Die like in his book? Raphael was going to die? That was the horrible fate that would have fallen upon him? It made his stomach twist into several knots as he stared at Malcolm. Who looked very sympathetic as he motioned for Raphael to sit down. Pulling a chair for himself, Malcolm said,"I know that this is a lot to take in at the moment."

"And I know that it's terrifying to know someone wants you dead.",he added. Keeping his tone light as Raphael tried to process what the profiler said. Along with knowing that not only was he a fictional character for him. But he was going to die. That someone had managed to take him from his home and how lucky he was they found him. Chewing his bottom lip, Raphael took a deep breath as he tried to calm down. Looking down at his hands, Raphael asked,"...so who even is the killer?"

"Is he anyone I've ever heard of?",Raphael questioned. Not like that would really help the shorter man in the long run. After all, the man didn't watch the news. And none of his co-workers seemed to speak about it. His suspicions were confirmed when Malcolm answered,"He's referred to as the Hangman by your brother in the book."

"So I was going to be hanged?!",Raphael exclaimed. Now that was a death that he knew his family wouldn't be able to handle. Considering the death of his baby brother. It would've hit both his Mother and younger brother hard. Taking a deep breath, his eyes went wide as Malcolm stated,"No. The killer had you on your stomach. Wrapped the rope around your ankle then put a noose around your neck."

"Making sure that if you relaxed your leg it would tighten around your throat.",he added. Painting a terrifying picture of what had happened to him in the story. It almost made him faint from shock as he stared at Malcolm. Looking him in the eye, Raphael asked,"So how long did it take for my body to be found?"

"The book starts around a month after your death.",Malcolm answered. At least that's what he remembered from the first chapter. It's what Raphael's brother opened with and the next few chapters skipped around in time. Going from present day to a few days before his kidnap and murder. That his younger brother was the one that had found his body and his Mother never saw it. Which he pointed out to Raphael. In a soft voice, Raphael muttered,"I suppose that's a good thing."

"I don't think that Mom would have been able to handle that.",he added. Definitely wouldn't be able to handle that. Pushing the thought aside, Raphael took a deep breath as he stared at the food Malcolm brought. It wasn't anything fancy, thank goodness, just burger and fries. Stuff that made Raphael inwardly smile. Then glanced up at Malcolm as he questioned,"So how did you find me by the way?"

"I mean, I'm technically a book character. So how did you find me?",Raphael added. It was one of the biggest things that had been bugging him this whole time. How did Malcolm and the rest of the team to find him? Just how did they get him to the apartment? Malcolm answered,"We were looking for someone else and found the car that you were in."

"I recognized it immediately from how it was described in the book. Right down to the broken tail light.",Malcolm added. Then described how he had checked everything from the driver-side window. Finding the few items that the Hangman owned. While Malcolm was sure it was the car that housed Raphael, Dani was skeptical. Right until they heard Raphael's groaning from the trunk. His incoherent pleadings from it. Ones that Malcolm doubted he could remember making considering how out of it he was. And he was absolutely right, Raphael had no memory of doing that. Guessing that the drugs probably messed with his head quite a bit. That the shorter man would get his memory back with time.

Malcolm briefly considered asking his Da-Dr. Whitly, about it. But immediately decided against it. Not wanting to bring his favorite character anywhere near his Father. Fearing that his Father could cause the shorter man harm.

Trying to still his trembling hand, he continued,"Dani was the one who got you out and help me get you here."

"It took us a little effort but we managed it.",he added. Malcolm had to do some pleading to get Gil to allow him to take Raphael home. As his father-figure felt that Raphael needed to be in a hospital. Be seen by trained professionals. But, Malcolm was concerned that Raphael couldn't afford that. Seeing as the short man didn't actually exist and probably didn't have a lot of money on him. Which the shorter man could've confirmed. If he knew where the Hell his wallet actually was.

As Malcolm told Raphael all the things that had happened, a knock came to the door. Initially causing the shorter man to freeze with a fry halfway to his mouth. Right until he heard Jessica Whitly's voice. Sounding absolutely chipper as she called out,"Malcolm, are you home? I have something for you that I think you'll enjoy!"

Closing the door behind her, she spotted the pair. Her eyes widened in surprise slightly as she glanced Raphael over. Tilting her head to the side as she smoothed her expression from surprise to delight. A sweet smile on her face as she clasped her hands together. The bags that Jessica was holding rustled a little bit. In a gentle voice, Jessica questioned,"Goodness, Malcolm. You didn't say that you had a guest over. Who is this young woman?"

The word 'woman' made his stomach twist as he frowned visibly. Setting the rest of his fries down, Malcolm answered,"Mom, this is Raphael."

"Dani and I saved himfrom a serial killer who had him in his trunk.",he added. Adding an emphasis on the word 'him'. Jessica looked momentarily confused for a moment. Then her face turned to embarrassment and a red hue rose along her cheeks. Muttering quiet apologies for what she had said. Raphael smiled at her as he said it was fine. That he knew it wasn't on purpose. Though it still slightly stung that he didn't pass well enough. It wasn't worth yelling at someone who genuinely didn't mean any harm. Taking a deep breath, he debated on continuing to eat the food that Malcolm bought. His stomach felt slightly too icky to even try to continue eating.

But Raphael didn't want to make Malcolm or Jessica suspicious. So he carefully continued to eat. Just nibbling on the fries as Malcolm asked,"So what exactly did you have for me, Mother?"

"Oh, Malcolm. I found out that book you like has a complete series.",Jessica answered with a grin. Holding up the bag that she had been toying with a minute ago. Causing Raphael's eyebrow to raise as he stared at it. His brother was a part of a whole book series? What other stuff did his younger brother get into? Part of him wanted to know what it was. The rest of him was scared to find out. Shoving these thoughts down, he noticed that Jessica and Malcolm had moved a bit away. Far enough that he couldn't properly hear what either of them were saying.

Not, that he wanted to know what they were discussing. After all, it wouldn't be polite to eavesdrop. So instead Raphael started flipping through the pages of 'his' book. That sounded like he barely starred in it at all. And just a prop rather than an actual character. Making him some form of emotional pain for his younger brother. Putting this aside, Raphael read through the author's descriptions of them. It perturbed him out how descriptive of his body the author went into. But how little this person described his younger brother. In fact, they only mentioned his height and that they shared blue eyes. Along with the fact that they had slightly similar noses. Pushing this to the side, he closed the book and nearly jumped when the Malcolm's door shut. Looking up, Raphael glanced around to see Malcolm holding the bag of books.

Staring at them like they were some form of disgusting creature. It would've made Raphael laugh if it wasn't about his younger brother. Or whatever Hell the author put him through. And from the look on Malcolm's face, Raphael guessed he had similar feelings. In a soft voice, Raphael questioned,"Is something wrong, Malcolm?"

"No, I'm fine.",Malcolm answered. In a tone that Raphael had heard before. It was the 'I'm lying but please don't push this' tone. And figured it was a can of worms that wasn't worth opening. Instead, Raphael decided to change the topic to what Malcolm was talking about with his Mom. Malcolm stated,"Just family stuff about my Father and my cases. She thinks I need to take time off from them."

"Put a little more distance between me and my Dad. Just normal stuff.",he added. In a very matter-of-fact tone. Raphael nodded his head as Malcolm spoke. Agreeing with Jessica that Malcolm shouldn't be around Martin. That man had ruined everything in Malcolm's life. Nearly ruined the poor man in ways that Raphael couldn't properly understand. But figured that was another thing didn't need to be pointed out. As that was probably something that Malcolm already knew. Instead, he stated,"Well, good to see nothing was going terribly wrong. Or that me being here was too worrying for her."

"I'm sorry she misgendered you by the way.",Malcolm stated. Which Raphael waved off with a small smile. Picking up another fry, Raphael chuckled,"Nah, it's fine. I'm still rather feminine. And I still sound feminine as well."

"Besides, she apologized for her genuine mistake.",he added. It stung. But not enough that he was going to stay upset over. So turning back to his food, Raphael went back to eating. Malcolm joining him not that long after. Halfway through Malcolm's burger, his phone rang. The screen showing Claremont Psychiatric on it. Causing Malcolm to freeze mid-bite of his burger. Eyes widening as he stared down at the screen. Raphael asked,"You okay with me answering it and putting it on speaker?"

It surprised both of them. Malcolm nearly set his burger back down as he stared at Raphael. Probably surprised that the shorter man would want to speak to Martin. Or even listen to the serial killer's voice. And surprising the shorter man himself as he didn't want to actually speak to Martin. But his morbid curiosity got the better of him. Wanting to hear that man's voice and see just what exactly he wanted.

Raphael was very sure that Malcolm would merely shake his head 'no'. Then put his burger down and tell him that he didn't want to talk to him. That Martin was someone that Raphael didn't need to know that he existed. But to his surprise, Malcolm nodded his head at this suggestion. Still wide-eyed that Raphael would suggest it, but probably more curious as to what the shorter man was going to do. So Raphael just answered it and put it on speaker. Nearly holding his breath as he heard Martin's voice. Cheerfully exclaiming,"My boy!"

"I was hoping to catch you earlier. But I guess you were too busy with that new kidnapping case to pick up your phone.",Martin stated. Sounding slightly annoyed but still very cheerful. Malcolm resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he set his burger down. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Malcolm said,"Dr. Whitly, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm noton a kidnapping case.",Malcolm lied. So smoothly that it would've convinced Raphael if he weren't sitting next to him. A moment of awkward silence passed before Martin let out an annoyed huff. One that suggested he saw through Malcolm's lie. That man always seemed to see through his own son. Even if he wasn't in the same room with him. In a strained tone, Martin stated,"Malcolm, your darling sister has done a report on it already. Complete with a blurry picture of yourself, Dani, and that person you fished out of that car trunk."

"No mentions on if they're in the hospital or not.",his Dad added. Raphael was tempted to speak up. But decided against it as he listened to Martin ask questions. Who the person was. What condition they were in. Then the Surgeon seemed to notice something was off. In a surprised tone, Martin asked,"Am I on speaker, my boy?"

"Yes. You are. I'm busy with something and can't use my hands.",Malcolm answered. Not a lie this time. This seemed to trouble Martin as he tried to see if Dani was with him or not. Raphael chewed his bottom lip as he stared at Malcolm. Raising an eyebrow then glancing at Malcolm's phone then at Malcolm. Smiling slightly as he said in a low voice,"Can I say 'hi' to him?"

"Who was that? That doesn't sound like anyone on your team. Hello? Mystery person. Who are you?",Martin questioned. His tone having a creepy excited edge to it. One that sent a cold shiver down Raphael's spine as he stared at the phone. Malcolm patted his shoulder but nodded his head that Raphael could speak. In a calm voice, Raphael answered,"Hello, Dr. Whitly. I'm Raphael. The uh..person that your son got out of that car trunk."

"Oh, hello there. Nice to meet you, Raphael. But, please. Call me Martin.",Martin insisted. Raphael was tempted to say no but quietly agreed. Toying with his napkin as Martin asked him questions. Malcolm wrapping his burger before he asked,"Dr. Whitly. What exactly is the purpose of your call?"

"Oh! I wanted to see if you wouldn't mind coming here. I need to talk to you about this boy's kidnapper.",Martin answered. The smile in his voice was practically heard as he continued,"I'd suggest bringing that boy with you."

"After all, his little kidnapper might try to take him back once he's alone.",Martin added. Malcolm considered telling Martin that it wasn't going to happen. His jaw nearly dropping to the floor as Raphael answered,"Sure. We'll be over in an hour."

"Good. See you both then.",Martin chirped before hanging up. Leaving Malcolm to stare at the shorter man. Making Raphael wonder if maybe agreeing to see the Surgeon was a bad move.