Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

A/N: Special thanks to KimOfDrac and Symphonie 2 for all of the advice and support, and help. Hugs and cookies go to them. The video was KimOfDrac's idea. I'm not going to go into too much detail, but I am switching the rating up to M. Also, it's really short, because my life is crazy.

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When Hotch woke up in the middle of the night, Reid was sleeping peacefully, his face buried in Hotch's shoulder. He gently maneuvered Reid away from him, and pulled the covers over Reid's shoulder before standing. Hotch watched Reid sleep for several moments, marveling that someone could look so tense during the day, and then so relaxed and peaceful at night. Turning around silently, Hotch walked out of the bedroom, stopping in the bathroom briefly before wandering into the living room.

He couldn't sleep, and he briefly considered watching television to distract himself. Instead he found himself opening the apartment door. The hallway was empty, except for a cardboard box that sat in front of Reid's door. Perplexed, Hotch stooped down to examine it. The first thought that came to his mind as he stared at the small box was 'bomb-sized'. It was about ten by six by seven inches. Cautiously, Hotch slid the box about two inches away from the door. It wasn't nearly heavy enough to be a bomb, so he opened the top, and frowned as he peered inside. There were about six DVD's in cases placed hap hazardously inside of the box. Hotch lifted the box, and glanced at the sides, and bottom, but found no name or return address, before lifting one of the DVD cases. There was a number written on the front, and nothing else. A quick glance at the others revealed that they all had separate numbers, from one to thirteen. A couple numbers were missing.

Unsure, Hotch lifted the box and took it into the apartment, setting it down on the tea-table. It took him several minutes to make a decide what do with it, but he then picked up a DVD, number four, and popped it into Reid's DVD player, turning the volume way down before pressing play. The first few minutes consisted of footage of an unfamiliar, empty room. However, as two figures entered the room in the frame, Hotch felt his blood run cold. Four, maybe five minutes later, Hotch jabbed at the eject button, and ripped the DVD out of the player, shoving it into its case and throwing it into the box. He stood for a few moments, his hand over his eyes, before he stood up straight, and picked up the box, heading out of the apartment barefoot. He walked out into the parking lot and deposited the box in his car before heading back to Reid's apartment, practically running. When he got inside, he locked the door behind him, and went straight for the bedroom.

Reid was still sleeping, lying on his side with his arm stretched across the space Hotch had previously occupied. Suddenly exhausted, Hotch walked in and moved Reid's arm, lying down on his back. He was slightly surprised when Reid snuggled up against him, pressing the side of his face against Hotch's bicep, wrapping his arm around his stomach. Hotch turned his head and found Reid looking at him sleepily.

"You left…" Reid muttered, his eyelids fluttering closed briefly before he forced his eyes back open. Hotch let out a soft sigh, pressing his cheek against Reid's hair.

"I just went out for a minute." Hotch was surprised by his own voice; it was hoarse, and broken, as if he had been the one screaming, not the figure on the television screen…even though Reid hadn't said no, there was no way that could be considered 'consensual.' Hotch flinched, and had to look away from Reid's drowsy gaze, unwanted images springing into his head. Reid must have noticed, because his gaze turned worried, and he gently stroked Hotch's jaw.

"Hotch…Aaron? What's wrong?" Reid asked, his voice fraught with lethargy and concern.

"It's nothing, Spencer, try to go back to sleep," Hotch murmured, keeping his voice low. Reid shook his head, and shifted, propping himself up on his elbows above Hotch. His frown deepened, and he sucked in a breath, something in Hotch's expression alerting him that something was very wrong.

"Please…tell me," Reid pressed. Hotch let out a nervous sigh, and ran a hand through Reid's hair. It wasn't fair to keep this from Reid, not after pressing Reid into telling him what little he had. He hesitated for a moment before he spoke.

"Were you ever aware of Shawn…video-taping you?" Hotch asked gently. Reid's lips parted in surprise, and he sat up, sitting cross-legged next to Hotch, his expression anxious.

"No…why? Why would you ask something like that?" Hotch noticed that Reid's breathing had sped up, and his chest was heaving, so he sat up, and gently put his hands on Reid's shoulders, holding Reid's gaze.

"Spencer, just calm down, and I'll explain," Hotch said. It didn't help, however, and Reid's eyes widened, and he turned deathly pale in the dim light of the room.

"Wh-what? Hotch, explain what?"

"He left a box of DVD outside of your door…" Hotch began, speaking calmly. Reid drew in a sharp breath, and shook his head, pulling away from Hotch.

"DVDs? Of what? Wait…you watched them? What was on them?" Reid had stood up and was now watching Hotch worriedly, wringing his hands together nervously.

"Spencer, please, you need to calm down…"

"Are you out of your mind? How can I calm down? He…he video-taped me?"

Hotch stood and approached Reid slowly, and to his surprise, Reid flung his arms around Hotch, burying his face in Hotch's neck, small sobs forcing their way out of his throat. He rubbed Reid's back, and did his best to hold Reid up as Reid's knees gave out. Hotch waited until the choked sobs had stopped to address him. "Spencer…? Are you alright?" Reid shook his head against Hotch's shoulder, still leaning against him heavily.

"You saw? You saw what I let him do?" Reid mumbled brokenly, his voice muffled by Hotch's neck. Hotch hesitated, but then nodded. Reid whimpered, and then Hotch moved him, mostly carrying him to the bed before sitting him down. Reid didn't let go the entire time, so Hotch sat down also, and let Reid hide his face against his neck.

"Now you know why I didn't want to tell you…"

"Spencer, it wasn't your fault."

"I let him do that. I never told him not to."

Hotch swallowed and closed his eyes, trying not to think about it too much. "He hurt you, Spencer. He knew he was hurting you, and he should have stopped, regardless of whether or not you spoke up."

"It wasn't that bad…"

"Yes it was. He could have broken your arm."

"Oh god…you saw that…" Reid muttered, letting out a shaky breath. He was trembling slightly, so Hotch hugged him tighter, not sure what else he could do. "What else did you see?"

"I only watched a couple minutes…I couldn't watch more."

"Oh…don't watch anymore."

"Why did you tell me he wasn't violent?"

Reid pushed away from Hotch, putting his face in his hands. "He didn't hit me, he just…manhandled me, is the term, I think…"

"It was violent manhandling then."

"I don't want to talk about it."

Hotch let out a frustrated sigh, getting a little tired of that particular phrase. "Okay…maybe you should get some more sleep then," Hotch suggested. Reid nodded and pulled his hands away from his face, revealing red-rimmed, puffy eyes. He shifted his legs up onto the bed, and crawled under the covers, curling up on his side. A slightly panicked expression crossed his face as Hotch stood up.

"W-where are you going?" Reid asked, sitting back up. Hotch sat down next to him, and ran his fingers through his hair, gently coaxing him to lay back down.

"I'm just going out for a walk, I'll be back," Hotch promised. But Reid shook his head, and sat back up.

"I'll go with you…"

"No, you need to get some sleep."

Reid frowned, his lips pressing together tightly, a dark emotion that Hotch couldn't quite decipher flaring up in his eyes. "Why don't you want me around?" His tone dripped of suspicion, and his eyes narrowed. Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a soft sigh.

"Reid, I just need to be alone for a minute. I'll come right back."

Reid responded by laying down and rolling over with his back to Hotch, curling his body in a way that away brought his insecurity to view, making Hotch feel guilty. Hotch hesitated before turning around and walking out of Reid's apartment, heading out to his car. He drove home, and took the box of DVD's inside, stowing them away in the attic. Not because he planned on watching them some time, but because of a strange paranoia that someone else would get a hold of them if he simply put them in the trash. It was almost irrational, but it was enough to keep him from throwing them in the dumpster. The drive back to Stafford and Reid's apartment seemed to take a little longer, probably because he was anxious to get back to Reid. The entire time he had been gone, he'd tried to think of some way to make Reid feel better, and take away the hurt, but had failed to come up with anything.

Once back inside, Hotch tip-toed to the bedroom, hoping not to wake Reid, but as he entered, he found Reid already awake, sitting up in bed, his knees pulled up to his chest. He was oddly still, staring at Hotch as he walked to the bed. Hotch paused, and then sat down next to Reid, leaning against the headboard. Reid continued to watch him, and then bit his lips together, looking apprehensive.

"Hotch?" Reid asked, his voice small.

"Yes?" Hotch asked, the exhaustion he felt creeping into his voice. Reid flinched slightly, his shoulders hunching, and then shook his head.

"N-never mind…you're tired, maybe we should just go to sleep." His voice broke while he spoke, sending a fresh wave of guilt through Hotch's mind.

"No, I want to hear what you were going to say first, Spencer," Hotch murmured, wrapping both arms around Reid. Reid leaned into the embrace hesitantly, taking a deep breath.

"I don't want him near me anymore…"

"I'll get you a restraining order, if you want," Hotch suggested, gently kissing Reid's forehead. Reid nodded, shifting so he was using Hotch as a pillow rather than leaning against him. Before Hotch knew it, he was asleep.

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As Hotch woke up, he found himself alone in the bed. When he heard the shower running in the bathroom, he relaxed a little, and went out to the kitchen, where a pot of coffee was already out. Pouring himself a cup, Hotch pulled out his cell phone and spent the next few minutes arranging to have a restraining order set up against Shawn. Reid emerged as he finished up with what he could do on the phone, drying his hair with a towel.

"After work we have to go to the courthouse to finish getting your restraining order."

Reid nodded slightly, tossing the towel. "Are you coming with me?" He asked nervously, pouring himself coffee. Hotch raised his eyebrows.

"I did say 'we'. Of course I'm coming with you. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't?" The was a light note to his voice, and the statement had the desired effect on Reid. A shy smile broke out on Reid's face, and he blushed, ducking his head and focusing on his coffee. Hotch smiled and walked to the bathroom for his shower.

Once he was out of the shower, they were both ready, so they drove to work, each heading to their respective spots once they'd made it to the bullpen. Hotch had only started to arrange the files on his desk when a sharp, insistent knock sounded on his door. Hotch frowned, and looked up.

"It's open," he called before looking back down at his paperwork. The door swung open, almost hitting the wall, and an irate, flustered Penelope Garcia walked in, closing the door loudly behind her. Hotch looked up, his eyebrows raised, trying to maintain a calm facade.

"Is something wrong, Garcia?" He asked gently. Garcia's eyes narrowed.

"I know you're my boss and you have supreme control over what goes on in the workplace…but this is NOT okay." Hotch had to force his expression to remain neutral as he tried to keep up with what she was saying. When he didn't respond, she continued, speaking a little slower. "I know something's wrong, sir. You had me look up that guy, Reid's ex, Shawn, and then the two of you come into the office with 'battle wounds' and you expect me not to say anything."

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TBC…

A/N: Once again, just going to leave it at a random spot. Hope you like it, hope I'll have more time to work on it next week, but don't hold your breath. Got A LOT of reading to do. That's what you do in college, by the way. Or at least at my college. You read…and read…and read. And maybe you learn something.