A/N: The final chapter is upon us, folks! I seriously can't believe it. (sobs, then faints from shock) I hate the idea of letting this baby go but… Hey, all things come to an end, don't they? (sighs) However, before the finishing touches…

THANK YOU, so much, for every single one of your reviews! It's been a pretty stormy couple of weeks for me, so your support has been something that's helped me float. (hugs) So thank you!

Awkay… (gulps) Last chapters are always nerve wrecking, so let's get to it. I REALLY hope that you'll enjoy the ride!

Epilogue – Reboot

Two Years Later

"So, Dr. Reid… This is our last weekly session together. As from today we'll only see each other once a month. Do you have any concerns?"

Dr. Melissa Carlsson had been a psychiatrist for ten years, since the day she turned thirty. Yet she'd never seen the kind of an expression she did just then on Spencer Reid's face. His fingers squirmed restlessly, just like they did when she first met him. "I… still have panic attacks sometimes. And when someone grabs me, even if it's just a hold of my hand, I…" He trailed off, embarrassed.

"… lose it", Melissa filled in.

She succeeded in making Spencer's eyes brighten for the briefest second. "Yeah."

Melissa felt her own expression melt. She leaned just a little bit closer to the man, careful not to invade his private space. "Spencer… You've been my client for almost two years. During that time I've seen you heal far more than I would've ever imagined possible. You've opened up your scars. You've faced your demons." She sighed. "I won't lie to you. I doubt that you'll ever be the person you were before… those events. But there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to feel well again one day."

Spencer leaned back in his chair, a troubled look on his face. He looked very tired all of a sudden. "I'd love to believe that."

Melissa smiled. "One day you will. Trust me." She came to think of something. "Right now, I want you to name five things that you've been able to do again recently."

For a couple of seconds Spencer stared at her, visibly confused, then managed to speak. "Garcia… She had a flue, a couple of days ago, and the others were working on a case. I finally did my own grocery shopping." He swallowed. "It… was horrible, with so many strangers everywhere around me. I almost had a panic attack but I made it. I didn't even forget anything."

Melissa grinned, making notes without him noticing. "That's a huge step, Spencer. What else?"

Spencer thought about it for a moment. He didn't seem fully sure of himself. "Earlier this week… the others took me out for a dinner. The restaurant was a uncomfortable environment at first but they helped me relax. I didn't even notice the people giving me looks. I… actually felt hungry. I finished a full meal." That didn't sound like much but to Spencer it was a massive leap. The man licked his slightly scarred lips. "I've… slept without a nightlamp on for a while now. I probably sound like a kid for saying that."

Melissa shook her head. "Trust me when I say this, I doubt that you could ever be compared to a child." She took a swift glance towards the clock. They had only five minutes left. "Now, two more."

Spencer frowned, then seemed to come to think of something. "I don't know if this is even worth mentioning, but… Yesterday I cooked food that had meat in it for myself. The smell didn't make me throw up." All of a sudden the man's whole face lit up. For the first time during the session he looked directly at her. "After the meal I had a movie night with Morgan. He brought this Jackie Chan action comedy. I… laughed. Out loud."

Once again Melissa smiled. Warmth spread all the way through her. "To me it sounds like you've been moving forward more than either one of us had even realized." She then grew slightly more solemn. "But now… Since you've moved forward it's time to take a step you haven't been ready for until now."

Spencer frowned. A lot of the walls he'd build up around himself were up once again. "What step?" His voice was so tight that it almost squeaked.

Melissa took a moment before actually voicing it, before dropping the bomb. "I'm sure that you understand that a part of you died with Doctor and Auntie. That's why I want you to do something very difficult."

She could see him shiver. "What would that be?"

Her eyes softened but she didn't risk touching the man. "I need you to grieve the person you once were, so that you can accept and embrace who you've become."

As always after their sessions Spencer's head hurt when he emerged from Dr. Carlsson's huge office. His whole body shook so badly that he feared he wouldn't be able to walk much longer. There was a storm inside his aching skull. He gasped, rubbing his face furiously with one badly scarred hand.

A lot had changed over the past couple of years. For physical and escpecially psychiatric reasons it'd taken two months before he'd been discharged from the hospital. Spencer was grateful, more so than any words could ever express, that his team hadn't listened to his doctor and sent him to a psychiatric ward. That they hadn't given up, no matter how horrible things got.

He'd been in pain, physically and emotionally. He refused to sleep or eat. At first he clung desperately to his team, terrified of being alone. Alone the memories were his only company. He behaved as well as he could to avoid potential punishments. Once the first shock and fear faded anger set in. He didn't want anyone around him. And he especially didn't want to be touched. Once, when he was in the middle of a particularly dark episode, Derek grabbed his wrist to snap him out of it. He punched the older man, before he even realized what was happening. He elso craved, more than ever before. Several nights slipped by with him shaking violently, his whole body covered in cold sweat and his mind swimming in the darkest of places. That dark desire was even worse than all the nightmares. The worst part, however, were the things he screamed at his friends, his family.

He blamed them, although he knew with all his reason that absolutely none of the things he'd gone through were their fault. He cursed them. He told them to go to hell. He told them that they should've just left him there to bleed. He told them that he wanted to die – that he was already dead, anyway. There was a time when he actually tried to die, just to get rid of the pain.

To this day Spencer couldn't understand why they'd put up with him through all that. They stood firmly beside him, held on to him and refused to let go, no matter how far on his way down he was. The insults, the setbacks, the physical therapy, the complications, the about a million trips to the hospital… They faced them all with him. And little by little the scars healed enough to reveal the person Doctor and Auntie hold moulded.

Spencer blinked slowly when the elevator's doors before him opened, and again when he entered and faced his reflection. Oddly enough the scars were what he was used to. His hair and eyes were what still startled him, even after almost two years.

Since Auntie had never been caught he'd taken a new name. Officially he was Isaac Thompson – only his friends, Melissa, his primary doctor in the hospital and his letters to his mother knew him as Spencer. He'd let his hair grow until he could braid them and dyed them darker, and preferred to use blue contact lenses. It didn't guarantee his safety, of course. If Auntie would meet him she'd recognize him immediately from his scars. That constant, nagging fear of her return was possibly the most disturbing thing in his current life. He also thought about both Emma and Jason Gideon every day. Although everyone kept telling him that Jason was never even there he knew what he saw. He could only hope that the man was still alive, out there somewhere. Or perhaps it would've been more merciful if he wasn't. And Emma, that sweet, innocent little girl…

The elevator stopped, forcing Spencer's mind back to the present. He walked out of the building as fast as he could and continued his way down the street. He walked on until he saw a very familiar car and froze with surprise.

JJ?

He made sure that there was no one watching, then crossed the street. He was about two steps away from the vehicle when she pushed the passenger's door open with a bright smile. "Hey, Spence. Garcia said that your session should be over by now."

One of his eyebrows rose. "I thought that you'd be working on that case."

JJ stiffened and looked away, clearly feeling guilty. "We… finished early."

Work was still a very touchy subject between him and the team. As soon as it became apparent that he had violent flashbacks and panic attacks whenever he saw crime scene photos, let alone entered an actual scene, the issue of whether he'd be able to do his job anymore was raised. The sight and especially the scent of blood, the bodies, all sorts of weapons and loud noises sent his mind and body into a state of chaos. He couldn't even think, not with how much he was feeling. His body wasn't all that co-operative, either. He still didn't have a very good stamina, he couldn't breathe as well as he should've, at times the damage done to his hands made them unable to function properly, often it hurt to walk and he needed a huge amount of pills every day. It was almost a relief to him when he was told to resign by Erin Strauss. A week later he was approached by professor Ian Thorne and Dr. Tricia Stiles. They'd heard that he was a… exceptional scientist and offered him the opportunity to work on several research projects, including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. He accepted in a heartbeat and hadn't regretted since. He enjoyed his new job and it gave him a sense of purpose. He wished his former teammates would believe that.

"I came to offer you a ride." JJ glanced towards the dark sky. "I know that you'd rather walk after these… sessions, but it's going to rain soon." True to her words, the first drops began to fall. "Besides, I want to show you something."

Not really finding it in him to protest Spencer slid into the car and closed the door. "Thank you." He gave her a look, then went on pointedly. "For everything."

JJ appeared slightly surprised while guiding the vehicle to a bigger street. "Well, you're welcome. But what brought this on?"

He shook his head, focusing on the rain falling outside. It felt easier to breathe, somehow. "Nothing."

They drove on in a very comfortable silence for a while until JJ spoke in a quiet, soft tone. "Spence…" He felt her look although his eyes remained on the world outside. "We'd go to hell and back for you. You do know that, right?" Of course he knew, because they already had. When they came for him Derek and Emily were both injured, they had to see him… like that… and then… "That's what a family does. We all love you, very much. Don't ever forget that."

The words were right there, on the tip of Spencer's tongue, but for some reason he just couldn't voice them. So instead he took JJ's hand as she parked the car and held on tight. The way she held back revealed that she understood what he couldn't voice.

They sat like that for ages, reaching out to each other for strength and courage, until JJ cleared her throat. "I… Like I said, there's something that I… wanted to show you. Now, I think that you're finally ready." She swallowed. "Look to the right. And don't panic – I'm right here with you. They're all just memories."

Slowly, slowly – dreading what he'd find – Spencer turned his head. His stomach dropped and his eyes widened at what he found. It felt like he'd been stabbed all over again.

The house of horrors had been demolished well over a year and a half ago. He'd read all about it from the newspapers. But he saw the frame, along with grass and a beautiful, huge black stone that had something engraved to it. The air around the area… He felt sick to his stomach.

How could JJ…?

Once again JJ took his hand, even more firmly this time. "It's just a place, do you hear me? You will never, ever be harmed here again. I promise you." She squeezed his hand. "I'm here with you. We all are."

It wasn't until then Spencer noticed the people standing there, in pouring rain. Aaron Hotchner with a stone hard, strangely comforting look on his face. David Rossi giving him a nod of encouragement. Penelope Garcia with a look of sympathy and silent support. Emily Prentiss, her whole aura radiating the strength he wished he'd had.

And then Derek opened the car's door, held out a hand for him. There was a look of understanding and determination on the older man's face. "C'mon, kid. We'll help you through it."

Spencer hesitated for the longest time. And then accepted his best friend's hand. He felt the whole team right there behind him, with him, while he was led to the stone. In a moment he saw.

The words… They were names. The name of every single victim of Doctor and Auntie's horror house was right there, written on stone. To never be ignored again. To never be wiped away from this world. His eyes locked on a particular name.

'Nathan Harris'

"True, they didn't have a lot of people who would've cared about them when they were alive", David stated softly, quietly. "But this way… they'll never be forgotten."

Spencer felt someone's hand on his shoulder but didn't manage to look to see who it was. At that moment, as he stared at the stone, something broke inside him. Warm tears mixed with rain water on his cheeks; first one, then two, eventually a full, unstoppable flood.

There in pouring rain Spencer finally let himself fall apart completely, with his family right there to support him.

He grieved and wept over the loss of one Spencer Reid to welcome another one.

In the night of New York Regina Harris – or Ginger, as she was known on streets – was sadly aware of the fact that at the age of twenty-eight she'd screwed up her own life on several levels. She'd lied. She'd stolen. She'd walked away from absolutely everyone and everything that'd ever mattered to her. She'd chosen destruction instead of happiness.

She knew that she was beautiful, which was a great advantage in her current job. Long, red hair, big brown eyes, a body the others girls envied… She'd always been told that she had absolutely every opportunity in the world.

Was it sad or amusing that she'd chosen the worst one?

She shook away those thoughts upon discovering a rather expensive looking black car, parked into the shadows. She arched an eyebrow. Whenever there was an opportunity…

She took a deep breath, then pulled her tight, already extremely short red skirt even higher and created the flawless smile of seduction she always wore on duty. Her steps were slow and sensual while she approached the car, leaned closer when the window was opened for her. The driver, a man who seemed to be in his very late fifties with dark hair and nearly black, strangely haunted eyes, fixed a unreadable look towards her. She blinked twice upon recognizing him. He looked horrible. What the hell had happened to him? "Hi there, agent Gideon. It sure has been a while", she greeted. "Looking for company?"

"I want to play a game with you", the man told her, then opened the door. "But do me a favor. Don't ever call me 'agent' again."

Regina was slightly taken aback but quickly decided not to walk away from such a chance for good cash. As soon as she sat down and closed the door the car was moving. "Then… What should I call you?" she inquired.

The man's eyes darkened still, became dangerous. "I'm Teacher. You'll spend some time with me and Auntie."

Through the rearview mirror Regina just managed to see a woman sitting on the car's backseat. There was a blink of swift motion, then everything became completely dark.

Jason Gideon breathed loudly and laboriously, his unnaturally sharp eyes fixed firmly on the slippery road before him. His blood rushed so loudly that it almost deafened him. Almost. He could still hear the whimpers that Regina emitted in her drugged condition.

Wake up, he begged, tears stinging his eyes hellishly. Wake up, and breathe.

After two years and three months it was impossible to pretend that he was having a nightmare. It was impossible to imagine a way out. Impossible to see a positive outcome.

Parking the car he wiped his eyes roughly before focusing reluctantly on Regina. A lump formed in his throat, almost suffocating him. Another lost and broken soul he was condemning to eternal damnation. These days he'd stopped imagining that the players could reach salvation. The rules had changed after Doctor's death the day Spencer was saved and Steven was…

"Don't look so sad", Auntie told him. "It always hurts Emma when you cry. Remember that we're saving souls."

Risking a lot, Jason unleashed a bitter laugh. "Is that honestly what you still call this?"

"Bold words from someone who has so much to lose." To confirm her words Auntie searched through her small bag, then handed him something. "A price for your efforts. You've earned them. This poor thing was a good catch."

Jason took the offered item, an envelope, greedily. Like a drowning man reaching out for a rope. It was opened in a flash. What he found brought tears to his eyes.

"Emma took these only days ago", Auntie told him. "They both look well, don't you think?"

A snapshot of his two and a half years old grandson Michael – who looked so much like his son that it hurt – sitting on a swing, a radiant smile on his face. Spencer, walking down a street with a thoughtful look on his face. He'd gained just a little bit weight, Jason observed with a twinge of relief. The young man didn't appear as sick anymore. Another shot of Michael, safe in his foster mother's arms. Spencer, smiling ever so slightly at something he saw.

"Don't ever forget the deal." Auntie's voice was sharp, pointed. Left nothing to be questioned. "As long as you play this game nicely, they'll stay safe. Their safety is in your hands. Remember?"

A tear or two rolled, falling on the pictures. "How the hell could I ever forget?"

"Good." Auntie's voice was much lighter, almost happy. "Now, let's go. This one's game is about to begin."

Jason gathered Regina into his arms and followed Auntie, feeling chillingly numb. At that moment he finally understood something that should've crossed his mind a long time ago. The brutal, honest truth.

For him this game was never going to be over.

End.

A/N: Oh… goodness me! I seriously can't believe that this is over. (gasps, and sobs a couple of times) This has been an AMAZING ride! I know that typing this probably makes a sadist out of me but I'm going to miss this story.

I know that this ending wasn't fully closed, but… Somehow I just couldn't bring myself to wrap it up any more than this. My head came up with this and refused to shift to any other direction. Am I making any sense, at all? (Probably not…) (sweatdrops)

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for staying on board for this long! You guys have seriously made this ride a thousand times sweeter than it already was. So thank you! You'll never realize how precious you are. (HUGS)

Until next time, I hope, whichever project that may end up being with!

Thank you, and take care!

Guest: I'm BEYOND excited to hear that you've enjoyed the story so much! (beams) I really hope that the epilogue won't fall flat in your book, either.

Massive thank yous for the review!