CHAPTER 6

Mason stood by the window silently watching Hotch who was standing outside looking up at the afternoon sky. Mason huffed, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. The man had done a lot of that lately...standing...and staring...like some freaking robot. Over the past three weeks, he would catch the agent staring at him at times so intently he could practically hear the gears turning in the man's head.

Mason thought he had lost him a week earlier when he came out of the washroom only to find the front door open and no agent in sight.

Swearing, he had grabbed his gun, jumped in the truck and headed down to the main road where he had found Hotch slowly walking, head down, hands in pocket; Mason slowed the truck as he drove up next to him.

Where you goin', Cullen?

He had his left hand on the wheel and his right hand on the gun in his lap. If this wasn't working, he would blow the man away right there making sure his team found his body, one piece at a time.

When Hotch didn't answer, he continued as he slowly drove forward.

Do you know where you're going?

...Do you have anyone to go to?

...Do you know anyone who cares for you more than I do, big brother?

Hotch stopped suddenly, glancing sideways at Mason, lips tense, his dark brown eyes burning into the younger man's; Mason could hear his heavy breathing. Then just as quickly, Hotch's face dropped, eyes turning away and as Mason pulled the truck to a stop and hid his gun, he watched the agent slowly walk around to the passenger side and get in.

"Where were you going, Cullen?" he had whispered as he turned the truck around. He had glanced over at the man who was staring straight ahead, his hands curled into fists on his thighs, the bruises on his face just about faded away; the drive back was a silent one. When they had pulled up to the house, Hotch had slowly exited the truck then turned looking at Mason through the open passenger-side door.

"I'm trying to remember." he had murmured. "It's...it's not coming. Th-there's nothing."

Mason had hid the delight he felt from those words and outwardly frowned deeply. (…and the Academy Award for best acting goes to…)

"I know, it's cuz you're trying too hard, Cullen...you gotta relax a little. Stop straining your brain!" He had smirked pointing at the side of his head; when the man had just stared at him, Mason sighed and continued.

"Just take what I say as the Gospel okay…I wouldn't steer you wrong; I'm your brother...remember that, alright?"

Hotch had stared at him for a moment more, seemingly analyzing Mason's words, then had nodded.

"Alright."

Trying to convince Mr. Serious Agent about anything even with his memory loss was harder than Mason thought, the man had one hell of a stubborn will, but he was seeing a breakthrough as the days progressed. With the barrage of snuff tapes he kept running and the occasional dosage of drugs in the man's food and the fact that Mason was the only person the agent had seen in weeks, he could see he was wearing the man down; he was losing himself to the power of Mason's words.

"Why can't I remember you?"

"After what the BAU did to you? It's a miracle you're still able to put two words together!"

"BAU, the people who took me?"

"The people who stole you from me." corrected Mason with a nod.

They were sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, two open bottles of beer sat untouched, sweating in the heat of the over head lamp.

"Behavioral Analysis Unit; glorified FBI pigs in suits. They tried to make you think you were someone you weren't, they tortured you!" A rented look of worry slipped over Mason's face hiding the hatred he was feeling for the man sitting across from him; he continued, forcing the mask to remain in place.

"I had to restrain you when I got you back. You were seriously messed up; fists flying everywhere, cursin' my name...even spitting on me!"

Hotch slowly wiped the sweat from his bottle of beer his eyes far away, but then they flicked to Mason's and though full of so many questions…they were clear, apologetic.

"I'm…I'm sorry I did that. How'd you get me back?"

"I'd go through hell to find you, brother, don't you know that? I'd kill for you...and you'd do the same for me."

Mason took a sip of his beer as he watched Hotch frown and lean back in his chair subtly nodding.

"What did they want from me?"

Mason had resisted rolling his eyes...Damn the man asked a lot of questions!

"They hoped that you'd tell them where to find me, but you didn't…they messed with your head big time for weeks, even making you think you were the leader of their team, that you wanted to catch me! But in the end you didn't say a word... Cullen, you kept me safe."

"But…but why were they looking for you?"

Mason who had just taken another sip of his beer had grinned then, slowly returning the bottle to the table and leaned back in his chair.

"Us, they were looking for us, brother. They already had you, they wanted you so you could get to me. Don't you remember anything?"

Hotch shook his head, his brow tightly furrowed.

"They were looking for us because we love the ladies, Cullen…

We love to see them bleed…"

The sun was warm, the breeze cool as the pressure built in Hotch's head.

I can't...I-I can't…

He stared at the sky trying to see past the wall in his mind, but could only hear Mason's voice in his head.

His name was Cullen.

Cullen...

He was Mason's older brother...

That felt right...being an older brother.

Must protect him...keep him safe…

They had taken him from his brother, but his brother fought to get him back…

They were together again and...

and…

…they loved to see the ladies bleed.

"My name is Cullen." murmured Hotch, rubbing his temples trying to ease the ache he was feeling.

The headache was back again, a strong one...those people…they really must have screwed him over good.

He chuckled sadly.

The BAU, Mason told him he'd have to stay away from them.

Like he'd want anything to do with the people who wanted to hurt them. He'd stay with his brother…to protect him, because that's what big brothers do.

As for the ladies...

With Mason's help, he'd get back to the way things were.

Hotch lowered his hands to his sides. "My name is Cullen." he said with a new sense of certainty…

...and a hatred started to grow for the people who had made him forget who he was.

-TBC-

Hope you're liking it so far - Hotch's world is going to go from bad to worse! :)