Hi. This chapter is going to completely confuse anyone who only reads the first and last chapters. If you gave up at some point, I'm sorry.

Chapter Sixty-Three:

Five Years Later:

The boy had been kept in a barn for two years by his uncle. Eight-year-old Jeremy Cardwell let out unearthly screams whenever anyone came near him. His hair hadn't been cut since then and he was only wearing shorts with bloodstains on them. A chain was attached to his ankle that only gave him only six feet of movement.

Reid stepped forward and played the ninja turtles theme song on phone. The boy began to sing along. The rescue personnel slowly added light to the barn.

"Who was your favorite turtle?" Reid asked as he slowly approached him.

"Mikey," Jeremy said as fear filled his eyes. He backed into the corner further from him.

Reid found a stick and began to draw in the dirt. After ten minutes, Jeremy grew curious. He burst into tears when he saw what he was drawing.

"MOMMY!"

"She wants you back, Jeremy," he said calmly.

"But Uncle Teddy said she was in jail because she was a bad mom!"

"She got better Jeremy. She's been looking for you."

"LIES! A good mommy would have found me!"

"You're right. Your mommy failed. But she wants to do better. She wants to prove she can be a good mommy to you. Will you let her?"

Jeremy stood alone for a moment.

"Is it over? Will I be safe?"

"The world is big and scary Jeremy. You and I know this better than most people. You're a big boy so I won't lie: It will be hard at times and it will be scary. But the thing is, you won't be alone. I'll make sure you get the love you deserve. It will get better, that much I promise."

The boy crashed into him.

"I WANT TO GO HOME!"

"You'll see rainbows again," Reid said. "I promise."

EMTs and paramedics appeared. "Rainbow," was his code word for the EMTs to come forward.

He held the boy for twenty minutes and as they slowly approached him and undid the restraint.

Reid stepped out of the barn and Iris was dressed in an FBI windbreaker.

"Thanks for coming out for this one Headmaster Reid," she said.

"Anytime Agent Parr," he said.

"Your dirt art has gotten freakishly good. You need to start selling it for school fundraisers."

"I don't need the money that badly. My latest book on alternative teaching methods for nontraditional learners is still on the best-seller list."

"But you're opening a fourth school in Alaska of all places! That one's going to be hard to keep open."

Reid watched as Jeremy was reunited with his mother.

"The last pandemic left me with respiratory issues. The Alaska air will be good for me."

An agent who looked like he was cut from Hotch's mold of impeccable dress and hard exterior appeared.

"We need your help processing the scene. Agent Parr," he said. "You can talk to Dr. Reid another time."

"Want to help me do paperwork later?" she asked.

"You're not a probie anymore," Reid said.

"Parr," the senior agent said impatiently.

"I'll text you later," she said and walked to the main building.

Reid approached the man. "How is she?"

"She's doing better. The disciplinary hearing cleared her of all charges. They believed her story about seeing the flash of a gun."

"And you?"

"I know she shot the bastard without cause and I'm not losing sleep over it. He would have skated to the next country without an extradition treaty and abused more women. Iris and I both know it."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Keep an eye on her and make she keeps in touch with you."

"Thanks for understanding sir."

"Am I really Hotch 2.0 like Iris says behind my back? It's Nate to you."

Reid tried not to smile and SSA Nate Steele rolled his eyes.

"I better make sure Iris doesn't break anything. It's like Hummel figurines pop up wherever she goes."

"I need to change."

"Until we meet again," he said as he walked to the main house.

Reid walked to the spare paramedic van where he kept a change of clothes. Iris asked him to consult on cases like this every few months. It helped him stay grounded in why he started the school system when he had days where he did nothing but paperwork. Going to dark places and telling these kids and young adults, that better days were coming reminded him this was why put up with administrative challenges. For every child that lost parts of their childhood, he vowed to give them a place to grow that was full of hope.

He changed out of the filth and heard his phone beep. The text was gibberish nonsense from Nadia. He smiled.

This was his life. This was why he climbed out of that basement. He saved himself so he could help save others.

THE END

I was never going to be happy with the way I ended this story. Life isn't smooth sailing, but it can get better. Reid is where I want him to be, and I guess that is all that matters at this point.

Thank you to those who stuck around! I love you all!

I never say never about ending my FF writing. My life has changed so much since I started. I don't wake up wondering what fresh hell I'm going to face regarding problems at school, work, and my family. FF will always be in my life. I just don't know where.

I may cut a few stories I haven't added to. If you have any favorites, please comment on THEIR pages.