"You know," the man said as he looked Reid dead in the eye, "We don't do this nearly often enough. I love it when both of you are in full terror mode, awaiting my strike. It makes me glad I abducted both of you, not just Reid like I planned."

Morgan did his best to look bored and disinterested, even though he was nervously eying Reid's split lip and bruises from earlier. Reid sported an arm that was probably broken, a black eye, and a bruised soul. Two years of being held captive by a merciless psychopath who threatened the lives of everyone they knew had made Morgan and Reid weary and - inasmuch as Morgan hated to admit it - perhaps even broken.

Both Reid and Morgan remained silent. They'd tried to escape over 30 times in two years; they knew the drill. They failed often, but they still tried. They had too. Morgan was leaning heavily against the wall, his arm propping him up. Reid knew it was more vital for Morgan to eat something, he hadn't eaten in at least a day, and Reid was in need of food himself.

"You were the one who tried to escape, though." Richard, their captor, turned to look at Morgan. Morgan tried to look at him and meet his gaze. "You were the one who started the conversations and planned with Reid. You were the one who talked to him, thinking I was stupid enough not to hear your every word." The unsub (as Reid still liked to call him), got up and stood in front of Morgan, clearly enjoying his position of power.

Reid cleared his throat, knowing exactly where this was going, as it had gone so many times before. Their main order was not to escape. Morgan had a great idea for trying to escape and they'd come so close. They'd actually seen Hotch; they'd learned he was alive, not dead. Morgan had quietly whispered to Reid that was worth any punishment they might get. "Um-"

Richard held up his hand and Morgan shot a glare at Reid. Reid allowed himself to sink onto the bed quietly. They were not going to raise a stink. They were not going to get killed. Not when they finally had a reason to live.

"You got to an airport." The tone was a livid, dry tone; one that clearly explained his anger. Reid swallowed, trying not to feel afraid.

"I'm glad you figured that out," Morgan said. Reid winced. After two years, neither one of them were entirely broken. Beaten and badly injured, rape victims and victims of human trafficking - sure. But broken? No. At least, that's what he wanted to believe.

Two years ago, he and Morgan had been investigating a series of murders that had finally been proven to be a serial killer operation. An unsub would kidnap victims, seemingly at random, keep them for years, and when the victims were broken, they would be murdered. He and Morgan had tried to escape multiple times, the most recent one being last night. It had been the furthest they'd made it so far before being captured again. He would never forget Hotch's face. Hotch was very much alive.

Richard - the unsub - brought Reid back to reality. "Reid," he said, "I asked how you thought Morgan should be punished. We know he tried to escape. We have options, yes? He convinced you to escape, yes?"

Morgan shot glares at Reid. Reid sighed, hating the fact that Richard refused to believe that Reid had more intelligence than a two-year-old. Both Morgan and Reid had been responsible for planning the escape, and Reid knew that.

"Reid!" Richard snapped, shaking him and pushing him back against the wall, tracing his cheek lightly with the gunbarrel, "Punishment! Morgan. How should we punish Morgan?"

Reid allowed his eyes to flicker to Morgan, who was pretending to ignore the whole scenario. Reid sighed, thinking over his options, "Hospital."

Morgan groaned. Richard smiled. He loved taking both boys to the hospital; it was a way for him to show his power and connections. He had connections in every local hospital and every local agency. He even loved to float he had a connection to the unit Morgan and Reid had served in - which Reid was starting to doubt more and more.

"What are the rules for the hospital?" Richard asked Reid, "Recite."

"No talking to others, you and I are married, Morgan is staying with us as a c-cousin," Reid said, stuttering on the last word, "And you have a power of attorney over Morgan."

"What else?"

"Morgan will stay in for a minimum of six days and will get treatment for injuries caused by his escape. He will be admitted to the psych ward, and his medications will be adjusted." Morgan's head hit against the wall, and Reid sighed. His other options were for far more permanent options, such as getting shot or whipped again. Given that Morgan had disassociated for three days off and on the last time he was whipped, the hospital seemed like the safer bet.

"Corner," the man said. Reid swallowed but nodded, kneeling on the corner mat.


Morgan swallowed, looking the unsub - Richard - in the eye. Two years of captivity hadn't broken him, he'd made sure of that. It hadn't broken Reid either. But they had been beaten and abused, and come damn close to being broken.

"You tried to escape." There was no question. He had. He was always plotting and planning. And this time he'd gained valuable information, their team was still alive. The man had showed them brutal evidence that their team had been killed. Now, Reid and Morgan knew that was wrong.

"Yes, Sir." Morgan lowered his eyes, looking at the blue pattern on the rug.

"You're lucky I don't kill Reid," the unsub said, tracing a finger over Morgan's face. "It's been two years, Morgan. Two years. Your team is dead. Dead. I own you and Reid, I'm married to Reid, and you are my slave. Clear?"

"Of course, Sir." No raised tone, no fighting back, nothing. He wasn't broken. He wasn't broken. He just felt like it.

"Good." The man smiled, moving over to Reid, "Reid, this is all Morgan's fault." He ran his hand through Reid's hair. "I'm not mad at you, understand?"

"Yes, Sir." Reid lowered his eyes.

"I won't punish you."

You already did. You're punishing both of us, keeping us in this cruel world. Can't you just let us go? Reid swallowed, "Thank you, Sir."

"I will protect you from your team," the man said, running his hands over Reid with a smile. "You'll never go back to them. They're dead."

Reid didn't address the conflicting statements, nor did he dare to look at Morgan. "Yes, Sir. I understand."

The man left for a minute, and Reid looked at Morgan. They had gotten within a block of Hotch - there was a chance that they could get out alive.