Please Note I do not own Criminal Minds, any of the characters, or any other copyrighted content that appears in this story. This is just based off my own personal musings after a vivid dream after watching the show. Rated T for Language and Intense Content.

"Do you feel like talking or would you rather I come back later?"

I blinked at him, trying to sort through the array of flashbacks that resulted from seeing him again so that I could give him a coherent response.

"I… uh… now. Now is good."

I followed him into the den where we were afforded enough privacy for him to interrogate me. Oh, I'm sorry. I mean interview me. Was there really a difference?

"Reid told me about your conversation earlier." Hotch's tone was flat and informative instead of inquisitive or demanding like I had expected. He didn't say anything else about that, thank God. "Have you noticed anyone following you around? Has anyone taken interest in you as of recently?"

I scoffed. "Other than news reporters and cops you mean?" My arms folded over my chest defensively before I continued. "No. No one has even spoken to me since… except for Tim and Jessica. And now they're both dead."

Silence fell over us for too long and I started to feel like I was suffocating, forcing me to break the reverie. "I don't blame any of you."

The words came out without m permission. Sure, I had been tossing them around in my head, but I had intended to keep them up there.

Oh well.

"You did your best and I certainly can't hold you accountable for a mad man's actions." The words tumbled out of my mouth in an almost unintelligible ramble. I could feel the tears building up, making me realize I couldn't stop or they would surely fall.

I couldn't break again.

"I just… wanted you to know that."

Again the silence surrounded us – only for a few seconds, but long enough for me to draw in on myself.

"We will find him. We won't leave this just to the locals this time. We will find him."

Hotchner's voice was almost a growl and the determination in it hit me like a shockwave. I wasn't sure who he was trying to convince more – me or him – but I nodded somberly, regardless. There were more questions, all of which I answered with practiced control. Many of them brought back memories I was still trying to lock away, but he was patient as I sorted through the panic. It certainly didn't hurt to have him there.

My protector.

Hours passed and I found myself in the kitchen, searching for food absently. I wasn't hungry, but eating had become a comforting practice in the past few months, so there I was. I knew my presence would garner of the attention of the patrolmen watching the house, but it was inevitable, so I just let it go.

"Can I do anything for you ma'am?"

I turned around sharply, my heart leaping out of my chest in response to his startling inquiry. My eyes narrowed to focus on the officer's name badge as I steadied myself.

"Officer Wylus, you startled me."

He tipped his hat apologetically, further eluding to his Southern roots in addition to his light drawl laced through his words. "Apologies, ma'am. Name's Kevin. Just wanted to see'f you needed anything." Kevin's cool smile was reassuring and his entire demeanor was calming. Perhaps it was because he reminded me so much of my mom's family, but I felt comfortable around him. It also didn't hurt that he was around six-foot-two, had nicely toned arms, and had to be in his late twenties to early thirties. After all, who didn't like an older man in uniform just a little bit?

"I could use some company while I eat."

I can assure you that wasn't my attempt at coming onto him. I just really couldn't stand being alone anymore. I needed some human contact, even if it was some cop watching TV with me while I munched on popcorn. After all, he was a cop.

Surely he could protect himself if he came after him.

I woke up about five hours later to the sound of hushed, yet angry voices. Well, one was angry, the other was defensive. Apparently I had fallen asleep on Officer Wylus' shoulder and he, being kind, hadn't wanted to wake me. However, when his superior officer had come around, well, the sight hadn't been a welcomed one.

The quilt that I had been swaddled in fell to the floor as I rose from the couch, but the two men had vanished before I could interject to defend him. Loneliness set back in before I could even fold the quilt back up. Perhaps fresh air would be a good remedy. That was the only though going through my mind as I pulled back the sliding glass door. I could only hope the policeman standing on the other side would move before I knocked him over with the movement of the door.

Instead, he toppled backwards and landed lifelessly at my feet, throat slit from ear to ear.

My hands clapped over my mouth to cut off the shriek of fear that was ripped from my lungs. The tears started to fall as I backed away on slowly weakening legs. Instead of finding the stool to lean against, however, there was a warm body behind me. I spun around quickly as panic gripped my throat and stole my breath. My hands planted against his chest desperately as larger ones closed around my wrists to restrain me.

"It's ok. It's ok. I've got you."

Those same words that I heard through my disillusionment so long ago served to calm me quickly.

My rescuer.

Hotch pulled my along with him into the den, calling for back up in a hushed tone. I forced myself to stay silent, but I couldn't stop my shaking. From what I could hear, there were only two cops left – Wylus and the superior officer named Morrison. Everyone else was dead. The remaining members of the BAU team would be there along with SWAT but they were an hour away.

I sat back with an empty look on my face as my mind raced through everything that had happened. The BAU were now sure that their 'UnSub' was someone assigned to protect me.

Fear surged through me again as I put everything together. Morrisson had become angry with Wylus when he was near me. He had been away long enough to kill everyone but Wylus.

And now he had to die because he kept me company.

"Oh God… It's Morrisson. And he took Wylus."

Agent Hotchner relayed this to his teammates before ushering me out of the room. "We're getting out of here." Our footsteps were quick and echoed quietly in the still night. We found the SUV… which had all four tires and the gas line slashed.

Back to our inevitable doom.

We made it through the doorway before Morrisson came staggering towards us. Hotch shoved me away as he leveled his gun at the man's chest. "Stop Morrisson! Get on your knees and put your hands on your head!"

Quickly, Morrisson dropped to his knees – but he didn't stop there. His entire body fell face down, lifeless before Hotch. Out of the fallen man's back there was a knife, bringing a perplexed look to both of our faces, but only momentarily.

"HOTCH!"

My warning came too late as the butt of a gun crashed against the raven haired agent's skull, sending him to the ground, unconscious, with a sickening crack.

"Hello, Annie."

My heart stopped as I turned towards the man whom I had trusted mere hours ago. The Southern drawl was gone, replaced by the huff I had heard so often. His soft demeanor was replaced by the crude manner he was accustomed to. His eyes rested upon me with a violent lustfulness that instilled fear deep in my heart.

"You…"

It was him.

It was Officer Kevin Wylus.