A/N: Hello again, everyone!

A shout-out to ahowell1993, tannerose5, Beachgirl25, Betty, Martha, Amy, Skylar, Kelly, and Susan for reviewing Chapter 17! A special shout-out to LeedsUK for following and/or favoring the story.

Also, just so you all know; after seeing the promo/trailer and reading more about the 300th episode, I got BIG PLANS for Élise. But unfortunately, you'll just have to wait after the episode is aired.

Today is the 17th anniversary of 9/11—a day that will never be forgotten; I was a seven-year-old second grader who was at school at the time of the terrorist attacks. Thank you to those who risk their lives to keep our country safe; from the First Responders to the firefighters and to remember those who lost their lives on that day.

Élise didn't think Reid was serious when he said she can move in with him.

But he really was.

Reid wanted Élise to stay with him and Anastasia. She's been through so much within the months she was held hostage and captive by him. He wanted to make her feel safe again. And having her move him with him would be a great, if not, perfect way to make her feel safe.

And he started from the moment she was cleared to leave; he had been by her side. While the team was either looking out the window, sleeping, or doing what they typically do as the jet traveled back to Virginia, as Anastasia rest her head on his lap, Reid kept his eyes on Élise peacefully sleeping on the pillow with blankets covering her.

"At least she's sleeping," Garcia said as she came over. "I'm getting the feeling she's hasn't had a good night sleep in months."

"I can't say I don't blame her." Reid agrees with her.

"Do you think she'll recover?"

"I hope so."

Reid couldn't help but feel nervous when he walked into Cruz's office after he had finished up some of his leftover paperwork. He sat himself down across from Cruz and placed his walking stick against his chair. Anastasia was with Élise as he and the team set up her first session with one of the Bureau therapists.

"You do know going Griffin by yourself was reckless and rather stupid, considering the fact that you have a young daughter to raise."

"I know, sir."

"Something could have happened to you," Cruz reprimands him. "You're a parent, so you know better than this. You could have left her an orphan again." Cruz began to soften. "But I think I can understand why."

"You do?"

"Yes," Leaning forward. "It was bad enough Anastasia lost her family to her own father, including her biological mother. Dr. Élise Bastien has been a mother-like figure to your daughter; from what I've heard from your team, Dr. Élise Bastien treats Anastasia as if she was her own."

Reid simply nodded; he had his other reasons why, but he prefers to keep them to himself.

"Yeah."

"And just so you know, there is a chance of a possible internal investigation concerning your actions against Griffin." After a brief moment of silence. "And I'm willing to testify on your belief."

"You are?"

"Definitely. Considering what he did to Dr. Bastien and numerous others, I am absolutely going to testify on your belief."

"Thank you. And may I ask, sir, about…?"

"Well, now that you mentioned it," He puts on his reading glasses and starts to read the autopsy report. "You stabbed him over 100 times; 111 to be exact. One of the wounds punctured and severed the aorta, which is believed to have ultimately killed him. You also stabbed him a few times in the heart, piercing it and repeatedly stabbed him in the chest, lungs, and liver." He removed his glasses. "They might have suggested that…he slowly suffered. But I want to personally ask you what you think would have happened if…you hadn't killed Griffin?"

"Considering his history, I don't have to think: he would have killed Élise, me possibility…and go on and on with abducting, torturing…rape or even killing anyone who interested him."

"I couldn't agree with you more. Now, the condition of your reinstatement from what happened with the events involving…you know, you take thirty days off after working a hundred days in the field, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"I want you to start today, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

"Until the next time, that's all for now." Cruz reached out his hand and shook Reid's hand. He opened the door for him, only to find Élise with Anastasia waiting for him.

"Dr. Bastien." He gives her a gentle smile. "I'm so incredibly sorry for what happened to you. if there's anything…"

"I'm fine, sir." She takes a step back before quickly answering him. "Thank you."

Cruz closed his office door.

The team, about to discuss another case in the bullpen, through the window blinds saw Reid, Anastasia, and Élise leaving. Prentiss walked in,

"I just talked to Cruz. Reid's starting his mandatory thirty-days today."

"Okay."

"Considering Griffin, I don't blame him," Simmons remarked. "To call him 'a piece of crap' is a compliment."

"I just have to ask. I've read and heard about Erin Strauss, may she rest in peace; what did she think about Reid?"

"According to Hotch, Strauss was always nice to Reid and felt scared and threatened by him because of his eidetic memory."

"I wonder if she wrote a warning to whoever replaces her to her successor to be careful around Reid; he's not the most threatening person in the world, but he's not the kind of person to piss off." Alvez thought before commenting. "Remind me to warn Cruz later about Reid."

"On the bright side, Griffin's in hell right now." Rossi smiled.

"And Élise?"

"I'm praying for her." JJ said.

"Same." Tara agreed.

Reid wasn't kidding when he said he wanted Élise to move in with him and Anastasia. After the team flew back to Virginia, they all went back to her place. Élise had to take a moment to look around, notably the living room. She jumped when she saw the small pool of blood. She jumped again when she started to imagine Griffin holding her at gunpoint before he…she started to have a headrush; Reid immediately rushed to her side. She just wanted to get her stuff because she knew she never wanted to spend another day there again. Whatever she didn't want anymore, which was mostly the living room furniture she either gave it to the team, sold, or donated. Whatever she did want but couldn't fit into Reid's place she had it put into a storage unit.

After walking into Reid's apartment, Reid could sense Élise wanted him to hurry to set in the security alarm before hurrying herself to put the lock on the chain door and the deadlock as she was making sure the sliding door and windows were locked and headed off to her room. Reid placed a sleepy Anastasia in her room for a nap before walking into Élise's room; asking first if he could come in. He noticed Élise jumped when he knocked.

"Hey."

"Hey."

He asked if he could sit next to her; she didn't mind, having her head on her knees wrapped around by her arms. There was a moment of silence as Élise stared down at the bed covers.

"You know," Élise whispered. "When the therapist wanted me to talk, honestly, I…I didn't know what exactly to say."

"It happens."

Élise simply shrugs her shoulders.

Reid's hand inches from her. "You'll get past this."

Élise felt the lump developing in her throat. "Will I?"

Sorry for leaving you hanging!