Full Throttle

Chapter Two

It is 10:26 P.M. when Agent Hotchner’s phone buzzes loudly on his nightstand. He rolls over with a start, dreading a new case so soon. He squints into the bright light, surprised when an unfamiliar number flashes on the screen.

“Aaron Hotchner,” he says in a tired voice. He’d only just fallen asleep twenty minutes ago.

“Mr. Hotchner, I’m calling from the George Washington University Hospital. I have you listed as the health care proxy for Mr. Derek Morgan and Dr. Spencer Reid. Is that correct?”

“Yes, is something wrong?” Hotch sits up on the side of his bed, fear bubbling in his chest. As the team’s leader, he’s used to remaining calm under stressful situations and keeping his head straight when someone is injured or in danger, but there is no suppressing the adrenaline that courses through his body every time the word “hospital” and one of his agents’ names are spoken in the same sentence.

“Sir, there’s been an accident.”

“An accident?” He asks, already standing up and pulling on his pants, tucking his cell phone between his ear and shoulder. “I don’t understand.” Confusion floods Hotch’s mind as he tries to work out what could’ve happened to Morgan and Reid simultaneously while they were off-duty. It had been his understanding that everyone was going home to get some rest, and Hotch knows that the team wouldn’t act on a case without contacting him first.

“It was an automobile accident, Mr. Hotchner.”

“Well are they okay?” Hotch’s voice rises, and he immediately regrets lashing out at the woman on the other end of the line, who is just doing her job by contacting him.

“I’m afraid that our security policy prevents us from releasing sensitive details over the phone, but you’re welcome to come in.”

“Yes, of course. I’m sorry.” Hotch rubs his temple. He should’ve known they can’t tell him anything over the phone, but he isn’t exactly thinking straight. “Let me make arrangements for my child and I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Without waiting for a response, Hotch hangs up the phone, throws on a tee shirt and shoes, and practically runs into his son’s room.

“Jack, buddy. Wake up. Daddy has to go into work for a little while, okay? I’m going to see if you can stay at Mrs. Jameston’s house until I get back.” Hotch decides it best to tell his son that it is work-related, because the young boy greatly admires all of his colleagues and he doesn’t want to worry him if it isn’t necessary. Jack groans something incomprehensible as his dad picks him up and throws a blanket over him, carrying him out of the house in his pajamas.

He walks up the steps to his neighbor’s front door, feeling guilty as he rings the bell and probably wakes Mrs. Jameston from her sleep. The older woman has always told Hotch that she’d be more than happy to watch Jack if he is called away on short notice and can’t get his usual babysitter, but he’s tried to avoid having to ask the favor.

Hotch is just about to push the doorbell again when a light inside flicks on and the silhouette of a small, short lady appears in front of the door. She peeks out from behind the blinds and quickly opens the door once she realizes who has disturbed her at this hour.

“Mrs. Jameston,” Hotch begins as soon as the door swings open, “I’m very sorry for bothering you this late at night, but something’s come up and I need to go as soon as possible and - “

“Come in, come in!” The woman ushers Hotch and Jack inside, cutting him off from his frantic rambling.

“Thank you,” he says gratefully, placing Jack on her couch and kissing him on the forehead. He walks back over towards the door and indicates for Mrs. Jameston to follow, speaking in a hushed voice once he thinks they are out of Jack’s earshot.