Chapter 12: It's All Over

"Get me out of here!" Grace exclaimed.

"Relax, relax," Rossi said. As Hotch untied her he radioed in, "We need a medic!"

"Oh my god!" Grace exclaimed, "is he-"

"He's dead, Grace," Reid said, "he can't hurt anyone anymore."

"I'll call Garcia," JJ offered.

"You mean my baby boy's dead?" Garcia asked.

"Hotch shot him," JJ said, "he had a knife!" Garcia gasped.

"Why..why would he do that? What happened to him?" JJ shook her head.

"I don't know Garcia. When Hotch fired him, he just snapped, I guess," JJ answered.

"And he released all that inner anger by copying the Reaper," Garcia stated grimly, "how's Hotch gonna get over that? His trusted friend and colleauge betrayed him!"

"I don't know Garcia. But, he'll make it."

"And, Grace? How is she?"

"They're taking her to the hospital as a precaution. Everything looks fine. He didn't stab her." Garcia breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm coming over there."

"Garcia, you don't have to-"

"After the way I've treated her, I think I owe her that much, JJ," Garcia answered, "you're not stopping me." A looming silence lingered over the phone.

"You know, JJ, I still want to think of Derek as my Chocolate Adonis, not as the person he's become," she said sadly, "I just don't know how to seperate the two."

"Hey," Grace said, "where's the rest of the team?"

"They're outside," Hotch said, "how are you feeling?"

"I'm a little better," she smiled, "the main question is how are you?"

Hotch grimaced.

"I'm..getting there," he answered, "it's hard to believe someone I trusted with my life could be capable of all this. I never thought he would betray us like that."

"I'm sorry," Grace said. Hotch looked at her.

"You had to relieve your worst moments," Grace answered, "you had to relieve everything George Foyet did to you, and to the team. And I," she blushed, "kind of brought that on you."

"Grace, you didn't bring anything on us," Hotch reassured, "nothing that happened was your fault. Nothing that he did was your fault."

"Is it true?" Grace asked, "that you beat him to death with your bare hands?"

Hotch sighed.

"Yes. I never thought I'd be capable of something like that in a million years."

"You do what you have to do to protect your family. You're lucky. You got to Jack on time. I didn't get to Bo."

"Grace, Bo's death was not your fault. He would've found a way to kill him regardless. Do you know what happened after I refused the deal?"

"He murdered a bus full of people, didn't he?"

"Yes, and I believed it was my fault. I should've taken the deal."

"But it wasn't-"

"I know. But I still felt like it. And you're going to feel that way for some time, but it will get better. Trust me. It's been two years since Haley and I'm dating a woman named Beth."

"You, DATING?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, I was surprised too," a voice piped up.

"Garcia?" Grace and Hotch asked at the same time.

"I come bearing gifts," she marched in, carrying two fruit baskets—and a bunch of other stuff from the gift store.

"Garcia, what is this?" Hotch asked.

"One for you, sir, and one for you, Grace." She placed the baskets on the table.

"Garcia, you didn't have to do that," Grace said, "I'm fine!"

"I know. But, I wanted to. And since I haven't been all that welcoming towards you, here you go!" She shoved the items from the gift shop in her hand.

"How did you know I liked puppies and choclate? And how'd you know I was a Journey fan?" Grace asked, cradling the stuffed animals.

"I..might've hacked into your credit card histroy," Garcia answered.

"Garcia.." Hotch tried to warn, but he couldn't hide the ghost of a smile on his face.

"Thank you so much!" Grace threw her arms around the tech analyst.

"You're welcome—oh!" Garcia exclaimed, wandering over to the table, "Is this a Vera Bradley purse?"

"Yes. I got in on sale for just twenty-two dollars."

"Girl, that's amazing! You know, I love Vera Bradley," Garcia rambled, "I have like, twenty different purses. Oh! You and I should go shopping sometime. I could get a bargain like you. And we can get coffee and-"

"Garcia," Grace intterupted, "I would love to do that." Hotch shook his head. Women he thought as he left the two girls to ramble on some more.

A week later, the team had gathered at Rossi's place for a fine Italian dinner. They had just finished up a case, and they were all exhausted.

"Mmm. I like this linguini," Grace said.

"Not yet," Rossi scolded, "first, we're gonna learn how to make it." The team fake-groaned.

"You're in for one of Rossi's famous cooking lessons," JJ whispered. "brace yourself." The team watched as Rossi taught the team his grandmother's recipie for linguini.

"Mmm, you're grandmother knows what she's talking about," Grace agreed as she took a bite.

"Italian grandmothers know all the tricks," Rossi answered.

As the team ate and drank, Rossi tapped on his class.

"I know last week was a rough week. The B.A.U, had a few shake ups, one of which we are grateful for. Agent Grace Foyet has proved to be an exceptional agent. To Grace, may your days at the B.A.U be long and fufilling!"

"To Grace!" the team cheered. It seemed as Grace Foyet had finally found a place where she belonged.

THE END