Work Relations || Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 18

It was almost midnight and the rest of the team left from the local PD and headed to the hotel. I stayed back and wanted to take one more look at the case and the witnesses' testimonies. But something in the manager's story of the latest victim didn't make sense to me and comparing it to what Garcia found earlier I think that he needs to explain some more things. So before heading to the hotel ourselves, Hotch and I went to ask him a few more questions before he manages to disappear.

We found him in his office despite the time. "Mr Lane, we are sorry for coming so late but we need to ask you a few more questions" Hotch says
"Can't it wait until tomorrow morning?" he asks
"No, it can't" Hotch demands. That tone of voice is really hot.
"We would really appreciate if you could come to the station and answer a few questions" I say
"Ok" he says and we walk to the door with him.

Out of nowhere, he smashes Aaron's head to the wall and knocks him out. I take my gun out and I point it towards him. "Hotch?" I ask but he was still on the floor. There was a small cut on his forehead that was bleeding. But because my attention was at Hotch, Lane managed to knock the gun out of my hand. I punch him in the face and I kick him in the stomach. But this bastard was still standing up. "Hotch!" I yell as he was trying to gain back consciousness. He tries to punch me but I dug. He kicks my legs and I fall on the floor. He punches my face and everything starts spinning. He grabs me by the collar of my shirt and throws me with force on the glass coffee table that he hand in his office breaking it. But he doesn't let me there. He drags me back and eventually throws me on the thick glass wall that was separating his office from the rest of the office. I fall on the floor outside of his office and glass is everywhere.

I heard a shot but I couldn't see who shot who. It's probably Hotch because if Lane had a gun he would already have used it. "This is SSA Aaron Hotchner, I need an ambulance in Lane Corp, 8th floor. Jessie? Hey, Jess, are you ok?" Hotch asks running to me
"I don't think so" I say trembling "I am pretty sure that there is a big piece of glass in my back that has pierced through my skin. I can feel it. I can also feel mult-- multiple little glasses on my face and body, am I right?" I ask him still trembling
"You're gonna be ok" he says brushing my hair softly so he wouldn't hurt me more. "Don't try to move, ok? The ambulance is coming. Everything is gonna be ok" he says.

With all the strength I had left I lift my hand and I cup his cheek. He holds my hand
"I love you Aaron Hotchner" I say trembling even more than before but also trying to smile.
"No, don't say that now. You need to save your energy alright?" he says putting my hand down and cupping my face. He rubs my cheeks and looks down at me. "I love you Jessie" he says as a tear escapes his eye. My vision starts to get blurry and I couldn't feel more pain because I couldn't feel anything. And soon darkness started to take over. "No, Jess, please stay with me. Jessie" I could hear Aaron talk but it was like his voice was going away. He laid his head on my chest and I could feel that he is crying. It was really hard to stay away from the darkness and eventually I got sucked into it.

I wake up gasping for air and immediately I touch my back and my face. I take a look around and I notice that I'm in my bed unharmed. I lay back down and I try to control my breathing and heartbeat. I said I love you...

I hear a knock on the door and I drag myself out of bed to go to who it is. "David? What are you doing here?" I ask letting him in
"Well, I wouldn't be here if you had answered your phone. We've got a case" he says
"Isn't it Sunday today?" I ask
"For how long do you have this job?" he asks
"You're right. I'm sorry I just woke up and not in the best way" I say
"Why? Wasn't lover boy here?" he asks
"Hey!" I say
"Ok, ok. Go get ready. I'm buying coffee" he says
"You just said the magic word. I'll be right back" I say and I go in my room.

We got coffee and drove to the BAU together. "Sorry I'm late. I didn't hear my phone" I say as I run in the conference room
"And sorry that I'm late but I had to go pick her up" David says walking after me. We got a quick presentation of the case and left almost immediately for New York. Going back home... Hotch and I left last and got some time alone in the elevator. "There you are. Good morning" he says
"Good morning" I say and he kisses me
"Rough morning?" he asks
"You can say that. I'm still waiting for the caffeine to kick in" I say and he chuckles.

My phone rings "It's Penelope" I say to Aaron as I pick up "Hey girl. What's up?" I ask
"I believe that you are still in for ladies' night tomorrow if you come back by then, right?" she asks
"Yes, I'm in" I say
"Good because I've been planning is for days and I'll be mad at you for life if you don't. Love you, bye" she says and hungs up.
"Ladies night?" Aaron asks
"Yeah, how did you know?" I ask
"She asked me this morning in case I knew if you're going" he says and I nod.

We got to New York and Emily, David and I went to the latest crime scene. It was in Lukes Corp business and the manager, Mr Lukes, wouldn't stop asking questions even before we got on the 6th floor where the crime scene was. "You know what? I have a few questions about you Mr Lukes. How about we go in your office and talk?" I ask trying to let at least Emily and Reid work.
"Yes, of course" he says and we go to the 8th floor where his office was.

"The coroner puts the time of death around 1 am last night. Where were you around that time?" I ask
"I was home. I don't stay in the office so late. I left at 10 pm" he says
"And why was miss June in the office so late?" I ask
"She informed me when I was on my way out that she has to stay in order finish a project" he says
"Is there anyone who can confirm this?" I ask
"I don't know. She was the last one in the office. And I live alone" he says
"Are there cameras in the parking lot or the entrance?" I ask
"Unfortunately all the cameras are out of order because of a recent problem we had. The technicians were supposed to come today" he says
"Thank you for your time. We'll let you know if we need any more questions" I say shaking his hand
"Yes please. I really want to help find who did this" he says and I nod.

I find the others on the 6th floor and we leave. "How did the manager seem?" Emily asks
"Not very convincing. I'll have Penelope see if she can maybe find his car in any traffic cameras" I say as we get in the car.

Later, we delivered the profile and were getting ready to go back to the hotel. I was on my way out with Aaron when I got a call from Penelope. "Talk to me" I say putting her on speaker
"I did what you asked earlier and I just found Lukes' car in a traffic camera a miles away from the office, heading home at 2:12 am" she says
"When I talked to him, he said that he left at 10 pm" I say
"Well, right now he is still in his office" she says
"We should go check it out" he says and I nod. "Thanks Garcia, go get some sleep now" he continues.

He walks to the car but I don't follow him "Wait a minute" I say and I stop him "I've seen this movie before" I whisper to myself "I think that we should wear our vests before going there. Just in case..." I suggest
"Ok. They are in the car" he says and I follow him. We got there fast so we wouldn't lose him and went straight to his office. "Mr Lukes, we are sorry for coming so late but we need to ask you a few more questions" Hotch says
"Can't it wait until tomorrow morning?" he asks
"No, it can't" Hotch demands. This can't be happening.
"Ok" he says and we walk to the door with him.

I hold Hotch back and I walk first. My eyes didn't leave Lukes for a second. Eventually he tried to make his move but because I was kinda waiting for it, I manage to resist. I kick his leg and he falls on the ground. I go behind him and I put handcuffs on him. "What did just happen?" Hotch asks
"What do you think?" I ask.

We got him back to the station and left him in a cell for the night. When we were back in the car, I felt like a big weight left from my chest. "Are you ok?" Aaron asks taking my hand
"I think so" I say and I kiss him
"By the way, that thing you did back there was hot" he says and I chuckle
"Thank you" I say and I kiss him again.