The Telepath's Daughter

The Forest Dark and Deep

Eyes still closed, Melinda tugged on Hotch's hand, her eager steps headed toward the sanctuary's hospital.

There was a moment of resistance from Hotch. He wasn't sure if he was ready to confront any of the town's residents, especially not the old man who'd saved his life and sanity a few years ago. Aaron knew it was the reason he'd tagged along on this trip, but he realized he wanted to linger on the nice, safe sidelines just a bit longer before diving into something disturbing and unsettling. And somehow irrevocable. Not yet...

"Hey, Mellie, maybe we should go back and see what Miss Millie has for tea?" Hotch tried as a hopeful diversion. "I'm getting hungry. How 'bout you?"

"Uh-uh. No." Melinda pulled on her godfather's hand, her eyes still closed. "We have to go...to go...there." She strained toward the building at the end of the street, the ancient forest towering behind it like the entrance to a dark, unknowable castle.

A shiver coursed its way up Hotch's spine. He didn't want to dig his heels in and outright refuse to approach the hospital. Not after he'd been the one to suggest they take a walk in the first place. He also didn't want to communicate any kind of abstract fear that might be the detritus of his last visit here and certainly had no bearing on how little Melinda should feel.

And she'd said this was home. If anyone understood how important it was to be able to call someplace you belonged "home," it was Hotch. A childhood spent behind a lovely façade that belied the violence, cruelty and fear crouched within its walls had made the Unit Chief aware of exactly how special "home" was. Or should be. He couldn't pretend to understand the workings of Melinda's mind, but he could trust his own instincts. Whatever his goddaughter was feeling was more important than his own jaded reservations.

So Hotch let Melinda pull him down the street. He dragged his feet only a little, and only to give himself some time to brace for the inevitable meeting with that strange, ancient being that called itself a doctor. It was also a bit disturbing that Melinda was so sure of her route despite her eyes being firmly shut.

"C'mon, Uncle Aaron! Hurry up!"

When they came abreast of the hospital doors, Hotch took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. Whatever resolve such actions gave him dissolved under the force of Melinda's persistent tugging.

Eyes closed, she steered them past the entrance and toward the cool, green darkness of the woods beyond.

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"Miss Millie, can I help you in the kitchen?"

Rossi directed his most charming, persuasive smile toward the fluttering, little hostess. "It'll be like old times." And it'll give Reid and Ana a chance to catch their breath. Millie could be a bit overwhelming. She'd been a nonstop barrage of exclamations, excitement and questions that never stopped long enough to garner answers. Rossi's genuine amusement came across as such benevolent good humor that Millie couldn't refuse.

"Oh...Oh!...Oh, of course, Mr.... I mean, Dave! Well, the young people can sit down and we'll be right back!" She called over her shoulder as Rossi shepherded her toward the kitchen.

"And...Oh!...Where did the little girl go?! I have some very special candied violets I made myself that I'm sure she'll..."

"I'm sure she'll love them, Miss Millie. They sound wonderful. So, you made them yourself, did you? Tell me about that." Rossi sent a sly wink toward the Reids as the door between kitchen and parlor swung shut, muffling the enthusiastic sound of the B&B's proprietress as she favored her guest with a detailed account of the art of candied flowers.