[Criminal Minds] years before love

"Hi, Hart." Hotch opened the drink and handed it over, "I've kept you waiting."

The young man blinked desperately, "No, it's okay."

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Hart squeezed the jar tightly in his hand, not daring to look at him, "I...I don't know."

"Don't be nervous, Hart." Hotch squatted down and looked him straight in the eyes, "Why don't you tell me why you appeared in a burning ruin today?"

"I'm just, just passing by."

"Ok?"

Hart took a quick breath and forced himself to meet his gaze, "I passed by there and saw you alone inside, looking, you didn't look well, and I wanted to ask if there was anything I could do to help."

"Did you pass by there often?" Hotch ignored his bad-looking words and gave him a smile instead. "Did you see anything when it was on fire?"

"It was midnight." Hart blurted out, then rolled his eyes, "I, I wasn't there."

"Hart—"

Hart interrupted suddenly, "I'm sorry. But can you call me John?"

Hotch's eyes flashed, but he regained his composure quickly, "No problem. John, do you live around there?"

"not too far."

"What happened that night?" Hotch lowered his voice. "Did you see the fire?"

"It was horrible," Hart said with difficulty. "The whole church was engulfed in flames, and the sound of the ambulance probably woke up the whole street. They said no one called the police, and the fire brigade saw the fire... ...that's...hot."

Lee was knocking on the door, beckoning to him, and Hotch patted Hart on the shoulder, leaving him to sip a drink to calm his beating heart.

"what happened?"

Lee handed over the folder in his hand, glanced at Hart again, and lowered his voice, "I found him, you're right, he should have a problem."

Hotch quickly scanned the thin sheets of paper, "18 years old. Vandalism, use of forged documents... a few minor misdemeanors, community service, not surprising."

Lee continued to say softly, "I have asked the relevant personnel in these cases, and the relationship between their father and son is a bit tense."

"Expected." Hotch nodded.

"His father was a priest."

Hotch finally got his attention. He glanced at the young man whose clothes definitely did not meet the priest's expectations, and pointed to the evidence display board on the other side, "That church?"

"Yes."

Hotch turned his head and looked in. Hart was holding the drink can, still looking nervous, his eyes drifted over from time to time, "Very well, it seems that he is our number one suspect now."

"Should he be arrested now?"

"No rush." ​​Hotch shook his head. "At least he's turned 18. Before his father comes, let's see if little Hart plans to get himself some advantages."

He pushed the door open again, and just as he met Hart's gaze, the other party immediately dodged and looked down at his hand.

Hotch took a chair and sat in front of him, "John, did that burn you?"

"What? No! I'm not there!" Hart flinched back, panicked.

"John, listen to me." Hotch held him down. "I can totally understand you wanting to destroy that church so you never have to go in there again."

Hart tensed his body, bit his lip hard, glanced at him, and didn't speak.

"Tell me something, John, I'm sure your father will come over soon, and he will advise you not to say anything." Hotch looked at the young man whose expression was distorted by this sentence, and quickly changed what he wanted to say , "I mean, anything."

Hart took a sip of his soda and finally looked up at him. "No, you don't understand."

"Twenty years ago, I wanted to do the same." Hotch said lightly.

Hart's eyes widened in shock.

Hotch raised an eyebrow.

"Why don't you?"

Hotch didn't answer, but put a hand on his shoulder, "So, John, what happened?"

A trace of disgust quickly flashed across the young man's face, he lowered his head and shook his head lightly, "When I was 12 years old, I was... bullied once."

His fingers clenched the drink can. "My father, Reverend Hart, knows exactly who did it."

"He didn't do anything?" Hotch frowned, still resting his hand on his shoulder.

"Just because the guy repented!" Hart growled, almost shaking.

Hotch patted him lightly. "I'm sorry, John."

"I saw him again last week and he didn't recognize me and I...I just complained to my friend about my dad and his job and I said I wanted to burn this shitty place up. And then...he gave me a box ’ Hart looked up at Hotch in panic, “said I’d just set it there and set it on fire… I… I sneaked in and I made sure no one was in there! I didn’t know that would burn down the whole, the whole church. And That doesn't hurt anyone...I just, just can't accept why he doesn't have to pay anything!"

Hotch patted him on the shoulder again, while raising his hand to gesture to Lee who had been standing at the door for a while.

"John, I need you to give Officer Lee the names of these people."

"Am I under arrest?"

"If you help us catch those people, I believe the prosecutor will consider it as appropriate." Lee stepped forward, took over the interrogation, and looked at Hart seriously, "Help yourself."

Hart looked at him, then up at Hotch, and finally nodded slightly.

Hotch didn't wait outside, it was late, he believed that Hart would tell all he knew soon, and the police needed time to investigate.

And he can go back to the hotel to rest for a night, it is not a weekend, nor is it a special day, at least according to his speculation, there will be no related fires tonight.

After eating something casually, Hotch leaned against the window and looked out. Many shops were decorated near Christmas. From time to time, people walked by in twos and threes, creating a joyful atmosphere.

He needs to rest, but what happened today makes it difficult for him to close his eyes. Hotch sighed softly, looked at the medicine bottle thrown in the box, hesitated for a second before giving up this option, after all, during work, he couldn't be sure that there would be no emergencies.

He threw himself on the bed, covering his eyes.No undressing.

Hotch finally confirmed that he really doesn't need David Rossi, he can handle everything by himself.But he does, yearn for David Rossi, body and mind.