Author's Note: Hello, everyone.

Here's the next and final chapter. I think you're going to enjoy what happens in the end.

I also want to thank you all very much for your reviews as well as your patience. I really do appreciate it and I do look forward to hearing from all of you.

This chapter has been re-updated.

Please, do enjoy my story and please review; constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Chapter 18:

- No word makes me happier than the word "daddy" when it's directed to me.

– Michael Josephson

Reid couldn't help but to feel this tickle. As he gently flaps his eyes open, he finds himself in a hospital room with light-colored walls, gleaming flooring and the windows being covered by the white blinds. For some reason, he couldn't remember why he was even here in the first place; sure he had a nasal cannula in his nostrils, but just can't remember why. But as he looked down, a sense of relief came through to him when he saw Maddie sleeping on his shoulder.

Tears started to pour out from his eyes. Now he finally remembered why he was in this bed, but at the same time, he didn't care. He did what he had to do. Just to know that she was safe and with him, that was all he cared about. He looked up at the door to see Garcia silently crept the door open.

"Hey, buddy. Would you like some company?"

"Of course."

He starts to see the entire team coming into the room, including his godson, Henry. He puts his finger to his mouth, gesturing the team to talk softy.

"Hey there, boy genius."

"Hey. How's my little Maddie? I could care less about me to be honest with you."

"She's fine, despite minor abuse, but the good news is there were no signs of sexual trauma. The doctors already released her, but she wants to see with you awake. You—on the other hand—got a multitude of abrasions. You got three fractured ribs, your left shoulder, four of your fingers and one of your knuckles dislocated, along with some bruises and cuts. You also had internal bleeding and the doctors had to take you to surgery for your ankle." Morgan points to the cast on his leg.

"Uncle Spencer! How are you feeling?"

"Henry! Michael! And I'm fine, thanks. Are you growing?"

"You can say that. So…is it true that you…?"

"Yes. Yes, I beat Müller to death. And I did it with my bare hands. Go on; say what you guys have to say."

"Well, the one thing I have to say is…awe-some!"

"Ow!" Henry accidently hits Reid's casted foot.

"Oh, sorry."

While looking slightly annoyed at Henry, he soon focuses his eyes on Maddie, who was still sleeping. Caring less about the pain he was in, he reached up and stroked her hair.

"Look. I know most of you don't approve of the way I handled things with Müller…"

"Well I most certainly do."

"Ahh!" Henry hits his injured ankle again. "Henry!"

"Sorry about that…again."

"Uh-huh. But when he said he wasn't going to let Maddie live with him if I was in her life, I…I-I just…"

"You did what you had to do." Rossi finished the sentence.

"Exactly."

"Spence, I would have done the same thing if it either was Henry or Michael."

"You go, girl!" Henry said, causing JJ to look at her son intensely. "I mean…that's right, mom…ma'am. I mean…I love you, mommy." He puts his arm on her and kisses her on the cheek.

"Some here, mommy."

The room fell into an awkward silence for a few seconds.

"Anyway. Uh…may I speak to Reid alone for a few minutes?"

Rossi spoke up before anyone else could. "Of course. Finally, we can get some real sleep and real food to eat, Maddie and Reid are safe, the jag-off is dead."

"We can even go visit the gift shop…again!" Garcia said as she and JJ grabs their bags. "Come on."

"Mr. Hotchner, sir, you are always more than welcome to have a few words with my godfather, the hero of the hour: Dr. Spencer Reid here."

"Ehhh!" Henry hits his foot again, which was the final straw for him. "Okay, the next person who hits my foot is gonna get it from me!"

"Mm-hmm, that's right!"

"Uhh!" Michael accidently hits his foot. "Alright, that's it. Come over here, you…"

Luckily, the rest of the team managed to pull Henry and Michael out of the room before Reid could charge at them, despite being in so much agony from his injuries. "We'll be back."

"Take your time."

Hotch looked over him as he sat in his bed with Maddie sleeping so serenely. Still having his hands in his pocket,

"One of the things I have to say is…"

"…Just what in the hell where you thinking going after Müller like that?" Reid finishes Hotch's sentence. "I know, Hotch. Did you honestly think I wanted to do that? Even after what he did to her family? Hotch, he said he didn't want Maddie to live without him. Did you think I was going to just sit there like some kind of damned duck and not do anything to prevent that from happen? When I said I will protect Maddie until the very end, you better bet I will protect Maddie until the very end. It's my job to do that."

"Well I was going to say that and…I'm actually quite proud of you."

"You are?"

Putting his hand on his shoulder. "Yeah. When Foyet went after my family and…just killed Haley, I…I-I-I felt that was the end of me. But when he threatened to kill me…and Jack…I did what I had to do."

"I guess you can say I took a page out of your book."

Hotch gave himself a very rare occasional chuckle. "Yeah, you did, huh? Just remember it's my job to look after you all; not just outside of work. Why don't you…take some time off? Maybe a couple of weeks; a month or two?"

"Hotch…"

"Seriously, Reid. You and Maddie need it. Please…"

"Alright. But what about…?"

"Don't worry about that right now. I just hope Cruz and everyone else will understand. Just focus on yourself and Maddie."

"Thank you, Hotch. That's why I can always count on you and everybody else."

Before he could leave the room to join the rest of the team and gave himself and Maddie some time to rest, "Oh and Reid? Was it worth it?"

Looking at his knuckles, "Absolutely."

Minutes to midnight

Reid could this sudden urge to try and open his eyes, but the best he could do at the moment was to flicker them. He looks down to see his Maddie sleeping next to him before turning his head around. All he could see was a glowing woman standing over him in a cloud of fog. She had radiant skin, piercing eyes, dressed in the whitest and finest-looking garments. He immediately realizes her.

She was Maddie's birth mother, Caroline.

She takes both of Reid's hands before giving him a wobbly yet glowing smile. She said in a tranquil tone with tears falling from her eyes,

"Thank you."

Reid inhaled as he woke up from his deep slumber. As he slowly began to be more aware of his real surroundings, he started to ask himself if he really...he shook his head to erase those thoughts. Maybe it was from the medication he was given. Maybe it was something else. He didn't know what it was, but he couldn't help but think that he actually…

His train of thought stopped when he started to notice Maddie trying to wake up.

"Daddy?" She muttered. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

Holding her close, "Don't worry, Maddie. Daddy's okay and alive. Daddy will always be okay and I'll never leave you. Never."

"You're my real daddy and I'll always love you." Maddie beams before wrapping her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"Well, no matter what, you'll always be my daughter. I'll always love you, too."

Please review.

P.S.: Now that this story is finished, I plan on writing a one-shot prequel and sequel; so you'll have to give me some time.