When everyone left the conference room to try and find any lead they could on Foyet, Rossi came up to Reid. "So?" he asked, "I'm sure she said yes, right?"

Even with the threat of the Reaper back in the area, Reid couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, it went exactly as planned and she gave me the answer I was hoping for."

"I'm sorry about the text, but you needed to know to come in early today." Rossi said sounding sincerely sorry. "Did the news put a damper on the evening?"

"Not really. Of course she was sad I had to leave early and seemed a bit nervous with the prospect of our team on Foyet's radar. I asked her to stay at home today. I don't really think that either of us is his target, but I didn't want to take any chances." He paused and then said, "For a minute when I was reading the text she thought I was going to have to leave right then. I could see it in her eyes, but I know she would never ask me not to go."

Rossi nodded, "She has the heart of an agent. She doesn't want this job herself, but she could never tell you not to go on a case. Just like we could never not go when we get the call. It's in our blood, it's a part of who we are. We get the call that someone is in danger and knowing we can help, we have to go. She has that same heart and understands. She wouldn't ask you not to go."

Thoughtfully Reid answered, "I've only seen her extremely upset one time. The morning after the pig farm. She didn't ask me not to go, she even got up to make me breakfast and coffee, but it was clear she didn't want me to go that day. Maybe I should have listened to her and called in sick, it would have saved me from getting shot."

Rossi shock his head, "No if you hadn't shown up that day, Dr. Barton probably would be dead. And even in hindsight with your knee, neither of you would make that trade."

"Your right. I just hope we can catch Foyet before anyone else gets hurt."

Just as they finished their conversation, Garcia went running back into the conference room calling for everyone to follow her.

With the new lead on the prescription, Reid was able to unscramble the anagram of his self-given name, The Reaper, and locate Peter Rhea's apartment from the pharmacy's files. Unfortunately, Foyet was a step ahead of them and already had tricked Hailey into returning to Hotch and her family home. Hotch was able to kill Foyet and save Jack, but not before Foyet had murdered Hailey.

#

During the aftermath of the case, Hotch was hugging Jack and telling him what a good job he had done working the case. Soon after that JJ took Jack to keep him company and calm while Hotch was cleaned up and looked over by the EMTs. The CSI unit started doing their job, Morgan was handling the local cops, and Rossi dealing with Strauss. Spencer took the opportunity to call Chelsea and tell her what had happened. He didn't go over specifics, but when he heard her quivering voice his tears threatened to fall. Between the team still being in shock and trying to stay strong for Hotch and Jack the tears hadn't fallen. Talking to Chelsea he had a hard time keeping them in check.

When he finally got home he grabbed and held Chelsea tight. The reality of what had happened to Hotch was sinking in and he couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to her. Chelsea understood how upset he was and just let him hold her as long as he needed. After nearly 15 minutes, he pulled back and sat on the couch seeming nearly defeated. Chelsea poured them both a glass of brandy and joined him. Spencer had a hard time talking at first, but they both knew he needed to express what he was feeling.

Although he had told Chelsea on the phone about what had happened to Hailey, he now told her the details of what had actually happened and how he was feeling during the day. He seemed miles away almost talking to himself staring into his glass. After he finished, he put down his glass and with his arm around her waist pulled her close to face him. "I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you."

Chelsea cuddled close to him while keeping her eyes on his. "You know that is not going to happen to me. I'm way too cynical to fall for an unsub rouse. Hailey was very trusting and from what both Hotch and Dave have said, that was part of her charm. I'm not Hailey and you know I live by the 'trust but verify' rule."

Spencer nodded and swallowed hard to keep his tears away as she continued, "Remember during your knee surgery when Dr. Barton came to visit me in the waiting room? I had seen photos of Foyet before, I knew what he looked like. But when someone showed up I was nervous, maybe even a little paranoid that I didn't remember, so I sent his photo to Dave before I would talk to him. And when you asked me not to go out today, I stayed home."

Spencer seemed to be relaxing a bit but was still holding her close not wanting to release her. "You also know I was never afraid for my safety when my ex, Russ was stalking me, but I still never allowed myself to be alone and was hyper vigilant of my surroundings. I know that there are some things I can't control, but both grandpa and John taught me well, I'm not easy to fool. You can't spend time worrying about me on a case at the cost of maybe getting yourself or your team hurt."

He again nodded, understanding that everything she said was true, but so shaken by everything that had happened he couldn't process everything yet. He looked down and took her hands, noticing for the first time since he arrived home that she was not wearing her engagement ring. He looked up with wide eyes but before he could say anything she quickly blurted out, "I still want to marry you."

She understood that he was afraid that the events of the day had made her change her mind about marrying him. When her statement seemed to sink in, she continued realizing he still looked worried. "With everything that happened today, I thought it best if I took it off until we tell the team. We discussed not telling them until you had cleared up the Foyet case, but with Hailey's death I still don't think we should tell them yet. I want to tell them all when they can all celebrate with us, not when everyone is so sad. I know we will be seeing the team this week and at Hailey's funeral, whenever that is, so I took it off."

When he seemed to understand and looked sad not worried any longer, she continued. "Also, I started thinking this morning after you left that with Foyet in the area it wasn't a good idea to call my friends or post it on my Facebook page." When he looked surprised she told him, "You wanted me to stay inside today so I realized that you were afraid he might come after me to get to you. I figured that if you were afraid about that, telling the world we were engaged would also tell HIM we were engaged and could make me a target, even if I wasn't already." She then smiled saying, "I told you I'm slightly paranoid."

He smiled back and kissed her. "I feel better knowing that you are that careful, but I am sorry that you can't wear your ring or tell people about it."

"I know, I did call and tell my mom and grandpa, although they already knew it was coming." She said with a smile. "I want to shout it out to everyone, but not until Hailey is laid to rest and the team has finalized all the paperwork. I can imagine that there will be lots of internal investigations with the way that everything happened."

Spencer nodded his agreement, although neither of them had a clue of the witch hunt that Strauss was about to begin regarding Hotch's and the team's actions.


Author's Note: Thanks for reading. I have another chapter nearly done and I will post it soon.