A/N Once again I don't own Criminal Minds

Thanks to all those who so kindly read and reviewed

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Queen of the information superhighway, speak and be recognized."

"Hey Garcia, how are you?"

"Is that you sweetcheeks?" Garcia said and she could feel Reid blushing over the telephone line. "What are you up to doll?"

"You don't want to know Garcia, you really don't."

"Come on honey, you can tell me."

"Well yeah Garcia, that's kinda why I called. I'm in a little town in Kentucky called Brookdale. There were two brutal murders here last night and the sheriff didn't have a clue where to start and asked for my assistance. Anyway, there's a bunch of forensic samples and two bodies coming your way, do you want to make sure they're processed ASAP and get the results to me."

'Reid, I thought you were on vacation."

"Yeah, I thought so too, oh well the best laid plans, you know!" Reid replied, "Listen, I also need you to look up everything you can find on my victims Valerie Simms and Jeff Clisby, both of Brookdale. I need to find the connection and right now I can't see it. Get back to me as soon as you can, okay."

"You got it babe, I'm on it."

"Thanks, Garcia." He turned to Kyle and said, "I just spoke to Penelope Garcia, hacker extraordinaire of the FBI and I have her looking into the victims. If there's a connection, believe me she'll find it. I've got her on alert to expect the bodies and forensic samples; she'll see that they're dealt with ASAP."

"Thank you so much Agent Reid, you don't know how much your help means to me." Kyle's face showed the relief he felt at having someone there to whom this was nothing new.

"Don't mention it and just call me Reid, everybody does."

Garcia punched the information into her computers and left them to do their work, and then she headed upstairs. She found the team in the conference room discussing a case. "Hi pals, I just thought I would let you know that I just heard from Reid."

"Great," Emily said, "How's he doing?"

"Well, he's not exactly vacationing like he thought he would," Garcia took a deep breath and continued. "It seems that he stopped in a small town in Kentucky for the night and they had two brutal murders. The sheriff is in over his head and asked Reid to assist. He sent the forensic evidence and the two bodies here and he wants me to research the two victims to find a connection. I've got my children working on it now."

"You mean he's down in Kentucky handling these murders alone?" Hotch asked, concern showing on his face.

"Apparently the law enforcement down there has never seen anything like this before and needed some guidance." Garcia replied.

"Well," Morgan added jumping up from his seat, "We better get ready and get down there right away."

Everyone started to nod in agreement, when Gideon spoke up, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"What do you mean Jason, you know what happened to him the last time he was on his own. He's still recovering." Hotch added.

"Look, I know you are all concerned for him, I'm concerned for him too. But he has just gone through a couple of disastrous experiences that have shaken his belief in himself. I think he feels we are all watching him. But down in Kentucky, these people know none of this and they are looking to him for his knowledge and experience and it sounds like he is handling it very well. I think he needs to do this, to get his confidence back and I think we need to let him. He wants to prove he's strong enough. Furthermore, he called Garcia for some computer work; he didn't contact any of us to ask for our help. I think until he does, we should stay out of it. Of course, if he needs our help, we will be there in a heartbeat, no question," he finished, his concern for Reid written on his face but his face also showed a pride in the young man he considered a son.

"I understand what you're saying, but I'm still worried about him." JJ interjected.

"Maybe that has been our problem for too long now. It has been an unspoken rule that he is the baby of our little family and above all things, he is to be protected." Gideon continued, "Did we ever stop to consider that maybe he doesn't want that. He's a big boy; he's an FBI agent, the same as any of us. Would we all be so ready to run out the door if it was Morgan down there and not Reid? You know we wouldn't. I think we need to give him the chance to do it on his own, we owe him that."

The group was quiet for a few minutes, then Hotch broke the silence, "All right Jason, we'll do it your way. I hope to God you're right."

Everyone in the sheriff's station was tired and on edge. None of them had gotten much sleep and with things the way they were, who knew when they would get a good night's sleep again. The door to the station opened and Miriam and Colleen walked in, arms loaded down with food. Reid jumped to his feet, taking something from Colleen, "Here, let me help you with that."

Colleen smiled up at him and said, "According to my Dad you've been the biggest help already. Thanks by the way."

Reid returned her smile; she looked really nice in a yellow sundress that contrasted so nicely with her brown hair and eyes. "It looks like you and your Mom went to a lot of work, thanks."

"Well, you guys were up all night and you didn't get any breakfast so it's the least we could do." Damn, he's got a beautiful smile, and those eyes!

The Rutherford women had indeed gone to a lot of work, there were salads, buns, meats, sandwiches, fruit, pie and whipped cream. Reid's mouth began to water just looking at it. Colleen prepared a plate for him and brought it over. "Oh thanks, you didn't have to bring it over; we're not in the diner. You don't have to wait on me."

"That's okay; I figure you must be tired after all you've done for my Dad. I hope you don't mind that we suggested he contact you."

He was breaking apart a bun and replied, "No, I didn't mind at all."

I love his long slender fingers. What would it feel like to be touched by them?

At that moment, Reid's cell phone rang, "Reid" he said into the receiver.

"Hey babe, it's me. I got some answers for you."