Author's Note:

Enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-three

The team was told to stand down for two weeks when they returned to DC. Rose was given the responsibility of informing Reid's parents once his father came home. William did not take it well and asked about the body. Rose said it was not recovered and offered to hold a memorial service. He declined, saying he knew he was closer to the BAU than he ever was to him. Diana took it surprisingly better and said her son was where he needed to be as he always did. Rose would think about what she meant by those words later.

The team had their own solemn memorial service where they watched as his name and ID photo was screwed into the memorial wall. Rose wasn't present as she had a department to rebuild. Privately she wasn't ready to acknowledge he was gone.

…

Three days later J.J. was helping prepare the family to leave when Henry came in showing off his math homework. He had solved a problem that was both giving her and Will headaches. She was amazed by how neat it looked.

"Henry how did you do it?" she asked.

"Spencer helped me in a dream," he said brightly.

"That's great sweetie," she said quickly brushing tear away.

It was just a dream. Spence had helped Henry with math homework plenty of times before. This time was no different.

…

One night Prentiss decided to attend a foreign film festival. She picked a Russian one in remembrance of Reid.

She had a hard time focusing on the film. She forgot how much she hadn't been using it so parts were foreign to her.

"It is about how the Katya longs to marry her coachman Alexei."

Prentiss turned around and saw no one behind her. She was certain she had heard Reid speaking into her ear. She returned her attention to the film and suddenly more of it made sense to her.

…

Morgan was doing what he liked to do most when he was needed a release: Breaking and rebuilding things.

After tearing down the old bannister in the house, he was trying figure out how much more he'd need for one extra step.

"Eight inches."

He turned around looking for the source of the voice. It sounded so much like Reid he let out a growl of frustration.

…

Garcia was filling in for actor at theater where she performed at when she caught a glimpse of his likeness. The next time she looked he was gone.

…

Rose was seven days into rebuilding her team of agents. After Reid's sacrifice saved the world as they knew it, she had a practically limitless access to get what she needed to reform to the Guardians. This included the firing of Cesar Coyle, making Morgan Lefay an undercover operative, a pardon for the Weis twins and putting them on retainer.

It was late at night and Rose doing the math as to how much more money she'd need to request to get another agent trained at Quantico when she heard his voice.

"Three hundred dollars."

"Hello Reid," she said quickly and spun around to see him. He was dressed like she last saw complete with rips in his clothes.

He looked surprised. "I don't know how I'm staying here so long. I mostly help my team with little things and teleport out without much control."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Magic," she said. "I personally oversaw the excavation of the hotel and not even a hair or energy trace was found. You're pure magic now Spencer."

"Then what do I do?"

Rose shook her head. "I don't know. Keep haunting you team?"

"Will you tell them?"

"It might give them a false sense of hope that you're back and I don't want to do that especially since I've tried bringing you back myself."

"I'm sorry Rose."

She leaned forward to tally the numbers. "I need to get back to work. Just keep haunting your coworkers and maybe they'll find peace in your presence eventually."

…

Rossi was enjoying a fine red wine while listening Beethoven one night. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind but the loss of Reid was causing him emotional pain no wine could possibly ease.

"I'm okay Rossi. Don't worry about me."

Rossi opened his eyes and he was gone. He closed his eyes and drank in the music.

"Whatever you say kid."

…

Hotch could never stay away from work for long. About a week and a half later he was in the office at lunch time arguing on the phone with Rose.

"I really don't want the job Hotch," she practically yelled "I have never had more control of my unit and I don't want to let go of it for some hack to undo it all."

"You have proven you can work well with my team," he said. "You know the team is still reeling from the loss of Reid and despite all professional niceties, they would welcome you much more than they would anyone else."

"I am still grieving the loss of Reid too," she said. "I am not sure I am up to the task."

"Please think about it some more."

There was a pause. "I will."

Hotch hung up the phone and saw Reid standing there.

"I think she will Hotch. I really think she will."

Before Hotch could say anything, Reid was gone.

…

Rose found herself unpacking her carton of personal effects four days later. The team welcomed her warmly despite prior tensions. Somehow Reid's little appearances assured them that Rose had done that she could do to stop him.

Hotch appeared on the upper level. "We have a case."

They all walked into the meeting room and sat down at the round table, including Reid. He was dressed like his usual self in a cardigan over a tie and vest.

"Hi guys," he said uncertainly.

"Reid are you really here?" J.J. piped up first.

"I guess," he said and looked to Rose along with everyone else.

"This is the true Round Table," she said and turned to Reid. "You are a knight and therefore you are here to serve your cause which is to bring justice to the land. Now I just need to make up a story about you worked for me undercover briefly later."

Tears fell and hugs were given. Hotch waited for emotions to die down before he spoke.

"Welcome Rose and welcome back Reid. Now let's get to the case at hand."

His magic that healed the world gave him back his purpose as a knight. The legend of the mythical Reid ends here. But as a champion of the people and as a member of the BAU, his story continues for many years to come.

THE END

Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing. I didn't think I'd return to writing it but I'm glad I did. Thank you to all the loyal reviews and I welcome future reviews (except flames). Thanks for the support.