resting in a comfortable bed with its elevated head. Haley was seated beside the bed, still holding her husband's hand, and gently stroking his hair. She released her husband's hand long enough to reach over and press the call button to signal for the nurse. He turned his head toward her and smiled. His eyebrows knitted at her face and moist eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Haley wiped her cheeks with the heels of her hands. "I should be asking you that question," she replied. "Do you remember what happened on the plane trip here?"

"I had a weird dream."

"Want to talk about it, sweetheart?" Haley began stroking Hotch's hair again. Before her husband could answer, both turned to look when the door opened, and a nurse looked into the room.

"You buzzed for a nurse, Mrs. Hotchner?"

"Yes. Could you tell Doctors Maynard and Markus my husband is awake."

"Right away," the nurse said with a smile. After she left, Haley turned back to face her husband.

"You were going to say something, honey?"

"Yeah. I really don't remember what it was about," Hotch lied. He didn't want to frighten his wife.

Haley let out a deep breath. "It was more like a nightmare."

Hotch's eyebrows arched. "Did I say anything?"

"You had a nightmare about Jason Armitage. You were yelling stop. Keep away from me. Leave me alone. Things like that. You really scared me, Aaron." Her lower lip quivered and tears threatened to fall. "I've never been so scared in my entire life. Your heart rate increased so much I thought I might lose you. They had to sedate you." A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Hotch reached over and wiped the tear away with his thumb. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Haley smiled and leaned into his touch.

"It's okay. But you need to promise you won't scare me like that again, Aaron."

Hotch chuckled. "I'll try, sweetheart. Where's Dave?"

"He went outside to use his cell. He wanted to update the Section Chief and the team on your condition, and let them know we're back in Virginia. Also, he didn't want to use the phone in your room and chance waking you. He said to tell you he'll be back."

Hotch rolled his eyes hearing Strauss's name. He admitted to himself he hadn't thought about the Section Chief, or how much Rossi had told her about his injuries. He made a mental note to ask the man when he returned to visit. He sighed.

"Have the doctors been in yet?"

Haley shook her head. "Not yet. I spoke to a Doctor Maynard. He's the internist assigned to your case. I haven't spoken to or met Doctor Markus yet. From what I was told by Doctor Castor, the Chief-of-Staff, since you had to be sedated, they want to wait until tomorrow morning. Sort of give you time to settle in and get comfortable."

Hotch sighed and nodded. "Haley, you look exhausted. Go home and get some rest. Next time you come to visit, you can bring Jack with you. I really want to see him."

"But Aaron…"

Hotch held up a hand calling for no further argument. "I mean it, Haley. Go home and rest. I'll be all right on my own for awhile. Besides, Dave will still be here."

Haley chuckled. "Perhaps you should convince Dave to go home as well. I'm sure he can use a little rest."

Hotch smirked. "I'd only be wasting my breath. Dave is worse than a dog with a bone. Besides, I couldn't pry him away from my side."

Haley smiled. "He's such a good friend, sweetheart. We're so lucky to have him in our lives."

"Yes we are," Hotch had a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm only starting to realize exactly how lucky."

Dave Rossi sat on the wooden bench outside the hospital with clasped hands dangling between his knees. He had been staring at the people passing by the hospital. He had updated Strauss and the team on Aaron's arrival at the rehabilitation hospital, and on his condition. Emily informed him the team would stop by for a visit later if Hotch was up to having visitors. The older agent didn't think it was his place to contact Jessica about bringing Jack to visit his father. So for now, he was content to sit outside and relax before he returned to his friend. Also, he believed Hotch and Haley deserved a little 'alone' time without him hovering over them.

Rossi let his mind wander for awhile as he mulled over his friend's future. He understood the rehabilitation on Hotch's knee would take several months. Then a decision would be made whether he could return to the BAU. To Rossi, there was never any doubt that Hotch would return to the job he loved. But until that time, he promised he would keep things running smoothly until Hotch returned. It was the least he could do for his best friend.

Letting out a deep breath, Rossi allowed his mind to return to that room; that horrible torture chamber Hotch had been imprisoned in and tortured. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he could only imagine what his friend must have endured before he was rescued. The pain. The humiliation. The realization that he might die this time. Rossi opened his eyes again and looked down at his shoes. Aaron is a tough kid. If anybody can make it all the way back, it's Aaron. Lifting his head, he watched the people walking in each direction outside the hospital. He was so absorbed, he didn't notice someone standing beside him until he saw the shadow cast on the pavement. He turned his head to find a nurse watching him. Her name-tag read: Sallie.

"Are you all right, sir?" Sallie asked, worriedly.

Rossi chuckled hoping to keep his face neutral, but suspected he was failing. "I will be, Sallie. Thanks for asking though." His brown eyes saw the compassion in Sallie's green ones which were highlighted by her dark auburn hair. He figured the woman to be somewhere in her late thirties, early forties. And despite still being a good-looking man in his sixties, it was at a time like this that Rossi wished he was a few years younger. He continued looking at the nurse as she sat down beside him on the bench.

"What's your name?"

"Dave. Dave Rossi."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Dave," Sallie replied with a smile and held out her hand. Rossi chuckled and shook the extended hand.

"Bad news?" she asked, her eyes never wavering.

Rossi again looked at his feet again. "Kind of," he replied. "A dear friend of mine suffered several horrible injuries at the hands of a madman."

"How awful. How is your friend doing?"

Rossi shrugged. "The doctors say he should recover fully."

Sallie put a hand on Rossi's shoulder. She tilted her head a bit. "And you don't believe them?"

"It's not that I don't believe 'em. It's that…well…this man is like a son to me. When he hurts, I hurt. Doesn't matter whether its physical or emotional. His well-being means everything to me. I just don't know what he's gonna be like once he recovers, and that's what worries me."

"Sounds like you care very much about him."

Rossi turned toward her and looked her directly in the eyes. "I do. Very much."

The nurse patted his shoulder. "Then you keep telling yourself he's going to get better just as the doctors told you. And that he'll be the same man you've always known."

A smile slowly spread across the older man's face. He nodded his head. "Thank you for listening to an old man vent."

Now it was the nurse's turn to chuckle as she got to her feet. "Old is just a figure of speech, Dave. And you are not an old man." She checked her watch. "I have to get back to work. Take care. And I wish your friend a speedy recovery."

"Thank you. For everything." Rossi watched the young woman walk away from him, and enter the hospital. He then leaned back against the wall and let out a deep breath. He chuckled. Aaron's gonna come back from this. He won't let the bastard win. With that thought in mind, Rossi got to his feet. He walked back inside the hospital.

Haley and Hotch both looked over when the door of his room opened and a man entered. He was tall, with a thick head of graying hair and blue-gray eyes. He carried a clipboard in one hand. A smile appeared as he approached and stood at the foot of the bed.

"Agent Hotchner, I'm Doctor Maynard. Your lovely wife and I met earlier. She told me you work for the FBI?"

Hotch found himself liking this man right away even though they just met. He nodded his head. "I do. How soon can I get out of here?"

Haley shook her head. She knew how much her husband hated hospitals.

Maynard scanned the contents of his chart and chuckled. He spoke while continuing to read. "You just got here. What's the rush? You in that much of a hurry to leave us?"

"I hate hospitals."

Maynard looked up from his reading. "Not to be flippant, but I imagine from the work you do, and from what your wife tells me, you and hospitals are old friends."

Hotch's eyes shifted to his wife who smiled at him innocently. "Snitch," he muttered. He focused again on the doctor. "So what happens now?"

Maynard let out a deep breath. "Today I figure you've been through enough with the trip followed by the sedation. So for today, you can just relax. But, I will examine you fully tomorrow morning. I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself once I heard you were awake." He checked his watch. "It's nearing lunch time. I will order a tray for you and one for your wife so you can have lunch together." Maynard started to the door. When he grabbed the doorknob, he looked back. "My colleague, Doctor Markus, will be in later to speak with you."

"Thank you, doctor," Hotch replied. Maynard nodded before he left the room leaving the couple alone. Hotch's eyes fell on his wife. "He doesn't seem too bad. What do you think?"

Haley shrugged her shoulders. "Same as you. I understand Doctor Maynard is one of the best in his field. I bet he'll have you up and about in no time."

Just then the door was pushed open again, and Dave Rossi looked in, a smile on his face. He held a cup of coffee in one hand. "I see you finally woke your lazy ass up from sleeping," he said with a smirk. He chuckled when he saw the stare directed at him. He walked into the room and stood at the foot of the bed.

"Don't be a smart ass, Dave."

Rossi smirked. "Now that's the Aaron Hotchner I know and love. Did I miss anything while I was gone?"

Haley faced the older man. "We met Doctor Maynard," she explained. "He seems nice.'

Rossi took a sip of coffee, and let his eyes shift first to his friend, and back to Haley. "Did our resident grouch try to bully the good doctor?"

"He did," Haley replied with an amused grin. "Wanted to be released today."

Rossi arched his thick eyebrows. "That's a new record, Aaron. Even for you. You usually wait until the next day."

"Dave…" Hotch warned in a threatening tone.

Rossi smirked. "Have you met Doctor Markus yet?" he asked.

"Not yet," Haley replied. "Later today." Rossi nodded at her response not wanting to give Hotch any reason to ask about the doctor. He saw Hotch's eyebrows knit together as the younger man focused on him.

"You've met this Doctor Markus, Dave?" Hotch asked.

Rossi shook his head. "Nope. All I know is Doctor Markus is the best in the field of urology."

Hotch studied the older man's face looking for any signs of deception, but found none. Still, he sensed something was being kept from him, and he didn't like it one bit.

"What aren't you telling me, Dave?"

"Nothing, Aaron. I swear," Rossi lied. "Sheesh. Stop being so suspicious all the time. You're in a hospital and are gonna be here for awhile. So I suggest you use the opportunity to get some rest."

"I don't plan on being here long."

"Your ass is gonna be here until the doctors discharge you. So you can gripe, argue and bully all you want. And if you refuse to listen to reason, I'll sic Garcia on you. And just so you know, she says she can't wait to get her hands on you when she and the entire team come to visit you later." He grinned when he saw Hotch stiffen a bit hearing the tech analyst's name.

"Fine," Hotch grumbled with a scowl on his face. "I'll stay. But I won't like it."

Rossi took another gulp of coffee. He chuckled. "Good boy. You keep that attitude, especially with your physical therapy."

Just then, the door opened and a resident entered the room carrying two food trays. Rossi held the door open for the woman. She sat both food trays on the portable tray and rolled it into position for Hotch and Haley. She turned to Rossi.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't realize there were three people in the room. Doctor Maynard only told me about two. I can see about getting you a tray if you'd like something."

Rossi smiled and held up his coffee cup. "No thanks. I'm fine."

She smiled. "Very well, sir." She then glanced at Hotch and Haley. "Enjoy your lunch." She left the room.

Rossi smirked at seeing his friend's expression after he removed the cover from his food plate. Even from where he stood, he could see the scoop of mash potatoes, tasteless meatloaf, and green beans. There was also a small container of apple juice, a Styrofoam cup with a teabag hanging on the side. And for dessert, a small container of red jello. Hotch put the cover back on the food plate and groaned. "You can have mine, Dave," Hotch offered knowing he would be refused.

"No thanks," Rossi replied. "You'd better eat that, my friend. If you don't, they might insert that feeding tube again."

Hotch winced at the thought of enduring the feeding tube again. He hated it, and didn't want a repeat performance. With a sigh, he removed the lid from his plate and picked up a plastic fork. He was about to pick up a fork full of mash potatoes when the opening of his door caught his attention.

Into the room walked a stunningly beautiful woman somewhere in her thirties with reddish gold hair, and ocean blue eyes. She also held a chart in her arm and stood beside Rossi.

Ut oh the older man thought when he caught the name on the doctors name-tag.

She smiled at the trio. "Agent Hotchner. Mrs. Hotchner. And you must be Agent Rossi. I've heard about all of you from my colleague, Doctor Maynard." She shook hands with Rossi, then focused on Hotch and Haley again. "I'm Doctor Markus, your urologist."