Jason Gideon leaned on the railing of the dock a journal in his hands. He appeared to be sketching a bird wheeling overhead when he turned to the forest. A man appeared wearing a hat and jacket and wielding a hunting rifle. Gideon closed the journal around the pen and waited for David Hale to join him. Hale scanned the area then walked briskly over to Gideon. They greeted each other, then Gideon tried to maneuver Hale off the docks but Hale shook him off and walked to the end of the dock. Once Gideon joined him, Hale turned and threw the contents of his water bottle on him. Gideon raised an eyebrow but didn't seem surprised. Hale put his pack and rifle down but kept the gun within arm's reach. As the two men talked the conversation seemed to get more and more heated. Gideon initially leaning against the railing, but soon started pacing, Hale's bearing grew straighter and more rigid and his expression darkened. Minutes passed then Gideon drew a knife from his jacket pocket and shoved it in Hale's face.

"Rossi?" Emily asked

"Hold your position; we don't have enough for a conviction." Rossi ordered.

Hale snapped and lunged at Gideon who stepped back and drew a gun from the back of his jeans. Hale seeing the gun reached for his rifle and Gideon lunged at him in the chaos rifle went off. Law enforcement rushed in but both men still grappling with each other hit the railing which broke causing them both to fall in. Morgan dove in alongside two other officers while Emily called for paramedics.

Hotch reentered the round table room "That was Rossi: David Hale is dead and Gideon is in the hospital." He said putting his cell phone in his pocket.

"What happened?" JJ asked

"The details are sketchy all I know is Jason Gideon met with David Hale at Swallow Lake they talked then Jason pulled out a knife. Somehow a gun went off and a fight broke out, they both hit the Dock railing which broke and sent them into the water." Hotch said.

"Did they get enough for a confession?" Strauss asked

"Hale was smart enough to keep the conversation at the far end of the dock, Garcia is currently going through surveillance tapes to see if they caught anything useful." Hotch said

"Agent Jareau I want you to organize a press conference tell them David Hale is dead and Jason Gideon is safe." Strauss said.

"Yes Ma'am." JJ said and left.

"I am going to meet with Dewitt's lawyer; since David Hale is dead I believe we'll end up pinning everything on him." Strauss said cynically as she left the room.

Left alone with Reid, Hotch turned to him and found Reid hunched over clutching his walking stick. Hotch got up and knelt in front of Reid and put a hand on his shoulder. Reid jumped slightly then leaned into Hotch who in turn put his arms around Reid and held him close as Reid started crying. Reid cried for several minutes before the door opened causing Reid to jerk back and hastily wipe his eyes as Hotch got to his feet careful to shield Reid from view.

"I wanted to know when we're going to see Gideon?" Garcia asked from the doorway.

"Kevin Lynch is going over the tapes?"

"Yes sir."

"We'll leave now." Hotch turned to Reid "Are you ready?" he asked

Reid nodded but struggled to get to his feet and collapsed against Hotch after a few steps.

"You need to eat." Hotch said instinctively putting a hand on Reid's forehead.

"Hospital." Reid said

Garcia looked at Hotch both knowing that if Reid went to the hospital questions would be asked.

"Reid, Spencer" Hotch said helping Reid sit down "I need to call Rossi and we should wait for JJ. So wait here with Garcia, eat some food and we'll leave soon."

Reid glared but nodded in surrender. Hotch and Garcia left and it was half an hour before the four Agents left for the hospital. They went to the waiting room and found Morgan, Rossi, and Emily. Reid was on a pair of borrowed crutches but sank into a seat with a sigh of relief.

"Gideon received a blow to the head and a deep stab wound. However he should make a full recovery." Morgan waited for them to process the good news before continuing "Hale was shot in the upper torso, while the bullet missed his organs he bled out before the paramedics reached him."

"Can we see him?" Reid asked

"Not right now, he's still getting tests to check the full extent of his injuries."

The team nodded and settled in for a long wait. Reid put his crutches on the floor and hunched over, while the others stood as sat. An hour passed and a doctor came out, Garcia helped Reid to his feet and the team went to see Gideon.

"So Jason I heard you're trapped in here for a week." Rossi said

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning." Jason said clearly grumpy about having to stay.

"Gideon I'm so sorry, this is my fault, I should have told them my theories about the lake much earlier."

"No kid this isn't your fault. Aaron wanted me to confront David Hale he needed a confession to make the charges stick." Gideon said

Reid turned to Hotch "It's true Spencer once Concannon published his article I knew Dewitt was going to find some way to clear Hale. The only way to keep you, Gideon and the rest of the team safe was to get a full confession from Hale."

Reid was angry but managed to swallow his anger and nod knowing Hotch was right. Emily led Reid over to a chair and they quietly visited until a nurse came and told them Gideon needed to rest. Morgan drove Reid to his apartment while the others went back to Quantico.

"So I spoke to Kevin Lynch; the brief conversation Hale and Gideon had does not diffidently clear Gideon. However for Reid's sake I am closing the case and giving David Hale sole culpability." Hotch said

Reid's family gathered in the conference room nodded in agreement and set up wrapping up the case.

A/N I know some of you may consider this ending a copout but neither Gideon or Hale would be stupid enough to confess their guilt even to each other. I will write an epilogue and end my story soon. Thank you to all my wonderful readers for your patience and I would greatly appreciate feedback positive or negative.