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 22

Emily struggled to get up on her feet. As soon as she did she lunged at Emery. It was enough of a shock to him that he released Candi. The girl dropped to the floor gasping for breath. Emily struggled with the doctor trying desperately to remain on her feet. He shoved her hard causing Prentiss to step back. And when she did the pain in her foot sent her crashing to the ground.

The count down was quick one, two, three and the door splintered under the force of Morgan's foot. A shot gun blast sent the team rushing inside.

Dr. Emery looked Candi straight in the eye as she lowered the shot gun. He stumbled back hitting the wall where he then slid down to the dirt floor. Emily sat up in time to see Candi raise the gun and pull the trigger. The girl didn't bat an eye at shooting her former boss. Prentiss knew it was out of survival, and once the shock wore off Candi would need some help. The door had flung open and Emily screamed, "Were okay!"

Hotch went to the doctor feeling for a pulse, he shook his head when he didn't find one. Morgan helped Prentiss to her feet as Ryan took the gun from Candi, handing it to Reid. Candi looked at Ryan in disbelief.

Hoarsely she said, "You're here, thank God you're here." Tears rolled down Candi's face and panic began to set in.

As Morgan carried Emily out of the shack Chief Benstin pulled up followed by Ryan's partners.

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The following day…

Yesterday's events were fresh in everyone's mind as the team got ready to leave. Garcia took one last look out at the lake before she hugged Reid and kissed him on the forehead. "It must have been nice to vacation here, before all that yucky stuff."

Spencer thought about the time he had with Ryan, how wonderful it had been. His heart longed for her. He didn't regret their relationship, if that is what you could call it. The only thing he wished was that he had told her the truth.

Rossi was already in the SUV along with Morgan and Prentiss. Rossi nodded in Reid's direction as he pulled away.

"Wasn't I supposed to ride with Rossi?" Reid pointed at the leaving SUV.

"Why don't you stay behind for a few days in case the Bath county PD need any paperwork filled out or have some lingering questions?" Hotch said as he carried his bag to the SUV.

"Paperwork?" Reid raised his eyebrows at Hotch. They always did their paperwork at the BAU.

"Well you can get the cabin cleaned up." Hotch got into the driver's seat of the SUV, JJ sat in the passenger side.

"See you back at the BAU." She waved at him.

Hotch had essentially told Reid to straighten out this mess with Ryan, giving him a chance to have a little bit of a life. Reid was standing on the porch looking out at the lake. He was grateful it was over and Candi and Emily were alright. Prentiss was fitted with a walking cast and according to her nothing happened to her foot. Reid never expected Dr. Emery to be their unsub. No one did. Eugene Emery had been killing for years. The missing women mostly consisted of tourists, the majority never reported missing. All but two victims had signed up to be diving certified while on vacation. In order for that to happen they needed to have a physical exam. That was the method Dr. Emery used in finding his victims. He required them to fill out a next of kin notification form in the event they were injured or worse. It was undetermined why Emery killed Sally Ann or why he attacked Candi, two people who could have easily identified him.

Reid had some work to do in the cabin before he could head back to Quantico. He was certain Ryan didn't want to see him and that Hotch was wrong in assuming that things between he and Ryan could be resolved. She was so stubborn never giving him a chance to explain. He honestly believed that they never would have had those few days of bliss had he not went over to her place that night and forcefully kissed her. Reid's jaw set in determination, he was going to go over there now and make her listen to him even if he had to explain without words.

Reid had just entered the cabin when a knock on the screen door surprised him.

"What did you forget?" He half expected one of the team to be standing there. He got the shock of his life when he saw it was Ryan.

"May I come in?"

He froze in his tracks, his heart racing a mile a minute. "Y...yes… please do."

The squeak of the hinges the only sound and yet Reid could hear his rapid heartbeat in his ears. He was lightheaded and worried that his body would fail him. The sight of her was enough to send him crashing to the floor.

Ryan was puzzled by the look on Spencer's face, he looked positively ill. Very much like the first time she met him. The only difference was he wasn't suffering from smoke inhalation. His voice was better now. The raspiness gone and he hadn't winced when he swallowed. She watched as his Adam's apple bobbed.

"I'm grateful, for all you did on this case. And glad Agent Prentiss is alright. Thank you." Ryan looked at the floor as she mentioned Emily. She couldn't risk seeing emotion on his face at the mention of her rival's name. She failed to catch the determination rise in Reid. The setting of his jaw and the way he stood taller right before he crossed the space between them. He gathered her into his arms causing Ryan to look up at him. He covered her mouth with his, kissing her with every ounce of his strength. All the pent up desire and longing released in that one kiss. Ryan resisted for a moment before melting into his arms kissing him back with equal desperation.

Reid broke from the kiss long enough to pull her shirt over her head. At first he thought she would stop him, the words were beginning to form on her lips. He kissed her again quickly not giving her the chance to turn him away.

Ryan's head was swimming and she was unable to breathe deeply. She wanted to kiss him for so long, refraining out of anger and hurt. She still was hurt deeply yet his kisses robbed her of rational thought. When he removed her shirt and moved to unhook her bra she almost stopped him. Almost, because he kissed her again, sliding his tongue into her mouth. If this was his plan, she thought, two could play at this game. Ryan attacked his belt buckle expertly opening it before tugging roughly on the waist band of his slacks. Once the button was open she continued to pull until the zipper slid down. Ryan put her hand on his abdomen, flattening her palm against his flesh.

Spencer kissed her until he wasn't satisfied with only her mouth. He trailed wet open mouthed kisses along her jaw and down her neck as he opened her bra, peeling it off of her shoulders and tossing it to the floor. His finger tips caressed the swell of her breast before pinching one pert nipple. Ryan arched into him, involuntarily giving him an invitation to cover her with his mouth. He sucked the bud, lapping at it until he drew it in deeper sucking her urgently. Ryan squeaked out a sigh of pleasure encouraging him to continue. He released her nipple placing kisses over the mound and in the valley between her perfectly round breasts, opening his mouth over her other one and repeating the teasing pleasure.

He was making her mad with desire. She wanted to claw at him, beg him to take her regardless of what had happened between them. Instead she chose to torture him the way he was torturing her. Ryan slid her hand down the front of his boxers. Her finger tips grazed over the soft hair that led from his belly button to the equally soft patch covering his groin. Spencer sucked in his abdominal muscles giving her room to sink deeper into his underwear. And when her fingers brushed up against his erection he felt his loins tighten painfully. The pleasure was almost unbearable as she curled her fingers around him pulling him upright and stroking him smoothly. Ryan pushed her tightly closed fist down his shaft then immediately back up and over his hood. She massaged the bead of precum that accumulated at his slit, down the length of his erection, making him wild with need.

He gasped against her breast, unable to do anything but pant as she brought him close to the edge. "I need you, oh God do I need you now!" He lifted her off her feet by putting both hands under her ass, pulling her legs up. Ryan was forced to release his erection. She wrapped her arms around his neck and then crossed her legs around his waist. She kissed him as he slowly stumbled to the bedroom. As soon as his shins touched the edge of the bed he lowered them both onto it. He didn't stay on top of her for long. He knelt, hooked his fingers into her slacks, yanking them down to her ankles. She kicked them off as he went for her panties next. Ryan lay on the bed naked; her knees open as Spencer dropped his slacks and boxers in one motion. He stepped out of them seconds before he knelt back on the bed lowering him self on top of her. He slid easily into her moist flesh. She was as ready as he was and matched him thrust for thrust.

He groaned when she put her hands on his ass pushing him deep into her.

"Mmmm ah oh yeah baby. It's been too long. God this is amazing."

Ryan was thrilled at his ramblings she knew he was desperate for her and wanted this as much as she did. "Harder…" she gasped "Yes….yes…"

As he obliged her wishes, pounding into her, words were lost to both of them, replaced by primal urges and sounds, until together they let go, releasing as one.

Spent, Reid collapsed on top of her. He was unable to hold his own body weight any longer. In reality he loved to have her underneath him like this, their bodies together the warmth between the two, their hearts beating rapidly together.

"Ryan…" He placed small pecking kisses on her lips as he looked into her eyes, smoothing her hair away from her face. "I love you." He saw tears gather at her lash line and he was terrified she would tell him she didn't love him.

"Oh Spencer, I've loved you for so long, almost instantly."

"You do? Really you love me for me and not any preconceived notion of who I am?"

"Yes even though I hate you for lying to me. I can't continue to hate you, I love you too much. It's over between you and Prentiss?"

"What? There never was anything between me and Agent Prentiss. Were friends, family but that is all. Ryan I want you, only you, this should tell you how much." He kissed her softly looked into her eyes and said. "I love you." Saying it over and over as he proved it with his body, long into the night until both of them were exhausted.

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Spencer woke with a smile on his face. He was lying on his stomach facing the edge of the bed. His first thought was her words to him. "I love you Spencer." He wanted to hear them for the rest of his life.

"Good morning sweetheart." He rolled over expecting Ryan to be lying next to him still asleep. What he found was an empty bed. Confusion set in as Reid slowly sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. "Ryan?" he called out but was greeted with silence. Spencer stood. He wasn't concerned with the fact that he was still naked as he walked into the common area of the cabin. He stopped walking when he saw the note on the table. His stomach churned and he bent forward, afraid he would be sick. His mind flashed to a similar note that was left on that very table and how it had ripped his heart out. Furry washed over Reid along with a horrible sadness that drained the life out of his soul. He backed into the bedroom slamming the door moments before he sunk to the floor weeping.

Hours passed with Reid managing only to get into the bed and staying there, curled up into a tiny ball as his heart shattered in pieces. 'Why did she leave? Why did she love me and then abandon me?' There was only one way to find out and that was to read that note.

Minutes ticked by multiplying on each other until another hour was gone. Finally he managed to climb out of bed a slip on a pair of slacks. He zippered the fly only, leaving the button open. In the living room he slid his feet into the flip flops by the door. The assault of cold flooring on bare feet felt to intimate to Reid. He didn't want anything touching him since the one thing he wanted was gone. He picked the note up and the feel of the paper on his skin was an intrusion, setting bitterness into his heart. He began to read as tears rolled down his face and his nose began to run.

Dear Spencer,

I love you with all my heart. This evening was the best part of my life and will always remain that way. I know you believe I don't love you, but that is not true. I do this because I do, honestly. This never would have worked out. You know how I felt about family and the man I want to marry. You knew that from the very beginning. You are all of those things but one…free. Your job, I would come to resent and that resentment would eventually be transferred to you. I would hate you before it was over. You know it is true, deep in your heart Spencer you know it. I know without a doubt that you would not be able to walk away from your work just as I would not be able to leave my dreams behind. You are perfect Spencer just not perfect for me. I love you and will always love you as long as we are not together.

Yours truly,

Ryan.

His tears dripped on the paper and when he noticed them he balled the letter up tightly, pitched it across the room. He stormed into the bedroom grabbed his bag and stuffed all of his belongings into it. He quickly dressed the rest of the way before marching out of the cabin. He closed the door with a slam running to his car. He was all the way through town when he vowed to put a for sale sign on the place in the morning. Like Gideon this place was once a hideaway, a sanctuary turned torture chamber full of haunting memories better served buried beneath still waters…

The End

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!