Helpless (Aaron Hotchner Fanfic)

Chapter Sixteen

Terror. 

Pure terror was displayed so forcefully on such a beautiful face as I placed a bullet into the skull of a handsome, cunning, and manipulative psychopathic killer by the name of James Lafayette.

His body dropped to the floor and the audible sigh expressed from her lips was heartbreaking and joyous. No longer did this woman have to deal with her past in this terrifying, physical form. Memories will remain and scars will never fade, but this man who had terrorized her for years was put to his inevitable rest in a unforgiving manner. James Lafayette was dead. 

My son was in the arms of someone safe, warm and welcoming. 

Melanie Davis. 

The woman I loved--

Sat shivering in a rickety, wooden chair, tears falling silently down her face in praise and relief. 

I made my way over to her, holstering my glock and she stared at me with those pools that once held happiness and determination. Never had I seen those eyes falter to hold those sweet, sweet characteristics but in this moment, they held defeat and that last sparkle of hope was fading. It hit my heart in a place where I haven't felt anything in a long time. My arms outstretched and she immediately clung onto them as if they were the very thing that was beginning to pull her out of these pits she had hidden in for far too long. 

Melanie Davis. She was safe. 

~~~~~

I clung to Hotch's arms as he offered them out to me. This was it: he was dead. That man I loathed and despised and feared for all these years would never relive his sick, twisted rages of self satisfaction. I could feel myself being hoisted out of the chair I felt frozen too, sending my body into a coughing fit along with shivers. My mind still couldn't wrap itself around the relieving concept, although I could see his lifeless form sprawled against the murky, rotten floors.

My ears creased in at the sound of the wet sand squelching and crackling violently beneath our boots as we held out weight on each other. Arms flung around my waist as I lifted my arms to latch around a very familiar neck. I savored the musky scent that lingered on his collar as I silently let all my fear, anger and worry out in front of Hotch. His squeeze was comforting and protective, like he was sending a message straight to my heart that he was never letting go again. 

"Melanie," he breathed. 

"Thank you," I whispered. I could feel my strength weaken and mental state slowly becoming clouded. 

Hotch noticed my tingling, weighted limbs and he latched onto me tighter, pulling me towards the rain who threatened to swallow my existence whole. It was an escape. A way out and I was finally getting to meet it. With a protective hand around my waist, Hotch led me out the door and into the howling wind. The waves on the shore down the slant were lapping viciously against the sand, each time seeing how far they could push themselves past their previous shoreline. 

~~~~~

Her weight was capsizing as I knew she couldn't help herself stand after what she had been through. I have never felt more driven in a case than I was now. She needed to get to the team. She needed to get to where she was warm, safe and relieved of this nightmare. Our bodies were so close to each other yet so far apart. I could feel everything that seeped out of the slits Lafayette had made withing her emotional walls. 

Pain. 

Exhaustion. 

Fear. 

Memories. 

I could tell this trek through the wind and the rain was excruciating for her her mental stamina more than her physical. She remained upright, but her breathing was labored and you could tell she was getting sick from being cold and wet for almost an hour and a half. My eyes drifted over at her and I watched her grimace every few steps. 

"Melanie!" I yelled through the pelting rain and howling wind. 

I planted my feet in the sand, knowing she wouldn't be able to plant her feet on her own. She gradually began pulling at my grasp, telling herself to keep going but I know if she kept this pace, she would collapse at the bottom of the hill. 

"Melanie stop!"

She finally let her weight stop her and I could feel it pulling me forwards and I dug my feet into the sand.She hung her head and slowly turned her body towards me, as if asking for help. Her feet were slowly making her footprints wider and wider as her body swung sideways, her feet still planted. She swung sharp suddenly then, her body crashing into my drenched white button-up and navy vest as she went limp. I grasped her figure in my arms, pulling her into me and I hoisted her up to my chest and slipped arm under her knee. 

The sand swished in front of me from a distance and I looked up to see Morgan running down with a team ready to invade the small terror shack. He saw me with Melanie and quickly backed the team down. He muttered something before part of the team took off towards the shack behind us and the other headed back up the hill. Morgan bolted his way down the slick slide, his breath becoming visible in the air in small, white puffs. My eyes traveled downwards as I noticed my own manifesting. 

"Melanie!" Morgan called as he decreased the distance between us. "Melanie," he said much softer as he stopped in front of us panting. 

Morgan held out a sheepskin blanket, which was warm and water-repellent. He unfolded it quickly and placed it under her back, supporting her while I took my arm out underneath Melanie's back and replaced it behind the blanket. Morgan took it under her and under her knees, wrapping the excess cloth over her frail body to shield it from the cold droplets.

"Morgan we need to get her up that hill right now and to the V's," I growled, angry and frustrated. (A/N: V('s)= SUV)

"On it Hotch," he nodded. 

"I need the V up and running now pull it down to the top of the hill Prentiss," Morgan called through his walkie. "Melanie's not good. She's runnin' a temp and this girl's gotta get out of the cold as soon as we can get her out."

"I got it," Prentiss called back. 

I looked up to see the hill and a a halo of red and blue behind Reid, who stood there anxious and worried. Sirens screeched through the wind as I carried this beautiful, strong woman, broken and battered, silently in my arms.  With a newfound burst of determination, I dug my heels into the sudden increase in elevation and worked my way up the hill. Morgan stood right beside me, trudging and providing the weight of needed to help us up the steep hill.

I got up and Reid swam right through the sea pf chaos towards us. peering down into Melanie's ghastly face. He frowned and looked up at me. I didn't know what to do or say to him. He softly rubbed a knuckle over her freezing brown and smiled the tiniest bit. Morgan had disappeared. 

"She didn't deserve that," Reid said softly. 

"I know," I said, my eyes still firm. 

"Hey hey Hotch," Morgan said, running out from a sea of people. "We got the V. JJ's has already been to the hospital with Jack. He's fine but I told her we'll meet her there with Melanie."

"Great Morgan let's go," I grimaced and took off with Melanie, shivering, to the black SUV she had run out of to start this mission. Exhaust poured out of the rear creating smokestacks promising warmth in the SUV's interior. Morgan opened the door and I slid her gently in the backseat. Prentiss made eye contact with me as I tore my eyes away from the person I so much cared about. I could see the apologies pouring out of her midnight irises and I flickered a 'me too' back at her. 

Morgan hopped in the back and laid Melanie's head on his lap and Reid had hopped in the passenger seat, buckling himself up in record speed. Prentiss reached back and looked at me as I ducked back out of the car. 

"Hot-"

Her concerning words were cut off with "Go." and my forceful slam of the car door. I could see Prentiss hesitate but Morgan shouted something and they squealed off, leaving me in the bitter rain and in the sandy dust as I watched them speed off back towards the city. For the first time in a while, I completely broke. 

I cried. 

~~~~~

Hey new update! WHooooooo Im so proud of myself. Stay tuned!

Until next time,
Maddie :)

Word Count: 1492