A.N. Final chapter. Thanks to those who have so faithfully reviewed this story, as well as those who sent a few very encouraging PMs-you kept me going! Hoping one or two others might have enjoyed it as well...

The Sound of Silence

Chapter 43

"Oops! I don't know how I missed that!"

JJ had received the same text as Reid the day before, but hadn't caught it.

"Maybe you were a little distracted?" You know, by having your husband splayed out on the floor, half-dead?

"Hmm, maybe." She pursed her lips. "So, what, are we in trouble?"

"I can't think why we would be. I didn't exactly break any training rules this time. And you never do."

"Ha! I never get caught, you mean."

His brows went up. "Why, Agent Jennifer Jareau, you never cease to surprise me."

"And I plan to keep it that way. A little mystery goes a long way in a marriage. Isn't that what they say?"

Bantering felt good after what seemed like an endless series of ordeals over the past few weeks. Now all they had to do was to reunite with the rest of their family and reclaim their lives.

"I should call Mom and Dad and warn them we'll be out when they get home. I don't want Henry to think we've disappeared again."

JJ picked up her phone and punched the number. There was no answer on the other end, so she left a voice mail to her mother and a text to both of her parents, hoping they'd find it.

They'd only rarely been to the FBI Headquarters building. Once, to be sworn in, and JJ another time, to formally apply for reinstatement to the BAU after her forced stint at the Pentagon. While the FBI itself had been in existence for more than a century, the headquarters building was a product of the '70s…imposing, but not exactly an architectural work of beauty. But being near it did convey the energy of the city it inhabited. It was either that energy or a latent anxiety that fueled the adrenalin rush both Reids were feeling as they entered the edifice and made their way toward security.

As they waited to be badged through, as they waited for the elevator, as they rode in the elevator, Reid kept up a constant chatter.

"The message said 'Deputy Director', so it's got to be John, right? That can't be bad." He was trying to talk down his nerves at being called into the second highest office of the FBI.

"Maybe he just wants to see how you're doing." But JJ knew it had to be other than that. He had Reid's number. He could have called.

"Guess we're about to find out."

They exited the elevator at the top floor, and wandered down the hallway until they'd located the right office. Reid swung the door open for his wife, and entered behind her. An administrative assistant looked up at them.

"Agents Reid and Jareau? Go right on in."

Not kept waiting for a bigwig. Something was definitely up.

Reid opened the door again for JJ and started following her into the Deputy Director's office. He walked right into the back of her when she stopped short.

"What…..you're all here!" She was staring across the room at the rest of her team, joined, apparently, by their Section Chief. Erin Strauss was standing beside David Rossi.

"And us too, Mommy!"

JJ whipped her head around to see Henry standing near the window with her parents, her father holding Rosie.

"Ma! Da!" Rosie tried to squirm out of her grandfather's grasp when she saw her mother and father.

Reid recovered from his collision with JJ and looked around the room. They were surrounded by everyone in his life who meant anything to him.

"What's going on?" He turned to where John seemed to have been in conversation with Aaron Hotchner. "Sir?"

John made his way over to the couple. He shook Reid's hand as he gripped the opposite shoulder.

"I'm glad to see you looking well, Spencer. I hear it was a rough couple of days."

No one in the room knew better than John…and perhaps Erin Strauss….what he'd been through. Reid shook the hand of his Deputy Director. "It was. But it's over. For good, God willing."

John smiled at him and motioned both of them further into the room. JJ was now holding a happy Rosie, and Henry had attached himself to the hem of Reid's suit jacket.

John centered himself against his desk and, having their attention, addressed those assembled.

"Regretfully, the case that brings you all here today cannot be made public. It's not simply a matter of it being classified. To honor your actions publicly would risk the identities of innocent law enforcement officers being disclosed in a way that might put their careers in jeopardy. So we're relegated to this office. But regardless, you should know that the FBI, the CIA, the DHS, the DEA, the NSA and Metro PD are all indebted to you. To each of you."

He made a point of making eye contact with each member of the team before continuing.

"I wish I had a medal to honor the going about of one's usual duties under conditions of extreme stress. As you are well aware, nearly every member of our Bureau would deserve it, including all of you in this room. But I do have the privilege of recognizing recent acts of heroism by members of our esteemed Behavioral Analysis Unit."

Said unit exchanged glances among themselves as the Deputy Director reached behind him to lift an item from his desk.

"The FBI Star is awarded to an agent seriously injured in the line of duty. SSA David Rossi was injured by gunshot in coming to the aid of Section Chief Erin Strauss. Agent Rossi sustained a wound to the neck that required surgery and extended hospitalization. It is my privilege to award Agent Rossi the FBI Star. Agent Rossi, please come forward to receive your medal."

Reid was excited at Rossi's reward, but concerned about the effect on Henry of hearing the description of what had happened to his teammate. He brought the youngster around in front of him and pretended to play with his ears, hoping to disrupt enough of the verbal input to shield his little one from yet more frightening knowledge.

They all congratulated Rossi as John reached back for another medal. JJ noticed when Strauss laid a hand on Rossi's arm as he settled in next to her.

"May I have SSA Emily Prentiss step forward, please."

The brunette agent looked surprised. But she had been shot. And she had required emergency care. Reid and JJ both smiled at her as she moved uncertainly toward John.

"Agent Prentiss, you were shot in the act of protecting the Jareau and Reid families from a potentially deadly attack."

Reid stepped up the pace of his tapping on Henry's ears. He knew John meant well, but he did not want his son hearing this.

"Agent Prentiss, the Bureau awards you the FBI Star."

Emily blushed as the senior FBI man handed her the medal. And she blushed even more when the room erupted into applause for her.

As she moved back to her place, John took two more medals from his desk.

"We are here, at the conclusion of this case, because of the bravery of one man. SSA Spencer Reid put himself in jeopardy for the sake of his law enforcement brethren. In doing so, he doubtless prevented the deaths of many, both law enforcement and lay citizens. In the process, he was assaulted, and suffered significant and persistent injury to his health. I am pleased to say he is now on the road to full recovery. Agent Reid, please step forward."

Emily might have turned a pleasant shade of pink, but Reid was now covered in deep red blotches, creeping upward from his neck to his ears. He had to let go of Henry to move toward John. As he did so, he heard, "Yay, Daddy!" "Ay!"

Reid turned to look at his son. Henry was grinning, and clapping. As was Rosie. And the Jareaus. The team applauded him as well. Finally, his eyes rested on JJ. His wife just looked at him, smiling, conveying a full conversation with her eyes. I love you. I'm proud of you. You deserve this.

John shook Reid's hand as he gave him the FBI Star.

"Congratulations, Spencer. I couldn't be prouder."

"Thank you, Sir."

Reid started to move away, and was surprised when John's hand pulled him back.

"Sorry, son, I'm not done with you."

He moved Reid off to his side as he addressed his comments to the rest of the room.

"The FBI also honors those who have demonstrated remarkable bravery in the line of duty. The FBI Shield of Bravery is awarded to those who face the extraordinary dangers of working under cover, or crisis negotiation, for some of our highest priority cases, such as this one. Agent Reid, the Bureau hereby proudly awards you the FBI Shield of Bravery."

More applause. More blushing. The tribute would have been a fitting end to the brief ceremony. But it wasn't over yet.

John cleared his throat to get their attention again. Now he lifted a large medal, hanging from a ribbon.

"From time to time, the FBI sees fit to honor an ordinary citizen. One who has demonstrated the traits of fidelity, bravery and integrity. The FBI would like to bestow such an honor today."

John looked around at all of them, settling his eyes on the Reid men.

"It has come to our attention that a young man assisted the fire department in saving the life of one Casey Reid."

Henry had started to fidget as the ceremony progressed, but upon hearing Casey's name, his attention was again riveted on John.

In that moment, every member of the Reid and Jareau families fell in love with the FBI Deputy Director. He was reaching out to their little boy, so battered by the work his parents chose to do. In his own way, he was trying to turn it around. JJ could barely see through the tears in her eyes.

"Firefighter Brady has informed the FBI that he would not have been able to save Casey from the fire had he not been alerted by this young man. He said the young man saved Casey's life."

Now John narrowed his gaze. "May I ask Henry William LaMontagne Reid to step forward, please?"

Reid, grinning, pushed his son toward John. Henry's eyes were as big as saucers.

John lowered the ribbon over Henry's head, allowing the medal to fall against his chest.

"Henry William LaMontagne Reid, you are an FBI Hero."

"Does he know?" Rossi asked his good friend Aaron.

"About the medals? No. I didn't see any point in telling him. The Bureau's always at least a couple of years behind. This thing today wouldn't have happened at all if it hadn't involved the Deputy Director."

They were talking about Reid. It may never have occurred to him, but he'd already earned both the FBI Star and its Shield of Bravery from his work in New Orleans. That ceremony would be public. But, as with most things bureaucratic, it would take its time in arriving. And, Hotch knew, the delay sometimes meant things got lost. He would only tell Reid if and when it was imminent. The public ceremonies were well attended. He didn't think Reid would be able to handle that kind of attention without substantial warning.

"So, how many FBI Stars does that make now?" Hotch teased his good friend.

"Enough to make me feel immortal. Except that this one took a lot out of me. Not sure how much I have left, Aaron."

Hotch looked at his old friend with affection and respect. "I'll trust you to make the decision when the time comes. But I'm hoping it won't be for a long while yet."

Nearby, JJ and Sandy were congratulating Emily. JJ hugged her good friend while still holding Rosie.

"I love you. And I'm glad the FBI finally saw fit to acknowledge how awesome you are."

"Ay!" Rosie clapped again.

Emily, now slingless, reached for her goddaughter. "Well, I couldn't very well have my little Miss Rosie in trouble now, could I?"

"Emy!" Rosie stretched her arms around Emily's neck in her version of a hug.

The godmother raised wide eyes to her friend. "Did she just say my name?"

JJ laughed. "Why not? As Spence would point out, she does everything early."

Reid heard his name mentioned as he and Henry made their way over. He hugged Emily and Rosie together.

"Did I hear my name?"

"No, I heard my name. Rosie called me 'Emy'!"

"She did? Emily, did you know? She's early!"

Emily was still laughing at the besotted father as she bent to Henry.

"May I see that?" She lifted the 'FBI Hero' medal from his chest. "That's awesome, Henry. Congratulations! You are a very special young man."

The little guy was beaming. "Thanks, Aunt Emilyyyyyy...!" Before he knew what was happening, Henry had been scooped up from behind.

"Uncle Thunder, put me down!" the little guy giggled.

"Hey, I'm under orders, Sir Henry. Your godmother wants to give you a big hug!"

Henry looked warily over to his father.

"Go ahead. Yell if she's squishing you. I'm sure 'Uncle Thunder' will save you." Reid gave his good friend a mischievous look.

In the far corner of the room, Charles Jareau was speaking with John.

"Thank you. For all of this." He waved his hand at the rest. "You helped to save Spencer's life. And I think you might have helped save my grandson's as well."

Like the other adults in the family, Charles was concerned about Henry. Maybe this act of kindness would start to turn things around for the little boy.

John acknowledged the thanks with a smile. "I have a grandson myself. And I know how hard this work is on families. I may not have been in a position to do right by my own family, but I am happy to help Spencer's get through this."

He moved in conspiratorially toward Charles. "To tell you the truth, I think your son-in-law saved my career. I was feeling pretty removed from the field, and I was starting to make decisions that looked like I'd forgotten what it was like to be on the front lines. Spencer brought me back there. I was thinking about getting out, but now I think I need to stay here. Be the voice of sanity at some of these ridiculous administrative meetings. Spencer just may have helped in ways he doesn't even know."

They'd had a little reception in the conference room, and most of the family had eaten their full. Only Rosie required a formal lunch when they arrived home. So Henry insisted upon baseball the minute they walked in the door.

"Remember, you said, Daddy!"

"That I did. Grab your ball and bat, Little Man."

All three males in the household spent a couple of hours tossing, and batting and running. They'd done it a few days ago, but with the spectre of withdrawal hovering over Reid. Now, it felt like a celebration. Only good things to come.

As the afternoon wore on, and the adults wore out, Reid reminded Henry, "Big happenings in the sky tonight, Little Man. Who's up for a nap?"

"Aww, Daddy." He'd been hoping Reid would forget.

"Just a little one. Come on, I'll lay down with you."

Reluctantly, Henry agreed, and they went in and settled themselves on his bed, spooning as they were accustomed to, in order to accommodate Reid's length. Reid's eyes were already closed when he heard Henry speak.

"Daddy?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm proud of you."

Reid came alert at that. "Really?"

"Yep. Mr. John said you beat the bad guys and saved a lot of people. Didn't he?"

Reid began to wonder just how much Henry had heard, until the little boy added, "That's what Papa said."

Relieved, Reid answered, "I had a lot of help. It's what a team does together. You remember, like your baseball team."

"Oh. Yeah."

"And, Little Buddy? I'm proud of you, too. Look at you. You're only six, and you've got a medal from the FBI."

"Yeah!"

Two hours later, JJ woke them up.

"C'mon, guys. Home-made pizza for dinner!"

She'd been having trouble rousing them until she appealed to their appetites.

"Pizza? Yay!"

Henry was already out of bed and on his way to washing his hands. Reid was still trying to stretch himself out when JJ took a seat on the mattress next to her husband and grinned at him.

"This was a good day."

He returned the look.

"The best."

"I was already proud of you, of course. But I'm glad to know the FBI sees what I see."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"A pretty damn good agent. And a selfless, wonderful man. Whom I had the good sense to marry." She punctuated her statement with a kiss.

He laughed. "Well, thanks. I know it would have made the FBI insider news, but I could have kissed John for what he did for Henry. Our little man was so excited. He seems pretty happy, doesn't he?"

She agreed. "He does."

"But I still want to talk to him. There's just something….."

"Daddy! Mommy! Time to eat! Hurry up!" Once Henry was hungry, there was little he would allow to come between him and his food.

"Coming!" they shouted together.

After supper, the Jareaus asked for their attention.

"We know you've been very preoccupied. But we've been busy," Sandy started.

"We've talked about it at length." Charles' gaze was directed specifically at his daughter.

JJ was suddenly wary. "What? What's going on?"

Charles reached into his pocket, slowly removing his hand to reveal that it held a set of keys.

"Your mother and I have discussed it. Up, down, and sideways. And we've decided. It's time."

Sandy couldn't contain herself. "We're moving! We're going to live down here!"

JJ's eyes were wide, and shifting from her mother, to her father, to Spence, and back again.

"What?!"

"We're moving! Your father and I have talked it over. We'll miss the house, of course. But it will never get back to being the home we remember anyway. And we miss you and the children terribly when we're apart. And you, too, of course, dear." She patted Reid's hand.

Charles supported his wife. "I haven't been willing to admit it, but the upkeep on the house has been a bit much for me. It's old, and so am I. Those two facts of life just don't work well together."

JJ's jaw was dropped. "But…..but you love living there."

Sandy nodded. "We have loved it. And we'll miss some good friends. But we want to be near our daughter, and our grandchildren. We want this, sweetheart. Really, we do."

Reid watched the family tableau, involved and yet not. He looked at Charles, and then at the keys.

"So, you've found something?"

Sandy answered for them. "Oh, yes! It's the cutest little townhouse. They said we can rent it and decide if we want to buy it. It's only about ten minutes from here!"

JJ was having trouble taking it all in. And she was torn. She loved the idea of her parents being nearby. Of the kids really knowing them. Of them being able to provide some stability when she and Spence were away. But they were also talking about giving up the place she'd always known as home. It was a bittersweet situation.

"Are you sure?"

Charles had always been the one who could read her the best. He put his hand across the table and covered hers.

"We'll still have our memories, Jennifer. And you will, too. But you're making new memories now, with your own family. We want to be a part of that."

Reid smiled as he put his arm around his wife and squeezed. "We want that, too."

It was late, and the others had turned in for the night. By plan, only father and son held vigil in the backyard.

Despite the triumphs and excitement of the day, Reid had a sense that Henry was still unsettled, that he needed something more from his father. He couldn't say how, but he knew his son had been struggling with yet another worry. And he was fairly certain he knew what it was.

Did he tell me in the hospital? Is it something that I heard but don't consciously remember?

In the end, it didn't matter how he knew it. He just knew. So, while they were outside watching for meteors, he pulled Henry over from the lounge chair next to him, and laid the youngster out on top of him. The little one was still wearing his 'FBI Hero' medal.

"There. Now we can be sure we're looking at the same stars."

"When I get bigger, we can't do this any more, Daddy. I'll squish you!"

"I think we've got a little time before that happens, Buddy." And I'll be in mourning on the day it does.

The night wouldn't be in full regalia for almost an hour, but there was an occasional herald star to be found shooting through the sky.

Henry sat straight up. "Look! Did you see that one, Daddy?"

"Sure did, Buddy. That was pretty cool."

"Yeah." Henry lay back again and snuggled against Reid. The former godfather recognized his opportunity.

"Sure am glad we can do this together, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"I wonder if you were a little bit worried that we might not be able to do things like this any more."

Silence.

"You know, like when I was in the hospital."

Long pause. "Yeah."

"Henry, I think maybe you helped me wake up in the hospital. Did you know that? I don't think I could have done it without you. You know?"

Another long pause. "Really?"

"Really. But, then, I'm not at all surprised that you helped me so much. After all, it's what a son does for a father."

Reid put the statement out there, his antennae up. He was listening with his ears, and with every cell that was in contact with Henry. This was what he'd thought was troubling his son.

He knew he was right when he felt the usually fidgety Henry go perfectly still.

"What do you mean, Daddy?"

"I mean, Little Man,…" Reid sat up and shifted Henry so that they were looking at each other. "….that, when fathers and sons love each other, they take care of each other. Just like you took care of me."

Henry broke eye contact with Reid. "But…."

Reid turned Henry's face back to him.

"No 'buts', Henry. You are my son, and I am your father."

"But….Joey said…Rosie…"

So that's where it came from. Reid begged for wisdom. He could only hope it had been granted when he spoke again.

"Henry, God gave Rosie to our family because He knew we were the right people to love her. Maybe He knew she would be the right person to love us, too. And He gave you to your Mom and Daddy Will for the same reason."

The little blonde was listening with rapt attention.

"And I was soooo lucky when they asked me to be your godfather. I met you on the day you were born, Henry. Did you know that? And when I did, I thought…wow, I love him already! And then you smiled, and I thought…..look, he loves me too!"

Henry smiled at that. "Do you think God knew that you would love me? Is that why He let you be my God-father?"

Reid nodded back at him through wet eyes. Wisdom coming from everywhere now.

"Exactly that. So, then, when Daddy Will had to go to heaven….."

"God thought…..Uncle Spence will be his daddy!" Henry finished it for him.

Reid hadn't heard the 'Uncle Spence' in a very long time. He thought back and remembered how much he'd loved the youngster when he'd been known simply by that name. He marveled that he hadn't even been aware when the love had changed. Hadn't noticed it turning into what it was now… the deep, visceral, forever bond of being the little boy's father.

"That's right. So, even though it happened one way for you and another way for Rosie…..really, God gave both of you to me and your Mom to love. It's not really all that different, is it?"

Henry appeared to be pondering that for a long minute, and then nodded, satisfied. "Okay."

He shifted himself back around to look at the night sky with his father.

"Daddy?"

"What?"

"Joey's dumb."

They were still under the stars a few hours later, Henry out cold lying atop his father, Reid watching a final few stray meteors after a spectacular heavenly display.

One day, he thought, he would tell his son more of the story. One day he would share with Henry the events of his own life on the day the little boy was born.

How he'd learned, finally, that his father was someone to be pitied, rather than hated. How William had admitted to his own weaknesses without apology.

How Diana had demonstrated such strength, such ferocious mother-love, that she'd been willing to face her delusional demons for the sake of giving her son the truth, in the hope of bringing him peace.

How he'd thought, at first, that it was JJ who'd saved him on that awful day. How he'd grown to realize it was also Henry who'd saved him, just by coming into being.

How one of the most emotionally brutal days of his life had come to an end in a DC hospital room, holding the infant Henry, sharing a moment of bonding with the child and his mother. How he'd managed to replace self-pity and anger with hope, and gratitude.

How he'd never dreamed they would become such an integral part of his life. How he'd never dreamed they would become his life.

How he would never have embarked on this adventure of life without the unspoken invitation of the boy and his mother.

How Rosie was a product of the love all three of them shared.

How he would be forever grateful to the woman whose demons wouldn't allow her to live the life he was now living.

How, this very night, they'd followed her final advice.

"Be engaged with life. Read the great stories. Gaze upon fine art. Listen to beautiful music. Explore the night sky. My adventure is coming to an end. Yours is still being written. Enjoy your life, my heart. Be happy."

One day, when they were both ready, he would share the whole story with Henry. For now, he would only love him. He would love all of them, and be loved in return. He would enjoy his life. He would be happy. And he would treasure every day as a gift. He would make Diana smile.

FINIS