DisclaimerIf I owned these characters I would be in Hollywood making big money doing much crueler things then what I do in this story. I do not own them so I therefore promise to put them back where I found them.

SeasonWe can say this is some where between season five and season six. So Haley has been dead for some time.

Author Notes – Well just over a month ago I fell in love with this show. Before I knew what was happening my muse was attacking me like an evil little monkey from the closet (cookies for those who catch that reference – wiggles eyebrows), so thus my first Criminal Minds fanfic. Please be gentle, I tried to stay in character as much as I could but does not mean I didn't stray a little. I also never imagined such a huge chapter, but I wanted it to stop at a certain point thus lengthy chapter. So hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

The sound of heavy footsteps caught Emily Prentiss' attention a little too late. By the time she turned around something heavy slammed into the back of her head. Her body betraying her, her knees folded underneath and she slammed onto the hard wooden floor.

Blinking a few times, trying desperately to get her bearings, she found it increasingly difficult. Panic ripped through her at the speed of light, where was the UNSUB? Trying to listen to her surroundings, she heard nothing, nor sensed anyone standing near her. That didn't mean they didn't have a gun trained on her either. It wasn't until her boss was kneeling before her with worry etched into his eyes. 'Jesus, how much time had pass since I was hit?' she wondered.

She blinked a few times, his entire face was moving clockwise in a full circle and for a second it appeared as though Hotch had three heads. She placed her hand on his shoulder, or what she thought was his shoulder, it could have been his face for all she knew. "I'm okay, go get him."

She could see Hotch crouching there trying to see the head wound; the next time she blinked he was gone. She only had her eyes closed for a second and she could have sworn he said something, but then again she was the worst one to judge time and memory at that moment. At first she thought maybe she had made the whole thing up in her mind, until she realized she had Hotch's back up piece tightly held in her white knuckled grasp.

Though she wanted nothing more then to wait for Hotch to return to her side, she knew deep down inside she couldn't. She had to get up, she had to make sure her boss, her partner, didn't need back up. That was their rule, they were a team, a family, and there was nothing they were supposed to do alone. In their line of work, things could go wrong so quickly so having that extra person was a safety precaution a security blanket they were all quite fond of. Knowing internally she was suppose to be out there helping Hotch and not laying on the ground, she found strength hidden in the depths of her body.

Crawling to her knees she then slowly used the bed to bring herself up so she was standing. The entire room began moving back and forth as though she had one to many drinks. Closing her eyes to steady herself she reopened them and she began moving, one foot in front of the other until she reached the banister of the staircase. Glancing down she saw the front door wide open.

Taking a deep breath until she could no longer pull any more air in she let it back out and started her decent down the stairs and each step felt like she had been walking a hundred miles. It wasn't until the last step did she feel her entire world sway and her fingernails dug into the railing bringing her back to her senses. She had one more step to go, and she almost lost it right at the bottom of the steps. Leave it to her to make it all the way down and then almost pass out. That no longer mattered though, she had to find Aaron Hotchner.

As she walked to the front door and made it outside, the chilly winter air hit her lungs and made her instantly cold internally. January in Michigan was not the best time to be hunting down UNSUBS, but she didn't have a choice. She had a job to do. She made her way down the front porch and she started looking for any sign for the suspect or Hotch. She saw nothing till her eyes set upon a set of footprints. At first she thought it was her own until she saw a set of four and they were definitely created by two males and not a smaller creature such as herself. Her eyes slowly followed the path and as she continued to follow she realized they headed straight into the woods.

She began a slow jog hoping her pounding headache wouldn't increase for she knew asking for it to simply stop was too much. As she cleared the front of the house and started into the woods she hoped and prayed that Hotch was okay and that she was able to find him in time. The sun that offered no warmth in the cold winter days was starting to set on the horizon and Emily had no desire to be outside in a forest she did not know. Then something made her heart go cold, her body frozen and she stopped in her tracks. A single gun shot bounced off the stripped bare trees and into her ears and fear gripped her in its long dark webbing.

Digging into her coat pocket fast she found the item she was looking for and quickly with shaky fingers opened her fingers. Every curse word she could think of formed in her mind as she saw the symbol for no service. They were in a remote area, service was few and far and between. Shoving the phone into her coat she then began running, she didn't care her head was screaming at her, she had to get to Hotch. With adrenaline pumping through her entire system, Emily Prentiss ran with all her might praying with everything in her body and soul that she would not find a nightmare lying before her. Little did she know her night was only just the beginning.

(Thirty Minutes Prior)

"Argh, I'm not getting any service out here. Are you?" Emily Prentiss broke the silence that was in the car. Hotch who was focused on driving dug into his pocket pulled out his cell phone. Placing it back he shook his head. "Nope, we have officially entered the movie of 'Deliverance'."

"Well if I hear a banjo playing, you are on your own," Emily replied with a smile, looking out her window. It was so rare to hear even a small joke out of their Unit Chief, especially after the events he went through. So it was nice to hear his sense of humor show up once in a great while.

Hotch kept his eyes scanning the road, the State Police were very direct with them to watch out for the deer. The time of the year, food was scarce bringing the animals onto busy roads and into the city making life interesting for those who had to deal with them.

Reid's voice echoed in Hotch's ear. "Back in 2004 and 2005 there were over one hundred and fifty human deaths that occurred because of deer. The injury alone came into the ten thousand, not to mention there is no standardized report from state to state; I do believe Pennsylvania is first closely followed by Michigan. Do you know there has been reported of one billion dollars alone in damage done to vehicles."

Hotch was lost after that, for Reid kept talking and by then Emily and him were walking out of the police station. Sometimes it was interesting to listen to the kid, he had so much information in his mind that he wanted to share, but on occasions such as this, it became too much. If they allowed him, Reid would probably go through the entire list of each state and how many deer accidents they had that year as well.

"Haley and I came here once before, we were more south but right off Lake Michigan." Hotch spoke up changing his thought process not entirely sure himself why he was telling Prentiss such a private moment that transpired between himself and his late ex wife. Though he'd never admit it, it actually felt rather good to talk about it. He continued speaking.

"We were visiting some family from her side that invited us for Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks right off the pier, a thunderstorm was looming in the background so you'd see lightening hit the lake. It wasn't ten minutes after the show was done that Haley and I and everyone else get soaked. As everyone else was running, trying to get out of the thunderstorm; we just stayed there in the pouring rain, holding each other."

Emily Prentiss could not find any words to speak to her boss. The man was so very protective of his family, of his life outside the BAU. For him to share something so private and so personal made Emily flabbergasted. Hotch took the moment of silence and didn't stop speaking.

"Haley and I were going to retire here. Most people go to southern states, Florida. Haley loved the snow and she had fallen in love with Lake Michigan."

"You still can." Emily finally found her words. She glanced over to see Hotch's reaction and found his eyes staring right directly into her soul, or so that's what it felt like he was doing. She wet her lips as he broke the stare to continue looking at the road. "Nothing is stopping you from one day achieving it."

On the outside Aaron Hotchner was stoic as could be, not giving any reaction, on the inside however his mind was processing Emily's answer. He truly had never looked at that way. In a lot of aspects he liked it very much, for Haley wasn't the only one who had fallen in love with the beautiful lake. There was something calm and serenity about the lake that made him feel home.

Then before Hotch knew it, as his mind drifted on the cold waters of the inland ocean, Reid's statistics raddled off in his mind.

"Did you know Lake Michigan was named "Michi gami" meaning "Great Lake." And you can fit Delaware, Massachusetts, and Maryland into Lake Michigan and the deepest part of the lake is 925 feet. Rip tides are the leading cause of deaths…" . Hotch was thankful to see that they had arrived at their destination. He had hung around the kid too long and Reid was starting to wear off on him.

Both Hotch and Emily felt the car's suspension take a beating as it traveled down the long dirt path that led to the house in front of them. The vehicle sitting in front of the home had been used in the last twenty four hours for the snow removal was evident on the truck. Tony Mitchell had missed a parole meeting with his probation officer and Mitchell's car had been positively I.D. at the last abduction of a young boy thus bringing the two agents out to question him.

As Hotchner placed the vehicle in park and the two got out he was thankful to be wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. When coming to a much colder state you wanted to wear layers or you'd be regretting it later on down the road. The two moved up onto the porch and Emily began knocking on the door. Nothing. They waited and tried again.

"Mr. Mitchell open the door, we just want to talk." Emily said loud enough for anyone to hear inside if they were standing close enough to the entrance.

Still silence and no sounds coming from within, the two agents glanced at one another. Both of them reading one another like a book, no words had to be spoken as they both unholstered their weapons. Hotch took the lead and tried first to see if the door was unlocked. He was shocked to find the door not bolted shut and put it as Mitchell didn't have time to lock it, or figured they were out in the middle of no where who would be opening the door?

"F.B.I." Hotch announced then as he and Emily entered into the house. She closed the door behind them. They began slowly clearing the rooms, sweeping in and out, and coming up empty handed. Hotch's senses were on full alert, listening for anything that sounded out of place in the very quiet home. Nothing jumped out or was out of the ordinary. As Hotch reached the back door and looked out the small window he began to wonder if Mitchell was even there, it could have been highly likely that he left out the back as they were coming in the front. He then nicked that idea for Mitchell would have to own a snowmobile being that far in the neck of the woods, and he and Emily would have heard it. Not to mention if he had left earlier then that, a trail would have been clearly marked in the snow. If Mitchell had left out on foot in these conditions it would be down right suicide trying to make it into town. So either he was in the house still or someone came and picked him up.

Getting back into the moment, he walked back into the living room meeting back up with Emily. Neither one of them had cleared the upstairs so with weapons still drawn they climbed the stairs and Hotch motioning to Emily to take the first door, Hotch took the far room at the end of the hallway. He walked up and did a quick count down in his head and then opened the door quickly.

Aaron Hotchner found the master bedroom but no Tony Mitchell. He checked the bathroom, the closet, even under the bed but there was no other person in the room. He was about to call out clear when he heard a loud thump that sounded like a body hitting the floor coming from the room Emily Prentiss was suppose to be in.

"Prentiss?" Calling out to her as he began moving from the master bedroom and out to the hallway. As Hotch rounded the door way he saw a man run from out of the room and down the stairs. Before Hotch even entered the room the very idea of Prentiss being hurt entered his mind and that idea sent a chill up and down his spine. He took one glance to see where the UNSUB had run and saw the front door wide open. Then he turned and found Emily on the floor trying desperately to get up and get her bearings.

He took only three strides and he was beside Emily checking her head wound. It was a nasty cut and probably a nice concussion, but more then likely she would be okay. He also noticed rather quickly her gun was missing so without even a slightest hesitation he reached down and grabbed the Glock 26 strapped to his ankle. That's when Hotch caught her gaze as she continued to blink her eyes rapidly, more then likely trying to focus her blurry vision.

Her hand then reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder slipping and then resting on his cheek. "I'm okay, go get him."

Hotch's body tingled with sensation from the very touch of her hand and he immediately felt bad and scolded himself for allowing to even go there. Quickly, so not to dwell on it, he grabbed her hand and placed the back-up piece in her hand and spoke, the only words that came to his mind. "Call for back up."

A part of him was screaming at himself to not allow the perp to get further away, but the bigger part did not like leaving his agent, especially Emily Prentiss alone and injured. His job was to protect, but he also knew she would not be happy if she found out he allowed Mitchell to get away because of her.

Without anything else to say he then turned, stood up, and left her sitting on the ground as he took the steps two at a time and was out the front door before Emily could even utter a single word to him. His eyes were frantically looking for any sign as to which way Mitchell had gone, apparently on foot for his vehicle was still in the driveway. His eyes caught the footprints leading away from the sidewalk and not towards the trucks. As he began following them he realized quickly they were leading to the woods that surrounded Tony Mitchell's place. Coving the ground quickly Hotch was at the tree line and entering the woods, jumping over pieces of dead trees and ducking under low hanging tree branches that were burden with the heavy amount of snow.

The burning in his chest became difficult to ignore as the cold air sucked the warmth right out of his lungs with every breath he took. Hotch found it harder and harder to breathe he started to wonder if he would ever catch up to Tony Mitchell. This man had home field advantage in every sense of the word. Not only did Mitchell know his own house but he knew these woods, and could lead Hotch on a wild goose chase. The sun going down and exposed to these kinds of temperatures, they probably wouldn't find him until spring came around. It was this thought process that was running through his mind when a tree branch came swinging out of know where right into his midsection.

Everything slowed down as Hotch felt his feet lift off the ground and come forward and then gravity took hold and he was falling. Hotch felt the wind leave his body as he slammed hard onto the ground. Dazed for only a second the sound of a gun cocking back brought Hotch back to the moment, for standing over him was an out of breath Tony Mitchell holding Emily Prentiss's service weapon.

Aaron Hotchner could still feel the cold weapon grasped in his hand. Surprisingly he was able to hold onto it even after the fact of being hit in the midsection and stopping from a full run. Though sadly he wasn't able to conceal it fast enough and it did not escape Mitchell's line of sight as he kept his eyes on Hotch then suddenly glared at it, telling Hotch what he had to do.

The very idea of losing his only weapon was taking his one chance of getting out of this alive, but Hotch knew he had no alternative. He did not have the higher ground, the time it would take for him to actually point it at Mitchell would be enough time for Mitchell to shoot, and Hotch needed this man to trust him. Letting go of the Glock 17 and he put his hands up, showing surrender, that he no longer had his weapon and was now an unarmed man.

"I'm going to stand, okay?"

Silence greeted Hotch as he slowly moved to stand up. Not making any sudden movements as he came to his full height, still keeping his hands up, Hotch began to study Mitchell. The man's face was calm, no emotion was written on Mitchell's features; the same as his body as he stood completely still. Then Hotch saw it. His eyes told other wise, he was in full panic mode. To Hotch this was a good thing for he had a better chance of talking someone down who was nervous and scared then an UNSUB who had a plan and was not going to be deterred from the methodical plot that he or she thought up. Hotch could only hope he could stall him long enough for Prentiss to get there.

It was as though Mitchell over heard Hotch's thoughts for he glanced over Hotch's shoulder expecting to see another F.B.I. agent come running from behind.

"We only had some questions." Hotch spoke, getting Mitchell's mind back on him.

"I'm not going back." Mitchell finally broke his silence, speaking for the first time after having kept silent the entire time.

"Nobody said you were."

Then anger broke across Mitchell's face and Hotch licked his lips almost as a sense of preparation.

"I'm not some fucking idiot. I know how it works. Assault on any one of you guys is a death sentence, not to mention holding a gun on you, yeah doesn't look very good, does it?"

"You could have shot me, but you didn't. That is saying something. You could have taken me out when I was vulnerable on the ground instead you wanted to hear what I had to say. You were in panic mode, survival and there is nothing wrong with that."

Hotch was witnessing Mitchell lose control. The longer Hotch stood there talking to the man the more Mitchell got agitated and more nervous, switching back and forth on his feet. The Unit Chief started to get a sick feeling in the bottom of his stomach knowing it was about to turn ugly. It became clear to Hotch this man was not going to go peacefully. , He could reach out and touch the gun that was aimed at him. All he needed was a good distraction, something that would allow him to swing it to his advantage.

"Yeah," Mitchell spoke again, "I missed my parole meeting, add the other things….I"m not going back. It almost killed me; I can't go through that again."

That's when Hotch saw complete calm wash over the man and the hair on the back of Hotch's neck stood up on end. As Mitchell continued to speak to the man he held at gun point.

"No hard feelings and this isn't personal but rather you than me."

It was with that Hotchner moved into action, allowing instinct to kick in. Without even thinking about it he threw his right hand up and pushed the gun that was pointed towards his chest upwards. He then rushed Mitchell in a tackle that would have made Morgan proud.

The sound of the weapon discharging vibrated through Hotch's ears as their bodies connected but that was the least of his problems. For Hotch hadn't realized Mitchell had positioned himself right in front of a steep embankment. It probably never occurred to Mitchell that Hotch would tackle him with a gun trained on him; little did Mitchell know Hotch was not the type to lay down and die.

Hotch could feel every branch, every stone, as they scraped and tumbled down the hill, each trying to get the upper hand, trying desperately not to be the one who landed first at the bottom. Luck was on Mitchell's side at the moment for as they finally reached the curve ending the fall, Mitchell flipped Hotch so he landed on his back and Mitchell was on top. Hotch hadn't been ready for the move and not prepared for the other man's weight and before he could even recover, Mitchell reacted.

Mitchell took his fist back and slammed it hard against Hotch's face. Hotch's head slammed hard against the ground and he felt Mitchell scramble away as he tried to get back up on his feet.

As he stood up and began running he noticed Mitchell no longer had the gun, losing it some where in the fall This little fact gave Hotch a renewed burst of energy, a reserve he didn't know even existed until that moment. Aaron had begun to cover ground quickly and was gaining on Mitchell, but to Hotch's complete shock and sheer surprise, his feet came out from under him and he slammed and slid forward on something very cold.

It was with this horror the field he believed he was chasing Mitchell over was indeed not a field but a small lake. The fresh snow that had fallen the previous night disguised its true form.

"MITCHELL STOP."

It was too late. It was then Hotch heard the sound, a terrible grinding sound as though a beast had been rudely awakened from a deep slumber. Hotch couldn't utter another word, with complete horror he watched as Mitchell completely disappear from his line of sight. He couldn't watch this man die so, moving quickly, he started to run towards the open hole that Mitchell had created. Before Hotch got even half way, the sound of cracking and creaking of his weight on the thin layer of ice hit his ears. He quickly came to a halt, slipping and sliding all the while. He moved the snow gently and saw a spider web of cracks in the ice. He could hear Mitchell trying to scream for help, splashing around but Hotch couldn't move.

He shifted his body weight and he heard another grinding sound coupled with what almost sounded like a gun shot in the ice. Dread started to wash over him. He immediately turned and scanned the tree line hoping to see Emily but in the dark he could not see any type of movement. 'When the hell did the sun go down,' the question coming to mind. Did it really matter though, would it have been better if there had been a sun instead of a moon?

He tried moving backwards but that only produced another creak from the delicate barrier that kept him safe for the time being. The damage was done, he knew it. Mitchell had started a chain reaction in the ice that could not be undone and he wondered how he was going to get out of this.

"HOTCH!"

Turning his eyes back up to the embankment he had fallen down he saw Emily's silhouette. He then turned back to the hole Mitchell had disappeared down and realized he had gone quiet, silence. Turning back to Emily he wondered what he should do and how long he could stand there, not to mention how long the ice could hold him. He lifted his foot up to place it behind him trying once more to take a small step back and that became his undoing. A tip of the scales, as his weight shifted, changing the pressure on the thin layer of ice, before Hotch could even react, he felt himself falling into the deep dark freezing waters below him.

TBC….

So what did you think? Reviews are my crack, the more I get the quicker I write ;).