Chapter 24

It's been two days, when is he going to wake up?

You have to give him time, his mind and body have been through a lot.

Hotch?

Open your eyes, man...enough is enough.

The dusky sky was settling in outside the window as Prentiss sat absently flipping through a magazine, her mind on the events two nights before; the team had been through so much, Hotch, even more...

Prentiss sighed and looked over at Reid who sat in a chair on the other side of the bed, eyes closed. She knew he wasn't asleep though. None of them could sleep, there was just too much to worry about.

After Alice and Jack had been checked out at the hospital, Alice had returned home with a promise from Rossi, that he'd keep her updated on Jessica's progress. Garcia had taken Jack home with her; he hadn't said a word since leaving Jessica's apartment but had clung to Garcia desperately as she stood by the bedside as he was being examined.

Jessica after arriving at the hospital went straight to surgery, the team had taken turns checking up on her progress; with news that she was waking up, it was Rossi's turn.

Morgan had gone to speak to Hotch's doctor frustrated that he was still unconscious more than 24 hours after the fact. JJ and Strauss were dealing with the police; a neighbor of Jessica's had called 911 after hearing her scream and the gunshot.

Prentiss sighed deeply and looked up to find two confused tired brown eyes watching her; she quickly put the magazine down and stood by the side of the bed.

"Hotch?"

Hotch's brows furrowed as his eyes left Prentiss' to scan the room he was in.

"H'spital?" he rasped, his throat felt gritty.

"Here." said Reid softly. A cup of water with a straw appeared near Hotch's mouth startling the older agent; he hadn't noticed Reid standing on the other side of the bed.

"Reid…" he murmured.

He sipped some water, the coolness soothing his throat then nodded and Reid pulled the cup away.

"Hotch?" Prentiss' voice was soft...careful. "Do you remember what happened?"

"I…" Hotch frowned.

Screaming….

Someone was screaming?

"Jack!"

Hotch sat up in the bed, yanking at the wires attached to him, alarms going off from the instruments they were attached to.

Prentiss and Reid grabbed at him trying to lower him back to the bed.

Blood... Jessica…Jack….

Jack was screaming!

"Hotch!" Prentiss shouted. "Stop, stop! Jack's okay!"

Hotch continued to struggle, forcing Prentiss to grab the sides of his face.

"Please!" her voice was quiet but adamant which got Hotch's attention.

"They'll put you in restraints again if you don't calm down!"

Hotch stilled, his eyes widening.

Restraints?

His breaths were ragged as he grabbed Prentiss' arm.

He was in the hospital…something had happened, but he wasn't sure what.

"Prentiss." he finally said; his voice full of a question he wasn't sure he should ask.

Morgan, Doctor Allery and a nurse appeared in the doorway at that moment alerted by the alarms of the instruments in the room.

"He's awake." said Reid, whose smile did not reach his eyes.

Morgan glanced at the bed; as he pulled his cellphone from his pocket to let Rossi know, he watched as Dr. Allery and the nurse moved to check on Hotch.

It took a few minutes, but once the instruments quieted down and Dr. Allery checked over her patient, she stepped back.

"It's good to see you're awake. Do you feel up to answering a few questions?"

"Only if you'll answer some of mine." replied Hotch, confusion in his voice.

Dr. Allery smiled. "Do you know your name?"

"Aaron Hotchner."

Rossi who had entered the room moments before, nodded at Hotch with a smile; once the doctor finished up he had some good news for his friend. A few minutes after awakening from surgery and realizing where she was, Jessica with a cracked and tired voice had asked how Jack and Hotch were.

After a few moments talking with her and as her eyes slowly closed towards sleep, she had murmured…

"Tell...tell Aaron...I forgive him."

Sitting by the side of her bed, Garcia hung up her phone, a smile on her face. Rossi had called her on the way back to Hotch's room with an update. Hotch had finally woken up and Jessica was out of surgery and was going to be okay.

Garcia looked over at Jack who was sitting quietly in her bed playing his hand held electronic game.

"Jack sweetie," she squeezed his leg gently. "I have good news! Your daddy and Auntie Jessica are going to be okay."

Jack looked at her, subtle hope in his young eyes. "I want Auntie Jess." he said softly.

"You'll get to see her soon, sweetie...promise."

Jack looked at her for a beat more than turned back to his game making Garcia frown.

"Jack...you'll get to see your daddy too."

The sudden fear in Jack's eyes deepened Garcia's frown.

"Auntie Penny..."

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Garcia sat on the side of the bed.

"I don't want daddy." Jack said, his lower lip trembling.

He motioned Garcia to lean in, whispering in her ear…

"My daddy...my daddy's the bad man."

"Do you know where you are?" continued the Doctor.

"Where's Jack?"

The doctor was closest to Hotch, but he was looking past her to Rossi and the others standing at the foot of his bed.

"Agent Hotchner." pleaded the doctor.

"I answered your question, you answer mine." the look Hotch gave the doctor held no room for argument.

Morgan cleared his throat.

"Hotch man, answer her questions." he said avoiding looking directly at the team leader.

"Morgan?" frowned Hotch.

Why can't he look at me?

Morgan sighed looking directly at him and Hotch's eyes widened; an image of Morgan kneeling next to a bloodied Jessica overwhelming him.

Hotch looked down at the bed…there was blood on his hands…

Jessica wasn't moving…Jack…Jack was screaming!

Someone was shaking him by the shoulder.

"Agent Hotchner! Breathe...breathe!"

Hotch gasped, jerking back to awareness, the doctor leaning over him, the team closer to the bed their eyes wide with worry.

Breathing heavily, he couldn't control the fear and confusion that brewed overflowing into his words.

"Get out! Everyone get out!"

"Hotch?" Prentiss reached out to him.

Hotch flinched away from her hand.

"Get out…Prentiss...please…go!"

Rossi whispered something to the doctor and with lips tight with worry she nodded then stood and turned to the door. As everyone started to file out Hotch murmured.

"Not you, Morgan."

After everyone left, Hotch took a breath then looked Morgan squarely in the face.

The "Hotch" stare had returned.

"Tell me." he ordered the younger man.

"Hotch, come on...I think you..."

"It wasn't a request. Tell me Morgan."

Morgan, hands on hips stared at Hotch for a moment, then shaking his head sat on edge of the bed.

"Hotch...what month is it?"

Hotch frowned, "June...and stop with those questions, I'm fine!"

Sympathy joined concern in Morgan's brown eyes as he looked at his friend and leader.

"Hotch...

It's not June. It's October; you've been missing for four months."

-TBC-