Section Chief Strauss waited on the tarmac as the plane carrying Emily's Parents taxied to the FBI SUVs that were awaiting their arrival. Strauss watched as Allen Prentiss first exited the plane and then turned to help his wife as she walked down the stairs. The couple walked towards the director. She could see that the Ambassador had been crying.

It was no secret at Quantico that the relationship between Emily and her mother did not have the typical mother-daughter relationship that one would think would be present. Their relationship did get better after the Ambassador asked the BAU to help with a kidnapping case.

Strauss held her hand out to shake their hands. "Ambassador Prentiss, Mr. Prentiss I trust you had a safe flight."

"Yes, thank you," answered Allen. "How is our daughter?"

"Let's get in the car. I am sure that you are anxious to see Agent Prentiss. I will fill you in on her condition on our way," said Strauss.

They entered the SUV - Strauss sat in the front on the passenger side, while the Prentiss' sat in the backseat. As the driver turned the car in the direction of the hospital, Elizabeth Prentiss spoke for the first time. "How is Emily?"

Strauss turned in her seat to face them. She took a deep breath before she continued. This was the one thing she hated about her job – speaking to the families of an injured or fallen Agent. "Agent Prentiss . . . Emily received a great amount of torture while she, Agent Jareau and TA Garcia were held captive. When they were found, they were all showed signs of dehydration. Emily received numerous electrical shocks, she has bruises on her face and a cut on her lip and she also has some bruising on her chest from the tapping of a metal stake. She went into shock once they were rescued and it took a few hours before she woke up."

"Oh my God," answered the Ambassador as she placed a hand over her mouth and her husband pulled her in to a tight hug for comfort. In the view of the public and her coworkers – the Ambassador seemed unemotional. Strauss even believed that she was the one who had taught Emily how to compartmentalize. All those barriers that Elizabeth Prentiss put up came suddenly crashing as she listened to the injuries her daughter had received. "Is she okay?"

"Physically, she will be fine. The doctors want to keep her in the hospital for a few days. She will then be placed on a month medical leave from the bureau. I suspect it will take her longer to heal emotionally. We will provide her with counselors and anything she needs to recover fully," answered Strauss. She looked out the front window before continuing. "When we spoke earlier I informed you about the theory that we had as to who these people were," said Strauss.

"Yes," Allen answered. "It was something to do with an old case that they worked on. The brother's of a man they helped to arrest was responsible."

"That's correct. It seems that they believed that their brother was framed. Joseph Smith was kidnapping woman and he would maliciously carve out their hearts while they were still alive. Your daughter is the Agent directly responsible for their arrest. That is why she received the worse punishment."

"How are the other women?" he asked.

"Agent Jareau and TA Garcia were also shocked a couple of times. Like I said they were not physically harmed to the extent of your daughter. They were, however, put through a great amount of physical torture as they had to sit there unable to help their teammate and friend as she was tortured. The members of her team have not left their sides since they were all rescued. Agent Jareau and Ms. Garcia are sharing one room and Emily is in a private room. I expect that the team will be split up between the two rooms."

"We're here, Ma'am," announced Agent Lewis as he pulled the SUV into the hospital.

It had been an hour since they all arrived back into JJ and Garcia's room. Both women had fallen asleep almost immediately once they were lying back in their beds. Morgan, Reid and Elle sat around them. Morgan was on one side of Garcia, Elle sat in the middle of the two beds and Reid was on the other side of JJ. Eventually they also succumbed to the exhaustion that their bodies felt.

Garcia laid on her hospital bed trapped in a dream.

She was still tied to the chair in the basement of that warehouse. Shock after shock ripped through her body as she watched Brad tape the metal stake against Emily's chest. Emily was screaming for him to stop. She was screaming for help. Garcia tried to free herself but the electric shocks were keeping her from successfully get her hands freed. Brad turned around and laughed as he brought the hammer swiftly down and the stake ripped through Emily's body.

"Stop," she cried as her body tossed and turned on the bed.

Morgan awoke as he felt the bed move and saw the terrified look on her face and realized that she was still asleep and dreaming.

"Baby girl, wake up," Morgan said as he shook her shoulder. The others in the room started to wake up.

"Emily!" Garcia cried once more as her dream still tortured her and she sat up in her bed. She looked around a little confused.

"Hey, it's okay. It was just a nightmare. You are all safe now," he lifted her face so that she could look into his eyes. Garcia finally let out the breath that she did not know she was holding. Tears were falling down from her eyes.

"You okay, Pen," asked JJ as she got up from her own bed and went to hold her friend's hand.

Garcia nodded her head. "It seemed so real. I could feel the shocks going through my body. Brad was taking the hammer and I saw the stake go into Emily." Garcia started to cry as she explained this. Tears formed in JJ's eyes now as she was able to picture the horror that was Garcia's dream. Morgan pulled Garcia into a tight reassuring hug as Reid and Elle both made their way to the bed.

Elle wrapped her arms around JJ's shoulder. "Pen, listen to me. That was just a dream. Emily is safe. Gideon promised that once she wakes up from her nap that he will come in here and get us and you will be able to see for yourself that she is fine."

The nurse walked in and saw everyone standing around Garcia's bed. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," answered Reid. "She just had a nightmare."

The nurse just nodded as she looked at Garcia with sympathetic eyes. "I wish I could tell you that it won't happen again, but I can't. It is normal to experience nightmares after what you had experienced. It will take time but they will become less frequent. If you want, I could give you something that will help you to get to sleep so that you can get some more rest." Garcia shook her head. "Okay but promise you will let me know if you change your mind, okay?"

"I promise," answered Garcia.

It was then that the nurse realized that JJ was standing next to her. Turning towards JJ, she had a frown on her face. "Agent Jareau, you should not be out of bed. I know that you were concerned for Ms. Garcia, but you need to rest as well."

JJ was about to protest when Garcia spoke up, "Jayje she's right. Go back and lay down. I'll be fine. I've got my Chocolate Adonis over here to help me." She smiled at Morgan.

After a long pause, JJ answered, "Okay."

"Come on JJ I'll help you get back into the bed," offered Reid as he took hold of her arm.

Rossi's cell phone rang. "Hello? . . . okay, thank you." He turned Gideon's noticing the questioning look on his face he explained. "That was Lewis. He Strauss and Emily's parents are here."

Gideon went over to Hotch. "Aaron." He shook his shoulders.

Aaron awoke with a start, "What is it? Emily?"

"She's still asleep," Gideon explained. "Strauss is on her way up with her parents."

Hotch nodded his understanding stood up and went to her side at the bed. She looked so peaceful in her drugged induced sleep. "Should we wake her up?"

"Let her sleep," advised Rossi. "I am sure they will understand."

The heard a knock on the door announcing their arrival. Hotch walked over to them as they entered the room. He shook hands with them as they entered and introduced Rossi to Emily's parents. After the introductions the Ambassador walked passed them and stood at her daughter's bedside. Her hands started to shake as she looked at the bruises on her face. She felt her husband step close to her and take her hand in his. They sat there in silence as the other people in the room excused themselves to give the Prentiss family some time alone and stepped into the hallway.

"Anything new since we last spoke?" asked Strauss.

"The blood tests came back," said Rossi. "Traces of chloroform were found in each of them. So the theory of how they were abducted was confirmed."

"And the surviving two brother?"

"They are cooperating and have admitted to everything," answered Gideon. "It appears that Brad Smith was the one that organized the whole thing. It was his idea and he guilted them into doing it citing family loyalty."

"Where are Jareau and Garcia?"

"They are sharing a room upstairs," answered Hotch. "Agents Morgan, Reid and Greenaway are with them."

"We'll show you the way," said Gideon. Then he turned to Hotch, "Why don't you stay here in case The Ambassador and her husband have any questions that need to be answered?"

"That sounds like a good idea," agreed Hotch, although his eyes said 'Thank you' to his friend.

"I will be back down later Agent Hotchner," said Strauss as she followed Rossi and Gideon to the elevator.

"Yes ma'am," Hotch called after her and then he turned to head back into Emily's room. Silently he walked back over to the chair that he had previously been sitting in.

"These past few days must have been hard on you, Agent Hotchner," said Allen.

"It is always hard on us when a member of our team is hurt or in trouble," replied Hotch.

"Emily is more than just a member of your team," said the Ambassador taking her eyes off of Emily for the first time and looking at Hotch.

"Ma'am?" Hotch questioned, unsure of what she was referring to.

"My daughter and I have been getting closer since that kidnapping case that I brought to you. The last time I spoke with her was just before we left for Europe. She mentioned that she was dating someone from work and that she wanted to bring him over for dinner when we returned." Hotch just sat there a little stunned as she continued, her eyes returning to Emily's sleeping body. "I am not a FBI profiler, but my position also requires the ability to read people. She has had a crush on you since the first time she saw you – back when you did that security check for me. I knew that whoever had won her heart would be with her in this room, not wanting to leave her." She looked up at Hotch, "Am I wrong?"

It took Hotch a few seconds to regain his composure. He stood up and walked to the other side of the bed, taking Emily's hand in his he finally spoke. "No ma'am you are right. We have been dating for three months. I love Emily and I hope to receive your approval of our relationship, but with all due respect, Ambassador I love her too much to not be with her if you do not approve."

Before any reply could be made, they noticed that Emily was moving on the bed. "Help," moaned Emily - clearly having a nightmare. Hotch started to shake her shoulders. "Em, wake up it's just a nightmare." Emily woke up wide eyed. She looked at the man in front of her and after a few seconds she recognized him and where she was. "Aaron," she said as tears came to her eyes.

He smiled at her wiping the tears from her face, "You okay?"

She nodded. "Nightmare," she explained. Emily than looked to the other side of her bed she knew there were people there she expected it to be Gideon or Rossi. A smile shown on her face when she realized that her parents were there.

"How are you feeling?" asked her father.

"I'm a little sore, but I'll be fine," she answered as she squeezed her mother's hand.

Emily than realized that she was still holding onto Hotch's hand. She looked between her lover and her parent's. "Mother, Dad there is something I want to tell you." She looked back at Hotch trying to find the correct words to tell them about their relationship.

"It's okay, Em. They already know," said Hotch as he gave her hand a little squeeze.

"Oh," she responded as she looked back to her parents trying to read the expression on their faces.

"We couldn't be happier for you," said her father.

"I just hope that you can show my daughter all the love and respect she deserves," replied the Ambassador.

Hotch breathed sigh of relief and smiled upon hearing those words. He smiled down at his girlfriend, "See I told you there was nothing to worry about . . . I love you."

Emily smiled at him, "I love you, too."

A knock filled the silent room as five pairs of eyes turned towards the door and spotted Gideon, Rossi and Strauss walking into the room. "Is Emily awake?" asked Garcia.

Gideon shook his head. "When we left the room she was still sleeping. Her parents are with her along with Hotch."

"How are you two feeling?" asked Strauss.

"Fine, Ma'am," answered JJ and Garcia almost in unison.

"I am glad to hear that. Agents Gideon and Greenaway, I thank you for coming back to aid in the search and rescue," said Strauss.

"It was our pleasure, ma'am," said Elle smiling looking around at her friends.

A nurse walked into the room followed by two orderlies, each wheeling in a wheelchair. "I know that you are both anxious to get back to your friend's room. I just learned that she is awake so you can all go back to visit her now."

"Thank you," replied Garcia as she quickly removed the blankets that were covering her body.