A/N: As my friend What-if pointed out. Playing with causality is fun and I hope you all are enjoying it as well. Seacat03, Daisyangel, ahowell1993: I'm glad you guys like Whitney. One of the changes to my universe that I really wanted to do was a steady (stable) girlfriend for Spencer. LaRieNGuBleR: It's not an official date...yet. LOL. Whatif-Ifonly: Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad I'm not ruining the show for you by making the subtle (and not subtle) changes. Charmony: My dear sister, thank you for everything. Your friendship and love mean more to me than I can ever express.

Nope, still don't own em. Direct quotes from Derailed are underlined.

Hotch crouched next to the HRT commander. "If he makes any moves that may indicate he's going to kill himself or the hostages, we'll need to rush the train. Make sure your team is ready."

"We'll be ready."

Hotch nodded and then joined the rest of the team gathered in the support truck brought in by the local field office. Gideon and Morgan were already inside studying the footage from the train's security camera. "What are we looking at?"

"Five hostages, including Elle, and a clearly agitated unsub," Gideon said quietly.

"So how do we convince him that we're the higher authority he has asked for?"

"We wait. Our entrance with the sirens and his curiosity should make him call us."

The team stared at the monitor as the man paced, staring out different windows. They watched as he grabbed one of the hostages and Elle fought to get free. He dragged her to the phone and pointed a gun at her head as she dialed.

Gideon calmly fielded the questions as the man made his demands.

Spencer stared at the screen, his mind spinning as he considered their options. He barely noticed Morgan relaying Garcia's information as he tried to figure out a solution that could work for them in the half an hour they had left.

"How do we remove a microchip that's not there?" Hotch asked.

"Spencer spun as an idea dawned. "We fake it" he said, silencing the ideas raised by the team. His eyes lit up even as his father stared at him. "It's simple sleight of hand. I can conceal a microchip in the palm of my hand and pull it out of his arm."

"No," Hotch's voice was firm.

"Hotch I've been doing magic since I was nine and my uncle gave me a magic kit. We don't have any other choice."

Gideon slowly stood and made one of the hardest decisions he could ever remember making. "No, we don't. Hotch go find a microchip that we can use. Cannibalize a random cell phone if you need to. Morgan get a vest for Reid to wear." He stepped closer to his son as the men scattered to their tasks. "Are you sure about this, son?"

"I can do it Dad. I know I can."

"Be careful. Don't take that vest off and get off the train the moment that chip is removed."

"I will Dad."

Gideon forced himself to remain calm as he watched Spencer through the monitor interacting with their unsub that they now knew was Dr. Bryar. "I told him to get off the train," he muttered. His heart was pounding with the knowledge that he had sent his son in there and that he couldn't make a decision that wouldn't get people killed. He realized Morgan was standing at his shoulder.

"What is he doing?"

"He's pushing." Gideon abruptly turned away from the monitor. "I'm going in." He walked as quickly as he could without running toward the train. Suddenly the silence was broken by the sound of a single gunshot. "Spencer," he whispered as he broke into a sprint. Taking the steps two at a time and bursting into the train, he froze at the sight of his son uninjured standing over Dr. Bryar's still form. One of the other hostages held a gun outstretched in both hands and Gideon realized that the shot had come from that weapon. Relief flooded through him as he fought the very unprofessional instinct to pull his son into a hug. Spencer met his gaze, the young man's eyes filled with a combination of relief and regret that someone else had been hurt.

"We need an ambulance."

Gideon nodded as he turned to signal the medics. Now that the fear was subsiding, a simmering anger was beginning. Spencer had deliberately ignored his orders to get off the train and he had jeopardized both his and Elle's safety.

"Gideon, will you please tell him I don't need to go to the hospital?" Elle nudged her younger coworker as they both sat on the back of the police car.

"Rules are rules, Elle. Besides it's best we know for sure that you're okay."

"Yes, Dad."

"Elle, don't ever call me dad."

"How do you think he'd feel about Mom?" Elle asked as soon as Gideon was out of earshot.

"Let me know where you're going to do that so I can run," Spencer grinned in answer. He stood up as he encouraged Elle to go to the hospital, his cheerfulness fading as he saw his father's face. Gideon was furious. He was hiding it out of deference for the team, but his dark eyes told their own story. The young agent knew he was in big trouble once they returned to the office. The worst part about the whole situation was that he would not have changed anything. Yes, he had disobeyed an order but it was to keep Bryar from shooting a hostage. He knew it had been the right decision.

"Hey Reid? Good job in there. If I hadn't known about the trick, I would have believed you really did pull that chip out of his arm," Morgan said, startling him by patting him on the shoulder.

"Thanks Morgan."

"Good work Reid. I didn't expect you to be able to talk him down like that, but you did well," Hotch added, complementing the young doctor as he went by.

"Thanks Hotch. I have to admit I didn't know if it would work," Spencer said somewhat hesitantly as his father was standing just behind the unit chief's left shoulder. "But I saw an opening and I took it."

Hotch gave him one of his rare smiles. "Well in any case, good job."

Several hours later, back at the BAU, Spencer shifted nervously behind his desk. He was trying to finish his report, but the memory of his father's almost near silence on the plane ride home was unnerving him.

"Reid, come to my office please."

Spencer looked up to see Gideon staring down at him from the catwalk. Taking a deep breath he nodded and stood up.

"Coming, sir."

Once in his father's office, Spencer stood stiffly in front of the desk as his father paced behind it.

"What were you thinking? I specifically told you not to take off the vest and Morgan reinforced that when you went aboard. In addition, I gave you a direct order to get off the train as soon as you removed the chip. You not only disobeyed on both counts but then you started pushing an obviously unstable suspect."

"I followed what I judged to be the best course of action. The unsub had a gun pointed at a hostage's back. He would have shot her if I hadn't removed the vest. I attempted to exit the train multiple times but was unable to do so without jeopardizing the hostages a second time."

"You deliberately put yourself and Elle at risk!"

"Isn't risk inherent in this job, Dad?" Spencer knew he had said the wrong thing when Gideon whirled on him.

"Do not backtalk me Agent Reid."

Spencer stiffened. "I did my job, sir! And may I remind you sir, that if it had been Agents Hotchner or Morgan, we would not even be having this conversation!"

"That's because Agents Hotchner and Morgan have a good deal more experience than you do when dealing with an unstable suspect!"

"And I won't ever gain experience unless you let me do my job. I am a full-fledged FBI agent and while I may be both your son and young, I am not a child and I resent being treated as one."

Gideon's face darkened further. "Go finish your report and wait for me. We will continue this conversation at home."

Sensing he had pushed as far as his father would let him, Spencer nodded sharply and left the office without a backward glance. Once in the hall, he leaned against the wall as he tried to collect his thoughts. He didn't notice the concerned looks that Morgan was sending his way. He straightened quickly and returned to his desk, finishing his report in record time. He glanced up at the offices, noting that his father's office door was still closed. Making a quick decision, he grabbed his phone and his bag.

"Reid? Is everything ok kid?" Morgan asked, grabbing his arm.

"I'm fine and I'm not a kid," Spencer muttered as he jerked away.

"Sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

Spencer paused and closed his eyes. "I know and I'm sorry too. That was really rude. It's just Dad is…" he trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"Yeah." Morgan nodded in understanding.

"Look if he asks, I found my own way home ok?"

Morgan nodded again as he watched the young doctor head for the elevator, dialing his phone as he went.

"Uncle Dave? I need a favor."

Rossi slowed as he pulled up to the front of the building, looking for the lanky form of his nephew. He watched as a shadow detached from the wall and hurried toward him. He hit the unlock button, just as Spencer reached the door, allowing the young man to slid in next to him. He didn't have to be a profiler to read the emotion in his nephew's face.

"What happened bambino?" Rossi asked as he pulled away from the curb.

"Dad is angry with me," Spencer all but whispered as he stared down at his lap. "He thinks I deliberately disobeyed a direct order but I didn't have a choice."

The Italian humphed softly. "Sounds like Jason let worry run away with him. Let's get back to my house so you can take a shower. I'll fix you something to eat and we'll talk."

"Coffee?" Spencer asked hopefully.

"Absolutely," Rossi replied with a grin. He sobered though as another thought occurred to him. "Does Jason know where you are?" He glanced over at the passenger seat when his nephew didn't answer. "Spencer?"

"He told me to wait for him and that he'd take me home so we could finish our 'discussion'." Spencer drew quotation marks in the air with his fingers. "He just wants to be able to yell at me without an audience. Especially since I think Hotch is on my side."

Rossi shook his head, marveling both at his friend's hardheadedness and his nephew's attempt at avoidance. "Text your mother and let her know where you are. I won't have Jason yelling at you for disappearing without letting someone know where you went."

"Yes sir."

Gideon stepped out of his office and glanced down at the bullpen. He was hoping Spencer was finished with his report so they could leave. To his surprise, his son's desk was empty and his bag was gone. "Morgan, have you seen Reid?"

Morgan glanced up as he slipped on his jacket. "He said to tell you he found his own way home."

"He what?" Gideon struggled to keep a lid on his temper.

"He left about thirty minutes ago after he told me to tell you that he found his own way home. It sounded like he was calling his uncle as he left." The dark skinned agent waved as he headed out the door.

Gideon clenched the rail as his emotions surged. He couldn't believe that his son had taken off when he had been told to wait. He was so upset that he didn't notice Hotch coming to his side.

"Are you angry with Reid for not getting off the train or are you angry because he's your son and he could have been hurt?"

"Don't profile me Hotch," Gideon snapped softly.

"I'm not. I'm just asking you a question so you'll think about why you're really angry." Hotch picked up his briefcase and headed for the elevator. "Reid did exactly what he's been trained to do and he resolved the situation without any other hostages getting hurt. If he was my son, I'd be encouraging him, not reprimanding him."

Gideon didn't answer as the soft whoosh of the elevator doors effectively prevented him from responding to Hotch's observation. He shook his head, stubbornly refusing to admit that his colleague was correct and his anger was in fact misplaced. He returned to his office in time to see his phone buzzing on his desk. "Hello?"

"Why on earth did David Rossi have to come rescue Spencer from you?" Sarah's voice was irate even through the phone and he could just imagine her dark eyes flashing.

"I didn't know that Spencer was at Dave's until just now. I told him to wait for me to bring him home."

"Well Spencer wouldn't tell me why he's upset. He just said that you were angry with him over something that happened on the case and that he'll see you in the morning."

"He disobeyed a direct order in the field and he put himself in jeopardy," Gideon defended himself against his wife's ire.

"And knowing Spencer, he had a good reason. He doesn't take foolish chances," Sarah reminded him.

"I know that," Gideon muttered. "But it doesn't change the fact that he did exactly the opposite what of he was told to do. Twice, if you include this running off stunt."

He sensed Sarah's eye roll in the phone's silence. "Jason, stop being an idiot, come home and cool down so you can have a rational conversation with your son in the morning." Her voice softened as she continued. "You're upset because Spencer was in danger and you have a right to be but you don't have the right to scream at your son because you are afraid he's going to get hurt. At least hear him out."

"I'm still going to speak to David Rossi so that I can give him a piece of my mind for helping my son undermine me."

"Please try to keep it civil," Sarah said pointedly. "I'll see you when you get home. Love you."

"Love you too."

Rossi leaned over and picked up his phone as it rang, smiling to himself as he noted the name on the display. "Hello Jason."

"Where is my son?"

"Upstairs asleep."

"Wake him up and bring him home," Gideon demanded.

"No," Rossi replied calmly.

"Excuse me?"

"First off, it's near midnight and the boy is exhausted. Second, you're angry at him without a just reason and I'm not in the mood to play referee right now. Third, Spencer didn't do anything wrong and you know it."

"I told him to get off the train," Gideon snapped.

"And from what Spencer said, he wasn't able to do so without risking the chance of your suspect shooting an innocent, pregnant woman." Rossi leaned back in his chair. "Besides, he didn't do anything that you wouldn't have done in the same position. And unless I miss my guess, this is more about you being afraid of losing your son than him not getting out of a situation."

The silence on the other end of the line confirmed his suspicions. "When I heard that shot, I panicked. I was so scared that it was going to be Spencer who was hurt. Did he tell you he took of his vest?"

"Yes. He also told me why. You couldn't hear the audio so you didn't know that Spencer wasn't pushing the guy. He was using the knowledge that he gained from having a mother with severe psychiatric issues to talk down an unstable suspect who was bent on killing himself and everyone in range. Your son is a hero and you're treating him like a willful child. He figured out that your suspect was seeing a man that was influencing him and he used that to his advantage in order to create the opening that he and Elle needed to disarm the suspect. So stop acting like a fool and start trusting your son."

Gideon's sigh was audible through the phone. "Will you bring him to work in the morning?"

"Why don't you just come here in the morning and have breakfast with us. It'll give you two a chance to talk and you can take him to work."

"You just don't want to get up early," Gideon accused his old friend.

"Correction, I don't feel like leaving the house that early. I can go back to bed after you two leave," Rossi replied smugly. "Good night Jason."

"Good night David."

Spencer slowly opened his eyes as the smell of fresh coffee and frying bacon teased his nose. He stretched, trying to ease the stiffness in his muscles that always resulted from the flights home. He was too tall to be able to fully relax on the jet. Suddenly he froze as he realized his father was leaning against the doorframe.

"Dave's making breakfast. I brought you some clean clothes so you can shower before going to work."

"Thanks," Spencer replied hesitantly, trying to figure out if his dad was still angry. He slowly sat up, keeping his gaze locked on Gideon. Before he could ask the burning question, his father spoke softly.

"I owe you an apology Spencer. I overreacted yesterday and I was wrong. You weren't being insubordinate and you were correct in pointing out that I would never have yelled at Hotch or Morgan the way I yelled at you." Gideon took a step further into the room. "I was scared because I was afraid you had been hurt and I let that fear take control. I'm sorry, and I hope you'll forgive me."

Spencer swallowed hard around the lump in his throat and settled for nodding. "I'm sorry for leaving like I did Dad. I just didn't know how to deal with you being mad at me." He felt his father's arms pull him into a fierce hug.

"I know and I don't blame you. I know I can be a bear to be around sometimes. Your mother reminded me of that again last night. In fact, she, Dave, and Hotch all let me have it."

Spencer gave a watery chuckle. "I bet. I have to admit I was scared to death near the end of the standoff. I didn't know if I could talk him down but I had to try."

"You did great Spencer and I'm really proud of you."

The moment was interrupted by Rossi's shout. "Will you two get your butts down here before this food gets cold? I'm not a line chef!"

Father and son laughed together. "I guess we're being summoned," Gideon remarked with a wink at his son. "I'll tell Dave you'll be down in a few minutes."

"Thanks Dad." Spencer threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. "Dad?" I'm glad we're okay now."

"Me too, son. Me too."