2 hours later Gideon walked by the guest room to go to bed himself. He stopped when he heard a noise from Spencer's room. Spencer was crying. Not loudly. But Gideon could still hear him. So Gideon went into the room and crouched down next to Spencer's bed. Spencer was facing Gideon, laying on his side, crying. Spencer saw Gideon and choked out the words: "I - didn't - want to do that, Gideon. I didn't want to talk about it-" He continued to cry. Gideon gently held Spencer's hand. "I know, kid. It's gonna be okay. I'm here." Spencer cried for a while, every so often talking about his scattered thoughts. Gideon stayed by him, and slowly help him process his thoughts and feelings, by talking to him calmly. At some point, Spencer stopped crying, and then soon after drifted off to sleep.

A few hours later, Gideon got out of bed to go to the bathroom. He checked on Spencer when he walked past his room. Gideon saw Spencer shaking slightly. He thought Spencer was having a bad dream, but when he got closer he saw that he wasn't shaking - He was shivering. He was cold. Spencer only had a sheet cover on. His arms were close to his body. His teeth chattering slightly. Gideon slowly and carefully pulled a warm cover over Spencer. He made sure he didn't wake him. Spencer pulled the cover tighter around his body while he was sleeping: He stopped shaking. Gideon kept his door cracked. He himself got sleep as well. When he got up a second time to use the bathroom, he check on Spencer again. He was groaning in pain. His face twisted in discomfort. He was having a bad dream. "Spencer. Wake up." Spencer woke up suddenly. Gasping for air. "Hey, it's okay. It's just a dream." Spencer rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry was I screaming? Did I wake you?" Gideon shook his head. "No. I was up. You weren't screaming. You were in pain." Spencer sat up. "Do you want to talk about it?" He shook his head. "There's nothing to talk about. I had a nightmare about what I went through. There's nothing more to say." Gideon nodded as he sat on the edge of the bed. "That's understandable. You went through a trauma." Gideon paused. Then Spencer asked. "Do you think I'll ever feel okay again? Do you think I'll ever get back to normal?" Gideon smiled. "Yes. I have full confidence you'll be okay. I also think that trauma has a way of changing people. But you'll find a way to crawl back to a new normal. That is similar and different all at once." Spencer nodded slightly. He wasn't sure he could believe him. Gideon left him alone soon after. Once again he found sleep.

2 weeks worth of time went by. Spencer went to his counseling sessions twice a week as requested. At first he was completely resistant to talking about his feelings and what went on in his head. He didn't want to be there and try to process his emotions. But each session she gained his trust a little more, and each week he opened up a little more, and talked about what happened. She saw him making huge improvements. She told him how to get through the painful memories and how to deal with the aftermath of PTSD and how to get through his feelings of being raped. It was a process. They took their time. It seemed to be working.

7 days after staying with Gideon they found Ace. They arrested him. Then Spencer went back to his own apartment. JJ told him how he would have to testify in court against Ace. Which he knew, because Hotch called him. Spencer told her: "I'll make sure he stays locked up for a long time." JJ then told Spencer. "He's already going to prison. Question is how long. Or if he get's the death penalty." Spencer nodded. "JJ, are you testifying tomorrow?" She sighed. "No. I already did while you were in the hospital. But I'll still be there tomorrow to support you. You ready?" Spencer nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

The next day

Spencer went into court the next day. He saw Ace Dyer, he felt a pain in his stomach. He hated the sight of him. Made him feel sick.

Bastard. I promise, if it's up to me, you'll spend the rest of your life rotting in a cell. I swear it.

Ace testified. He admitted to the judge that he did all the things Spencer and JJ said he did: Kidnap of federal agents, rape, torture and attempted murder of a federal agent. He denied any involvement in asking for government secrets. Technically he didn't: His partner did. When Spencer went to the stand, he had to swear to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. He sat down.

"Is your name Spencer Reid?" He nodded.

"Yes." The man then asked him.

"Did Ace Dryer do everything you and Jennifer claimed."

"Yes he did. He admitted it. You heard him." Spencer said in the calmest way he could. The man then asked him: "Yes. He did admit guilt. But let me ask you something. He tortured you. This we all know. The evidence is on your skin. How long did he torture you?"

"He torture me for hours." Spencer said dryly. "Hours? Are you sure?" The man asked him. "Yes. If you want a more technical answer: I was tortured a total of 5 hours and 42 minutes. It was brutal, and before you say anything else, Sir. I can even tell you that out of those 5 hours and 42 minutes: I was tortured a total 4 hours and 12 minutes, and raped a hour and a half. That Sir, is the truth. If you need further proof, I would recommend looking at the hospital documents." Spencer was fed up. It was starting to feel more like he was on trial. After several more rude and stupid questions. He was finally asked: "If given the option, If you had to decide if this man should go to prison for life, or receive the death penalty: What would you decide for this man?" Spencer look at Ace in the eyes and then said: "Ace deserves life in prison." The man seemed surprised. "Why did you pick that choice? Wouldn't death be the worse punishment?"

Spencer shook his head. "No. If he got the death penalty, he would be getting off easy. Death would be too good for him. Because it would end everything in a matter of moments. However life in prison, is a far worse sentence. He deserves to suffer years rotting in a cell, after all he did to me and Jennifer, he deserves to suffer for years. I would rather him suffer the wrath of hell in prison for years to come, then for him to suffer the wrath of hell in the after life. The way I see it, He'll go to hell at some point. But it doesn't have to be anytime soon."

The man looked at Spencer and said: "That seems like a very cold and almost heartless thing to say." Spencer shook his head again. "It's not. I could understand why you would think that, Sir. If I was in your shoes, I might think the same thing. However the only people in this room who really understands what it's like to go through the hell and agony of brutal torture is JJ and I. You don't know what that's like. You don't know what it's like to be tortured for what feels like countless hours. It's unimaginable hell. So please, stop acting like you do. Cause you have no idea. Also note that this man-" Spencer pointed at Ace. "- Not only tortured me for hours, but he also laughed while doing so. He enjoyed every moment of my pain. My screams were music to his ears. So trust me when I say: He deserves life in prison."

After Spencer's testament. Ace Dyer was sentenced to life in prison. JJ gave him a huge hug after. "You did well." She told him. He nodded. "How is your counseling sessions going?" Spencer looked at her. "It's difficult. But helpful overall. She told me I'm making good progress. That I'm improving, but I'm not sure I believe her. It's still painful." JJ nodded. "Of course it is. But you really are doing better, I can tell. My last session was 4 days ago." Spencer looked at her. "Your done with your 4 weeks already?" JJ nodded. "Yeah. I had one session a week for 4 weeks." Spencer looked at her slightly confused. "Oh. I've had two sessions a week for 4 weeks. Well I have 2 more weeks yet."

She smiled then. "So you'll be back to work in 3 weeks?" Spencer responded. "Yeah." JJ smiled even bigger. "That's great!" Spencer couldn't wait to get back to work. He was bored at home alone.