~BEXLEY POV~

"I sent you away because you are stubborn and I knew he was going to come for me the second I was alone. I didn't want you hurt. I can take a beating, Spence. I've learned how to do that over the years. I wasn't going to let you getting hurt be my fault. I can't go through that again." I told him and while my voice stayed calm, I knew he could hear the slight edge.

He leaned forward and put a kiss on my neck before saying "We're supposed to protect each other, Bex. Don't keep things like this from me. If you would have gotten killed…" he put his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes tight, trying to erase the image from his mind.

I ignored the pain as I let one of my hands move behind his head to play with his hair and I moved my other hand to hold his. He relaxed a little and I kissed his forehead.

"He's got no use for me now, Spence. He's going to try to kill me and you have to accept the fact that if that happens, it's not your fault." I told him and I started falling asleep from the pain killers and just the pure exhaustion of the pain itself.

He moved out of the bed, careful not to hurt me, and leaned down to peck my lips. "I'll see you soon, my love. Sleep well."

"Spencer." I called, more than half asleep. "Te iubesc."

I fell asleep after saying what I'd been holding back and I felt a smile on my face as I fell asleep.

~SPENCER POV~

I closed her door gently, unsure of what she said to me before she fell asleep. I knew what I needed to do and made my way to the waiting room where the rest of the team was waiting. I came out and saw Sloane staring at Tyler with an eyebrow raised.

"Are you sure?" He asked and Sloane gave him the most confused look I'd ever seen.

"Am I sure? I tell you you're going to be a dad and all you have to say is "are you sure"? Of course, I'm sure. The nurse just told me a little while ago." He reached forward then and pulled her into a hug.

I couldn't help but feel a little jealous of their news. I was happy for them, don't get me wrong. I just… wanted to be able to have one of my own. I shook the selfish thoughts from my mind and nodded my head so that the rest of the team would meet me outside.

"What's going on, pretty boy?" Morgan asked.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and said "Sasha has to know where he is. If he comes after her again, he's not going to let her go. I feel like this was a warning, not just to her but to me as well. I need to talk to Sasha."

Hotch stared me down before giving me an answer. "Reid, you can't force her to tell you where he is. We have to do this by protocol."

"Hotch; I've already lost someone because of following protocol. I will not lose Bexley." I said and didn't try to hide the determination in my voice. I didn't care if I lost my job, my friends, and had to go in alone. I was going to find Christopher Ashburn, one way or another.

JJ walked over, along with Penelope, and put a hand on my arm in a comforting gesture. "If you go, I'm going with you."

"Same, kiddo." Garcia said and gave me an assuring smile.

Rossi nodded and said "Eleanor would never forgive me if I let you go alone. Bexley's family now."

Morgan grinned and said "Count me in."

Hotch thought for a moment before pulling his cell phone out and sending a text message. He looked up and said "Sasha said to meet us at the park in five minutes. That's long enough for us to get there."

"Thank you, Hotch." I said and while they walked to their cars I came in to see Eleanor.

I walked over to her and said "We're going to talk to her mom now. Stay here with her and keep her safe. Please, don't let anything happen to her."

She hugged me then and I let myself feel the comfort she was offering. Sloane walked over with Tyler in tow.

"She'll be fine. Go get that fucker." Sloane gave a grin and Tyler put his arms around her, resting his hands on her stomach.

He nodded before saying "We'll keep her safe."

"Thank you." I said and pulled out of the hug. "One more thing. Eleanor, do you know Romanian by some chance?"

She smiled and said "A little bit, dear. Why?"

"Bexley said something before she fell asleep. It might have been nonsense, but I'd like to know what she said. Just in case." I couldn't bring myself to finish that sentence. I didn't want to think of not seeing Bexley again, though it was a very real possibility.

"What did she say?" She asked and Sloane and Tyler listened eagerly.

I was able to repeat what she'd said without difficulty. "Te iubesc."

Eleanor smiled sweetly then and her eyes glossed over in tears. This caused my heart to race but I remained quiet. I relaxed a little when I realized that it was tears of joy than hurt.

"It means I love you." She said and I felt my heart leap. If I hadn't have had to go find her mother, I would have loved to stay by her side until she woke up. I had to put her first and leave the hospital but at least I would leave knowing that she'd said what I'd been waiting to hear for so long.

Seven minutes and thirty-two seconds later, I was face to face with her mother at the park where I'd played chess so many times. Her long red hair was down and around her relaxed face. She was completely at ease as she walked up to all of us.

"You're not going to see him till in the morning. He's out all hours of the night but there's a cabin in the middle of the woods. He'll be there at five in the morning. Don't be surprised if he's waiting for you." She said and began to walk back to her car.

Morgan growled and asked "Why would he be waiting for us?"

"I said I would tell you where he was. He's not the type to run so I might as well give him a bit of warning. After all, it wouldn't be any fun to let you just arrest him. Good luck, Dr. Reid." She said and let out a laugh before making her way to her car.

I took a deep breath and calmed down before looking at Hotch. He nodded and said "We'll all meet in the morning on the outskirts of the woods. I'll send you the location later and everyone be ready."

They all nodded and I decided to walk back to the hospital instead of riding with them, hoping to calm myself down before arriving.

"Spence." JJ called and I looked back to see she had an extremely worried expression. "It's going to be okay."

I nodded and started my walk back to the hospital. I was going to stay by Bexley's side tonight and pray that it wasn't my last.

***Well, there's another chapter. Things are really going to go down in the next chapter. Let me know what you guys think so R&R and thank you for reading. Have a great day!