Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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Epilogue

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"What are you doing here; I thought you were in Philadelphia?" Gideon eyed Reid suspiciously over the glasses that were perched precariously on the end of his nose.

"I was, now I'm back."

"You look like you want to talk." Gideon indicated the chair in front of his desk. He put the file he was perusing on the desk and placed his glasses on top of it.

Reid entered the office, closing the door and sat in the offered chair with a heavy sigh. He said nothing for a few moments, Gideon waited, knowing the young man had come here to talk and would do so when he found the words. "This is the second time I've had to go through a parent's home after said parent has been locked away in an institution; first my mother in a mental one, now my father in a penal one." He looked at the floor as he spoke. "It hurt like hell both times."

"Were there things in your father's apartment that you remembered?"

"No, not a lot really, he'd gotten rid of most of the things from his old life, just like my mother got rid of most of his things after he left. That's what hurts so much. Dad tried to get rid of everything from his old life and Mom tried to get rid of every reminder of Dad. There are no photo albums. There are no mementos that people keep to remind them of places they've been. There's nothing to remind me of what made me, well…me. There wasn't a lot to pack up. Some things were still in boxes that he had never unpacked from when he moved in after the divorce. Then I got a call from Leavenworth that Dad was in the hospital."

"Not his heart again?"

"Oh no," Reid said with a derisive laugh, "Nothing that simple." Gideon waited for the young man to continue. "Remember those guys in St. Louis, the Mill Creek killer and Hollowman?"

"Of course," Gideon said suspiciously, not liking the direction in which this conversation was heading.

"Apparently Mill Creek found out that William Reid is my father and he blames me for his capture because I figured out the Holden and Sunny connection and wrote the classified that lured him into the trap. I even testified at his trial. Well, he let word get out in general population who my father was and you can guess what happened."

Gideon nodded, "And the guards weren't too quick to step in because your Dad's in for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and guards look down on that."

"They let it go on a lot longer than it should but of course no one's admitting it. He's got a broken arm, broken ribs, and internal bleeding. The warden's thinking of putting him in solitary when he gets out of the hospital for his own protection."

Gideon could see the look in Reid's eyes; it was a look he knew. "Reid, none of this is your fault. Do not go there."

"I don't get it. Why didn't he just tell them he was incarcerated for trying to kill me? They might have gone easier on him or stopped completely."

"I think we both know the answer to that." Gideon counseled his protégé.

"Well if that's the case, he picked the worst time in recorded history to be proud of me." Reid paced Gideon's office remembering admonishing his father in the hospital that if he cared for his sons to prove it.

"Even if they moved him, there's probably not a prison in the country where there isn't someone I helped put away. They let me talk to him on the phone. He said he was glad I helped put those guys away. He also said he had something of his he wanted me to give to Evan tomorrow night."

"Will you be be able to put this behind you by then?"

"I have to be. Evan's fourteen tomorrow and he's so excited about the party and everybody being there. I'll be fine; I have to be, for him."

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The sun was streaming brightly underneath the drawn shades in Evan's bedroom, with the promise of a beautiful day. He sat on the edge of his bed, excited about what the day might bring. He was fourteen years old today.

It seemed like a milestone. He had been so sick with leukemia when he turned thirteen, that entering the teen years held none of the usual joy and expectation. On his thirteenth birthday he had never expected that he would turn fourteen. In the year between thirteen and fourteen he had gone through the most life altering experiences. He had endured an illness that had brought him to the brink of death and he had fought his way back to health with the help of a brother he never even knew he had.

Spencer, what would his life be like without Spencer? That was easy. He wouldn't have a life today without Spencer. Spencer had given him the bone marrow he'd needed to save his life, but it was so much more than that. Spencer had been there for him through every step of his recovery and starting his new life here in DC, not to mention saving him from a killer before he could become the next victim.

He got up, stretched and padded out to the kitchen where his mother was going over the preparations for his birthday party, making sure all the details were taken care of. "Morning Mom."

"Good morning, sweetheart," Janice gave her son a hug and kissed his cheek, "Happy Birthday." She hoped that being his birthday Evan would allow a little more affection. He'd been thinking he was too big lately for Mom's hugs. Evan remembered what Spencer had told him about what it was like not to have your mom around so he stopped and put his arms around his mother returning the hug.

"Thanks, Mom. So what are you doing," he made a move to look at the paper she was writing on.

"Oh no you don't," she lightly slapped his hand, "No peeking."

"Aw Mom, I'm fourteen, I'm not a baby anymore."

"I know that but you're not looking at this paper and I got news for you bud; even when you're forty, you'll still be my baby."

Evan turned to the cupboard, taking out a bowl and rummaging in another cupboard for the cereal.

"How about I make you some waffles?"

Evan's eyebrows shot up, "Really?"

"Sure, go sit at the table, I've got something to show you before we do."

That sounded ominous and Evan didn't know if he wanted to hear what was coming, "Okay."

His mother went to the counter and came back with an envelope. "This came yesterday. I didn't want to leave it to be opened with your other cards at the party. I thought it might be awkward."

She handed him the envelope. It was addressed to him. He recognized his father's handwriting. The postmark was Leavenworth, Kansas. "I think I'll open it in my room," he said, getting up from the table and heading back to the bedroom. Janice watched her son leave the room, hoping this would not dampen his spirits on his big day, then she turned towards the cupboard to find her waffle iron.

Evan sat on his bed and opened the envelope, a birthday card from his dad. There was no verse; there probably wasn't a big selection of cards at Leavenworth he supposed. Happy Fourteenth Birthday, his dad had printed and at the bottom William Reid had written, Hope you have a great day, Dad.

Evan thought about his dad, locked away in Leavenworth for ten years for trying to kill Spencer. Spencer had gone to the arraignment and Evan had insisted, despite Spencer's protests, on going as well. They were sitting on the benches in the courtroom with a few other spectators when Dad had been brought in. He was walking slowly with a cane. Evan thought how Dad suddenly looked old. They read the charges to Dad and then asked how he pleaded. Evan saw Dad turn and look at him and Spencer, then turn back and say, "Guilty." Evan remembered he'd been looking at Spencer whose hands were clenched in fists and his knuckles were white. When Dad said guilty, Spencer nodded to himself and unclenched his hands.

Evan took his card out to the living room and put it on the fireplace mantel with others he'd received from friends and family in Philadelphia and other parts of the country. He stood back and looked at it and nodded to himself, turning to find his mother watching him from the dining room doorway. "So, I can smell those waffles, let's eat."

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Evan's fourteenth birthday party was in full swing. He and the guests who included the team, his fellow camping buddies along with Bethany, Shauna, Judy, Haley Hotchner and of course, Allie had enjoyed a feast of appetizers followed by many varieties of pizza and the boy was now opening his presents before the birthday cake was served.

He ripped the paper off a very large box from Garcia in which nestled a beautiful skateboard. "Garcia, how did you know I wanted one of these? Jared has one and we were at the skate park the other day and I tried it out. It was cool," the boy exclaimed excitedly.

Garcia hugged her young friend close. "I'm glad you like it sweetie."

Evan carried on uncovering his treasures, a Redskins jacket from JJ, a Swiss army knife from Allie and a beautiful watch from Hotch and Haley. Morgan's gift revealed a membership to the gym he attended. He said they could go together and possibly convince Reid to get his scrawny butt in there and lift some weights.

Spencer laughed good naturedly and maturely stuck his tongue out at both of them.

Gideon's gift was a very high quality pair of binoculars, "For us to go bird watching sometimes."

Emily gave him a box set of Star Trek episodes and his mother presented him with a signet ring. His friends gave him numerous CD's and gag gifts.

He opened Spencer's gift to find a finely carved chess set. His brother had been teaching him the game and he'd told Spencer he might join the chess club at school. He smiled at his brother, anticipating the hours they would spend together over this gift and the things they would learn about life and each other in those hours. Reid looked up to see Gideon watching him. His mentor nodded and smiled.

A short time later Reid asked to see Evan alone. They went to the teen's room and Reid pulled a small box out of his pocket. He handed it to Evan saying it had belonged to their great grandfather and Dad had wanted Evan to have it. The boy opened the box to find an exquisite pocket watch and chain.

"Wow, is this ever neat." Reid nodded, reveling in the joy on his brother's face. "Did you get this when you were in Philly?" Evan asked, running his fingers over the antique timepiece. Reid nodded again. "Look," The boy remarked excitedly, "It still works."

"Should we get back to the party," Reid asked?

"You go ahead; I'll be there in a minute. I want to put this in a safe place."

Reid returned to the others. Janice was going to bring the cake out soon. Allie and Haley were helping get plates and cutlery arranged for the cake cutting. Janice wondered where the birthday boy was. Reid headed for the bedroom in search of his brother. From the doorway he saw Evan standing with Bethany. He had been showing her his gift from his Dad. Reid watched as the two heads moved close and their lips met. He turned and headed back to the party meeting Morgan on the way. "Hey man, where's the little guy; what's he up to?"

Reid put his arm around his friend's shoulder, "Morgan you would be proud."

The End

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A/N: Thanks to all who have stuck with this story. Your support meant the world to me. It has encouraged and inspired me. Your comments often gave me a much needed laugh. I have come to look forward to hearing from you all daily. Thanks again, you're the best. Special thanks to mablereid who encouraged me to write in the first place, when it was the farthest thing from my mind. You are a great sounding board.

REIDFANATIC