A/N: Hello again, everyone! I'm still taking it one day at a time, but I'm hanging in there again. I had a cold (headache, warm/hot body, runny/stuffy nose), but I'm feeling better now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds (but I wished I did). No copyright infringement is intended.

Previously on Criminal Minds…

"It's Gideon."

"Did he suffer?"

"Not for long, no."

"Did you hear any of that? He didn't suffer."

"I'd just really like to play one more game of chess with him.

"Yeah…But time will pass, and slowly, you'll forget how much it hurts…Then maybe you'll find something else to fill that empty space."

"I don't want to find something else."

Sunday morning, instead of getting ready for church with the rest of the family, Spencer has been staring at himself in the floor-length mirror for the past eight minutes and forty-seventy seconds. Standard black necktie, check. Black suit jacket, check. White dress shirt, check. Black suit pants, check. Black dress shoes, check. It was the traditional Western standard funeral dress code. And the yarmulke on his head—traditional head covering for a Jewish funeral.

It's been a couple of days, and Spencer still couldn't believe Gideon was gone, let alone murdered. At least now he's resting in peace. Clearing his throat for the second time, Spencer walked out of his closet and into the main bedroom again. He took a seat on the edge of the bed and picked up a small, crumbled folded sheet of paper. He unfolded it and reread it. It was Gideon's letter to him after completing the Joe Smith case in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It was one of those "He who fights with monsters must take care, lest he thereby become a monster" mixed with "Was it worth it?" moments.

After Sarah's murder, along with the murder-suicide of Nathan Tubbs and Anna Begley, Hotch ended up taking the blame for it; he completely lost faith and trust in himself and the profile. Everything. All the lost lives that could have been avoided. Happy endings. Something Gideon didn't have the privilege of in the end, forced from his murder.

"Spence…" Élise cried out for him. She came into the bedroom, clad in a black turtleneck dress that was to the knee and riding boots and stood by the door for a few moments before ambling towards him and sitting next to him on the bed. She took his arm and had her head on his shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah…" Spencer muttered; he wiped another tear and sniffed. "You believe in happy endings?"

"Of course."

Spencer folded the letter in two again. "Gideon didn't. Nor did he have one."

Élise moved her hands onto his shoulders. "Hey. Gideon's resting in peace now. He may not have met a happy ending, but he's having one now." She slid her hand onto his back and lightly slapped it. "Come on. Let's go pay our respects."

Spencer nodded once, knowing Élise was right and didn't want to be late.

The forecast said it was going to be overcast weather—an overspread of cloud covering the sky. It matched the tone of everyone's mood. Quiet, a bit mucky, and yet peaceful and cold (temperatures were in the early-mid-thirties). Spencer and Élise got out of their limousine; the same went with the team, of course. Emily Prentiss was back, along with Elle Greenaway and her husband, Alex Blake, and her husband. Along with those familiar faces came Max Ryan, Gideon's mentor; Katherine Cole from the FBI's Crimes Against Children Unit; a young adult Wally Brisbane, from the Eddie Mays case; a young adult Billie Copeland, from the Donald Curtis case; a few students from the Cally's Tribe case along (also grown), a teenage Tracy Belle along with people who remember Gideon from his military service and those whom Gideon had saved during his career.

Spencer took a quick glance at Gideon's son, Stephen; one of them accompanying him was a young woman around his age. She had porcelain-ivory skin, pink lips, and long dark locks in a simple bun covered in black lace. She removed her dark sunglasses for a second, revealing her green eyes before she slipped them back on again. The other woman was in her sixties, walking behind her along with a bunch of other people, young and older.

"No way…" Rossi gasped. "Is that Jaclyn…?"

"Who?" Spencer whispered.

Hotch explained, "Gideon's ex-wife. I'm surprised she made it."

The pallbearers—Hotch, Rossi, and Morgan on the left side, Spencer, Stephen, and Max on the right side—and the honorary pallbearers helped move the casket (a simple wooden one) from the black hearse and escorted it to the grave.

Everyone gathered underneath the blue table tent set up in front of the gravesite. Rabbi Goldberg began the funeral service by reciting Psalm 23 from the Bible. Following the silent prayer came the eulogy. Hotch had some words to say about Gideon and what he had learned from him. The same goes for Rossi, as well as sharing stories that made most of them laugh but also cry. Morgan recalls the times he got him to think like the unsub when walking around the crime scenes. After JJ, Prentiss, Max Ryan, and some of the victims had their say, Spencer was the last to share about his relationship.

"Gideon made some special arrangements for me when he recruited me to join the BAU from the FBI Academy. He always introduced me as Dr. Reid instead of Agent Reid because he knew people would see me as a kid, and he wanted to make sure that they respected me. I always thought of him as a father figure, especially after my own father…walked out on me and my mom when I was little," he took a pause. "He always treated me as an equal; he really challenged me to think outside the box, whether on a case or a rounding game of chess. When he left, it…got me a little depressed. He even left me a letter only for me to find. I know he didn't meet with a happy ending…but I know now he's watching over us. I'll miss you, Gideon."

Spencer inhaled a deep breath and a quiet cry as he went back to his seat. The ceremony went on with more prayers and poems, including the mourner's kaddish, and then covering the casket with earth dirt.

Following the funeral services, a reception was being hosted at the Moses Social Hall at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. It was a beautiful white vitrified brick and terra cotta building known to be one of the oldest synagogues in the D.C. area. The space had been set up with clean white tablecloth circular tables and dark oak chairs and smelled of a combo of lentils, hard-boiled eggs, and bread from the buffet table.

Spencer had his hands in his pockets, fixated on the photo display stand. Photographs of Gideon throughout the years, from when he was a child to a teen, his young adult years to his years in the FBI.

"Hey…" Spencer felt Élise's hand caressing his back. "You okay?"

Spencer snuffled. "Yeah."

"I swear, I see Ben Savage in young Gideon," Élise replied. "Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World? The 90s coming-of-age sitcom?"

Spencer replied, "I only saw it a few times growing up, but yeah."

Élise patted Spencer's back a couple more times and led him away from the photo stand, and they strolled to the buffet tables. There was the sliced bagel platter, assortments of fresh seasonal fruit, kugel, jelly doughnuts, and refreshments. Spencer handed a plate to Élise and one for him, and the two began dolloping a spoonful of what they wanted before they sat by themselves at one of the tables.

"Mind if we had a seat?" The Bastien-Reid couple perked up when they glanced at Stephen and one of the women who accompanied him. They nodded 'yes'. Stephen gently pushed his and his company's seats into her seat and slid himself in.

"You okay, Stephen?"

Stephen smiled bitterly. "I'm hanging in there. Thanks for asking." There was a stiff yet quiet scoff in the air. "Oh, uh…" He cleared his throat again. "This is Adina Nathanson…my girlfriend."

Adina held her hand out for Spencer and Élise to shake; Élise was the first, then Spencer. "Pleasure to meet you two, despite the circumstances."

"So, how did you two meet?"

Stephen started to have a red tint developing on his face. "We, uh…actually met when we were little, even though I was a couple years older."

"My family settled here in D.C.," Adina added. "We were good friends growing up, and then my family moved again. My father is retired now, but he was an admiral in the Navy. We lost touch when Stephen graduated from high school, and we didn't see each other again until we were at Duke University. I studied to be a nurse practitioner."

"Physical assistant for me," Stephen held his hand up. "We started dating last year."

"Oh, great for you two." Élise smiled. "As Spencer said, if you need anything, Stephen…"

Spencer added, "Or if you want to talk, you can call us anytime."

Stephen smiled sadly. "Thank you."

"You feeling sleepy yet, little man?" Élise asked Isaac as she held him in her arms, trying to get him to go to sleep. "Feeling a little sleepy?"

Isaac squeaked a little when he yawned just as Spencer came in, still in his work clothes. "Hey." He whispered as he watched Élise tuck in their son.

"Fee's asleep now. Now, this little guy is falling asleep right about now," Élise said, pressing two of her fingers to her lips and planting them on Isaac's forehead. Spencer did the same before the two left their son's room. "How was work?"

"Mostly paperwork," Spencer answered honestly. "We placed Gideon's photo on the wall of fallen heroes back at the office earlier today. I stared at it for about two minutes and forty-five seconds before I finally left."

Élise watched how Spencer wrung his neck. "I thought you accepted Gideon's passing..."

"I do," Spencer had his hands on his stomach. "It's still raw."

"Gideon would want you to be happy and not be so depressed, despite how brutal his time came." Élise embraced Spencer closer to her. "He wouldn't want you to dwell on his death but cherish all the time you had with him."

Spencer looked down, knowing Élise was right.

The following day, the BAU team received reports of an explosion at a coffee shop in Indianapolis, Indiana earlier this morning with six casualties and sixteen wounded. Just last week, a bombing happened at an elementary school, which only claimed one life.

Coincidentally, Élise was watching the same footage with the President, the Vice President, the FBI Director, and Treasury and Homeland Security Secretaries about the bombing in Indianapolis. Considering the Boston Marathon Bombing, McVeigh, Mir Qazi, and, of course, 9/11, the President wanted to make sure all tracks were cleared and covered. He wanted to be the first to hear about anything and to be reported as soon as possible so there would be no reports of those events.

Séraphine and her classmates spent their physical education class playing Freeze Dance.

The team landed in Indianapolis within two hours; Spencer and Hotch went to the local hospital where the victims were sent. He froze mentally for a moment when one of the victims who asked for his father didn't make it. Even back at the field office, Spencer got a little distracted by the chessboard.

"Check in three…" Now came the memories of the time he played with Gideon.

"Not bad."

"Checkmate."

"Don't worry, you're getting there."

Spencer broke out of those thoughts when Rossi talked to the flatscreen, which a male news reporter talked about behind the house of the hero who helped save a pregnant woman. Rossi theorized that the unsub had a large ego and must share the spotlight now.

All they could do now is wait and see what happens next…

…This was exactly what happened with Allen Archer, the man who saved the pregnant woman from the coffee house bombing—proving Rossi's point in the unsub not liking to share the attention. Spencer and Morgan were able to make it to his house before the bomb squad. Morgan advised Spencer to turn off his cell phone, given the former's specialty in explosives.

Spencer delivered a quick text to Élise before joining Morgan.

TURNING MY CELL PHONE OFF SINCE WE MUST DEAL WITH A BOMBING. I LOVE YOU AND THE KIDS.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay, babe."

Élise sighed in relief when she got another text message later that night, knowing Spencer was okay after hearing about the bombing. She was on the phone with him after she received another one again early this morning. Élise was in the bedroom, getting ready to head off to work. She double-checked everything she had in her luggage suits to make sure she had everything Élise needed since she'd be heading to Pasadena this afternoon. This Friday, she was to accept the Chairman's Award at the 46th NAACP Image Awards.

"The feeling's mutual, honey."

"As much as I'm glad you're okay and alive, just wait until I give you a serious tongue-lashing for staying with Morgan even though he told you to stay away."

"Élise…"

"Be grateful I'm in a good mood; otherwise, I'd give you one right now…" Élise used her you are treading with me voice but sweeter than usual. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

After Garcia researched Allen's history, the team discovered that he was the one who planted the bomb at the coffee shop as his late Navy SEAL friend inspired him and was tired of living in his shadow.

However…he wasn't responsible for the elementary school bombing…

Which made the team realize there were two unsubs.

After the six-and-a-half-hour flight from D.C. to Los Angeles, Élise was driven from LAX to the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles with her two-person security detail. Some of the staff warmly greeted her, and the tall proper manager personally escorted her to her suite with her detail trailing behind her. He slid the key card to unlock the doors, held them open, and allowed her to walk in first. It was everything the website would be. Contemporary designs with stunning white walls, gray curtains, bedroom carpeting, soft and hard furnishings, the marble bathroom, and an airy scenery vibe—definitely had that relaxed Southern California chic vibe.

Her detail thoroughly swept her suite (for obvious safety/security reasons) before they declared her room had not been bugged in any way, and they settled in their own suite next door. Her suite had a small balcony but striking views of the city itself. After closing the double white doors, Élise tugged her luggage on top of the king-sized bed, unzipped it, and unpacked some of her clothes and small itinerary bag. She heard her personal phone buzz once and saw a message notification.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she unlocked her phone and viewed the message. It was an article about the team in Indianapolis arresting two unsubs—the one responsible for the coffee shop bombing and the one responsible for the elementary school bombing and the attempted bombing. There was a video of Spencer arresting James Burke. According to the article, he was a school board member for the city but was fired for violating his contract for having a relationship with an eighteen-year-old student.

Élise hoped to meet up with Gelila, her old pal from Rutgers/Douglass, since she heard she will be in LA styling clients for the NAACP Image Awards, a potential follow-up interview with Karen Allan from Element magazine, has her hair done, a good facial and mani-pedi, maybe squeeze in a good Swedish or deep tissue massage. Her phone hummed, and she inspected the screen. She smiled as she answered, "Hello, babe."

"You got my message?"

"You looked good arresting that unsub," Élise crossed one leg over the other. "Are you on your way home?"

"Actually… I'm on the way to Los Angeles," Spencer announced shyly. "Surprise."

Élise gasped, and her eyes widened. "Really?"

"I asked Hotch if he was okay with me flying to LA to be with you, and he said go for it. I let Rose and the kids know. I'd managed to book a flight to the city. It wouldn't be gentleman-like of me not to accompany you when you receive your Chairman's Award," said Spencer. "Plus, it could give us a little more alone time together."

Élise fanned her face with her hand. "Awww. I saw the nominees and the major big faces who were supposed to be there. Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Shemar Moore. Does Morgan have an identity twin we don't know about?"

"Honey!" Élise threw herself in Spencer's arms before the two embraced in a passionate kiss. After Élise heard Spencer would be in the city, she had one of her detail agents send a car to pick him up and escort him to the hotel while she was in Oakland for the city's Law Enforcement Community Meeting. "Ooh, I can't believe you're actually here."

Spencer placed his go-bags and satchel on the floor. "Think of it as an improvised weekend getaway without the kids."

Élise giggled, and their lips pecked.

While Élise focused on the AG duties (she visited the Willie Mays Boys & Girls Club and delivered a statement on the year's National Security Strategy), Spencer spent his morning attending a last-minute chemistry and chemical engineering research lecture/seminar at his alumni school, CalTech.

Spencer fixated on the cufflinks of his black tuxedo, which he managed to get tailored at the last minute. He patiently waited on the soft couch in the hotel living room for about ten minutes and fifteen seconds for Élise to finally be ready since she'd been in the bedroom for that long.

Finally, she came out and decked to the nines. A midnight blue Kevan Hall gown with a sweeping full skirt, lace illusion long sleeve and neckline, and dark embroidery. Her short hair was sleeked back and pulled away from her face. She had dark brown eye makeup, warm cheeks, and a perfectly lipsticked dark red mouth. Her only accessories were her new black calfskin Balmain clutch and diamond studded earrings.

Spencer fox whispered, making Élise blush. "Ready to claim your award?"

"You know it."