John 8:32 reminds us, '…and the truth shall set you free.'

-FLACKBACK-

"So what do we do?"

There was a long drawn out pause before it came to Hotch. "We need to regroup. David, I want you to make a call to Strauss and let her know that we're on this case now no matter what the record says. Then I want you to call the rest of the team and have them meet at the BAU. Have one of the police officers escort you back to Quantico. If I'm right about this, Bale will be trying to contact us soon."

"What about you?"

"I'll be here. Like you said, Gideon is hiding something. It's a long shot but whatever it is… it might help our investigation."

Rossi didn't have to be told twice. He acknowledged Hotch's orders with a small nod and placed a reassuring hand on his colleague's shoulder. "Be careful, Aaron."

In response to those parting words, Hotch barely made a sound and kept his focus on the task at hand. It wasn't about being careful. It was about being right. It was about solving this case and bringing a criminal to justice. Gideon was no criminal. But as Hotch entered the interrogation room, something struck him. The man he faced may have been Jason Gideon at one point in time but no longer.

"Jason," Hotch presented himself to his former teammate with a polite greeting as he sat across the table. "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

The tension could literally be seen lifted off of Gideon as his eyes met Hotch's. Suddenly a trace of the old friend he knew was in the room. "I was beginning to think you weren't even here."

A vague, fleeting resemblance of a smile touched the corner of Hotch's mouth. It wasn't genuine, rather an attempt to further encourage Gideon's level of comfort. "After five years? You think I'd pass up the chance to sit and chat with you like the old days?"

"Does that mean I'm free to go?" Gideon paused and looked Hotch directly in the eyes. His tone wasn't as friendly as before. "If you didn't come in here to drill me about the case, you must have found the true suspect."

It was beginning to show that Gideon wasn't part of the BAU any longer. His use of the word 'suspect' over 'un-sub' was just one hint that stuck out to Hotch. Even so, clearly the former BAU agent hadn't lost his profiling skills.

"The evidence has led us to suspect someone else but…"

"But what?" Gideon interrupted; the tone of his voice hinted with a touch of insult. "What is it that's led you to think I could have done this?"

"I didn't say you did."

"You were the one who issued an APB for my arrest, Hotch. Obviously, you think I'm involved."

How Gideon was granted all the information he had, Hotch wasn't sure. Either way, the one thing he was still certain of was that Gideon was hiding something. He could see it in the man's body language; hear it in his nouns and verbs. More than anything, there was a distance in his eyes… a mask… a façade of tranquil emotion. Gideon was nervous.

"It's not that I think you're involved. I just have the feeling that there's something you're not telling me," as Hotch tried to be strait with his old friend, he couldn't help but force away that natural instinct to profile the accused.

Years ago, an agreement – more of a promise – was made among the members of the BAU to never profile each other. However it was never established whether or not that rule applied to one who left the team. Hotch couldn't decide.

Unlike Hotch's façade of a smile, Gideon flashed one that was more genuine. He crossed his arms and shook his head saying, "It's strange isn't it?"

"What's that?"

"How far we'll go in order to protect others."

These words intrigued Hotch. He raised an eyebrow, hardly making any attempt to conceal his suspicions, "I don't understand."

Gideon rested both palms face down against the cool steel of the table. Before explaining, he took a breath and kept his eyes on his hands, "My position in the BAU may have been filled by David Rossi but from what I can see, it was you who assumed my role in the team. You're softer now, Hotch. I can only guess that this came about after I left, you knew the team… Spencer especially needed someone they knew they could turn to. You've taken up certain mannerisms of mine. You're not exactly the drill sergeant type anymore, are you?"

Hotch listened carefully to the words Gideon chose to say. There was something behind every statement. But just what exactly was he getting at? While Hotch knew that they were pressed for time, he decided not to rush anything. He allowed Gideon to talk all he wanted about whatever he wanted.

"I guess you could say that," he agreed, slightly slouching in his chair. "I'm not sure if it was more about you leaving or…when I lost Hayley."

Sincere empathy appeared in Gideon's face, "I heard about that. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's been hard." He confessed. "But… I still have Jack. It's not so hard when I remember that."

Silence fell on the room as neither party knew how to carry on that conversation. After awhile, Gideon spoke up first, "I noticed Rossi hasn't changed at all."

When Hotch was able to effortlessly release a chuckle, it startled him. "You'd be surprised. He's actually become more of a team player since he rejoined the BAU."

This sparked a pleasant domino effect of pleasant discussion. Stories of what life had been like for the both of them since Gideon's leave were swapped and even a few laughs were had. All the while, Hotch kept his eye on the clock and his mind on the case.

After awhile, he decided to ease in again with some questions, "So if you've been traveling the country all this time, what were you doing so close to Quantico when they found you?"

Suddenly Gideon grew hesitant and Hotch worried that he was backtracking from the progress he had made. When an answer finally did come, it wasn't anything Hotch expected. "I've tried to make it a point to be in town around this time of year for Spencer's birthday."

There was nothing Hotch could do to conceal his confusion by this confession. "What do you mean? You've visited Spencer every year for his birthday?"

"No," Gideon answered regretfully, "I've just been close enough so that if I get the nerve to do so, I can."

This was all well and good but it wasn't helping the investigation. Time was running out. The sun was drawing closer to rising and Reid's mother and JJ's son were still unaccounted for.

"Jason," Hotch began but paused for a moment as if to properly prepare the words that were to follow, "I need you to come clean. If there is something that you know about what happened to our team…"

"This again? Hotch, I told you. I told Rossi. I had nothing to do with those explosions."

"But you know who did, don't you?"

"No! Dammit! Why are you pushing this on me?"

Gideon had lost his patience. It was time for Hotch to lose his. He rose from his seat and more or less snarled through grit teeth, "Gideon! Adrian Bale has Reid's mother and JJ's three-year-old boy! If you ever cared about this team, you will tell me what you know!"

Shock twisted the enraged expression in Gideon's face. "Bale? You think it's Bale who is responsible for the explopsions?"

Finally. Some major progress.

"We know he is. It was his design and we know that he escaped from prison six months ago. What we don't know is how you tie into all this."

"Hotch…"

"If you just come clean now maybe we can save two lives. As of now, if you don't-"

"There's NO way it can be Bale."

An uncomfortable tension fell back over the room and loomed over Hotch's shoulders. "What do you mean?"

Obviously Gideon had said more than he should have. Almost instantaneously with his last statement, frightful regret overwhelmed his features. Now all that was needed was a confession.

"Come on Gideon! Talk!"

"I can't Hotch… you don't understand."

"YES! You can! Think! Think about Reid! His mother is all he has! If something happens to her and you know something…"

"BALE'S DEAD! Alright! He's dead! I saw the story on the news just after it happened and I went looking for him. He was looking for me and eventually we found each other. I killed him, Hotch!"

That was a little more than SSA Hotchner has expected. But there was more to come.

"So if you've got the team looking for Adrian Bale… they're looking at this from the wrong angle."

-END FLACKBACK-

~ Author's Notes ~

Along with being the longest chapter so far, this was one of the hardest. I can't explain why but for some reason I just have no confidence when I write a scene with that includes Gideon. Hopefully, if any of you picked up on anything that was off, you'll let me know.

Like the other flashback, I was sure to begin with a piece of the story that you guys already know happened. Only this time the whole chapter was a flashback. Hope that wasn't too much time in the past for you.

Anyways, cheers. Gideon's secret is revealed. So who's the un-sub? Stay tuned to find out!

P.S. I was slightly rushed at the end of this. Expect some minor changes/improvement in the ending dialogue.