A/N: After all the pain, death and heartache in the previous two chapters this story is coming to an end. (sobs) Gah, I'm seriously not ready to let this go!

BUT, first… Thank you so much for your fantastic reviews! (HUGS) You guys are super fantastic, you know? I've been struggling with a nasty flue and you have been like rays of sun. So thank you!

Awkay… Last chapters always make me nervous so let's get going. I REALLY hope that you'll enjoy the ride!

Epilogue

Three Years Later.

It was raining hard all over the state of Virginia on that day as a BAU unit chief Jennifer Jareau stared out the window, followed with vacant eyes how heavy drops crawled down, one by one. She emitted a shuddering sigh, running a unsteady hand through her shortcut, dark dyed hair. She took a tiny bit of comfort from the imagined feel of a touch on her shoulder. Of the feel that perhaps, just perhaps, she wasn't alone in the room, after all.

She wondered if Aaron Hotchner felt like this, too, once upon a time. Before leaving it all behind and ripping himself free. If he had this same weight sitting on his chest every time he came back from a case and realized that there'd be a empty home waiting for him.

(Suddenly JJ remembered, to the word, every single fight she had with Will until he finally had enough about a year and a half ago. As much as it killed her JJ didn't fight over Henry's custody too bitterly. Her son deserved the best and she couldn't offer that. Only seeing him every other weekend was killing her but he was happy and raised by a loving parent. That had to be enough.)

Deciding that she'd never be able to leave if she didn't now JJ took a deep breath, bracing herself, then put her jacket on and walked out of the office. Once out she stopped for a moment, allowed her eyes to linger on her team. She couldn't resist a small sigh. As always, there were altogether seven of them.

Sean Timbley, their new computer expert, wasn't your average nerd. The very attractive twenty-six year old with slightly messy black hair and lively brown eyes was caught hacking a couple of years ago. On that day he was sure that he'd go to jail. Instead JJ walked into the interrogation room with a job offer. ('This is your last chance.') Once, when the team was out partying and he'd had more to drink than he should've, Sean asked her why she saved him. She told him 'Because some things in history need to repeat themselves'. (She'd never once regretted her questionable decision.)

Katie Humbert was their new media liaison. A bright, extremely kind woman in her late twenties with long, burgundy hair and blue eyes. Despite having grown up the hard way in a bad part of New York the woman had managed to maintain this aura of purity. JJ wondered how long it'd hold with the nightmares they faced almost every day.

Cole Holiday, thirty five and the father of a three-year-old Jessica and the husband of one Tina, was an odd bird, even for a member of her team. The large, scar faced man with piercing black eyes and bald head would've startled just about anyone. But JJ also knew that the man's IQ was 160 and he was a master when it came to chess. And an expert on human minds. He was the first person she and Aaron (the last two left) chose for the team. He'd been her greatest support since.

Jaimee York, age fifty-five with shortcut brown hair and terrifyingly hard water colored eyes, was by no means a motherly figure. She had a sharp tongue that'd earned her a lot of enemies. Jaimee's military background had moulded the unquestionably intelligent woman into a dangerous hunter. Having someone like her in the team definitely kept JJ on her toes.

Hank Collum, who was exactly of JJ's age, was definitely her biggest headache. Perfectly styled dark hair, a boyish smile and devious, impossibly blue eyes. Incredibly smart. Dangerously alluring and aware of it. So far she'd found herself from his bed five times.

And then there was their youngest. Nicholas Xander was only twenty-four but his huge hazel eyes appeared dacades older. (JJ found herself looking into them sometimes and getting lost into the days of past. Almost managed to forget who she was really looking at. Only his long dark hair he always held on a ponytail reminded her of the reality.) The first time he crossed paths with another FBI-team he was only seventeen and the only survived victim of a dangerous killer. Strauss protested against choosing him loudly but had been powerless against a flood of recommendations. Seeing the quiet, extremely reserved man coming out of his shell was all the proof JJ needed that the fight had been worth it.

Despite their emotional packages, pasts and varying personalities they were a very good team. With some more experience they'd be excellent. One day they would consider the team a family, just like her original team did. JJ prayed, every single day, that once they'd reach that unison they'd never, ever have to experience the pain of losing one member of it. That this team would never have to know such agony.

JJ didn't know how long she might've stood there, wandering in her thoughts, if they hadn't noticed her.

Cole winced. "Oh, c'mon! We just got back home from a case. Don't tell me that Strauss threw us another one already."

JJ shook her head, trying to give her friend a smile and failing. "No, we don't have a new case. I'm just on my way out. There's… something I need to do today, now that I'm home." On her way out she gave them all a small wave, hoping that the look on her face would silence them from asking more questions. "Have good weekend, guys."

"Jaye." Hank's face held a frown. The man's eyes shone with suspicion. "Are you sure that you're alright?" The agent's northern accent was thicker than usual.

JJ nodded, unable to speak. She knew that there was no need for explanations. Every single agent in the FBI was familiar with the tragedy that'd torn her former team to pieces. They knew how important this day was to her.

With a one more wave she left, not looking back although she heard whispers and murmurs, felt eyes on her back. As soon as she was outside and able to breathe properly again she took her cell phone. The familiar numbers were easy to find. "I noticed that you'd tried to call. I'll be there in fifteen minutes." She hopped into her car with a sigh, rubbing her eyes. "Let's hope that everyone will be there this year."

An hour later four umbrellas appeared to the cemetery. They all gathered around a certain headstone, futilely trying to find comfort from one another. All eyes were locked on the words, on the name that shouldn't have been there.

Spencer Andrew Reid

David Rossi sighed. JJ tried not to distinguish the reek of alcohol. "Can you believe that it's been three years?" The man's eyes were red, puffy and tired. Something a thousand sleepless nights with nothing but typing and drinking could do. (David was among the first ones to leave, six months after Spencer's death. The man had published two new books since, which gave a quite bleak picture of just what the life of a federal agent could be like. Ironically, those books had been his biggest best sellers thus far.)

"No", Aaron murmured without pausing to consider. "It feels more like three decades." (It was a surprise that the unit chief managed to hang on for as long as he did. A year ago, almost to date, Aaron finally had enough. A schizophrenic UnSub with a violent past and striking physical resemblance to Spencer was what did it. When the troubled soul who hadn't even seen his thirtieth birthday committed a suicide right before their eyes JJ wanted to quit for a while, too. 'What difference does it make if I'm late wherever I am?' Aaron asked her before making his decision, quite a lot drunker than he should've been. Not much later district's office welcomed Aaron with open arms.)

Emily Prentiss sighed heavily. The woman's eyes were far away, seeing something none of them could even imagine. These days the woman's much longer hair had a reddish shade and her face held a lot more makeup than before. Sometimes JJ wondered if this person was Emily Prentiss or Lauren Raynolds. "Amen to that." (After Derek, of course, Emily was the first one of them who took off, right after Spencer's funeral. Interpol was calling her to London and she didn't hesitate to accept, eager to escape from all the ghosts and shadows chasing her every step. They'd promised to keep in touch but JJ barely heard from the former agent outside these annual meetings. JJ made no attempt to push her. After three years she didn't know if it was moving on or running away.)

They stood in a silence for the longest time, lost in days they'd lost a long time ago. Giving in under the temptation of 'what ifs' and 'maybes'. They weren't swayed from that destructive trail until they heard approaching steps.

There was a apologetic look on Penelope Garcia's face. And trails of tears. "'Sorry that I'm late", the blonde, who wore a little bit less color these days, stopped a couple of steps away. "The traffic from San Francisco was impossible." (Penelope tried, she really did. But in the end the darkness around her just got too much, especially when everyone started leaving. When she got the offer to join the team they'd met in San Francisco Penelope accepted after giving the idea of a lot of thought. It was easy to see that the transfer had done her good.)

JJ didn't even try to smile. "It's okay. We haven't been here for long, either." She then frowned, having been a profiler for much too long. "What's going on?" Because she could tell that something aside the obvious was bothering her friend.

Penelope swallowed thickly. "I… I've been writing to his mom sometimes. You know, since letting her listen to the recording." There were tears in the blonde's eyes she didn't wipe away. "Yesterday they called me, from the hospital. Diana Reid died a couple of days earlier, in her sleep during the night. They think that it was a massive stroke. They said that she had a smile on her face."

They all shivered, feeling a stab of sadness. Even relief, although it disturbed them to feel that way. Diana was with Spencer, now. She'd take a good care of him.

Once again it was silent as they stood huddled together, like a group of lost little children. Drawing comfort from one another. Feeling that at least for a tiny moment, just for a little while, Spencer was there with them.

Finally Penelope looked around. Her eyes darkened as the realization dawned. "No sign of Derek, huh?"

JJ shivered, as did the rest of them. They hadn't seen or heard from Derek since the day Spencer died. Perhaps they should've gotten used to the man's absence by now but they hadn't. It was the worst kind of pain, not knowing if… "I left his voicemail a message. Told him that we're all worried. That it'd mean a lot to us to see him here", JJ told the blonde, her voice a little deeper than usual. "I guess that he still isn't ready yet." What a lame excuse, but it was the best she could come up with.

Penelope sighed. "Maybe next year", she suggested, some hope appearing into her voice. "I mean… There's always the next year."

Slowly, deep in thought, they nodded one by one in agreement. "Yeah", David finally voiced. "There's always the next year." And somehow that was the best kind of hope they could find just then, in the rain by their lost little brother.

The five of them stood there without making a sound, unable to tear their eyes away from the tombstone although it was the last thing any of them wanted to see. Finally, after three years, they no longer asked themselves if things would ever be the same again – it was clear that they wouldn't be.

Three years ago, to date, something precious and irreplaceable had been smashed to pieces. Their family had fallen apart. Something was missing and there was no way they'd ever get it back. But still, somehow, they'd have to go on. Just like they had until this day, step by step and day by day. No matter how much it hurt sometimes.

They owed Spencer that much, didn't they?

The rain kept falling mercilessly around them.

Aaron was honestly supposed to go home right after the cemetery. He couldn't. Instead he found himself heading to a tiny, reeking bar almost outside the city. Before stepping in he tried to ignore the sickening thought that the reflection on the filthy door's window looked far too much like his father. His steps slow and almost hesitant he made his way to the middle aged, greasy looking male bartender and ordered a beer.

He'd barely received his order when he heard a much too familiar voice. "One beer, please."

Aaron's eyes widened as he sat perfectly still, recognizing the presence beside him even without looking. His stomach twisted and knotted. After three years… "We were expecting you today." It took a moment before he realized that the voice came from him.

Finally he looked. Derek Morgan appeared tired and shaggy, especially with the beginning of a beard. The former agent's clothes hung in a way that suggested that he'd lost weight. The man sighed heavily, not touching the beer. "I was supposed to come. But… There was something else that I took care of instead."

Aaron sighed, all of a sudden feeling tired and old. His hand shook ever so slightly when he took a sip of his own drink. "You should come back home, Morgan." There was bizarre tingling on his tongue. "Your mother calls me every day, asking if I've heard anything. Garcia doesn't call but just today I saw her heart break into pieces when you weren't there. Whatever it is that you've been doing for these past three years… Your family misses you. We all do."

With a single, extremely loaded motion Derek pushed the beer away. There was a look in the man's eyes he didn't recognize. "Well… You can tell them to stop missing me. And the next time my mom calls… Tell her to stop waiting." Aaron wouldn't have been surprised if the dark skinned man would've punched him right there and then. Instead the former agent got up stiffly, as though the motion had hurt, and began to walk away.

Derek was almost out of earshot when Aaron spoke once more. "Morgan." He peered over his shoulder to see a extremely tense back. "I just got a call, this morning. They found Sykes' body. The time of death seems to be almost right after Reid's death. According to the autopsy report the murder was brutal. He suffered a lot."

Derek was silent for the longest time until there was a bitter, almost hissing voice. "What do you expect me to say, Hotch? Do you want me to feel sorry for him? Because I never will."

Aaron took a deep breath. For some reason he missed the familiar feel of his gun. "No. I don't expect that. Honestly, I'm glad that he's dead." He didn't like the taste lingering in his mouth. "I just… thought that you should know."

Derek nodded, still not looking towards him. "Take care of yourself, Aaron. And all of them, this time." The accusation wasn't hidden. There was no forgiveness, no relief, for either one of them.

Aaron couldn't move or speak, couldn't do a thing, as he watched Derek walk away. Couldn't do a thing although at that very moment he knew. He'd never felt so cold in his life.

Two hours later the door of a warehouse that'd been built in the middle of nowhere screeched as Derek entered, working his hardest to keep his steps from faltering. The hallway that led to his companions had never felt so long.

Jason Gideon and Elle Greenaway both gave him a look. It was Jason who spoke. "Are you alright?"

Derek nodded slowly, folding his arms. It hurt like hell but he'd be better as soon as his brain would get something else to focus on. "Enough so to be able to work." His eyes – his whole body – were hard. Made of stone. "Who's our next target?"

And just like that they returned to whatever level of normalcy could be expected for the three of them. As usual Jason did the introductions. "Gabriel Harris, age thirty-six. So far he's murdered four women in Philadelphia. He tortures, rapes and starves them for a week until he skins them alive. So far the local police has been circling around the case for a month without being able to catch him…"

'He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.'

(Leonardo da Vinci)

End.

A/N: Oh dear… (sighs and takes a deep breath) I seriously can't believe that this fic is coming to an end! It's been such an amazing ride! I'm going to miss this weird lil' thing.

You guys, thank yous so much for sticking through despite all the sadness and grief! The reviews and listings... You guys are a fantastic audience. (GLOMPS) THANK YOU! You're one of the best parts of all this.

I've gotta go now. Once again, thank you! Who knows, maybe I'll see you again one day.

Take care!