I ran into the BAU the second I got out of the elevator, having JJ catch me around the arms to get me to calm down as we went into the debrief room where Garcia, Lewis, and Walker sat around the round table.

"The others are in Mexico trying to get Reid's name cleared." Garcia said to the two male agents, then finally spotted me and got up from her chair, hugging me.

"Vanessa, oh my gosh, I cannot imagine what you are going through." she said, looking back at me. "We're going to bring him home though, okay?"

I nodded. "I know you guys will."

"How're the kids?" JJ asked.

"They're good. Derek and Savannah are by with Hank. They're taking care of them for the time." I answered, "how'd this happen?"

"He was caught with cocaine and heroin in his system, and he was transporting." Walker replied.

"Spencer doesn't do drugs." I said.

"We know, Vanessa. That's why Emily, Luke, and Rossi are over there. They're trying to get him back home." Lewis replied.

I looked at Garcia and saw she had sat back down again, aggressively tapping on her laptop.

"What're you doing?" I asked

"I'm obsessively refreshing the Mexican prison logs to see if Reid's name pops up. So far he's staying put. But they could transfer him to Santa Adaladia or El Diablo, both of which make Matamoros look like a day spa. Like, a who's who of bad guys. Really rough, overcrowded, there's assault and murders of inmates monthly." Garcia ranted.

"He's an American accused of murdering a Mexican citizen. The government is well within their rights to keep him there." Lewis said.

"Well, they could do worse. They could lock him up and throw away the key." JJ said.

"The only thing we know Reid is guilty of is getting those vials for his mom." Walker said.

"Guys, I know you're just trying to be helpful, but this really isn't making me feel better." I said to all four.

"Oh. Right." Garcia said, nodding, then she looked at her screen and looked back up at me. "Reid is going to El Diablo Maximum Security by the end of the day. They just put in the transfer."

———

"My old Unit Chief at the B.A.P has a call in to the best legal counsel the Bureau has to offer." Walker said once he walked over to us by the desks, putting his phone away.

"We need a dream team." Garcia said.

"That's what we'll get." Walker confirmed.

"Cruz said we need Reid's work history, performance reviews, commendations, and reprimands if there are any, and we need them in the next three minutes." Lewis spoke up.

"Vanessa, Garcia, and I compiled a list just in case." JJ said.

"Just sent it." Garcia said as she typed away at her phone.

"All right. Now we wait." Lewis said with a sigh.

My phone rang and I took it out, seeing Derek's number flash on the screen.

"I need to take this call. Be right back." I excused myself and answered the call, walking over to the counter out of earshot.

"Hey, girly. How you holding up?" Morgan asked.

I sighed and smiled a little. "You heard?"

"Yeah. And if I was still at the BAU, I'd go off on those people who arrested Reid."

"Yeah, well, there's no arguing with them now. But at least he will be coming home instead of in a Mexican prison." I said, "how're the kids?"

"They're just fine. They're getting along with Hank really well. Are you going to tell them about their father?"

"Um...I don't know. Not now, at least. Let the kids be kids a little longer."

"Fair enough. Hang in there, okay?"

"Okay. Say hi to Savannah for me, okay?"

"I will. And say hi to the team for me." he said before hanging up.

I took the phone from my ear and walked over to the desks where the team was still talking, putting my phone in my pocket.

"Derek said hi." I said.

"Tell him we say hi as well." Garcia replied with a smile.

"The next time I see him, I will." I answered.

The sound of the elevator dinged open and the five of us pushed open the glass door and walked over to where Rossi, Emily, Luke, and Spencer walked out.

JJ smiled and stepped forward, hugging him. "Hey. Sorry about having the handcuffs on now. It's just because there's so many people."

"I know. It's okay." he told her.

"We know you didn't do anything wrong." JJ said. "Listen, you're not alone in this anymore."

"My turn." Garcia said, smiling as she went to hug Spencer. "You're color's better. All I've had to look at was that mug shot, and it had me really worried."

"Yeah, we all were." Lewis said. "Especially Vanessa."

"Hey, I had a very good reason to be worried." I defended myself, walking over to Spencer and hugging him. "Next time, just order off Amazon or something."

Spencer chuckled.

"Glad you're back." Walker said.

"Me, too." Spencer answered, then looked at me. "How's the kids? Are they okay?"

"They're both find. Derek and Savanah came over with Hank so they could have a playdate."

"Aw. I wish I could've seen that." He said with a smile.

"I'm sure Derek will send my pictures of it. I'll show them to you." I assured him.

"Good. Hey, um, do you think you could stay with me while I get transferred?" he asked.

"You thought I'd just leave you now? Of course I'm coming with." I said, looking at Walker and Rossi as the four of us walked away from the rest of the team and outside into the SUV.

"Reid, these are tinted windows, so people can't see in. Here." Rossi took Spencer's handcuffs off him and ushered me and him into the back seat as Rossi closed the door and he and Walker got into the front seats; driving out of the BAU parking lot and out onto the highway.

"Hey, kid, relax. We won't stop until we get you out and back home where you belong." Rossi said.

"I hope so." Spencer said, wrapping his arms around me and drawing me close to his side, his fingers trailing over my arms as he placed a light kiss on my forehead.

My phone dinged with a text and I pulled it out, seeing Derek has sent me an image in texts, opening it and seeing a picture of all three kids waving up at the camera with huge smiles on their faces.

"Aw," Spencer smiled at the photo. "What will you tell the kids when I'm gone?"

I leaned my head back against his shoulder and continued to stare at the photo for a minute longer before shutting off my phone and looking at Spencer. "That you're on a work trip."

"Hmm. That good. Will you three be okay?"

I sighed. "That's what's so good about being kids. You don't think anything can go wrong in the world. The kids will be fine, but it's going to be hard for me. Some days more than others."

"Reid, we're almost there." Walker said.

"Already? It feels like we've been driving for only five minutes." I said.

"Well, that's the way of life. Good things pass by slowly, but bad things seem to pass by quickly. We've been driving for 45 minutes, believe it or not." he responded.

"Spence, I want to stay with you tonight." I said softly.

"And I want you to stay, Vanessa. But you need to get home to the kids. Tell them I'm safe and to not worry." he replied.

"I should tell you that Emily got into drawing today. So I'll be sending you a lot of pictures so you can look at them." I said.

———

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Emily asked over the phone. "You and the twins can always stay with me if you want."

I walked into my house and smiled when I saw Derek and Savannah still there sitting on the couch. "I'll be fine, Emily. But, listen, I don't think I can work from the BAU for a while. I can get patched in at home, but I need to take care of my kids. Is that okay?"

"Of course, Vanessa. Take as much time as you need. We'll make it work from here, okay?"

"Okay. Have a good night, Emily."

"You, too. And tell the twins Auntie Em says hi." she said and hung up the phone on her end.

I took the phone from my ear and set my keys and work bag down on the table beside the door; Savannah getting up and walking over to me, hugging me tightly.

"I'm so sorry to hear about Spencer, Vanessa. If there's anything we can do to help, let us know." she said once she allowed me to breathe again.

"Thanks, Savannah. I think I'll be fine, but I'll keep your number on speed dial." I told her.

"Good." She sad.

"As much as I'd love to catch up, I think it's time for Hank to get to bed. He's sleeping on the couch, but I think he misses his own bed." Derek said to his wife, getting up and walking over to us, hugging me. "You going to be okay tonight?"

"I'll be fine, Derek. You two get your son to bed." I said when Savannah walked over to the couch and picked up her son, heading back over to us.

"Morgan and Emily are upstairs sleeping. I fed them, so they shouldn't wake you up while you're sleeping." she said with a little smile, said goodnight to me, and the three of them walked out the door and closed it, the sound of their car starting and driving off.

I locked the front door and set the alarm system up, walking around and locking the windows and drawing the curtains before heading upstairs, checking in and seeing the kids fast asleep before quietly closing their door and heading to my own room.

I changed out of my work clothes and into athletic shorts and a white tank-top before brushing out my hair again and getting into my bed, opening up my phone and scrolling mindlessly through apps until I fell asleep around 2AM.