The final episode of the ninth season of "Criminal Minds" may be different from previous season finales, according to the executive producer of the series.

"Criminal Mind's" executive producer Erica Messer initially planned a cliffhanger finale for season 9 that she was unable to do last year due to down-to-the-wire contract negotiations. Instead, the producer opted for a two-parter.

"It's not a cliff-hanger in that traditional sense. I would say the biggest cliff-hanger is the end of 23 into the finale. This year, it felt like, we don't have something in Rossi's backyard, but after this journey they've been on these two episodes, we need to watch them breathe and know that they're going to get a lot of rest. That's how we decided to end it," Messer said.

In the last episode, Reid survived a crucial shot on the neck and the episode closed with him saying, "You won't believe which profiler will say goodbye forever."

Meanwhile, Messer remained tight lipped whether Reid will be shot again or if this is a trick. But Messer noted that in this final episode, "No one is safe. This [episode] has that urgency to it and that you can really trust no one, and you feel that."

The executive producer added that the season finale will pick where the previous episode left off. TV Guide reported that the crime is far beyond the perpetrator.

"Things aren't as they seem in this small town. There's a bigger conspiracy at play and they don't know what that is at first. They're aware somebody is framing The Preacher for this crime. Our path at the end of [Episode] 23 lets us know that The Preacher isn't behind it, so in 24 it's, 'Well, who is it?' There's a big cover-up. There's a constant threat to our team because what they will uncover is a pretty big deal and their lives are in serious jeopardy," said Messer.

Criminal Minds airs every Wednesday at 9/8c on CBS.