Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1
Emily is working on the case when a woman walks up to her “Uh excuse me - I’d like to speak to Jennifer Jareu”
Emily enters the conference room where JJ and Garcia are discussing the case. “JJ there’s a woman here to see you?”
“Has she been drinking?” JJ sighs,
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“Sarah Hillridge, her son Charlie went missing around 8 years ago. She comes in every time a child around his age goes missing.” She says brushing her hair out of her face.
“So she thinks her son is still alive?”
“Yeah, I remember her she stays for the first 24 hours right?” Garcia adds
…
Hotch notices a woman he vaguely recognizes in JJ’s office, after Sarah leaves he and Emily make their way to JJ. “Ok thank you” Emily hung up the phone “Barbara said she was distracted by a mother looking for a kid, she blamed herself for looking away”.
“Wait, Sarah said the same thing when Charlie went missing, do you think it’s a coincidence?”
“Or a ruse,” Hotch interjects “We have to explore the idea that these cases are related. Even 8 years apart.”
“Well if the woman was distracting, then who took Aimee?” JJ said
“And we can’t forget about the driver,” Emily added
“So there were three unsubs. Maybe a couple and the third is…” Hotch looked puzzled. “Call everyone in we need to discuss.”
…
“I think Charlie and Aimee were kidnapped by the same unsub. I think Charlie might be helping the unsubs. I think he may be being manipulated or forced into their ruse.” JJ begins the meeting
“Do you think that maybe you might have a flawed perspective because you just became a mother JJ?” Morgan responds to JJ
“Or maybe it’s because two different women came in here explaining the same strategy for kidnapping, without talking to each other.” Emily shot at Morgan “He probably has Stockholm syndrome, he’s a teenager now, strong but still trustable. A little girl would trust a teenage boy.”
“And nobody would suspect them walking together because it's a little girl and her older brother helping her get somewhere,” Reid says matter of factly “We know that these unsubs are looking for children, and they probably aren’t able to have their own. But, they take them out in public so they must be open to the community about having kids.
“They can’t be good parents, Social Services must have been called. Garcia get me a list of families who social services have visited frequently in the past 8 years”, Hotch directs
“Ok sir, but the list is gonna be long”, she responds
…
“We are gonna go house to house in teams. Morgan, you go with Emily and start knocking on doors, Reid you’re with me, we’ll start with talking to Aimee’s parents”. Hotch gives everyone directions.
They leave the round table. “Come on I’ll drive.” Reid sits in the passenger seat of the black four-door SUV. Hotch winces as he sits down.
“Are you ok hotch? Reid has a look of concern splayed across his face
“Yeah, it’s just, the places Foyet stabbed me, it hurts sometimes.”
“You know scar tissue may become more painful over time as nerve endings heal”, Reid can’t help but cut the awkwardness with an odd fact, “Sorry, I find that knowing the cause of things brings me comfort,” Reid says brushing his hair out of his face while buckling his seat belt.
“You don’t need to apologize, Spence, it’s alright.” Hotch would never admit it directly but he too liked Spencer facts.
Spencer nods and smiles Spence? Did he call me Spence? He’s never said that. Maybe he’s just being sentimental. He thinks to himself.
…
Hotch and Reid exit the Lynch’s home to speak to Amiee’s father who’s outside finishing one of many cigarettes.
“So that’s it?” Frank asks stomping out his cigarette
“Well no, we believe there's a chance Aimee could still be alive,” Reid adds.
“It’s been over 24 hours I think we both know what that means,” Frank remarks not necessarily directed at the agents but in his frustration to bring his daughter home safely.
“In most cases of child abduction that would be of concern but we believe there may be a reason for the unsubs keeping your daughter,” Hotch adds, brows furrowed.
“I don't care, I want you to find my daughter!” He shouts frustrated as he grabs the carton of cigarettes from his pocket.
Frank's Wife approached the driveway
“Have you found her yet?” Barbra asked approaching the men.
“No ma’am we haven’t found your daughter but I promise you our team is working diligently and we have a working theory on how this Unsub may be targeting your child and others.”
“Well what help is that, we want our daughter back!”
“Ma’am I can assure you, we are doing everything that we can, and since the unsubs need to keep these children it may be possible your daughter is still alive,” Says Reid exchanging glances between Hotch and Barbra.
…
The rest of the team finds themselves on a large plot of land. Emily knocks on the door, and a large man answers “Roger? Sir, my name is SSA Prentiss, and this is SSA Morgan and Jeniffer Jeareu. Could we ask you some questions?” She peered over his shoulder to see a framed photo of a family with a kid who looked like Charlie. Morgan continues to ask questions, Roger says that his wife just took the kids out. “Hotch bring in SWAT,” Emily says over the phone.
Reid notices Hotch nodding while on the phone. “Of course right away, Reid and I will meet you there shortly.” Hotch hangs up the phone and looks at Reid Gestering him to come with him. He pauses and then looks at Barbra and Frank. “Excuse us Mr. and Mrs. Lynch but we may know where your daughter is. Thank you for your time.”
Reid nods toward the concerned and shocked parents as he quickly catches up to Hotch. Reid studies hotch as he calls in for swat while approaching the vehicle, putting in directions to Emily’s location. Watching Hotch’s Firm yet gentle hands, much like the rest of him. “Reid?” Hotch said looking at the younger brunette.
“Yes?” He cleared his throat as his voice squeaked at the end of his response. Reid watches as Hotch studies him intensely
“Everything Alright?” Hotch asks, his voice tender.
“Yeah, yes. I’m fine.” Reid says it’s all a little much to focus on the case whilst he’s still concerned for Hotch. He knows he can take care of himself but with the tremendous loss and the fallout of foyet Reid can’t help but be concerned for him. “Are you alright?” Reid asks filling the silence as the two men stare at each other. Hotch looks shocked yet he pauses contemplating a response.
“Right now? Yes.” He says and they are on their way.
…
The team debriefs at Quantico after the situation is dealt with, returning Aimee and Charlie safely to their parents, Rogers Wife is in custody and has already been questioned, Roger was found dead after being left unsupervised when Emily and Morgan discovered the Basement.
“Good work today,” Rossi says looking at the file.
Hotch heads back to his office to work on paperwork. He still has leftover work from before the case started, and now all this. It had only been about five minutes when he heard a knock on his office door. “Come in. Hi Dave what can I do for you?”
“I think you need this” Rossi takes a seat and hands him a glass of whiskey
“That obvious huh?” Hotch gives him a rare smile
“Long day?” Rossi asks
“I miss her Dave.” Everything is quiet and the air grows heavy against Hotch’s chest “The house is empty cause Jessica has Jack a lot of the time. Even when he is there he has to go to bed early. I have nothing but work.” Tears are threatening his eyes.
“You need someone, I know it hasn’t been a year yet. But, you need someone that is going be there for you, someone to preoccupy your mind.” Hotch immediately thought of Spencer. He can’t think of him, he isn’t supposed to.
Rossi interrupted his thoughts “Come to mine, we can cook and watch a crappy old sitcom and drink whiskey.”
…

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Rossi opened the door to his home. It always smelled like old wood and a faint mens cologne. It fits his personality very well. “Welcome in” Rossi was sincere, he considered Hotch to be family and family was always welcome in his house.
Hotch said thank you set his belongings on the bench by the door and hung his coat on the rack. Rossi led him to the kitchen and began pulling out ingredients for pancetta and pasta. When Rossi invited people over to cook it was rare that they would help cook, but he trusted Hotch enough to let him stir around the frying meat.
They plated the pasta and Rossi handed him a glass of whiskey, that was maybe a little more full than it needed to be. “So” Rossi began “Is there anyone in your interests?”
Hotch looked a little defeated “No, you and the team are enough right now” Hotch seemed sincere but the only person from the team that popped into his mind was Spencer.
“No offense, but the team isn’t exactly the distraction I was talking about. You see them standing over dead bodies and you write their evaluations” Rossi had a point “You need to get out, I know you are a little old for the club, but go do something social”.
Hotch looked skeptical “Maybe, what would I even go do?”
“I don’t know, something that doesn’t involve dead people or you sitting in your office. Aaron, promise me that you will do something after we get back from the next case” Rossi wasn’t gonna let him off the hook.
“I don't-” Hotch let out a sigh, he was too defeated to argue “I promise”
…
“Agent Hotchner,” Spencer said as Hotch entered the office.
“yes?” he said turning to face the bright red man.
“So there’s this case, and well the team wants us to pair up to interrogate the unsub,” Reid says, twiddling his thumbs.
“Okay?” Hotch says confused by the other man’s obvious embarrassment.
“Well, they also want us to provoke him. We believe this unsub may be targeting a certain… Type of person.”
“What type of person would this be, Reid?” Hotch asks attempting to catch Spencer’s gaze to get a better read on the man.
Spencer cleared his throat and walked towards the evidence board. “Well take James Down for example. He was out at a restaurant on a date when he went missing shortly afterward.” Spencer grabbed a marker and started pacing around semi frantically “And Francis Brown, also out on a date however his body was found in a dumpster nearby. Both men around mid 30’s, brown hair, average height, relatively attractive with blue eyes.” He cleared his throat again. Both men and a few of the other supposed victims had traces of rape and ligature marks around the wrists, and neck.”
“So what besides looks, both being out on dates what did these men have in common?” Hotch asked, it was a leading question to an answer he already knew.
“All of the men were on dates, with other men,” Reid said awkwardly looking up at Hotch.
“I see.” he paused for a moment “Wait so what exactly is our interrogation plan? Do we already have the unsub in custody?”
“Well- I. Uhm so basically we believe our unsub may be specifically targeting gay men and holding them captive.”
“Okay, why is that?”
“well we believe that our unsub may have repressed feelings around his sexuality, he thinks that keeping these men keeps him safe from the outside world. allowing him to act on his urges without-“
“having to go out and face it,” Hotch says cutting off Reid. “so the team wants us to provoke him, I’m assuming by, well pretending or presenting as gay.”
“persistently,” Reid says brushing his hair out of his face.
“All alright well let’s go over our unsub some more, then we’ll get onto our interrogation plan,” Hotch says, almost fond that he gets to work with Reid for an extended period, especially in this context.
…
“So, I heard you and Reid are going undercover as lovers,” Rossi says jokingly as he enters Hotchs office.
“Yes,” he says dismissively, trying so hard to hide the telling expression from one of his closest friends, a profiler at that.
“And you don’t seem to take issue with this,” Rossi says teasingly.
“I am simply doing my job,” Hotch says standing up and approaching the door to his office.
“I wasn’t saying otherwise.” and with the defensive repose, hotch knew Rossi was onto him.
“Now, I have to go pretend to be a gay man, for justice.” Hotch smiled as he turned
“uhhuh, pretend?” says Rossi under his breath.
…
“Reid?” Hotch said approaching him in the hall outside the interrogation room.
Reid jumped a little startled. “Hi,” he said, his voice high-pitched and nervous, he took and deep breath and faced the slightly taller man.
“Are you ready?” hotch asked, making sure to pay close attention to anything that may give away what Reid was thinking or feeling at this moment.
“Yeah, yeah.” he nodded, looking back at the interrogation room. as Reid opened the door he leaned over to whisper in Hotch's ear “Just, follow my lead.” his voice low and more commanding. Then Reid brushed a strand of hair out of Hotch's face, making sure he was in sight of the unsub. in doing so, he focused on Hotch's gaze, a gesture that made hotchs heart skip a beat. Hoch pulled out the chair and touched Reid’s shoulder before sitting back down.
they then entered the room together, “Hello William Miller?” Reid said as he approached the man who was sitting down in a chair. William looked small, with messy and slightly greasy blonde hair, he had a couple of scars on his face and bruises as well. His face was twisted and coked.
“yes?” he said dismissively
“My name is Dr. Spencer Reid, this is my uhm,” he looked at Hotch smiling slightly. “partner, Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner.”
“Could we ask you some questions William?” hotch said attempting to stray his gaze away from Spencer who was intently looking at him.
“I guess,” he mumbled
“And you’re aware of your rights?” Spencer asked, drifting his attention to William, leaning forward.
“yes, doctor,” he said almost scoffing at the title.
“Alright, well I’d like to start first by asking, do you recognize this man?” asked Reid as he took a photo out of the packed folder he’d brought in and slid it across the table.
the blonde's breath hitched, and he cleared his throat, “no sir I don’t believe I do.” he said adjusting his posture.
“how about now? Reid asked as he pulled out an image of some of the bodies the unsub had left near dumpsters and alleyways.
as he looked at the pictures he shifted in his chair “Why would this change anything? I don’t know these… men.” he said with hesitation and uncertainty.
“Is that so Mr. Miller? Because we found some interesting items in your apartment, these suggest that these men may fit your, well, your type.” Reid said as Hotch Placed an evidence box on the table, Reid opened it pulling out porn magazines, CDs, cassette tapes, etc.
“Those are not mine!” He shouted standing up. I am not a faggot, I am a man of god, I would never look at those.
“Oh, well then how did they get there Will? Can I call you that, Will?” Reid asked standing to meet the man on his level. “Did they grow legs and walk to your apartment? But that wouldn’t explain why the magazines are covered in your semen.” Reid was shouting now
“No, I-. Don’t- I am not gay!” He said lunging towards Reid as Hotch placed a hand on his chest holding him back.
“Sit down.” Said Hotch lowering the man's shoulders. “You may not speak to him that way. Now, we are going to ask you some questions, this time I’d like you to answer them truthfully.”
“You think I’m going to answer to some fags? I know what you are!” Said William, Hotch knew he was beginning to shut down, but he was hoping to get some more information that may tell them where some of the missing men may be.
“And what makes you think that? That we’re gay? What if we were, does that make you uncomfortable will?” Reid asked sitting back down placing his elbows on the table and getting a little closer to Will.
“I see the way you look at each other!” He said Breathing heavily, “It’s a sin, you can’t go against the will of god! He shall have his rath, until then it is my job to correct it, he spoke to me he told me I need to help men like you.”
Reid looked at Hotch almost shocked, at essentially Williams' confession. “And how is it, that you save them, is it by raping them brutally? Tieing them down, and choking them? That's what god wants? Or is it really what you want Will? Do you take your anger out on these men because you cannot even fathom being as open as them?”
Suddenly the door to the interrogation room opens and Emily Steps in, She nods at Hotch to come over to her and she whispers something to him, as he gestures to Reid, “This isn’t over yet! You will pay for your sins, Dr. Reid.”
“Maybe I will Mr. Williams, but at least I am happy with who I am.” Reid turned his chin up and walked out.

Chapter Text

Hotch thinks about what Spencer said the other day. He wasn’t lying. Hotch could always tell when Reid was lying, but then again, he was a profiler; he could always tell when anyone was lying. There was no problem with Reid being gay; none of the team had any issue with it. So why wouldn’t Reid tell him about it? His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his office door.
“Come in.”
Reid walked through the door, his hands fidgety. He had his messenger bag slung across his shoulder. He stood there for a few moments. “Would you like to have a seat?” Hotch asked
“Uh- Sure.” Reid shut the door behind him and took a seat, his leg began to bounce.
“What can I help you with?”
“I uh- just wanted to talk about the interview we did with Miller.” Reid was incredibly anxious.
“What about it?”
Reid was a little peeved that he had to spell it out. He knew that Hotch knew. He wasn’t even sure what to say. “Uh- I just wanted to I…” Tears were threatening his eyes. He covered his face with his hands and sighed. Hotch waited patiently for him to finish saying what he needed to say, because, to be truthful, he didn’t know what to say. “I apologize if what I said or did was uncomfortable. I was just heated and I-” Hotch cut him off.
“Uncomfortable? You have nothing to apologize for. The things that William Miller said were outrageous. And you didn’t do anything to make me uncomfortable, it was just what we needed to do. I didn’t mind at all.” Hotch said with full seriousness.
Reid sighed, in an attempt to compose himself, “It wasn’t just that they were outrageous, I…”
Emily knocked on the door before entering, observing Reid’s distressed state. “Oh, I’m sorry, but we just got a case I need you to look at, hotch.”
Hotch nodded, “I’ll be right there, just… Give me a moment,” he said, looking back at Reid, who was now mostly composed.
“Yeah… of course.” She said, looking at Reid, “Are you alright?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Reid said as he cleared his throat, “It’s nothing, thank you.” Prentiss nodded and closed the door.
“Reid, I will get back to you, my doors are always open, okay?” Hotch said. He was trying his best to observe Reid, but the suddenness of Emily’s entrance worried him.
“Yeah, thank you,” Reid got up from his chair approaching the door.
“If you need anything-” Hotch said in his best attempt to console Reid. Spencer looked back at him, opened his mouth before stopping himself. He awkwardly nodded before excusing himself.
…
“Hotch, William Miller…” Emily paused.
“The man Reid and I interviewed last week?” Hotch’s interest piqued
“He escaped en route to the prison.” Emily looked down, obviously distraught.
“Do they want us to help find him?” Hotch was eager to find him.
“No, they’re set on finding him themselves. But, we do need to go back to Spokane anyway.”
“Do we tell the team?” Emily asked
“Not yet.” Hotch didn’t want to add another concern to the team. Especially Reid for that matter.
…
Emily strode into the briefing room with Hotch in tow. Morgan mouthed, ‘is the kid ok?’ to Emily, she furrowed her brow and shrugged, looking at her boss.
“Our victim is 36-year-old Kevin Argile, a Detective of Spokane, Washington's PD was kidnapped yesterday. His car was found with the door open at a local gas station, supposedly on his way home from work around 10 p.m. yesterday.” JJ broke down what she had been told.
“Wheels up in 15,” Hotch said, looking at an anxious Reid. As they walked out, he stopped the younger man. “You gonna be ok?”
“Yeah? Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Spencer replied defensively.
Hotch was worried; Reid hid almost everything from the team. It hurt to be closed out of his life. He didn’t know why he was so upset about Spencer being private. God knows he wasn’t any better, but he couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling every time he looked at Spencer.
…
Everyone was sitting on the plane, anxiety was high, and everyone looked deeply concerned with the lack of information they had.
“Garcia,” Rossi broke the silence, “what about the security cameras at the gas station?”
“I already checked, they were only pointed at the door and inside, didn’t catch anything.” Garcia responded, “buuut, there is someone waiting at the police precinct saying she saw something.”
“Garcia, you said there was a lipstick tube left at the scene?” Spencer asked, looking deeply focused. “Guys, what if the unsub dropped it. It could be used to trace her DNA.”
“Yeah, but we don’t know if the unsub is a woman.” Emily disagreed
“It’s not exactly typical for a woman to kidnap a man who weighs over 200 pounds, and is a trained officer,” Morgan added
“Whatever the case, JJ and Emily go talk to the chief of police, see what he knows. Rossi and Reid go talk to our witness. Morgan and I will go talk to the family. Garcia, dig into Mr. Argile, anything and everything you know.” Hotch began a game plan of how to divide his team, using their skills to the best of their abilities. Rossi was a good talker, people liked him, and Reid picked up on important body language and speech patterns. JJ and Emily were straight to the point, they would find out information quickly and be able to relay it to the team. Morgan was good at talking to family, gentle but stable, and he offered consolation to them. Garcia was Garcia, a genius, the fastest information collection system available. He thought about when he would retire, and who would take over. He hoped for Emily, hoped she would take over for him, she might even be able to do this better than him.