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A/n thank you all for waiting patiently for this update. Your support means more to me than I can say. Please enjoy and thank you for your kind comments.

"Hold the elevator, Spence."

Spencer punched the door open button and waited for JJ to hurry onto the car. "Hey, JJ."

JJ smiled, but it was a tired smile that barely touched her cobalt blue eyes. She sighed and pulled her hand through her hair. "Hey, Spence."

Reid studied his friend for a moment. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just a little tired."

"You sure."

JJ shook her head. "I thought we agreed not to profile each other."

"I'm not," Reid denied as the elevator opened on the sixth floor. "I'm speaking as a friend that's known you for nearly a decade and a half."

JJ pursed her lips. "It's Michael. He's at that age where he's beginning to understand what it means when I tell him I'm going to work. He threw a tantrum just before I left. It's tough especially on a Monday morning when I'd rather be home, playing with my boys."

"It is, but I remember when Henry went through the same stage. What did you do then?"

"Same thing I'm doing now, leaving him with Will. I don't want to do that, Spence. I want to be there for him so that he knows I love him."

"He knows," Reid assured her. "Children his age don't have the brain development to consider their actions. All they know is what they want, and in Michael's case he wants his mother."

"That's what makes it so difficult."

Reid was quiet for a few moments. JJ cocked her head. "What are you thinking?"

"When you went through this with Henry. I wasn't very sympathetic."

"Yes, as I recall, I told you that I hoped one day you'd have a child and be forced to deal with a tantrum or two."

"At the time, I was sure I'd never had a child, and now I'm married and have a baby on the way."

"Then you'll soon see what I mean."

"Offspring can be disturbingly illogical, yet profoundly fulfilling."

JJ narrowed her eyes at him. "Please tell me you're not quoting Spock to me."

Spencer grinned at her. "No, in this case, it's a line from Commander Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager. Episode 11 of Season 7, titled, "Lineage," to be exact."

"No one ever accused you of inexactness, Spence."

"Nevertheless, it's true, or so I'm told."

"By whom," JJ wondered, and Reid chuckled.

"By you, of course," he reminded her. "You told me so, not in those words, but the meaning was the same. And, I've observed Henry and Michael. I know how much they bring to you and Will's lives. I know how much they bring to mine. I want to experience it every day.

"You're about to, the good and the bad."

They reached their desks, and Reid commented. "I need to thank you, JJ."

JJ dropped her bag on her chair and turned questioning eyes his way. "Why?"

"Because the best thing you ever did was make me Henry's godfather. I didn't want children ten years ago, but now, I can't wait for it to happen, and it's because of Henry, and Jack, and Michael, and Hank. They all made me see that I want very much to be a dad."

JJ hugged him, despite Rossi and Luke entering the bullpen with Tara in tow. "Hey," Rossi began.

Reid rolled his eyes and JJ bit her lip to keep back a chuckle. "Hi, Dave."

"Don't "Hi, Dave," me," Rossi shot back irritably. "It's 9 a.m. on a Monday morning, and you two are hugging in the bullpen."

"Well, think of it this way," Emily said as she left her office and spoke from the upper level. "At least we're beginning this week with a bit of affection."

"I don't need it here," Rossi complained. "I have a good woman at home if I want a hug."

Everyone except Dave laughed. "I think you're looking for a reason to be out of sorts," Reid ventured.

"Out of sorts," Dave repeated. "I'm going for coffee and then to tackle that stack of paperwork on my desk. Unless we have a case," he directed to Garcia, who'd just entered the bullpen.

"No, happily, no sicko pervert killers out there on this lovely Monday morning."

"Good," Dave started up the steps. "I'm glad to hear it."

JJ turned back to Reid after Rossi and Emily returned to their offices. "Thanks for listening, Spence."

"You're welcome."

"Now, tell me what's bothering you."

"Spence…"

Reid looked around and saw that all their teammates were out of earshot, but that wouldn't last for long. "I can't talk about it now."

JJ shrugged. "Just know I'm here to listen if you need."

"I know that, JJ. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Spence."

He hurried away to the break room, and JJ went to her desk. She sent a quick text to Emily. When Reid returned, she was buried in the first of several case files stacked on her desk.

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Reid used his knuckles to tap on Emily's door about half an hour before he had to leave to meet Chriscelia. "Hey, boss," he quipped.

"Not funny," Emily responded, but her eyes twinkled at the sight of one of her best friends, and her favorite teammate at the door.

"I have to leave in about 30 minutes for Chriscelia's appointment with her OB/GYN. It's time for the anatomy ultrasound."

"Of course," Emily gestured to the seat across her desk and put away her case file.

Reid shut the door and hurried to the chair. He sat for a long moment before blowing out a huge breath. "I don't know why I'm here."

"Something's bothering you," Emily responded. "What is it?"

"I'm sure it's nothing, but… well, I noticed on my way in this morning that someone was following me."

"You drove," Emily interpreted. "Because of the doctor's appointment.

"Yes, and I noticed a car behind me, never more than three cars back, all the way to Quantico."

"Did you try to lose the tail."

Reid simply stared at his boss. Emily shook her head. "Right, of course, you wanted to be sure about the tail."

"I'm telling you because after what happened with Maeve, and with the team, and Chriscelia, I guess I'm a bit paranoid."

"It's not paranoia if an unknown vehicle follows you from your home to work. That's a problem, Spence."

"Yes, I know. It's why I came to you first. I don't want the team to hear about it until I'm sure. They've been through enough with Scratch and losing Steven. I won't cause them more stress unless it's necessary."

"What are you proposing?"

"I have a good description of the car, although not the driver. It was a dark green SUV with tinted windows. I believe it's a brand-new car, a Ford, and I have the license plate."

"Interesting that someone tailing a federal agent stayed close enough for you to get a look at the plate. They must not know about your eidetic memory."

"Or, they want me to know they don't care if I track them down. I'm not sure what frightens me more, that they don't care, or that they haven't down their homework."

Emily nodded, and the concern in her dark eyes made him irrationally angry at the person in the SUV. Why couldn't they have normal lives for once?

"Let's have Garcia run the plate. She'll pull their identities before you can say "Live Long and Prosper."

Reid chuckled despite his fear, and his shoulders fell. "I quoted another Vulcan to JJ this morning. She wasn't amused."

Emily grinned, and some of the concern in her eyes faded, although he could see that she'd turn the problem over in her mind until she found an answer.

"I'll take the license number to Garcia. Thanks for listening."

"Of course. I care about you, Spence, and I truly like Chriscelia. I'm excited about the baby, and for her next book."

Reid rolled his eyes, but his stomach knots seemed to relax at her gentle teasing. "Yeah, I can't wait for the book."

Emily smirked. "What's the matter? You afraid that Agent Samuel Riser might make you famous?"

Reid shuddered. "I firmly hope not. Just what I need."

"Oh, come on, it's going to be fun."

Reid sighed. "I've read the final draft, and Chriscelia did an exceptional job making Agent Samuel realistic, or as realistic as he can be considering her book is a romantic thriller. I tried to tell her that FBI agents don't fall for suspects or victims, but she didn't listen to me."

"Possibly because she heard the story about you and Lila Archer from JJ at her bridal shower."

Spencer narrowed his eyes at Emily and frowned. "She didn't?"

"Yep!"

"I'm surprised she didn't hit me with it."

"Maybe she's waiting for the right time," Emily suggested with dancing eyes.

Reid gave her a fake smile. "That's… well, that's something to look forward to, wouldn't you say?"

"I'm sure you'll never see it coming."

Reid stood. "I'm going to see Garcia."

Emily waited until he left before she laughed. Then she sobered and looked at the door as if she could see her friend on the other side. There was no way she'd let another tragedy hit him or her family. She picked up her cell phone and made a call.

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Garcia, as usual, sat before her computers like a goddess before her loyal worshipers. Her fingers coaxed all she wanted from them with a minimum of effort. Sometimes, Reid thought her hands moved as though they had a consciousness apart from Garcia, as though they were independent entities from his best friend.

"Hello, my genius father to be," Garcia greeted and broke the spell over him.

"Hi, Garcia."

"What can I do for you?"

"How did you know I need something?"

Garcia clucked her tongue and shook her head. "I've worked with you for fifteen years, sweet cheeks. I know you. What's wrong?"

Reid handed her a slip of paper. "I need you to run down a license plate for me."

"That's all," Garcia complained. "I was hoping for something more complicated."

"It might be," Reid responded. "It's a car that followed me to work this morning."

Garcia's hands went still. "Oh no. Who were they? Did you see them? Are you okay?

"That's what you're going to uncover for me, no I didn't see them, and yes I'm fine."

"I don't like this," Garcia twisted her hands together. "We just got rid of Scratch, and now someone's stalking you."

"We don't know that for sure. I could be overreacting, Penelope."

Garcia stared at him and tears gathered in her dark eyes. "You never overreact when it's important, and you don't call me Penelope."

"Garcia, we won't know for sure until you run the plate. Then we can deal with it."

Garcia sniffed, wiped her eyes, nodded her head resolutely and straightened her shoulders. She pushed up her glasses and said. "Right, yes, I'll run the plate, and you'll do what you do."

"Please don't tell the team until we know for sure who we're dealing with," Reid asked. "I've told Emily of course, but I don't want to worry the rest of the team unless it's necessary."

"But they'd want to help," Garcia argued.

"Yes, but we've been after Scratch for years. Now he's gone, and I don't want to bring them back to a place where they're stressed and worried."

"Don't you think they'd want to worry if someone is trying to hurt you."

"I suppose, but, please Garcia…"

"Alright," Garcia sighed. "I understand how you feel. I'll do what you ask. Just promise me, you'll tell them immediately if you need to kick butt."

Reid grinned and nodded his head. "I will tell them immediately. I promise."

"Then, go, I know you have the doctor's appointment."

Reid smiled as Garcia hugged him. "I'm excited. I can't wait to see the baby."

"Are you going to find out the sex?"

Reid rolled his eyes at the question. "I think you want to know more than we do."

"Yes, so I can begin spoiling him or her."

"Garcia, you promised… remember what we discussed the other day."

Garcia pouted, and it made Reid laugh. "Yes, I remember. It's no problem. If you decide to find out and keep it to yourselves, I'll start off with gender-neutral gifts."

Reid shook his head. "I can see I won't make you change your mind."

"No, now get out of here while I work. I'll have this stalker dead to rights with his entire life before your eyes quicker than you can say "Thank you, Garcia, you are a goddess."

Reid laughed. "I have no doubt."

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Reid parked his car and hunched his shoulders against the January wind. He hurried through the bright sunlight accompanying the descent of the sun in the west with his hands in his pockets and his purple scarf knotted around his neck.

He didn't see the car parked behind him, nor the eyes trained on his back as he made his way into the three-story building. He worried about stepping carefully around piles of snow and some patches of ice on the blacktop.

"He's going into the building," said the female voice.

"Stay with him."

"I will, but I'm getting tired of sitting in the cold. I want to go back to warmth and leave behind all of this ugly snow."

"You have to be my eyes, sweetheart."

"I hope you're right about this because I think he's beginning to get suspicious."

"Why? Did he see you?"

"No, but there was another car following him this morning, and they must be complete amateurs, because they were following at a distance that made it obvious, even to him, that he had a tail."

"Don't underestimate him. He's a trained FBI agent, as you well know. Don't forget what he did to you, darling."

"I haven't forgotten. I will have revenge for me and… for you, babe."