When Hotch reported to the FBI offices on Monday morning, he was immediately taken to a small room that was obviously dedicated to handling debriefings.

"Standard procedure after an agent has been rescued," he was told by one of the three investigators who had been assigned to his case.

"I understand," Hotch replied as he took a seat. "However, I would prefer you use the term 'Returned' when you are referring to me. Rescued implies that I was in distress and I wasn't. I was somewhere other than where I would have preferred to be, but I wasn't in distress."

"Duly noted, Agent," the lead investigator replied while making a note on the file in front of him.

"Now, we have already read the reports filed by the agents and former agents who were instrumental in your – return," the second investigator explained. "However, we would like to hear what happened directly from you."

"And I must say," he added. "I am very impressed by the qualifications of the team that worked so hard to find you. They are good people, all of them."

"They are," Hotch agreed. "The best. And, I have been honored to work with them. Now, where would you like me to start?"

"Begin at the beginning," the third investigator, a woman, suggested. "We need to know everything and anything that happened."

"Okay," Hotch was thinking hard. "We had just finished a case in the north Miami-Dade County area of Florida and had flown back to Quantico. After the plane landed, I told everyone that they could complete their paperwork the next morning and sent them all home. I got into my car and started driving my usual route home – "

"Your usual route?" the second investigator interrupted him.

"Yes," Hotch confirmed. "And I was being vigilant, checking to see if I was being followed or surveilled in any way. However, when the white van suddenly pulled out in front of me I didn't have time to stop and I hit it."

"And then you got out of your vehicle?" the lead investigator asked.

"Yes," Hotch admitted. "I could see the driver through the window and I wanted to talk to him and see if he was hurt. As I walked towards the van, someone came up behind me and hit me on the head knocking me out."

"So, when the van drove out in front of you, you had no reason to suspect an ambush," the third investigator clarified.

"No," Hotch told her. "I undoubtedly should have been more vigilant, but I was in a hurry to get home to see my son."

"Okay, what happened next?" the second investigator asked.

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

The questions and clarifications continued throughout the morning and when the lead investigator finally called a break for lunch Hotch was exhausted.

"I just want to check," he said as he stood up. "Is it okay if I go visit someone in the building? She and my wife are going to be interviewing midwives this afternoon and I want to make sure everything is on track."

"That's right. You married a woman from the island where you were held," the third investigator remembered.

"Yes," Hotch told her. "And we are expecting our first child."

"Go ahead," she told him. "Just be careful not to discuss anything we have been talking about."

"Thanks," Hotch pulled open the door and walked out into the hallway. "Ah, Penelope," they heard him say. "Are you getting ready to go see Lynn?"

"Right after I check in with you, my most favorite boss," Garcia's voice floated into the room. "I want to be able to tell your wife that you are in good shape."

"I'm good," they heard Hotch's reply. "Now, get going!"

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

When the debriefing reconvened after lunch, the first issue addressed was the one Hotch had been dreading discussing.

"So, Agent Hotchner, exactly how many women were you forced to rape?" the lead investigator asked.

"I never raped anyone," Hotch protested. "I always asked at least twice, and sometimes three times, if they were there voluntarily. And all of the women assured me it was their choice to be with me."

"And that makes it all right?" the third investigator asked.

"No - That makes it an established way of life on the island," Hotch replied. "A way of life that, from what I have been told, goes back over one hundred years. I was merely conforming to the behavior expected of me if I wanted to be accepted as a resident of the island."

"And you were told that your son and sister-in-law were in danger if you didn't conform," the second investigator read from his file.

"That is correct," Hotch confirmed. "They showed me surveillance photos and I was concerned about my family's safety."

"So you went along with them," the lead investigator stated. "For how long?"

"Until 586, my wife, Lynn, proposed marriage to me," Hotch replied. "I proposed a courtship period first, which she accepted, and at that point we became an exclusive couple."

"That is the woman you brought back with you?" the second investigator questioned. "Along with her son."

"That's correct," Hotch told him. "My wife and my stepson."

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

"I think that covers everything," the lead investigator finally told Hotch, as he glanced through his numerous pages of notes. "Thank you for your cooperation, Agent Hotchner. We will be submitting our reports within the next several days."

"Judging from what you have told us, I don't think you have anything to worry about," the second investigator told him. "You did nothing wrong. You just did what was necessary to survive and to come back in one piece."

"We will be issuing an update to all our offices concerning the need to continue keeping an eye out for the pirates who kidnapped you, as well as for Freddy Jewel," the third investigator added. "However, I don't think we have much of a chance of catching any of them."

"So, I can rejoin The Bureau?" Hotch asked carefully. "Hopefully, as a field agent with the BAU?"

"As things stand now, I don't see why not," the lead investigator told him. "But, you need to understand that it's not my decision. If you are accepted back, you will undoubtedly be required to undergo several psych evaluations as well as requalifying in firearms as well as in personal defense."

"But there is a chance," Hotch breathed a sigh of relief. "There is a chance I can go back to doing what I do best."