So this is the final chapter. I hope you enjoy… Thank you so much to those who reviewed.

Morgan sped in his SUV through the familiar streets of Chicago towards Maple Park. He hadn't lived in this city for years, but he had never forgotten these streets. He spent hours and hours as a beat cop, prowling them, searching out the bad guys, trying to protect the innocent…. He knew the place like the back of his hand.

He redialled Hardy's number over and over again as he drove, almost shaking from the rage swirling around and around his body as he heard the call cut to answer phone every single time.

As he pulled up along the sidewalk, just on the outskirts of the park, he hit the steering wheel with his fist and then took several deep breaths to try and calm himself. Tapping his finger on the wheel, he desperately tried to think of what to do, but he couldn't focus. Instead he put the cell to his ear once more and dialled Hardy again.

The familiar message reverberated in his ear sending his heart beating faster in frustration, but this time he let it run to the end.

"Hardy, it's Derek Morgan. I'm at Maple Park and I give you my word, for what it's worth, that I'm on my own.. Come and meet me here and you can have what you want so we can put an end to this."

He ended the call and turned the cell off before putting the car into drive, seeking out some place he could park up out of sight.

After reversing into the dead end street, Morgan gripped hold of the steering wheel, closed his eyes and began to slow his breaths. He let his head rest against the back of the seat, thinking about his mama… his sisters… his friends.

He could imagine Garcia panicking right now, desperately trying to hold it together, using every piece of technological wizardry she had available to her to try and find him. He felt so guilty that he had done everything to make it so that she couldn't. Hotch would be stoic, but stressed on the inside because one of his own was in danger and would feel the pressure was on him alone to bring him back safe. Rossi would be trying to rationalise what he had done to the team, to reassure them he'd be ok and back with them soon. Emily would be blaming herself for letting him out of her sight…. Or she would be mad at him….? Probably a combination of both. Reid would be quiet, within himself, wondering why he left without asking for their help and JJ would be trying to hold them all together, whilst inside fearing the worst.

Soon his mama and sisters would know, and they would be in shear distress. He had to get this right. They couldn't lose him too, but he had no doubts in his mind he was doing the right thing… He had to do this..….. for them.

He put one hand on his glock sitting on his waistband, then felt down to the second one clipped to his ankle holster. He exited the car and began his walk through the darkening, damp, cold and windy streets toward the park where he sat a waited….

~~CM~~

"Garcia. Check the GPS on Morgan's SUV. I want to know where he is now." Hotch's words were sharp and urgent.

"Just one second sir… there's no trace of it." Her voice quick and panicked.

"What do you mean? How can there be no trace?" Hotch scoffed down the phone.
"You think Morgan doesn't know how to switch it off?" Rossi said, brow raised, looking at a tense Hotch.

"Garcia I want an APB on his car. Any sightings you get them to stop him and let me know straight away."

"Yes sir."

Hotch rammed his cell in his top pocket and stormed out of the room past Rossi and Emily, without saying another word.

The older profiler turned to look at the brunette who stared back with wide, sad eyes.

"It's not your fault Emily." Rossi said softly.

She shook her head, "As soon as Hardy said he knew where Morgan's family were, I should have known….." She scolded herself.

"And if you did….?" Rossi started, beginning to follow Hotch out of the room, "…You wouldn't have been able to stop him… You know that more than anyone here."

Emily swallowed hard, taking in the irony of what was happening as Rossi left her stood on her own.

She pulled out her cell, knowing it would be futile, but dialling Morgan anyway.

She listened to his voice…. 'Leave a message. I'll call you back…' She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to order him back right now. But as Rossi reminded her, she was the one who understood most what he was doing right now and why he was doing it…. She didn't want that to be the last thing he heard her say to him….. She didn't want that to be the last thing she said to him. No….. There would be no lasts here…. So she cut the call off and went to join the others.

"So what do we do now?" She asked Rossi and Hotch who had now migrated to the main office.

"I've asked Garcia to send us everything we have on Hardy. We can start going through that. See if there's anything that will give us a clue to where he may have gone." Rossi replied.

"Where's JJ and Reid?" She asked.

"I've got Reid to continue going through the case file…. Just in case there's any significant locations. Besides I've got to keep him busy. He hasn't taken the news well." Hotch told her. Emily nodded in understanding.

"I've sent JJ to Morgan's family. I want someone from this team with them… keep them up to speed. I'm sure they won't trust anyone else to tell them the truth." The Unit Chief continued.

Emily took a deep breath looking at the ground, thinking about her conversation with Fran Morgan. She wasn't sure she could look the woman in the eye again and began to question herself over her decision not to try and persuade Morgan to go to the safe house.

~~CM~~

Morgan sat on a rusty bench in the dark, deserted park, the only sound being the howling wind swirling all around him. He had been there for just over an hour in complete solitude, so when he felt the cold metal of the butt of the gun against the side of his temple, it shocked him. He hadn't heard anyone approach;

"Agent Morgan… you actually came alone." Hardy stated surprised, standing behind the profiler.

"Come on then Hardy. Let's cut to the chase." Morgan said, not flinching. His voice deep and angry.

"Hand over your gun first." Hardy ordered, pressing his weapon deeper into Morgan's scalp.

Morgan unclipped the glock from his waist and held it up to Hardy who accepted it and threw it behind him, before pushing the top of Morgan's back, "Now get up."

The profiler stood slowly, hands raised to his side, "Where are we going?" He asked.

"You'll see… Walk."

They made it about fifty paces before Morgan decided to take his chance. He dropped his body, sweeping his leg around, knocking Hardy off balance. He ripped the second glock from his ankle holster and aimed it towards Hardy who was beginning to stand himself up after falling to the ground.

"Drop your weapon now Hardy!" Morgan shouted.

Hardy raised his hands in the air in surrender, throwing his gun to the floor immediately, "Ok, you got me man." He said, slightly out of breath.

Morgan frowned, confused by the man's hasty resignation, but continued.

"Get on your knees now Hardy." Morgan instructed.

Hardy ignored the request and just smirked at the armed Agent defiantly.

"What's so funny?" Morgan growled, not in the mood for games.

Hardy took a step forward, causing Morgan to shuffle a little on his feet, subconsciously moving backwards, "Back off!"

"You can't shoot an unarmed man can you?" Hardy stated, taking another step forward.

"Don't tempt me Hardy. There's no witnesses here."

Hardy chuckled, pushing Morgan's nerves to the limit.

"Just shut your mouth and get to your knees before I pull this trigger." Morgan shouted impatiently.

Hardy smirked, "You shouldn't of underestimated me Agent Morgan. I do have a witness."

Morgan only had chance to make a quarter of a turn as he saw Hardy glance behind him, before feeling an almighty blow to his forehead and dropping to the ground in a heap. As he lay unconscious, Hardy handed five small bags containing brown powder, over Morgan's lifeless body to the unkempt man stood the other side. Hardy's hired help snatched the bags out of his hand, and furiously counted them, his hands shaking, so desperate for a fix, "Hey, the deal was ten bags man."

"You get the rest when you help me move him." Hardy told him.

"That wasn't the deal."

"It is now…. You don't help me, these…." Hardy said, shaking the five remaining bags teasingly in front of him, "….are going down the drain."

The junkie sighed heavily before grabbing Morgan's arms. Hardy took hold of his legs and they carried him away to Hardy's waiting van.

~~CM~~

"Hey Garcia. You ok?" Emily asked softly down the cell.

"No…."

She didn't want to talk about it…. The tears wouldn't stop if she did, so she changed the subject pronto. "….I couldn't get through to Hotch." Garcia said matter of factly.

"He's talking to the press whilst JJ is gone. What you got?"

"The cops found Morgan's SUV."

"And?"

"He's not there."

"Ok… send me the location."

"Already done."

"Did they find anything?"

"No. The car's all locked up. No signs of a struggle." The techie's voice was almost devoid of emotion as she tried to focus on the task and not the man.

"Ok, Garcia…. That's good…" Emily attempted to reassure. "…It means he has a plan. I'll go tell Hotch."

"Ok."

"Garcia…. He'll be ok."

Emily waited for a response, but none came, just the dead tone at the other end of the line.

"Hey Rossi." Emily yelled across the room, grabbing his attention as she walked towards him.

He nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"They found Morgan's SUV. He's not with it."

"Any signs of what may have happened?"

"No. Not from the cops that are there. Is Hotch still talking to the press?"
"Yes… What you thinking?" The older profiler asked, almost being able to see Emily's thoughts swirling around her head.

"Shall I go to the car? Just to see if he left any clues or the cops missed anything?"

Rossi smiled, knowing she was going stir crazy not being able to do anything stuck at the Police Station…. They all were, "I think that's a good idea. You go and I'll let Hotch know once he's finished. If there's any change, we'll call you."

"Thanks Rossi." She said with a grateful smile, before heading out.

~~CM~~

He felt like he was drowning as he tried to take a sharp intake of breath, waking suddenly from his unconsciousness…. However, nothing but freezing cold water hit the back of his throat. He choked up the water, coughing and spluttering, trying to lean forward, but the ropes shackling his arms behind his back, prevented him from doing so.

As he dispelled the water from his throat and his breaths began to calm, he felt his body start to shake all over. He was naked from the waist up, drenched in ice cold water and as the draft from the open windows hit his wet body, it felt like a thousand small pins pricking at his flesh.

He slowly looked upward, his head still fuzzy, vision now blurry. He focused as best he could on the man stood in front of him. He held an old plastic bucket and had a sly smile painted on his face.

"Nice rest Agent Morgan?" Hardy said sarcastically.

"Just do what you gotta do." Morgan said defiantly.

"Oh no…." Hardy began, shaking his head. "…. You will suffer, just like my father did. Your father deserves to know how this feels."

"My father died years ago, so what's the point in this? He's not here to see what you're doing." Morgan informed the seemingly unknowing man.

"He's dead?"

Morgan nodded.

Hardy looked out of the corner of his eye as he thought, a smirk slowly creeping across his face, "It doesn't matter. You're one of them…. This will be revenge against the whole of the Chicago PD… I know how you lot get when one of your own gets it."
"I'm not a police officer." Morgan growled.

"As good as…." Hardy shrugged.

Morgan watched as he reached into his back pocket, producing a small switchblade. He took a sharp intake of breath and his torso tensed up as Hardy began to walk towards him, releasing the blade as he did.

As Hardy stood behind him, Morgan breaths became rapid, a mixture of fear and the effects of the cold water on his skin. He flinched as he saw Hardy's hands in font of his face, and a split second later, everything went dark as fabric was pulled tight over his eyes.

"Why are you doing this Hardy?" Morgan asked between gasps of air.

He felt Hardy's rancid, warm breath upon his ear, "Because I want you to suffer the way my father did before he died. I told you." He whispered.

"You talk like your father was an innocent man. You know as well as I do that he got away with a lot more than what he was put in jail for."

"That's not the point….." Hardy spat out with venom. "…He wouldn't have been killed if the cops hadn't set him up for those murders."

Before Morgan could respond, his body almost jumped out of it's skin as a wave of ice cold water was thrown over him once again. He started shaking violently, his senses one by one almost shutting down…. The body's natural reaction to keep all of it's energies focused on keeping warm.

Morgan knew soon though, his body would shut down entirely… he had to keep focused.

"Hardy…." He spluttered, "…. Your father would have been in prison regardless of whether he was found guilty of three or thirteen murders."

As the last word left his lips, Morgan's entire body tensed and he cried out in pain, feeling the blade cut into his back….

"Because….." Hardy started, as he carved into Morgan's back, "…..the man who killed him… was the father of one of the women my father was convicted of killing. He did it for revenge. But I know he didn't kill her because I was with him when he was supposed to have done it. So if they hadn't set him up, he wouldn't have died the way he did."

Morgan scrunched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth; the pain and his body's fight so overbearing that he couldn't focus enough to utter another word. Instead he clenched his fists so hard that his own nails gouged into his palms and prayed that it would be over soon.

~~CM~~

"Sir, Hardy's turned his phone back on. I'm sending the location to your cell now. Looks like a disused factory." Garcia said, desperately, on the other end of the line to Hotch.

"Is he moving?"

"I don't know. It was only on for a couple of minutes."

"Ok, call Prentiss and give her the location too. Get her to meet us there."

"Of course Sir, I'll call her now."

"And tell her to wait for us before doing anything."

"Yes Sir…. Oh and sir…. Please bring him back safe."

Hotch could hear her voice breaking. It pained him that she was sat all alone back at Quantico, watching and hearing all of this going on, with no-one to lean on. Usually Morgan would be the one on the end of the line, reassuring her…. calming her, but not this time…...

"I promise I'm doing my best Garcia." Hotch said softly before ending the call.

He turned to Rossi, "We got a location. Come on. Prentiss will meet us there."

"What about JJ and Reid?" The older Agent asked.

"I'm leaving them with what they're doing. We can take a police team with us."

"Ok let's go."

~~CM~~

"Garcia?" Emily answered as she stood next Morgan's SUV.

"I got a location on hardy's phone. I've sent it to your cell. Hotch is on his way."

"Who's closest?" She asked as she began to jog towards her own vehicle.

"You are. They're about ten minutes behind you."

"Ok." Emily said, putting the key in the ignition, about to hang up the call.

"Oh Emily…..? Garcia quickly added, "….Hotch says to wait for him before you do anything."

"Sure." The brunette replied unconvincingly.

"Emily?"

"Yes Garcia. I'll let you know when I get there."

The tyres of the SUV screeched, causing the group of cops huddled in the dead end street all to turn and watch Emily's vehicle speed off in to the night.

~~CM~~

Emily parked the SUV a block away from the factory and made the rest of the way on foot. She looked up to the top of the desolate and dilapidated building which looked to be about seven or eight floors. She pushed on the front door, but it was locked tight, so she made her way around the side and found a fire exit which had been left ajar.

Creeping inside, she could hear the wind whistling through brick lined hallways above her. She closed her eyes to heighten her sense of hearing, but there was no need. Only a few seconds later she heard what she had no doubt were Morgan's screams.

Jumping back outside of the door, she dialled Garcia, in her mind knowing she was wimping out of calling Hotch. She had no time for the debate…

"You're there…?" Garcia stated at the other end.

"Yes, listen, I'm going in."

"But Hotch said to wait Emily."

"I know, but I can hear Morgan. I'm not waiting. Just let them know ok?"

"But Emily, you should wait for them. What if you get hurt as well?"

"Garcia, I can hear him. You really want me to wait?"

There was silence at the other end. The techie didn't know how to answer that. She wanted both…. But she couldn't have both.

"I'm gonna go now ok? Just ring Hotch."

"Ok but be careful." Garcia's voice almost weak and most definitely scared.

~~CM~~

"Rossi, you have to hurry." Garcia's voice panicked down the phone… She too was wimping out of calling Hotch. In her mind she justified it as she assumed he would be driving.

"What's wrong Garcia? Rossi responded, Hotch immediately glancing over as he drove, hearing the concern in his partner's voice.

"Emily's gone in."

"What?"

"She said she could hear Morgan. Please just hurry Rossi."

Rossi cut the call off and turned to Hotch, "Prentiss has gone in. She could hear Morgan in there."

"For gods sake… Get her on the phone Dave."

~~CM~~

As she crept up the first flight of stairs, she felt the vibrations of her cell against her hip. Quickly grabbing it from her pocket, she looked at the screen to see Rossi's name flashing at her. Ignoring the call would panic them, but taking it ran the risk of being heard. So she cancelled the call and tapped a text message….

'Had to go in. Can hear Morgan. Just hurry.'

She took every step through the dark, cold corridors slowly, with her glock raised. Her breaths were deep and she had to concentrate hard to make sure they were silent. The brick walls were dripping with water leaking from the rusty copper pipes that lined the ceilings and the stone floors were covered in rubble and a concoction of discarded trash. Watching every step and painstakingly checking each room she went past, took all the effort and concentration she could muster.

Her head snapped up and she looked ahead hearing something being scraped along the concrete floor just a few yards ahead of her.

She quickened her pace as best she could and made to the source of the noise. Stopping at the mouth of the open door she heard deep, raspy breaths and the sounds of someone struggling… that someone struggling she had no doubt was Morgan.

Taking it slow, she peeped her head just slightly into the open doorway. She swallowed hard seeing Morgan blindfolded, bare chested and tied to a wooden chair in the middle of the room. His flesh was covered in what looked like a hundred bloodied nicks, cuts and scrapes and his entire body was shaking violently as the wind blew round and round the room.

When she was sure there was no one else in the room with him, she rushed to him, his body tensing as he sensed someone with him.

"Morgan it's me." She whispered as she got just a foot away from him, leaning down.

"Emily?" He breathed in relief.

"Listen, I'm going to remove the blindfold. Ok?" She told him softly.

He nodded and she gently took hold of either side of the dirty rag tied around his head. As she slowly revealed his eyes, he immediately shut them tight and grimaced as the moonlight streaming in through the broken window hit his pupils.

"Are you ok? To walk I mean." She asked.

"I'm just so cold….." He shuddered, "….I can't feel anything."

She could see immediately he was disorientated and in bad shape.

"Do you know if Hardy's still here?" She whispered.

"I don't know." He stuttered.

Emily began to remove her jacket, but was interrupted hearing the footsteps making towards them.

"Shit he's coming…." She said, pulling her jacket back on to her shoulders.

"Emily….." He said, teeth chattering, his lips practically blue, "…there could be two of them."

"Ok, I'm going to put this back on you…." She began, placing the rag back around the back of his head. But before covering his eyes, she leant in further and looked straight into them, "…. I'm not leaving you ok? I'll be right here in the room." She assured.

He nodded. His eyes confused and full of fear.

She quickly tied the fabric and stepped back into the corner of the room, hidden from sight by the inward opening door and raised her glock in front of her.

She felt helpless as she watched Morgan's body automatically tense in fear, hearing Hardy enter the room and he shook more and more forcefully, his breaths becoming erratic once again.

Her eyes immediately were drawn to the glimmer of the reflection off the blade of the knife sticking out of the Hardy's back pocket, but before she barely had time to acknowledge it she saw Hardy lift his arms, pouring another bucket of cold water over Morgan who writhed under it, gasping for air once again.

"Hardy! Don't move!" Emily shouted, aiming the glock at the side of his head.

His head shot around to meet her stare, but it was momentary as he began to reach to his back pocket. Before he could even touch the blade, a shot rang out and he slumped to the floor, screaming out in pain.

"Emily?" Morgan almost cried out.

"It's ok, I'm here…." She reassured, racing over to Hardy.

"You bitch! I'm gonna bleed to death." Hardy yelled at her, grasping his bleeding shoulder.

"I wish…" She said dragging him to the side of the room where she handcuffed him to the pipe, "….Would save us all a lot of time and money….. But no, you're going to pay for all that you've done."

Ignoring his continued ramblings, she slipped her jacket off her shoulders as she went back to Morgan and placed it around him. His skin was rock hard and ice cold to the touch and she wondered how he hadn't already gone into shock. She removed the blindfold once again and placed her hands gently on each side of his face locking her eyes on his, "You're gonna be ok, aright?" She said gently and he nodded back.

She pulled out her cell and dialled Hotch.

"We've just pulled up outside. Where are you?" He said sternly.

"Second floor. I need a medic for Morgan and can you bring the first aid kit from the car. Make sure it has a space blanket."

"And Hardy?" Hotch asked.

"I've got him here."

She replaced the cell in her pocket and walked around the back of Morgan, "We'll get you out of here any minute now…." She told him gently, untying the ropes from around his wrists which were red raw from where the skin had rubbed off against the coarse tethers, "… Hotch is just outside."

As his arms became free and he pulled them back in front of him, he slumped forward letting out a gasp of relief. He leant his elbows on his knees and buried his face into his hands that were drained of any colour as a result of lack of circulation.

All she could do was keep one arm around him and one hand gripped to his, trying her best to keep him warm with her body heat, waiting for help to arrive.

~~CM~~

In the hospital corridor, Hotch, Rossi and Emily stood as the Doctor approached.

"Agent Hotchner?" The tall dark haired man asked, holding a hand out to the unit chief who stepped forward.

"Yes, how's he doing?" He asked, taking the doctor's hand.

"He'll be ok. He has the onset of hypothermia, but you got to him just in time. Once his body temperature is stable, he will be free to go."

"What about his injuries?" Rossi enquired.

"We've treated those. There's no major injury, but the amount of them is significant. As long as he stays on the anti-biotics we will give him and keeps the wounds clean, they will heal fine. They will just be uncomfortable for him for a while."

"Can we see him?" Emily asked.

"Sure, but try and keep the numbers down please. He does need some rest."

Emily looked to Hotch as the Doctor walked away, "Go on….." The Unit chief said to her, nodding towards Morgan's door. "…We'll be in in a few minutes. I need to call JJ."

As Emily walked away, Rossi stood, hands in pockets, looking lost in thought.

"Something on your mind Dave?" Hotch asked.

"You know we're going to have to tell Morgan about what Barr said before we go to press."

Hotch frowned, but nodded his head slowly, "At least we can tell him his father wasn't involved in the set up. It was Ron Castle's doing along with Barr. The others had nothing to do with it."

The older profiler stood, staring at the ground, rubbing one finger along his chin.

"What you thinking?" Hotch asked.

"It just doesn't feel right…." Rossi started, looking back up to Hotch, "….We're going to make Carl Hardy out to be some sort of martyr and the officers on that team will all be hung out to dry. The press won't care only two of them were involved. Carl Hardy was an evil monster who got away with killing a lot more people than he was ever convicted for. He did get what he deserved."

"It doesn't change the fact he was set up for several of those murders. They withheld evidence." Hotch stated.

"You don't think the means justified the end in this case?" Rossi mused, looking at Hotch.

Hotch stared at Rossi, his mind on overdrive until the moment was interrupted by JJ walking towards them at a rapid pace.

"How is he?" She asked.

"He's ok…." Rossi assured, "….They've treated him. There's no lasting damage. He'll just need some rest."

"Oh good." She sighed with relief.

"Are Morgan's family with you?" The older Agent asked.

"Yeah, I got them to wait downstairs whilst I found out what was happening. I wasn't sure what they'd be faced with up here."

"Well you can go and get them. They can see him now." Hotch told her.

"Ok, but Hotch, the press have been on to me. They want some sort of statement."

"What did you get from Harrington earlier? We haven't had chance to go over it all since this snowballed."

JJ shook her head, "It was pointless. She couldn't even remember speaking to an officer about a murder. Too many years of abusing her body with narcotics I'm afraid. Her brain's fried… What did you guys get from Barr?"

"Nothing….." Hotch spat out quickly earning a subtle look of confusion from Rossi, "… Nothing of any significance."

"Oh right… may be Reid will have something."

"I forgot all about Reid." Hotch said, pulling his cell from his pocket and dialling.

"Hotch?" The young Doctor answered at the other end.

"Reid."

"How's Morgan?"

"He's fine. Few cuts and bruises, but he'll be ok…. You can finish up now. Come and meet us at the hospital."

"But Hotch I've found something else."

"Reid, we don't need anything else."

"But…"

"Reid, just put the file away and give it back to the Detective. It's not needed."

"Ok Hotch. No problem." Reid answered with confusion.

Hotch replaced the cell in his top jacket pocket and looked to JJ, "You get the Morgan's then come and find me. We can pen something up for the press."

~~CM~~

"Hey how you doing?" Emily asked softly, smiling at Morgan as she walked in through the door.

"I've been better…." He said with a small chuckle, "I'm pretty sore, my head's banging and I really wanna get out of this damn awful hospital gown."

"I dunno…." She started with a quick raise of her eyebrows, "….I find them quite sexy. Particularly the hole at the back." The brunette laughed.

"Ha ha… Very funny Emily…. how about you make yourself useful and pass me that drink."

"Hey, just because you're sitting in a hospital bed doesn't mean I suddenly become your maid." She teased.

Morgan stuck out his bottom lip in a mocking pout as she passed him the hot tea and sat at his bedside, taking a contemplative breath.

"What's up?" He asked.

She shifted her body round to face him straight on, looking him in the eyes, that were now so much more full of life than just an hour or so ago, "Listen, I know I have absolutely no right to say this to you, but please don't go off like that again."

His gaze fell downward as he thought and then looked up to meet hers once again, "I had to." He whispered.

"I know…" She nodded, "….And I don't blame you for what you did. But I guess I now know a little of how I made you feel when I did it….. and I'm so sorry."

"Ditto." He said with an apologetic smile.

"How about we make a pact….?" Emily began, "…Next time, we tell each other before doing anything stupid. Ok?"

"Next time?" He said with a raised brow.

"Ok, hopefully there won't be one." She conceded.

He stared at her for a few seconds and then looked down to her hand that was resting on the bed, "Buy yeah…." He whispered, brushing the top of her hand with his fingertips, "…...I'll make that pact with you."

"Good." She smiled.

"And thank you Emily…. for coming for me. You saved my life." His voice quiet, deep and his words full of sincerity. He knew he had probably cheated death today.

"I guess I owed you." She laughed warmly.

As he laughed back, there was then a light knock at the door which caused Morgan to look up and Emily to swivel round in her chair.

Fran Morgan poked her head around the door, "I ok to come in?"
"Of course mama." Morgan said, sitting up a little more.

Emily stood up to face the worried looking woman, swallowing hard with a wash of guilt flashing across her face as she made eye contact with her.

Fran glanced from the brunette to her son, with his tired, drained face and body that if not covered with plaster, was a dark purple colour.

"You told me he'd be safe." Fran directed at Emily. Her voice was quiet after the shock of seeing her son in such a state.

"Mrs Morgan I'm sorry…." Emily almost pleaded.

"No mama…" Morgan said sitting up further, wincing at the pain as he moved, "…..It's not Emily's fault. I tricked her and went off on my own. Please don't blame her….. She was the one who found me."

The two women locked stare. Emily's eyes full of apology, Fran Morgan's still full of fear. Just because he was ok this time, didn't mean she wasn't petrified this could happen over and over again.

The older woman gently touched the back Emily's hand as the profiler picked at her fingers nervously, "I'm sorry Emily. I shouldn't have said that. Thank you for finding him."

"Please don't thank me Mrs Morgan."

"Fran please."

Emily gave a nod, stepping aside, as Fran made for her son's bedside.

"Where's Sarah and Desiree?" Morgan asked as is mother wrapped her arms around his neck causing him to scrunch his face up in pain. He caught Emily's gaze as he opened his eyes and winked at her, earning a small, but warm smile.

"They're outside baby. They would only let one visitor in at a time."

Morgan chuckled, "Looks like they forgot about you Emily."

"Yeah… um, I should go and leave you two alone." She said, beginning to edge out of the room.

Fran Morgan turned back to her, "Oh no dear. Don't go. I want someone to witness the telling off he's gonna get from me right now."

Emily laughed, while Morgan protested, but to no avail. Standing in the corner of the room, she felt like an intruder, watching in on a families' private moment as Fran Morgan fussed over her son.

Emily was about to quietly slip away, when Fran turned to her, "I was just wondering… When I cook that chicken dinner, would you like to come?"

"I err…." She glanced at Morgan, who smiled at her, "…I don't know if I'll be able to."

"Yes you will….."

Hotch's voice came from behind her as he entered the room.

"Morgan, they're ready to discharge you… on the proviso that you will have plenty of rest. You can go back to you mother's tonight." The unit chief continued.

Morgan waved his Unit Chief away, "I'll be fine Hotch."
"That may be so, but you're not coming back with us. You'll stay here for a few days."

"But…"

Hotch held up his hand to hush the Agent sat on the bed, "No arguments."
"Thank you Agent Hotchner….." Fran Morgan said, smiling. "…. I'd invite all of you for dinner, but I don't have…"

Hotch held his hands up to her, "Don't be silly, you can borrow Prentiss for a couple of hours this evening. She can finish her reports in the morning. We will start tonight… Do you mind if we just have a couple of minutes with Derek before we go Mrs Morgan?"

"Of course. I'll go and let the girls know how Derek is."

As Fran Morgan left the room, the rest of the team came in.

"I thought it was one visitor at a time." Morgan stated.

"Well, the badge helps… " Rossi began, "….and Reid giving that pretty nurse the eye sealed the deal."

"Hey!" Reid protested as the room chuckled.

"Proud of you kid." Morgan said, earning a roll of the eyes from Emily and JJ.

The blond then walked over to the small television on the wall as the base of Morgan's bed.

"The press release should be on the news any second now." She said, flicking through the channels. "…Here it is."

"Earlier today it was claimed by this man, Trevin Hardy, that his father Carl Hardy, was set up by Chicago Police Department over thirty years ago for several murders. The FBI has released this statement….. Carl Hardy was serving a life sentence for thirteen murders, but was recently killed in prison. The claims of his son, Trevin Hardy, have not been founded and Trevin Hardy is currently in custody for the murder of five innocent members of the public and the aggravated assault of a FBI Agent. This man will face the full wrath of the United States Criminal Justice System."

Hotch was the first to look at Morgan as the newsreader finished talking and the younger Agent felt his stare and looked up to meet it, "Thanks Hotch." He said with a small, but grateful smile.

"Morgan, your father was not corrupt. There's nothing to thank me for…."

As the Unit Chief turned he caught the smile and approving nod from Rossi.

"Ok guys, we better be getting back to the station. Prentiss you stay here with the patient." Hotch directed.

"You sure that's ok?" Emily asked.

"Sure… Enjoy my good mood while it lasts."

Morgan and Emily both looked to Hotch with confusion, joined by the rest of the team.

"What do you mean?" Emily inquired.

"When you get back to Quantico Morgan, the two of you are both doing recertification training."

"What?" Morgan exclaimed.

"Well neither of you seem to be able to follow protocol, so I think you both need a refresher."

"Very funny Hotch." Emily said with small laugh.

"Oh no, I'm not joking." He assured her.

"But I'm a trainer….." Morgan argued.

"Yeah a trainer who can't follow the rules himself… Even more reason for a refresher."

Morgan and Emily just looked at Hotch, mouths agape, realising he wasn't kidding. Their team mates and friends trying to hide their amusement at their misfortune.

"Well we'll be off then." Hotch said, signalling to the others with a smirk.

"You two enjoy your evening." Rossi said.

Emily shot him a sarcastic smile as he turned and caught up to Hotch.

"You did the right thing." The older profile said to Hotch as they walked out of the room.

Hoch nodded hesitantly. It would take a little while for him to get straight in his mind that he had absolutely done the right thing.

"Ooh Reid. Did you get me that thing?" Emily called to the young Doctor as he followed behind Rossi and Hotch.

"Oh yeah. Sorry I forgot…" He began, pulling a large thick brown envelope from under his arm, "… here you go."

"Thanks….." She said with a smile, "…..I'll see you later."

As she watched the last of their friends leaving, she turned to face Morgan and looked at him, swallowing nervously.

"What's up?" He asked.

"I don't know if I did the right thing, but I got you something." She said taking the few steps toward the bed.

"In that envelope?" He said, pointing to the thick package she was gripping tightly.

"Yeah… it's um… well it's your father's police file."

Morgan's brow dipped in confusion, "I don't understand."

"I thought you might like to read it and may be share it with your family."

Morgan just stared at her and she felt a wave of nervousness flow through her wondering if she'd done the right thing.

"When we didn't know where you were, I was talking to an old Detective, just coming up for retirement. When he was a rookie, he knew of your father. He made a comment about betting his file would be a good read because of everything he achieved…. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he got it for me. Strictly speaking, we shouldn't have it, so I need to give it him back before we leave, but if you want you can look at it tonight."

She handed the envelope to him and he held it with both hands, just staring at it.

"I mean you don't have to…." She said, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "…I can take it back tonight."

Morgan looked up to her. His eyes were big and she thought he looked a little scared. He shook his head, "No…. I don't want you to take it back. I wanna read it….. Thank you Emily… It's really thoughtful."

"You're welcome. Your father sounds like a wonderful man. Someone to be very proud of."

She had of course made sure Detective Bower had removed anything from the file that would upset them… but she thought the Morgan's deserved to remember and may be learn some new things Jo Morgan did as a police officer. He served his country and his city with honor and integrity.

"Right come on then you…." Emily said, picking up Morgan's go bag that Reid had bought with him, "….Get changed. I want some of this famous chicken dinner."

Morgan chuckled and slowly got up off the bed, taking the holdall from the brunette. He turned and started to make his way to the bathroom to get changed, calling back to her.

"I hop you're not peeking at the hole in the back of this gown you." He chuckled.

Ok… hope you liked how this ended.

Firstly, I'd love to know what you think morally about them not revealing Hardy was set up… do you think they were right to do it?

Sorry to any shippers out there… this was never going to be about Morgan & Emily getting together… just their friendship.

I don't know if I'm cut out for the case fic thing… I've got to say it is so much more of a challenge, but is more rewarding. I'm just not sure if this was exciting enough or flowed well…..

And by the way, I'd written the bit about the training before 7x15 aired ;)