Blind Eye

Mothered?

"Honour to Mrs Hotchner."

Morgan's words made JJ, Rossi and Reid smile mischievously, while Prentiss simply glared at him. Without taking the time to reply, she simply decided to turn and head for Hotch's room. She was tired and the stress was beginning to wear off, so she was dealing with the aftermath as best she could. Suffice it to say that she had no energy to waste on bickering with Morgan at the moment.

She walked quickly along the white corridor. It was so quiet, you'd have thought the hospital was empty at that moment. Then, when she reached room 223, she stopped. She peered through the window, between the half-closed blinds, and caught a glimpse of Hotch. He seemed to be asleep. She hesitated to press the handle, not wanting to wake him. In the end, she was so desperate to see him and to know how her friend was doing that she gave in and opened the door as gently as she could. She slipped into the bedroom and sat down on a chair beside the bed. She waited a few minutes before Aaron opened his eyes.

He must have sensed someone coming into the room. Now in the process of waking up, he blinked several times to get used to the almost blinding light in the room. Then, with a clumsy, grimacing gesture, he sat up.

"Don't move, you'll hurt yourself," Prentiss said hastily as she stood up and approached him.

"I think the pain is bearable, I've had worse" he replied, smiling.

And to think he hardly ever smiled. Every member of the team could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times Hotch had smiled at them. Except Emily. Well, she wasn't sure. She'd rarely seen Hotch, her boss, smile, but at another time she'd got to know Aaron's dimples well.

She smiled back at him, then pushed these last thoughts from her mind.

"How are you?

-  I'm fine, apart from this interminable headache.

- All right, then. "

Prentiss simply nodded, not knowing how to interpret her boss's gestures. Did he have the strength to begin to forgive her? Because she wasn't fooled, she knew that what had happened 10 years ago had deeply affected Hotch, as it had her, and had drawn a line under their friendly relationship. She had felt it when she arrived at the BAU, and Hotch's icy welcome had made her feel rather uncomfortable.

"What's the status of the investigation?

Hotch's question snapped Prentiss out of her ramblings and brought her back down to earth.

"I don't know, I've been in hospital since this morning. (Prentiss)

- (Prentiss) Ah... You've been here all this time? You didn't have to, you know (Hotch)

- I know." (Prentiss)

With that, she remembered that the rest of the team were waiting to visit their friend.

"I'll let you get some rest, the rest of the team want to see you too. Rest well!"

She left Hotch's bedside and headed for the door ready to exit the room when she heard her boss articulate.

"Thank you, Prentiss.

As if to answer his question silently, "You're welcome", she smiled and gave him a little nod before leaving the room. She returned to the others who were waiting impatiently for her.

"Well?

- He's fine, he's weak, but he's fine. You can go now. (Prentiss)

- All right, I'll go. (JJ)

- Where are we with the investigation anyway? (Prentiss)

- Morgan's on the phone with Garcia, she's just come up with a name. Apparently he's our suspect. We checked him out and agent Rodger's on his way to pick him up. (Rossi)