During the next several days, Hotch was served meals on a regular basis (sometimes by 415 and sometimes by the young girl and her escort) and another book was delivered for him to read (Twice Told Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne). He noted with interest that the leather binding on the second book matched that of the first book, indicating that they had come from the same series. Presumably, someone had at one time purchased a matching set of books by 'Great American Authors'.

He continued working out as best he could on the hard floor which left bruises on his body and he routinely visualized both Jack and Jessica in their daily activities, as well as the members of his BAU team. Then, the announcement he had been expecting was delivered along with his lunch.

"You'll be visiting with another woman tonight," 415 told him when he delivered the meal. "So, you'll want to be prepared."

"I'll get another shower?" Hotch was trying to make the best of the situation. "And maybe a chance to shave?"

"I don't know about the shave," his jailer told him. "I'll have to check on that. But definitely a shower and some clean clothes."

"What about a haircut?" Hotch ventured. His hair was always falling into his eyes and he was getting tired of pushing it back out of the way.

"Picky aren't we?" 415 observed sarcastically. "You'd think you were a woman worried about her appearance. And, again, I'll have to check."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

It was early evening when Hotch was again ushered into the shower room where he found that a mirror and small shelf had been securely fastened to the wall. And, when he looked, he found a small pair of blunt tipped scissors and a safety razor lying on the shelf waiting for him.

"Thought it might be kind of hard to just start shaving," 415 grunted. "You can use the scissors to cut first and then the razor to shave off what is left."

"Thank you," Hotch said as he slowly approached the mirror. He hadn't seen himself in what seemed like months and was concerned about what he might see reflected back at him.

The face that gazed at him from the mirror was vaguely familiar with the expected dark hair and beard. It reminded him of a stranger he might have met for a few moments on the street one day and then parted company from. Now, his eyes – He did still recognize his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the scissors. Maybe after he shaved –

When Hotch's 15 minutes was up and 415 and 483 came in to get him, they found that he had trimmed his beard into a modified goatee instead of shaving it completely off.

"It has been a while since I last shaved," he explained. "And I figured I would probably end up with cuts, nicks, and scrapes all over my face and neck if I tried to take it all the way down to bare skin. Better to take it slowly at first – I don't want to bleed all over the sheets."

"If you say so," 415 replied as he scratched at the stubble on his chin which indicated that he only shaved every few days.

"Your choice," 483 said thoughtfully as he studied the results.

"It does look cleaner," he added reluctantly. "And it will be easier for you to eat."

Hotch was then escorted to the Conjugal Room where, as before, he found a white cotton mask laid out and waiting for him. After he had put it on and adjusted it so he was comfortable, he sat on the cot and contemplated the situation he found himself in. Assuming the woman was willing, was what he was doing wrong? Ethical? Immoral? As he thought about Jack and Jessica, the door to the room opened.