**The torture in this chapter will be of a non-graphic sexual nature. But it won't warrant a change to an 'M-rating.' At least I hope not.**
Chapter 14-New Torture and a Possible Break
It was no surprise to Hotch when he managed to open his eyes and found himself back on the bed and restrained again; he just didn't remember it. The throbbing in his kidney area reminded him of what had happened, but no more than that. It was then he noticed he was missing his shirt, trousers, shoes and socks. All he still had on were his light blue boxers.
"Enjoy your nap, Aaron?" a familiar voice said with a chuckle.
Despite a splitting headache, Hotch turned his head a bit to the side, and spotted Armitage seated in a chair looking completely relaxed with his legs crossed and arms folded. Not saying anything to the man, all the agent did was swallow the lump in his throat while wondering what the man had in mind that warranted removing his clothes leaving him in his underwear.
"I see you're wondering about your clothes," Armitage explained innocently getting up from his seat and approaching the bed. He then stood beside the head of the bed and stared down at the agent. "You won't be needing them anymore for what I have planned. Too cumbersome. Also, I'm starting to rethink something." Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Armitage gripped Hotch by his jaw and turned his head towards him, forcing him to look directly at him. "Did you know I was raped by an inmate while in prison, Aaron? No, you wouldn't know, would you? It was the most degrading, excruciatingly painful and humiliating thing that ever happened to me. I was so full of shame for months. But then I told myself that experience would be something else I'd have to thank you for." He brought his head close to Hotch so that his lips were close to the agent's ear. "I've been rethinking about how that experience would make you feel. Would you feel degraded? Humiliated? Ashamed? Why don't we see how you'd react, Aaron?"
"You keep your fucking hands off of me!" Hotch shouted before he had a chance to think about what he was doing.
Armitage just chuckled as he straightened up and laid a hand on the front of Hotch's boxers. "But we'll start with some warming up exercises." Then, with a chuckle and a smirk, Armitage began to fondle the agent through his boxers as Hotch squeezed his eyes tightly shut and forcing himself to endure the touch of this person, for lack of a better word. Even though there was the cloth of his boxers between his flesh and Armitage's hand, it didn't make it any better to the agent. He hated having to suffer this indignity. He struggled against the restraints in what he knew was a feeble attempt to get away from this animal but without success. He hated the man's touch and didn't want his filthy hands roaming over his body.
"Stop. Don't. Please. Just stop." Hotch knew he sounded like he was pleading a case, but right now he hoped it would be enough.
Armitage leaned forward again and brought his mouth close to Hotch's ear. "I can't, Aaron," he said gently. "I'm just getting started."
Rossi, JJ and Prentiss were gathered around the conference table when Morgan walked in through the double doors of the BAU. From the look on his face, the three agents could tell the interview with Brandon Cooper had more than likely not gone well.
"You look like a man who wants to commit murder," Rossi said grimly. "What happened with Cooper?"
Morgan collapsed in a chair before slamming his fist on the table top. "I wanted so badly to wipe that smug, arrogant smirk off that bastard's face," Morgan explained. He focused on the older agent. "He didn't give a damn about Hotch, or even whether he was found alive or at all."
"And that surprises you?" asked the older agent.
Morgan clasped his hands on the table, reigning in his temper. "Not really. But something he said does. I mentioned to him that when we found Hotch and discovered that he and his brother were behind it, he became angry and defensive."
"So?" asked a puzzled JJ.
"I watched his eyes, JJ," Morgan said facing her and being animated with his hands. "He looked scared that his brother might have been involved in Hotch's disappearance. Personally, I don't believe Brandon Cooper is involved in this in any way, shape, manner or form. And I have a feeling that neither is his brother Shane."
"Does he know Armitage?"
"He said he never heard of him and I believe him."
"What makes you dismiss his brother as a potential UnSub?" Rossi's eyes narrowed. "I only ask because we did find Hotch's cell and credentials in Shane Cooper's home."
"And that's another thing, Rossi," Morgan continued on. "If Shane Cooper is working with Armitage in Hotch's kidnapping, then why haven't we heard from him? The only person we've heard from throughout this entire situation has been Armitage. And for what we know of Shane Cooper's feelings towards Hotch, I don't think he's the type that's just gonna let somebody use his home as a stopping off point and that's it. I mean, I think he'd want to be involved in everything from the moment Hotch was abducted." Looking around at the others, Morgan could see they had been seriously considering what he had just explained.
"Let's say what you just said is true," Rossi interjected. " Why would Shane Cooper not be currently involved in what's happening with Aaron?"
"Only three reasons I can think of. One, after he let Armitage use his place temporarily he took off leaving everything to Armitage. I don't see that happening. Two, he's been found and arrested by law enforcement. I don't see that happening either because I believe we would have heard something about him being picked up. And three, he's either dead or held prisoner along with Hotch because he knows what Armitage planned on doing and Armitage didn't want to take any chances."
Rossi nodded as he bit his lower lip. "Let's go one step further then. What do you think happened to Cooper?"
Morgan let out a deep breath and again clasped his hands on top of the table. "I'd have to say he's probably dead although I can't prove it. I also think from what we know about Armitage up to this point, the minute he found out how Shane Cooper felt about Hotch, he figured he could use him to help him plan this entire thing. But once Armitage had Hotch prisoner, he didn't need Cooper any more."
"You just may have something there," Rossi added. He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Wasn't Cooper serving a life sentence after he was convicted?"
"I think so. Why?"
"Armitage was also serving time. We need to see if their paths crossed while in prison," Rossi replied removing his cell phone from his inner jacket pocket. "Garcia?"
"Yes, sir," the bubbly tech analyst replied. "Uh, sir, my junior G-man and I are still trying to narrow down that list of doctors for you."
"I'm not calling about that. I need you to check something for me. I need you to check on whether Shane Cooper and Jason Armitage were both serving life sentences at the same prison at the same time."
"I can do that. Hang on and give me a minute." Garcia's fingers could be heard tapping her computer keyboard. "Got it, sir. Shane Cooper and Jason Armitage were both prosecuted by Hotch in separate trials at different times, and both were not only found guilty but were sentenced to life sentences which were carried out at the same prison in Alexandria, Virginia. Do you need the name of the prison, sir?"
"It's not necessary. Thanks, Garcia," Rossi replied.
"Uh, sir…." Garcia rapidly added before her acting boss disconnected the call. "Can I ask you a question?" her voice sounded sad almost.
Rossi exhaled through his nose knowing what the tech analyst was going to ask. "We've heard nothing else from the UnSub regarding Hotch. But we believe he's still alive."
There was a moment of silence on the other end. "Thank you, sir. It's just…it's just so hard to keep the faith the longer he's missing, y'know," Garcia said her voice breaking.
"I know, Princess. But I promise you we'll find him. You just keep telling yourself that. And get back to me as soon as you and Reid have narrowed down that list."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Garcia terminated the call allowing her and Reid to continue with their assigned task.
Sliding his cell back in his pocket, the older agent looked at the others. "Armitage and Shane Cooper were both serving life sentences at the same time in the same prison in Alexandria, Virginia. That's where their paths crossed."
"And probably where Armitage hatched his plan regarding Hotch and convinced Cooper to work with him seeing as they both shared a similar hatred for the same man," Morgan added.
Rossi smirked. "Now we know why Armitage refers to himself as the Undead. Everybody thought he was dead and he really wasn't." Shaking his head, the older agent focused on the blond agent. "JJ, what did the owner of the deli on the first floor tell you?"
Hotch closed his eyes and heaved a sigh after a few minutes of relief from being groped by Armitage. But his relief was short-lived as he soon heard footsteps on the stairs outside his room, and before long Armitage entered the room carrying a tripod and a video camera. He set up the tripod and the camera so that the camera faced the side of the bed and that his captive was facing the camera; then checked making sure the entire length of the bed was visible. Pressing a button on the top of the camera caused a compartment on the side to open; then, reaching into his pocket he took out a flat diamond case and after removing a compact disc, inserted it into the open slot and closed it.
Hotch watched this flurry of activity with building dread because he not only had an idea Armitage was sending the team a video of what he was doing to him just to torture them, but he immediately figured out what his captor's next move would probably be and the thought sickened him because he didn't want this man to touch him that way or any other way for that matter. It was bad enough he had sliced him up and probably disfigured him, but what he was planning on doing next made the agent nauseous to the point he wanted to vomit. He didn't want to be abused sexually, and especially not have it videotaped for anyone much less his team to witness. Closing his eyes momentarily, Hotch swallowed the lump building in his throat knowing that the worse was still yet to come.
"I want your team to see what I've reduced you to so far, Aaron," his captor's voice said causing the agent to open his eyes. "Should be a good show for them, don't you think, seeing their beloved Unit Chief being humiliated, shamed, and degraded before their very eyes?"
Hotch's eyes darkened. "My team will never stop searching for you, Armitage," he hissed. "Even if you kill me, this video will just make them all the more determined. Or did you forget they know your name?"
Armitage smirked. "Doesn't matter, Aaron. See, this place is not in my name so there's no way for them to connect it to me. But even if they somehow should, you won't be alive by the time they get here. Now, I just need to get three more items and we can begin the next stage of your payback." Grinning with amusement, the man turned and exited the room.
Alone for a few minutes, Hotch let out a deep breath while his weary mind tried to focus and come up with a way to send a message to his team letting them know where he was in Fairfax. But first he needed to find out where he was. There had to be something either in this room or buried in his memory from when he prosecuted Armitage that he had since forgotten but was still stored somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind. Looking around, Hotch didn't see anything other than the television set; there wasn't even a picture on the wall despite the lighter color on the walls indicating where once two or three had once hung. He was brought out of his concentration again by the sound of footsteps on the stairs outside his door.
"I'm back," Armitage said grinning like a Cheshire cat with a cornered mouse. "Did you miss me? Doesn't matter really. I'm sorry I had to leave you so suddenly, but I forgot to bring these with me before. One is the two pairs of handcuffs I'm holding, and the other is this which I'm sure you remember. I also have one other thing in my pocket." The item he held in his other hand was the remote control for the stun belt; his finger resting on the button. "See, Aaron, I decided you needed to find out how I felt when I was being humiliated, embarrassed and shamed by one of my fellow inmates. You need to feel it all. So, I'm going to make sure you do."
Hotch swallowed the lump in his throat. He had no idea how much longer he could try and resist what was being done to him. In fact, the only thing that had kept him from having already given up was thinking of Jack and Haley and what would happen to them. "Why are you doing this?" he whispered. "I know what you told me. But what do you really want from me?"
"I told you. I want you to pay, Aaron. I want you to suffer and beg for your life before I end it. But before I kill you, I want you to feel all the pain, indignity, humiliation, shame and suffering that I endured because of you."
Dropping the handcuffs and the remote onto the bed, Armitage reached into his pocket and removed a mask similar to what was worn by 'The Lone Ranger' and put it on the bed beside them. Then, picking up the mask he put it on his face and adjusted so it hid the upper part of his face. He walked over to the video camera and pressed a button causing a red light to begin blinking, then walked back to the bed. He stood on the side that put him behind Hotchner and picked up the remote.
"I suggest you try and enjoy it, Aaron. I know I will." There was a wide smile on his face as he pressed the button on the remote. He chuckled watching his captive scream as his body arched upward as 50,000 volts shot into it. While Hotch moaned from the pain, Armitage picked up one pair of handcuffs, undid the buckle of one leg restraint and put one end around the ankle, draped the leg over the other leg and the other end of the handcuff clamped shut around the railing at the bottom of the bed. He then did the same with Hotch's arm resulting in him still restrained but now lying on his side. He put the remote on the night table.
"Smile for the camera, Aaron." Armitage lay down behind the FBI agent and snuggled close to him. He then reached over and slid his fingers under the elastic of Hotch's boxers and started to fondle him.
"I'm not into men," Armitage said looking directly into the camera. "But Aaron here is just too irresistible." He ignored Hotch's continued moaning from the throbbing pain in his kidney area. He felt he would throw up, and knew there was nothing he could do to stop what was happening. All he could do was try and stay alive until his team found him. He suddenly felt lips sloppily nuzzling the side of his neck which made him even more nauseous. He hated what was happening; hated it with every fiber of his being. "Your boss is moaning already and I've only just started. He's just so eager for it," Armitage added to the recording being made.
Hotchner gritted his teeth as the fondling continued. It didn't hurt, but he still hated it; hated being forced to endure it. Armitage was slowly stripping away another layer of his dignity. He took a deep breath while trying to steady himself for what was happening and forcing himself not to antagonize Armitage by pulling away from him as he didn't know what the man would likely do to him if he made him angry. The knowledge that his team would be seeing what was being done to him humiliated him.
Armitage lifted his head just enough to look over his captive's shoulder and down at his face. "You should relax, Aaron. But your tensing up will just make it all the more pleasurable for me and embarrassing for you."
Hotch felt ill as the bile rose in his throat; but he forced it back down. He continued squeezing his eyes shut not wanting to see anything but to stay in that protective darkness figuring if he couldn't see what was happening then he might not hurt so much. But it didn't help much. As the fondling continued he could feel himself becoming hard. All he could do right now was not allow Armitage the satisfaction of seeing how humiliated he really was.
"C'mon, Aaron, and show your team how much enjoyment you're getting out of this," a sarcastic voice said from behind him. The arm draped over Hotch's body pulled the agent closer thus holding him in a tight embrace until Hotch could feel his captor's body pressed tightly against him. But no matter how much he hated what was being done to him, he did breath a silent prayer that at least Armitage had decided not to rape him. But then again, he had no way of knowing if his captor had future plans to invade his body before he killed him and knew he had to mentally prepare himself for that eventuality just in case the man decided he would violate him in the worst possible way another human being could.
Hotch fought to maintain control over his body so that it hopefully wouldn't betray him before the fondling ceased.
Finally…finally…Armitage removed his hand from inside the agent's boxers and looking over Hotch's shoulder with a big smile for the camera, kissed the agent's shoulder, then patted his arm.
Despite now being separated from his captor, the knowledge his team would see him being molested distressed him but there was nothing he could do about it.
"So good, Aaron, considering you're a guy. We must do this again soon. Very soon."
Rossi sighed wearily after JJ and Prentiss had both finished explaining what they had learned.
"Okay, so what do we have? According to Emily and JJ, the man who delivers the mail to our floor stopped in the deli on the first floor to get coffee and use the men's room before starting his rounds. He left his mail cart unattended for a few minutes and that seems to be when the letter that Hotch found on his desk was slipped into the cart unnoticed. Said letter was then delivered to Hotch's office. And the assistant working at the deli quit the same day we left for Alexandria to begin our investigation regarding the murders of five lawyers."
Morgan picked up the facts from there. "And this same person changed his appearance after awhile to look like Hotch and was asking a lot of questions about him. And despite Brandon Cooper and his jailed brother Shane who escaped from prison, I believe neither brother is involved in Hotch's kidnapping but that Shane Cooper escaped with Jason Armitage who I also believe convinced him to help him kidnap Hotch and then possibly killed him after Hotch was abducted."
"And Armitage faked his own death as well so nobody would look for him which enabled him to move about setting all this up with nobody asking questions because everybody thought he was dead," Rossi concluded. He then looked at Prentiss. "Emily, show Todd a photo of Jerry Wartham and Jason Armitage and ask him which man is the one he hired. I have a feeling we already know the answer." His eyes shifted to JJ. "Have you scheduled a press conference yet?"
"Not yet," JJ replied.
"Schedule one for four p.m. tomorrow afternoon, but don't release anything until I tell you," Rossi advised her.
JJ tossed back a loose strand of her long blond hair over her shoulder as she looked at Rossi. "What did Strauss have to say when you told her about Hotch?"
Rossi rolled his eyes and snorted. "Erin Strauss was a bitch as she usually is. She wanted to know what happened, but as far as showing concern for Aaron, I wouldn't hold my breath."
Armitage climbed out of the bed he had shared with Hotchner, and walking over to the video camera, turned it off before removing the compact disc and held it carefully so no fingerprints would get on it. Couldn't afford to get sloppy now. He looked at the FBI agent lying on his side trying to curl into himself as much as his restraints would allow. He heard Hotchner whimper occasionally still from the dull ache in his kidney area from the stun belt. Approaching the bed, he touched Hotchner's shoulder and grinned as the agent shrank away from the touch.
"I shall return, Aaron," Armitage promised with a smirk as he picked up the case and slipped the disc inside. "But I must send this to your team before contacting them again. I'm interested in their review." Receiving no response from the agent, he shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the open door, stopping only to turn on the television before walking out of the room.