Center Of Attention (Chapter 2)

[st-ciasta.livejournal.com]

Title; Center Of Attention (Chapter 2)
Author; st_ciasta or Jimmy
Pairing; Hotch/Reid
Rating; PG-13
Disclaimer; I own no one or thing but this story is mine and completely fictional
Notes; So yeah, this is the second chapter of my story and...honestly, I hope you guys like it ^_^
Summary; While on a case involving tortured and raped women, Hotch and Reid find they need to figure out just what they mean to each other and whether Hotch can preserve his new relationship while battling his past demons.

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   The conversation he had had with Hotch the day before weighed heavily on Reid's mind, but he resolved he would do his best to stay as focuses as possible on the case. His and Hotch's relationship status could wait until they had time for themselves, not the time that could possibly be the last of a victim who was depending on them.

   It seemed the day had decided to agree with him with full force as the police station was in complete chaos when the team arrived.

   Hotch was immediately concerned, every officer in the station moving quickly and with purpose. Hardly any one paid them any mind, Hotch quickly leading the team to the Sherriff's office. When he opened the door and they all piled in, they were welcomed by the sight of the Sherriff watching a television screen intently.

   "What's going on?" Hotch said sternly, making their presence known. The sherriff turned his chair towards them, his eyes filled with dread and determination as the crows feet surrounding them seemed to deepen because of his bad news. He sighed, standing up and picking up a plain brown mailing envelope before handing it to Hotch.

   "We got this this morning. I have to warn you...it's pretty gruesome." Sherriff Whyltts replied, Hotch taking the envelope and reaching in to find six other discs. They were DVD's, each labelled with only a number, two through seven. When he looked back up, his stare went to the television screen which showed the picture of Emily Warner being slashed by a man whom couldn't be identified due to the poor lighting and an odd looking hood.

   The room she was in was lit only by a halogen bulb quite possibly in the centre of the room, though it was out of the camera's view. The camera was set up in possibly a corner, staring down at Emily Warner as she screamed, the knife making paths through her pale, dirty skin. She was shackled to a wall and the only thing she had of comfort was an old army blanket and her underwear. There were other slashes on her body, deep and covered with dry blood. Emily Warner had been the first body to be found and immediately, Hotch knew what the DVD's were.

   "These were filmed during their torture." Morgan said, disgust laced through his voice. Reid stared almost in horror as he watched the man take the knife to her a few more times before he began to undress her. Emily faught as hard as she could. He turned away, Hotch glaring at the screen before looking back at Sherriff Whyltts.

   "Were they processed?" He asked sternly.

   "No fingerprints, no D.N.A. The envelope was found at the door so there's no postage mark or stamp." Sherriff Whyltts replied, stopping the film and retrieving it from the DVD player.

   "Have you watched all of them?" Prentiss asked, the sherriff shook his head.

   "They only just finished processing them." He answered. Hotch nodded, wondering if maybe Garcia could find something on them.

   "Rossi, see if you can get these to Garcia as quick as possible. She might be able to find something on them which might lead to the make of the camera that filmed them." Hotch quickly informed, Rossi nodding as he took the envelope and DVD from him and left the room quickly.

   "There was no note or letter to go with them. But I think we should talk to the people who found the bodies. I think there's a stone there that hasn't been turned." The sherriff said, his gravelly voice holding suspision and enough to make Hotch agree.

   "Bring them in, we'll talk to them." Hotch said sternly.

   "Wait, why didn't you call us the moment you get those?" Prentiss asked the sherriff.

   "We felt processing them was more important." The sherriff said, his voice disrespectful as though he were talking to a child who had been giving him sass. Prentiss looked as though she were about to argue further but Hotch cut her off.

   "That's fine. Bring in the people who found the bodies and we'll interview them." Hotch said, his stern stare landing on Prentiss and quickly silencing her. Hotch turned to leave before Rossi appeared, looking somewhat out of breath.

   "Hotch, It would just be faster to bring Garcia here." Rossi said quickly, Hotch giving a nod.

   "That's fine, get her out here" Hotch said to Rossi before turning back to the Sherriff. "Do you have the coroner's reports of the bodies?" He asked the sherriff, the man nodding before handing each file to him. Hotch soon handing one to each of the team members, leaving the room with everyone following him to the room designated as their own space to work. It didn't take long for them to get into their work, Reid looking into the case of Alex Mercer this time. It looked almost the same as Emily Warner's on the plane, except there were a few more details.

   "It's weird. These guys seem almost intent on keeping information away from us." Morgan said, Reid nodding.

   "It's not like we haven't encountered this before." Reid said calmly.

   "I know but...doesn't it seem a little weird to you? Even the most resentful cops give us any evidence they've found." Morgan objected, Hotch looking up at him calmly.

   "Well, for now let's just be happy we've got the information we do have." Hotch said, calming Morgan who sighed and looked down at Jessica Medley's folder, the third woman found at only 19.

   "The victim's wounds are all somewhat similar. The cuts themselves aren't deep enough to sever arteries but the ammount of them cause a lot of bleeding. Some of them look like they've managed to heal partially, but they're infected. And there's not one distinct place like the chest or appendages. He cuts up anywhere he likes. He cuts every part of the body." Reid noted.

   "He doesn't kill them by, say, slashing their throats or wrists though. He most likely has some kind of blood fetish." Prentiss contributed.

   "So why does he keep them for so long? Most sadists spend at most a few days with their victims. This Unsub acts like he actually wants to keep them longer." Morgan said.

   "Yet he doesn't seem to be caring for them too much. All victims have beginning signs of starvation. None of the cuts were cleaned and he doesn't bathe them. He just cuts them and rapes them." Rossi said, staring at the photo of Tracy Victors who was only 17.

   "Maybe he only intends to keep them for a few weeks?" J.J asked, Hotch shaking his head.

   "No. If he had a timeline, he would have just killed them. These deaths look almost like they're unintended. Blood poisoning, hypothermia...both of them seem preventable." Hotch said, looking over Stacey Jennings autopsy report.

   "It's odd. Both Emily Warner and Alex Mercer had chloroform around their mouths. Maybe this is how the Unsub is abducting them?" Reid asked, J.J giving a nod.

   "If he's abducting and dumping them, he'd most likely be using the same vehicle. Probably a van or a truck?" J.J said, Hotch nodding before closing Stacey's file.

   "If he's driving that type of vehicle, he probably could be residing on a farm or somewhere close to a slaughterhouse. He knows where the major arteries are so he avoids them entirely. This suggests he probably has a background in slaughter or hunting." He said contemplatively, trying to think of something he could add to the profile.

   "Judging by the room we saw in the DVD, he's probably keeping them in a room where heavy livestock was probably kept before being slaughtered.." J.J added.

   A knock on the door interupted them and Sherriff Wyltts came into view.

   "There were only six bodies found...but there's seven DVDs." He said, Hotch giving a nod of confirmation.

   "We haven't watched them all yet. We want to wait until our technical analyst arrives." Hotch answered.

   "Well, not that I'm trying to question the way you all do things...but I reckon that since Emily Warner was the only one on that one DVD, I reckon that seventh DVD is probably a seventh victim." The sherriff said, Hotch giving a look of dissapointment.

   "I know." He replied, the sherriff giving him a look of surprise.

   "Then...why aren't you watching them? Couldn't they tell you where the bastard is?" Wyllts asked, looking a little frantic.

   "That's something we hope to find out when our analyst gets here." Hotch answered, calm as he tried to get the point across. The sherriff gave a look of defeat, heaving a heavy sigh before leaving the room. Reid couldn't help but look up at Hotch with some concern. It wasn't like Hotch to just wait to see evidence. He normally dove right in, despite what it was. Reid couldn't help but wonder if it maybe had something to do with the way the victims were cut. Slowly, just as Foyet had done to Hotch.

   "Hotch-" Reid started, but his superior seemed well aware of what Reid was about to ask.

   "We'll watch the DVDs when Garcia gets here. For now, we'll have to try and see what we can find out from the way the bodies were dumped." Hotch said, Reid taking the cue to be quiet. He was stalling and a part of Reid wanted to just carry on. To do so would be foolish considering he knew it was probably difficult enough for Hotch to try and not be effected by the memories he refused to discuss with anyone flooding back at him as he looked at the bodies.

   He decided to stay quiet and do as Hotch told him.
 

*
 

   The day had been rough, especially for the team who waited calmly for Garcia to join them. When she had, Hotch had given her strict instructions to watch the DVDs and do what she could to see if she could find out what kind of camera recorded them. He said anything she could do would be helpful and even though Hotch had been kind enough to warn her about what she might see, it was obvious that Garcia herself was a little reluctant. Morgan offered to help her and it obviously made it easier on her, but Reid could tell she was curious as to why Hotch himself hadn't offered to do so. It seemed that she as well could tell he was reluctant to watch them himself.

   Reid had somehow managed to convince Hotch to get some rest. That anymore work to be done would be best saved until Garcia could get what she could. Hotch was stubborn, as always, but he eventually surrendered to Reid's insistings and followed the young Doctor to the hotel. Something was on Reid's mind and he was intent on asking. He had waited long enough and the best time for him to ask his questions was now. When no one was around and expected to interupt. Garcia and Morgan would be busy with the DVD's and it was obvious that J.J was itching to get on the phone with Will and Henry. Prentiss looked exhausted and Rossi himself had decided he would try and to find anything else in the autopsy reports that might help them better profile who was commiting these crimes. It was late and Reid was just as tired, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep unless he questioned Hotch and calmed the waves of fear lapping at his mind.

   "Hotch?" Reid started, his voice curious but hoping it didn't show his extreme level of concern. Hotch was busy taking off his tie, turning to face the young Doctor. His glance was curious as it showed Reid had his attention, turning back to the task of removing his tie.

   "Is everything alright?" Reid asked, trying to remain on a calm level despite his fears of getting the same answer he had recieved the last time he had asked this question.

   "I'm fine, Reid." Hotch replied, not looking at him. That was one tell-tale sign that Hotch wasn't necessarily telling him the truth. When Hotch couldn't look you in the eye as he spoke to you, he was most likely not being entirely honest. The reason he couldn't look someone in the eye when lying was because he hated to lie. It showed a reason not to trust him and that was one thing Hotch prized the most. It was part of his job and his life. If he wasn't trustworthy, how would that help anything? Reid scoffed, a small smile flashing across his face as if to try and lift the heavy feeling of guilt on Hotch's shoulders.

   "It's funny." Reid replied, Hotch giving him a curious glance.

   "What is?" Hotch asked.

   "When you lie, you don't look at someone when you do it. You try to act distracted so that you don't have to." Reid answered, the profiler side of him coming out. Hotch paused for a moment, his shoulders tense. Profilers weren't supposed to profile their team, but Reid wasn't doing this as Hotch's coworker. He was doing it as someone who was obviously more than a friend. Hopefully, as a lover.

   "Oh." Hotch answered, an answer Reid hadn't expected at all.

   "Hotch, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it with anyone else but...you're not fine. Everyone can tell." Reid started, Hotch heaving a sigh as he removed the tie and put it in it's appropriate place before beginning to unbutton his shirt.

   "Hotch, I would think that you could...at least, maybe, talk to me about it?" Reid tried, doubting this would work and knowing it only swelled the feeling of guilt with in the older of the two.

   "What is it that I'm suppossed to be talking about?" Hotch asked, dipping his toes into the water as if looking for some false hope that Reid wasn't asking what he was.

   "The fact that these girls are kind of going through what you did." Reid said softly, seeing a flash of discomfort wash over Hotch's body. He went tense for a moment, as if the very mention of the memory caused him physical pain. It was bad enough that Hotch wouldn't really be able to get fully rid of the scars that plagued his torso but it was worse that memory would always be so clear in his mind.

   "Reid-" Hotch started with warn, but Spencer continued.

   "Hotch, I'm not asking you to tell me what happened. You don't have to. But...at least be honest about it. Don't just bury it and act like everything's fine. It won't help."

   "I'm not burying anything, Reid. I'm fine. I told you." Hotch answered, his voice stern as he stripped down to his boxers and undershirt.

   "Hotch, I'm just trying to help."

   "You're not helping because nothing's wrong." Hotch answered, brown eyes staring into Reid's with a sense of stubborn anger. The same kind of stare Hotch got when interrogating someone and making it clear that he wasn't about to budge. The conversation ended there, Reid saying nothing as he stared innocently up at the older man. He had gotten too close to the fire and now, it was burning at the edges of his brain in the form of guilt and apolagy on his part. He nodded, looking away.

   "Okay." He replied, knowing that pushing any further would only serve in Hotch maybe yelling at him and put him in the dog house. If someone wasn't ready to face their demons, it wasn't fair to shove them in front of them when he couldn't help.

   He was trying to think of something he could say, however. As Hotch sighed and walked towards the bed, Reid tried to come up with words that would form a good enough apology to the man who obviously took his secrets and feelings on his own shoulders for as far as he could. Reid knew he was not the one who could help Hotch with his demons, especially when it came to Foyet. Now, more than ever, Reid wished the dead could talk, even if it was just the one time. He wished that Hailey herself could tell Hotch that what had happened wasn't his fault. That he had done everything he could. That it wasn't his choice whether Hailey lived or died, but Foyet's. And that choice had not been placed in Foyet's hands by Hotch.

   Reid was silent as he watched Hotch climb under the sheets, his back ot the youngest of the two and his shoulders tense. Reid wondered what he could do to try and get back on Hotch's good side, shuffling close to him before placing a hand on the older man's back softly.

   "Hotch? He said softly, hoping to show the man how sorry he was for pushing so hard. At first, Hotch ignored him. But after a moment, he turned to Reid with a look in his eyes that suggested he was ready for even more arguing. Reid leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to Hotch's lips as some form of an apology. Hotch accepted it, a hand going to the back of Reid's head to pull him closer. The kiss grew passionate, Hotch's lips parting to allow their tongues to meet. Their lips carressed each other's as though they had been doing so forever, Reid soon straddling Hotch's hips with his hands placed on his chest.

   Hotch relaxed underneath Reid's touch, his other hand holding onto the young doctor's hip as he began to develop an erection. The thought of whether it was appropriate to do so flickered in his mind before Reid's lips left his and found that particular spot behind his left ear. He shuddered at the touch, his hips bucking slightly underneath Reid. The younger of the two moaned softly, breathing warm air against Hotch's ear as his fingers slowly slid down the older's torso. They dipped beneath Hotch's shirt, trailing softly upwards as the young doctor's lips met Hotch's again. The moment Reid's fingers met the first of Hotch's scars, however, it abrubtly ended as Hotch quickly grabbed Reid's wrists. Reid stopped kissing him, parting their lips so he could look into the other man's eyes.

   "Are you really that ashamed of them?" Reid asked, his eyes sad as he looked at Hotch. Hotch looked confused at first, opening and closing his mouth in an attempt to find something to say. But when that failed, he gently pushed Reid away and got out of bed. Reid looked at him with confusion as Hotch began to redress himself.

   "Where are you going?" Reid asked, afraid that he had offended Him.

   "I just need to go for a walk. I'll be back in a few minutes." Hotch quietly replied, refusing to look at Reid as he pulled on one of his sweaters.

   "Hotch...if I said something-" Reid started, his voice barely above a whisper. Hotch shook his head before turning and leaving the room, Reid having noticed the shame across his superior's face.

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D: Oh noes...

-Jimmy