Fic: Tangled Web, Chapter 2/3 (Criminal Minds, Reid / Morgan, Hotch / Chad, Sean / Cain)
Title: Tangled Web, Chapter 2/3
Pair: Spencer Reid / Derek Morgan,
Aaron Hotchner / Chad Christensen,
Sean Hotchner / Cain Christensen
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
Criminal Minds Main List
Chapter 1/3
The first thing Hotch noticed was a familiar scent. He forced his eyes open. A hand was holding a steaming cup of coffee in front of his nose.
“What time is it?” He groaned and tried to stretch his aching back.
“Five twenty-two.” Chad stated and handed him the coffee.
“What time did I fall asleep?”
“After eleven.”
“Were you asleep all night?”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you-?” Hotch leaned closer to smell the man’s shirt. “What have you been doing?”
“I couldn’t keep still so went to the gym to beat the bag.”
“Have you heard anything from Cain?”
“He called around four.” Chad stilled. He took a long sip from his coffee. “One eighteen AM.”
“You mean….?”
“Yeah. She died last night.”
“I’m sorry. How are you feeling?”
“I just beat the stuffing out of a punching bag.”
“Are you sure you can handle this? There was a death in the family, that’s perfectly acceptable reason to miss a day of work.”
“Her being in the hospital wasn’t good enough reason for them, so what does it matter now?” Chad was about to take another sip from his mug, but Hotch grabbed his wrist gently.
“Look at your hand. You’re shaking, you haven’t had any sleep and you look ready to fall over."
"I`m not-"
"You`ll call people and explain the situation and then I`ll drive you home."
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“If that’s J.J. with a new case, tell her I was abducted by a UFO and I’m not coming back until they’ve finished their probes.” Morgan pulled the covers over his head.
“It’s after eleven and we’re not on call.” Reid grabbed the phone from the nightstand. “We had a nine day case, so we can’t be called to work for the next five days.”
“Then it’s Garcia….. Tell her I’m posing for a nudie calendar and we don’t want any interruptions….”
“It’s not Garcia. I don’t know this number.”
“Just make that sound go away….”
Reid opened his phone.
“Doctor Reid. Yes, that’s me.”
Morgan peeked over the edge of the covers. A faint stream of talking echoed from the phone and Reid gave him a little shrug.
“Already? I see…. I could draw a power of attorney through a lawyer here and he can confirm it to you, would that work? Good. Thank you. I’ll call you back.”
He hung up and placed the phone back on the nightstand.
“Was that about….?”
“Yeah. I have make some calls.” He got up and walked into the hallway. He returned ten minutes later, looking like he was pondering some unusually tricky case.
“Pretty Boy?” Morgan prodded himself to sit against the headboard. “I’m still half asleep, so let’s recap. That call was about that letter you got, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And that means she’s dead?”
“Yeah.”
“So why did they call now?”
“You know how sharks follow the scent of blood?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Sometimes people can be just like them and twice as ruthless.”
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“I warmed up some soup-” Hotch walked into the living room and stopped. “Where did you go?”
“I’m here.” Chad came out of the study. "My phone was ringing.”
“Was it about the funerals?”
“No.” Chad took the food tray from Hotch and sat down on the couch. “You know…. Remember when I said I love both my parents separately, but they make a really bad pair? Or something like that.”
“I remember.”
“My dad’s a great guy, but I can’t believe….” He shoved the tray onto the coffee table. “She died last night and he’s already rolling out the lawyers.”
“I have to admit, that’s…..very quick.”
“And what does it even matter when we all know what’s gonna happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“My mom was….” Chad almost laughed. “She got married when she was really young and totally in love. They got older and the love disappeared pretty soon. He has a good reason to be scared.”
“I thought your father was a self-made man. Own business and all.”
“Yeah.” Chad confirmed. “He lead the company, but mom owned it all.”
“Well, souldn’t he get something anyway? They were married. Or did they have a pre-nup to block that?”
“That’s the funny part. When he met my mom, he was really ambitious and flat broke. My mom’s family had money and they gave the funds to set up the company. My granddad didn’t trust him one bit.”
“So he made sure everything was in her name.”
“Not exactly. Mom had it only for her lifetime. When she’s gone it will be divided according to granddad’s instructions. Maris, Cain and I will all get twenty percent.”
“I think I see the logic behind that.” Hotch nodded. “Grandchildren will have an equal share and the controlling interest, but they need all three to have the majority vote.”
“Exactly. But then there’s the remaining forty percent. That part mom can divide any way she wants.”
“Your father’s been running that company for decades, he must have something to his name. It can’t be that bad.”
“He’s getting a very generous pension and their house is in his name, he’s fine. That’s not the issue. He played a figure-head for years and years, but in reality he didn’t have any influence.”
“And now he thinks your mother left her a piece of the cake?” Hotch speculated. “And you don’t think he’ll get any.”
“That marriage was like a business deal as long as I can remember. After that first rush of love was gone they both had their own lives and the only two things they had in common were us kids and that company.” Chad swallowed a spoonful of the lukewarm soup, but pushed the plate away again. “Did I tell you about our old flat when I was in college?”
“Yeah.”
“That was what my mom tried to do. We did house chores for our weekly allowance, and part time jobs and stuff like that. She made sure the whole success didn’t impact our lives. We all got a college fund and a little something when we graduated. She was meddling as hell but in some things she was definitely right. We all handled ourselves and we were all too stubborn to ask for help. Looking back she definitely did the right thing.” He gave Hotch a crooked grin. “Dad was the exact opposite. He loved the whole scene, playing a big shot businessman. Golf, long lunches, the whole thing.”
“Well, he has to know the realities. Maybe the situation will calm down after everyone has had enough time to digest the news.”
“Or not. I know my mom, and if she wanted to have the last word about something she found a way.”
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“Hello.”
“Aaron?”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you answering Chad’s phone?”
“I finally got him to go to bed and rest. He didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Well, let him sleep.” Cain sighed. “We could all use some sleep.”
“How’s everything? And I’m sorry for your mother, I haven’t had a chance to say that.”
“Thanks. Everything’s….. chaotic. Total war zone.”
“So you’re right at home?” Hotch suggested with a careful grin.
“Really funny…. We just got back from the meeting with her lawyer.”
“Did she leave some surprises behind?”
“I guess you could say that…. Dad was screaming his lunges out. Not that it matters, all the documents are airtight. There’s nothing he can do about it.”
“When are you flying back?”
“My flight`s leaving in two hours. Maris is handling the funeral arrangements, so I don’t need to stay longer.”
“Have you called Sean?”
“Yeah, he’s picking me up from the airport. Can you do me favour?”
“Of course.”
“I know it will be pretty late when I’m there, but can we come to your house?”
“Sure. Do you need to go through some details?”
“Not exactly…. The lawyers are handing the legal issues, but mom left us a video message and instructions. We saw it at the lawyer`s office and it’s meant to be seen by all of us.”
“I’ll tell him when he wakes up.”
“And call Reid. Ask him to come over.”
“Reid? Why?”
“He’s mentioned in it too. But he must already know that, we had to contact him to get his power of attorney.”
“What does Reid have to do with this?”
“You’ll see. Just tell Chad what I said, I’ll call again when I’ve landed.”
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“They should be here any minute.” Hotch stated. “More coffee?”
“No thanks.” Morgan leaned against the kitchen counter. He glanced to the direction of the living room to make sure they were alone. “Did Cain tell you what she said on that video?”
“No. I still can’t understand why she would want Reid here.”
“Well….” Morgan hid his face behind his mug. “Maybe she wants to say bye to everyone.”
Hotch gave him a sceptical glance. “I think she has something up her sleeve.”
“Had. By the way, are we allowed to speak ill of the dead? I mean we shouldn’t, but we hardly knew her so what difference does it make-”
“We’re here.” Sean’s voice echoed from the foyer, and a minute later he walked into the kitchen. “Hey, bro.”
“How’s Cain?” Hotch asked.
“Tired. Let’s just get this done, so we can go home.”
“Did he tell you what that video was about?”
“No, he just said his dad blew his fuse and Maris had to go get her kids from the babysitter, so the old creep was left there to stew in his own juices.” He marched to the living room and Hotch and Morgan followed.
In the living room Cain was setting up the DVD player. He settled down onto the couch with Sean while Hotch sat down next to Chad. Morgan took a seat on the armrest of Reid’s chair. Cain pressed play on the remote and a picture of an office room appeared on the screen. Mrs. Christensen sat down behind the desk and glanced at the camera.
“Is it on? I’ll just look at the lens?”
A man behind the camera told her the camera was recording. She gave her hair a little fluff.
“Hello, everyone. I always thought these little messages were pretty theatrical, but I have to admit I can see the temptation now. Everything is in black and white and legal, but I want to tell you all myself why I did what I did. Some of you will undoubtedly be surprised, some of you wont be. I have a lot of things in my mind, so forgive me if I’m rambling. I want to say what I have to say, and I want to say it the right way. I’ve signed all the papers, this is the only thing left to do. After this I can just…. Just hope I’ll be lucky. I’ll rather die now with all my faculties intact than live to be hundred as a medicated piece of dry meat in a hospital bed, being treated like a burden.”
“Let’s start with Jeremy. My dear husband. I don’t know about you but to me it was love at first sight. You had youth and dreams and ambition. I would have done anything for you.” She sighed and gave the camera a crooked smile. “But it didn’t take long to see how right my father was about you. We were children of that generation that kept up appearances, no matter what happened. I was happy when we got married and I was happy when the children were born. When we grew apart, they became the centre of my life. And when they grew up and left, I was alone. You were there, we were sharing the same house and the same bed, but that made my life even more lonely. If I had been younger I would have left. I would have packed my bags and I would have found something to do with my life. But I was too old and too scared of being on my own to do that.”
She reached outside of the screen and picked up a glass of water. After few sips she continued.
“I can imagine you there, waiting to see what I left for you. You already have a pension from the company and the ownership of our house. As far as I can see that’s more than you deserve, but I will be generous. I will leave your car to your secretary. After wasting sixteen yours as your beck and call mistress she deserves a little bonus for her overtime.”
Hotch`s eyes wandered around in the living room. Morgan and Reid looked like they were trying to control their urge to laugh. Sean had wrapped himself around Cain like a human blanked. Hotch moved his hand on top of Chad’s and gave it a little squeeze.
“Now let’s move on to my children. You already know how your grandfather divided sixty percent of the family business, so I’m not going to talk about that. Instead…. I know I have always been one of those overbearing mothers, but I couldn’t help it. You three were all I had. Maris, when you were born I started to understand my own parents. I always complained how overprotective my father was, but I did the same myself. And you all grew up to be wonderful human beings. I know you will take good care of my grandchildren, Mar. They are still so young…. just don’t let them forget me.”
A small movement in the corner of his eyes captured Hotch`s attention. It was gone before he could turn his head, but he was almost sure Chad had wiped a tear from his cheek.
“And Chad and Cain.” The woman on the screen continued after another sip of water. “I was incredibly lucky with all my children. I didn’t say that often enough, but I’ve always been so proud of all of you. Maris, you have your own family now and I’m grateful I got to see it. Cain…..” She giggled like a young girl. “You’re my little baby and a grown man who can take a care of himself. One part of me would still love to pick you all up in my arms and keep you close.”
This time Hotch didn’t need to turn his head to check Chad’s reaction. The man had buried his face against Hotch`s shoulder and tears were coming through the white dress shirt.
“As you all know, it’s up to me to divide the remaining forty percent of the family business. I will give each of my children ten percent, so that you will all have thirty percent. When I’m gone, you can handle them any way your conscience allows. I know you all have your own lives and careers, and you don’t really need anything, but it always good to have something to fall back on. My lawyer has the accurate list of my monetary assets, they will be divided equally between my children.”
“Chad…. Maris didn’t want to see it and Cain was too young and naive to know what it was, but you new what it was like between me and your father. I know it bothered you and how hard it was to see how everything was collapsing little by little. Maybe that’s why I always wanted to make sure you didn’t repeat my mistakes.” She paused to draw few deep breaths. Her breathing had become slightly laboured. “You had what I always hoped for you: someone intelligent who understands you, someone you can spend the rest of you life with. I want you to have someone you can grow old with. In the end that’s the only thing you really want and need when you reach that point. If you have it, everything else falls into it’s own place.”
Chad didn’t notice the reactions of the men in the other side of the room, but Hotch did. Reid was shooting careful, guilty glances at Chad and Morgan’s face seemed to be frozen into a frown.
“I’ve learned that things we share can keep us together, and that’s why I have decided to do this. I will leave the final ten percent to doctor Spencer Reid. And if he’s watching this: Take this as a sign. There is just a limited amount of time for all of us. I hope you and Chad will realise how right you two were together.”
She leaned back in her chair. Her long monologue had brought up a glistering layer of sweat on her forehead.
“I know my health can fail anytime, so I want to get my affairs in order while I still can. I’ve said what I wanted to say, and I hope you all understand my decisions. Goodbye.”
A hand appeared to assist her up from her chair and a moment later the screen went black.
Hotch turned to look at Reid and Morgan. The look on their faces made it clear the news had not come as a surprise.
“You knew about this.” Hotch stated. His eyes went back and forth between the two men. “You listened to me wondering what this was about and you didn’t say a word.”
Interlude