She stood there and took the pain, for fifteen years she had taken the pain, the harsh words, the abuse. She was cracking though, slowly, she was losing it. She didn't show it, she didn't cry or scream and her face was straight; no hint of her pain or infact any kind of emotion. I can take it. They can't break me. They won't break me.she repeated to herself silently; concentrating solely on those words as though it would make them come true. Eventually, the torture had subsided and she was pushed out of the room. She made her way up the stairs as best she could and into her room; hiding in the one place she felt safe, her closet.

One Year Later

"Please, Agent Hotchner." She pleaded.

"No, Kathryn." He replied bluntly.

"Why not, I can do it." She replied folding her arms across her chest and pouting.

"You're sixteen; we've just managed to put your father and his friends away for murder as well as the abuse of you. You're not livin' on your own." He pointed out as though it was obvious.

Kathryn huffed. "They're gone, I'm safe, I'm sixteen and capable of living by myself. I don't need to talk, I don't need a therapist, I don't need someone to take care of me and I certainly don't need someone looking over my shoulder all the time!" She shouted simultaneously waving her hands around to emphasize what she was saying.

"Calm down!" Hotch said sternly. "You'll live with me, which is not a request. You need stability and living alone will neither do that, support you or help you. In fact, it may even make it worse – do you feel safe when you're on your own Kathryn?" Hotch inquired knowing the answer.

The teen; for the first time in the whole conversation broke eye contact and stared at the floor, hoping it would open and swallow her whole. "Then it is settled, you willlive with me." Hotch stated matter-of-factly. She looked up to protest until she saw Hotch's 'do not argue with me' look and sighed. "I didn't know FBI agents could even do that." She muttered to herself, not realizing that Hotch had heard the comment.

"The way I see it kid, you have two choices." Morgan started as him and the team entered the Unit Chief's office, stepping forward slightly but not close enough to alarm the girl. "You can live with Hotch and let us help you. This means you talk to us if and when necessary which you willhave to do, or, you can go into the foster system where you'll be placed with a random family where you'll have to talk to a therapist on a weekly basis. Which would you prefer?"

Kathryn pondered it for a moment but knew the answer she was going to give. "I erm … ok." She replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"You're going to have to speak up." Emily informed her gently. They wanted what was best for her and they didn't want her to go back into the foster system. She'd been there and had always ended up back with her parents. The girl needed a break and she needed to be safe – this was the only way they knew how to do it. It was unprofessional and they shouldn't have gotten so attached to the girl but they couldn't help it, they just had to know that she was ok.

Kathryn shifted uncomfortably, refusing to meet their gaze. "I -I'll erm, can -can I stay with you?" She asked Aaron timidly with a pleading look.

"No." Hotch answered. Kathryn's eyes widened and then she looked to the floor; she'd never felt so unwanted in her life, not that she'd ever been wanted in the first place. Resentment and hatred were the only things she'd ever known and she was stupid to think that could change. It never took long for people to become sick of her and then send her right back to where she came from. She knew Hotch was a good guy who was trying to help her but as usual she'd messed it up and pushed him away. "I never said you could stay with me." Kathryn looked up at him and tilted her head confused. "I believe I said you could live with me. You can't stay with me but you can, however live with me." Hotch elaborated.

Kathryn raised her eyebrows at the older man, momentarily forgetting who she was speaking to, or the lifeline he was throwing to her. Her curiosity or questioning had always gotten her into trouble but it couldn't be helped. Thinking before she spoke was something that she'd unfortunately, never learned. "What's the difference?"

Spencer, taking this as his cue, began to explain the definitions of both 'stay' and 'live' much to Kathryn's amusement and everybody else's dismay. After his five minute speech Rossi turned his attention to Kathryn and asked her for her final decision, to which she unconfidently confirmed that she would live with Hotch, realising that she had lost a battle she couldn't have won no matter what she said.

- . - . - . - . - . - . - .

Thanks for reading :-)

Let me know what you think ? Please ?