A/N: Don't own anything but my own characters

Last chapter folks thanks so much for all the feedback

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After getting Troy and Dom booked and the paperwork completed, Reid sat down and let out a long breath. "That has certainly been a busy few days"

Kyle had a concerned look on his face, "Truly Reid, I don't know what I would have done without you and your expertise in these matters. Maybe it was wrong of me to take this job. I mean, I've got no police experience. I wanted a way to serve my community but I realize now that people were literally getting away with murder right under my nose. I think the town needs someone better than me for this."

Reid looked at his hands for a moment before responding, "Kyle, I think you are the perfect man for this job. You are honest, decent and fair. You have integrity. But most of all, you had the sense to ask for help. I know from recent experiences, that is one of the hardest lessons to learn in life."

"Why do I think you're not talking about this case?" Kyle responded.

Reid looked at Kyle with a sadness that comes from lessons learned the hard way and said, "Someday, when it's not so fresh and I have better perspective, I'll tell you about it. Now getting back to our discussion, you have never been involved with crime or police, how could you be expected to know what to do."

Kyle looked like he was about to interrupt but Reid said, "Let me finish. I have had a lot of education, a lot more than most people will ever have, I can read 20,000 words a minute; have an eidetic memory and an IQ of 187. I also have the privilege of working with some of the finest deductive minds in the world and being surrounded by them every day teaches me what books and lectures can't. What I think you need is a little education, perhaps some lectures and seminars on deduction, procedure, criminalistics, that sort of thing. If you want me to, I can try and arrange something for you and sheriffs from surrounding areas through Quantico."

"You would really do that for us?" Kyle said, both surprise and relief evident in his voice.

Reid nodded, "If you want me to."

"That would be great; I don't know how to thank you."

"I do, promise me you'll stay on as sheriff."

Reid walked into Cory's room to find him sitting in an armchair. Although he still had an IV infusing into his right arm, he looked a little better than the day before, but unlike most patients, Cory would not look forward to being discharged. He would not be going home.

"You were right about Dom and Troy cutting my brake lines. Garcia traced the car parts to Indiana. They'll be going away for a long time."

"Did they admit to it?"

"Not at first and there were no prints on the underside. I'm sure Dom or Troy wiped them off. However we got lucky, the bank across the street has security cameras and when I requested the tapes, there was Troy, caught on tape, tampering with my brakes. They couldn't deny it after that."

"We also got federal warrants and arrested all the people from the DVD's, who molested you as a child."

"But I thought the statute of limitations ran out after seven years."

"No Cory, the statute runs out five years after you turn twenty-one. They'll all pay for what happened to you."

Tears welled up in Cory's eyes and eventually spilled over to flow down his cheeks. "Thank you," he said, his voice cracking.

"Cory, like I said, I hope your lawyer uses those DVD's to get you the psychiatric help you need. Please take that help."

Cory nodded, "You're going back now, to Virginia." When Reid nodded, he continued, "You'll be back, right, for my trial." Reid nodded again. "I guess I'll see you then."

"I guess so. Good luck Cory."

"Thanks, you too," Cory replied. Reid nodded, turned and left the room.

Reid went to his motel room to pack up his things, he had a long drive ahead of him and he wanted to get started. Once he was done packing, he headed for the diner to say good bye to Miriam and Colleen.

They were alone in the diner as the lunch rush was over. Miriam was cleaning in the kitchen and Colleen was filling salt and pepper shakers, when he came in. They both greeted him warmly. Colleen had the sweetest smile, he thought. He told them he had stopped in to say good bye before he set out on the road. Miriam thanked him for all he had done and said he was always welcome in their home. Before she went back to the kitchen, she gave him a big hug and begged him not to be a stranger. Then she discreetly left the room leaving Reid and Colleen alone.

Colleen blurted out, "I can't believe all that's happened in the last few days. Two guys I thought I knew turned out to be criminals, people we thought we knew in the community turned out to be perverts. You almost got killed twice and it's all my fault."

Reid looked at Colleen, reached over the counter and took her hand in his, "People hide behind facades," he said, "And only show others what they want them to see. I know all about that. None of this is your fault."

"But I told my Dad to ask you for help."

Reid hesitated before he continued, "And I'm grateful for that, I have just been through a couple of experiences that have made me question my belief in myself and my decision making." Colleen was starting to speak but Reid stilled her lips with his fingers. "I made a few bad decisions a while back and they changed my life. I went through a very rough time and the people around me, who love me, feel guilty that they didn't help me enough, guide me enough, notice earlier that I was in trouble, take your pick. I can't take anyone else's guilt right now. I have fought and am still fighting the battle to get back to a semblance of the man I used to be. I will never get him back completely because he had an innocence that, once lost, can never be recovered. However, coming here and meeting you and your family who, for whatever reason, had complete confidence in me, helped me. I was able to use my knowledge and skills to help catch a killer and that has made me say to myself, Spencer Reid, maybe you're tougher than you think."

"Please don't dwell on guilt or anything that happened here in the last few days. You have a lot of things to consider, remember, you have plans to make."

"I've been thinking I have to go somewhere. What's it like in Quantico? Do they need waitresses there?"

"Why Quantico?"

"Well you're there and I would know someone there." She looked at the questioning expression on his face, "Okay, okay, I just hate the thought that when you go back to Virginia, I'll never see you again."

"Well I don't think you have to worry about that. How many people did we arrest in the last two days? Seventeen. You know what that means don't you?" She was looking at him, baffled. "Trials, seventeen of them, and being the federal arresting officer and the collector of all forensic evidence, I will undoubtedly be called upon to testify. You will be so sick of me by the time it's all over. As for you coming to Quantico, if that's what you choose, I will always be glad to have a friend there. You are a beautiful person, inside and out, and I care for you, a lot, but I can't be right for any other person until I'm right within myself. The same goes for you. We both have some growing to do before we get there," he released her hand, reached up and cradled her face in his hands, her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he caressed her lips with his in a kiss that was long, gentle and full of promise, "but never say never." With that he got up and walked to the door, turned to look at Colleen and with a little wink, he was gone on the long road back to Quantico. Spencer Reid was confident he could handle whatever awaited him there.

THE END

I am thinking on a sequel to this story so you may not have seen the last of Colleen!