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

Chapter 16

The following morning Ryan woke up just before the dawn. She made coffee, heading outside to see what type of weather the day would bring. It was a crisp morning invigorating. The type of early morning she would love to walk in her private hideaway. She decided against it. What if he was on the porch, having his coffee? Worse yet what if he was on the porch repeating the encounter they had, but this time with Agent Prentiss?

"Stop it! You need to forget him. He is not free; he is not available to you." Hearing her own words break the silence of the morning gave Ryan enough strength to pull herself together. Falling apart now would not be good.

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Reid woke up early. He had been dreaming. Ryan was across the basin standing on the dock calling out to him. She smiled and waved, yelling, "Spencer, come back." He was trying to get to her, but something kept him form making any progress. He was happy and he smiled too. She laughed, the sound of it warming his heart. Then her smile faded. She looked down and the back up at him as the dock gave way He watched helplessly, as she drowned.

His heart thudded in his chest as he sat up. The soft sounds of Morgan snoring made him calm down. Spencer lay back on the pillow for a few minutes. He knew he wasn't going to go to sleep anymore. The dream had sent a rush of adrenaline through his veins stronger than any cup of coffee could. He listened to Morgan's breathing as more sounds became clear. The coffee maker began its morning routine, set on a timer, and the birds outside singing a chorus to the rising sun.

Morgan rolled onto his side facing the back of the couch. Reid knew the smell of the coffee would soon wake Morgan. Reid stood up, folding the blanket and putting it and the pillow on the wing back chair next to the fireplace. He had given up his bed to the three girls. He was sure they were comfortable enough in the king size bed. Rossi and Hotch shared the guest room. Morgan took the couch after Reid had insisted he was going to sleep on the floor. It wasn't bad; he had slept soundly until this morning. Besides Reid knew he wouldn't be able to spend the night in his bed. He would be haunted by the memories of Ryan. What he didn't count on, was the fact that no matter where he went he longed for her.

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She felt better after her shower. It was an odd feeling not needing to get dressed for work. Ryan didn't know what to do with herself. She thought about going down to the station and talking with her captain. This suspension wasn't fair. She was only being honest about her involvement. Besides she wasn't involved with the case just one of the investigators. She wouldn't have been involved if he had told her the truth. Furry washed over Ryan when her heart responded to the thoughts of Reid. Ryan put on her uniform determined to get reinstated. This was ridiculous she could at least still do her patrol, and if she had to she would speak to the mayor.

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One by one the Agents woke up. They took military style showers five minutes each at the request of Morgan. This way each of them got some hot water. Reid was showered, dressed and ready to go when Penelope joined him on the porch. He was standing at what had become his spot by the railing. He was hunched over leaning on it, nursing a cup of coffee when she grabbed him from behind hugging his middle. She moved to his right, and Spencer shifted his position so he could look at her. He adjusted his tie, trying to appear busy and not quite so pitiful.

"It's beautiful here." Penelope said as she looked out at the basin. She didn't know why Reid left Las Vegas, why he came here, of all places, or what had happened with that police officer. All she knew was Reid seemed deeply hurt, and if it was possible, lonelier than he was before.

Spencer smiled weakly at her. It was all he could manage. He was afraid if he opened his mouth to talk all of the hurt would come tumbling out and he wouldn't be able to stop it.

"I love you. We all do. And if there is anything I can do for you…" Penelope didn't finish her sentence instead she kissed his forehead.

Reid bit back the raw emotions nodding. What was up with them telling him they loved him as if he was about to die. It was nice to know, yet the only one he really wanted to hear those words from, hated him. Reid stood up straight. The realization that he wanted Ryan to love him brought on the truth that he loved her. He vowed when all of this was over he would tell her if she wanted to hear it or not.

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Ryan's resolve weaned when she turned onto Magnolia Street. She stopped the car at the curb, noticing two days of news papers. She didn't notice the paper there yesterday but she wasn't looking for it either. Sally Anne was meticulous with her property so if she went away she would have stopped the paper delivery. Ryan walked up the driveway; Sally Anne's car wasn't there. Her friend didn't think it was necessary to have a cell phone and Ryan wished she would change her mind. Nothing seemed out of place in the back yard so Ryan turned around. She heard a car coming down the street. She quickened her step so she could see who was there. As soon as Ryan got to the end of the driveway she breathed a sigh of relief. Sally Anne's Plymouth Station Wagon was heading in this direction.

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Reid stopped at the top of the stairs. Everyone else had gone into the station already. Something caught his attention. A Plymouth Station Wagon was moving slowly down the street. He knew it was Sally Anne's car but someone else was driving it. He watched it drive on by until it was past his line of view.

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Ryan's relief was only temporary when she saw it was not Sally Anne behind the wheel. The window rolled down and Billy Rapp Jr. leaned out.

"Officer Miller, have you seen Ms. Berk?"

"Not in a few days. What's going on Billy?"

"I'm not sure. Pa asked me to come by and see. Ms. Berk brought the car in two days ago and never came back."

"What did she bring it in for?"

"Oil change, that don't take me no two days."

Fear washed over Ryan. She imagined her friend lying hurt in her home or worse. Ryan took the stairs two at a time as Billy pulled the car into the driveway. Ryan moved the flower pot, finding the extra key she knew was there in case of an emergency. As soon as she opened the door she yelled for Sally Anne. The only answer was Sally Anne's cats, Ping and Pong. They meowed constantly. Ryan searched the house. She didn't find anything out of place. The cats were still crying and Ryan noticed the empty dishes by the back door.

Billy stood by the front door almost afraid to enter the place. He was holding his hat scrunched up in between his two clenched fists.

Ryan gave the cats water and filled their food dishes. They attacked the dish as if they were starving. "Billy I'm going to need you to come down to the station."

"Aw really Ma'am? My pa's going to kill me if I'm not back to help him."

"Billy I could come down to your place and get you officially if you'd like."

"No ma'am that isn't necessary, he'll understand."

Ryan knew Billy was on probation for a fight he got into one night at a bar. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and public drunkenness. William Rapp Sr. had acted as if Billy was charged with murder. Since then the young man was paying for his crime not only in the justice system, but by answering to his father. Having the police show up to collect him was something Ryan knew Billy would avoid at all cost.

"Miller what are you doing here?" Chief Benstin barked from his office door.

"Sir I need to have a word with you."

"No need, you are not back on active duty."

The team walked in. "Agent Hotchner, my friend is missing and I think it might be related to this case."

Hotch listened to Ryan's story. "Are you sure she couldn't have gone away?"

"No she wouldn't do that! She would have told me if she was going away."

Billy was sent on his way as soon as he filled out a form.

Reid stood near by. He could see the worry on her face and all he wanted to do was go to her. Hold her close and tell her it would be alright.

"Reid, go over there with Officer Miller and see what you ca find out." Hotch knew Reid need to have a talk with Officer Miller, clear the air between the two of them. If they didn't soon he had no idea how helpful Reid or Officer Miller would be on this case.

"Agent Hotchner sir…"

"Officer Miller you asked for our help and I am giving it to you, surely you won't be turning it down now."

"No sir."

Neither of them spoke on the way over there. Not because Reid didn't want to, it was because she stared straight ahead the whole trip. Inside Sally Anne's house Reid was quietly looking around. He picked up a few items in her living room. Then he moved to the kitchen.

Ryan watched him, annoyed that it seemed as if he was browsing through her house like a curious visitor. She wasn't thinking about the fact that Reid was profiling the room. She was unaware of the method he used. In reality she never saw him as the profiler before. She didn't know this side of him.

He stopped at her refrigerator looking quickly at the list there and her calendar. To Ryan it looked as if he barely read it.

"We can go now." He said quietly.

"You son of a bitch! Why did you come here? "She put both hands on his chest and shoved him. "You don't give a shit about Sally Anne! What did you think I would let you…that you could…?" Furry washed over Ryan as she thought Spencer only came here hoping to get in her pants. She slapped him. He grabbed her wrists to keep her from hitting him again. He didn't care that she did it. He felt sorry for her.

"Let go of me!"

"No!"

"Spencer Reid let go of me or so help me…I'll…I'll…"

"What…. what are you going to do?"

Tears rolled down Ryan's face, but she refused to look at him.

"I'm going to let you go, only because I think we need to go back to the station and tell the other's about your friend. But Ryan when this is all over we need to talk."

"You believe she is missing, and not just away?" Ryan said with disbelief in her voice. She finally made eye contact with him and what he saw in her amber eyes broke his heart.

He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Ryan, I'm so sorry."

She sobbed against him. She really didn't care at this moment that he lied to her or that she was still mad at him, all she cared about was finding Sally Anne.

Morgan stepped up on the porch just as Ryan slapped Reid. He thought about stepping in but the gentle way Reid dealt with her told Morgan to hold back a few minutes. Besides he really didn't want to deliver this news. Morgan only waited about thirty seconds before he knocked on the wooden frame of the screen door.

Ryan broke away from Reid, and he looked at Morgan. The instant he saw his friend he knew it wasn't good news. Ryan used a paper towel to dry her face as Morgan whispered to Reid.

"Agent Morgan, what is it?" Ryan turned from the sink and looked at the two of them.

Reid moved closer to Ryan, he looked at Morgan, trying to tell him to wait one second.

"Tell me what is going on!" Ryan demanded.

Reid nodded in Morgan's direction. He was close enough to Ryan now.

"A fisherman found…"

"NO! No, it's not true, no, please…" Ryan pitched forward and Reid grabbed her as she sunk to her knees. He got down on the kitchen floor with her, holding her as she screamed incoherent words between sobs.

"I'm sorry, Officer Miller, but we need…"

"No Morgan, get someone else or I'll do it. Ryan can not."

Ryan didn't know where the strength came from, but she swallowed her tears pulling herself together. "I'll do it Spencer! I can identify her body."

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!