Epilogue episode: the conversation that should have happened between Prentiss and Reid after sharing their afterlives experience.
"Reid." Says Emily Prentiss as she and the young Spencer Reid head out of the National Forest after once again catching the unsub. Reid turns to look at Prentiss, hurt in his eyes. " I can't believe you died."
Emily rests her hand on his now shaking shoulder. "I' m sorry I never told you, but you have to know that I did it to protect you."
Reid stares. "Protect me from what? I have been through the same experience Prentiss; I've been beaten, tortured, scarred, and even death. Not a day goes by where I don't think about Tobias. I don't understand why you wouldn't tell me the truth, why you continue lying."
Emily removes her hand from Reid's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I ... I should have told you."
Reid slowly lowers his head. "It's too late." Emily's eyes begin filling with tears. "Emily I know you think that your afterlife will be filled with cold and darkness; but we all know you'll go to heaven, you're a good person and you have saved so many. You deserve to be in the light and the warmth." Reid begins to walk away, leaving Emily to stand in shock alone.
"Reid!" Cries Emily as she runs in pursuit of the young genius. Morgan, JJ, Rossi and Hotch all stare as a crying Prentiss runs and hugs a sad looking Reid.
"I'm sorry Reid, for everything I put you through. None of you deserved it and it hurt like hell every day, but I can't stand seeing you like this! Seeing what I've done to you Reid and the rest of the team, it kills me more than you'll ever know." Emily tightens her hug and rests her head on Reid's shoulder. "I'm not asking you to forgive me and I know I don't deserve it, but please don't do this to yourself Reid."
Reid breathes in deeply. "Emily I will forgive you, but right now I can't. I believed you were gone, that I'd never see you again, I went to JJ's house for ten weeks crying over losing a friend while I was unknowingly being deceived by someone I truly trusted. I even thought about taking Dilaudid again." confesses Reid.
Emily moves to be face-to-face with Reid and pulls him into a hug. " I' m so sorry Reid." Reid now clings to Emily, his hands wrapped around her torso. " I was so scared I would slip Emily."
"You're too strong Reid, you'd never slip, plus if you ever did Morgan would be right there to kick some pretty boy butt." Laughs Emily happily as the two break the long lasting hug. "I may not have been there then, but I'm here now and I will be there the second you or the team need me." Both Emily and Reid begin to smile. " And I'm not leaving ever again."
Reid begins shivering, but remains smiling. "Let's get to the car and warm up before we both lose another of our nine lives." Both hug one last time and begin their walk towards the car once more.
This idea just came to me when I saw how Reid re-acted to Prentiss saying she died; it felt unresolved so I was compelled to write this. Review, favorite, and check out my other stories. I am currently working on quite a few Criminal Minds fictions that should be up shortly; also if anyone had any ideas of a story they would like me to write message me. :)