Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. No copyright infringement is intended

"Please," Reid said, "it's important."

As he waited, sounds and images ran through his mind. The sight of Sam Kasmeyer's body on the floor riddled with gunshot wounds, he knew that pain; the sound of Haley begging Hotch, before she was about to die at the hands of the reaper, to tell Jack how they met and that he wasn't always so serious; the sounds of the gunshots that took Haley Hotchner's life and reached down to the very souls of the team still reverberated in his mind; the sight of the blood on the floor of Hotch's house that led to Haley's body; the sight of Jack being held by his father while he asked why his daddy was so sad. Sometimes an eidetic memory was a curse.

Then they had been put through Section Chief Strauss' dog and pony show. The team had held up well but the day had been taxing. He'd gone to a meeting for his own sanity and tried to talk about his day, his feelings, but found himself too emotional to get anything out. John knew what had happened and he'd talked to him, helped him try to make sense of something that would never make sense.

When he'd entered his empty apartment, he'd been relieved. Maybe it was a good thing he couldn't get a date. How could he risk putting a woman through what Haley Hotchner had endured? How could he risk putting a child through what Jack was going through?

It didn't matter anyway. He already had a family. Hotch, Morgan, Garcia, Emily, Rossi and JJ were his family. Henry was his godson. He would do anything to make sure nothing like this ever happened to Henry.

At last a voice spoke, "Hello."

"Hi…hi Mom, it's Spencer."

"Why are you calling me? You usually write and it's late."

"I know Mom, I'm sorry. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"What's wrong baby?"

"Nothing really," he lied. "There are just times when a guy needs his mom. Today's been a tough one; I don't think there'll be a letter so I just wanted to tell you that I love you."

"I love you too Spencer."

"You know that you're the most important thing in the world to me, right?"

"Spencer, this conversation is very strange."

"I know Mom, I'm sorry; just tell me that you know that."

"I know that honey and you're the most important thing to me too."

"Thanks Mom, I needed to hear that, good night."

"Good night Spencer."

Reid ended the call and stood at his kitchen counter, his weight a little heavier on his cane this night, staring straight ahead as a lone tear trickled down his cheek at the thought of Haley Hotchner's strength in the knowledge that her death was near, another followed as he thought of Hotch holding Haley's lifeless body and finally giving in to the emotion he never allowed to show. The trickle became a gush as a sorrowful moan left his lips and he granted himself this release. His shoulders shook as he wept. He would get it out now so he and the team could be strong for Hotch. Tomorrow life would go on. Hotch would go on knowing that one of the monsters they hunted had taken the life of the woman he loved. Jack would go on without his loving mother. The team would go on with the strong bond of family, not tied together through flesh and blood or legality but through sharing their deepest secrets, their darkest moments, their worst fears and daily putting their lives in each other's hands. Together they would survive and overcome.