Victim (Hotch/Reid, PG)
Victim
(Note: takes place shortly after Haley’s funeral)
“Hotchner.”
“Mr.Hotchner, this is Diana Reid speaking.”
“Mrs.Reid?”
“I hope this is all right. I’ve got your number from Penelope.”
Silence.
“Please don’t be mad at her.”
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Reid?”
“I’ve just received a letter from Spencer. He told me what happened to you and your family. I couldn’t go to sleep without offering you my condolences in person.”
Silence.
“Thank you, Mrs.Reid.”
“He’s worried about you, as do the other members of your team, Mr.Hotchner. And he wouldn’t like it if he found out what I’m about to do, but I really need you to listen to something. I promise it won’t take long.”
“Of course, Mrs.Reid.”
“I don’t know if you knew, but he writes me every day. Well, he tries. And this was from one of his letters.
It’s been one year since I killed a man.
I never told anyone what really happened in that ER. Part of it was because I had never really thought about it until recently. I knew I wrote in the report that Hotch and I had played to the UnSub’s twisted mind and successfully defused the situation with the result of one but acceptable casualty. I knew Gideon told me that I had killed a man but also saved many. I knew I proved to Morgan that I could take care of myself without the help of his whistle. I knew with Hotch’s quick thinking, I had saved his life and mine. Today, one year after I killed Philip Dowd, I finally understand what happened in that ER: I earned trust from the one person who had every reason not to trust my shooting skills. Afterward, while Hotch was commending me for a job well done, I was grateful for my luck because I too hadn’t trusted my shooting skills.
Three days ago I killed another man, Mom. His name was Tobias Hankel. He was a good man with a very troubled mind, and I am deeply sorry that I ended his life to save mine, but I am not sorry that I fought and didn’t give up. I am alive today because of what happened one year ago. In that ER, for a brief moment I stopped being the victim, and it was all because Hotch wouldn’t let me be one.”
Silence.
“I know Spencer left out the gory details for my sake and I don’t know what exactly happened in that ER, but I do know that with how he was growing up, whatever happened back there has really stuck with him.”
Silence.
“Your son is very lucky to have you, Mr.Hotchner.”
Silence.
“Thank you very much, Mrs.Reid. It means a lot to me.”
“Have a good night, Mr.Hotchner.”
“Good night.”
Hotch disconnected the call and stared at the cell phone in his hand… until the squeaking sound from his bedroom door broke the silence.
“What are you doing?” Spencer squinted at the light, barely leaning against the door frame.
Quickly Hotch put away the phone. “Just checking on Jack.”
“Come back to bed.”
Hotch barely got the word out when Spencer disappeared behind the door.
After ten minutes of watching Jack sleep, Hotch kissed his son’s hair and tiptoed back to his room. Spencer put his arms around him when Hotch slipped under the blanket. He pulled Spencer in, kissed Spencer’s hair and didn’t let go until morning came.
Fin
(Note: takes place shortly after Haley’s funeral)
“Hotchner.”
“Mr.Hotchner, this is Diana Reid speaking.”
“Mrs.Reid?”
“I hope this is all right. I’ve got your number from Penelope.”
Silence.
“Please don’t be mad at her.”
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Reid?”
“I’ve just received a letter from Spencer. He told me what happened to you and your family. I couldn’t go to sleep without offering you my condolences in person.”
Silence.
“Thank you, Mrs.Reid.”
“He’s worried about you, as do the other members of your team, Mr.Hotchner. And he wouldn’t like it if he found out what I’m about to do, but I really need you to listen to something. I promise it won’t take long.”
“Of course, Mrs.Reid.”
“I don’t know if you knew, but he writes me every day. Well, he tries. And this was from one of his letters.
It’s been one year since I killed a man.
I never told anyone what really happened in that ER. Part of it was because I had never really thought about it until recently. I knew I wrote in the report that Hotch and I had played to the UnSub’s twisted mind and successfully defused the situation with the result of one but acceptable casualty. I knew Gideon told me that I had killed a man but also saved many. I knew I proved to Morgan that I could take care of myself without the help of his whistle. I knew with Hotch’s quick thinking, I had saved his life and mine. Today, one year after I killed Philip Dowd, I finally understand what happened in that ER: I earned trust from the one person who had every reason not to trust my shooting skills. Afterward, while Hotch was commending me for a job well done, I was grateful for my luck because I too hadn’t trusted my shooting skills.
Three days ago I killed another man, Mom. His name was Tobias Hankel. He was a good man with a very troubled mind, and I am deeply sorry that I ended his life to save mine, but I am not sorry that I fought and didn’t give up. I am alive today because of what happened one year ago. In that ER, for a brief moment I stopped being the victim, and it was all because Hotch wouldn’t let me be one.”
Silence.
“I know Spencer left out the gory details for my sake and I don’t know what exactly happened in that ER, but I do know that with how he was growing up, whatever happened back there has really stuck with him.”
Silence.
“Your son is very lucky to have you, Mr.Hotchner.”
Silence.
“Thank you very much, Mrs.Reid. It means a lot to me.”
“Have a good night, Mr.Hotchner.”
“Good night.”
Hotch disconnected the call and stared at the cell phone in his hand… until the squeaking sound from his bedroom door broke the silence.
“What are you doing?” Spencer squinted at the light, barely leaning against the door frame.
Quickly Hotch put away the phone. “Just checking on Jack.”
“Come back to bed.”
Hotch barely got the word out when Spencer disappeared behind the door.
After ten minutes of watching Jack sleep, Hotch kissed his son’s hair and tiptoed back to his room. Spencer put his arms around him when Hotch slipped under the blanket. He pulled Spencer in, kissed Spencer’s hair and didn’t let go until morning came.
Fin