A/N: Hello once again my friends. I can't believe all the reviews this has gotten. You guys make me blush! I'm very honored that you are all enjoying this as much as I have. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement! And now...
CLOSURE
I'll admit it. I had an ulterior motive for returning to the BAU. I knew with Gideon gone, there was an open position. That was my chance to get back in and finally be able to put to rest the one case that had haunted my nightmares for the past 21 years. I thought when I retired that I could let it go. But that only made the nightmares worse. So I took the opportunity to get back in, to take advantage of the new technologies made available to the FBI, solve my case, and get the hell back out. I really thought I could do it.
Boy was I ever wrong.
So many things have changed in 10 years. There was a whole team now. Not just a few guys here and there trying to make all the puzzle pieces fit into place. No. There was an honest to goodness "team". A technical analyst, a media liaison, and three of the most brilliant minds I've ever met, all lead by one of the greatest students to ever enter the FBI Academy. Still, I couldn't let that deter me from my goal…to end the nightmares. When I finally saw my chance to make it happen, I pounced on it. I enlisted Garcia's help behind their backs, swearing her to secrecy. I should have known they would all figure it out. I don't know why I was so surprised when they showed up at the hotel bar that night. It took a long time for me to admit that I needed their help, that I couldn't do it alone. And they were right. They helped me finally bring closure to those three children who, 21 years ago, watched their parents die a hideous death. And they helped bring closure to my nightmares.
But something else happened. I realized I couldn't just walk away from these people. I couldn't abandon them as Gideon had done. I still remain a bit distant. I guess I'm afraid they will see right through me; see that my original plan was to leave them. That's one secret I hope they never find out. I would never be able to leave them now. They truly are the only friends I have. I heard a song the other day that really made me stop and think. The line that caught my attention said, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Looks like they were right.
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Supervisory Special Agent
David Rossi
A/N: The song quote at the end is from "Closing Time" by Semisonic