Wow. The response to this story is awesome. We have had a pretty great Christmas at my house, and so I am in a good mood, because I love it when people like my gifts, it makes me glad. Also seeing their faces when I like theirs. I had a few reviews wanting updates quickly, and a guest reviewer saying they checked 3 times a day to see if it was updated. So here is another one, and depending on the busyness of the next few days, I'll try get another two up before New Year's maybe. I'll try. ( : But… Merry Christmas, and thank you to everyone. Have a happy holidays spent with the people you care about and who can put a smile on your face and really get you into the festive spirit. Be safe and happy. ( : xx

4

As he moved into the drivers' seat, he looked in the rear view mirror, just to make sure that the agent was still motionless, lying on the floor where she ought to be. He knew that she was cunning, and that if anyone could escape him, she would be the one to do it. He knew her well now. Some of her tendencies, the little finicky things that she did.

But he also wasn't dumb. She was a profiler with an elite unit of the FBI - the Behavioural Analysis Unit. So he had known that he had to be sceptical about some of the things that she said, because many of the things would be said to throw him off the scent of something that could be used to really get to know her.

The way she talked during conversations differed depending on the different person she was talking to. Between the mash of colours analyst, the blonde, the boss, the old guy, the nerd and the 'other' one, her demeanour changed. But what he really noticed was the way that she acted around the other one. That was the way he wanted her to act around him.

The subtle looks, the untold concern if something seemed to be weighing on his mind. She was meant to be his. That was how it was always meant to be. But it was okay. In time she would grow to see that. She would. Even if he had to resort to, different, tactics to get what he wanted. But in the end she would see that it was for the greater good. And if she didn't, then he would keep working at it.

The drive home had never, ever been a long one. But this evening, dark and scary as it may seem, it appeared to take even longer. It was probably the mixture of tiredness and physical and mental exhaustion, as his weeks of planning had finally come to a head. Everything had to go seamlessly and to be fair, it had gone perfectly. Even better than he could have foreseen.

As he drove the streets, he noticed that very few people were out. It was late, and dark, and therefore it was not a surprise. Rounding the corner as he moved into his street towards home he glanced at his neighbours' houses and was relieved to see that the only lights emanating from the street were from the lights that were scattered down the road.

During the day it was a lovely street. Bustling with young families and with children as the parents got their children ready to catch the morning bus to school as they headed off to work. They were close as well. Often just before holidays, the neighbours would meet at one persons' house and celebrate with a barbeque and maybe have a bouncy castle for the kids. They all loved it.

But he could sense some of the pity that oozed from his neighbours. The fact that he was alone, because his wife had died from cancer before they had had the chance to have any children. But just because he didn't have his own children, didn't mean that he wasn't good with them. Often children would run up and hug him or thank him for the little gifts or letting them play in his pool on hot summer days – as long as there was parental supervision. Everyone liked him because he was a really good guy. That was what made this so much better, and so much easier.

No one would suspect him. And soon, he would no longer receive their pity filled stares at the gatherings. He would have everything that he wanted; everything that he was entitled to.

Pulling into his driveway, he pressed the button that automatically opened his garage door. He was arriving home quite late, but in his job he usually did this, so if his neighbours saw they wouldn't think that it was suspicious.

He waited for the door to completely close before he exited the vehicle. Then opening the sliding door, he looked at his beauty. She really was something. People said that she was something, but being so close made it so much better. Almost painfully better as he thought about what their lives together would entail.

As he relinquished her from the cuffs, he scooped the still unconscious woman up and into his arms. The movement was easy. He had always planned on a large family, so his house was spacious enough to allow for this.

Moving through the hall ways and to the door that led downstairs, he lay her on the ground as he fumbled with different keys trying to find the right one that would open the lock.

He wasn't certain how long it would take to break her. But what he was certain of was that if he was going to be going down on a regular basis, he would have to separate the keys to make it easier to find it and get down to her. Finally hearing the lock click, he smiled as he opened the door widely. It was a relatively heavy door.

With Emily now back in his arms, he descended the long stair case and found the secondary door that had a new padlock on it that hadn't been locked yet. Up until this point the lights had already been on in preparation for her arrival.

Opening that one as well, he was plunged into darkness as the room he was in had no windows. Managing to carry Emily with one hand, he located the switch and turned it on.

He had to admit, it was an elaborate set up. He had spent a lot more than he had originally intended. But it was for her, so it would all be worth it in the end.

He made his way over to the bed and lay her down upon it. Deciding that it would be safest to keep her restrained until he explained her presence here, he took the cuffs that he had used earlier from his back pocket and fastened her hands to the head board above her.

Rope that hung from one wall was grabbed and he made quick work of tying her duck taped feet to the base of the bed. On the trunk at the very end, there was an array of duvet covers and sheets and blankets. Feeling slightly cold in the room himself, he placed the most plush duvet cover over her body, tucking it in so that no cold air could filter in through any gaps.

Checking her neck, he saw that it was still slightly pink, but he was okay with that, because by morning that would most likely have faded.

Her face was intact, and just the way he had always liked it.

As for the rest of her body, he couldn't say for certain. She would probably only have injuries that she received day to day because of her job. But that was okay because she was saving people. However, in the future if she was going to bare his children, that would need to change. He couldn't have her in harm's way. Of that much he was certain.

Looking down at her, all he wanted to do was to touch her, to hold her.

But that would be a wee while a way. He could hold on though. He had made it this far.

Moving over to the edge of the room, near where the entrance was, he flicked on a small night light and turned off the overhead lights.

He decided on leaving the rest of the lights in the hallway as well as on the staircase on, just in case he needed to get quick access to her – he didn't want to trip and hurt himself.

Pulling the door closed, he looked at Emily's sleeping form one more time and sighed with relief that she was finally safe in his presence.

As the sound of the door clicking closed was heard, Emily took a deep breath in and then released it. She no longer needed to steady her pulse, or control her body's movements and reactions.

Squinting she tried to make out her surroundings, but it was useless. The dim light did nothing to help her regain her bearings. Pulling at her bindings she found the same thing. It was absolutely useless.

Now there was nothing she could do. Nothing that could help her regain control of the situation. She just had to sit.

And wait.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Please Review, it makes for a great Christmas. Thanks! ( : Also, a guest reviewer talked about what could have happened to Derek. I have reasons for his behaviour, but any injuries not so much. Soo…. Please PM me with ideas. It would be HUGELY appreciated. And make for faster writing. ( ;