"Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." - Richard Bach

An unseen shadow fell over the conference room. While its presence could not be detected by the human eye, it was painfully real to agents Rossi, Morgan, Jareau, Garcia and Reid. The knowledge just bestowed upon them seemed to stop time.

Hotch presented the news to his team in the most professional manner he could. Gideon – their respected former colleague and dear friend had confessed to the murder of escape convict, Adrian Bale. This meant a great number of things. But the most important factor surrounding this discovery was brought back to them by Hotch.

"We've been looking at this un-sub all wrong. The only thing we can still say for certain is that this was an act of revenge. Whoever we're after is highly intelligent and patient. This couldn't have been planned over night. They know every detail about the team and obviously hold us responsible for something. Garcia."

The sudden change in Hotch's tone as he addressed the woman startled her mildly, "Y-yes sir."

"Bring up all the files you compiled earlier of possible un-subs that we've convicted in the past. Focus on anyone who was either released or has close ties to family. Chances are we could be looking at the work of a begrudging relative."

"Yes sir. Right away," those words left her lips as swiftly as she left the room.

"The rest of you start going over the evidence found at the scenes of the kidnappings. There's bound to be something we're over looking. Start working on a profile. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Everyone but Reid nodded, "Hotch... would it be possible for us to speak to Gideon?" All eyes darted back to the young man at his request. "I just… thought maybe before he's sent to-"

"Reid," Hotch interrupted and rather forcefully, "I have no idea how you managed to talk your way out of bed rest but you had better be gone by the time I get back to Quantico, do you understand? That's an order, Reid. If I see you in the office, you will be suspended on the spot."

There were a number of ways that Reid could have reacted to this order. However, the young genius never ceased to surprise his colleagues and this case was no different. The behavior he demonstrated next was nothing any one of them anticipated.

"Yes sir. I understand. … Sorry."

How odd it was. Where the team expected to witness concealed rage beneath a false calm, it was the exact opposite. Reid stared blankly at the table as Hotch continued t give orders to the other agents. He wore a sour expression for his team to see but only Rossi paid attention to the young man's eyes. For it was within those two pools of chestnut brown, Reid's true emotion could be read.

It was relief.

As the call came to an end, Morgan was the first to approach Reid. "Well kid, you heard the man. Let's get you back to the hospital."

Reid's lips folded thoughtfully as he shrugged away from Morgan's hand, "Actually, I'd feel a lot better if I just got someone else from a different unit to take me. You guys really need to work this profile so you find my mom and Henry in time."

Some of the world's most brilliant minds looked him in the eye and were unable to tell what it was that changed Spencer's attitude about the case. There were no tricks he could pull if another agent was with him and it wasn't like there was anywhere else for him to go. As odd as his teammates found his request, they couldn't quite place what Reid was hiding if anything at all.

He seemed genuinely tired; then again so were the rest of them. Perhaps that was what steered them off course from suspecting anything from Reid's shift in attitude.

Morgan turned to Rossi as if to ask for permission to allow what Reid was asking. With traces of suspicion dwindling in his tired eyes, the older agent gave the okay. "He's right. Since the un-sub has failed to contact us, we need all of our focus right here right now."

Reid smiled faintly and nodded. He allowed physical contact from Morgan this time, who gently patted his arm, "Go on, man. Just go get the help you need to get back on your feet and leave the rest to us. We won't let you down."

So much sincerity rang in those words; Reid couldn't help but smile a little more genuinely at his friend. "Thanks, Morgan." His eyes then flickered in Rossi's direction, then JJ's and the whole time, he still wore that same fond expression. "What a way to spend my birthday," he scoffed, "Alone in a hospital bed."

Suddenly that little fact dawned on his teammates. They'd forgotten entirely what the date was and expectedly so. In response to his remorseful statement, Reid's teammates flocked to him instantly.

JJ was the first to reach his side and very gently hug him. Garcia was next and gave him an ever so affectionate kiss on the cheek. Even Morgan apologized for not saying something and in his cool-guy manner, slapped palms with Reid and pulled him into a hug.

The only one who kept his distance and attention on the case files was Rossi. At least that's what he made the others think. In reality he was watching Reid like a hawk until the young man exited the room. Unaware of what Rossi had on his mind, Morgan led the team back into business.

"Alright… so this guy's obviously highly intelligent. He had it set up to where there were two scapegoats the bombs could be connected to. Not only that but he's made sure that if the attacks on us weren't successful, he could get to the next best thing in a matter of hours."

Just a moment off from interrupting Morgan, Rossi took charge of the conversation, "What about the notes that were found? 'I will take from him what he took from me.' If this isn't Bale we're looking at, it's possible that the message wasn't for Gideon."

"So… who was it for?"

"Garcia, how much evidence were you able to access from the scene of Henry's abduction?"

"Not a whole lot, sir."

"What about prints?"

"Not that I know of but the police only just got there. Maybe they'll find something."

"And at Diana Reid's? Were any prints found?"

When Garcia was unable to recall that answer, Morgan stepped in, "Rossi, what's this about?"

SSA David Rossi ran a hand through his hair and thoughtfully swept it down over his chin, "It's something Reid said outside."

'My mother is out there and after losing Prentiss gone, we need everything we've got to solve this case.'

"He didn't say Bale has my mother or… my mother is in danger. His words were, 'my mother is out there.'"

Between Garcia, Morgan and JJ was a shocked look of disbelief. Morgan was the first to voice the doubt the three of them shared, "You don't actually believe Diana Reid is the one behind all of this?"

Rather than answering with a simple yes or no, Rossi attempted to shed more light to his team about why he felt this way, "The un-sub we're looking for knows things – personal things about this team that no one outside the bureaushould know. Yet we know that Reid confides in his mother about everything. There's also the note… the note that was left that clearly suggests this is an act of revenge. But… it was never about the rest of us. 'I will take from you what you took from me.' That was written to Spencer. She's taken Henry, Spencer's godson because…" His words began to trail off; this is where his theory started to go cold.

"Come on, man," Morgan said before Rossi had a chance to collect his thoughts and start back up again, "This is crazy. We've all seen Reid with his mother. She dotes on the kid. There's no way she's the un-sub. And you know if Reid was here, he's probably throw down his gun and badge for even suggesting something like that."

"Morgan, the woman is mentally unstable. When Spencer was eighteen he had her committed and locked away for years. She's had time to perfect a façade. She's waited until the opportune moment to make him pay for what he did." Rossi seemed absolutely determined to believe this theory. But it had to be the lack of sleep talking.

Though Morgan wasn't quick to budge and believe, JJ felt an unsettling twist in her stomach. "Did you hear the way he mentioned his birthday." She mumbled almost to herself, "That wasn't like Spence at all; if anything he's always tried to avoid that kind of attention."

Rossi could tell where she was going, "He was trying to get a proper goodbye out of all of you without raising our suspicion. He knew if he reminded us that it was his birthday that the three of you would display some kind of affection and he wanted that… because…"

Feeling like a fool for not noticing the signs, Morgan finally jumped on board with the others, "Because he's probably known the truth since he took another look at that letter. The only reason he came back to the office was…"

"Was to say goodbye… he knows where she is."

~ Author's Notes ~

I am fully prepared to receive some BRUTAL criticism for this. When I came up with the idea it seemed so flawless but actually writing it out to make sense was hard as hell. I hope I didn't lose or confuse anyone. I hope no one's mad at me for turning Diana Reid into a deranged lunatic.