Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or any of its characters.

"You won't find a solution by saying there is no problem."

~ William Rotsler

"Hotch, I meant to tell you, I swear, it's just that, I..."

Spencer Reid trailed off, lost for words. His body language spoke clearly of defeat - his shoulders were slumped, and he seemed unable to look Hotch in the eye.

"Reid, you know what this means." Hotch said gravely. His tone was serious, but not angry - in fact, it sounded more human than Reid was used to from his boss. "I don't have any choice."

"Yes, sir." Reid muttered, still staring at his shoes.

"It's protocol." Hotch went on, sounding as though he were trying to set something straight in his thoughts. "The rest of the team would be in danger."

"I know, sir, and I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have kept-" Reid spluttered, finally gazing up into Hotch's stony face to see him shaking his head dismissively.

"No amount of apology can undo what has happened." he said in a grim tone. "Besides, I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

Reid's face broke into a look of intense guilt and horror. He hid the emotion a moment later, though, nodding in acceptance. He glanced down at his shoes again.

"I'll, er, need you to sign this." Hotch said, somewhat awkwardly, opening his desk draw and seizing a piece of paper out of it. He pushed it across the top of the desk to Reid.

It took him a fraction of a second to read it, but much longer for it to process - it was a letter of dismissal.

"You're off the team." Hotch said flatly.