Dear Readers,

I wrote this story for my beta 'the vampire act' for whom the OC Kate is named but I think I should take a moment to thank everyone who reviewed and sent me private messages giving me support for this story. Special thanks to Shorty McGee, boolinger, CLD, addictedtofic, CMali, Reading your thoughts and to all my awesome friends on the Criminal minds wiki, who are too numerous to mention here.

Well without further ado, let us say Goodbye to Vegas.

Chapter 21- Let go

'You guys packed already?' Robert asked the tall young man infront of him.

Reid smiled and waved a manila file branded with the FBI logo.

'Force of habit, sir'

'Is it a bad one?' he asked nodding to the thick folder that the boy had been reading in the foyer while he had hurried from his office to say goodbye.

'They are all bad' he said simply.

Goldstein noticed the sad look on his face and the older man knew the case file was not the only part of the source of his distress.

The Las Vegas strip slowed down for no one, not even a casino that had just been attacked by some sort of high tech robber during the lunch break. Everyone had grabbed a celebratory beer and snagged a slice of pizza, before it was business as usual half an hour later. As a result, Kate was high up over the city in a private helicopter tour with one of her clients when the call came in for the BAU team to return to duty.

'Thank you for having me in your hotel' he added softly, 'I hope you didn't get in a lot of trouble with the other bosses'

The man snorted in amusement. He knew the casino heads were scared out of their minds that 'The Magician' was still in Las Vegas. Never since, had any one of Spencer's skill graced the poker tables.

'Bunch of pansies' he commented, shaking the elegant long fingered hand the man held out to him, 'Thanks for today. You and your team were incredible'

As the agent turned to leave the President of Operations cleared his throat.

'I think this belongs to you' he remarked gravely.

Reid looked at the flat suitcase that the man balanced on his palms and sighed. He didn't need to open it to know that it contained the illuminated manuscript.

The older man pushed it towards him, 'I believe, that all debts are now paid in full'

The genius profiler snapped open the lid and they both looked down at the painting nestled in the black velvet lining. As it always did, the magnificent artwork still had the power to captivate them both.

'Bobby, I would never have gotten through university without your support and guidance' he replied closing the case and pushing it back towards the giver.

'I helped you because I wanted to' the man rebutted firmly, offering the case once again.

Reid raised a hand of refusal towards the man, 'and I gave you the painting because I wanted to'

They stared at each other, both hoping that one of them would give way. Suddenly the boy's eyes lit up.

'Perhaps it is time that it was returned to the original owner' the young agent suggested in an excited voice.

The President of the Venetian blanched in fear.

'Reid that's not funny. Your mother is the owner' he snapped angrily, placing the case at his feet.

The boy stared down at the briefcase and Robert eagerly picked it up again, sure that the young doctor was having second thoughts.

Spencer slowly reached out and put a contemplative palm on the steel lid.

'We rescue people all the time from situations that you can't begin to imagine…' he said as if he was talking to himself.

The look in the brown eyes pierced his old friend's soul. Part of him wondered what the boy had seen and the other part told him to keep his mouth shut because he really didn't want to know.

'…but then it's up to the victim. Even though we remove them physically many of them can't let go of what was done to them. Their mind keeps them in a prison because they will not let go'

Reid pushed the case firmly towards the other man, 'you and Kate, should go see my mum and give this to her. I promise you, you won't regret doing this'

Robert shook his head. He knew his niece visited the sickly woman on occasion but he himself had never gone. He couldn't face her knowing that he had given her only son up like a sheep to be slaughtered.

'It would mean a great deal to me if you would try' the young man added feelingly.

The older man opened his arms and the two men shared a tight hug. He wasn't sure he could do what Reid was asking but he would try. Spencer was an expert at what he did and besides that, he owed the young man that much.

He clapped the thin back heartily as he looked over Spencer's shoulder at the little group gathered behind him in the hotel's driveway.

The original group was joined by an elegant long haired blonde and she along with her colleagues were pretending to read their files, when in reality they were keeping a close eye on their youngest team mate. The men and women were all different sizes, shapes and ages but the concerned look in their eyes identified them as the cohesive unit that they were. Reid went from having zero brothers and sisters to six. Goldstein was happy for the boy. Spencer deserved something good in his life.

'You take care of yourself okay?' the older man warned him, straightening the boy's tie unnecessarily.

'Tell Kate I will call her as soon the case breaks' he added glancing behind as Hotch called for him.

Just then the Head of security rushed out the casino at a mad run and almost cannon balled into his boss' back. He bent over to catch his breath, clutching a baggie from the gift store in one hand.

'Are you alright?' the young agent asked in concerned observing the man's red face.

'Kate…Kate just called from the helicopter' Stephen said breathlessly still trying to get his heart to slow down within the range of something human, 'she wants you to have this'

Reid took the bag with a panicked look, 'I didn't get her anything. Do you think she'll be mad?'

'Spence, I have it on very good authority that if you can JUST remember to call her, she will be very happy!' her uncle replied with a twinkle in his eye.

The man nodded his long haired head fervently. His ears were still recovering from the time he had forgotten to call her that one Christmas, three years ago.

Reid raised an eyebrow as he saw the security chief staring at him.

'Sir, I hope there are no hard feelings' Stephen said quietly.

The FBI agent held out his hand and the security expert shook it gratefully.

'Of course not' he said in surprise, 'you were doing your job. I feel a lot better knowing that Kate is under your protection'

Reid smiled unsurely as the man continued to stare at him in an unnatural fashion.

'Can I have your autograph?' the somber man blurted out unexpectedly.

Reid was a bit taken aback but didn't hesitate as the man thrust a book and pen at him. Stephen grinned even though his boss was sending him a look hot enough to scorch the sun.

Another quick round of goodbyes and one last lingering look and Reid ran across the courtyard and dived into the limo where the others were already seated.

As they drove off to the airport where the jet waited, the young agent kept his gaze on the rapidly disappearing city outside the window. He looked up at the bright blue sky, wondering what Kate was doing right now.

'Spence?' a gentle voice to his left said.

He smiled broadly glad that there was someone in the team who called him by that childhood name.

'I am fine JJ' he answered her as she squeezed his hand in hers.

The others looked at him compassionately as he smiled bravely at them all. Hotch for one was glad that they were leaving the city but he was sorry that Reid didn't get a chance to tell his friend goodbye. However, he knew that the girls were planning to bring Kate across to the capital for Reid's birthday and Garcia, master mind and party coordinator, had already sworn him to secrecy.

'Kate got me a present' the doctor chirped happily, sticking his head in the bag to see what she had bought him.

The profiler frowned as he pulled out a black T-shirt. He wasn't a jersey wearing guy and Kate knew that.

However, he shook out the folds as he placed the sports shirt under his chin to check the size.

There was a collective gasp from the group as they read the front.

'I have a PhD in sexy!'* was printed in big glittery lavender letters.

Excitedly, the young doctor pulled the garment over his head, ignoring the loud roar of laughter that filled the cab. As far as he was concerned, this was a great way to start the case and he let the team have their full as he twisted this way and that, proudly modeling his gift. Morgan rolled off his seat unto the floor, clutching his stomach as tears of laughter poured down his dark cheeks.

Reid fingered the letters decorating his chest, smiling happily that the first girl that he ever kissed still had a special place in her heart for him.

The END

Anote2: 'I have a PhD in sexy!'* is the sole property of my beta 'the vampire act'

Goodbye everyone. Till the next story