As always I do not own the rights to Criminal Minds, CBS, ABC and their affiliates. This is a fictional story for entertainment purposes only. All Original Fictional Characters are of my imagination and any resemblance to living or deceased individuals is purely coincidental. Do not use any or all parts of this story without prior permission from the writer.

Buried Beneath Still Waters

Chief of police Kenneth Benstin paced around his office. It was bad enough having to call the state police, but to have them defer to the FBI was unbearable. To Kenneth it was as if he had been told he was incapable of handling the crime in his own district. He was firecracker mad and ready to blow. Ryan tapped on the glass panel in the old oak door to Chief Benstin's office. "Sir the FBI is ready for us."

"Miller, you tell them I will come out when I am good and God Damn ready!"

"Sir?"

"Now! Miller I thought I sent you home!" Kenneth wasn't intentionally singling her out; his frustration was leaking out at anyone who came near.

"You did. I was at home for four hours." In reality Ryan spent close to three hours at home and had made herself scarce for the last hour hiding in the police station avoiding Reid and her captain.

"A four hour power nap after a twenty six hour shift is not enough, hit the bunk. And I mean it. If I see you anywhere near them, your partners or your desk for the next four you will be suspended. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir."

"What was that?"

"Yes sir!" Ryan spun on her heels, leaving his office before he had anything to say about when her down time was to begin. She told Agent Hotchner that Chief Benstin would be out shortly.

He didn't take long and they soon were gathered around the table going over what they knew, and it wasn't much.

"Do we have any ID on the victims?" Hotch asked.

"Nothing so far. As soon as we have Garcia here we will know more about missing persons." JJ said.

"We are waiting on the reports from the ME." Prentiss added.

"Dave you take Emily over to the Medical Examiner's office and the rest of us will go to the scene."

"Agent Hotchner, Dr Coreman would be at Mercy General. We do not have a ME office." Harley Geoff said.

Before they split up Hotch requested they sort through the evidence so Morgan hefted an evidence box on to the round table. He began unloading the items. Nylon rope, plastic bags, cement pieces, and black plastic tarp shreds. Reid was digging through a box when Morgan pulled out a plastic evidence bag containing a woman's pair of underwear. Reid looked over at the bag in Morgan's hand. He saw the lacy panties and his eyes got huge.

Emily took the bag from Morgan, "These are too new."

Spencer stood frozen there with his hand in the box afraid to move. He knew those panties; they were the same ones he lost when he and Ryan were on the lake. Ryan came into the room as Emily was talking. She saw the underwear in the agent's hand. Embarrassed she walked to the table snatched them out of Emily's grasp. "I'll take those Agent Prentiss. I will deal with them."

Reid's mouth opened and he could feel a blush creeping up his cheeks.

Morgan narrowed his eyes looking directly at Ryan. "We need to look at all the evidence Officer Miller." Morgan was getting tired of the cold attitude from Ryan Miller; she was really pushing her luck.

"These are not evidence, there mine. I lost them during a foolish moment out on that lake." She looked at Reid.

His mouth closed and he swallowed. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to get his emotions back in check. She hated him and he couldn't say he blamed her.

Emily opened her mouth to reply, quickly closing it again when she noticed the look on Reid's face. She shook her head, stunned that this woman could be so heartless with Reid. It was obvious that something happened between the two of them. And Emily guessed, Reid thought there was more to their relationship than what Ryan Miller wanted.

Emily moved towards Reid inching her way closer to him. She didn't want to be too obvious or he would think she was coddling him. She took his hand in hers, feeling a little tremor. "Do you want a cup of coffee?" He didn't answer but allowed her to pull him away from the table.

He took a seat on the end of a desk while Emily made him a cup of coffee. He felt like he lost his best friend and his heart ached. Emily had her back to him as she poured the piping hot liquid into two cups. Reid hated that they were treating him with kid gloves. He stood suddenly, marching to the door. He kept walking until he was out of the front doors, down the cement stairs and onto the sidewalk. He stopped there looking left and right deciding what he was going to do. A rush of adrenaline flooded through his veins, coming from storming out. He turned right, needing to take a walk alone, knowing full well he would have to answer for his absence.

The parking lot was on the right of the building and he got there quickly. As soon as he did, he saw her. She was facing the rear of the building, her shoulders were slumped forward her head down. He walked close to her; he could hear her soft sobs as soon as he drew near. "Ryan…" His voice broke the frustration and pain caught in his throat.

She turned around quickly stunned that he was there. He pulled her against him holding her close.

Ryan felt defeated and she let her heart respond instead of her rational thought process. She laid her head on his chest, the tears falling faster.

He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I'm sorry Ryan." That fruity scent that had attracted him to her was there but this time it brought feelings of loneliness, and sorrow. He kissed the top of her head, wanting desperately to forget this day and go back to yesterday when she was in his arms, happy to be there, loving him if only with her body.

At the sound of his voice and the touch of his lips, she stood up straight. "Let go of me!"

She pointed at him. "You're doing it again, taking advantage of me."

"Ryan….I'm…not, I lo…"

"Don't! Don't you dare! No more lies!" She spun around and ran back into the building.

Reid didn't see Ryan for the next three hours and he worried if she was alright. The board kept him busy for the most part. Still he couldn't help but look up every time the door opened, hoping it was her. Hotch was talking with Chief Benstin while JJ worked on the press conference, preparing in the event that they would need one. The crime scene was basic, deciding on the easiest route into the property and that proved to be the lot on the other side of the knoll, the Plautus cabin. Mr. Plautus was asked to come in and had a solid alibi. For the last three weeks he was over seas in Germany. The freshest body was believed to have been underwater for a week.

Rossi and Emily were at the hospital talking to the ME. The lack of missing persons and Garcia still not with them made this seem like an impossible task. Reid hoped they would soon have something real to work with, and he would be able to get his mind off of his own nightmare.

The sound of Kenneth Benstin's voice echoed off the walls. "For all I know Agent Hotchner, your boy could very well be involved in this. Wasn't it on his property?"

Hotch barely raised his voice but Reid could tell he was fuming.

"He has not been here more than a week Chief! And he has a rock solid alibi since he was all over this country hunting scumbags like this, with his team!"

"Do I have proof of that, besides your word?"

Hotch stood he got face to face with the chief and said, "I can get you proof in a matter of minutes if you so desire."

Reid had only seen Hotch ready to go off on someone a handful of times and he was grateful he was not on the receiving end of that glare.

The sounds of a muffled, heated argument jolted Ryan out of a dreamless sleep. She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep. The last thing she remembered was climbing into the bunk in the on call room. She had cried and apparently she cried herself to sleep. Her eyes were swollen and her upper lip was raw from using so many tissues. She felt fatigue in every part of her body. The angry words came again and she jumped off the cot.

Reid noticed her standing by the door almost instantly. Most of her hair had wiggled free from the bun she had it pinned up in and her shirt tails were untucked. She had puffy eyes and lips and a thick crease etched her face. He wanted desperately to hold her that he clenched his fists in an attempt to not reach for her.

She witnessed the tail end of the argument. She had doubted Reid but now she knew he wasn't a killer. "Chief Benstin, Agent Reid is not the one we are looking for."

"And you know this for sure, Officer Miller? How may I ask?"

"Because for the last week I have been staying with him."

Reid was stunned by her truthfulness and he was really proud of her.

"Officer Miller, my office now!" Chief Benstin didn't wait for her to reply he stormed off to his office.

Even though he directed her to his office it was easy to hear every word because the transom above the office door was open.

"You are having a relationship with that man and I am now just hearing about it!"

Ryan opened her mouth, before she could get a word out he cut her off.

I don't give a rat's ass what you do on your free time, but when it comes to a murder investigation in my own damn back yard I want to know every fucking detail! You could hump the whole damn police force and I wouldn't give two shits as long as it doesn't land on my desk. You're off, indefinitely, go home now Officer Miller. If and when I need you I will call."

A/N Special thanks to CSK for helping me with the forensic aspects of the case. Without you Crime Scene Kelly my case would be a bunch of fabricated foolishness. From the bottom of my heart a very big thank you for your time and effort!

Thanks to all of you who are out there proof reading, giving me suggestions and helpful hints. And to you the reader for your reviews and your continued support!