A/N: I am delighted, happy, and thrilled that Flowers from Death has been nominated for Best Team/Case, and Stolen Hours for Best Drama for the Profilers Choice Awards. I am so happy and delighted for the other authors who have been nominated as well. Good luck to all of us.

Chapter 34

Dave Rossi listened as Agent Comines talked. The rest of his team stood watching the older man, and became alarmed by the anger building on his face. And although they had no idea what was being discussed, they sensed it had to do with their Unit Chief, and it wasn't good. Rossi glanced in the direction of the others as he massaged his forehead with his free hand.

"Thanks for calling, Pat. We're gonna need to talk with this Agent Sizemore in the morning. So can you make sure he's available to us? Good. I also want you to sit in on the interview as there might be others involved in this. We need to find out where he got his information about Hotch. Fine. I'll see you tomorrow morning about nine-thirty. Thanks, Pat. Goodbye."

"Damn!" he hissed while stuffing his cell back into his jacket pocket. He placed both hands on his hips and let out a deep breath.

"Was that about Hotch?" asked Reid nervously. Fear something else had happened to his boss clear in his hazel eyes.

"Hotch wasn't hurt," Rossi assured them even though he could tell they weren't really buying what he was saying. "Not physically anyway."

"What aren't you telling us, Rossi?" Morgan asked directly, never one to beat around the bush with things.

The older man exhaled again. "It seems one of the agents who was to relieve another in guarding Aaron was caught by Pat Comines laying into him." There was complete silence as the impact of his words registered with them.

"What do you mean by 'laying into' Hotch?" Reid asked, a bit confused by the terminology.

"It means, Pretty Boy…" Morgan began looking at the younger man, anger showing on his face. "…that this agent was insulting Hotch when he was caught by his boss." His eyes shifted to Rossi and narrowed. "What did he say to Hotch, Rossi?"

"It's not important, Derek," the older man stated, hoping to diffuse the younger man's building anger.

"It's important to me," Morgan added his anger not subsiding. His mind played over and over what he imagined this agent had said to his boss, and it only served to fuel his anger more.

"This agent was overheard referring to Aaron as a perverted degenerate who enjoyed being involved with men in an inappropriate way." Prentiss and JJ gasped. Reid stared with his mouth open in stunned silence.

Morgan slammed his fist onto his desk causing the desk to shake, and muttered something unintelligible. Rossi was certain it had something to do with removing a certain part of this agent's anatomy and what Morgan wanted to do with it.

"Who is this bastard?" Morgan asked huskily.

"Pat Comines, the head of security, said his name is Todd Sizemore. And he's gonna make sure he's available for questioning tomorrow morning. After Sizemore's rant, Pat removed him from Hotch's security detail tonight." Rossi hoped this news would calm down his friend. He glanced at JJ. "JJ, you and I are gonna question Sizemore tomorrow. We need to find out where he learned about Aaron's intimate injuries. We are the only ones who had this information other than Pat. And I trust him. That says to me that somebody talked. Nobody on this team, or Pat Comines, would betray Aaron by humiliating him this way."

Emily huffed as she folded her arms across her chest. Her dark eyes flashed with anger. "C'mon, Rossi. We all know it was Hemminger who betrayed Hotch by telling everybody he can the truth about his injuries. We need to find out where he got that information."

"It could also be this Doctor Caswell who talked," JJ reminded them. "He has a motive as Rossi got him replaced as primary care physician of Hotch. We need to question him about it as well."

"And we will," Rossi calmly assured both women. "JJ and I will question Sizemore in the morning while Morgan's in Detroit. Emily, you and Reid are bringing in Doctor Caswell for more questioning. And if it turns out Sizemore got the info from Hemminger, then Hemminger will be brought in for more questioning. It's also possible the good doctor disclosed the info about Hotch to Hemminger. He certainly has a motive as JJ said."

"And if Sizemore refuses to tell us where he got the information?" Morgan snarled with a dangerous look on his face. "All I need is five minutes alone with him and no cameras. I'll get him to admit everything." He smacked one fist into the open palm of his other hand.

"That's exactly why you're not gonna be there when we talk with Sizemore, Derek," Rossi emphasized. "After what Aaron has gone, and is now going through, he doesn't need someone on the case who can't control their temper."

"Don't stand there and preach to me, Rossi," Morgan retorted angrily. "Hotch is suppose to be your best friend. So don't stand there and pretend you don't want a piece of Hemminger."

Rossi, who remained calm throughout his subordinate's tirade, spoke. "Yes, Aaron is my best friend. And yes, I would like a piece of Hemminger if he's the cause of this rumor being spread. But Derek, this isn't about me or you. This is about Aaron. We need to do what's right by him so he gets the same justice were he a perfect stranger whose case we were working."

Morgan snorted and looked away from the older man. He understood Rossi was right. This wasn't about any of them. This was about Hotch, and getting their boss the justice he deserved. And that would not happen if cooler heads didn't prevail. Turning toward Rossi again, Morgan sighed and nodded.

Rossi allowed a tired smile to appear. He too wanted to pound Sizemore into the ground if he didn't cooperate. But that's not how Hotch did things. And he understood how difficult things were when the injured party was one of their own. An attack against one of them was an attack against all of them in his eyes.

"It's okay, Derek," he said. "You don't have to explain yourself least of all to me."

It was then Rossi's cell phone rang again. With a sigh, the older man pulled out his cell, and his expression changed when he saw the name on the Caller ID.

"It's Jessica Brooks," he announced, surprised, as he pressed a button and put the phone to his ear. With Hotch in the hospital, his ex-sister-in-law would never call unless something was wrong, or something happened to Jack. "Jessica, it's Dave Rossi. What's wrong? Are you and Jack all right?" He listened carefully, and as he did, anger appeared. His eyes shifted to the others briefly. "Calm down, Jess. Who wants to take Jack from you? Listen, try not to worry. I know a few lawyers in that field. I can have one of them help you with this. Just leave everything to me, all right? I'll have somebody call you later. And Jess, don't worry. Also, don't tell Aaron if you see him. I'll take care of that. Okay. Try and relax. Everything will be all right. I promise. Bye."

The older man swore in Italian as he ended the call. Looking at the others, he noticed their concerned expressions.

"What was that about?" asked Prentiss, dark eyes flashing. "Who's trying to take Jack?"

Rossi shook his head. "Jess took Jack to visit Aaron. And apparently while they were gone, somebody came to the house. As she wasn't there, that person left their business card. It was from Child Protective Services."

"What?!" they all responded collectively. It wasn't bad enough to spread rumors about Hotch, but now someone wanted to take his son from him.

"If Hemminger's behind this, sounds like he won't be happy until he thoroughly destroys Hotch," JJ said. "And losing his son will accomplish that. Rossi, we can't let that happen."

"And we won't," Rossi replied now fighting to stay calm as he scrolled down his long list of contacts until he found the name he wanted. After pressing the button, he put the phone to his ear, and held up a hand asking for silence.

"Who are you calling?" asked Reid as Rossi waited for somebody to answer his call. The older man held up a forefinger again asking for quiet as someone picked up on the other end.

"Dan? Dave Rossi. Fine. And you? Good. Listen, I need a large favor." Rossi went on to explain what little he understood about Jessica's situation and Aaron's, careful to leave out certain details. He really didn't want to tell his friend about Hotch's sexual assault until he learned more from Jessica. But he had an inkling that Hemminger was behind things, and using what happened to Aaron against him. He gave his friend Jessica's home phone number and said she was waiting for a call. "I really appreciate this, Dan. That little boy worships his dad, and it would destroy him to be taken from the only parent he has. Not to mention it would destroy a man who adores his son. We believe somebody is setting Agent Hotchner up with false accusations. Time is of the essence with this, Dan, so keep me in the loop with this. Thanks. Bye." Disconnecting the call, Rossi put the phone back inside his jacket.

"Another contact?" asked Emily with a grin. Everybody wondered exactly how many contacts the legendary profiler had. Nobody really had any idea.

Rossi smirked. "That was my friend, Daniel Harmon. He's a lawyer who specializes in child custody cases. If anybody can help Jessica right now it's him." He licked his lips. "And I don't want Aaron to know anything about this until we see what happens. If it's considered false, we might not have to tell him. But if it persists, and Aaron needs to be questioned, then he'll have to be told, and I'll do it."

"Why you?" asked Reid.

Rossi shrugged. "He's already angry at me after telling him Darryl Wheaton attacked him. Why let him get angry at somebody else on this team?"

Morgan, having calmed down, smirked. "So that's why you're having Baby Girl pay Boss-man a visit. You figure she's the one person he wouldn't get angry with, right? And since she's bringing her laptop, I'm guessing you want her to play Wheaton's interview for him."

Rossi didn't respond right away.

"Wheaton wants to see Hotch…" Morgan mentioned. "He says he wants to apologize to him."

"Maybe when everything's over we can arrange a meeting between them under guard. I understand he wants to apologize to Aaron for what he had no choice but to do to him." He let out a deep breath. "Y'know, I sorta feel bad for Wheaton. He's a victim just like Hotch."

"What!" Morgan raised his voice at Rossi. "How can you even say that, Rossi? He raped and sodomized Boss-man same as the Rohypnol rapist. In my book that makes him equally guilty."

"Morgan, tell me something. If your mother and or sisters were being held somewhere under the threat of death. And you were told to commit a crime or they would be killed, would you just let them be killed? Or would you do what you're told hoping it would save them for the time being?"

"That's not fair, man, and you know it. It's not the same thing."

"The victims may not be the same, but the situation is. So answer my question, Derek. What would you do if you were in Wheaton's situation?"

Morgan sighed wearily. "Okay, I'm sorry, man. I get what you're saying. Hotch is a victim of the Rohypnol rapist as is Wheaton. He was only doing what he was told to protect his child and her babysitter. Unfortunately it didn't help the babysitter, did it?"

"That's why we have to find this guy and soon. Before he considers that little girl expendable."

CMCMCMCM

Hemminger was seated at a table by the window in the cafeteria in the hospital grinning like a Cheshire cat. He had a cup of coffee in one hand, and a partially-eaten chicken salad sandwich in front of him. He had been nearly too giddy to eat. His plan to humiliate and embarrass Aaron Hotchner was proceeding better than even he could imagine. He had overheard fellow agents talking and whispering about Hotchner and his deviant behavior. He even had one of them come and tell him the rumor he himself had started. Also, Child Protective Services had been contacted and were investigating.

And since they were, he had to make sure there was evidence to support the allegations. Evidence showing Hotchner was abusing his kid. But no matter how much he hated Hotchner and wanted to destroy him, sexually abusing the man's son was something he wasn't prepared to do. So, he would have to come up with another form of abuse short of sexual. But he could drop hints to sexual abuse. He took another sip of coffee. A slow grin came across his face.

Come tomorrow morning, Hotchner, you will be panicking. I want you to wonder when they are going to take your son from you. And I have just the means by which to make you suffer tonight.

After putting down his coffee cup, Jason reached inside his jacket and pulled out his cell phone. He chuckled as he scrolled down the list, pausing when he found the name of the person who could give him what he needed at the moment. He hit speed-dial and pressed the phone to his ear. If the Bureau ever found out he had the name and phone number of a person with a shady history, he would definitely lose his job. But right now Hemminger needed his particular services. On the third ring, someone picked up on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Carson? Jason. I need a favor."

"Hey, man. How you been? I ain't heard from you in weeks. And when I do, you need something. Why is that, man? Huh? Why is that?"

Hemminger rolled his eyes. "As long as I can keep you rolling in nose powder, you don't need to know. You just need to do what I tell you. Understand?"

"Okay, okay, okay. The money you gave me last time kept me in coke for weeks. I'm about out right now anyway, so it's good you called. What do you need, man?"

"You still have that phony CPS ID badge of yours? The one you used for that scam you were pulling by pretending you were from CPS, and conning people under investigation into paying you to look the other way. That badge."

"Yeah, but I ain't used it in months. But it's around here somewhere. Why?"

"I need you to pretend to be from Child Protection Services again. I want you to claim you are investigating a claim of child abuse against an FBI agent."

"You're kiddin' right? I can't do that. I can't talk face-to-face with a fed. I'll end up in jail."

"You won't have to see this guy. You only need to make one phone call."

"I'm tellin' you, man, it won't work. I can't do it!"

"You will if you want any more cash to supply your habit." There were a few seconds of silence. Hemminger didn't worry the man would refuse.

"Who's this fed you want me to call?"

"His name's Aaron Hotchner. I want him to be told CPS is investigating him on allegations of child sexual abuse. I also want you to tell 'im there's a good chance his son will be taken away from him permanently."

"When?"

"In about two hours. He's a patient in Georgetown General Hospital, Intensive Care Unit. I want him to have a sleepless night tonight. Can do?"

"Can do. Besides, something tells me if I don't, I'm gonna be sorry."

"Smart thinking."

"And when do I get my money?"

"Midnight. I'll stop by your place and give it to you then. You still live at the same place?"

"Yep. Hey, man, just outta curiosity, why you want to stick it to a fed anyway? You're a fed."

Hemminger took in and let out a deep breath. "Let's just say he's got it coming. No fed who's a pervert should be allowed to have custody of a kid."

"Pervert? What'd this guy do anyway?"

"He bangs guys in alleyways, and pretends he respectable and all. For all we know, his kid could be in danger. Need I remind you what your old man did when you were a kid? He might be doing it to his own kid." There was silence on the other end, but Jason sensed Carson hadn't hung up on him.

Hemminger believed playing up to what Carson's own dad had done to him for ten years as a child, would reel him in completely.

"He's touchin' his own kid. Is that what you're sayin', man? Just how old is this kid?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. As for the kid, I think he's about five. A year younger then you were when your dad started on you." Hemminger could hear Carson grinding his teeth as he recalled his own father's abuse. Abuse which ended when Carson turned sixteen, got hold of his dad's gun one night, and shot the man dead. Fortunately for him, someone else was serving a life sentence for the death. Now twenty-eight, Carson Scanlon had no tolerance for child molesters. He needed to protect all kids from perverted parents. And to help deal with that and the memories of what his dad had done to him, he got involved with drugs, coke in particular.

"That bastard! Y'know, I can kill him instead. Just like I did my old man. Just say the word."

Hemminger wanted so badly to give in to that offer, but understood he couldn't. Not yet anyway. He remembered the warning he had been given of what would happen if Hotchner died before it was time.

"Not yet. I just want him to suffer first. That's all."

"But I can…"

"I said no. Besides, he's being guarded by at least four agents. You'd never get within a foot of 'im. Just call him. I'll tell you what to say. Having him upset will torture this guy to no end, believe me. That kid is important to him. I'll handle everything else."

"Okay, I won't kill the bastard. What do I do after I call him?"

Hemminger smirked. "Call me back after it's done. I want to know what he says and how he reacts to the news he's gonna lose his kid."