Disclaimer: see my profile

A/n, hello, my lovely readers. Thank you for being so patient with the delay on this chapter. I've been quite ill and am finally ready to continue the story. Here is the last chapter. Thank you all for your outstanding support.

Hotch and Rossi approached the door to Diane Turner's apartment. Morgan and JJ had taken over watching the building and remained outside if Diane made it out of the door. Reid and Alex were on the roof, waiting to subdue Diane if she tried to run.

Hotch rapped smartly on the door and shouted. "FBI, Ms. Turner, open up."

Rossi stood left of the door, and Hotch stayed at the right. They waited thirty seconds, then Hotch shouted and banged on the door. "We know you're in there, Ms. Turner. We have a warrant to search the premises.

Nothing happened for a few seconds, then Rossi said. "I think I hear something." He moved in close and put his ear to the door. "Damn. I hear the window. She's running."

Hotch keyed his radio mike. "Heads up, everyone. She's on the move."

Rossi looked at Hotch, who nodded. Rossi aimed and shot the door just below the doorknob. They rushed inside with guns drawn. Rossi cleared the rooms, and Hotch went to the window and peered out to the fire escape.

"She's going up," he said into his mike.

"Got it," Alex responded.

"We're on our way," Morgan said.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCM

If it were any other time, Reid might laugh to see the utter shock on Diane's face when she climbed off the fire escape ladder and right into their waiting arms. He had to give her credit, though. "Stay away from me," she screamed. She was over her surprise in less than ten seconds, he calculated.

She held a gun to her head, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Leave me alone."

Reid saw JJ and Morgan step onto the roof. "Stay back," he called. "Diane. My name is Dr. Spencer Reid. I'm with the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI."

"Fancy title for a Fed. So you're the man Maeve's dating now."

"Yes, I want to help you, Diane, but you must put down the gun."

"NO," She screamed. "I know why you're here. I'm not stupid. As soon as Maeve and Robert disappeared, I knew something was wrong."

"They're in protective custody, Diane."

"Don't call me that, Dr. Reid. You don't know me."

"Oh, but I do. I read your thesis. It's genius."

Diane lowered her gun slightly, and something shifted in her dark eyes that Reid didn't like. "You read my thesis. Why?"

"Because Maeve told me why she rejected it, I disagreed with her reasoning, especially after I read it. Your mind doesn't work like other minds, Diane. You deserve to have your work hailed, not tossed aside."

"How would you know the difference?"

"Because I'm a genius. I had my first doctorate when I was sixteen. I know what it's like to have a mind that others don't understand or appreciate."

Diane watched him and then put her gun back into her temple. "It doesn't matter what you think. I know what profilers do and that you've seen my apartment. I would've taken Maeve away from you forever, and you know it. There is no way out for me.

"That's not true. If your work is groundbreaking, the government will work with you. Give me the gun, and I – "

"No," Diane said. "You're lying. Goodbye, Dr. Reid."

"No, wait!" Reid screamed.

The gunshot seemed to echo forever in the waning light of the afternoon. Reid turned away and almost gagged but managed to hold onto his last meal.

"Hey," Morgan clapped him on the back. "Take it easy, man. She was never going to come quietly."

"He's right," Alex said. "I'm glad she didn't try to take anyone else with her."

Reid swallowed hard. "I know you're right. I hate this job some days."

"Me too," Rossi said.

"Come one," JJ said, putting an arm around his waist. "Maeve is waiting for you. Let's tell her it's over."

"Go," Hotch said. "Rossi and I will deal with the locals and the coroner."

"Thanks," Reid said and left the rooftop without looking back.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

"You were right," Reid said to Matthew a few hours later. "You saved Maeve's life, and I can never thank you enough."

"Hey, don't thank me. Thank whatever force it was that pulled me into this crazy world."

"Yes, but you didn't have to help us as you have. Thank you, Matthew."

Matthew pulled him into a fierce hug that Reid didn't attempt to resist. After a minute, he stepped back. "I'm sorry, Spencer. I know you hate to be touched."

"Yes, but I'm getting over it, and when it's you, well, I'm not sure what to say."

"We are very similar," Matthew said. "I put much of who I am into your character." Matthew raised a pant leg, and then the other and Reid laughed. "I never noticed your mismatched socks."

"I know, but you had other stuff to think about."

"True. Matthew, would you like to meet Maeve."

Matthew opened his mouth and began to gasp for breath and shake. He staggered, fell to the floor, and writhed in pain.

Reid went to him and knelt. "Guys," Reid screamed. "Help."

The team came running into the conference room, and Matthew said through clenched teeth as his world began to revolve around and around. "No, don't touch me. I think I'm going home. Don't want you hurt," he said to Reid.

"Matthew."

"It's okay," Matthew breathed out, and suddenly he began to fade out like a poorly tuned radio signal. Then, he was there and popped out of existence.

"Wow," JJ said. "Do you think he's alright?"

"We'll never know," Reid said.

He wiped away a couple of tears. "I wish he could've stayed."

"That would've been strange, two of you here all the time," Morgan said.

"He was my friend, Morgan," Reid hissed. "He saved Maeve's life."

"I know, pretty boy. Whatever brought him here felt it was time for him to go home."

"Yeah."

"Say, why aren't you with Maeve?" Morgan said and waggled his eyebrows.

Reid punched him on the shoulder. Morgan winced and said. "Damn, kid. Those lessons I gave you are paying off. That punch hurt."

"Good," Reid said, and then he smirked. "Maeve is with her parents. I'll see her later."

"Alright. How about a beer, then?"

"Sure."

CMCMCMCMCMCMCM

Matthew opened his eyes to find him lying prone on the floor of his trailer. His head felt like it was splitting in two. He sat up and then turned to dry heave. "Well, that was fun, not." He said to the empty trailer.

He realized that he still wore the same clothes he'd changed into at Reid's apartment, but something was strange. His script and glasses were where he'd left them, but the trailer felt different. He looked at his watch; it was the same time he'd disappeared. He looked at his phone, which also lay on the table, fully charged. The date was the same as the day he'd gone to the alternate universe, dimension, or whatever. That couldn't be, though. Two days had passed!

He sat down and stared at the script. He wondered what it might say if he picked it up to read. He reached for it after a few moments and then pulled back his hand. No, it was all too much. He'd look at it later when he might be able to convince himself it was all an elaborate dream.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCM

Maeve sat on her sofa with her legs tucked up and her head on Reid's shoulder. "Wow. I can't believe it. I wish I could've met him."

"Me too. Matthew saved your life Maeve. I wish he could've stayed here."

"Well, I have you, so one is better than nothing," Maeve said, reaching up to kiss him. "Mm… I love kissing you, Spencer Reid."

"So do I, Maeve Donovan. I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

"Let's promise that no matter what happens, we'll always talk to each other and let each other problem-solve if needed."

Maeve chuckled. "I learned my lesson, Spencer. From now on, I trust you with my life."

"I'm glad to hear it because I feel the same way about you."

THE END.