Reid continued showing up in the bullpen, on the plane, or in the police station as required. He still drank his overly sweetened coffee at an alarming rate, and his breakthroughs were still as brilliant as ever. However, he was taking longer and longer to arrive at his conclusions, and they were missing his usual pizzazz. It was obvious to his team members that he was just going through the motions. It was also obvious to those who knew him that he had lost a considerable amount of weight. Strauss wanted to send him to mandatory grief counseling, but Hotch and Rossi convinced her to wait a while longer.
Fall came and Blake went back to teaching her linguistics classes, occasionally tapping Reid to join her as a guest lecturer. He complied, but mainly just recycled his previous lectures.
Will returned to New Orleans, leaving JJ and Henry in Quantico. JJ was glad to give him generous visitation rights, and he saw Henry frequently. JJ, meanwhile, began dating – and dating – and dating.
Halloween came. In the past, it had always been Reid's favorite holiday, but this year all he could think of was Christine's reaction when he had confessed that fact to her. She had laughed delightedly and suggested that this year they wear matching costumes. Several ideas had been discussed, but they hadn't yet reached a decision when she disappeared. Even his godson, Henry, couldn't cheer Reid up.
When the break in the case finally came, it surprised everyone.