Hotch's phone rang and it shattered the silence of the conference room. Everyone's head shot up in alarm and pen's stilled. It rang once more before Hotch snatched up the receiver.

"Agent Hotchner." He answered voice strong even if his insides were shaking.

"Hello." It was the voice. Hotch nodded to the team and put it on speaker.

"What do you want?" He asked anger at this person, if you could call him that, boiling over.

"I wanted to set up a system Agent, and please, settle down. We wouldn't want any harm to come to Miss. Prentiss now would we?" the voice asked, with a hint of a laugh. Hotch fought the urge to scream or to beg. A muffled noise came from the background. "Shut up." Came the voice from a distance over the line and what sounded like a kick was delivered. JJ gasped and Morgan's fists clenched.

"I will call every five hours." The voice announced. "For every five hours you do not find her, there will be a punishment. The first five hours have elapsed and I wanted you to hear the first punishment." A thunk could clearly be heard over the phone as he set it down. "I will now brand what is mine." He finished shortly. Whimpers could be heard over the line.

"No!" Hotch yelled. He was too late.

"Hotch!" she screamed as the metal connected with skin.

JJ grabbed for the trashcan as she emptied what little she'd been able to eat. Hotch felt tears roll down his face although his face showed no emotion. Sobs could be heard over the phone, and Morgan got up to leave the room. He stopped at the door when Emily's voice echoed through the room.

"It's bad."

It came out more as breathless whimper but it was still clearly audible. Hotch punched the board, his anger too much. He needed an outlet, but she wasn't here to talk to. She was there. With him. With the minutes counting down until her next punishment.

"As you see, I am serious. Agent Prentiss obviously means an awfully lot to you over there, and it would do you some good to see what it's like to have something taken away from you. Believe me, you don't want to learn of the next punishment." He ended the call and once again the dial tone swallowed the room.

JJ was sobbing and Rossi had gotten up to comfort her. He held the media liaison against his chest and seemed to speak to Hotch with a look. "We can handle much more of this" Hotch nodded and cast a glance to Morgan and Reid. Morgan remained at the door staring out over the BAU. His body language screamed of rage. Reid seemed to be flipping through a file he had in front of him at top speed.

"You have something?" he asked him. Reid didn't look up or respond. "Reid." He said a bit more forcefully.

"Well, if I had to guess, I'd say that the UnSub was either a relative of a past UnSub or a past victim. The way he said 'To have something taken away you.' It seemed to indicate that us losing something would even the score. He blames us, particularly you, for him losing someone close to him and he wants retribution. He wants to even the score. Torture us like he believes he was." Reid said still flipping.

"That's good Reid, but that's too many names, we can't check up on everyone. We need a way to narrow it down." Hotch said, speaking the obvious.

"Does anyone come to mind?" Reid asked. "Does anyone you remember stand out as truly hating you?" Hotch thought back and sighed. There were dozens of people who hated him. It was a part of the job he had long since accepted, but had never gotten used to. Does having people hate you mean that you have failed?

"Hotch?" Reid asked again looking questioningly at his boss.

"I'll write some down." He said shaking his head. Her screams rolled in his head and he couldn't think. He held the pen in his hand, poised in his hand but it didn't touch paper. All he could think about was her. Screaming for him to save her. It had been him that she had needed and he had failed her. He couldn't imagine the hell she was going through. And the worst part was that this probably had nothing to do with her. It was his fault someone was after her. It was like some sick recurring theme.

Aaron Hotchner: A man who should never be loved.