Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the characters believe me if I did you would never have seen Agent Seaver.

The story is set after Emily Prentiss's "death".

This is my first story ever, I'll update as much as I can. I love constructive criticism but please be patient with me, thank you

Spencer Reid entered his apartment with a sigh, another difficult case had passed but the stress he felt was not the cases responsibility. Ensuring that the door was locked he progressed into his living room flipping the switch to the lights as he went, a soft smile twisted its way across his pained face looking at the photos on his wall each encasing his family, his team.

Emily was his pain, he stayed strong the best he could in front of his team, mainly for his pride but walking past her desk everyday, correction walking past her empty desk. Was killing him silently, making his suffering unbearably cruel. As he collapsed into the sofa his eyes closed as he let a whimper escape his lips before brushing the tear that threatened from his eye.

She was his big sister, ripped from him before he could tell her good-bye. JJ's words still haunted him "She never made it off the table" rung in his ears in times when he thought of her, how he should of tried harder to save her, he couldn't help but blame himself.

He absentmindedly walked over to the photo of the two of them which he treasured most, smiling at the smile she gave back to him he walked over to the couch and plopped himself down once more.

"I promise you Emily, I will get him…" he muttered to himself "I won't fail you again" his voice quivering and he surrendered to sleep.

Her heels clicked loudly on the cobble stone path as she raced towards her sanctuary, turning the corner cautiously towards the one bedroom apartment that she had learned to call home. The lights of Paris, France were left behind as she entered the ally leading to the buildings entrance, looking left and right she quickly found her keys entering the modest house.

Today had been hard, her life was hard. She had thought that it would be easy to begin over but she couldn't have been more wrong. Looking at her self in the mirror it was plain that a shower was in order.

As she brushed her hair, her eyes fell on the four leaf clover that had been branded into her chest, yet another reminder of her living hell. Never more alone in her life time she reached for her cell phone the message that she knew she needed to hear again played in her ear.

"Hey, it's me... Hotch asked me to try all your numbers, and I have this as an old listing and you probably don't even use it anymore, but if it is you and you're out there... come home, please. God, Emily, what did you think? That we would just let you walk out of our lives? I am so furious at you right now! But then I think about how scared you must be in some dark place all alone... but you're not alone, okay? You are not alone. We are in that dark place with you. We are waving flashlights and calling your name, so if you can see us, come home. But if you can't, then... then you stay alive because we're coming."

Clair Smith looked into the mirror to see tears running down her face, she wiped these away quickly. She missed the team, her family so much, but because she loved them was why she was here.

Reaching the conclusion that she could use a drink, she found herself wandering to the kitchen pouring a generous amount of scotch, she allowed herself to reminisce the days of happiness and how often she prayed to go back to them. Emily Prentiss was dead though, Clair Smith was here; the name was a bitter taste on her tongue.

Finishing the last of her scotch she found herself drifting into a place she loved, dreamland where she found herself greeted by her best friends.

A kind hand reached to her gently pulling her with him to the figures of her family on the hill, she smiled into Reid's warm chocolate eyes as they made their way, stars shining down on them from above.

They slowly made their way across the field, conversing through small talk but Emily knew Reid had something to say;

"Reid" She said softly.

"Yes?"

"What's going through you're head?" Emily asked looking thoughtfully at the young agent.

"It's okay, nothing really" Muttered Reid.

"Reid, I know you and when you have something to say… Please tell me" Emily begged.

"I know you, or I thought I did…. But Emily, I need to know… I have to know why, why… why you didn't trust me enough to tell me" He said with tears threatening his eyes.

"Oh Reid" She whispered to him. "I know how pathetic this explanation is, but, I did it because I love you…I love the team. You're my little brother, my little brother who was on the top of his hit list." Her eyes glistening, she looked at him "I never could of forgiven myself if he hurt you. Or the team… you're my family, family's protect one another…This was the only way I could protect mine" She said, her voice barely a whisper.

"I could of helped you though" He mumbled into her hair as he pulled her into a close embrace.

"Reid, no one could of, don't do this to your self. Please, you're only human no matter how smart, kind or brave you are." She said kissing his cheek gently; he allowed a watery smile to show across his face as they continued towards the team.

"Emily"

"Yes Reid?"

"You stay safe then, and… and come home as soon as you can." Reid told her with a hint of plea in his voice.

"I'll be home as soon as I can, making this up to you and the team for the rest of my life" She smiled warmly at them as they reached the team.

Immediately she could tell something was wrong, panic was stricken across the faces of her team, opposed to the warm smiles that often greeted her.

"Emily, you've got to help him!" Morgan said panic clear in his voice.

"Who?" But they were fading quickly from sight.

"Please Emily! HELP!" They yelled in union.

Emily woke with a start; it had all been too real. She settled in front of the television attempting to get the horrified faces out of her mind.

What she didn't know was that she was being watched, and that it was real that the young agent was in severe peril, that she was in severe peril.

We'll find out what happened at the same time in the next chapter. Thank you for reading, the review button is right down there. I love constructive criticism, and look forwards to hearing from you.

I'll update ASAP, I'm new to this so please forgive me.