A/n hey all… Here's the last chapter. Thanks to all of you for supporting this story. A special thanks to my beta REIDFANATIC for all of her help in keeping this mistake free.

Disclaimer: See first chapter

Warning: See first chapter

Reunions

The sun was high in the sky. It was Saturday afternoon. Reid sat still for Emily, while she helped him with his converse shoes. He couldn't bend his left leg without pain, so she was tying his shoe laces like a mother does for a child. She slapped his shoe and made him get up and grab his cane.

"I told you that I don't want to go back." He complained.

"And I told you that Hotch ordered it." Emily said.

"Why… He knows I don't ever want to see that place again." Tears were forming in his eyes and she hardened here heart against them.

"You know why you have to go back."

"I'm not ready Emily. Why can't you or Hotch understand that," His voice broke and so did her heart. She almost faltered, but the face of Hotch in her mind kept her on track.

"Come on… It will be over soon and I promise you won't be disappointed. Hotch has a surprise for you and I know it will be a good one."

"Please Emily…" He pleaded with his eyes and for a minute not even the threat of Hotch's ice cold temper would make her force him to get into the SUV that was waiting for them. She forced her eyes away from his face and picked up his brown corduroy jacket.

"It's nice to know that you don't trust me Reid. Maybe we should call it quits now that I know you don't trust me."

He put a hand on her arm. "I trust you Emily… Please don't say that. I love you."

"Then come with us… I promise it will be okay. I'm going to be there with you."

He nodded but his hand was trembling. He took the cane and followed her out to the waiting vehicle. Morgan helped him up and Emily got into the seat next to him. Morgan went back to the driver's side and started the truck. The others were in the second SUV and they followed Morgan as he led them back to Reid's high school.

--

Hotch stepped out of the SUV with JJ and Rossi. He watched the door to the second SUV open from behind the dark glasses he wore. Reid was helped out of the truck by Morgan. Reid threw Hotch a nasty look and Hotch tried not to laugh. Reid was pissed as hell, but that would change.

"Hotch…" Reid limped over to his boss with Emily holding his free hand. "Why are you making me do this?"

His voice was trembling and squeaking badly. Hotch put out a hand and touched his young friend on the shoulder.

"Trust me…"

Reid nodded and stood as tall as the cane would let him. Hotch turned his back on him and they struck out across the sidewalk and through the gate to the football field. He rounded the corner of the bleachers at the north end of the field and stepped back to let Reid see the reason they were there. The yellow crime scene tape was gone and all signs of what had taken place four days before were eradicated to the naked eye.

Sitting on the bottom level of the newly painted bleachers was a young man. He was stocky and had brown hair. He didn't turn when they walked up to him. He was turned away from them so they couldn't see his face.

"Who's that," Reid wanted to know.

"Why don't you go see." Morgan pointed at the figure.

"But Morgan…"

"It's okay…" Emily said. She kissed him on the cheek.

Hotch watched him go slowly over to the young man and touch him on the shoulder. The other man leapt up in surprise, pure joy at seeing his friend there. He almost knocked Reid over with his enthusiasm. They hugged each other and began to talk excitedly.

None of the agents or Michael noticed the man watching them with a broad smile on his face. He stepped down from the top of the bleachers and made his way over to the group on quiet feet.

"Thanks Hotch…" Emily had walked to his side and he hadn't noticed. She touched his arm. "This is exactly what he needs."

"I knew that as soon as you told me about Michael Hawke." Hotch said and they watched the two men smile and laugh. "When he's physically healed, I want both of you out of town some where for at least two week. I don't care where you go… Just don't take your phones with you."

Tears collected in Emily's eyes. "Thanks again…"

"He needs a break and he needs you." Hotch said simply. Maybe if he'd paid more attention to Haley…

He pushed that though away and watched the young man he called brother smile a smile that for the first time in a long time wasn't full of suppressed pain and sadness.

--

Reid almost fell over when his oldest friend looked up from staring at his shoes. The innocent grin of his friend immediately lifted his spirits.

"Spencer…" His friend lisped loudly.

Then he was engulfed in a hug. Tears threatened and he choked them back. Michael wouldn't understand and he didn't want to alarm his friend.

"It's good to see you Michael."

"Spencer's early…" Michael said. He looked at his watch. "The Emily woman said one o'clock. It's twelve fifty eight."

"Yeah… I know… but you'll forgive me this time."

"Yes… Michael always forgives Spencer." He said.

"Okay…" Reid noticed the ear buds from the I Pod that Michael had pulled out of his ears.

He sat awkwardly and said. "What are you listening too?"

Michael held out one of the ear buds which Reid placed in his ear. The tune was a familiar, one that he knew the words to.

He started to sing and Michael joined him. It was out of tune, but beautiful to the team who stood and watched a special connection between these two men shine in the light of the warm afternoon sun.

It was one of those great stories that you can't put down at night. The hero knew what he had to do, and he wasn't afraid to fight. The villain goes to jail, and the hero goes free, I wish it was that simple for me.

And the reason that she loved him was the reason I loved him too. And he never wondered what was right or wrong, he just knew, he just knew.

Shadow and Shade mix together at dawn, but by the time you catch them, simplicity's gone. So we sort through the pieces, my friends and I. Searching through the darkness to find the breaks in the sky.

And we wonder yes we wonder, how do you make sense of it all. When the hero kills the maiden, with his kiss, with his kiss.

Reid didn't notice the way his teammates were smiling and how they began to laugh when they repeated the chorus. If he had noticed, he would have seen the smiles and the laughter for what they were, not the derision of immature school kids, but the light-hearted enjoyment of friends.

The song ended and Morgan said. "You guys going to sing all day or what…"

Michael let go of Spencer and climbed over the seats to Morgan who he favored with a smile and an enthusiastic hug. He greeted Emily the same way and seemed thrilled to meet Rossi, JJ and Hotch.

He turned back to Spencer and said. "Spencer do magic trick for Michael."

Reid rolled his eyes good naturedly. "I don't have a new one for you this time."

"Spencer do magic trick." Michael repeated.

Reid shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "I don't have any coins or -"

"If you need a coin all you had to do was ask," A voice said.

They all turned and Reid smiled at Hank who was standing apart from the group, watching over Michael who grinned at his boss.

"Hank… How did you…"

"Who did you think told your friends about Martin?" Hank asked.

"Right… It's good to see you."

The two men shook hands and Hank pulled a quarter from his pocket. "We can catch up later. Your public waits." He gestured grandly with a bow.

"Yeah…" Emily pulled a pack of cards out of her jacket "Stop making excuses and get with the tricks."

Reid took the cards, grabbed her hand and kissed it like a knight of old and blushed when Michael laughed and began to sing "Spencer and Emily sittin' in a tree."

Reid took the cards out of the box and began to make them fly through his hands like an expert dealer in any casino on the strip. Emily perched on the step next to the two men and took a good look at both of them. She thought the light of the sun made the hair on both of their heads glow as though they were angels sent down from heaven with new halos.

The sky was blue above them, and as they watched the simple wishes fulfilled of a simple man, by one that far surpassed him in intelligence, but not in heart, the sadness of the last days left and they were free for a fleeting moment.