Chapter 8

JJ let out a deep breath after searching her boss's desk calendar. She hoped to discover if he had written anything from the night before, but found nothing. "Damn it, Hotch," she muttered. JJ had searched every possible place she could think of, and had been unable to find any clue as to where her boss had gone. With a shake of her head, the only place JJ had left to search was her boss's desk drawers, but doubtful of finding anything there.

She didn't like going through Hotch's desk because to her, it was like invading his privacy. JJ understood how Hotch valued his privacy. If he discovered somebody had searched through his desk and office, he would be upset at the invasion of his privacy. As she was rummaging his middle desk drawer, her cell phone rang. With a sigh, JJ reached into her pocket, removed her phone, and checked the caller ID. She smiled when she noticed it was Garcia. She pressed the phone to her ear.

"Tell me you found something, Garcia, because I'm striking out in Hotch's office."

"Oh you better believe it, sunshine," Garcia sounded bubbly. "I hit the bulls-eye. While I can't trace my liege's phone to tell you where he's been, I can tell you one thing. He received a phone call last evening from somebody named Darryl. No last name mentioned. It was this Darryl who suggested Hotch meet him at a bar called the Serendipity. I was unable to find a phone number for this Darryl as I have no surname. So I tried to find a return phone number, but he used a burn phone. Sorry."

JJ smiled. "Don't be sorry, Garcia. At least we have an idea where Hotch went from here, and with somebody named Darryl. Was there any sign Hotch was coerced into meeting with this person?"

"None that I can tell, bubbles. From what I can find out, Hotch seemed very comfortable talking with this person. In fact, I got the impression that he knew this person. But I don't recall him ever mentioning someone named Darryl, do you?"

"Now that you mention it, no. Maybe Rossi has. I mean Hotch shares a lot of stuff with him that he doesn't with us. I'll ask him when I talk to him. Anything else?"

"Sorry, sugarplum. But I'll keep looking. Garcia out." The call was disconnected.

The drive to the hospital was made in silence as both Rossi and Moeller were both lost in their own individual thoughts. Moeller was staring out of the front passenger seat window while Rossi was driving. After a few minutes of watching the passing scenery, he turned toward the older man.

"You don't think Agent Hotchner will be able to help us, do you?" he asked the agent.

Rossi let out a deep breath. "Not really," he replied. "But I'm hoping he can at least give us a clue as to who he met, or where he went, before the Rohypnol took effect. That's about all we can hope for from him. But I'm more concerned about helping him get past this when he finds out what was done to him."

Moeller remained silent for a few minutes. "Of course you know him better than I do. But from what little I do know, he seems like a man who can overcome this."

"Normally I would agree with you," Rossi replied. "But Hotch hasn't completely healed internally. I'm just afraid this will either set him back, or destroy any recovery he's made."

Moeller narrowed his eyes. "Why do you say that?"

Rossi bit his lower lip and faced the detective. "A monster calling himself the Reaper, attacked Aaron with a knife in his own home. Then he went after Hotch's ex-wife and son. He killed Haley and would've killed five-year-old Jack if Hotch hadn't killed him." He saw Moeller stare at him in shock. The case had been kept out of the print media by the bureau for the sakes of Jack and Hotch. The detective nodded and swallowed any further questions he might have had. This insight gave him a better understanding of why Hotchner's team were so protective of their boss. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when the ringing of Rossi's cell phone interrupted. The older man reached in his inner jacket pocket with one hand, and removed the phone. "It's JJ," he told Moeller after checking the caller ID, and pressed a button. "You're on speaker, JJ. What did you find?"

"I didn't find anything in Hotch's office," the blond explained. "I searched everywhere I can think of where Hotch might have written something down to remind himself of a meeting. But Garcia found something. Hotch received a phone call late yesterday evening in his office from somebody named Darryl, no surname. Rossi, did Hotch ever mention somebody with that first name to you?"

"Not that I can recall. Was Garcia able to find out where Hotch may have gone after he left the BAU?"

"Yes. This Darryl used a burn phone when he called Hotch so it can't be traced. But Rossi, Darryl suggested Hotch meet him at a bar called the Serendipity. That's only a few blocks from here."

"JJ, before I forget, did you speak with the press?" asked Rossi, worried.

"I did. They agreed to hold back on reporting anything more on Hotch being the victim of a violent crime until we give them to go ahead."

"Good work, JJ," Rossi remarked. "Tell Garcia the same."

"I will. What else can I do?"

"Reid and Prentiss are heading back to the office. Go over everything we have on the Unsub with them. We need to reestablish the timeline, and where Hotch falls into it. Also, the Serendipity has surveillance cameras. Have Garcia hack into their surveillance system and find if Hotch was there with this Darryl. Maybe we'll get lucky. Detective Moeller and I are on our way to the hospital to speak with Hotch."

"Will do. Good luck, and give Hotch our love."

"Will do, kiddo." The call was disconnected. After he put the phone back in his pocket, Rossi glanced at Moeller, and could hear the wheels turning in the detective's head. "At least we have a name as well as where Aaron went after he left the BAU last night." He spotted the look on Moeller's face. "What are you thinking?"

Moeller let out a deep breath. "I was just wondering if Agent Hotchner even made it to the Serendipity. I mean, just because he was going there doesn't mean he made it. And if he didn't make it there…"

Rossi nodded his understanding. "Then we may have a harder time finding out where he met this Darryl, and where they went." He let out a breath. "Well, before we moan over what we don't have, let's wait and see what Garcia finds out. I've learned not to underestimate her. If there's anyway to trace Hotch's movements, she will find it. You just gotta have a little faith, my friend."

Moeller chuckled. "After what I saw three years ago, I don't doubt your team's abilities. But you didn't find this guy in Milwaukee."

Rossi sighed. "We made a mistake, Detective. One that we won't make again I assure you. This guy will pay for what he's done. And if he has a partner, he'll pay as well. When he attacked Hotch, he attacked the entire bureau."

Moeller understood where the agent was coming from as he stared at him. Nothing more needed to be said at that point. He nodded his head and returned to staring out the window at the passing scenery. About ten minutes later, Rossi turned the vehicle into the parking area of the hospital. He unbuckled his seat belt, and followed Rossi inside the hospital where they made their way to the nurses' desk. Both men produced their credentials for the nurse to see. She looked at them nervously.

"Excuse me," Rossi said in a friendly voice. "But can you tell us what room we might find Aaron Hotchner? He's an FBI agent admitted yesterday."

The nurse, still a bit flustered, swallowed hard. "Just a moment. Let me check." She typed away on her computer keyboard. "That's H.O.T.C.H.N.E.R., right?" she asked glancing at Rossi. He nodded. She typed away again. "Here we are. Aaron Hotchner. He's in room 401. Go down the hall and make a left. You'll find a bank of elevators. Just take one to the fourth floor."

"How is he?" Rossi asked.

"He had a restful night. He awoke early this morning and was still in pain. Doctor Caswell has been to examine him, and prescribed an added dose of pain med for him. He is pleased with his progress, and expects a full recovery."

"Thank you," Rossi smiled as the two men turned and walked down the hall. After he heard Hotch had a restful night, and was expected to make a full recovery, it was the best news he could get. Now if we can get him to recover emotionally. Once they found the bank of elevators, Moeller pressed the button on one and the doors hissed open. He and Rossi stepped inside, and the older man pressed the button for the fourth floor. The ride upward was blessedly quick, and they were grateful they were alone the entire ride. After they reached their destination, the doors hissed open, and the two men stepped out of the elevator. They walked down the hall until they found room 401.

Rossi paused outside the room, his hand frozen on the door. All of them had been in the hospital at one time or another. But for an unknown reason, he dreaded what he might see once he opened the door. He took in and let out a deep breath, and pushed open the door. He and Moeller exchanged pleasantries with the two agents inside, and waited until they left allowing them privacy. His eyes stung as they at once fell on the motionless man laying in the bed who appeared to be sleeping. The man didn't move, even when Rossi grabbed the hard plastic chair against the wall, and moved it beside the bed. He sat down, reached out, and gripped his friend's hand tightly in his. Rossi blinked several times to keep his tears at bay. It wouldn't do to cry now. It could cause Hotch to suspect his injuries were worse than believed.

"Dave…" Hotch whispered in a scratchy voice when someone grabbed his hand. He slowly turned his head toward his friend and winced at the movement. "I thought…it…was you." He forced a smile to appear. "Smelled your…crappy…aftershave."

Although suspecting the pain meds were working, Rossi bit his lower lip to keep it from quivering. He took in Hotch's overall appearance. His friend's face was swollen and ugly multicolored bruises had formed. It broke his heart with the difficulty his friend had breathing due to the cracked and bruised ribs. He realized the cannula inserted in his nostrils helped make breathing easier. Rossi brushed the loose strands of black hair off his friend's sweaty forehead. "Te amo, Aaron," he said with a smile, his eyes moist. "Te amo."

Hotch offered him a smile which came out more as a grimace. Every movement caused pain, so Hotch tried to keep his body still for once instead of trying to move. (1)

"Aaron," Rossi leaned closer to his friend. "I realize it's a stupid question, but how do you feel?"

"I've…been better," Hotch said weakly. Rossi figured his friend's voice sounded the way it did because he had been strangled and there was bruising on the throat. He noticed Hotch's eyes shift to Moeller. "Detective," Hotch managed with recognition.

"Agent Hotchner," Moeller forced a smile to his lips as he took in the man's appearance. It saddened him to see this man in his current condition. He had no idea what Hotchner was going through, or what he would be once he understood what was done to him. He didn't envy what the man and his team faced. Nor did he want to trouble him right now with questions, but they had to be asked.

"Uh…are you up to answering a few questions?" he reluctantly asked.

"Only if you…can answer…a question…for me."

Rossi ran a calloused thumb over the back of Hotch's hand. "What is it, Aaron?" he asked.

Hotch winced as he painfully swallowed the lump in his throat. While the morphine drip helped lessen the intensity of the pain, his entire body still hurt, and he didn't understand why or what happened. "Why am I…in a hos…pital?"

Rossi glanced back at Moeller nervously before he faced his friend again. "You don't remember being admitted to the hospital?" he asked. From his expression, he could see Hotch didn't. Rossi understood he now had to choose his words carefully.

"Aaron, you were in an accident," Rossi explained slowly, not wanting to show too much right now. He figured it might be best, for now at least, to alter the cause of the injuries. "You were injured."

"Accident?"

"Yes. Don't you remember?" asked Rossi, worried. He knew Hotch exhibited one of the symptoms of Rohypnol.

Hotch let out a deep breath, and grimaced from the pain in his rib area. "No. Last thing…I remember…is being…in a bar."

Rossi arched both eyebrows. "What bar? Do you remember the name?"

"The Serendipity," Hotch said.

"Aaron, did you go straight to the Serendipity?"

"What does…it matter?"

"We're just trying to determine your movements after you left work until the accident," Moeller added. This seemed to satisfy Hotch. "So, did you go straight to the bar?"

"Yes." Hotch tried shifting his position, and gritted his teeth as a wave of intense pain shot through his entire body in spite of the morphine. He gasped causing him to squeeze Rossi's hand painfully. Rossi winced momentarily.

"Aaron, try not to move," Rossi told him, swallowing the lump in his throat, ignoring the tight grip on his hand. "Keep still, and let the morphine do its job." He looked back at Moeller who looked as affected by the man's reaction as he had been. "Go find the doctor. Go."

"On my way," Moeller said and quickly left the room.

Alone, Rossi ran his free hand gently over his friend's dark hair. "Aaron, do you remember how you ended up in the Serendipity?"

Hotch looked at Rossi. He didn't answer right away as he waited until the pain eased enough. He lessened his grip on his friend's hand. "Had phone call…old friend…asked me…to meet him…there. Said I…would."

"Who was it, Hotch? Who called you?"

"Old college friend…Darryl Wheaton…haven't seen him…in years." He winced again.

"Take it easy," Rossi reminded him. "The doctor will be here soon. Just try and relax until then. Can you do that for an old man?" He smiled.

"Not…old…" A frown suddenly appeared. "Why can't…I remember…an accident…Dave?"

Rossi smiled through his tears. "You probably have amnesia as Reid would tell you if he was here."

"Any…body…else…hurt?"

"No. Nobody was hurt," Rossi lower lip trembled as he spoke. "I wouldn't lie to you, so you need not worry." He could feel the tension lessen in his friend's body by continuing to hold his hand.

Hotch tried to stifle a yawn and failed miserably. Despite how tired he was, he sensed his friend was withholding something from him. "If accident…why guards…in room?"

Rossi was thrown by Hotch's observation. In his current condition, he had hoped something like this would have escaped his friend. He decided after this visit, the guards inside will be moved outside with the others so Hotch wouldn't be concerned. "There are no guards, Aaron. Those two guys are visiting somebody else. They thought they would stop by and say hello to a fellow agent." Rossi hoped Hotch believed him.

Even with dulled senses, Hotch sensed Rossi was lying to him. But before he could ask another question, the door opened, and Doctor Caswell and Detective Moeller walked into the room. Moeller stood with his back against the wall beside the door, out of the way, and watched. Caswell stood at the head of the bed beside Rossi's chair.

"Agent Hotchner, I'm Doctor Caswell. I operated on you when you were admitted. I understand from Detective Moeller that you are still having a lot of pain. Can you give me an idea where it hurts the most?"

"Ev'ry…where…" Hotch admitted.

Rossi looked up at the doctor. "Can you give him more pain meds or something?" he asked. The answer he got was not only not what he expected, but created trouble.

"He's getting the most amount of pain meds now," Caswell explained. "With the Rohypnol in his system, I don't dare increase it. It might be dangerous." The doctor paused at the glare directed at him by Rossi.

"Rohyp…nol?" asked Hotch in a barely audible voice. From his job he knew what Rohypnol was, and for what it was used. And even in his current state, he understood what the ramifications of ingesting it were. He looked at his best friend. "Dave…was I…raped?" he asked as tears appeared in his eyes. He now understood why he didn't remember anything from the time he was in the bar, until the time he woke up in the hospital. Raped! He had been raped. How could he have let this happen? He was a trained federal agent. He should have been able to prevent this from happening.

Rossi swallowed the lump in his throat. He would have given anything to keep his friend from finding out the truth. Not until he had been able to handle it better anyway. But he also realized he could not lie to him now."Yes, Aaron, you were. I'm sorry. But right now you are blaming yourself, and it's not your fault. In no way. You were a victim of a terrible crime. And we will find the bastard who did this to you. I promise."

"You should have…told me…Dave. I…knew you…holding…something from me." He squeezed his eyes shut as tears rolled out of the corners of his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you. I never wanted you to find out this way."

"Get out," he ordered Rossi.

"Agent Hotchner…" Moeller began.

"You can… get out too."

"Aaron…" Rossi pleaded, hating to see his friend this upset.

"Get out…Dave. All of you…just…get out. Leave me…alone…" Hotch turned his head away from Rossi, and stared at the far wall as tears continued to run from the corners of his eyes.

"Agent Hotchner…" Caswell said letting out a sigh, but Rossi's hand on his arm stopped him.

"I wouldn't say anything else if I were you, doctor," Rossi got to his feet, his harsh stare never leaving the doctor's face. "I think you've said enough for now. Don't you?" His eyes told Caswell not to disagree with him.

The doctor swallowed the lump in his throat. He hadn't meant to say anything about the Rohypnol. But while trying to explain why he couldn't give Hotchner an increase of his pain meds, it slipped out. Also, he really didn't know if it was dangerous to give the man any more morphine until the Rohypnol was out of his system. Looking regretfully into Rossi's eyes, he nodded and quickly walked past Moeller and out of the room. Moeller quietly left the room next leaving Rossi alone with Hotch.

"Aaron…." Rossi started.

"I just have…one question…" Hotch kept his head turned away from Rossi. The pain lessened if he kept his body still which was difficult for him.

"What is it?"

"Was I…sodomized also?"

Rossi's silence spoke volumes. Hotch squeezed his eyes shut again and allowed his emotions to take over his body. "Never mind. I have…my answer. Now get out."

"I'll go for now. But just remember one thing. Somebody slipped you a date rape drug, and did this to you against your will. You did not allow this and are not to blame. And I promise you, if this Darryl Wheaton is responsible, he will pay."

Hearing his friend's name caused Hotch to open his eyes wide. Darryl. What had happened to Darryl? Had he been attacked as well? Is that why he wasn't here? He heard the sound of a door open and Rossi leaving the room.

"I want you to remember one other thing, Aaron. And I speak for the entire team when I tell you this. Te amamos, Aaron. Te amamos." The door closed leaving Hotch alone with his thoughts.(2)

(1) Te amo can be said to a male/female friend as long as both know there is no sexual/physical attraction between them.

(2) Te amamos means 'we love you.'