A/N: This is going to be a bit of a departure from my usual fics. This is an Emily with an OC. This is also my entry to the Prentiss Mystery Challenge. The events take place in Seasons 5 & 6.

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing. Not the characters, not the episodes, not anything.

Chapter 1: Making Promises

A few days after Emily Prentiss met with Sean, she made a visit to the United States Penitentiary in Lewisbury, PA. She wasn't here in her capacity as an FBI agent. She was here on her own time to visit her friend, Franklin Brewster. Friend wasn't the right term, not really. She wasn't sure exactly how it happened, but Franklin has become dear to her. The moment Sean told her Ian Doyle had escapted, Franklin was the only person she wanted to tell.

After the security pat down, Emily Prentiss walked down the hallway to the visitors area. She sat down in front of the protective glass. After a few minutes, a tall, lean man dressed in an orange jumpsuit came in and sat down across from her. He picked up the phone on his side of the glass, and she picked up hers.

"I wasn't expecting to see you today, Emily. In fact, I wasn't expecting to see you for a few more weeks. This is a pleasant surprise."

She smiled. "Good. I'm glad I could brighten your day."

His eyes narrowed slightly. Most people wouldn't have noticed, but she did.

"What's wrong Emily?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something happened. Something that bothered you. No, frightened you. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. It's just...I may not see you for a while. Something came up."

"Like an FBI something? Or something else?"

"You remember I used to work at INTERPOL?"

"Yes."

"Well, there was a person I helped capture. A very bad person. He was being held, well, he escaped."

"You're afraid of this person." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"Are you going after this person?"

"No. But I may need to go away for a while. He's very dangerous."

"Emily, if anything happens to you..."

"Don't say it."

"If he hurts you, you know what I'll have to do."

"That's why I'm here, to tell you not to."

"No. I will. If he hurts you, I will get out of here and I will find him. I will kill him. You know I will."

"You can't. Promise me, Franklin."

"No."

"Franklin Brewster, look me in the eyes and promise me you won't do any of those things."

"No."

"If you loved me, you would promise me."

"That is just outright manipulative on your part."

"Promise me."

"Fine. I promise I will not kill him."

"Show me your hands."

"What?"

"I want to know you're not crossing your fingers when you promise."

"If the glass wasn't here I would pinkie promise."

"I'll settle for you not crossing your fingers."

"Fine." He wedged the phone between his head and shoulder as he held up both hands with the fingers outstretched where she could see. "I promise that if anything happens to you, I will go after the man who did it. I promise I won't kill him unless I have to. I promise I will not hurt or harm anyone, unless I have to. I promise I will turn him in."

"And?"

"And what?"

"If I die..."

"No. You won't."

"If I die, you have to life well. You have to promise me you won't live in darkness. Promise me."

"I will try.:

"That's not good enough. Promise."

He sighed. "Fine. I promise not to live in darkness. Now, tell me about him."

"Later. I have something else to tell you about."

"What's that?"

"Salsa dancing. I told you I was going. Sit back and I'll tell you all about it."

"Not yet. This man, how bad is he?"

"He's bad. He was in a Russian prison."

"How did he get out."

"I don't know."

"Emily, do you trust your team to help."

"They can't."

"Why not?"

"He'll kill them. He's resourceful. He has no empathy for anyone. He likes hurting people. The IRA exiled him because they were afraid of him."

"Just like you are."

"Yes."

"Does your team know about him?"

"They don't even know about my work for INTERPOL."

"Tell them."

"No."

"Don't be an idiot. They would do anything for you."

"That's why I haven't told them. They will put themselves in harms way. Franklin, you're the only one I've ever told."

"I will never understand why you trust me."

"That's because you're modest. And because he can't get to you in here."

"You better keep writing me. If I stop hearing from you, I'm going to assume you're dead and I'll find him."

"I promise, I'll keep writing you."

"Alright. I promise to stay put till I don't hear from you anymore. So, tell me about Salsa dancing."

A/N: Very shortly we learn how Emily and Franklin Brewster met.