Hello all! Update time! Have fun…

This had turned into a vicious cycle. Hotchner would watch as the love of his life was beaten, more and more, and he was beginning to feel like he was to blame. Francis had kept telling him to give up, and he would let her live, but he had this job too long, and he knew that he needed to stick to the profile. He was not going to give up, because if he did, he would lose her forever, and she would never know the truth. Of course there always was that thought in the back of his mind, that maybe Francis was telling the truth. Maybe he could save her if he just gave up and broke down, but for now he trusted the profile. And that's all he had to hang on to.

The cycle continued. This time he carried Emily in his arms. Her face read that she wanted to fight back, but her body was in too much pain, and resisted. He paced around the room mumbling in a sing song voice.

"Give up, agent Hotchner… Give up agent Hotchner… Give up…"

Hotch was practically shaking in fury and rage, but he still latched on to the profile. He was not going to break.

"What should I do next… I will make you lose it. You know one of the other men took thirteen days to give in. I am relentless, and this is all candy to me."

As he said the words "all candy to me" he shifted his gaze to Emily Prentiss, who was softly grunting, coming back into full consciousness.

"Don't struggle my dear."

He threw Emily on the ground, making her whimper in pain. Ignoring her, Francis walked over to a metal supply closet and opened it revealing an abundance of frightening items. He ran his fingers over guns, knives, blades, whips, but settled on a small Taser.

Hotch screamed in his head, yelling every obscenity he knew, calling the man every awful think he could think of, but remained in silence. He almost exploded when he heard the first zap then a sharp, feminine inhale. That was repeated two more times, the anger building with each infuriating buzz of the Taser. The man began to shout at the helpless agent lying on the floor.

"You're nothing! Absolutely nothing! You will never be loved! Never! Do you know why? Do you know why agent Prentiss?"

"Hotch! Oh my God!"

"He's not going to help you… he doesn't love you! Do you know why? Tell me agent Prentiss, do you know why!"

"No! Hotch?"

"Because you don't deserve love! You don't deserve to be loved! And you never will!"

A hitching breath escaped from the agent, who was now curled up into a fetal position on the soggy, rotten smelling ground. She began to sob, making her body shake and pierce with agonizing pain. She buried her tear stained face in her hands, as Francis came closer yet again. One last buzz of the Taser, and she was out cold. He picked her up again, her frail body drooping, not able to avoid the gravity, and dumped her on the bed next to Hotch like a piece of garbage, and re-tied her restraints.

"Surrender."

He and Hotch stared at each other, needle-like eye to needle-like eye.

"Never."

He fled the room, dropping the Taser on the floor, and looking back for one last eerie smile towards the agents before he disappeared into the darkness of an unknown exit.

He looked at her. She was naturally pale, but now she was paler than ever, and despite the tears, the blood, the bruises, and that unshakeable look of pain that stained her face, she was beautiful. Hotch wanted to wrap his arms around her broken body as she cried into his chest, unable to hide the pain any longer. She was a strong woman, but the small amount of vulnerability she had shown as she was asleep, made Hotch fall even deeper in live with her. She was radiating in the dim light of the 'bedroom', keeping Hotch willing to live, just so he can tell her how much she meant to him. He looked up at the ceiling and whispered…

"Keep her safe, I love her."

This was the first time he had ever said those words out loud. Three words that big tough agent Hotchner was so afraid to say, he still needed to say that to her.

He tried rolling over onto his side, pulling hard at the restraints. He was uncomfortable but he didn't care. He needed to watch her. Her long eyelashes were draped over her eyes, still damp with tears. He wanted so badly to take his hand and gently wipe them away, and tell her that everything was going to be okay. But, would it?

He watched her breathe, realizing that it was painful to do so. She needed medical attention, and fast, but he could not get it to her, and that killed him inside. He could still hear her screams for him and calls for help rattling in his head.

"Hotch!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the sound, with no prevail.

"Hotch! Oh my God!"

He squeezed harder.

"Hotch!"

Harder still.

"No! Hotch!"

He felt as though his head would burst.

"Hotch?"

This was different. Soft. Gentle. Fragile. Painful to hear.

Aaron popped his eyes open and met with two large, glistening brown ones. Emily let a crystal tear slip, and she sniffed softly.

"I'm sorry."

She pressed her swollen eyes shut and continued to cry.

"Prentiss, you have nothing to be sorry for. What could you possibly be sorry for?"

"Being weak. I told him he wouldn't break me, but I let him."

"You are not weak; you are the strongest person I know."

"No…"

She began drifting yet again into a place she had been to a lot recently.

"Emily, wait…"

"What?" she croaked in a drowsy tone, just about to close her eyes.

"You deserve love."

Aww! There comes the title. Probably one of my fave chapters so review, and tell me what you think! Just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you that favorited and reviewed, because I am astounded at all the positive feedback! I love you guys so much!