Journey of Deliverance

A CM fanfic, Post season 12

(Spencer Reid, Diana Reid, Original Character K+)

What started as a series of episode tags for the season finale "Red Light" has taken on a life of its own and now become a full-fledged story. Oops. But that's how inspirational Matthew Gray Gubler and Jane Lynch are.

Chronologically, this one comes after the last RL Ep tag #5 "Watch Me"

Spencer Reid is on his way back, to reclaim his life, his liberty, his job. And more.

Thanks once again to Aut for the drop everything and beta, and to Droogie for the medical input. All mistakes are my own.

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"In the end, she became more than what she expected. She became the journey, and like all journeys, she did not end, she just simply changed directions and kept going."-R.

"The darkest place I've ever seen was inside me, and nothing scares me more."- Author Unknown, but from

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We have a situation here, Dr. Reid, and it would be best if you returned to the safe house ASAP. Spencer Reid read the text message on his phone and instantly was on alert. He hurriedly put his phone back in his pocket, grabbed his jacket from his chair and raced up the bullpen steps to Prentiss' office. Poking his head through her open door, and not even realising he was interrupting her in a meeting with someone, he spoke hastily,

"Sorry Emily, problem at home, gotta go!" before turning and heading towards the elevator without so much as waiting for her to acknowledge him. Anderson was standing in the sixth floor kitchenette chatting with Penelope Garcia when he saw Reid rushing to the elevator. He interrupted her midsentence and waved as he raced after Reid.

"And last I heard, the team was—" Garcia stopped short and stood alone in the kitchenette. She huffed for a moment, and then, realising that Anderson was supposed to be Reid's security, she forgave him in absentia for his abrupt departure.

"Garcia?" Prentiss called across the bullpen.

Penelope carefully made her way up the steps in her too-high heels and joined Prentiss in her office. Emily rose from her seat and made introductions.

"Penelope Garcia, our technical analyst," she said, indicating Garcia with one hand, "Roger Davis, Acting Section Chief."

"Sir," Garcia offered her hand which Davis shook, while superficially acknowledging her, "Ms. Garcia."

"Garcia the newest intel has Scratch in Henderson, Nevada," Prentiss explained.

"That's just outside Vegas," Garcia exclaimed.

"When they lost track of him in El Paso, I recalled the team here," Prentiss began, "But now I'm sending them to Henderson."

"Alvez, Lewis and Rossi?" Garcia asked.

"Yeah. I've got JJ checking on a few things here in DC," Prentiss told her, "And Walker's still seconded to the B-A-P. And Reid," Prentiss' voice softened slightly, "I'm not sending him out yet."

"Isn't he still with a Safe Detail?" Garcia wanted to know. Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed when she saw the look shared between Prentiss and Davis.

"One more week," Davis told Prentiss as he eyed them both before leaving the office.

"Yes, sir," Prentiss said to his retreating back. She waited until he was gone then sighed and turned to Garcia, "Spencer's back on the team now, Penelope, but I'm not convinced he's ready to be back out in the field. And not because of his issues either, more because of Diana." She let out a sigh and ushered Garcia out of her office ahead of her as she continued, "He can compartmentalise as well as any of us, but right now, I don't want him to feel he can't prioritise his mother's needs."

"Uh huh," Garcia agreed. "What did Davis mean by 'one more week' Emily?"

Prentiss made a face. "He doesn't think the Reids need to be in a safe house anymore."

"But we haven't caught Scratch yet!" Garcia protested.

"And Davis doesn't think Scratch is in DC, so he doesn't think the safe house is a necessity anymore," Prentiss explained in a tone that clearly indicated her disagreement with her superior's decision.

Garcia grumbled her own reaction as she followed Emily to the elevator. "Where are we going Em?"

"Lunch. I'm hungry," she laughed. "And I'm gonna give Anderson a call in a few minutes to find out what the hell is going on. Why Reid left in such a hurry."

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"How can she just have disappeared?" Grace was beside herself with worry and more than a little angry with the remaining two security agents. "You guys had one job! And why are you here? Get out there and find Diana!"

She had just returned at the house after her customary afternoon off and the joy she had at bringing a surprise for Diana had dissolved when she had arrived and discovered her charge was missing. She tossed her shopping bag on the nearest chair and turned, astonished—and aggravated—to find the two security agents still standing behind her.

Robert, who had accompanied her on her shopping excursion, had already raced out of the house to join the search for Diana upon hearing she was missing.

"GO!" she swore under her breath, foraged through her purse for her cellphone, which she shoved in her jeans pocket and then tossed the purse onto the chair next to the bag; not caring when the bag fell to the floor spilling its remaining contents everywhere.

Storming out of the house, Grace belatedly noticed several empty police cars parked outside the house. Evidently a search for the missing Alzheimer's patient was already underway. She was still too angry to care about any hurt feelings and the two agents followed along behind her.

"Nurse!" one of them called out as they quickened their steps trying to catch up with her. "Grace! Wait!"

Still fuming, she took a deep breath and turned on them, "Did you at least contact Dr. Reid to let him know?"

"Yes, ma'am. Right after we called Dispatch and told them she was missing."

Another deep breath in and out and Grace asked evenly, "And what, pray tell, was so damned important to do that Diana was left alone?"

"Sorry, ma'am. I was in the bathroom, and John here was just making a circuit of the property perimeter."

She glared at one then the other and barked, "There's how many cops looking for her?"

"Eight now, I believe," John answered.

"Call in more!" she shouted at them. They stood in place before her and she swore again before continuing, "She's in great physical shape, you morons! Have you any idea how quickly she can move? She could be anywhere! FIND her!"

John and his partner hurried away to join the search, the former calling Dispatch on his shoulder radio as they went.

Grace took a few more deep breaths and stood at the bottom of the driveway. She looked up and down the road, thinking hard about the routine she and Diana had and didn't notice at first when the dark SUV drove up in front of the house and squealed to a stop. It was only as the passenger door opened, before the vehicle had come to a complete standstill, that she realised it had arrived and she heard the concerned voice of Spencer Reid.

"Grace! Grace! Did they find my mom yet?" he shouted as he ran towards her.

"No, Spencer. I'm so sorry! I should've been here. I—"

"It's not your fault," he soothed, despite his own anxiety. Touching her arm sympathetically he said, "If anything, I should've been here!"

She put a hand on his arm, shook her head and in a now calmer tone of voice suggested, "Let's go look for her."

He opened his iPhone and sent a text message, then fell into step beside her.

"Where do you think she could've gone?" he asked.

She considered for a long moment, as thoughts of what they routinely did together filtered through her mind. The library. The coffee shop. The local deli that had the delicious little raspberry tarts Diana so loved. The—

"Oh my god, Spencer!" She stopped in her tracks and stared right up into his eyes. "She's at the park. I know it! We talked about how big the baby squirrels were getting just this morning over breakfast."