Silence of the Lambs 5
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cm_hotch_reidTitle: Mockingbird
Part 5
Summary: Hotch is a serial killer and Reid is sent to interview him in prison. Not a crossover with the movie.
Warnings: depictions of violence, amthure themes, slash
Pairing: Hotch/Reid
Rating: Pg-13
After a two hour car ride they found themselves standing in front of the massive grey prison walls of the Virginia State Penitentiary.
Reid felt his heart rate accelerating as he got out and stared up at the snipers and barbed wire.
This was it, he knew. The final test of whether he was ready to come back to the job. He hadn't lost any of his brain function along with his memory and he knew he could still be the brilliant profiler he used to be. If he could work up the guts that went along with the intellect.
"Sure you want to do this?" Gideon asked as they walked up to the gate, looking like all he really wanted was to grab Reid by the scruff of his neck and drag him back to the car.
Reid nodded for what felt like the fifth time. He didn't think he remembered Gideon being quite as overprotective before. Maybe it was the same as with Morgan.
Though he understood Gideon's ill feeling about the case in general: Not only was Hotchner extremely vicious when it came to killing but he used to be close to Gideon, to all of them. It had to be hard to treat him as an enemy. Just that was the reason Reid wasn't too worried about himself though.
He held no emotional connection to Aaron Hotchner, at least not one he could remember so however the man acted, whatever he said it shouldn't hit him as hard as it would have been the case with the rest of the team. Plus, Morgan had already assured him that no one really expected Hotchner to suddenly talk after all this time. He just had to go in there and do his best.
"If he reacts positively to you, try and play into that," Gideon said as they walked up to the entrance, "If he can be convinced that you're on his side he might open up to you."
"I know," was all Reid answered this time, "I´ve done this before, Gideon."
The warden greeted them politely when they entered his office, calling Gideon by his name but looking Reid up and down skeptically at the same time. Reid tried to ignore it as best as he could, trying to straighten up a bit.
Gideon introduced him, explaining that he would be the one conducting the interview that day. The man seemed surprised but didn't protest as he led him over to his desk.
"I'm sorry to delay you," the man told him as he switched on his computer, opening a video file, "but I am of the opinion that one cannot be prepared enough when dealing with these criminals here. Let me show you what happened to the last guy who approached Hotchner incautiously."
Again, Reid had to hide a frown; after all, he was a federal agent and very well capable of—his train of thought stopped abruptly as he took in the video. It seemed to show an interrogation room, with a dark-haired man sitting at the table in handcuffs. Hotchner.
Opposite of him, seemed to be some sort of interrogator, walking around him and the table. There was no sound, but none was needed.
The change happened so fast that he would have missed it had he blinked.
One second Hotchner was sitting there calmly and seemingly unemotional, then, for a fraction of a second, an expression that was nothing short of murderous rage crossed his features and the next moment the interrogator was on the ground, chain around his neck.
Reid felt his insides grow cold as he watched the man scream in obvious pain, watched Hotchner grab something from the floor that the man must have dropped. Then there was blood everywhere and more orderlies stormed into the room.
Just then, the warden turned off the video, grimacing.
"Due to this, we don't conduct interviews in a separate room anymore. I hope you'll understand. You can see him while he´s in his cell."
Reid gulped, not even bothering to protest. He suddenly didn't feel so confident anymore about this interview going well. Bars or no bars, deep down he was a blinker…
Now it was too late though, so he simply followed the warden as he lead them through the many secured areas of the prison, past bulletproof glass and thick walls towards the maximum security area. There he excused himself after introducing Reid to the main guard.
"You're familiar with his criminal history?" the guard asked almost reluctantly as they went through the security check and were asked to shed their weapon and anything sharp or pointy or metal they had on them.
Reid nodded, too tense to be annoyed anymore, and the guard nodded, opening the last security door.
"I'm going to lock back up after you. I'll know when you're done," he pointed at the security monitors on his desk, "He's in here for a reason, sir, the last guard who came too close to him is now missing an eye."
Reid gulped, silently wondering if that was the same guy from the video or yet another one. Boy, Gideon really hadn't been lying when he´d said he was worried.
"Under no circumstances go near the bars," the guard continued, "don't approach him, don't hand him anything except soft paper. If he attempts to pass you something do not accept it."
With that last warning, he opened the door and let Reid and Gideon step into the corridor, locking the door after them like he´d said. "It's the last cell at the very end, keep to the opposite wall."
Reid took a last deep breath, clutching his files to his chest and steadying his resolve before he walked towards the end of the narrow corridor alongside his mentor, fluorescent light illuminating the damp stone walls to his right.
He could hear the other inmates in the cells to his right hissing and whispering at him, hateful and lewd comments out of black hearts, but he kept his eyes straight forward until they were standing in front of the very last cell.
It was about the size of his bedroom at home, smooth stone walls framing it except for the side with massive metal bars. There was a small table with a couple of books and papers on it, opposite to a standard cot by the wall and the essentials.
By the wall, with his back to them, stood Aaron Hotchner, looking taller and broader than Reid would have imagined. He was wearing a plain prison outfit and looked to be about forty. He seemed surprisingly calm, if not indifferent. He didn't even turn around though he must have heard their steps.
Reid couldn't help but fidget slightly, nervously waiting to see if the man would even acknowledge their presence. When it didn't look like it, Gideon seemingly decided to make the first step.
"Good morning, Hotch. It's been a while," he said almost conversationally sounding like he´d said those same words many times before. Reid couldn´t help but wonder how frequently Gideon really came here, trying to talk to their former colleague.
Hotchner reacted by clicking his tongue, the fleeting tensing of the hands crossed behind his back the only indication that he was at all affected by Gideon's words.
"Not nearly long enough if you ask me, Jason," he replied coldly, his lips curling derisively as he kept his eyes on a drawing on the wall, "When are you going to stop wasting both of our time, I wonder?"
"We´re here because we would like to ask you some questions about the letters you received," Gideon explained neutrally as though he had by some miracle not picked up on the hostility he was met with.
"Would you now?" Hotchner scoffed, "And what makes you think I'll be any more inclined to help you today than I was the first six times you asked?"
"Maybe because I won't be the one doing the asking this time," Gideon replied lightly, only the slightest trace of a frown apparent on his face as he signed for Reid to take over.
His words finally seemed to be enough of an incentive for Hotchner to face him. He slowly turned to look at Gideon. Reid barely suppressed a shudder at the iciness held in the gaze directed at his mentor. Clearly it was a good thing they were separated by heavy iron bars.
He didn't know how it was possible but Hotchner looked even scarier in person. Not at all like someone who had once had a family, a normal life.
Mentally Reid already waved the idea of getting anywhere with this man goodbye but he knew he had to try anyways now that he had put so much into convincing Gideon to let him try.
"Mr. Hotchner," he began, hoping to sound calm and confident, "My name is Dr. Spencer Reid, I don't know if you remem–"
He abruptly broke of when Hotchner´s head snapped around at the sound of his voice, that unsettling dark gaze suddenly fixated on him and only him. Where his expression had been cold and emotionless only a second ago, that frightening mask was suddenly shattered by a look of utter shock as Hotchner stared at him.
So much for not recognizing him then.
xxx
"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever."
-Keri Russell
Part 5
Summary: Hotch is a serial killer and Reid is sent to interview him in prison. Not a crossover with the movie.
Warnings: depictions of violence, amthure themes, slash
Pairing: Hotch/Reid
Rating: Pg-13
After a two hour car ride they found themselves standing in front of the massive grey prison walls of the Virginia State Penitentiary.
Reid felt his heart rate accelerating as he got out and stared up at the snipers and barbed wire.
This was it, he knew. The final test of whether he was ready to come back to the job. He hadn't lost any of his brain function along with his memory and he knew he could still be the brilliant profiler he used to be. If he could work up the guts that went along with the intellect.
"Sure you want to do this?" Gideon asked as they walked up to the gate, looking like all he really wanted was to grab Reid by the scruff of his neck and drag him back to the car.
Reid nodded for what felt like the fifth time. He didn't think he remembered Gideon being quite as overprotective before. Maybe it was the same as with Morgan.
Though he understood Gideon's ill feeling about the case in general: Not only was Hotchner extremely vicious when it came to killing but he used to be close to Gideon, to all of them. It had to be hard to treat him as an enemy. Just that was the reason Reid wasn't too worried about himself though.
He held no emotional connection to Aaron Hotchner, at least not one he could remember so however the man acted, whatever he said it shouldn't hit him as hard as it would have been the case with the rest of the team. Plus, Morgan had already assured him that no one really expected Hotchner to suddenly talk after all this time. He just had to go in there and do his best.
"If he reacts positively to you, try and play into that," Gideon said as they walked up to the entrance, "If he can be convinced that you're on his side he might open up to you."
"I know," was all Reid answered this time, "I´ve done this before, Gideon."
The warden greeted them politely when they entered his office, calling Gideon by his name but looking Reid up and down skeptically at the same time. Reid tried to ignore it as best as he could, trying to straighten up a bit.
Gideon introduced him, explaining that he would be the one conducting the interview that day. The man seemed surprised but didn't protest as he led him over to his desk.
"I'm sorry to delay you," the man told him as he switched on his computer, opening a video file, "but I am of the opinion that one cannot be prepared enough when dealing with these criminals here. Let me show you what happened to the last guy who approached Hotchner incautiously."
Again, Reid had to hide a frown; after all, he was a federal agent and very well capable of—his train of thought stopped abruptly as he took in the video. It seemed to show an interrogation room, with a dark-haired man sitting at the table in handcuffs. Hotchner.
Opposite of him, seemed to be some sort of interrogator, walking around him and the table. There was no sound, but none was needed.
The change happened so fast that he would have missed it had he blinked.
One second Hotchner was sitting there calmly and seemingly unemotional, then, for a fraction of a second, an expression that was nothing short of murderous rage crossed his features and the next moment the interrogator was on the ground, chain around his neck.
Reid felt his insides grow cold as he watched the man scream in obvious pain, watched Hotchner grab something from the floor that the man must have dropped. Then there was blood everywhere and more orderlies stormed into the room.
Just then, the warden turned off the video, grimacing.
"Due to this, we don't conduct interviews in a separate room anymore. I hope you'll understand. You can see him while he´s in his cell."
Reid gulped, not even bothering to protest. He suddenly didn't feel so confident anymore about this interview going well. Bars or no bars, deep down he was a blinker…
Now it was too late though, so he simply followed the warden as he lead them through the many secured areas of the prison, past bulletproof glass and thick walls towards the maximum security area. There he excused himself after introducing Reid to the main guard.
"You're familiar with his criminal history?" the guard asked almost reluctantly as they went through the security check and were asked to shed their weapon and anything sharp or pointy or metal they had on them.
Reid nodded, too tense to be annoyed anymore, and the guard nodded, opening the last security door.
"I'm going to lock back up after you. I'll know when you're done," he pointed at the security monitors on his desk, "He's in here for a reason, sir, the last guard who came too close to him is now missing an eye."
Reid gulped, silently wondering if that was the same guy from the video or yet another one. Boy, Gideon really hadn't been lying when he´d said he was worried.
"Under no circumstances go near the bars," the guard continued, "don't approach him, don't hand him anything except soft paper. If he attempts to pass you something do not accept it."
With that last warning, he opened the door and let Reid and Gideon step into the corridor, locking the door after them like he´d said. "It's the last cell at the very end, keep to the opposite wall."
Reid took a last deep breath, clutching his files to his chest and steadying his resolve before he walked towards the end of the narrow corridor alongside his mentor, fluorescent light illuminating the damp stone walls to his right.
He could hear the other inmates in the cells to his right hissing and whispering at him, hateful and lewd comments out of black hearts, but he kept his eyes straight forward until they were standing in front of the very last cell.
It was about the size of his bedroom at home, smooth stone walls framing it except for the side with massive metal bars. There was a small table with a couple of books and papers on it, opposite to a standard cot by the wall and the essentials.
By the wall, with his back to them, stood Aaron Hotchner, looking taller and broader than Reid would have imagined. He was wearing a plain prison outfit and looked to be about forty. He seemed surprisingly calm, if not indifferent. He didn't even turn around though he must have heard their steps.
Reid couldn't help but fidget slightly, nervously waiting to see if the man would even acknowledge their presence. When it didn't look like it, Gideon seemingly decided to make the first step.
"Good morning, Hotch. It's been a while," he said almost conversationally sounding like he´d said those same words many times before. Reid couldn´t help but wonder how frequently Gideon really came here, trying to talk to their former colleague.
Hotchner reacted by clicking his tongue, the fleeting tensing of the hands crossed behind his back the only indication that he was at all affected by Gideon's words.
"Not nearly long enough if you ask me, Jason," he replied coldly, his lips curling derisively as he kept his eyes on a drawing on the wall, "When are you going to stop wasting both of our time, I wonder?"
"We´re here because we would like to ask you some questions about the letters you received," Gideon explained neutrally as though he had by some miracle not picked up on the hostility he was met with.
"Would you now?" Hotchner scoffed, "And what makes you think I'll be any more inclined to help you today than I was the first six times you asked?"
"Maybe because I won't be the one doing the asking this time," Gideon replied lightly, only the slightest trace of a frown apparent on his face as he signed for Reid to take over.
His words finally seemed to be enough of an incentive for Hotchner to face him. He slowly turned to look at Gideon. Reid barely suppressed a shudder at the iciness held in the gaze directed at his mentor. Clearly it was a good thing they were separated by heavy iron bars.
He didn't know how it was possible but Hotchner looked even scarier in person. Not at all like someone who had once had a family, a normal life.
Mentally Reid already waved the idea of getting anywhere with this man goodbye but he knew he had to try anyways now that he had put so much into convincing Gideon to let him try.
"Mr. Hotchner," he began, hoping to sound calm and confident, "My name is Dr. Spencer Reid, I don't know if you remem–"
He abruptly broke of when Hotchner´s head snapped around at the sound of his voice, that unsettling dark gaze suddenly fixated on him and only him. Where his expression had been cold and emotionless only a second ago, that frightening mask was suddenly shattered by a look of utter shock as Hotchner stared at him.
So much for not recognizing him then.
xxx
"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever."
-Keri Russell
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