Reid and Gideon made it back to the unit. JJ had been waiting for them and met them at the door. Wasting no time, she revealed the new ticking time bomb they'd been handed.

Gideon was calm, much calmer than the young genius standing beside him. Reid grumbled, his hands going through his hair with great irritation. "I need to go check on my parents."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Reid?" JJ asked. "I mean… what if Nathan encounters you again. And then you'll put your parents at risk."

"My parents are already at risk, JJ!" He yelled. Immediately, at the sight of her frightened face, he regretted it. "I'm sorry… I'm just… this is so ridiculous, and I don't know what to do! We only have a day and we don't know where he is or what he's planning."

"The only thing we know is what he's capable of." Gideon confirmed.

Reid nodded, trying to ease his anxiety. All he could think about, though, was Nathan torturing and killing his mother. She would have no idea what's going on or why her son wasn't saving her. And when he thought about it… he cared about his father. He didn't want him hurt either.

"I'm sorry," he said again. "I'm just… can you guys give me a few minutes. I just want to call my dad, make sure he's okay… and ask him to go and check on my mom. I wanted to keep them separated for protection, but there's nothing else I can do."

"Well…" JJ said, coming over and giving a pet to his arm. "You know, instead… I could go and check on your mom. I mean, she might not talk to me, but at least I can make sure she's okay and check on her protection and the security of the place. I can ask questions your dad would never think of. And this way all three of you will stay safe."

It was just another reminder of how lucky he was to have these people. "I can't ask you to do that."

"Reid… it's not a big deal. I'm running an errand for you, okay, I'm not giving you a kidney." She said with a smile. "I'm feeling a little sick, anyway, I could use the fresh air. I'll just tell Hotch and I'll be back in about an hour."

"Thank you, JJ," Reid said, giving her a hug.

With a hug, she hurried off to find Hotch, leaving Gideon and Reid alone.

He made a beeline for his desk, hoping Gideon would get the hint and leave him alone. Reid needed some time to think, to determine the best course of action. They only had a day; there was no time to waste.

"You need to relax a little, Reid." Gideon asked.

He looked to meet his eyes. "Right, relax… that's perfect. We're on a deadline and what I need to do is just forget the fact that innocent people are being killed. They're all suffering… and it's because of me. My whole team has been working almost none stop for a month because of me. Everyone's lives have been turned upside down, including the woman I love, and it's not getting better. I don't even know what to do to stop it! I'm not even sure we can!"

"Yes you can," He went over to next to Reid. "But if you don't let go of that guilt, you'll just keep torturing yourself while Nathan gets further and further away until he's gone. And then it will be your fault." The kid rolled his eyes, "You can be mad at me all you want, Spencer, but you can't ignore how well I know you. And I was there that night… when Nathan was taken to the hospital. Do you remember what we talked about, and I don't say that to see if you actually remember."

Reid launched into a long speech, like he were reciting a memorized class report. "I was wiping the blood off my hands when you came over. You said he wouldn't have survived without me. I knew he had wanted me to let him die. I mentioned my fear about what if I just saved a killer and then you said profiles can be wrong and I said what if it's not, what if next time he kills someone and then you said…" He trailed off.

"I said, next time you catch him." Gideon finished. "You took a leap of faith. A lesser man would regret saving Nathan. I would regret saving Nathan, but you're better than that. And when it comes down to it, even after everything you've lost and may still lose, you don't regret saving him."

Without an answer, Reid looked at his feet. He felt horrible, but it was true. Given the chance if he could go back and know what he knew now, he could never just stand there and let Nathan Harris die, even if that boy had wanted to.

"I didn't stick around after the funeral to help you on the case." Gideon stated. "I stuck around because I knew you would be feeling like this. And if you give into that, Nathan will get away. You will lose everything. I couldn't let that happen to you."

"Gideon… why?" Reid finally yelled. "I understand you needed to leave, I understand you couldn't do this anymore, but why couldn't you just talk to me? Why couldn't you just tell me that to my face? You were the second person in my life to leave me a note and never come back. Is that all I'm worth? A note?"

"Spencer…" he whispered. "I know about everything you've been through since I left. The cult in Colorado with Prentiss, the anthrax poisoning, being stabbed in your apartment, almost buried alive last year… and you just keep coming back. Everything I've gone through has just destroyed me, but you? You let it make you a better man. You're much stronger than me, Spencer. That letter was not because you weren't worthy of a goodbye or an explanation… but because I was too weak to face you… it was my problem. Please understand how sorry I am."

Reid let the words sink in. At last, he gave a small twitch of a smile and a nod. "I understand."

Without a word, he headed into the break room. Reid wasn't sure if he were ready to forgive him. He still hadn't forgiven his father for leaving him, after all. Letting go of grudges did not come easily for him. Riley could vouch for that.

"Hey, Brianiac," A voice sounded, as if summoned by his thoughts. Reid turned from the coffee pot, finding Riley behind him. "I take it you heard the news."

"Yeah," he said, reaching his arm to her as an indication he needed her closer. She hurried into his arms. He enfolded her into him, hearing her sigh contently.

"I'm still amazed I have this back, you know," She mumbled into his shoulder.

"Riley, I don't know what to do." He admitted. "I don't know where to look for him. By the time I figure it out, it might be too late."

"Spencer, stop thinking like that." She stood to meet his hazel eyes, her hands going to his face. "We're all tired… this last month has been like a nightmare. But this isn't the first time it seems like all hope is lost, for either of us. Remember…" Her arms slid around his neck, her hand stroking the back of his head, "when we were lying in the back of that truck… we thought it was all over, and that was our last moment together. But you figured out how to save us. If you hadn't fought Engles, I wouldn't have gotten away… and the then team would never have found us. And you told me about when you begged Andrews to let me go… you talked him down long enough for Hotch to stop him… whatever it is you need to do, you will figure it out and you'll stop him, even if it's the smallest bit of hope that you'll never believe will work. At least this time, you're not in this alone."

He leaned his brow against hers. "Thank you. I needed to hear that; you always know what to say."

"It's nice to know I'm good for something," She said with a smile.

"You're good for a lot more than that," He grinned, leaning down to meet her lips.

The kiss was simple and much too short, "I have to go," she said, starting to pull away.

"Where are you going?" He asked, confused.

"Oh, everyone's kind of hungry. I offered to go out and buy lunch for everyone." She explained with a shrug. "Ever since my boyfriend came back from the dead, I've been feeling awfully generous."

Reid was still skeptical. "I'm not sure about you going out on your own."

"I'm just going to the Chinese place a mile away. I'm taking the car and I have my cell. I'll be fine."

He couldn't exactly say no. Riley was an adult and the most stubborn woman alive. But it didn't ease his anxiety. "Be careful."

"Don't worry," she said with a smile. "I'll be right back."

He watched her grab her coat and bag from his desk and head to the elevators, unable to ignore the feeling he should go with her.

…

Reid spent some time looking for clues through the finished maps. He couldn't seem to make much more sense of it than anyone else in the group, working busily in the conference room once again.

"Looks like a big fat waste of time." Garcia exclaimed as Reid leaned back, rubbing the exhaustion from his eyes.

He let out a deep breath. "What's odd," he said, "is that the coordination seems specific. I'm sure it's some kind of pattern."

"It's got to be huge if even you can't see it." Morgan pointed out.

"Quite the opposite, Morgan," Reid corrected. "If we can't spot the pattern, odds are that it's very small. A huge pattern would stand out, but a small one is hidden so it appears random."

"Yeah, or maybe it is just random and you want to see a pattern." Elle mentioned with a raised eyebrow. It was obvious what faith she had in Reid before had diminished upon his return.

"I don't really believe in 'random' correlation, Elle," Reid explained. "The subconscious mind controls a lot of what we do. Even if something appears random, it's really an act of intuition. But that's really not relevant in this case. You see, Nathan is intelligent. Perhaps not as intelligent as he would like, but he's not ignorant in his kills. They're carefully planned, which means there is a reason why he strikes these areas... or perhaps, why he avoids others."

"Okay, now answer this question, Reid," Morgan said, checking the time on his cell phone. "Where is your girlfriend with our food?"

It was only then Reid realized what time it was. He checked the watch over his sleeve, having gotten it from Riley this morning. Shocked, he saw it was almost four, Riley had been gone for almost three hours.

"It really shouldn't take that long to pick up Chinese," Emily realized, who had been flipping through the victim files another time.

"No…" Reid stood up. "It really shouldn't."

In a rush, he hurried out to the bull pen. His cell phone had been left on his desk. Checking through, there were no messages or missed calls. That was not like Riley. She always told him where she was and why she was being held up. Riley used it to tease him that she had more respect than he did when it came to being tardy, but he knew she did it because she never wanted him to worry.

He was just about to call her when his desk phone rang. Quickly, he reached over and grabbed the receiver, "Reid."

There was nothing but heavy breathing for several seconds. Reid listened to it, a twisting pain growing in the pit of his stomach. "Nathan?" Reid asked, trying to keep his voice from trembling.

"It's good to hear your voice, Dr. Reid," Nathan replied. "I knew shooting you would be too easy. You're a fighter. And you care too much about these people to just give up… I admire that Dr. Reid. I know I'm not that strong… in fact, I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you."

"Nathan," Reid said, trying to keep his voice calm. He was desperate to demand where Riley was, but couldn't get another word out.

But his fears were determined as Nathan continued, "This one has very pretty hair. It's very natural looking…" there was a long, savoring intake of breath, "And it smells lovely… I wonder what that is? Vanilla? No, it's a bit more floral than that."

There was a long pause, but no answer. Nathan stated, "She'll do nicely as my next victim, after your mother of course… I think it will be most poetic. Can you understand why?"

"I have an idea," The others had snuck up on him, gathering around the desk as they listened. "Please… I am begging you… let her go."

"I won't hurt her… yet." Nathan explained. "But you have to make me a deal. You have to meet me."

"Fine," Reid said immediately. "Where?"

"I think by now you know where." He could tell he was smiling. "Maybe it's a cliché, but let's say midnight. You'll be here by 12 o'clock… we'll discuss this."

"If I come… you'll let her go?" Reid clarified.

Another long pause; he was enjoying this, knowing it made Reid squirm. "I make no guarantees." And with that, the call went dead.

Immediately Reid slammed the receiver down. "I shouldn't have let her go!" He yelled at once. "How could I have been so stupid!"

"How could he have gotten to her?" Rossi asked. "It's broad daylight, three blocks from here. He wouldn't risk coming that close, especially when she knows he might be after her. The area is also swarming with police, all of which have shots of his face."

"I shouldn't have let her go alone!" Reid moaned, collapsing into his chair. "I knew it was a bad idea, I should have gone with her… but she hates when I'm overprotective, so I backed off… I should have just listened to my instincts."

"Sorry I'm so late," Riley cried as she rushed in through the doors carrying a large box with food containers. "But you're not going to believe what happened!"

She didn't notice the shocked, gaping faces at her as she approached Reid's desk setting the box down. He carefully rose out of his seat, staring at her like she were a ghost.

"I was at the restaurant and it took over thirty minutes for them to fill the order. Then they had problems with the credit card. I thought I was going to have to call you, but finally, the payment went through. So by the time I got back in the car, I checked my phone and I had a missed call. It was the office, which is strange, because it's a Saturday and as far as they know, I'm still on Bereavement Leave. So I called back and I got the weekend receptionist, and she said there was a problem with one of my patients. I was on the phone with Dr. Redmond for two and a half hours, trying to explain to him why I have this one patient on a certain medication and you… have a really weird look on your face." Halfway through removing her scarf, Riley finally noticed the shocked expression from Reid. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're okay?" He asked, surprised.

"I'm sorry I'm so late, I'm fine," She said with a smile, brushing his arm. "I was going to call when I got off the phone but I just wanted to get back. I'm sorry…"

"I thought… Nathan kidnapped you." Reid said, brushing her face in amazement, trying to make sure she was real.

"Oh, would you stop being so paranoid!" She whined.

"No, Riley, you don't understand," Hotch urged, "Nathan does have someone. You were so late, we thought it was you."

"Well it's not. I never even saw him." Riley explained.

"Then who does he have?" Reid questioned to the group.

"Wait a minute," Emily said, looking around. The entire team was present… minus one. "Where's JJ?"