Hey everyone, here is the next chapter for you all. I hope you all enjoy it. This chapter mainly focuses on Spencer and Stephen discussing Gideon and I did love writing this chapter as I felt it had a unique aspect to it. Two men who both consider Gideon as their father, one linked by blood and another linked in other ways. I also like the ending to this chapter. Regarding the fanfic idea I posted last night, I'll start that when I finish this which will be in about another week or so. The unsub would be a normal human who has discovered a way to invade dreams. It's inspired by the idea that if you die in your dreams, you die in your sleep myth. I'll tease that the BAU would find a way to help Reid too. Enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Thank you so much for all the reviews, I love you for taking the time to leave them and they mean a lot to me. Thank you!

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All mistakes are my own

Reid felt his arms shake as he straightened himself to sit up in his hospital bed. Emily and Alex gave him a small nod before leaving the room, leaving him alone with Stephen Gideon. They remained silent for some time, the only noise being heard was the clock on the wall. Licking his dry lips, Reid decided to speak first. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Stephen."

"Thank you," Stephen said before running a hand over his face. "I just don't understand why this happened. Look, I'm here because I have questions and I want answers. Even the morgue was reluctant to tell me anything, all I received were my dad's ashes, I couldn't even bury a body. Who killed him and why did they kill him? They came after you too but you survived."

"I only survived because of your father. He figured out who had infected him and knew that I was his next target, your dad saved my life. The man who killed him is Vincent McAllister, he created the virus because he blamed Gideon and myself for the death of his family. He lost his brother, his daughter and his wife at a negotiation that went wrong. Well, it didn't go wrong, we tried everything to save his family but the man who took them hostage was mentally disturbed and had already decided to kill them, no matter what we said. He killed Gideon because he thought he had tried to use the negotiation as a teaching exercise. Your father didn't though."

"Why use a virus?" Stephen asked. "Why not a gun or a knife? He could have survived or even fought off the guy if they had gotten used."

"I don't know," Reid lied.

"He was doing so well," Stephen shook his head, wiping a tear from his cheek. "He had drifted for a while but he settled in Florida and loved his new home. It was safe and near the beach, with a porch that overlooked the sea, a place where he could read his books and write. We had started talking again and he met his grandchild too."

"He was a grandfather?"

"Yeah, I have a daughter called Maisy, she's four years old and she met him when she turned two. He loved looking after her and even though she is little, he tried to turn her into the next master chef. I don't know what to tell her, I mean, how do you tell a four-year old that her grandfather is dead? She adored him."

Reid found it more and more difficult to keep himself from getting upset. Gideon had finally found a place to call home, where he had reconnected with his son and met his granddaughter, a place where the happy ending he had wanted had finally happened. Vincent had ripped that all away from him and given him a horrible and painful death, he felt as if he should have died and that Gideon should have survived.

"It should have been me," he whispered.

"What?"

Lifting his head, he look into Stephen's eyes. "Vincent should have come after me first, Gideon may have survived if Vincent had come after me."

"If one of my dad's last actions in life was to save you, he didn't want you to die, he wanted to save you. He used to talk about you all the time, the great Spencer Reid. I know we met once, but back then things had been strained with my father and I was jealous of you."

"Why?"

"You spent everyday with my father, talking with him and playing chess, you were like a son to him. He always wondered about you and how you were doing. I told him to google you but he wasn't exactly the most able person when it comes to computers. Back to the point, back when he still worked with you, I felt abandoned and alone. Yet, he supported you all the way."

"He was like a father to me," Spencer smiled sadly. "My dad abandoned my mom and myself when I was eight. When I met Gideon, he took me for a drink and asked about my courses and what I wanted to do in the future. He brought me into the BAU and guided me through my early years there. When he left, it took a long time to get over losing him. I think back then, he really wanted to spend time with you, I just think he was afraid of you rejecting him."

"Depending on the year, I may have, I didn't want to bring him back into my life so he could just abandon me again. When he settled in Florida and made a life for himself, I knew it was the right time."

"Stephen, if you need help with anything at all, just ask. I want to help you."

Stephen brushed a hand through his hair. "You meant a lot to him, I know that. When do you think you will be out of hospital and able to come to Florida?"

"I'm not sure," Reid said honestly. "Not in great shape since Vincent did this to me."

"How bad are you?"

"My muscles are weak, I can't hear without the hearing aids, I'm missing a kidney and my lungs are weakened. They'll release me in a few days but it'll be a while before I'm up and about properly. Why do you want me to come to Florida?"

"His house," Stephen answered. "I don't have any brothers and my wife doesn't have time to do this. When you're ready, I'd like you to come and help me with his belongings. I don't know what to do with them or how to sort through them. I'd appreciate your help. I'll keep the house locked till you're able to come to Florida."

"I'll help you, I know this isn't easy for you. Gideon was a wonderful man who deserved a long and happy life. I'm sorry that he died that way he did."

"Can I ask you something?" Stephen asked.

"Anything."

"Did he die a painful death? Was he in pain at the end?"

Reid looked into Stephen's eyes and took a deep breath. "No, he didn't die in pain. By the end, he wouldn't have felt anything and he would have been asleep by then. He wasn't in pain, I promise. He slipped away in his sleep."

He had to lie to him, he didn't want Stephen to think that his father had died in excruciating pain. He knew he had done the right thing when Stephen gave a sad smile. "That's good. I'm happy that he passed away without pain."

A few days later

Morgan and Garcia walked down the street, looking for the place that Reid had told them about. They had spent the day with him and had promised to fulfill his request.

"Here it is," Garcia pointed to the sign. Morgan pushed the door open and held the door open for Garcia. As she walked in, she knew immediately why Reid liked this store, it was cosy and had a classic style to it. An elderly woman came out from the back.

"I'm sorry, we're closing in five minutes," she said.

"Hello, I'm actually here because my friend sent me to help you. Are you Mrs Linton?"

"Yes, I am. What friend?"

"Spencer Reid," Garcia smiled. "The wonderful man behind me is Derek Morgan. Spencer is in the hospital after a very serious infection, he'll be out of action for a while but told us that he helps you when he can on saturday evenings."

"Oh my god, I feared something had happened," Mrs Linton gasped gently. "I haven't seen him in a few weeks, is he okay?"

"He's on the mend, Mrs Linton," Morgan nodded. "He's worried about you and the store so we volunteered to come down and help you."

"Are you Penelope Garcia?" she pointed.

"I am," Garcia confirmed.

"Oh, I knew I recognised Derek's name and Reid talks about you both all the time, especially how colourful you are, Penelope."

"Really?" Garcia giggled slightly.

"He loves talking about you," Mrs Linton began to explain. "I don't know what I would do without his help, things haven't been easy since the last time he helped. He seems very lonely sometimes and he has a sad look in his eyes."

"He hasn't had a very easy time," Morgan said. "We are here to make things easier, we are yours to command."

"Make use of Morgan," Garcia chuckled. "He's a regular Hercules."

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