Chapter 6

The following morning found JJ seated on the edge of a desk facing Morgan's an hour before everybody was scheduled to be in the office. Morgan was leaning back in his chair with his feet up on the same desk on which JJ sat. She could tell neither of them had gotten any sleep, so like her, Morgan decided to come into the office early. The only ones missing at the moment were Rossi, Reid, Garcia and Prentiss. JJ informed him she had seen Garcia entering her lair to get an early start on researching Benjamin Yardley.

"What about Princess and Pretty boy?" asked Morgan with a sigh.

"Right here," Prentiss replied as she and Reid approached from the break area. They were each carrying a lidded Styrofoam cup in each hand. She handed one to Morgan who accepted it gratefully. He removed the lid and savored the deep richness of the black coffee as it slid down his throat. He smiled contentedly. Prentiss sat on the edge of Morgan's desk. They watched Reid hand a cup to JJ. "I figured we can all use a little fortification since it's gonna be a long day. And from the looks of both of you, I suspect neither of you got much sleep," she added taking a sip of her own coffee. Reid moved beside her staying on his feet.

"I still can't believe what happened to Hotch last night," JJ said. "I was hoping it was a bad dream. But when I turned on the news this morning while I got dressed, that hope was dashed."

"I know what you mean," Reid replied. "The same thing was on every channel I turned to this morning."

"You watch the television news?" Morgan asked with arched eyebrows. "I thought all you watched was Star Trek or Dr. Who marathons."

Reid shrugged. "They aren't on until this Sunday," he explained sheepishly.

"Anybody seen Rossi?" Prentiss asked. "I mean, he did say we should be here at nine a.m."

Morgan checked his watch. "Relax, Princess. It's only eight-thirty. He still has thirty minutes."

"Anybody find out how Hotch is this morning?" Prentiss looked from one to the other.

"I called the hospital before I came in," JJ said. "All they told me is he had a restful night. I couldn't get anything else from them."

Morgan shrugged. "That's better than nothing I suppose." He took another drink of coffee. "Y'know, I still can't believe this. I mean, Hotch never hurt anybody in his entire life. Why does it seem like bad things always happen to him? It's like there's a bulls-eye painted on his back."

"But how is Hotch ever going to recover from what was done to him when he finds out?" asked Prentiss with a grim expression. "This is different from when he was stabbed by Foyet."

Morgan let out a deep breath. "True. And we'll be here to help him through it just like last time. He won't have to face things alone."

Fifteen minutes later, a familiar and tired figure walked into the bullpen carrying a large Styrofoam cup. "I'm glad to see all the children present and accounted for," Rossi said looking at the others. "Where's Garcia?"

"She's with her computers doing what you asked her to do yesterday," JJ explained. "She said she'd call us the moment she found anything."

"Good." Rossi paused and took a drink of coffee. "We have no time to waste if we're gonna catch this bastard. He won't get away this time. He left Aaron alive for whatever the reason. We can't take the chance he won't come back to kill him."

"Did the security you requested show up last night?" asked Prentiss.

"They did. There are two guards posted outside Aaron's room and two inside his room. Only the six of us, the doctor in charge, and a nurse are allowed into his room. Nobody else unless approved by one of us."

"Seems to me it's gonna be difficult then for him to gain access to Hotch while he's hospitalized," Reid pointed out.

"Maybe," Morgan added. "But we have no description of this guy or his partner. Either or both of them may somehow gain access to Hotch despite the added protection."

"That's comforting to know," Prentiss replied sarcastically with a shake of her head. "So in other words, we can't trust anybody is what you're saying."

"Pretty much," Morgan replied. "And we have to make sure we limit access to Hotch. That means, like Rossi said, nobody has contact with him unless they've been cleared by one of us until we catch these guys." The others nodded their agreement.

"Rossi, were you able to find out how Hotch is this morning?" asked Reid. "All JJ was able to find out is that he had a restful night."

Rossi sighed and ran a hand over his thick salt-and-pepper hair. "I didn't find out much more. The doctor hadn't been in to see him this morning, but from what I found out, Hotch's condition is unchanged from yesterday. I'll call back later and check on 'im." He glanced at his watch to check the time. It was close to nine in the morning. "Okay, we don't have a lot of time. Let's meet in the conference room and review a few things before a few of us have to leave."

Morgan glanced at the older man. "Rossi, did you contact Jessica about Jack?"

"First thing this morning. She told me Aaron had called her yesterday and asked to speak with Jack. He said he might not be able to speak with him before the boy went to sleep. She told him Jack was taking a bath, and unable to come to the phone at the moment. I told her what happened leaving out the sexual assault. She was horrified but said she would keep Jack until Aaron was better. She won't tell him anything right now until we tell her it's okay. I suggested if Jack asks about his father, to tell him Hotch got called away last night on a case."

"That should satisfy Jack for a while anyway," Reid agreed. "Hopefully we'll have this wrapped up in a few days, and Hotch will be out of the hospital."

"That poor little boy," Emily said as her lower lip quivered. "No child should have to go through all this."

"No he shouldn't," Rossi agreed. "First his mom. And now his dad. We need to do everything we can." He noticed Morgan stare at him oddly. "What is it, Derek?"

"Tell me if I'm wrong, Rossi, but did Hotch call Jack back after his bath?" He saw the older man get a strange look in his eyes.

"I see where you're going with this," Rossi said. "And you're right, he would. Aaron always said goodnight to Jack before his son went to sleep. I asked Jessica about that. All she told me is that Jack called his father before he went to sleep, and she thought she heard music."

Emily's eyes widened. "Music?"

"Music," Rossi repeated. "That tells me he wasn't in the BAU at the time Jack called."

"But where was he?"

Rossi shook his head. "Good question. And who did he meet once he left here. That's what we have to find out."

The others got to their feet and followed him to the conference room to conduct their roundtable discussion.

Doctor Caswell was making his morning rounds, and had come to Aaron Hotchner's room. The agent had been moved late last night from recovery to a private room. He paused momentarily at the sight of the two plainclothes men posted outside his patient's room. It wasn't that big of a surprise really. Considering what had happened to his patient, he figured the FBI probably wanted their man protected. He would just have to put up with this minor inconvenience. After verifying who he was to them, they allowed Caswell to enter the room. Once inside, the doctor again was caught off guard by two more plainclothes men positioned on either side of the door. After calming himself, he studied the two men in the room who were studying him as well.

"I understand you have a job to do, gentlemen," Caswell began. "But I need to examine my patient, and it requires a little privacy. Can you at least wait outside until I'm done. It shouldn't take long."

The two men exchanged looks before stepping outside the room. They, without being told exactly, had been told enough to understand a few of Agent Hotchner's injuries were of a personal nature. Now alone, Caswell proceeded to examine his patient. After he finished the rectal exam, a low moan was heard coming from the patient.

"Agent Hotchner?" asked Caswell leaning closer. "Can you open your eyes for me?"

There was another groan and a subtle move of his head as Hotch's eyes fluttered and opened a crack. He didn't stare at anything in particular, and his eyes appeared unfocused.

"Agent Hotchner, listen to the sound of my voice. I need you to look in my direction."

Hotch slowly turned his head in the direction of Caswell's voice, but seemed to be looking past him. The movement itself caused him to grimace in pain.

"Hurt…" Hotch said in a husky voice.

"I understand it hurts. Can you tell me where you hurt the most?"

"Ev'ry…where."

"I understand. I'll have a nurse give you a morphine drip. That should help with the pain."

Hotch swallowed. "Where…am…I?"

"You're in a hospital, Agent Hotchner. Can you tell me what happened? What's the last thing you remember?"

"Not…sure…can't…re…member."

Caswell smiled. He patted the man's shoulder. "That's all right. Don't force it. Let it come to you on it's own. You just rest and I'll have the nurse come in with the pain meds and she will also change your dressings."

Hotch closed his tired eyes and allowed the darkness to sweep him away. Satisfied, Caswell left the room, and explained to the men outside that he was having a nurse administer pain meds to Agent Hotchner and change his dressings. The man who appeared to be in charge, nodded and sent the others back inside the room. Caswell walked to the nurse's station and relayed his instructions regarding the FBI agent. Afterward, he picked up the telephone, and pressed several buttons for the number on the medical information chart.

"Agent Rossi...Doctor Caswell. I'm calling to inform you that Agent Hotchner regained consciousness for a few moments. He has no memory of what happened to him. But I can't say with any assurance his memory problem is due to the Rohypnol or the fact that he just woke up after being unconscious. I will check again later. Right now he's resting, and I've prescribed pain meds for him. If you wish to speak with him, today would be fine. You're welcome. Goodbye." Caswell hung up the phone and continued with his rounds.

Rossi tucked the cell phone back inside his jacket pocket. The minute he realized it was the hospital calling, he put the call on speaker so the others could listen. After the call ended, the mood changed to one of hope that their Unit Chief would at least recover from his physical injuries.

"That's a good sign isn't it?" Prentiss asked with a slight turn upward of the corners of her mouth. "I mean, Hotch opening his eyes if only for a few moments is good, right?"

"It's good, yes," Rossi agreed. "But I wouldn't count on him being able to help with our investigation until we find out how much, if anything, he remembers from yesterday." He glanced at the time. "Morgan, Reid, Prentiss, we have to leave in a few minutes and meet Detective Moeller. JJ, you know what you have to do."

JJ nodded. "I'll contact the media first before I search Hotch's office. I'll contact you if I find something."

As Morgan, Reid, Prentiss, and Rossi got to their feet, the desk phone rang. From the caller ID Rossi could tell it was Garcia. He pressed the button putting her on speaker.

"You're on speaker, Garcia. What have you got?" asked Rossi.

"Your fairy godmother has good news for her subjects, my sweets. This Benjamin Yardley is a real piece of work. He's a dirt bag who belongs under a rock with the other dregs of the earth. He doesn't deserve to be among decent people. He doesn't…"

"Baby girl, not today," demanded Morgan in a stern voice. He and the others knew their tech analyst was rambling.

"Sorry. As I said, our Mr. Yardley is a real sleaze. He's been the janitor at a rundown place called the Hardwick Apartments for the last four years. He turned sixty years-of-age last month. Since he's been janitor there, several odd occurrences have happened."

"What occurrences, Garcia?" asked Prentiss.

"Several tenants who are not exactly the salt of the earth, complained about several items missing from their apartments. It was believed Yardley committed the thefts, but never proven. One year ago, he was suspected of raping an elderly tenant in a nearby apartment building by posing as a repairman. But she died before she positively identified him. And as there was no other evidence against him, he was dismissed as a suspect. Then six months ago, he was again accused of stealing from a tenant's apartment. The tenant, a Mrs. Jessica Boland, claimed it was Yardley and he was arrested, but got out on bail. But the next day, Mrs. Boland was watching television, and heard a tapping at her living room window. As soon as she raised the shade, a bullet came through the glass and wounded her in the shoulder. She dropped the charges claiming she now wasn't certain it was Yardley, and moved from her apartment and the state. The shooter was never found. "

"Have you located her yet, Garcia?" asked Reid.

"Not yet, my resident baby genius. But I am still looking."

JJ and the others exchanged looks. "Rape? Could be our guy," she remarked.

"Ummm-hmm," Morgan agreed. "Theft. Stealing. Rape. If he's not our guy, he could be the partner. Regardless, we need to talk with him. Good work, kitten. Keep digging. If you find Mrs. Boland, anything else on Yardley, or on Aaron's phone calls, you can reach one of us on our cell phone. JJ will be here searching Hotch's office. Oh, and Garcia…just so you know, Hotch regained consciousness for a few moments."

A loud scream of joy nearly deafened everybody in the room.

Morgan smirked. "Take it easy, mama. It was only for a few moments. We're hoping to speak with him later today."

"Give my liege all my love," Garcia said. "I shall be by later today for a visit. I promise I will be the Queen of Cheerfulness and Joy."

"Just make sure you don't mention anything about the rape to him, even if he asks which I doubt," Rossi warned. "He might not be able to handle knowing, and I don't want him upset under any circumstances. I also don't want him to know he was sodomized until he's ready to handle that information as well."