Chapter 12

Hey peeps! Reed Garrett here, back from vacation;, rested, relaxed and ready to rumble.

But where do I start?

My week of vacation, with all due respect to my parents that adopted me and love me to this day, was the most amazing week I've had. I've already told them about it. And being the awesomely supportive parents that they are, they are happy campers. That's how special they are.

Yet, what I got to witness and be a part of this week has simply blown me away. I had expectations walking in, which were quickly shot down. But I have to be honest with all of you; I got so much more.

I spent the week with the man that married by birth mom. I love the man that raised me as his son, but I love this man as well. I call him "Dad" also. And he, and the angel he has in life, gave me an incredible week.

See, my birth mom's husband, as those you that have followed from the get go know, is Mac Taylor. Dad is the head of the NYPD Crime Lab. Yeah, I call him dad now. What none of you know, up until now, is that my dad has a little brother. *laughs* Not so little. My dad battled a health problem early in his childhood. His brother, an Irishman like my dad, didn't have that problem.

Anyway, my uncle, Matt Taylor is 6'2", and built like the proverbial Irishman; much to the consternation of my dad. He is also a Colonel in the US Marine Corp Reserve, and the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions with his Marine Company in the early hours of the original Gulf War. I slept in his den; seeing that Medal every night before I went to bed. He just shakes it off like it didn't happen. I looked at that Medal every night before I shut my eyes. I know differently.

The most awesome part for me though, was learning so much more about my birth mother and hearing the special memories these two brothers share. I learned so many things, including life on an actual dairy farm.

And it was so much more than that. Matt's beautiful wife, a federal prosecutor, is an amazing wife and mother and just a special lady that also knew my birth mom. She shared a very special memory. My birth mom was in she and Uncle Matt's wedding. Dad was Uncle Matt's best man. They were married in June, 2001. That's the last time they seen my mom.

Their three children are cousins I've never had. And while our ages are quite different, they will hold a special place in my heart forever. I have a second family and I simply love them.

We spent a wonderful time in the DC area. It was especially moving to see my dad and my uncle share their memory of their dad, who served in World War II the day we spent as a family seeing part of the Mall. And McKenna Taylor's service was brought home even more when we adults toured the Holocaust Museum. He was part of the US Army contingent that liberated the Buchenwald Death Camp.

My week, however, was just not this family. It was another family; the agents that serve in the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. For those of you that have not heard of the BAU, they are the specially trained agents that assist local law enforcement agencies across the nation and consultant to agencies around the world, in apprehending serial killers, terrorists, pedophiles, rapists and arsonists, as well as being one of the first teams called in on kidnapped children cases. Bottom line: on a daily basis, they deal with the worst of the worst. If they are not out in the field, away from their families, they are studying and analyzing in their office, offering consultations and providing education within the Bureau and beyond.

Knowing my uncle was part of this team before I left, I hoped to give all of you a big scoop with an inside look at the BAU. I don't have that. I just got an inside look at the real part – the woman and men that make up this team and why they do the job they do. Why they put up with the nightmares.

They do it for their kids and their families to keep them safe. Sometimes, that doesn't work out and their own family suffered a huge loss. Yet, they stand by each other, support each other, and at the end of the day, laugh and relax with each other. One of the three co-founders of the original BAU returned to the Unit and now serves as the Senior Profiler for the team. To me, he summed it up best. "I'm honored to work with them."

The term "brothers and sisters in arms" can be bandied about quite a bit. I got to see it in action. However, it wasn't in the field or watching this highly trained team working. It was seeing them relax and be together. They are a true family, in every sense of the word. And I'm honored to now be a part of that family.

-00CM00-

On Monday morning, as Garcia left Hotch's office, he rose from his desk, gathering the case files that Garcia had left. He walked out the door towards Dave's office and stuck his head in the open door. "We've got a case." Dave was heads down with his laptop.

"Be there in a sec. I'm just finishing reading Reed's blog." Hotch smiled and moved towards Matt's office. His door was also open, but Matt was on the phone and by the sounds of his side of the conversation, talking with their pilot Chuck.

Matt looked at Hotch after hung up. "He and Angie will be ready by the time we get done with the briefing and get gathered up to go." Hotch nodded.

"Where's the big dog?" Matt asked moving around his desk to join Hotch.

"He's reading Reed's blog." Hotch looked Matt in the eye as they moved out onto the walkway. "He really did right by us."

Dave, joining the two, added, "He sure did."

Matt smiled proudly. "So let's go get one for the kid and prove him right." The three of them smiled and moved to the Round Table Room.

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A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you that left reviews, did a story alert, hit the favorite button, etc. As always, your support is simply overwhelming to me; and greatly appreciated.

To the gang at CM Rev, especially all of my Hotch sisters, thank you once again for being so supportive of me during the writing process. You are the best gang! XOXOXO's.

A shout out also goes to my Twitter sisters: the Dutch Delight and the Montreal Magician.

And to Thn0715: my Jedi Master and mentor. I wouldn't be doing this without you. You gave me the push to get on this writing road, and you've been there for me for every bit of the ride. I'm blessed to have you as a mentor. I'm more blessed to call you my friend. Please take the time to check out her stories as well. She's awesome!