Hotch - Janaury 21st, Morning

[shannonteverius]

Felix was gone. The shock hadn't worn off when Shannon went to bed and he woke up fully expecting to see his lover in the room with him, but the apartment was cold and empty. In the living room the incriminating evidence still lay on the table. He cleaned the ash of the burned flyer but he couldn't make himself touch the photographs. Not wanting to be alone in the place that was theirs, he quickly dressed and left the building.

As he walked to a nearby coffee shop, he had a sudden urge for company. While waiting on the line he dialed Hotch's number.

Comments

[real_gun_hand]

With only the briefest of explanation, a cry for help, Hotch flew from his own apartment and made his way to the coffee shop. There had been no time for details but he knew they would come over coffee. Parking was a nightmare and it took longer than he would have liked, but he walked in, dark blue suit paired with a white shirt and a crimson tie.

"Shannon," he said, offering his hand to the man. "I'm sorry it took so long."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon smiled at the tie. It wasn't loud but it was a color.

"That's fine," he said. He had taken a booth at the back of the shop. After shaking Aaron's hand he gestured to the counter. "I didn't know how you took your coffee. Do you want to get some before you sit down?"

[real_gun_hand]

"Oh, just black," he replied. "I'll be right back."

And he was. It took the girl at the counter only a moment to pour for him and he didn't pay, sure he'd have more than one. He came back, his posture alone giving away his concern.

"All right, start at the beginning..."

[shannonteverius]

It was convenient having connections, and a nice turn of events to have made the connection on his own, rather than through his family. "Something is trying to blackmail me," he said, before taking a sip of his coffee.

[real_gun_hand]

"What are they blackmailing you for?" Hotch asked. "Money? Something more precious?"

What people wanted told him more about the nature of the crime. Sometimes the point wasn't money. It was terror, or control, or humiliation...

[shannonteverius]

"I'm not sure yet," Shannon said. "They have sent an initial warning but no demands so far." It didn't matter really. The damage had already been done.

[real_gun_hand]

"No demands? What have they done?" he asked, his brows drawing together in concern.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon was hesitant to reveal the details to someone else. Perhaps generalizations could suffice here. "They mailed photographs to my apartment that clearly placed my lover in an unwelcome light. If the images were to be publicized it would cause a scandal."

[real_gun_hand]

"So terrorism more than extortion?" he asked. "Am I to take it your lover didn't take it well?"

[shannonteverius]

That was an understatement if ever he'd heard one. "You could say that," Shannon said. "He's left me."

[real_gun_hand]

"Oh, Shannon, I'm terribly sorry," Hotch said, genuinely concerned. His brows drew together, his mouth turned down, and his eyes focused on Shannon. He didn't so much as blink. "Temporarily, I hope..."

[shannonteverius]

Temporarily. If it had been any of their previous spats Shannon could have clung to such a hope, but this was different. He'd never seen Felix so angry before. The thought of it still frightened him a little. "I hope," he echoed. He looked away as he held back the onset of tears and didn't continue until he was sure he wouldn't make a scene. "Do you think you can help me figure out who it is?" he asked. Reluctantly, he added, "this is a very delicate matter. If it is going to be necessary for me to share the details, I'd rather do it with someone I can trust."

[real_gun_hand]

"I believe I can help you, yes. And if you don't want to open an official investigation I'll dedicate my time to the case after my shift," he said. It went unsaid that he'd be using official resources to aid any investigation he did.

"We can begin now, even. The sooner we start, the better."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon nodded. "You'll have to come to my apartment then." The evidence - what wasn't burned of it - was still untouched where Felix had left it.

[real_gun_hand]

"Happy to," he replied, eager to start pursuing any leads. "Now, I assume? You don't want to let any more time pass, Shannon. it's important to act quickly."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon took a deep breath and rose. His hand was wrapped around his coffee cup and he clung to the heat of it feeling suddenly cold. "We'll walk," he said. "It's not far."

He was quiet on the short walk to his apartment. He was still uneasy about letting anyone know the details of what his lover had once been. He could barely stand to think about it. Perhaps Aaron would take the photos away with him. They were evidence and Shannon would be happy to never look upon them again.

He unlocked the door and gestured Aaron inside. "They're on the table." Hotch wouldn't be able to miss them. "There was a flyer as well but that was... destroyed."

[real_gun_hand]

"Destroyed? If you tore it up I can still use it," Hotch said, but there was a bit of a disconnect in the statement. He was busy pouring over what there was to see. All quite damning in a certain light. For him...well, to Hotch it meant nothing but he wasn't the intended target. He had no doubt this was exactly as terrorizing as it was meant to be for Shannon.

[shannonteverius]

"It was burned." As to how that was done, Shannon wasn't going to say, but he would lie if necessary. "It was a flyer for...the boy in the pictures." Felix. He closed his eyes, unable to elaborate.

[real_gun_hand]

"I see," he said, though he didn't really and a moment later he asked, "What do you mean...for...him?"

[shannonteverius]

Shannon's jaw clenched. Did he really need to say it? He opened his eyes but didn't look at Aaron. "I mean for him. To purchase...his time." Hopefully the pictures would fill in the rest for Aaron. He wasn't sure he could voice the details out loud.

[real_gun_hand]

Hotch doubted very much it was for his "time' as Shannon so delicately phrased it. But the absolute specifics weren't necessary, not when Hotch could see the meaning on the man's face.

"One more question," he said. "Was it news to you or did you know about his past before?" he asked as gently as he could.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon shook his head. "I had no idea."

For years he'd been sleeping with a prostitute. Now that the fight was truly over, the reality of that thought finally sunk in and struck him like a blow. He took a seat before he could fall, his hands beginning to shake. What would his brother say is he found out? What if everyone else found out? Felix had worked so hard to hide his secrets and right then Shannon wished that they had never come to light.

"You'll keep this quiet, right? Unofficial? I don't want anyone to find out about those pictures."

[real_gun_hand]

Shannon said more with the look on his face and the slope of his shoulders than anything. Hotch understood just how personal this was, not that he hadn't known before but he hadn't realized. He laid the photos aside and moved in closer to the younger man and impulsiely he laid a hand on his shoulder- heavy and reassuring.

"I'll keep it quiet. I'll do everything I can," he promised. "Is there anything else I can do for you? I mean immediately...aside from the investigation?"

[shannonteverius]

Shannon was unfamiliar with caring gestures, especially ones grouped with physical contact. He wasn't sure how to take it at first.

He shook his head. "I have no idea." He looked around the room. "I still can't believe he's left me."

[real_gun_hand]

"If we can get to the bottom of this maybe he'll come home," Hotch replied softly.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon wasn't too sure. "He's walked out before," he said, "but this is different."

"I don't even remember half the things I've told you."

"Do you want another shocking revelation, darling? I quite miss being on top."

"I'd suggest you put two and two together, but you've given me no indication that you can count that high."

Shannon looked at Aaron. "Have you ever been in love with someone and then learned you didn't know them at all?" he asked.

[real_gun_hand]

"Actually, yes," he said tightly, the truth of it clearly personal and quite painful. It was also clear no more would be forthcoming.

"Are you in contact with him at all? If yoou are I'd suggest you let him know I'm on the case. Try to communicate as much as you can."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon hadn't even checked to see if Felix had taken his cell phone. If he hadn't, there was no way of finding the wizard if he didn't want to be found. It was hard enough doing that when the man was only lost from his own wandering. "I'll try," Shannon said. "And thank you Aaron."

[real_gun_hand]

"Of course, Shannon. I swear I will do everything I can. Is there anything else or shall I get back and start to alayze some of this?" he asked, not wanting to leave any loose ends.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon shook his head. "That is all I know," he said.

[real_gun_hand]

"Then I'll get to work," He promised with utmost gravity. "I'll call you when I know something."