Hotch and Emily came to the safe house to break the bad news to Reid. They found him curled up with a copy of the Canterbury Tales in the living room.

"What happened? Did something happen to Joan?" Reid asked putting the book aside

"No, she's safe. A reporter for the New York Times Tom Jones published an article on Joan and Gordon and mapped out a few of the towns they stayed in. In retaliation the people who hired Joan and Gordon burned down your apartment and we believe sent Tom Johnson the reporter a note to stop writing and a skeleton hand." Hotch reported

"Was any one hurt? Was the skeleton hand real?" Reid asked in quick succession

"The whole floor caught fire, everyone got out safely but the entire second floor is completely gutted. The skeleton hand is real and Garcia is working with New York Forensics to track down who it belongs to." Emily answered

"Have they gone after my mother?" Reid asked

"No, and we've talked to the hospital, they've increased security and police have been assigned to patrol the grounds." Hotch said

Emily handed over the New York Times to Reid, while Hotch brought in coffee. Reid read through the story and then sat lost in thought for a long time. Hotch went through the paper, while Emily wrote down notes in her notepad.

"We need to announce that Joan woke up and is cooperating with the FBI. I know you wanted to wait four days Hotch but I don't think we have time." Reid said.

"I was thinking the same thing, but Spencer this will put Joan in immense danger. This will also put you and possible your mother in danger as well. The increased security may not be enough; could we transfer Diana to a different hospital?" Hotch asked

"Yes, but it would be best if a nurse from Bennington accompanies her and stays with her for a few days." Reid said

Hotch nodded in understanding. The three of them visited for half an hour before Emily and Hotch left. That evening JJ arranged a press conference and announced that Joan Nielson had come out of her coma and had agreed to cooperate with the FBI. Reid was relocated to a different safe house and the waiting began. At noon Reid walked into Quantico and went up to the conference room where the team was working.

"Is my mother alright?" Reid asked as he entered the room.

"Yes she's fine, what are you doing here and where the Agents who are supposed to be guarding you?" Hotch asked

"I was reading the news online; there was an article about a break in at Bennington Sanitarium." Reid answered ignoring Hotch's other question.

"Three men broke in, helped by an orderly who was working the night shift. A security guard spotted them and alerted the police all four men escaped and" Hotch stood and put a hand on Reid's shoulder "They took Diana's file."

Reid backed away from Hotch's hand "They're trying to scare me by going after my mother, it won't work, any word from the hospital?"

"Joan is safe at John Hopkins, Garcia created a fake medical trail for Joan at a different hospital. So far there have been three bomb threats. Tom Jones has sent his family away and has published the story about the skeleton hand, the fire at your apartment, and about Joan working with the FBI." Morgan said.

"Does he have police protection?" Garcia asked

"He refused, but we do have two Agents tailing him. Now Reid where are the Agents I assigned to you?" Hotch demanded

"I snuck out, I had to now if my mom was alright and I knew their orders were to keep me inside until you said otherwise." Reid said

Hotch left to call Reid's protective detail, while Reid took a seat at the conference table. Hotch came back in a few minutes and they worked on the case. An hour later the three Agents assigned to Reid came in.

"Reid you will go with these men, you will do what they say and you won't make a move until you hear from me, understand?" Hotch said.

"Yes Sir." Reid said and left.

At two in the afternoon two men were caught breaking into Joan's hospital. A suspicious car was also seen but it drove off before it could be identified. The two men: Thomas Leonard, and Malcom Reese had identical backgrounds to the men who had shot at Morgan and Reid. Both were drug addicts and criminals who had spent long stretches in prison. They both claimed to not know who had hired them and both took the fifth. At three a package bomb was sent to the hospital but it was intercepted and defused. At four thirty two nurses where caught trying to enter Joan's room without authorship to even work in that ward.

"This is getting ridicules." Morgan said after hearing about the nurses.

"I know, but Joan must have some really valuable information." Emily said

"Any word from Rossi or Morrison?" JJ asked coming into the room after another long session with various reporters.

"Rossi said they had a lead and were going to track it down, we shouldn't expect to hear from them until tomorrow." Hotch said

"Has Will found anything?" Emily asked JJ

"Yes, John Harker's files and papers were all destroyed in a fire along with his bar but Will tracked down Fiona Good who worked with Harker. She's helping him track down Harker's suppliers, in exchange for immunity." JJ said.

"That's good, hopefully that will give us something. Garcia have you found out who the skeleton hand belongs to?" Hotch asked turning to her

"Not yet, we know it's from a man between twenty five and thirty, Caucasian, who died more than fifty years ago." Garcia said

"So it's unlikely it's one of their victims, few gangs last fifty years and even if they do they don't keep skeletons around for fifty years." Emily said.

Hotch's phone rang and he left to answer it. When he came back his face was harsh.

"Rossi is in the hospital, and Agent Morrison is dead they were shot in the parking garage of the hotel they were staying at." Hotch reported.

A/N Please review, or just Follow/Favorite. All feedback greatly encourages me and inspires me to write more.