Chapter 10 Aftermath

On the plane ride back to Quantico the team let Emily have the sofa seat so she could sleep. Reid had draped a blanket over her while J.J. got her a pillow.

The hospital had given Emily a clean bill of health, she was just tired. Bennington had worked to keep her awake during the entire ordeal. She hadn't had any sleep since the night before.

At the hospital, Hotch and Rossi had debriefed Prentiss. Bennington had told Emily that he had every intention of killing her after the team "failed" to find the real killer. That had been his master plan. He was going to record it and send it to them.

Bennington only wanted to prove he was smarter than the BAU.

While she was being examined Hotch told the rest of team what had happened. They were all grateful for having found her.

Once they were done at the hospital, the team got Emily some food. Bennington hadn't given her a chance to eat. She was grateful for the food.

Now that her stomach was full and she was safe on the BAU jet, Emily let herself fall asleep.

Reid couldn't help but stare at Emily's form lying in what looked like a peaceful sleep. He seemed to be holding his own personal vigil over her.

"You don't have to be protective with her." Morgan said sitting next to Reid. "The cops caught Michael Bennington. This case is over."

"I know." Reid said. "In that house . . . and tied to that chair."

Morgan looked at Reid. "Prentiss is alive, that's what important. Bennington purposely didn't hurt her too bad."

"How much worse could it have been?" Reid asked. "Bennington got away with the first murder. He thought he was better than the cops in South Carolina. So he thought he would play with us. Then he managed to get his brother involved and that kid."

"We out thought him, that's why she's back with us." Morgan reassured Reid. "Don't do that to yourself, thinking that things could have been worse. Prentiss is back with us and she is safe and sound."

Reid looked down at his phone. "I wanted to let Diana know that Emily was safe. But I couldn't at the hospital. It's too late now. Kathy would have put her to bed already."

"Did you tell Emily what Diana said?"

"Yes I did, when we were riding towards the hospital." Reid answered. He sat back and continued to watch Emily. He ended up sending a text to Kathy so she could tell Diana in the morning.

Neither Reid nor Emily had said what the two had confessed to each other in the shed. As far as they knew no one on the team knew.

When it was time to land J.J. gently woke Emily up.

Hotch had ordered everyone to go home for the night and relax over the weekend. J.J. had extended the offer for Emily to stay with her, but she had passed. She would be alright at her own house.

Rossi had drove Emily home, since it was on his way.

After being dropped off Emily took a quick shower to clean up.

She couldn't stay here. Emily grabbed her go bag and car keys and headed to the place she really wanted to be right now, with Spencer.

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When he got home Reid took a shower and then sat on the couch for a moment. He wasn't really tired right now. He wouldn't get any sleep tonight. All he could think about was kissing Emily.

Reid got up and went to the corner of his living room. He had the area set up for Diana's visits. Becky had helped him put it together.

In the corner was a bunk bed. Diana slept on the bottom and stored all her things on the top bunk. She had her own nightstand and lamp. A blanket was wrapped around the bed so Diana could have a little bit of privacy.

Reid really wanted to move into a two bedroom apartment so Diana could have her own room rather than just a space in the living room of his one bedroom apartment. She was older now and needed her own space. That and Kathy and him agreed that now that Diana was older she could spend more time with him.

The space right now was cluttered. Reid began cleaning it to get ready for Diana's next visit. He only did it has a distraction to earlier events.

He pondered the phrase "All love is unrequited." He was hoping it wasn't true. Emily had confessed that she loved him. He wondered if it would last.

That was when he heard a knock at the door. Reid got up and looked through the peephole, it was Emily. He quickly opened the door and let her in.

"I wanted to talk." Emily said.

"I thought we should too." Reid said inviting Emily to sit next to him on the couch.

"I didn't actually thank you for rescuing me." Emily started.

"I was just the one that found you."

"It's more than that. You stood in front of me."

"I had the vest."

"Damn it, Spencer. I meant what I said out there. I've known for a long time." Emily said. "I have fallen in love with you and don't you dare give me that speech about brain chemicals and attachment theory stating situations causing reactions. . ." She stopped when she saw Reid's head bowed down.

"I was afraid that you wouldn't love me back."

"Why would you think that?" Emily asked moving closer.

"I've only ever had one relationship that lasted longer than the first date, Kathy. She broke my heart when she left. I still care of her and I value our friendship. She's given me a daughter."

"Spencer, I don't want to break your heart." Emily said taking his hands

"I know you don't."

"You don't have to be guarded with me. Your intelligence is a guard for your emotions."

"I thought we didn't profile each other." Reid said.

"Actually Diana told me that."

Emily moved closer to Spencer. "I love you and the fact that you love me to should be enough." With that Emily leaned in and kissed Spencer.

They had ended up spending the night together.

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Author's note. When I had Diana confront her dad about lying to her I tried to find a good phrase about lying. I ended up using the one from a source I admired. It was the best fit I think. I have actually used quotes in the past from that source. The phrase that Reid ponders is from the same source, just a different character.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I just spent the last three days rewriting this paper for my class. The instructor didn't like my first version. I don't know what he expected out of a dry topic. I turned it in and the second version passed, just at a letter grade lower.

Thanks for reading and I do like reviews, they cheer me up.