Hello all! This is a new story co-written with ijustwantyoutoknow. We would love to hear what you think about it, feedback is always great to recieve :) Enjoy the story!

We do not own Criminal Minds

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

Reid groaned and felt small hands brush sticky hair off of his cheek. The smell of sweat and blood permeated the thick air, making it borderline un-breathable. Reid rolled onto his side and pushed himself up. Hair fell back onto his face and he gasped for air, chest aching and head throbbing.

He put his hand to his temple and flinched; he then brought it down and looked at the blood there for a moment.

"Emily" he rasped, "Are you okay?" He pushed himself up to sit next to her. He looked into her eyes and saw defeat.

"Don't give up now Em, not when we've come this far." He pleaded softly, and put an arm around her shoulders.

"You don't understand." She said, eyes clenched shut. A single tear slipped past her strong façade and rolled down her cheek.

"Then help me to understand," Reid wiped her tear with the pad of his thumb.

Emily pursed her lips together and brought her hand to her chest. She felt the necklace hidden under shirt.

XXX

Two lean hands covered Emily's eyes as she was lead over the threshold of her own front door. As she walked into her front room the aroma of Italian food surrounded her. She smiled and asked, "Can I take this stupid blind fold off now?"

A small chuckle came from behind her as the blind fold slid away from her eyes. "I suppose so."

Emily embraced her newfound sight and turned around. She was met by a mischievous smile.

"Happy anniversary Emmy."

"I told you not to use that name!" Emily exclaimed, but despite her annoyance, kissed Reid on the lips.

Reid wrapped his hand around Emily's and led her to the dining room.

Looking at the food that was placed upon the table Emily said, "In the time I was at the BAU finishing my paper work, you managed to break into my house, make this meal, and get back?"

"It's not breaking in when you have a key." Reid pulled out one of the chairs and Emily rolled her eyes, but sat down.

Reid sat down across from her and poured wine into both of their glasses. As the two of them ate dinner, Reid fidgeted with the small box in his pocket. He could feel sweat emerging from his neck. He brought his hand up and rubbed the back of his neck.

Emily shot him a questioning look, but Reid just smiled awkwardly.

The two finished their dinner and talked about how Morgan had almost caught them kissing in the parking lot before they left a few nights before. They had had too many close calls with Morgan over the last few months.

Reid stood up and Emily followed.

"No, no I can take care of the dishes," Reid said, "Stay right here."

Emily sat down slowly. "Uh, okay. I guess I'll be right here…"

Reid laughed nervously and quickly left to the kitchen. After he set the plates down he pulled the box out of his pocket and took a deep breath.

"Emily will you marry me?" He whispered to himself in an attempt to calm his nerves.

"Spencer is someone on the phone?" Emily called from her spot in the dining room.

"Uh no…" Reid sputtered, "I'm just finishing up."

He walked back to the dining room with his right hand behind his back. He walked over to Emily's side and bit his lip, "Emily,"

"Spencer, you didn't have to get me anything," Emily started but Reid shushed her.

"Emily, this past year with you has been…the best year of my life."

"Oh my God…" Emily whispered, excitement for what was coming up building in her chest.

Reid wobbled a little as he dropped down onto one knee and pulled the box into Emily's view. He opened the box and took a deep breath, "Emily Prentiss, will you marry me?"

Emily nodded furiously and squeaked out a quiet, "Of course." She took a shallow breath, "Oh my God."

"I put it on a chain so the rest of the team doesn't have to know until you want them to." He carefully grabbed the ring and pulled it out of the box, his hands were shaking, causing the ring to slip through his fingers and drop to the floor. It rolled under Emily's chair and Reid scrambled to grab it.

He ducked to reach under her chair. After grasping the ring in his sweaty palm he sat back up, hitting his head on the chair in between Emily's knees.

He blushed ferociously and stood up. Emily watched as he undid the clasp on the thin, intricately designed chain. Her eyes followed Reid as he moved to stand behind her. She pulled her dark brown hair to the side and closed her eyes, allowing Reid to put the necklace around her neck.

She felt his delicate hands shut the clasp and gently move down her shoulders. She bent her head back to look at her new fiancé and he leaned down to kiss her.

Now only a few inches apart, Emily's lips were tingling with anticipation. They closed their eyes to finally kiss, but jumped apart when Emily's phone rang.

"What." Emily scowled into the phone.

"Whoa!" JJ exclaimed.

"Who is it?" Reid asked Emily.

"Did I just hear Reid?" JJ asked a hint of excitement in her voice.

"That's none of your damn business." Emily growled.

Across the line JJ widened her eyes. "Well, I guess you won't be much more excited to hear we have a case. Are you so much in denial that I'm going to have to call Reid too, or can you just tell him?"

Emily snapped her phone shut without any further response.

JJ chuckled and shook her head.

XXX

"Has anyone seen Reid or Emily?" Hotch asked as he walked into the conference room.

"Not since we caught the UNSUB last night. I invited Reid to go get a drink, but he didn't come." Morgan said.

Hotch turned to JJ.

"I haven't seen them either. Maybe they just slept in. Last night was rough on everybody." she reasoned.

"Well Strauss wanted me to tell you that this paper work has to be in by the end of the day. Call Reid and Prentiss and tell them they need to get in immediately. I know last night was hard, but these orders came straight from the Director." Hotch explained.

"The director?" Rossi asked, "When was the last time the director ever gave a thought about our team."

"You mean besides when he's cutting budgets?" Morgan asked.

Hotch shot him a look, but couldn't help but agree.

XXX

Emily, Reid, JJ, and Rossi sat in the conference room waiting for Morgan and Hotch to join them. JJ shot Emily a glance full of questions and Emily glared back.

Reid looked between the two women and stared at his hands, still blushing from the earlier incident.

Morgan walked into the room with a tray full of coffees. He distributed them to the team, giving Emily's to her last. She brought the cup to her lips and suddenly felt her stomach turn. The contents of her stomach threatened to spew across the table. She hastily jumped up from her seat and scrambled out of the room.

Reid started to get up, but sat back down when he saw Morgan following Emily.

Emily kneeled in front of the toilet and vomited her (better the first time around) Italian dinner. The next thing she knew strong hands her where pulling her hair back.

"Jesus Spencer, what did you put in the dinner?" Emily choked out.

"What?"

Emily turned around and was met with Morgan's confused expression.

Emily cleared her throat, "I said I must have had bad Chinese food for dinner."

Morgan looked unconvinced but accepted her half-hearted explanation. He held out his hand and Emily took it. He pulled her up and let go, "Better get back to the conference room before Hotch fires us." Morgan laughed, only half joking.

Emily crinkled her nose at his joke and left the restroom.

XXX

"Emily, are you okay?" Rossi asked when they walked back in to the conference room.

"Yeah, I must have just had some bad Chinese food or something." She explained.

Reid gave her a confused look, but Emily just shrugged it off.

"Well, let's get to the case then." Hotch said and looked at JJ.

JJ set up the screen. "I assume you guys have heard of Nikki Lincoln?"

"Didn't she just go missing from around here yesterday?" Morgan asked.

JJ nodded her head, "The local police just connected that kidnapping to three others in the last two years."

"Why weren't we called in earlier?" Hotch asked.

"The first two cases were lead by head detective Robert Shores, but then he retired and the two most recent are being lead by the new head detective Chris Hale. The two never knew about each other's cases, therefore they weren't connected until now. The bodies of the first three women were never found." JJ told the team.

"So there's a chance they're still alive." Morgan stated.

"It's more likely that the UNSUB just hid the bodies well. Abductions like this usually end in death in the first 48 hours. And the chances of death increase each hour after that." Reid announced.

"That's why we need to get started right away," Hotch informed them. "Morgan and Reid I want you to go to Nikki Lincolns house. Talk to her family and figure out if they knew anyone who would do this. Emily and JJ, I want you to go talk to Chris Hale, the detective on this case. Dave and I will go speak with Robert Shores. Maybe he will be able to reveal something from the first two cases that can help. We'll set up headquarters and the police department so we can keep contact with the officers on the case."

Everyone got up from their seats and immediately headed where they were supposed to go. They knew that time was of the essence.