Helpless (Aaron Hotchner Fanfic)

Chapter Eight

"Alright, so it looks like this guy is really serious. Have you guys ran the note for blood analysis?"

Melanie read the ransom note and to be honest, this didn't look very good. The team only had twenty-two hours left to find Hotch's son and she was beginning to worry that she wouldn't be able to crack the case in time. She looked over at Hotch and he silently nodded. She smiled tightly and went back to reading the file. Melanie was starting to really like this guy and she didn't know why. Morgan didn't tell her too much about him, but here she here was, meeting him in person and he felt like she had known him all of her life. Hotch let out a deep sigh from his place in the chair beside her.

"Yeah, we ran it for blood. Test results should be coming in-"

"Now," Morgan said as he clicked a button on the small answering machine in the center of the table. The whole team gathered around the table. "Garcia, go."

"Okay, so I have the blood analysis back-" She stopped and everyone's eyebrows furrowed. 

"Garcia, talk to me baby girl."

"Hotch? It's ... it's Jack's."

As soon as those two words came out of Garcia's mouth, Melanie felt Hotch tear out of his seat, hitting Melanie's arm in the process and tear out of the room. Melanie flinched and rubbed her arm. She knew Hotch didn't mean it, but still ... Everyone's mood dropped and Melanie could see tears coming into Morgan and JJ's eyes. Melanie heard a door slam and she jumped in fright. 

"I'm so sorry Hotch," Garcia whispered through the phone, obviously crying. 

"Thanks Baby Girl," Morgan choked and ended the call. 

"I'm going to go talk to Hotch," Melanie said, still holding her arm. The team nodded and she gave the same tight smile and retreated down to Hotch's closed office door. Her eyes stared into the door because she couldn't bring herself to open it for some reason. This man was suffering so greatly and she was doing to best she could to ease that pain ... but it didn't seem to be working. Her hand finally reached up and knocked gently on the door. 

"Hotch? It's me, Melanie."

After no answer, she carefully let herself open the door to see Hotch bent over his desk, standing silently. Melanie closed the door, feeling awful for the news that he received. Hotch looked up from the desk and Melanie's heart broke seeing the tears that lined his eyes. Her eyes started to line with their own. 

"Melanie," Hotch's stare softened as he strode up to her. 

"I'm sorry sir I- ... I'm trying the best th-that I possibly can to help your t-t-team-" she sniffled out. "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry I can't be of more help."

"Hey," Hotch said and grabbed her arms. She flinched and he looked at her puzzled. She tore an arm away from his grasp and grabbed it protectively, cradling it. Looking down at it, there was a faint purple bruise beginning to form on her arm. He recalled storming out of the room and hitting something ... it must've been her arm.

Oh my god ... Melanie did I do that?"

"Do wh-" She looked down where she was cradling her arm. "Yeah," she whispered. "but it's okay, really. I'll be fine. You were angry and lost because you found out that that was your son's blood, meaning he could be hurt. I don't blame you at all."

"Stay right there." Hotch went to a shelf and brought down a first aid kit. Melanie sighed. 

"Hotch, that isn't necessary-"

"Yes it is," he replied sternly. "I hurt you and there is no excuse for it, not even realizing my son is hurt because of this sick bastard." He proceeded to take a piece of gauze and wrapping it around with elastic bandage. She sighed and smiled a tiny bit while he performed the procedure. 

"Thanks, Dr. Hotchner."

"Anytime, Patient Davis."

"Hotch I really am sorry for what happened. I know that you lost your wife to a sick bastard like this and I know that your son is the most important thing in the world to you. You cant lose him. He is the only person you have left." Melanie saw Hotch's tears returning again and he looked down at the floor. "We'll fin him Hotch, over my dead body we will find him. But first, you need to let all those emotions out. You can't hide your tears, Hotch."

When Melanie heard a small, barely audible sob come from his hanging head, she reached out gingerly and dared to wrap his arms around his neck. He replied to the hug by wrapping his hands around her waist firmly Melanie was a bit taken aback, but she buried her head in her boss's shoulder and let him cry. She rubbed his back and whispered in his ears comforting words. 

Little did the pair know that Morgan and Reid were standing outside the office, watching the pair through the tiniest cracks of the blinds. Morgan smirked and he and Reid walked back into the conference room. 

"When this is all over, we really need to set them up," Morgan said. All the girls stared at each other before rushing out of the office to peer through the blinds as well. Morgan and Reid laughed and began to look through the file again. They were all feeling much better. 

Until they saw the clock read five o'clock, meaning that the team had twenty hours left to find Jack. 

~~~~~

Word Count: 931

(Sorry this is a bit shorter!)