A/N: Here is the next chapter. Just so you know I used a combination of what happened in the season finale episode and my other story Death by a Thousand Cuts-Part 2. Sadly I don't own Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. Please send me a review telling me what you think.

Chapter 1- Nightmares

Within the dark confines of their bedroom Beth Cooper tossed and turned in the bed she shared with her husband Sam Cooper as she relived the painful memories of the darkest day of her life…

Fear clenched Beth's body as she found herself once again in the dark grey bedroom, wrists tied to the arms of the chair she was seated in. Breathing heavily Beth knew all too well what would happen next. Looking over to the window Beth saw Rawlins standing there looking through the blinds. Allowing the blinds to snap shut Rawlins turned to face her and smiled at her sinisterly as he said,

"You didn't answer my question; will Agent Cooper kill for you?"

Holding back the tears Beth shook her head no vigorously as she exclaimed,

"NO! And I wouldn't want him to."

Rawlins' smile seemed to widen as he moved closer to her, the gun, locked and loaded, already in his hands. Glimpsing up at the clock on the wall behind Beth Rawlins continued to smile as he looked to Beth and said,

"Doesn't look like we'll be getting a phone call."

Hearing Rawlins say this Beth already knew what was coming. Feeling both the need to stall Rawlins and to anger him Beth looked up into Rawlins' face with determination on her own as she said,

"You want to test people to see how brave they are? To see how far they will go? Then shoot me! SHOOT ME!"

As if in response to Beth's words Rawlins raised the gun while unlocking the safety as he aimed it at Beth's head. Unable to hold it in any longer Beth lowered her head and let the tears fall freely as a sob escaped her lips. Knowing that she probably had just seconds left Beth waited in silence for Rawlins to end her life.

Suddenly from the night stand beside her a loud beep pierced the silence. Glancing quickly up at Rawlins Beth saw him continue to aim the gun at her while he picked up his phone. Even though the gun was still aimed at her Beth couldn't help silently thanking God for the delay. Keeping her eyes trained on Rawlins Beth saw the smile on Rawlins' face grow as he looked at her and said,

"Well it seems that Agent Cooper does care about you."

Even though she knew that Sam hadn't really killed Stahl the tears still continued to fall down Beth's face. Like so many times before within the nightmare Beth watched through tear blurred eyes as the smile on Rawlins' face disappeared and was replaced with anger as he starred at the photo. The anger on his face seeped into his voice as he hissed,

"Stahl, that idiot, what was he thinking? He has ruined everything by doing this."

In her mind Beth knew what would happen next as he looked over at her confused expression. Sure enough the sinister smile returned to Rawlins' face as he moved the gun away from Beth's head. Instead he aimed it at her right shoulder as he said,

"Now darlin', Agent Cooper may have killed for you, but he was ten seconds late. So because of that it's only fair that I do this…"

Having experienced this in reality Beth knew what to expect as Rawlins suddenly fired the gun. But the pain she felt as the bullet pierced her shoulder felt the same as if it had just happened. Biting her lip to deal with the pain Beth watched Rawlins reload the gun and took aim once again at her wounded shoulder and said,

"And this darlin' is for your attempts at trying to persuade me to shoot you earlier."

As Rawlins fired the gun a second time Beth felt the intensified pain as the bullet impacted her shoulder close to her neck.

Flying upright into a sitting position in the bed Beth continued to breathe deeply as she grasped her right shoulder with her left hand. Removing her hand Beth heaved a sigh of relief at seeing only the two feint scars upon her shoulder. It had been a little over a year since the horrific ordeal, and after six months of having nightmare-free dreams, it once again decided to rear its ugly head.

Still physically shaken from the dream Beth decided to go check on Sarah. Even though there was nothing to be heard on the monitor Beth still wanted to check to make sure that her baby was ok. Rising slowly from the bed so as not to wake Sam, Beth quietly made her way to the nursery which was in the room right next to theirs. Turning on the miniature lamp opposite the crib Beth walked over to see her little girl sleeping peacefully. Smiling Beth gently ran her finger over Sarah's cheek. After remaining there a few extra minutes to be sure Sarah wouldn't wake Beth made her way back to the bedroom.

As she walked into the bedroom Beth immediately saw that Sam was no longer asleep but sitting up in the bed awaiting her return. Without even thinking about it Beth brought her left hand up to cover the two feint scars on her right shoulder once again. Seeing this action Sam waited for Beth to climb back into the bed, having known where she had gone, before asking,

"You had the nightmare again didn't you?"

Continuing to hold her hand on her shoulder Beth starred down at the bed sheets as she whispered,

"Yes"

With his hand under Beth's chin Sam lifted her face till she was once again starring him in the face. Seeing the tears glistening in Beth's eyes Sam quickly cradled her in his arms against his chest. As soon as her head made contact with Sam's chest Beth released the sobs she had been holding in. Rubbing circles into her back to help sooth her Sam waited till Beth could talk. A few minutes later, her sobs subsiding, Beth said,

"It was the same as all the others, and just as painful. After being nightmare-free for nearly six months I thought I wouldn't have to deal with it anymore."

Heaving a sigh Sam said,

"When we experience an extremely traumatic event we never truly forget it. Something from our last case must have triggered something in your memory to make you experience the nightmares again. But you are a strong willed person Beth; you will overcome this nightmare, just like last time."

Having removed her hand from her shoulder as Sam spoke Beth placed her right hand upon Sam's cheek and smiled lovingly up at him as she said,

"It was because of you that I was able to overcome the nightmare and the ordeal the first time, and with your help again I should be able to overcome this nightmare yet again."

Returning the loving smile Sam bent down and captured Beth's lips in a kiss. Without skipping a beat Beth immediately deepened the kiss. When they finally separated in need of air Beth snuggled deeper into Sam's warm embrace. Sensing how tired Beth still was because of the nightmare Sam said,

"Come on Beth, let's get some sleep. You never know we may get assigned a new case tomorrow."

After feeling Beth nod her head against his chest in response to his words Sam slowly lowered the two of them into a comfortable position against the mattress. With Beth lying securely within his arms Sam could feel Beth fall asleep almost immediately. After quickly kissing Beth on the top of her head Sam closed his eyes and allowed himself to be consumed by sleep.