He didn't know if Hotch could hear, but Rossi felt putting some things into words would help him as much as the Unit Chief.

And if he can understand what's been going on…if the unsub wasn't lying…it's long past time for someone to comfort the poor guy.

Rossi took a deep breath, glanced over his shoulder to be sure the door was closed, the officer guarding it out of earshot…and began.

"Aaron, I'm sorry. If I'd paid attention to Reid when he first started worrying about where you guys were, none of this might have happened." Dave's sigh was resigned. "But it did happen, and the miracle of it all is that a known murderer had all three of you at her mercy, and you survived. From what I saw in their reports, Morgan and Prentiss would never have been able to get free on their own. And…" He ducked his head, giving a sheepish chuckle. "…Morgan said you were unstoppable. Your teammates needed you and you did what you always do…what we've come to take for granted. You persevered with courage and stamina. You sacrificed yourself without hesitation or question.

"Morgan said some other things, too. Things he's worried about. I told him you'd understand anything he did or said in the name of saving all your lives. And it's important that you realize he was trying to establish a sympathetic bond between you and the unsub. He didn't mean to hurt you. He meant to save you. And he did. It worked."

Rossi scooted his chair even closer, looking down at the still features, the gentle rise and fall of respiration. "The thing is, Aaron, you have to know that when you work with a bunch of profilers, chances are a lot of your secrets will start to surface. Little things you say, do…things that ordinarily would mean nothing, begin to form a picture. It's not that anyone's trying to decipher you, invade you…it's that assembling those kinds of puzzle pieces is unavoidable. Almost a subconscious process for us." He shrugged. "Second nature. We can't help it.

"And the only way to keep that from happening is to put up such thick walls that no one can see past them. Believe me, that's not the way you want to live. It'd be like doing a deep cover mission forever."

Rossi paused, realizing that, as awful as it would be for Hotch to be aware of everything without being able to respond, he hoped he could hear. There were very few opportunities to get the man to sit still and listen.

It's a hell of a way to do it, but maybe some good will come out of all this. I gotta believe it anyway. Just like I gotta believe he'll open his eyes at some point and talk back. God, Aaron…I'd love to hear you tell me to go away and mind my own business.

"Anyway, keeping everyone at arm's length is the only way to stop them from caring about you. That's what all this boils down to, my friend. You got a bunch of people around you every day who care about you. They care enough to keep your secrets. They can't help learning some of them. But they'll keep them, Aaron. Close to their hearts.

"Same place they keep you."

Rossi closed his eyes for a moment. What he had to say next was more prayer than lecture.

"Morgan said you were unstoppable. So, please…don't stop now. Fight your way back. You have to. You're my best friend. And I'm too old to make another. .."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Megan Kane used to sneer at the stereotypical Texas girl.

They all seemed to come from the same mold that spat out the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Big hair. Big lashes. Lithe bodies that were the product of careful maintenance as much as fortunate genetics. Casually classy wardrobes. Serious jewels, when appropriate.

Megan used to sneer, but now she was filled with gratitude for the breed. It meant she could blend; could travel the city with very little chance of being recognized, no matter how many times her face appeared in the media. Being blessed with unremarkable, perfect little features was almost like being given a blank canvas.

As long as she didn't run into any of Aaron's teammates. Her lip lifted. Those agents had eyes that focused and honed, locked on a setting that perceived the law, but had nothing to do with justice.

Thinking about them was disturbing her calm. Not a good thing before a 'date' that would end in death. In justice! she reminded herself.

Combing one more coat of mascara onto her lashes, Megan pulled her lustrous hair forward. Having it bracket and partially cover her face was disguise enough for now. She picked up her bag and jacket, and set out for the Eagle Point Marina. In spite of her confidence in her ability to evade recognition, she was glad for the night shadows, wrapping the city with dusky wings.

Not just because the failing light made visual identification even less likely, but because the sky was turning soft and purple, star-dappled and romantic, if you could escape the city-glow. This 'date' would have nothing to do with romance, though. It would be strictly business. But it shouldn't take long.

If it went off without a hitch, Megan thought that afterwards she might deserve a treat for all her hard work.

Maybe she'd drop by and let Aaron know she was still thinking about him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dave…Dave, I'm here. And I know what you're saying. But I'm tired. And I'm scared. And I feel sick all over. And I can't defend myself. And she touched me. Took a picture.

I don't understand why. Help me understand…please…

Why me?

I'm sorry, Dave…I just wish I could turn off my brain. Stop thinking the way I've stopped moving.

It would be so much easier…

…and I'm tired of fighting…

I'm not unstoppable...

…sorry… sorry…

...not unstoppable...just...tired...