A/N: I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter, I kind of went into it blind, didnt really know what i wanted to write.
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They sat within the police station late into the night filling out papers and talking to the local officers. The hardest part of the investigation was over, they'd caught their unsub, what boys had lived were home, they were safe. They had more then enough evidence to put brendon and his clients away for a long time, for that, they were thankful.
Now they were waiting for the pychologist to finish talking with the other boys they'd brought back from brendon's home. They'd taken blood samples from all of them, and found the families of three. All of these boys had been taken from their homes when they were too young to remember a life other then the ones they'd been given. They were trained to follow orders, and hurt those who broke the rules. Though they were victims in all of this, they were stilll dangerous.
Hotchner greated the Pychologist as he left the interrogation room, cleaning his glassess with his sleeve.
"They'll need years of therapy." he said, putting his glasses back on. "To them, what they've been doing isnt wrong, the beatings, the rape, they were told to do it, so it was okay. It's almost impossible to pass judgement on them by our standards, because everything they know is different."
"So what do we do?" hotchner asked.
"For now, during the begining of their therapy, keep them locked up. They are a danger to others until they know that what they've done is wrong. In time, they should be able to re enter society."
"Thank you." Hotch said, shaking the man's hand.
"Just doing my job."He replied, pulling on his coat and retrieving his keys. "Those boys have been living that way for more then fifteen years, its all they've known. Dont be too hard on them." he said before leaving.
Hotch left the lobby, standing against the two way glass, looking in at the four older boys. He'd heard them talk about the things they'd done, and during those hours he'd forgotten that they werent the bad guys, not really. They hadnt asked to be forced into that life, to be tought in the ways of the men who'd taken them from their families.
He watched with tired eyes as they were led out from the interrogation room, back to their cells. Tomorrow they would be sent to a state run institution, where they could get the help they needed.
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Drake was aware of the movement around him, could hear Josh shuffleing about the room, waiting for him to wake up. he wasnt ready, not yet. He'd been up for hours now, just laying in his bed, trying to adjust to being home. By now, he should by halfway done with the foyer, he should be put of bed. But he didnt have to do that now, those days were behind him.
He curled up, knowing that josh would notice the sudden movement. He didnt care, right now he just wanted to think.
"Drake?" josh asked, hopeing that he was awake.
"I'm up." Drake said quietly, not wanting to turn around. He needed to get out of bed, if he stayed there, he'd get in trouble.
"Do you want me to get you anything?" Josh stepped toward Drake's bed.
"No." Drake said, pushing himself up. He looked around the room, there were no bars, nothing to keep him locked up. He climbed to the floor, avoiding Josh as he made his way to the bathroom. The boy he saw in that mirror wasnt the same boy he was in the photos around the house. It wasnt just his pale complection, or his smaller body that made him realize that. Nor was it the scars and bruises that were scattered about him. No, it was something burried inside of him, deep within his eyes, his very self.
He'd lost so much of himself in that place, and now, he didnt know if he'd ever be able to find it.
Drake made his way down the stairs to the kitchen, seeing his mom in there making lunch. He'd been in bed longer then he thought.
"Drake." She smiled, walking toward him and pulling him into a hug. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah." he replied, walking toward the table. "My pills..." he said, searching for them.
Audrey nodded. She hated that she had to give them to him. "You only have to keep taking these two." She said, handing them to him.
Without a glance, Drake popped them into his mouth, accepting the glass of water as he swallowed them.
Audrey smiled, making him a plate with Mac and cheese and a sandwich and setting it down for him. She watched as he starred at it, unsure before finally eating. She watched him as he ate every bite, and as he carried his plate to the sink and began washing it.
"I can do that." She said, stepping forward.
"It's fine." Drake shrugged.
"Drake." She said, reaching for the dishes.
"Just let me do it." HE snapped, immediantly feeling bad.
"all right." Audrey said, stepping back.
"Mom, Im sorry." Drake said, turning toward her. "I'm used to doing my own dishes..."
"It's okay." She said, smiling. She needed to let him do whatever he needed. "We have a meeting with a therapist later, the police said it would help."
"Do I have to?" he asked.
"yes," She said. "But if you dont want to keep going, you don't have to."She turned away, breathing heavily as she called Josh and Meghan down for lunch.
Drake set his dishes to dry and left the kitchen, stopping by the stairs to let Josh and Meghan pass. He watched them, their worryless faces, and all he wanted was to feel the relief they did. He was home, their nightmare was over.
Slowly he dragged his feet back to the bathroom, locking himself inside. He turned on the shower, carefully pulling off his clothes. Across his back were fading bruises, healing cuts and scars. when everything else faded into nothing, those scars would dtill be there, reminding him forever what he'd been through. Telling the world where he'd been. He hated them.
He stepped into the warm water, letting it wash away everything, the filth that sting clung to him, the dirt from his bare feet and the tears that he couldn't stop from falling. There was so much pain and anger inside of him right now. He didnt know how to let it all out, what to do.
He thought that he would find some sort of peace when he got home, that everything would just stay behind him. But he felt more alone now then ever. He missed Ash and Zane, the comfort they'd given him. They knew what he was going through, what had been. Drake knew that his family was there for him, but they didnt know, not like the others did. There was no routine here, no commands to follow. He felt lost, afriad.
The water grew cold as he stood under it, letting the pain freeze and fall. He waited until he couldnt stand it anymore before stepping out, wrapping himself in a towl and standing against the door. he didnt want them to see him, not like this. They would worry, and he didnt want that. They'd been through enough.
Josh was sitting on the couch in their room when Drake came back from the bathroom, flipping channels with no real interest in what was on. He looked over to Drake, offering a smile as he turned the t.v. off.
"Hey." He said.
"Hey..." Drake replied, slowly moving toward him.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked.
"Fine." Drake said, sitting down and picking up his guitar. he hadnt held it in so long. he strummed a few somber notes before looking back to Josh. "It's just weird," he whispered. "Being home.'
"I'm glad your home." josh said. "Im sorry."
"For what?" Drake asked, turning back the guitar.
"I know I told you last night, but, for everything. For being so mean before it happened, for not being by your side." he shook his head. "if your mad at me...'
"i'm not mad at you." Drake said. He didnt blame Josh, not for anything. "The fight we had, was my fault. I wouldn't have wanted you there with me." he said quietly.
Josh hesitated. "What happened?"
Drake stopped strumming the guitar, never looking at Josh. "i don't want to talk about it."
"It would help." Josh offered.
Drake put down the guitar. "I dont want to talk about it." He repeated, slightly irritated. He didnt want to be rude, but he didnt want Josh to know.
"Okay..." Josh said, pushing back his tears. he wouldnt cry, not now. "If you ever want to, I'm here."
Drake pushed himself off of the couch, walking away from Josh. "Just let it go." he said, picking up the papers with Ash and Zane's numbers on them before leaving the room.
Josh watched Drake laeve, holding himself back from going after him. He just wanted to help, to be there for Drake, because he knew that he needed someone. He turned his eyes to his wrists, pulling up his sleeves and looking down at the cuts. He didnt just want to help Drake, he wanted Drake to hep him.
Drake took the phone and went out into the yard, waiting until he was sure that no one could hear him before he dialed Ash's number. he waited as the phone rang, dreading the possibility of no one answering.
Finally, a woman answered. "Hello?"
"Hi," Drake said, exhaling. "is Ash there?"
She paused. "If your with the newspaper, I've all ready told you to stop calling." She said harshly.
"No, I'm Drake. i was eith him..."
"Oh," She gasped,. "im sorry. I'll go and get him."
Drake waited as he listened to her move through rooms, calling out his name. Finally, after what felt like hours, she handed the phone to Ash. "Hello?"
"Ash, it's Drake." he said, feeling relief as he heard his friends voice.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked, worry obvious.
"Yeah..." Drake said. "i think so."
"It's weird, being home." Ash said.
"Yeah." Drake said, he hadnt realized how tense he was. "I dont know aht to do here."
"Me niether." Ash said, forcing a light laugh. "I can't get a moment to myself. I can't really blame them though, two years is a long time."
"Josh wont stop trying to get me to talk about it." Drake said, pulling his knees up.
"Your brother?" Ash asked. "he's just wirried. You guys had a fight before it happened, he's probably blaming himself. My brother's been the same way."
"Did you tell him?" drake asked.
"No..." Ash paused, thinking. "I will, eventually. My mom is making me go to counciling, she says it will help. I've been so angry...'
"I know what you mean." Drake replied. "Have you talked to Zane?"
"Not yet." Ash said. "I was thinking about calling you guys before you called."
"tell him hi for me?" Drake asked.
"Yeah." Ash replied lightly. "take care of yourself." Ash said sternly.
"You to." Drake said before hanging up the phone.
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Drake sat in the soft chair, starring at the balding man as he adjusted his glasses. He'd read the police report, knew what had happened.
"How are you feeling?" Dr. Harvish asked.
"I dont know, okay I guess." Drake said, fiddleing with his fingers.
"You must have been frightened, while you were there."
"Sometimes." Drake replied. "But its over now."
"Do you sill feel afraid?" he asked, leaning forward.
"Not really." Drake said. "I nkow they can't get to me now."
"Do you feel angry?"
Drake hesitated. "Sometimes." he whispered. "Im angry about what happened, at everyone for asking me if Im okay." he said, glaing at the doctor.
"Do you know what Post tramatic stress is Drake?"
"No." he grunted. He wanted to go home.
"After an ordeal like the one you've been through, people experience symptoms." he began. "they become withdrawn, they have nightmares and flashbacks. They'll get angry for no real eason and lash out at people who are trying to help. have you been experiencing ay of this?"
Drake didnt answer.
"the best way to get over what has happened, is to talk about it. With me," he gestured to himself. "or your family. Or even the other boys who were there with you. If you try to repress your memories and feelings, you will only feel worse. You need to talk about it, to let it out. Do you understand?"
Drake nodded.
"Would you like to talk about it today?" He asked.
"Not really." Drake replied.
"I'd like you to come in a few times a week. I'm here to help you." he assured drake.
"Thanks." Drake said, standing up. "Can I go home, please sir?"
The man offered a tired smile. "you don't have to call me sir. I'll see you here in two days, at four o'clock."
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Reid watched the team as they boarded the jet, taking his time before joining them. They'd done it, they'd saved them... some of them.
"Reid?" Gideon asked, standing next to him.
"Im okay." he replied.
Gideon placed a hand on his shoulder. "Those boys are okay now." he said. "they're safe."
"they're in hell." he said softly. "It's not over for them, not yet."
Gideon turned toward reid, looking him in the eyes. "they've got good families to help them through the next part. It'll take some time."
"I know." Reid said. he knew what they were going through, how hard those first weeks would be. "I wish we could have helped the others." he said, almost too quietly to hear.
"I know." Gideon said, walking with him onto the jet. "I do too."
They found their seats, sitting across from each other over a game a chess. reid had done what he set out to do, he had saved them. He didnt give up, and now those who had survived were home, with the people who could help them get past what happened. he couldn't changed what had happened to those who had died, he knew that. And he knew that it wasnt his fault. He took a deep breath, planning his next move as Gideon smiled at him.
It was going to be okay.