"Mr. Hotchner, this is Noah, Jack's teacher. If you could please come in for a parent teacher conference as soon as possible today, we need to discuss some worries I have with Jack."
Aaron listened to the voice mail, twice now, barely catching the...
" 'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars And live in hilltop houses, driving 15 cars The girls come easy, and the drugs come cheap We'll all stay skinny, 'cause we just won't eat"
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Noah was the definition of calm. The girl was stabbed yet the moment she woke up she was calm and understanding. She listened to the doctors, the nurses, Aaron. That was the real shock according to Derek. She had been awake for three days and they were filled with love from Aaron's team.
They came and visited. Garcia had decorated her hospital room with Knick knacks and stuffed animals. Rossi brought alcohol and Jack visited with Aaron. Jenna came and told Noah about her class and school drama. JJ talked about her boys. Emily talked about the case and brought more alcohol which was highly appreciated. And Morgan , Morgan grilled her on every last detail of both the initial assault and the stabbing. That of course led her to strongly dislike him as he lacked in the empathy department in her eyes. But she also acknowledged he was scared to care and that was his way of coping so she tried her best to not care.
On the fourth day though, they had noticed the change. She was angry, she didn't even try to hide it. She was short with everyone and when Derek asked her another question she asked him to leave.
"He didn't come did he?" Was what she had asked David when he had question her attitude.
"Who bambina?"
Noah rolled her eyes, leaning her head back onto her pillow. She let a noisy breath out through her nose, "I've been in the hospital for a week and a half Mr. Rossi. I– he never came."
It didn't take the Italian long before he realized who the girl was talking about, "Your father is a very busy man Noah."
"Busy enough to not visit his dying daughter in the hospital." It wasn't a question, "He probably wished I was dead. It'd save him a press conference or two."
David sighs knowing there was nothing to be said before kissing the top of Noah's head, "I need to head into work, Aaron's coming in to bring you lunch."
"David?" Noah stopped him just as he was about to exit the room.
"Yes."
"I–" Noah's cuts herself off and shakes her head, "Um. When can I go home?"
David arches a brow, "You died twice."
"I'm aware."
Rossi shakes his head biting she was like Aaron in that way, "I'll talk to your doctor, but you're staying with someone on the team."
Noah sighs but says nothing else, laying her head back onto her pillow.
Rossi pauses at the door, smiling lightly, "He does like you Noah, it could work."
She doesn't say anything and he doesn't wait for an answer. Aaron on the other hand, heard but decided against mentioning the conversation David and Noah had as he walked into the room.
"Hey."
Noah nodded in response, attempting to sit up.
"Hey, hey, hey." She smacked his hands away and she pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"Chill Aaron."
"Chill?"
Noah snorts, "Sometimes I forget you're 10 years older than me, it really shows."
Aaron shakes his head, shoving her over as gently as he could so he could lay with her in the hospital bed.
"Derek came back to work a bit upset, Emily said you kicked him out."
"He asks to many questions."
"It's his job."
"I know. Which is why I never get mad at him, I know it's how he copes. I know it's his way of distancing himself from me because I almost got killed. I know he's scared. But I'm scared to and the one person, the one person.." Noah shakes her head angrily. "I really needed. He didn't come."
Aaron nods, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side, "You're dad is an asshole Noah, no ones deserves that."
"I just– I always wanted to make him proud. I mean he's my dad but I was never good enough. My brother did everything right and my little sister did to but I'm the family disappointment because I wanted to work instead of get married when I was 18. I just didn't think I was that much- he didn't come Aaron. I died twice and he didn't even come. He didn't even send someone, I'd feel better if he sent someone but he-" She was barely breathing, babbling on and on, a panic attack Aaron noted.
He held her, whispered sweet nothings as he tried regulating his breathing with her. He threw in a few 'I fucking hate your dad' comments which made her laugh a bit causing her to calm down.
"I'm sorry." It was barely a mutter but Aaron heard it. He just shook his head, his warm hand resting on her hip which for some reason calmed her down the most. Noah felt safe. And it wasn't the guards outside the hospital that the dear President insisted she have as he was more of a father than her own. It wasn't Penelope's constant presence and Knick knacks. It wasn't Spencer's attempt at jokes and JJ's small town stories. Nor the alcohol that Rossi and Emily brought in. It wasn't even Dereks obsessive need to find her rapist and end him. It wasn't that those things didn't help. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate them. It was that Aaron's hand on her hip, her head on his chest, his gentle words and heartbeat. That made her feel safe. He would keep her safe.
"It's not you fault."
Noah nodded, a practiced smile gracing her lips, "I know." Aaron gripped the end of her chin and turned her towards him.
"It's not your fault."
Noah nods again, a little confused, "I know."
"No you don't. What happened is not your fault Noah."
The teacher goes to nod again but he placed his pointer finger against her lips to shush her.
"It is not your fault."
I got drunk. I wore the dress. I ate the food. Noah didn't believe him but she nodded again, more tensely, "I know that Aaron."
"No–"
"I fucking know okay? It's not my fault, I got it."
Her eyes were burning at the point but she didn't let a tear fall, she wouldn't. She already cried on him once today and she didn't exactly fancy repeating it.
"Noah, look at me."
Noah swallows thickly and makes eye contact with him. His grip on her hip tightens and his hand on her chin cupped her cheek, "Tell me it's not your fault."
She opened and closed her mouth a couple times, attempting to lie but knowing it wouldn't work. He was good at his job for a reasons and even if the others couldn't profile her Aaron knew her. He knew her tells as she knew his.
"I–" his gaze grew stern and Noah sighed, "It's not my fault." Her words were quiet and airy, full of questions. And she wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. She wanted to yell and hit him. But she could feel another panic attack coming on. And this time it was because the smell of Aaron's cologne finally hit her and she couldn't breath.
