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Goodbye and Hello

The roar of the gun snapped him from the image of Haley and the echo Strauss that had taken over in his head. He stood staring at Shane Casey's body as other people rushed into the room behind him. He didn't hear Mac Taylor shout to the others to clear the room. He didn't see Reid ignore Mac and stay standing at his side.

"Agent Hotchner…" Mac snapped at him.

Hotch's heart rate, which hadn't jumped when he'd pulled the trigger finally woke up and began to pound like a jackhammer. It was like being back on the SWAT team his first day. He moved his eyes to Mac who pulled on a glove. He watched, without speaking or feeling anything but the beat of his heart, as Mac went to the body and felt for a pulse.

"He's dead."

The words should have shot nerves into Hotch's stomach, but the only thing he could feel was a savage kind of triumph that scared him to the depths of his bones.

Mac picked up Casey's gun and put it in the dead man's hand. He stepped back and addressed Hotch. "I need for you to leave now. We'll take an official statement back at the lab."

Hotch nodded his head and left the room, ignoring Reid who just stood there surveying the scene with wide and accepting brown eyes.

"Go with him." Mac said gently. "I'll handle things here."

0000

The bright light of noon bathed the conference room in yellow light that began getting on Hotch's nerves. It should be dark and dreary outside with rain hitting the windows like sand. Maybe if it were like that outside he would feel better about pulling that trigger.

The door opened and Mac entered with a file and a tape recorder. "I'm getting an official statement so there's no question." He stated in a no nonsense tone. "I would like to know what you were thinking as well."

"Mac I -"

"After I record your statement," Mac raised his voice.

He sat down and turned on the tape recorder. He gave his name and rank and stated this interview was with regard to the shooting of Shane Casey.

"Tell me what happened from the minute you arrived at the house." He asked Hotch.

Hotch went through everything including having to shoot Shane Casey in self-defense when he wouldn't surrender his weapon.

"Why did you ask the SWAT officers to leave the room?"

"I believed the situation was under control. I felt I could talk the subject into surrendering his weapon. I was wrong."

Mac snapped off the recording without asking more questions. "Alright, tell me what really happened."

"I don't think that's a good idea. The less you know, the safer your career will be." Hotch argued.

"I think I've made it clear that I can keep a secret." Mac snapped back.

Hotch sighed… "I realized that if I let him go back to jail that Detective Messer and his family would never be free of him. I know what that's like. I know the hell he and Lindsay have lived in. I couldn't let that happen again."

Mac stared at him for a long time while the muscles bunched in his jaw. "I do understand." He finally said. "David Rossi trusts you and I trust him. Just promise me if you ever come back to my city, you'll try to use your gun only if your life depends on it."

"I promise… Thank you Mac."

"You need to sign this," Mac shoved the file over to Hotch's side of the table. "I imagine you're going to have to face the music at Quantico."

Elle's face rose up in his memory. He realized with a jolt, what she must have been thinking, and feeling when she pulled the trigger. It wasn't all black and white like he'd always thought it should be, and had to be. There were shades of grey in every life; there were no absolutes but death, and love.

He signed the paperwork and pushed it back over to Mac. "I'm sorry I caused you more work and worry."

Mac rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. "It was getting kind of boring around here anyway."

Hotch smiled a sad little smile. "I know you don't mean that." He stood up and headed for the door.

"Hey Hotch…"

"Yeah…" He turned back to see a hint of a smile on Mac's face.

"It was good working with you."

"Thanks."

00000

Adam watched Penelope pack up her computer. It had been just over twenty-fours since she'd whirled into his space and changed his life.

She wore a dark purple dress that hit just above her knees with chunky earrings and a necklace that matched the color of her dress. She wore tortoise shell glasses and ruby lipstick that made her mouth so kissable.

"Hey Adam…"

"What?" He jerked his gaze off her mouth hoping that she didn't notice how he'd been staring at her.

"You have your space back." She smiled.

"Yeah," he agreed.

She walked over to him. "You don't look very happy about it."

He swallowed hard as her scent washed over him. "I am, well I guess…." He wiped his hands on his jeans. "I know you have a boyfriend, but you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met," he squeaked. "You're hacking skills are the best I've ever seen. I was hoping that maybe some weekend we could get together you could teach me some of your tricks."

She grinned at him. "Sounds like fun you handsome thing. Here's my card." She wrote her number and email address on the back. "After all what are friends for," she reminded him

He stood staring at the door long after she left the room. "Friends…" He mused. "I guess that will have to do for now."

0000

Reid hurried into the conference room, not noticing Stella there staring out the window at the clouds collecting in the light blue sky.

"Oh… Ah his," He gave her a little wave. "I left a file folder in here." He pointed at the brown folder with its official Dept. of Justice Seal on the front.

He picked it up and turned for the door. "Dr. Reid." Stella called out to him.

"Yes?"

She sighed. "I know I haven't been very welcoming to you."

"It's okay," He assured her tapping the folder in his hand on the palm of the other hand. "We get that a lot."

"That's not an excuse. I wanted to say thank you for all your help. Because of you, we got Lucy back alive. I'll never forget that."

He went pink in the cheeks. "Oh well it was team effort and -"

"Yes," Stella interrupted. "I know you all had your part, but it was you that put the two cases together. So thank you."

Her dark eyes made him cough nervously in his hand. "You're welcome… I'm happy it all worked out."

"So tell me Dr. Reid -"

"You can call me Spencer if you want." He blurted out, and then went scarlet. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"Spencer… Have you ever been to New York before," She asked as her eyes danced.

"Um… just for work."

"So you've never been here." She teased. "Why don't you stay a few extra days and let me show you around."

"Oh… Um, well I don't know if I can. Hotch might need me back at work."

"You never know until you ask," Stella said.

"Alright, I'll ask him for some time off."

"You won't regret it," Stella assured him. "No one gives a better tour of the city then I do."

0000

An hour later, Stella shut her phone and addressed Sid, Hawkes and Dr. Reid. "That was Lindsay… They just landed in Bozeman. Your team was there to meet them." She said to Reid. "They're on their way to Lindsay's home. It turns out that Seven Arrow Ranch is ten miles from where Lindsay grew up. The Cadence family has owned the ranch for three generations. After David went to prison, the parents left the area. Daniel decided to stay behind. He wanted to clear the family name or at least that's what he wanted everyone to think. In reality getting married and keeping the ranch going was a cover for his activities. He traveled several times a year to Miami, Pennsylvania and New York. That's how he got to know Lopez, Casey and Stanley."

"What about Rossi's case?" Reid asked.

"A search of the property found the three little girls. She buried them in the root cellar under the barn. Apparently, Shane told her that Lucy was her little girl Sarah who died in an accident. She believed the girl to be kidnapped rather than dead, and Casey played into that."

"You have to feel bad for her," Reid said.

The others stared at him. "I mean, she's clearly disturbed, but she loved her child. Anyone that takes advantage of the grief is just as guilty as she is, if not more so."

"That may be true but she still killed three little girls." Stella reminded him.

"At least she'll get help now." Reid said.

The door to the lab break room opened to reveal Mac and Hotch. "Are you ready to go?" Hotch asked the younger man.

"Yeah… Um, Hotch do you mind if I stay here for a few days. Stella said she'd show me around the city."

Hotch's eyebrows went into his head while the others broke out in big grins. Stella glared at all of them in turn as if daring them to say anything.

"I think that's a great idea. I was going to give everyone the next two weeks off. You all deserve it. I make it right with Strauss." Hotch promised the young profiler.

"Thanks Hotch."

Sid handed his card over to Reid. "Call me if you're ever bored when you get back to Quantico and we'll talk about Salem witches and philosophy."

Reid's face lit up. "I'd be happy to."

"Ah man… Do you have to encourage him?" Hawkes whined to Reid.

"Hey Dr Reid," Mac called to the young man as they left the break room.

"Yes sir," He stopped and turned back.

"If you ever want to leave the BAU and work in a crime lab, let me know."

"Um… Okay, I'll keep that in mind." Reid went slightly pink in the cheeks.

"I'm never coming back to New York." Hotch suddenly declared.

Everyone said 'why' at the same time.

"Every time we come here, someone tries to poach one of my team." He complained.

000000

A local FBI agent drove Lindsay and Danny to her old family home. Lindsay stared at the familiar landscape rushing by. The grey sky and clouds met the long stretches of land and the mountains in the distance. She'd missed the wheat fields that grew everywhere. The city was her home, but this would never leave her soul.

"Hey Babe," Danny whispered in her ear. "You've been really quiet since we landed.

She wiped away a lone tear on her cheek. "I was thinking about Daniel Cadence. I thought I was rid of him. It wasn't enough that Casey kidnapped our baby, but he brought the Cadence family into this too. I've never hated someone so much in my life."

"It's okay Montana…."

"No, it's not okay Danny. I just want to forget about Casey and Daniel Cadence with his disturbed sister in law and his criminal brother."

"We ain't never gonna forget them, but we don't havta let them get in the way of bein happy with Lucy."

"When did you get so wise?" Lindsay said, and then kissed his cheek.

"I ain't wise, just lucky that you love me." He said, kissing her mouth.

The SUV pulled up into the driveway at Lindsay's home. The old farmhouse, made from huge logs never looked so inviting to her and scary at the same time.

She grabbed Danny's hand as he was about to open his door. "What is it Montana?"

"I'm afraid…" She said, choking back the tears that had risen in her eyes. "What if she doesn't remember me?"

He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling in a way she hadn't seen in nearly two weeks. "There ain't no way she don't remember you baby. You're her mother."

She couldn't look at him in the eyes as she spoke, "I think a part of me decided that we weren't going to get her back."

He reached under her chin and pulled her face up to look at him. "Its okay baby, I thought that a couple of times, too. It's normal."

"Okay…" She took in a big breath. "Let's go inside and see her.

They left the truck and hurried up the steps to the porch. The door flew open before she could knock. Her mother stood there with tears streaming down her face. "I am so sorry," she swept her daughter into her arms while favoring Danny with a loving look.

"Mom… Why are you sorry?" Lindsay asked squirming under her mother's tight grasp.

"Lucy was ten miles from me for days. What kind of grandmother am I that I don't know it or suspect something was wrong with Eileen? I knew what she'd been through and that Lucy even resembled her Sarah."

"It's not your fault Ma," Danny patted her arm. "How could you have known?"

"I just want to see her." Lindsay said. "Please mom," She begged.

"She's in your room playing with Mr. Giggles. She's had it very rough, but I think she remembered me from my last visit," Debra Monroe said. "You know where to go."

0000

Danny opened the door to Lindsay's old bedroom and stood there staring at his little girl. He and Lindsay didn't say anything until Lucy turned her head. The little girl's eyes went wide. "Dada, Mama!"

She climbed to her feet and hurried to them on unsteady legs as she'd just started walking a month ago. Danny met her and swung her into his arms. Tears held back for days flooded his eyes. "I'm here Bella, Daddy loves you so much." He kissed her face and handed her off to Lindsay who sobbed like her heart had been ripped out of her chest.

"Mama missed you so much baby girl." She covered Lucy's face with kisses. "I love you Lucy."

"I second that," Danny said holding them both closed to his heart. "I'm never letting you go ever again."