Reunion

Hi people! Here is the thirteenth chapter, I thought I would never have it done! My beta didn't answer me when I sent her this chapter, so I sent it uncorrected, I hope there isn't too many mistakes.

After this night if rest, the team went back to work early. Some people close to Warren and William, friends and members of the family were in the station to be interviewed, JJ, Reid and Prentiss would be in charge of that. Meanwhile, Hotch and Elle would go back to Warren's house, Gideon and Morgan to William's, local cops would investigate the Sheriff's house for other clues. They could have sent Reid or Emily there but Gideon didn't want them on crime scenes anymore, they went through enough, anyway JJ would need some help and Jordan couldn't participate because she wasn't a cop.

The Curly's parents were dead but there aunt and uncle were still alive as well as their sister. There were also five of their close friends and colleagues. Most of them just said the same thing: both brothers had been great friends and colleagues; they would never imagine that any of them could be criminals or child molesters. It was often like that, those people were often good to disguise themselves as nice and respectable citizen. It had been hard to convince them, they were denying first, and then feeling betrayed and hurt. The only one who said something interesting was the aunt, when JJ asked her if she knew where Warren could be.

"I really don't know where he could be, we aren't extremely close. Though, there might be something, it's not much but I remember that some years ago, they were both home for the New Year. I overheard a conversation, and they were talking about going to their other place. I was quite surprised to hear that, because I never heard of it before, and now that I think of it, they were really talking as if they didn't want anyone to hear about it."

"You didn't ask them?"

"I did, but they eluded the subject, and it was the New Year, so I didn't insist. Plus I didn't think it would be actually something really bad, but now with everything you tell me...I fear it wasn't innocent."

She stopped then and remained silent, contemplating how much her nephews, people she esteemed and loved just fooled her and did such horrible things. Meanwhile, JJ went out and called Garcia. She found absolutely nothing; the brothers didn't buy or rent another place. Yet she kept this information in mind, it could be useful and called Hotch to tell him about it.

At nightfall the interviews were finally over, the three agents reunited together, they were all quite tired, the rest of the team wasn't there, but still working in Warren and William's houses. Jordan had left for a little walk outside. Spencer realised he was hungry and that was probably the case for the rest of his colleagues.

"Well, we need to make a point," JJ said, "according to the aunt, they had a secondary location, yet Garcia found nothing."

"They might have rent something under a false name," suggested Reid.

"Or maybe it was a place that belonged to their family."

"No one heard about it except the aunt it seems," Emily said, "so it's definitely worth digging."

Reid was about to say something when he felt his stomach ache again. This time, he decided they really needed a dinner.

"You know, I could take some food for us before we do that. I think we'll feel better once we have eaten," Reid suggested.

Both women were quite surprised he made the suggestion; Reid wasn't the one to think about that usually. Yet it as true that they didn't eat much and they needed some energy before going on with the work.

"I don't know, the others aren't eating I think," Emily advanced.

"A little pause would maybe help refresh our minds," Jenifer countered, "I feel like trapped in a fog, and it's far from over."

"You're probably right," Prentiss approved and the asked Reid "You want me to come?"

"It's okay, rest a little, I'll be fine on my own. What do you want?"

"How about a pizza?" JJ suggested.

"Fine with me, just don't take one with peppers, I hate that," Prentiss said.

The three settled for a plain cheese pizza and Reid left the girls. He was actually content to be by himself, not that JJ or Prentiss were a bad company, but sometimes, it was just feeling good. The streets were almost deserted except for one or two shadows in the night. Reid remembered a pizza truck not so far, he would check here, maybe it would be fine. He sighted it at the other end of the street. It was near his forest and Reid smiled remembering the time he spent there, sometimes they would even go at night, it was one of the very moments when strangely he didn't fear dark anymore.

He also thought about the conversation he had with Morgan the day before. Maybe he could trust him after all, it was forbidding profiling other members of the team, yet Reid profiled Morgan a little. He seemed like someone arrogant but not unkind or devoid of compassion. Maybe he could open up to him; after all they had to work together, it would be better to get along.

He was interrupted in his thoughts when he heard hurried footsteps behind him. For some reason it alarmed him and he looked behind his shoulder, but he barely saw anything before getting violently hit on the head. He fell on the ground and darkness enveloped him.

Meanwhile, in Warren's house, Elle and Hotch were still looking for information along with other cops. Hotch told them that JJ learned about a secondary location and also called Garcia who had already hacked his computer and was looking through his files. It was a place they wanted to hide, no need to be a genius to understand that they did dirty things there, therefore it wouldn't be easy to find.

"It was probably isolated, a place in the forest maybe," Elle suggested

"Yes, the forest in which the four kids loved to wander, it would correspond to the profile" Hotch muttered while looking in Warren's desk.

He opened the lower drawer but saw nothing interesting in there, but when he pushed it again he felt some difficulty while doing so, as if something between the drawer and the floor was partially blocking its way. Hotch took off the wooden drawer and had a slight smirk. Hidden there was a little photo album here. He took it out and looked inside it. There were pictures there, mostly in the woods; he saw a cabin, isolated. He knew it was what he searched for. He recognized young Gary on most pictures. Some were actually sick and perverted, others looked almost normal, one represented the little boy fishing near the river with William, if it was not for the kid's depressed expression, it would have almost seemed like a picture of a father and a son. The idea itself was disgusting. He stood and called for everyone's attention.

"Hey everyone, listen up, I just found this, seems like we have pictures of what we are searching for, I want you to look at this and tell me if they recognize the place. I warn you some pictures are disturbing."

The cops immediately approached as Hotch handed them the album, though they looked wary of what they would find, none of them hesitated, still professional. Elle didn't look at it, she wouldn't be of any help since she didn't know the surroundings, and she didn't want to see any other child porn pictures anymore.

"I think that place rings a bell for me," a young man said, "I saw this place once or twice while I was doing some hiking from afar."

"Yeah me too, but I never saw the Curly brother in here," another cop added.

"They were probably careful when they went here," Hotch said, "they wouldn't have anyone see them with a little boy reported missing."

"It's quite far from the way, you don't see the house well between bushes," added the first cop, "they were fine to do whatever they wanted."

"Can you tell us where it is?" Asked Elle

"Yeah we should be able too."

"Okay, I call the others," Hotch immediately said.

"It's way too late to go for now but we can try tomorrow, I won't be able to find the right way by night. We should wait tomorrow."

Though he didn't like the idea, Aaron had to admit they wouldn't be in best condition to do that for now. He called Gideon to tell him about it and then Reid. At Hotch's surprise, the young man wouldn't answer. He just called JJ instead and she told him that Reid went out to take some food and wasn't back yet, when he asked since how long he was gone, she admitted he was taking long. Hotch had a bad feeling at this. He shouldn't have, it was common for one of them to go out and take something to eat, yet something was feeling wrong.

"What is it?" Elle wondered

"I don't know, Reid isn't answering his phone and he is out," Hotch explained

"Maybe he forgot it at the station or didn't hear it," she suggested.

Hotch knew it was a probability, yet with a suspect that obsessed over him and his friend, who know what could happen. Why did Reid get out?! He tried to call him again but it still wouldn't answer. He decided to go right back at the station with Elle, he could feel something was wrong.

When Reid woke up, after some blinks to let the blurriness of his eyes fade, he knew immediately where he was: in the forest. He couldn't be mistaken about it, even if it was dark, even if his sore head was distracting him. Those woods were the only place where he felt not too bad in the dark, because he knew those by heart. But he had nothing to do here. He was going to buy something to eat for the girls and himself. Something happened, someone hurt him. He tried to stand up but failed miserably. That's when he heard a chuckle and fear struck him badly when he realised that whoever took him here was still there. He was blinded by a flashlight and felt nauseous.

"Come one sleepyhead, it's time to wake up!"

The voice was happy, joyful, like a child's one except that this was no child. When the light was away from his eyes, he saw a man crouching face to him. He had long and dirty dark hair, a long face and dirty teeth, his eyes were filled with madness and delight and his huge smile was chilling. Yet, this face, those eyes, and even the smile were achingly familiar to Spencer. His so efficient memory didn't fail him and in an instant, Reid understood everything, and it was impossible to know how he felt at this revelation.

"Gary...Lord, Gary it's you."

At this, the man smiled even more and let out what sounded like a sob of joy. He hugged Spencer who was still too weakened to do anything, physically and mentally.

"Yes! It's me and I finally brought you back here! I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too."

Those words were genuine and blurted out of Reid mouth without even thinking. He had hoped for years to see Gary back, then he mourned, and now he was here, the dream to see him again came true. Yet it was in such a twisted way, his friend wasn't the little boy he knew anymore.

"For years...I wondered...What happened?" Reid asked, still completely upset

"Oh Spencer, you can't imagine, it was horrible. But it's okay now! I killed the monster, and I'm killing the other ones. I set this all for you, so you could play, I didn't want to reveal myself so soon, but it was too tempting! I was so impatient to see you again."

"Why? Why didn't you contact us directly? Why did you do that?"

"Because I had to! Oh don't worry Spencer, you'll understand soon, the game isn't over, guess who will be next? I'm not telling you, of course, you have to find! I know the other ones wants to find me, police and FBI, tell them to leave us alone, I won't hurt you, or Emily, or Jordan of course, but I can't let them separate us. I could hurt them..."

"Don't! They are our friend, and they just want to help you."

"I don't want their help, I just want you three! Tell Emily and Jordan that I love them as much as you! I'm impatient to see them again! I'm glad you found the cave; I was hoping you would find it with our stories! See you, Spencer!"

With that, he took Reid's cheek, brought his face to his and kissed him on the lips. Reid jolted at such a contact, before he could overcome the surprise, Gary had let go of him and was running through the forest. Blinking several times, Spencer finally stood up and grabbed a tree for balance. Gary was already out of sight, he wouldn't be able to catch him. Gary...So it was that. He should have known, a part of him felt guilty for that.

Suddenly, Reid jumped his surprise as he heard a sound coming from his pocket, he wouldn't have thought Gary would let him keep it, but it was making sense because he didn't want Spencer to be hurt and wouldn't have left him here with no one to help in case he was in danger. He took his phone and saw it was Emily calling, he felt his heart clench. He would have to tell her that...And Jordan...

"Hey?"

"Hey Spencer, is everything okay? We are worried, you left for a long time, where are you?"

"I'm in the border of the forest."

He started to walk out of it, guided by the city lights. He was in a residential street.

"What are you doing here?"

"I...It's complicated to explain but I need you to pick me up, I got...I got aggressed, sort of..."

"What, who did that?"

"I'll explain, but I want you to her that directly, please come and pick me, I'm not badly hurt but I'm not feeling well enough to come back by myself."

"Of course, can you tell me where you are?"

He gave her the name of the street and hung up, he saw Hotch called earlier, probably when he was unconscious, but whatever his boss wanted it would wait. When Emily told JJ and Jordan who came back from her walk, both were alarmed and they wasted no time to search for him. JJ called Hotch who was still on his way to tell him what they just learned. Prentiss was infuriated, whoever dared to hurt her friend would dearly pay if she could catch them. The two women found him on a bench, in the deserted street, he didn't look badly hurt but he seemed really devastated.

"Spencer!"

He stood up and went to them, before they could say anything else, he took Emily and Jordan's hands and they didn't need more to understand something was wrong. JJ asked him how he was feeling but he didn't answer, he was focused solely on his childhood friends right now.

"Emily, Jordan, I have to tell you something. This won't be easy to hear."

"What is it?"

"I...It's our Unsub who attacked me. Well he didn't really attack me, just knocked me out to talk with me. I know who this is. We know him, you and me."

Jordan was clueless but Emily was starting to suspect what he meant by this. JJ looked at the three of them, feeling that she had no part in this for now, and just listened.

"It's him. He is alive and it's him...It's Gary."

Jordan's face crumbled and the shock could be easily read. She clasped her hands on her mouth, unable to say anything. Emily was as shocked as her and looked away, in the direction of the forest, the biggest reminder of their childhood.

"It's impossible! Spencer it can't be! Gary is not a murderer!" Jordan yelled.

"It's him. I saw him, he told me he wanted us to come back."

Tears fell down Jordan's cheek, JJ went at her side immediately and tried to put an arm around her shoulders but Jordan backed away when she did so. Spencer and Emily went to her and the three hugged each others in silence, Emily and Spencer weren't crying, the tears couldn't come but they were still devastated by this. They finally had the truth, there were some details which remained unknown but they had the truth.

This was probably the most horrible horror story Gary ever made.

Don't hesitate to review, I know some of you already guessed who the killer was!