YAY! Next chapter! This is where it gets fun!

…Sometime the Next Day…

I came to slowly, my head aching and throbbing as my vision cleared. I surveyed my unfamiliar surroundings. It was cold here, where ever that happened to be. And my nose itched. I moved to scratch it to meet resistance. I was bound, then, something any smart criminal would do if he was aware of what I did for a living.

I couldn't recall what had happened just before I ended up here, which might be the fault of the drugs the UNSUB used.

"You're awake, then."

I knew that voice, almost as well as I knew my own. "Hotch? Hotch, what the hell is going on here?"

He stepped out under the light and ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Well, Gideon, I guess… I guess I finally snapped." His eyes met mine. "But I'm fine now. Don't worry. You will simply have the pleasure of being my guest for a while."

There was something so elementally off about him. Gone was the confidence that made his eyes sparkle, the laughter that quirked at his lips. Something had stolen these things from him. He looked disheveled, his hair mused, his suit slept in. Something had stolen his peace of mind.

He strode closer to me. "I do have a few things that might interest you to know." He smiled, and for a moment, I saw the man I knew. "I'm not crazy, and I love you."

I'm certain my jaw dropped and drug the floor.

He rushed onward, aware of just how it might sound to me. "I'm not some crazed fan who believes you love me, too. I know I'm alone in this." He stepped closer, close enough to kiss, and brushed a light kiss to my cheek. "I want you to know just why you'll be my indefinite guest."

I had nearly melted, feeling the warm of his breath on my cheek, the softness of his lips. But then I reminded myself that Hotch was most definitely a man, and I was most definitely not gay.

"But I haven't quite told you what all this entails," Hotch continued, brushing his hands down my chest –which, I realized now, was bare. He feathered a kiss against the side of my neck. His last words had not evaded my notice, either. He didn't intend to let me loose yet, but it was an eventual goal.

I shivered in response. My body reacted helplessly, with no care of who touched me. "Hotch?" I asked, my voice shaking.

That old smile was back. "There are three things you need to remember, Gideon. You're not gay if I touch you. You're not gay if you react. But you are gay if you want me to touch you."

I was stunned to hear the words falling from his lips. But there was a great deal of truth to his word. Hotch may have had a mental break, but his actions right now were completely logical. He wasn't crazy. Loving someone who didn't love you back doesn't make you a thundering loony. There was most definitely a break, a catalyst event that had set him off. But after the interlude of uncharacteristic behavior, he was back in control, which was more than most could do. Kidnapping a known federal agent was something a crazy person would do. Holding them against their will was kind of border-line. But his organization, his methods of captivity, his confession were all indicative of someone in full control of their mind.

The only crazy thing was who he'd fallen in love with.

So what do you think?

~Sins~