The entire BAU team along with SWAT approached the top of the ivory tower. Reid, Morgan, and Prentiss were on one side as to block in the criminals while Hotch, Rossi, and Natalie were on the other.

They had these guys surrounded before they ever knew they were there.

But as expected, the men boarding the helicopter, surely carrying the bomb, opened fire upon immediate sighting of the vehicles.

Each of the team stepped out of the vehicles, using the doors as cover, they each returned fire. Reid, Morgan, and Prentiss from behind. Hotch, Natalie, and Rossi facing the people.

The agents and SWAT had a circle formed around them so none of them could escape on foot.

It was a quick round of shoot-out, a game every single one of them had played before.

A few of the criminals attempted to run in the building, Natalie fired as she was a good shot to a moving target. She took each of them out.

Reid awaited the men to turn around before he would shoot, each one falling as soon as they noticed him.

Hotch tried to access those inside the helicopter to gain control of the situation, he hadn't fired yet as he had to be sure he could hit the correct target.

Morgan shot at the big guys, taking each one down with a few shots wherever they would fall.

J.J. and Prentiss were trying to center shots like Hotch, they had managed a few people just outside the helicopter but they didn't have a clear shot inside.

Rossi returned fire on the standing targets who had made cover behind the dumpsters just outside the building. One of the guys actually stood with his hand up, securing his weapon to surrender. Rossi didn't fire on him.

The helicopter approached the air and every agent began shooting at it. Those in the helicopter returned fire, they missed with each shot.

The agents weren't sure if they were hitting anything, it seemed to be relentless.

They watched as the helicopter caught fire which made them cease-fire. They each crouched down a little as to prepare for what would come next. The helicopter turned into brighter orange flames as the flames disintegrated the body of the helicopter in the sky. The legs of the helicopter fell too fast, making a loud crash hitting the top of the Ivory Tower.

The agents squinted at its flames.

They all slowly began to approach the burning remains of the helicopter before them.

Every single member of the team had a different expression on their face but each one displayed a level of eeriness. They had just taken down this evil plan but it didn't feel good with how many people that helicopter bomb took out, whether they were criminals or not. It didn't matter to the BAU, they weren't in this job to kill people but to help people. This didn't feel like a win. Although, it technically was.

The team came back to the BAU. Hotch and J.J. walking quickly to the bullpen as that's where their two families were. J.J. looked relieved as she saw her husband standing waiting for her, he didn't say anything except, "You okay?" She loved that about him. He understood and he never questioned. They just synced so well together.

Will stood up to kiss his wife. "Yeah." She said as she kissed him softly. Her next words were, "where are the boys?"

He pointed, "in the office."

J.J. and Hotch walked into his office quickly. Jack was sitting at Hotch's desk while Henry laid asleep on the couch.

"Hey," Hotch said as his son didn't look up from whatever he was coloring.

"Hey." Jack returned, sadly.

"Whatcha doing?" Hotch asked him, concerned by his son's withdraw.

"Drawing." He answered without looking up.

"Can I take a look?" Hotch asked him, trying to bridge the conversation.

"No," Jack answered turning his paper over and putting it in his binder.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked him.

"Yeah, I'm okay. How about you?" Hotch asked his son.

Jack shrugged as he began to pack up his things, "I'm fine."

"Hey, Buddy," J.J. said, gently shaking Henry's side.

"Come here." She said as she lifted him into her arms to let him slumber. J.J. carried him out the door.

"Ready to go?" Hotch asked Jack.

"Sure," Jack answered as he picked up his bag to walk out the door.

Reid and Natalie arrived at his apartment. Natalie looked around at all his books, she smiled. She admired his love of learning and of classic books.

Certain he had them arranged a particular way, she didn't touch any of them.

"Do you want some tea?" Reid asked, putting the kettle on.

"You drink tea?" She asked, a little surprised.

"To calm down, sometimes, yes." He answered

She exhaled loudly, rubbing her hands over her legs as she took a seat on Reid's couch, she nodded.

Reid made the tea pretty quick, Natalie knew it was finished when it started whistling which amused her, he handed her a warm cup which she wrapped her hands around. She crossed her legs on his couch, shoes off with tea in her hand. She took a sip, "MMMM." She made the sound effect as she gave a gentle smile.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine, Spence." She answered, concerned by his level of concern.

"Nat, I think I know you pretty well. You willingly risked your life-" He began.

She immediately interrupted, "We do that every day. I didn't do anything un-calculated. You're talking about staying with the captain, right? I had no idea he would leave me in A-block to secure the control room. I did what I would have done in any other situation."

Reid shook his head, "I'm not saying we don't risk our lives every day. I am saying, I think you were so hurt by Cat that you didn't quite think it through."

Natalie scoffed. "Are you…are you serious?" Her eyes became glossy as she titled her head and furrowed her brow.

Reid looked at her with his soft brown eyes, trying to maintain his calm posture, and gentle voice, "I don't know. It's just - I think you scared me and that's why I'm saying these things. I always worry about the team but I've never worried about someone like that. All I wanted was for you to stand behind me and you to use me as a human shield from all the bad things we encountered tonight. I just wanted to protect you and I'm projecting that I think. It also makes me sick what I thought I'd do to those guys if they hurt you...I didn't know...I did know I could think that I just never dreamed I would be. I'm sorry."

Natalie softened, she set down her tea which was so thoughtful of him. He had been terrified for her life, not his own but hers and he cared so deeply that he wanted her to stop, she wasn't mad anymore. She understood but she understood they were agents, something she needed to gently remind him.

She placed a hand on his arms as she inched closer to him, "Spence, it's okay. I understand but remember, we are federal agents. We're the BAU. This is what we do and I promise the risk was calculated, you've helped me learn to be present in each moment I'm in rather than worry or think on all the other risks - ironic, huh?" She continued, "I was hurt by Cat. So hurt but I wouldn't risk my life over that, I've been hurt by Cat one too many times for that. For what it's worth, I was worried for you too. And just because you thought those things doesn't make me think any less of you, it's protective of you."

Reid thought for a moment, he didn't know how to tell her those thoughts made him feel a connection to her psychopath sister and he didn't think now was the time to tell her since she seemed so calm about everything that happened tonight. He didn't want to let that bomb drop, he wasn't sure if it was a bomb or not. Natalie had been so understanding since he met her but this was different and he knew it. He decided to leave it alone for now and enjoy the moment.

He kissed her forehead, the kiss lingered as he pulled away. She looked up at him, giving a gentle smile, she buried her face in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

"We have to get used to this, I guess. You're right." Reid stated, he kissed her forehead again.

"Spence." She sat up despite wanting to stay in his arms. She decided she needed to tell him what happened in the prison and about Kyle.

His brown eyes locked with her equally brown eyes, his stare had empathy in it, something Natalie had never known a person could do. She briefly thought for a moment if Spence saw Cat when he looked at her sometimes. Before she mentioned Kyle, she asked as she was quite blunt about matters.

"Do you see Cat when you look at me sometimes?" She asked, her face now looking down.

Reid was a little stunned by that considering his immediately previous thoughts but the answer, definitely no. He never saw Cat when he looked at her. He pulled her face up with both hands, "I see Natalie Adams. Because that's who you are. You are beautiful and good and you care and you're in the BAU because of your fiercely protective and strong nature." He shared, the words rolling off his tongue like they were meant to be there.

Natalie let a tear fall from her eye, "Spence. You are so incredible and good and everything right in the world. You are the most amazing human being. You're also really easy on the eyes. I've never known a man sweeter than you. Thank you.

He let go of her face, he felt somewhat guilty for not sharing since she decided to be so honest, something he loved about her, he wasn't ready to tell her that yet. He knew the time to share that about Cat wasn't now and Natalie would at least understand that. He settled to answer with, "You're welcome."

Natalie shut her eyes, she felt her face grimace. "I think I should tell you something."

Reid let go of her face but he didn't move his body, he stayed close. "Okay." He said.

Natalie rolled her shoulders, "I'm okay but something happened at the prison. I saw Kyle. Kyle is Cat's ex-boyfriend. He told me, he aided in who Cat became and he helped kill Connor. He was around for so long, I trusted him and he abused me. By the time Connor was in my life, I didn't know Cat still had contact with Kyle. She blamed me for his abuse, thinking I coerced him. But I didn't. Seeing him there, having no idea any of that happened brought up all those memories."

Reid hugged her tightly, "Thank you for telling me, you didn't have to and I know it's not easy. I'm here to listen or hold you or do whatever you need. I'm here, Natalie." He pulled away to look her in the eyes, running his fingers through her hair as he said his last line.

"Just hold me, please," Natalie said in a defeated voice, Reid kissed her forehead again, leaning back so she could bury herself into his chest, he held her tightly while she cried, silently. While he didn't hear her, he could feel the tears falling to his shirt, he didn't say a word, he stroked her hair and the couple sat in comfortable silence.

Natalie thought about how lucky she was that Spence was this thoughtful, he was kind and caring. She knew he had all of those qualities in him but this was the romantic Spence that seemed so confident in what he was doing, a direct contrast to his quirky nature. He truly was the best person she knew.