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A/n hey all... Here's the last chapter. I can't tell you how much your kind support means to me. You're all the best. Hope you enjoy the last chapter.
Epilogue
"Where's Reid?" Rossi asked as he met Hotch entering their favorite bar, Sparky's.
"I was informed by Strauss that he took some sick time." Hotch said.
Rossi sighed. "I wish he'd tell us what's bothering him."
"He will when he's ready." Hotch replied with a sigh and a thoughtful expression. "You know you won't get it out of him until then."
"Yeah, he's as stubborn as my second wife."
"I see Garcia and Morgan." Hotch indicated a booth in the corner of the room
He led Rossi to the booth and joined them. "I'm glad you're here." He said to Garcia who beamed at him despite red-rimmed eyes.
"I'm trying to be positive." She said.
"I went over Strauss's head to ADA Rawlins." Hotch said. "I explained to him what happened with Seaver. He's giving us all two weeks off. He's upset that Strauss overstepped her authority on this."
"I take it he wasn't upset enough to actually do anything." Morgan said as he held Garcia's hand.
"No… He sees value in her. I told him that was fine, but we needed time to adjust to all the changes. I told him that we didn't get time after Emily's death. He wasn't happy to hear that so we're all on vacation as of now. Take two weeks and do what you need to do to recharge."
"What about Seaver?" Morgan asked bluntly.
"She's been reassigned." Hotch said briefly.
No one spoke for a long time. When a server brought them all beers, Morgan raised his bottle, "To Emily Prentiss." He knocked his bottle into the others.
"She was the best." Garcia said.
"Yeah… She was the best." Rossi agreed with a sad little smile.
"She was a formidable woman and a superior agent." Hotch added through his glowering expression.
"So what did you say to Strauss?" Morgan asked Rossi.
"Let's just say she won't be bothering us again."
"You scare me." Morgan acknowledged. "Remind me never to get out your bad side."
Rossi only shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "She had it coming."
"Hi guys."
They all looked up to see Reid standing in front of their table with his messenger bag over one shoulder and his sweater vest unbuttoned over his white dress shirt.
"I thought you went home sick." Rossi asked.
Morgan smirked when Reid went pink in the cheeks. "Um… Well I do have a bit of a headache, but mostly I just wanted to get out of Strauss's office."
"You played the sympathy card on Strauss and it worked." Morgan laughed. "You truly are a genius."
Reid took a seat next to Rossi. "I didn't play the sympathy card."
Garcia reached over and patted his arm. "I'm glad you're not sick sweet cheeks."
Reid asked for a beer from the server. Rossi asked for scotch on the rocks. Garcia ordered red wine and Hotch declined another drink as did Morgan.
"Where is Seaver?" Reid asked.
Rossi explained to him what he'd said to Strauss and Hotch explained that she'd been reassigned.
"I say good riddance." Morgan began.
"Stop it." Hotch interrupted. "We're not going to sit here and talk about Seaver's shortcomings. She was dismissed from the unit because she didn't know when to stay silent, but that's not the only reason."
"Hotch, she betrayed out trust. She got Garcia in trouble." Morgan protested.
"I know she did, but that doesn't mean we stoop to her level."
"Hotch is right," Garcia said. "I'm not mad at her."
"Baby-girl."
"I was upset in the beginning, but what good does it do? She's lost her dream. I don't know how anything gets worse than that. If I lost my dream job, I'd freak out. I love you guys."
"We love you too Garcia." Rossi said.
"You know I love you mama." Morgan said. "You're the best."
Reid gave her a tiny wave and a smile that had her laughing. The server came back with all of their drinks.
"A toast to the fabulous Penelope Garcia," Rossi said. "May you always meet us at the elevator doors when we come home?"
"I'll drink to that." Morgan said enthusiastically.
"Me too," Reid said.
"You know I value your unique talents." Hotch put in.
"Does that mean I can have a raise when I get back?" She said without missing a beat.
Hotch sat back in his chair with the expression of someone thinking, or pretending to think because he said. "I'll have to take that up with Strauss."
After a few seconds of startled silence, they all laughed except for Hotch.
"Good one Aaron. I didn't think you had it in you to tell a good joke."
Hotch surveyed them all with just a hint of a smile. "I never tell jokes."
After another minute of stunned silence, Reid said tentatively. "So you really have to talk to Strauss."
"No, but Garcia does have to wait until her next performance review."
Garcia threw a pretzel at him that pinged off his head and fell in Rossi's lap. "I'd watch it baby girl. You did just ask for a raise."
"Come on…" Rossi slid out of the booth. "Why don't we all go get some rest? I for one plan to sleep for a couple of days then take Mudgie to the cabin."
"What are you going to do pretty boy." Morgan asked as Hotch left cash on the table for their server.
"I'm going home." He smiled. "I haven't seen mom for a while.
He didn't tell them he planned at least one visit to Emily's gravesite.
"I'm off somewhere with Jack." Hotch said around a genuine smile that lit up his eyes like stars.
"What about you baby girl?" Morgan asked.
"I don't care about the next two weeks. Right now, I want to dance. Why don't we head over to "Baille?"
"You got it Mama."