Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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William Reid sat on his bunk anxious for mail call. He had been waiting impatiently for days to see the brown envelope he was looking for. Finally he saw Steve coming down the gauntlet with the inmates' mail. He could see a brown envelope sticking out among the white ones but he cautioned himself not to look too eager. That would make others curious and he didn't want that so he nonchalantly sat on his bunk, looking totally disinterested. Steve passed the envelope through the bars without comment. The guards had made remarks at first when he'd started getting mail, but now that it was a more regular occurrence with both Allie and Evan writing to him, they'd slacked off. William took his time getting up to retrieve it. He noted the return address and the postmark. It was from his lawyer in Philly. This was what he'd been waiting for.

He ripped the envelope open. The note was simple. As per your request, I made copies. Keep well. Ellis. It was the envelope within the brown envelope that interested him. He opened it and pulled out the contents, two sets of photographs, all of a little brown haired boy. The first one was Spencer's last school picture before William had left. A young Spencer looked at the camera, his dark hair neatly combed, his large dark framed glasses encircling a pair of bright brown eyes like windows that let you see into his soul. William stared at the boy in the picture. He was smiling, but only slightly, the smile at odds with the eyes that gleamed with knowledge that was tempered with sadness, a brilliant but unhappy boy. Why hadn't he seen this back then he asked himself? Then he answered just as quickly. Because you didn't take the time. You were too preoccupied with yourself.

He put the first photo on the bottom and looked at the next. The same brown haired boy, a little younger, was performing a magic trick. The third picture showed an eight year old Spencer standing proudly beside his new bike while the next showed a much younger boy, around four, looking up into the camera. He was on the couch, surrounded by books, not the kind that four year olds typically read. No, William thought, he'd read those before he was two. There were a couple taken in his room at varying ages. William smiled at the next image of Spencer in the swivel chair behind the desk in his office at the university. William recalled his secretary taking the picture. Spencer had been spinning around and around in the chair like a child. He was a child, you idiot. Spencer's back had almost been to Ellen when she snapped the picture and he was looking over his right shoulder, a huge grin on his face. He flipped through a couple more until he came to the last picture. His bottom lip began to tremble.

It was one of those rare instances where the picture told the story. There was no need for explanations of who the subjects of the picture were and what was going on. Two brown heads sat over a chessboard, a tall man and a boy about seven. They looked not at the camera or the board but at one another. The child smiled with pure unadulterated glee. It was obvious he had just made a very good move. The man smiled back, his smile full of pride and no one needed to say they were father and son. Dianna Reid had not just taken a picture but had captured a moment in time, a moment of happiness and love between a father and son.

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"Enter," Hotch said when the knock came on his door.

Reid opened the door, "Have you got a moment Hotch?"

"Sure Reid, have a seat." The young profiler entered the room, closing the door behind him and sat.

"Hotch, I have a request," Reid said. Hotch couldn't tell from Reid's demeanor if it was a request he was going to like or not.

"Okay," he said.

"Allie and I talked about it and we wondered if you would be willing to be Joanna's godfather?" he said very quickly. Reid held his breath waiting for Hotch's reply.

The unit chief had to admit that even with all his profiling skills, he hadn't expected this. "Reid, are you sure about this?"

"Yes sir, Allie and I talked about it at length and we feel you and Garcia," Hotch choked on the coffee he was sipping, "would be great," he finished.

"Garcia and I," Hotch repeated. "Reid, you do realize we're polar opposites?"

"Of course I do Hotch, except where it counts. I know that if the worst happened, that both you and Garcia would do what's right for Joanna and that's what's important." Reid sat back and waited for Hotch to reply.

"Reid, tell Allie that I would be honored."

Reid jumped out of his chair. "Thank you Hotch," he turned for the door and turned back, "thanks."

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William was tired. It had been one hell of a day in the 'hot house,' so named because it was hot all year round. He pulled out the next to last letter he'd gotten from Allie.

Hi Dad,

Happy New Year, a bit late, I know, but we have been so busy with Christmas and then Spencer had to go to New Mexico and I've pulled some overtime with a RICO case that has a lot of documents.

Christmas was wonderful. My little nephew is so precious. Spencer held him quite a bit and it was so adorable so he'll be used to holding a baby when ours comes. My Dad's parents were with us as well so we had a full house.

You should have seen Spencer. He couldn't believe the huge tree Mom and Dad had. Ours at home was much smaller and he cursed a bit as he put it up because he'd never done it before but would he let me help, oh no, the pregnant woman is not allowed to do anything but sit and watch her belly get bigger. Well, he did allow me to decorate it as long as I didn't have to reach. Anyway, his eyes just about popped when he saw the family tree and all the presents and we added more to it.

Christmas eve was lovely. We went to the evening service at church. Your son has quite a lovely voice. A light snow was falling, you know the kind with great big flakes that kids try to catch on their tongues. Spencer said he'd never done that and I guess growing up in Las Vegas, he wouldn't. Anyway, there he and Dylan were trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. They looked like a couple of morons. Better late than never I say. After that we had a wonderful dinner, sang carols and went to bed.

When we got up in the morning there were more things under the tree than when we went to bed. One thing caught Spencer's eye right away. It was a table from my Dad's study that held a chessboard and pieces. They were all lovingly made by my grandpa for my Dad years ago. There was a big red bow on it and a card that said, 'Merry Christmas Spencer Love Dad.' Spencer was kind of bewildered, like he didn't understand what was going on, that Dad was giving him his chess set. He told Dad that he couldn't possibly accept it but Dad said it was the kind of thing a father passes to a son and that's what he was doing. Spencer started to cry and pretty soon we all were and it carried on from there, we laughed, we cried. He couldn't believe Mom had made him a sweater and Grandma made him a scarf and gloves. It made the watch I gave him look pretty lame but he just patted my belly and said I was giving him the best gift of all, and the tears again.

Anyway, the chess table and set now has a place of honor in Spencer's office. He taught Evan to play and they play often. Chess is very important to Spencer; he used to play with Gideon all the time before he left. Spencer missed that after Gideon left. Playing with Evan is wonderful but it's not the same. He and Dad play every time we're home and they play on line but I know it's not the same as playing with Gideon. It was something special they shared.

Must go for today Dad. Hope you're okay. Stay safe.

Allie

He took out the last picture and looked at it again. Yes chess was something a father passed on to a son. Could he mend the fences? Would he ever get the chance to sit across that table from Spencer?