Epiphany

13

A DAY LATER

The faint beeping of monitors filled the quiet hospital room as Hotch entered, his expression softened with relief and concern. Clara lay propped up against the pillows, a fresh bandage on her forehead, bruises visible on her arms, but her gaze steady as she looked up at him.

He approached her bedside slowly, his hands in his pockets, the weight of what had happened still heavy between them. She managed a small smile as he took a seat.

"Hey," she said, her voice a little hoarse.

"Hey," he replied softly, a gentle look in his eyes. He paused, seeming to search for the right words. "You scared us, Clara. We didn't know if... we were going to find you in time."

She nodded, looking down, the weight of the past week pressing on her. "I thought... I thought if I ran, it'd keep everyone safe. I didn't want to bring trouble to the team." Her voice was small, edged with regret.

Hotch listened, his gaze unwavering. "Running away only made it harder for us to help you, Clara. You don't have to protect everyone alone." His tone was gentle but firm, a reminder that they were a team in every sense of the word.

She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "He... the man who took me... he knew things, Hotch. Things from my past I haven't told anyone. I wanted to keep it buried, but he used it to get in my head, to make me feel like I was still... trapped." She hesitated, then looked up at him, her eyes shining with vulnerability. "There were things I never told anyone, things I had to do to survive."

Hotch placed a reassuring hand on hers, his expression one of quiet understanding. "You don't have to carry that alone, Clara. Whatever happened before... it doesn't define who you are now. And you're not alone anymore."

A small tear slipped down her cheek, and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you. For everything. I don't think I'd still be here if it weren't for you—for all of you."

He gave her a gentle smile. "We're your family, Clara. No matter what you're facing, we'll face it together. And we'll be here as long as you need."

Just as Hotch and Clara shared their quiet conversation, the door creaked open, and the rest of the team began to filter in. JJ, Morgan, Emily, Spencer and Rossi smiled warmly, their relief visible as they saw Clara awake and talking. Behind them, holding Garcia's hand, was three-year-old Jack, peering curiously at Clara from around his dad's leg.

Clara straightened up slightly, caught off guard but clearly touched by the sight of her team gathered around her. Jack slipped out from Penelope's side, tugging on his father's hand, and Hotch lifted him gently onto the bed next to Clara.

"Hi, rara," Jack said, looking up at her with wide eyes.

She smiled, her voice soft as she replied, "Hi, Jack. You taking good care of your dad for me?"

Jack nodded seriously, then reached out a tiny hand, as if to check on the bandage on her forehead. Clara chuckled softly, letting him satisfy his curiosity. The rest of the team watched, small smiles on their faces, knowing that Jack's presence brought a warmth that words couldn't.

Morgan gave Clara a nod. "You're a fighter, kid. Took everything in me to keep these guys from storming every building in the city until we found you."

"Speak for yourself," Emily added with a wink. "I had a whole plan ready."

Clara laughed, her chest swelling with gratitude. She felt the support, the family she had come to rely on, all surrounding her now. JJ squeezed her hand, and Rossi patted her shoulder in that familiar, comforting way of his.

"Next time, don't try to protect us by disappearing," Rossi said, his tone gentle but firm. "We're stronger together."

"We are always here for you Clara." Garcia spoke while silent tears ran down her cheek.

As Jack's small fingers brushed gently against Clara's bandage, she felt a surprising surge of comfort. The warmth of his innocent curiosity and his genuine concern cut through the lingering tension, grounding her. It wasn't often she found herself surrounded by people who genuinely cared—family, even, in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Does it hurt?" Jack asked, his big eyes full of worry.

Clara shook her head, giving him a reassuring smile. "Not anymore. Your dad's here, so I'm safe now."

Hotch squeezed Clara's shoulder, his steady gaze meeting hers as he gave her a comforting nod. It was a silent message: You're not alone anymore. She didn't need words to understand, and that understanding brought a tightness to her throat she hadn't felt in years.

Morgan leaned back against the wall, arm over pen's shoulder, a soft grin playing on his face. "Good to see you're finally back in one piece. I told everyone you were too stubborn to let anything keep you down."

Clara smirked, raising an eyebrow at him. "Stubborn? I'm resourceful, Morgan."

"That you are," Emily cut in, arms crossed, but her expression was warm. "But even the strongest need help sometimes. Don't make us track you down like that again, alright? You put a few years on all of us this week."

JJ stepped forward and took Clara's hand, her eyes soft. "We were so worried about you. Next time, lean on us. You don't have to go through anything alone anymore."

Clara's gaze dropped, the weight of everything she'd tried to carry alone pressing on her again. She nodded, taking in their words, the support she'd once never thought she'd deserve but had come to rely on. Family, she reminded herself, they're my family.

Rossi, standing by the doorway with his usual observant look, added his voice to the mix. "In this line of work, we all carry a lot of shadows, but letting the team help lift that weight makes it a bit lighter. That's what we're here for."

She looked around at them, a tightness in her chest loosening as each of their faces softened, showing her how deeply they cared. There was a strength in their presence she hadn't felt when she'd been taken, a sense of belonging she never wanted to lose.

Jack watched her with wide, serious eyes, his fingers still wrapped gently around her hand. "Are you gonna come back to the office now?"

Clara laughed softly, touched by his question. "Yeah, Jack, I think I am. I've got a lot of work to catch up on."

Jack nodded, looking satisfied with her answer, and Hotch reached down, ruffling his son's hair. Turning back to Clara, Hotch's gaze softened. "You don't need to protect us by running, Clara. We'd go to the ends of the earth to bring you back."

Feeling the room filled with love and support, Clara realized that, for the first time in a long while, she didn't need to protect herself alone.