Epilogue

The paramedics had taken Ashley to the hospital. Reid searched the crowd of cops and agents and finally found Elle and Gideon.

"Hey," he said, approaching them.

Gideon glanced at him.

"So…heard you got in a little trouble."

Gideon shook his head and Elle smiled.

"Are you okay?"

Gideon nodded. "Now I am."

"So, how's the unsub?"

"He'll make it," Elle replied. "He'll be fine in time to go to trial for capital murder."

Reid smiled. "Good." He turned around to walk away. "Oh, by the way, Gideon." Gideon looked at him questioningly. "When are you going to learn that putting your gun away is not a good idea?" Reid didn't wait for a reply.

Elle smiled as the young genius disappeared into the midst of the hundreds of cops that wandered the scene. She looked back at Gideon, who was staring at her.

"Are you…" he inquired.

Elle covered his hand with hers. "Yeah." She smiled at him. "I am now. Look, Gideon…"

He stopped her. "You don't have to explain anything to me." Elle didn't move her hand. "You know, Aristotle said, 'Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.' You have a lot of friends, Elle. And what happened to you changes nothing about who you really are… and about how much we- I- love you."

Elle smiled gratefully and squeezed his hand tighter. Gideon put his arm around her and held her close.