Chapter 18

Epilogue

Christiaan N. Barnard said, “Suffering isn't ennobling, recovery is.”

Morgan and Emily went to the cafeteria to fetch coffee, leaving Reid to tell Aaron about Haley. When they had gone, Spencer sat beside him and put his hand on Aaron’s arm. Jack had gone to sleep on his Daddy, and Reid didn’t want to spoil the moment. But Aaron needed to know. Painfully, Aaron turned his head to look at Reid. He knew there was something wrong. He frowned, and nodded his head slowly.

Whatever it is, Reid. Tell me...

“Hotch, it’s Haley.” He paused, really not wanting to break the news. “She died, Hotch. I’m so sorry.”

Aaron shook his head in denial, his dark eyes widened in shock. ...The mother of his child...

The tears that ran down Aaron’s cheeks made Reid cry. He stood up and put his arms around Aaron, and felt his body shake in grief. Reid clung to him, offering the comfort of his friendship, wishing it wasn’t him that had had to break the news.

“I’m so sorry. She died trying to stop the kidnappers from taking Jack.” Reid drew back from Aaron, touched his face, wiping away tears. “I am really sorry I had to tell you.”

Aaron lifted his head and pressed his face into Reid’s hair, and cried. Reid held him in his arms, his hand in Aaron’s hair, happy to stay that way until Aaron’s tears stopped flowing.

-0-0-0-

Rossi was in the OR for a long time as Geiger fought to save his life. Failure was not an option, and when Rossi’s heart stopped, Geiger didn’t give up when most would have. When the pulmonary repair was finished, and the site closed, Geiger left the OR triumphant once again.

Morgan and Emily were waiting for him when he came round. He smiled at them despite the pain.

“It’s good to see you.” he said. “Did you find Jack?”

“Jack’s fine. He’s with Hotch now.”

“So Hotch is ok too?”

“He’s recovering. He’s good.”

Rossi visibly relaxed. “Thank god. I thought we were going to lose him.” he said. “When I called the hospital, they didn’t sound very hopeful.” He closed his eyes, and smiled.

-0-0-0-

Tom and Danny were bored with practicing abseiling down the fake wall outside the gym. Danny knew of a place in the woods that would be perfect to practice on the real thing before the competition. They jogged happily through the woods to the place he remembered as a child.

“I think it will be pretty good.” Tom said, as they neared the place.

They checked the equipment, and Danny took the rope first.

“It’s very steep!” he yelled up to Tom. “It’s perfect!”

He jumped the last few feet, and the rope became loose. Suddenly, Tom heard him scream.

“Hey, Danny!” Tom shouted down. “Danny, what’s happened?”

Frantically, Tom checked his equipment and abseiled down to him. He took his flashlight from his belt and shone it at the ground where Danny was standing.

“Oh my god!”

The blackened face grinned back up at them, the bony hand grasping at the rocky wall...

-0-0-0-

END