Some point later that day, Hotch came into the room to debrief me and to ask me some questions.

Did you know if anyone else was involved?

Explain what happened while in captivity.

Did you give names of anyone?

Basic, post-kidnapped-and-tortured stuff.

"I think that's all I need to ask you," he said, gathering up his files. "But how are you?"

"I've been better," I said.

"Part of what I have to do, in terms of investigative work," Hotch said, leaning in the seat towards me, "is review your medical records to ensure that what you tell me, matches up… So… how are you?"

"You know about…" I said trailing off, unable to say the words.

"I know," he said, "and I want to help you in any way I can… I can get you in touch with a great therapist?"

There was a part of me that wanted to say no. Say that I would be fine. But that was my pride. And I was so sick of letting my pride get in the way of everything.

"Yeah," I said, nodding my head. "Okay, yeah, I think… I think that would be a good thing…"

"I can get you their contact information by tomorrow morning… There is one more thing we need to talk about."

"What?"

"Nicolas," Hotch said. "He wants to talk to you."

"Why?" I asked. "He didn't shoot me, but the bastard certainly didn't do me any favors."

"He applied the initial pressure to your gunshot would," Hotch said, "and I'm not implying that you owe him anything, but I think he does care about you in his own… twisted way."

"Can I think about it?" I asked, a little shocked that Nicolas would help me after all that he did. But it did make sense… he was the only person who ever called me 'love.'

"Of course," he said. "I just thought you would want to know."

"Yeah, thanks," I said. "Hotch, how is Spence doing?"

"He was worried about you," Hotch said. "Ignored my direct orders to stay out of the field…"

"I told him about… my…" I trailed off. Did I say pregnancy? I didn't even know until after it ended.

"I figured as much," Hotch said. "He left your room in a hurry a few hours ago… JJ is with him now at his hotel room."

"Keep an eye on him," I said. "He's been through a lot."

"So, have you," Hotch said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I said, sitting up, "I guess…"

"Rest up Danielle," he said, leaving a faint smile on his face.

"It's Dani, Hotch," I said, smiling as he closed the door.

And then I was alone again.

The next few days passed with mostly my sister and her family visiting. Spencer didn't return, and I assumed he had gone back to Virginia with the rest of the team. After all, serial killers don't take holidays.

I couldn't help but feel that he blamed me. I mean, had I been honest and gotten help, we could be talking about preparing for a baby in our lives.

Before I knew it, I was signing my release papers.

"And take it easy… no strenuous exercise, take your medicine, get lots of rest…" the doctor said as I signed the forms.

"Got it," I said. "Thanks."

"So," Ash said, "what's your plan?"

"I'm going to stay at a hotel for a few days," I said, "and then I'll probably go back to Virginia, get a new job, new apartment, the works… As much as I hated Witness Protection and Stafford, I've been thinking about moving to DC, or somewhere near there." Plus, I mused, it's where the therapist Hotch had recommended for me was. "What about you guys?"

"We are thinking about moving back to Texas," Charlie said.

"Really?" I asked. "Anywhere specific?"

"We were thinking Austin… they have a great law firm that has already reached out to Charlie and the schools are great for Ben," Ash said.

"That sounds great," I said. "And I can come visit?" I directed the second sentiment to Ben.

"Yeah!" he said, before a frown appeared on his face. "Can we bring the trampoline?"

"Yes Ben," Charlie said, chuckling, "we can bring the trampoline!"

They helped me get settled into the hotel and bid me goodbye, as they had to head to their home and pack up.

"Be safe, okay?" Ash murmured into my shoulder as we hugged.

"You too," I said. "Love you."

"Love you too," she said, ushering her family out the door.

As the door closed, I looked at my small bag of personal belongings. Truth be told, I would only be here for two days.

Just long enough to see Nicolas and get arrangements to get back to Virginia.

I sat for a few moments, trying to process everything that had happened in the few past weeks.

And that was the first time that I truly let myself cry. I sat on the floor in a random hotel and just cried.

I cried for my lost pregnancy, for the betrayal of a friend, for the pain my family and friends had gone through, and I cried because I could finally be Danielle again.

I spent that night skimming through flights and eating bad Chinese take-out from the place across the street from the hotel. At some point I passed out.

I woke up the next morning and quickly took a shower before changing into an outfit that Ash had loaned me.

And then I caught an Uber to Ionia Correctional Facility. Once I got there, I went through excessive body pat-downs before I found myself seated across from Nicolas.

"Hey," I said.

"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice blunt.

"I… I honestly don't know," I said. "I wanted to thank you, but honestly, I don't think I have to, but… thank you for saving my life, I guess." I shrugged, just for good measure.

"I didn't want a bullet in the head," he said, his eyes narrow.

"You know," I said leaning towards the glass divide between us, "I knew you for a year and a half, Nic… I know when you're lying. Your left eye twitches."

"No, it doesn't."

"Yeah, it does," I said. "And you don't have to admit it, but thanks… You're the reason I'm alive…"

He didn't speak, and we sat in silence until the guard yelled, "Five minutes!"

"I made a deal," he said. "Life in prison in exchange for information… otherwise, I was looking at the death penalty."

"That's good," I said.

"Yeah," he murmured, before asking, "So, this Spencer dude… awfully skinny, tall dude, huh?"

"Yeah," I said, "but he's a good guy."

"Good," Nicolas said, nodding. "You deserve that… just… don't put up with any bullshit, okay?"

"I won't," I said.

"I love you, you know that, right?" he asked. "Every time I hurt you, I… I wanted to stop, but-"

"You have a temper, Nic," I said. "I exploited that… and I hope that you can find peace."

"Me too," he said. "Me too…"

"Time's up, visiting hours are over!" the guard yelled.

"I guess this is goodbye?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "It is."

"Goodbye love, and take care," he said.

"You too," I said, sending him a smile as I said my goodbyes and left that prison.

As I made my way back to the hotel, I decided to grab some microwave soup for dinner. I went to bed early, as I had an 8:00AM flight the next day.

The next morning, I landed in DC around 10:00AM, and headed to my apartment in Stafford to grab a few things. Hotch had told me that they had cleaned it for evidence, but I didn't want to live there anymore. That was Sarah's life. Not mine.

I walked in and set down my small bag, looking around. It was clean, with no trace of the mess or photos that had awaited my arrival less than a month ago.

The next week was filled with packing and apartment and job searching. Ultimately, I found a small house outside of DC in a suburb that was relatively cheap and I had an interview scheduled with the Washington Post, although I may have had to name drop my contacts at the FBI and within the Marshal service.

I was almost done packing up my kitchen when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, I came face to face with Spencer.

"Hey," I said.

"Hi," he replied, before motioning, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, of course," I said. "Excuse the mess, I'm packing up for DC."

"DC?"

"Yeah," I said, "I'm moving out there for a job opportunity and to get away from here and Hotch hooked me up with a great therapist."

"Oh," Spencer said. "That's- that's great."

"So," I asked, "what's up?"

"I wanted to apologize," Spencer said. "I shouldn't have left, but… I needed to get my head on straight."

"It's okay," I said. "I'm still trying to figure it out… thus the therapist."

"I didn't realize you were moving," he said.

"Yeah," I said, "Stafford was always weird to me and never the place I wanted to be."

"DC, huh?"

"Yeah, I'm really excited about it," I said. "I did New York for a while, so I figured I should try something different."

"You know, DC is really close to Quantico…" Spencer said his voice trailing off. I looked at him quizzically.

"Yeah?"

"What would you think," he asked, taking a step towards me, "if we tried us again?"

"You… you want to do that?" I asked, a tad shocked. "I assumed that…"

"I only have one request," he said. "I want to know you… everything about you…"

"Deal," I said, smiling.

"I missed you," he said, pulling me in for a tight hug.

"I missed you too," I murmured, burying my head into his shoulder.