A/N: The confrontation between Hotch and Foyet is getting closer. Just a couple of chapters away.
Chapter 58
Before he turned the door handle, Rossi paused and glanced back at the others.
"Let me go in alone first, and find out what mood Aaron's in before we all gang up on him."
"Why?" asked Reid with arched eyebrows. He didn't understand why they had to wait and not go in with Ross. "Aren't we all supposed to meet with him?"
"Yeah, we are," Prentiss explained. "But it's not every day our fearless leader permits a stranger, much less a woman, to view the scars Foyet left after he stabbed him. He might still be a bit uncomfortable about it and need a little time to regroup."
"Also, a strange woman bathed a part of his body only a surgeon has seen and repaired. And knowing Aaron as we all do, he may need a few minutes," Rossi added. "That's why I need to go in alone, and judge whether this meeting should be postponed either for a few hours or days." Without waiting for a response, the senior agent turned the door handle and walked inside, closing the door behind him. The others waited patiently in the hall. They had no choice in the matter.
Hotch glanced over and noticed Rossi standing inside the room alone, leaning his back against the door.
"Where's the others?" Hotch asked solemnly. "I thought we were to have a team meeting."
"And we will…maybe," Rossi replied as he approached the bed cautiously. "I just want to find out how you're doing after your sponge bath before I let the others join us. So, how are you?"
Hotch shrugged and averted his eyes. He stared at his lap. "I'm all right, Dave."
One look at his friend's posture told the older man the younger agent was lying.
"You're not fine so drop the crap, Aaron. This is me you're talking to and not Reid or Garcia. You might be able to pull that shit on them, but you're talking to me. So I will ask you again. How are you?"
Hotch sighed wearily, and he lifted his eyes upward to gaze into the older man's face. "Y'know, Dave, sometimes you can be a royal pain in my ass."
Rossi smirked as he folded his arms. "I realize that, and you love me anyway. I keep you on your toes. Now talk to me."
"I'm okay. Really. The sponge bath wasn't so bad as the nurse was very professional. She didn't say one word when she noticed the scars on my body. She didn't even ask about them. And she explained everything she was doing as she did it."
"And what about when it came to bathing your genital area? Is that where you had a problem?"
"Not really because I refused, and asked if I could bath them myself. She explained how I should do it, then left me alone so I could. When I was done, she came back and finished the rest of me. She even shampooed and combed my hair, and changed my gown. As I said, Dave, she was extremely professional. But…" he shook his head and hung it.
"But what? If everything went fine, why are you acting like your dog died?"
"I have to wonder what she thought when she saw those scars. I mean, she didn't say anything, but I got a sense she had pity for me because of 'em." He raised his head again. "You know I hate pity."
Rossi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. When he opened them again, he shook his head, exasperated.
"Aaron, I should put you over me knee and whip your sorry butt. So what if she pitied you because of those scars? You can't help how people are going to react, or what they are gonna think when they see 'em, and you can't control what they think. I realize you may want to, but believe me, it controlling what anybody thinks ain't happenin'. Besides, I've told you many times early on that scars don't dictate where we're goin', but where we've been. But I do have a concern."
"Which is?"
"Do you want to postpone this meeting? You've had a busy day so far. And if you need time we'll understand, and can reschedule."
Hotch's eyes narrowed. "Absolutely not. Never mind how I feel about a stranger having seen my scars, this has to be done today. I need to do this because…because…." He started to choke up and bite his lower lip to keep it from trembling.
"Something is not right," Rossi told himself. "Something is terribly wrong here and with Aaron."
"Because what, Aaron? What aren't you telling me?"
Hotch hesitated because he couldn't figure out how to say what he wanted to say without sounding crazy. He decided in the end it would be best just to say it and be done with it.
"Because I sense Foyet is close by and he's watching me, waiting." There, he had said it. He studied the older man's face, waiting for the lecture he believed was coming. But to his surprise, it didn't come.
Mainly because at first Rossi didn't have any idea how to respond. Yes, he had been and was still worried about Hotch's mental state since his attack. And even more with the knowledge that Foyet was still free. But he never thought he would hear this from his friend.
"Aaron, what makes you say that? Nobody suspicious has gained access to you. We've made sure of it. So what makes you say that?" His eyes turned into slits. "Is it because of William Bayville?"
"Yes…no…I don't know. All I can tell you is that I feel he's close by watching me. I can't explain it. And I realize it makes me sound crazy, but I can't help how or what I feel."
Rossi studied his best friend with a passive face, as he didn't want to further upset him. But perhaps everything was becoming too much for the younger man despite how well he appeared to be doing. You're worryin', no, scarin' me, Aaron. I'm gonna have to have a talk with Doctor Carson about you. But for now, the best he can do is try not to upset his friend any more than he appeared to be.
"Aaron, perhaps it might be better if we postpone this team meeting, and let you rest right now. I'm not saying forever, but just for a few days."
"No," Hotch replied emphatically. "Absolutely not. We need to discuss what we're going to do to lure him out." Seeing Rossi was about to argue, Hotch held up a hand to stop him. "You promised me after twenty-four hours we'd go with my plan to lure Foyet out of hiding. So, has Garcia found him? Or where he might be hiding? Or who might be helping him yet? From the expression on your face I'd have to say the answer is no to all three. So you had your turn, and now it's mine. Now I would appreciate you letting the rest of the team come in before they think I've escaped and taken you with me."
"Hotch…"
"Need I make it an order, Dave?"
Rossi sighed and shook his head. "No. I'll get the rest of the team." He didn't agree with Hotch's decision in any way, but to argue with him, or refuse him, might set him off, and make things worse. He opened the door, and whispered something to the others before he let them come into the room. Once everybody was present, he closed the door so they've have privacy, and stood near the head of the bed with arms folded.
JJ sat at the foot of the bed on the edge, with Emily seated in the hard chair. Morgan stood at the foot of the bed with arms across his massive chest. And Reid sat on the edge of the bed near Hotch's midsection. The entire team studied their leader who was watching them as well, almost like adversaries eying each other.
"Uh Hotch…" Morgan began hesitantly. "You sure you want to see us all together right now? What I mean is uh…wouldn't you rather wait until later?"
Hotch, guessing Rossi had said something to the others, turned his harshest glare on the man. The senior agent, ignoring it, had a look on his face which said 'I didn't say anything. You work with profilers, remember?'
Hotch turned his eyes toward the others. "No I wouldn't," he explained. "I can't."
Prentiss glanced around at the team then back to her boss. "All right then. Let's get this show on the road. What do you want to see us about, Hotch? All Rossi told us is that you gave him twenty-four hours to either find Foyet, or who might be helping him, or where he might be hiding. After that, you had a plan how to draw him out. But he wouldn't tell us anything else."
Hotch nodded. "I do have a plan and you're not going to like it. But first, I need to find out if Garcia has found anything new on Foyet, where he might be hiding, or who might be helping him. Morgan?" Aaron arched his eyebrows staring at the black agent.
Morgan shook his head. "Not the last time I spoke with her which was before we came back here for this meeting. And she's striking out as to who might be helping him. If anything, he seems to be flying solo since he disposed of Caswell. Oh, and before I forget, the preliminary report from the medical examiner is that Caswell died only two or three hours before his body was found. He was eviscerated and he bled out. He'll contact us with more after he completes the autopsy and runs the tox screen."
Hotch nodded slowly. "I see," he said, then looked at Rossi. "Okay, Dave, your twenty-four hours are up, so now we're going to do this my way."He proceeded to explain his 'plan B' to the team as they sat and listened. Once he was finished, he waited for the explosion from all of them which he suspected would be forthcoming. He didn't have long to wait.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!" Morgan raised his voice angrily. "I honestly believe you have lost your damn mind!"
"Morgan…" Hotch kept his voice calm.
"No! Hotch, you have only one workin' arm. How the hell are you gonna take on somebody with only one arm? This whole plan is nuts!"
Rossi gave his best friend an 'I told you so' look, but said nothing.
"It's not your call, Derek," Hotch reminded him.
"It doesn't matter, Hotch," Prentiss added solemnly. "As Derek said, you're no match for Foyet in your current condition. You can't take him on with a broken arm no matter how well it's healing."
"They're right," Reid said quietly licking his lips. "You'll get hurt worse or maybe even killed. And I don't want…no…what I mean is I don't want you to die. I couldn't handle it if you got killed. I need you in my life, Hotch. We all need and want you in our lives. Jack needs you in his. Please reconsider and don't do this."
Although Reid's words tugged at his heartstrings, Hotch couldn't let them force him to change his mind.
"Reid, just so you and the others understand, I don't plan on dying. And I won't, not if everything goes the way it's supposed to anyway. I'll be fine."
"But, Hotch…" JJ added. "You don't know that with any certainty. And we all understand things can always go wrong even with the best laid plans. What you're planning is too risky for us to gamble with your life. It's suicide."
"Besides, man, there has to be another way," Morgan said in the end. "Perhaps if we had more time…"
"There isn't," Hotch told them. "This is the only way. But first things first. We need a way to keep an eye on me in here. Now I realize security cameras are in the hallways and stairwells, and not in patient rooms. What we need is a camera in my room focused solely on me. A camera which wouldn't be obvious to anybody looking at it."
"There's one person who could handle that for us as she's the Goddess of all things technical, or so she's constantly telling us on a daily basis." Rossi pulled out his cell phone, and after scanning the list, pushed a button, and pressed the phone to his ear. There was a pickup after the second ring.
"Office of the Goddess of All Things Magical. If you've dialed the wrong number, you will be transferred to the office of Too Friggin' Bad. Your choice."
"It's Rossi, Garcia. Hold while I put you on speaker." He pressed another button and held the cell away from his ear. "Kitten, I have the entire team here and Hotch."
"Yes, my Italian Sex Symbol," Garcia replied delicately touching the roses which sat in a vase on her desk beside her main computer. "Agent Rossi, did you know my fearless Agent Hotchner sent me two dozen long stem red roses?"
"Did he?" Rossi smirked at Hotch who rolled his eyes. Morgan eying Hotch curiously. "That was so nice of him, kitten."
JJ and Prentiss chuckled and tried not to laugh out loud.
"Nice? It was so sweet of him. He's such a considerate man. I mean, nobody ever sent me roses of any kind in my life. Not even my Chocolate God with the six-pack abs." Rossi noticed Morgan trying to hide wishing he was someplace else. "Isn't Hotch just the sweetest man alive to have done something like that for me? I just love them. Oh, I'm sorry, sir…you called me for a reason. How can this Goddess be of help?"
"I need to find out two things. First, how is your search for Foyet going? And second, have you found anything on our Mister William Bayville?"
"Bupkis on the first question, sir. And I haven't had a chance to find anything on our Mr. Bayville yet. But give me a little more time and I will…"
"There's no time. I need you to stop what you're doing as of right now, kitten. We need your technological ability in a different way, and we need it ASAP."
Garcia sensed the urgency in the senior agent's tone. "What do you need my acting liege? And is it sneaky?"
"Yes. Very sneaky, which I understand is your middle name according to one Derek Morgan."
Garcia smiled seductively hearing Morgan's name. "That is true, sir. Absolute-o-mundo. My Chocolate Adonis is correct. I love sneaky. In fact, the sneakier the better. Now what do you need me to do, pray tell?"
"I need you to come up with something in which a camera can be hidden, used in Hotch's room, and will not seem out-of-place. Also, it cannot be obvious to anyone who sees it that there's a camera in it. Can you come up with something to fit the bill?"
"It'll take a little time but can do, sir. How soon do you need it may I ask?"
"Yesterday."
"Then you shall have it within forty-eight hours. I promise. Anything else, sir?"
"Yes, but I'd better let Hotch explain it to you." Rossi handed his cell to Hotch.
"Garcia, it's Hotch."
"Oh my fearless liege, it's so good to hear your voice. Are you all right? Can I get you anything?"
"I'm fine. Really. Penelope, I need you to listen carefully." Hotch explained to his tech analyst what he needed her to do for him.
"Consider it done, Boss-man. I will need about twenty-four hours to complete your task, and as I told Rossi, about forty-eight hours for the other thing. Overall, within forty-eight hours, both things will be accomplished."
"Excellent. That's why I sent you the roses, Garcia. I can always count on you."
"That you can, Boss-man. Anything else?"
"Not from me, but perhaps Rossi might need something. Thanks, Garcia. Here's Rossi." Hotch handed the cell back to the older man.
"I'm back, kitten."
"Do you, Hotch, or the team need anything else from me other than what has already been asked?"
"That's it for now. Call either me or your Chocolate God when it's ready. And remember, keep this between us. Nobody outside the team can find out. We can't afford a slipup of any kind."
"Mums the word, sir. Garcia out."
After the call was disconnected, Rossi put the phone back in his pocket. He chuckled.
"What's so funny, man?" asked Morgan curiously.
"I can't wait to see what Garcia comes up with that will have a camera in it."
Prentiss smirked. "Are you sure you even want to find out?"
Hotch chuckled. "I'm almost afraid to find out."
JJ smiled. "I don't really care as long as it does the job we need it to do, and it keeps Hotch safe."
There was a moment of silence after that.
"Hotch, why did you send my Baby Girl red roses? Long stemmed ones at that?"
"Somebody sounds a bit jealous," JJ said with a grin.
"I'm not jealous!" Morgan replied just a bit too emphatically. "I just wanna know why our boss sent one of his employees' roses."
Emily couldn't resist. "Garcia and Morgan sittin' in a tree…k.i.s.s.i.n.g."
Hotch sighed and glanced up at Rossi for a long while. He then shifted his eyes to Derek. "Morgan, I had Rossi send them to her for everything's she done since I've been admitted, and sign my name on the card. In no way am I moving in on your turf so to speak. Satisfied?"
Reid looked at Prentiss for an explanation of what apparently had gone right over his head.
"I don't get it," he said, puzzled.
"I'll explain it to you later, Reid," she replied.
"All right children," Rossi said. "Playtime's over, so can we get back to discussing why we're all here?"
"Hotch, exactly what is this camera supposed to do? I mean, how will it be used?" asked JJ.
"I should think it would be rather obvious," Reid began, surprised nobody else had figured it out yet.
"Well if it's so obvious, genius, why don't you tell us what it's for?" asked Morgan.
Reid glanced around the room as he spoke. "The cameras in the hallway and stairwells only cover the areas which they are designated to cover. But none of them cover the interior of a patient's room. This camera will be used to cover the interior of this room. This way, we can tell who tries to sneak into Hotch's room who shouldn't be in here." He looked at his leader. "That is what you want it for, isn't it?" he asked.
Hotch smiled. "That's exactly what I want it for, Reid. Especially since…" he started to say then stopped.
"Especially since what, man?" asked Morgan.
"Nothing."
"Stop right there, Hotch," Emily interrupted. "You started to say something, now what is it?"
"Foyet is watching me. He's close by somewhere watching and waiting. I know he's out there because I can feel his eyes on me."
Morgan, JJ, Prentiss, and Reid all exchanged worried looks before Emily stared at Hotch and licked her lips.
"What do you mean? Have you seen him?"
"No." Aaron's eyes took on a faraway and vacant stare, and when he spoke, it appeared he was speaking to the open air. "But I can sense him close. He's waiting and watching and planning. He's coming for me and he's coming soon. And I need to be ready for him when he does." He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. After a long moment, he opened his eyes again and looked at his team who were all staring at him. "Don't look at me like I'm losing my mind. I'm telling you the truth. He's out there somewhere watching me, and planning his next move."
"What makes you say this?" asked Reid warily.
"I can't explain it. I can't. All I can say is that I feel his presence close by, so he's here somewhere where he can get to me any time he wants."
The others looked up at Rossi who shrugged his shoulders but remained silent. They could tell this was not news to him, and that he was worried also. He let his eyes shift momentarily to the door. They understood the unspoken meaning in them.
"Sure, Hotch," Prentiss replied sadly. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Hotch's eyes narrowed. "Don't patronize me, Prentiss. It doesn't suit you, and I'm not in the mood for anybody's pity. You of all people should understand that."
"Hotch, I…"
"Aaron, that's not what Emily is doing, and surely you realize that," Rossi interceded. "Besides, she would never patronize you. She just wants to make sure you understand fully what you want to do. Am I right, Emily?" he asked the brunette looking at her.
"That's all I was asking, Hotch. I would never try and patronize you. You're like a brother to me, and you've been through a terrible trauma. I'm concerned, that's all."
Hotch nodded. "I understand, and I'm sorry I snapped at you. And to answer your question, yes, I want to do this. Forty-eight hours is all the time we're going to get to catch Foyet, and end this once and for all." He sighed. "I expect to be keep updated on what's happening until we catch this bastard. JJ, as soon as Garcia's done, I want to see what you've prepared, and we'll take it from there." He hid a yawn behind the back of his hand. "Sorry, guys…but I'm tired and really need a few hours' sleep."
Rossi straightened, and urged the others to wait for him outside as Hotch took the remote to the bed and lowered the head flat. He waited until everybody had left, then looked down at his friend who had closed his eyes. He shook his head.
"Here's hoping you have pleasant dreams, Aaron. You deserve 'em." That said, the older man left the room to join the others. Everybody walked halfway down the hall where they wouldn't be overheard. The minute they were a safe distance away, they surrounded the senior agent and everybody spoke at once. Rossi held up both hands to stop them.
"I'm just as worried as you guys," he said. "Aaron said the same thing to me earlier, and he couldn't explain it to me either."
Morgan glanced at the others. "Rossi, something's seriously wrong with Hotch. I mean, I understand he's worried about Foyet with him still bein' out there. I get that. But I'm worried he's startin' to lose it, man. We gotta do something."
"And just what are you suggesting we do, Derek?" Rossi bristled at what Morgan might be recommending. "Should we have him committed to a psych ward and psychoanalyzed for years? Or perhaps we should simply lock him up and throw the key away."
"Dammit, Rossi, stop puttin' words in my mouth! That's not what I mean and you know it!"
"No, I don't know that. So why don't you tell me what you're trying to say? Just what are we supposed to do about Hotch?"
"All I'm sayin' is that possibly the stress of what happened, along with the stress of knowin' Foyet's still out there might be too much for him. That's all I'm sayin'."
Before Rossi could open his mouth to reply, Prentiss got between the two men and placed a hand against the chest of each, keeping them separated.
"Stop it right now before somebody says something they can't take back. Look, we're all worried about Hotch. And he might be knuckling under from all the stress he's suffered and is still suffering. But right now that doesn't matter. What does matter is that until Foyet is caught Hotch is gonna believe he's out there somewhere waiting to get to him again. And that's what we need to focus on, nothing else. So if what Hotch's wants us to do is really what he wants, then I suggest we do as he says. We follow through for a couple of days and hopefully it will put his mind at ease. Agreed?" She stared back and forth between the two combatives who were eying each other.
"Agreed," Rossi finally relented grinning at her.
She stared at Morgan. "Morgan?"
"I don't think this is the right thing to do though, Princess. I mean maybe we should…"
"Agreed?!" she repeated, dark eyes flashing dangerously. When she was like this she was a force to be reckoned with and avoided at all costs.
"Agreed," Morgan sighed, nodding. He understood Prentiss was even more stubborn than Hotch, especially when she believed she was right. He also understood she could kick his ass despite him being bigger, heavier, and stronger than her. And he didn't want to tangle with an angry Emily Prentiss.
"Good," she said with a grin. "Figured you boys would see things my way in the end." She dropped her hands and moved aside.
Morgan looked at the senior agent. "I'm sorry, Rossi. I didn't mean to sound like I believed Hotch should be locked away and confined someplace." He held out a hand.
Smiling, Rossi gripped the offered hand and shook it. "No apology necessary. I understand what you were trying to say. I'm ashamed to admit I was thinking the same thing when Aaron said the same thing to me earlier. But like Emily said, we follow through with his plan for a couple of days to put his mind at ease. And who knows? We might get lucky in the end."
"I sure you're right, man." Morgan placed both hands on his hips.
"So do I," Rossi admitted. "Okay, we have things to do so I suggest we all head back to the BAU and get started. Keep in mind we only have forty-eight hours to carry out these assignments. So let's do it right. Hotch is counting on us."