Undercover Love

Opioids and Concomitantly Induced Itching

The first time consciousness attempts to peak its head out from around all the heavy sedatives Hotch is aware of a burning itch that's slowly spreading over his face.

"Don't do that."

Something warm takes his hand," you have to keep that on."

"Haley?" He tries to sound strong but his voice comes out as a raspy warble.

"She's dead, Aaron. She's been dead for several years," someone says softly. He becomes aware of the warmth now resting on his shoulder. JJ, he assumes, but it could be a doctor. Some nurse.

The light seems to brighten and his heavy eyelids refuse to stay open any longer.

_¡|《》|¡_

He didn't realize that he was awake.

"Drink," a straw is pressed to his dry lips and the water that he sips is heavenly.

"Are you in any pain?" He recognizes the eyes staring down at him with concern.

He can't get the words out but gracefully his water supplying  haven understands. "Don't worry Hotch, the nurse is coming back. She's gonna get you some more morphine."

Morphine. That sounds like a good idea.

"It's okay." He struggles to keep his eyes open," go to sleep. You need it."

He needs it. That's good enough.

_¡|《》|¡_

He doesn't attempt to open his eyes this time. The warmth of the hand on his keeps him from doing so.

The morphine is no longer taking the edge off and everything hurts.

"It's okay."

He's only vaguely aware of her presence.

He's cought up in the crowd that surrounds him.

"Do you really wanna know why Jack Ripper stopped killing?"

Of course he wants to know. He'd written a paper on it in high school. He has his theories but no one knows for sure.

"We did it," one of his victims sneers, Catherine Eddowes. She'd been apart of the 'double event'. The second woman killed that fateful day in September of 1888.

"What?" He tries to reach out, to grab her, but he can't grasp her.

"We killed him," Catherine says again with a sick grin.

Women start crowding around him," the prostitutes. We ripped the famous ripper!"

He understands.

However he leaves the poor nurse very confused when he mumbles," the prostitutes."

_¡|《》|¡_

".. was the prostitutes."

Emily moves from her spot in her bed over on to her side to face Hotch.

After she'd being cought a total of six time in Hotch's room, the staff finally found it easier to just move Emily into Hotch's room.

"Hotch?"

He squints at the roof," it was..."

Emily seats up, she'd been allowed regular clothing, and pulls her hoodie down so it is no longer bunched up at her stomach. "Hotch are you okay?"

He lifts his hand in the air, not the one pricked up with an IV, and scowls at it. "Itches."

She comes to very side of his bed and he offers her his hand. "Can't you see it?" He asks, pupils dilated, and she smiles.

"At least you're not in any pain," she takes his hand and kisses it. He makes a face," no pain. Why would I... pain? It itches Emily."

He looks her over for a moment," you're very beautiful Emily. Like a scary kinda pretty."

His attention quickly bounces away.

He grunts and tries to move his other hand," I'm stuck! They've got me! The prostitutes! They're gonna get me like they got Ripper! They got the Ripper, Emily."

Emily smiles, for the first time in what seems like forever," who got Jack the Ripper, Hotch?"

He makes a face and turns his head," 's not my name. I'm Aaron." He pulls his hand away and offers to shake her hand," nice to meet you."

She shakes it, just to please him," hello Aaron."

His face becomes serious," don't worry Emily. I'll save you from the prostitutes."

Emily lays his hand back on the bed," I'm going to get a doctor."

Hotch touches his face," my nose is missing! I can't feel it!"

_¡|《》|¡_

"Good morning sunshine," Rossi says flipping the page in his hunting magazine.

"Dave?" His voice is raspy and he feels like he's slept for years.

Rossi smiles," you know you gave us one hell of a scare."

He looks around the room, there's a bed a couple feet from him but vacant, just as vacant as his memory. "I don't... what happened?"

Emily walks in and he follows her with his eyes. She's got cuts along her face. All of them are scabbed.

"Is he over the prostitutes?" She asks handing Rossi a coffe and coming to Hotch's side to fill up a little plastic cup.

"The prostitutes?" Hotch asks his throat is killing him.

Rossi grins," oh yeah. Morphine brings out the best in you Aaron."

His eyebrows scrunch up in confusion," I don't understand. Why was I talking about prostitutes?"

Emily rubs his hand," you told us that they killed Jack the Ripper and that they were after us next."

Rossi confirms this," it was endearing. You were very concerned for our safety."

Emily smiles and pats his hand," you even told the nurses."

"Oh," is all he manage.

I think the next chapter will be the team's perspective on those events.

Thanks criminalmindscase for tagging me in Dragon Awards! I think I might sign up!

Also I have to tag five accounts and anyone who asks I will tag!

-SH