Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
Hotch walked into the cell and stood still as they uncuffed his feet. The door slid shut behind him.
“Turn around and put your hands through the opening,” The guard stated firmly.
Hotch obeyed and the guard uncuffed his wrists as well, turning to leave without a backward glance. Hotch stood there for a moment, his hands dangling out of the opening in the cell door, and then sighed and turned to face his future. It was much as he’d expected with metal bunk beds attached to the wall on the right, a head in the back, and a small picnic-table shaped metal seating area attached to the wall on the left. It managed to look sterile and filthy all at the same time. On the lower bunk a young man sat crosslegged with a book in his lap, staring up at Hotch with wide, frightened eyes that were clearly categorizing him.
“Hello,” Hotch stated.
“Hi,” The young man squeaked, and Hotch estimated his age down a few years.
“Hotchner,” Hotch stated, “My friends… used to call me Hotch.”
“Reid,” The young man replied, “Doctor Reid.”
“Doctor?” Hotch raised an eyebrow, “Medical malpractice? Don’t you then lose your doctorate?”
“Different type of doctor,” Reid replied, “They don’t revoke my kind for embezzlement, if anything it just gets used more frequently because seeing someone with high intelligence fall from grace amuses the masses.”
“Touche,” Hotch nodded.
“What about you?” Reid asked, “To ask the cliché question: what are you in for?”
“Double homicide and one count of negligent manslaughter,” Hotch replied coldly, “Why are they putting me in with you?”
“They probably ran out of room,” Reid replied, “If my roommates don’t attack and rape me they beg to be moved within a day.”
“Should I be scared?” Hotch asked.
“Only if you have very little IQ,” Reid replied, then gave him a very tight smile, “Please don’t rape me. I can stand the beatings, but the rape tends to make me a bit hysterical and paranoid.”
“Duly noted,” Hotch nodded sharply, “Bottom bunk is yours?”
“Unless you want it,” Reid replied, giving him a calculating look.
“No,” Hotch shrugged, “I’m fine with the top.”
Reid went back to his book while Hotch stepped inside and laid his stuff on the top bunk. He had one spare khaki outfit, a pillow, his reading glasses, and one scratchy blanket to his name. He was wearing his boots. He’d been told he could bring a few other things, but he’d refused them except for one picture tucked into a criminology book. He hadn’t looked at it since he’d slipped it inside and he wasn’t about to do so anytime soon. He suspected it was going to be years before he could stomach looking at the picture. He laid the book beneath his pillow and spread out his blanket.
“You going to be standing there long?” Reid asked, “Despite my mention of being raped repeatedly- or maybe because of it- I prefer not to spend a lot of time around men’s crotches.”
Hotch sighed and stepped back, “Sorry.”
“Lights out in ten minutes,” Reid stated, “You’ll want to get your teeth brushed and stuff.”
“I know,” Hotch replied, “The fish tank goes on the same schedule. I brushed my teeth before they moved me here.”
“Is this your first time in general population?” Reid asked, “You sound like more of a maximum security sort of guy, and with two homicides shouldn’t you be on death row?”
“I’m supposed to be,” Hotch grumbled.
“Yeah, I got that. So… why are you here?” Reid replied, “I’m getting a bully vibe off of you, but you don’t appear to be prone to violent behavior. Definitely an alpha male personality, but your book and posture indicate you’re used to authority, not gangs or some sort of mobster type situation. If I had to bet money, I’d say you’re at least a detective.”
“Impressive. FBI,” Hotch replied, furrowing his brows in surprise, “Special Supervisory Agent and Unit Chief of the BAU.”
Reid nodded, “They bumped you down at trial due to exemplary service history. That means it was a crime of passion. You’re not a potential repeat offender. Possibly PTSD from your work or a marital problem.”
Hotch didn’t remember grabbing Reid, but he had him pinned against the wall opposite their bunks the next time he blinked. The young man had his eyes squeezed shut but wasn’t fighting back.
“You’re pathetic,” Hotch snarled, letting him go, “How long do you expect to survive here?”
“Another nine years,” Reid replied, adjusting his rumpled clothes.
The lights shut off and Hotch moved towards his bunk in the dim lighting from the emergency lights outside the cells, stepping up on the bottom bunk to get to the top. He heard the young man scramble in beneath him and then a clicking sound. He stiffened and braced himself for a knife fight, but a dim glow reached his eyes instead. He leaned over and glanced down to see him reading by the light of a tiny booklight.
“That’s contraband,” Hotch told him softly.
“Snitches get stitches. Trust me on that one,” Reid replied.
“How long have you been here?” Hotch asked.
“One year tomorrow,” Reid replied, his finger flying across the page.
“You’re speed reading.”
“Uh, huh.”
“Ten years for embezzlement means federal,” Hotch replied.
“Are you waiting for a story? I haven’t got one,” Reid replied blandly, his tone disinterested rather than offputting.
“Because you didn’t do it?” Hotch asked in amusement.
“You’ve heard that one before,” Reid smiled a bit, and then glanced up at Hotch, “You tell me yours I’ll tell you mine?”
“I’m not that curious,” Hotch retreated immediately.
Hotch was glad that this was his first night with a roommate. His time in the fish tank before being placed into general population had been without a cellmate. He’d cried himself to sleep each night, hugging the book that contained a picture of his wife and son. He couldn’t afford to do that now, not with an entire facility full of criminals who would tear him apart the second they found out who he was.
So why did you just up and tell the kid in your cell? Didn’t you choose this instead of eating your gun? So why are you trying to get yourself killed now? You’re paying for it. Just take your licks.
XXX
Hotch spent his first day in the prison watching the prisoners around him while they watched him. It was SOP. They were waiting for him to move towards one of the gangs or show a sign of weakness. If he showed weakness they’d either rough him up for fun or take him into their gang so they could use his commissary credits for themselves.
The gangs seemed to be split racially for the most part, but there was an entire gang of mixed race comprised of what he suspected were gay men. Hotch was tempted to join them simply because they seemed the least prejudiced, but they certainly weren’t less cruel than the rest.
Reid spent most of his time in the prison library where his work detail seemed to be permanent. Hotch had been assigned toiletry work, which wasn’t uncommon for a fish. He’d work his way up based on good behavior. He hoped to get laundry detail. He liked the repetition.
The main prison body was allowed to mingle throughout the day. They were given access to the outdoor area, library, cafeteria, and their cells. The cafeteria was filled with people playing cards so once he finished his work detail he headed there and continued to watch the groups.
Reid came in for lunch, and that was where the trouble started. He’d been ‘adopted’ by the gay gang, but their protection only extended so far and he wasn’t a willing participant. He mostly relied on the guards to keep him safe, and they were only helpful when they felt like it. Hotch watched as Reid collected his tray and sat down near his gang, but still alone at a table. Then someone joined him, and he watched as the person tried to grope Reid’s thigh. The young man jumped up and headed for his gang, but that resulted in him being forced to sit in someone’s lap. They laughed and groped him as well, but his face told far too serious a tale. He was going for the evil he knew.
Hotch crossed the floor quickly, gripped Reid by the arm, and dragged him from the lap of his cronies. Hotch shoved him back down in his first seat, grabbed the man who’d been groping him, and threw him hard to the ground. His head bounced off the ground and a few people hooted at the scene. Hotch paced behind Reid aggressively.
“Eat,” He grunted.
“Um… I’m full,” Reid stammered.
“EAT BITCH!” He roared at him.
Reid shoveled some food in his mouth and Hotch stared angrily at the man on the floor as he scrambled away. He looked pale so he was probably concussed. Hotch didn’t care. He’d profiled him earlier and the man was a rapist before he’d ever been incarcerated.
Sadly, Hotch’s actions had brought him to the forefront and a criminal he recognized as one he’d put away was hissing at those around him. He’d be jumped the next time he set foot outside of his cell. Or most likely he’d be attacked in it the second the doors slid open for daily free time. He’d just have to make the best of it.