An Epilogue Written
Prologue

A/N - I couldn't decide whether to upload this now as I'm still working on my crossover and I'm heading into exam season but I knew if I didn't upload this now I never will and I need to express for emotions for Claire and Ryan because I love them so much, so please enjoy.

The sound of Claire's terrified gasp was ringing in Ryan's ears as he saw his ex-girlfriend plunge the knife into her. He had been set up. Just like Sarah Fuller, and just like Claire. It all made sense now. Joe's backup plan had always been Molly. He felt like such an idiot to have been fooled by the nurse from across the hallway and now he was going to watch the love of his life die in front of his eyes, just as Joe had wanted, before dying himself.

Even after death Joe Carroll was writing his final chapter.

Claire fell to the ground and did not move, Molly looked down triumphant and gave a small laugh before placing the knife onto the counter, "this was how it was always going to end Ryan, you should have known Joe would never let you two live happily ever after"

At the sound of her spiteful taunts he found a strength within him and launched himself towards her legs knocking her backwards. She fought against him but he grabbed the knife quickly and pinned her down despite losing a lot of blood from the wound in his abdomen.

She smiled up at him, "you wouldn't kill me Ryan, you loved me" she sang with confidence.

"Wanna bet?" he snarled before slicing the knife across her throat causing the thick, red liquid to spurt all over him, further covering his already blood-stained clothes.

He crawled to Claire and held her in his arms, he felt for her pulse. It was very weak but it was there. He pulled out his phone and dialed 911 as fast as he could, she didn't have much time. He held her tightly brushing her dark blonde hair away from her face, ignoring his own pain, "stay with me Claire" he whispered, "come on you have to live, because if you live you win, and he loses" thick tears began to fall slowly down his face "you need to live for Joey Claire, he needs his Mom, he needs you more than ever" he took a deep breath, "I need you Claire"

Within minutes the paramedics rushed through the door, the last thing Ryan could remember was being pulled away from Claire before finally his own pain overwhelmed him and his world was plunged into darkness.

As Ryan opened his eyes slowly he saw the greying tiles of his hospital room's ceiling, he felt sore all over and his mind was rapidly playing over what had happened before his blackout. He remembered being at the lighthouse, seeing Joe burn in the fire, being reunited with Claire... Claire! Molly! Was she alright? Had he done enough?

"Morning" Weston chirped from beside his bed as Ryan turned to look at him he smiled, what a time that kid had had of it recently. He had almost been killed twice, two of his teammates had died and now another had been put into hospital, he should not have had to deal with all that.

Ryan gave a small smile, "Mike" he said in a barely audible whisper, his mouth was so dry he couldn't get his words out, "Claire?" he asked with a little more power in his voice, knowing if Claire was ok was his main priority.

Mike closed his eyes briefly but returned his smile, "she's strong Ryan, she survived. She is still under close observation and she s very weak but they are hopeful"

"And Joey?" he croaked as Mike passed him a glass of water.

"Still safe in DC, he hasn't been told the extent of Mom's injuries, we'll get him up here as soon as she's stronger" he paused and looked at his teammate and friend, "I guess your death curse doesn't have much merit right now

All Ryan could do was look at him, yes Claire was alive now but that didn't mean that something wouldn't go wrong before he was strong enough to see her again. He couldn't raise his hopes, it was too soon. "Tell that to Parker's family" he replied quietly, closing his eyes realising he hadn't had time to mourn the loss of his teammate who had been the real reason that he had gotten out of his rut and back into the bureau hunting Joe Carroll. Debra had encouraged him to fight, she had brought him back to life and now she was dead.

"No" he said firmly, "she told you not to do this to yourself, you did not get her killed. Even if you had had no connection to Joe at all she would have still worked this case or a case like it and put herself at risk. We all do. I had convinced myself that I was going to die a few weeks ago to uphold the vow I made when I joined the FBI" he gave a small sigh, "I was lucky"

Ryan lay back against the soft pillows staring up at the greying tiles once more. He hadn't really given a thought to how he was doing, there were all sorts if tubes and machines connected to him, keeping him alive. Molly hadn't had much foresight, if she'd cut him higher she would have cut out his pacemaker and therefore killed him instantly. Maybe she had planned to kill him slowly after he'd witnessed the death of his love, she didn't get a chance.

"How am I doing?" he asked finally still looking upwards, he could not bring himself to meet Mike's gaze when he felt so guilty for what he'd endured.

"You'll live" he replied, "surgery went well, they fixed all your innards and your pacemaker is still in tact. The world isn't rid of Ryan Hardy just yet"

The room fell silent once more, neither knew what to say to the other so they let the eery silence drag on. "I was so blind" Ryan said finally anger seeping into his voice, "of all the people I would never have suspected Molly, that made her the perfect person of course..."

"We dug into her background, she seemed to see herself as an angel of death at the hospital she worked at. There was never an official investigation as there was no hard evidence just a lot of coincidental deaths" he paused to study Ryan's behaviour, being in the BAU must count for something, "we were finally able to break into Joe's laptop... there were videos of you and Molly together"

Ryan groaned, "of course there are" he closed his eyes, he was not ashamed of what Joe would have seen, it was the invasion of privacy that irked him. He let very few people into his life and it was reasons like this that he did so, he had been betrayed by someone he cared for, someone he thought was his friend. "Any news on any of the remaining followers? On Emma?" he said finally looking at him again.

Weston shook his head, "the ones that we've been able to identify that haven't been accounted for are on everybody's watch lists. Emma is our biggest threat, she was Joe's righthand woman, if anyone was going to continue his legacy it would be her"

"We need to make sure that doesn't happen. If Claire does make it through this, how will she ever feel safe knowing that she's still out there?"

Mike smiled at him, "Ryan, she's got you. How could she not feel safe?"

He shook his head, "I couldn't protect her last night" the images of her lying crumpled on the floor returning to his mind.

"You need to get past this Ryan, for the sake of Claire, for Joey, for your future together and for your sanity! The cult has disbanded and it will not reconcile. Joe was their figurehead, the reason they joined. Emma has lost all her little friends, we found Jacob Wells' body by the harbour, so if she comes looking for revenge, she will be alone and she will be against us"

Ryan nodded slowly, as much as he hated to admit it Mike was right. If he had any hope of having a future with Claire he needed to move forwards, their biggest threat had been eliminated and the whole country was on alert for their second.

It was time to move past Joe Carroll, his book needed to be closed forever.