Reid knew he hated elevators. The last thirty minutes stuck in the unmoving elevator didn't help much. And to make it worse no one would realize he was missing for a couple hours. And to top everything off as he checked his phone for the umpteenth time, apparently he didn't have cell phone service between the 32nd and 33rd floors.

"Banging on the buttons is doing no one any good." the calm voice came from the only other man in the elevator. The man that so annoyed Reid. he was calm and relaxed his legs spread in front of him as he leaned against the wall his eyes half closed. So Reid set about doing the only thing he was good at. Profiling.

The man was dressed in semi casual pants with a white shirt untucked and a dark jacket. The was something charismatic about him.

"My name is Sheppard." he said not even looking up.

"Dr. Spencer Reid."

"Nice to meet you Reid." he stuck his hand up. Reid awkwardly shook it and decided to sit.

He looked fit and used to a hard life. He was good at containing fear but Reid saw that he was truly nor afraid in this situation.

"You know this elevator can fall at any time causing us to fall to fiery deaths." Reid told him watching for reaction. The man nodded.

"it could fall." still no fear. "Is it hot in here to you." he took off the jacket and rolled up the sleeves. As he did Reid Caught a glimpse of a scar on his arm. A circular cut surrounded by four nail marks.

(a/n were Ellia fed from him. The four nail marks are her nails digging gin as she fed.)

"so what are you in town for?" John asked.

"My team and I are working a case." Sheppard answered.

"Case?"

"I work with the FBI."

"I would never have seen you as FBI."

"Why not?"

"You're a kid." Sheppard said. Reid noticed his eyes on the gun and thinking back he knew that John had noticed his gun the second they had entered the elevator together.

Reid looked the guy over and saw the outline of an ankle hostler.

"What do you do with the FBI kid?"

"I'm a profiler." Reid said. "What do you do for the military?"

"My rank is LT. Colonel. And what I do is classified. How'd you guess?"

"There is just something about you." Reid shrugged. A clanging noise was heard from above.

"What was that?" Reid nearly screamed.

"Sounded like a cable." John said. "The elevator lost a support cable."

How the hell could he still not look worried? Reid was scared and angry with the man.

"We're dead." Reid said sinking further to the floor.

"So Reid what do you do at the FBI?" John asked.

Reid, in need of a distraction answered.

"I work with the BAU…. Behavioral Analysis Unit. We profile the bad guys." Reid answered. "Aren't you worried about dying?" he couldn't help but ask.

"I've died before." he shrugged. "what did this man do?" then reacting to something Reid didn't quite catch he was on top of Reid. He felt something slice through the skin on his head then for a few moments he knew nothing.

John Sheppard was leaning over him when he came to looking at his head wound.

"You ok?" he asked when he saw the younger man blinking.

"Sure." his hand went to his neatly wrapped forehead. The lining of the jacket was in shreds. And even though he knew little of clothes the jacket had looked expensive. A small red stain was spreading on the white of the shirt.

"What happened?" Reid asked.

"I knocked you out of the way. Another cable snapped and knocked a bit of the ceiling out. It swiped your head." John finished tying off the bandage.

"Did it get you?"

"No. My stitches ripped. Jen is going to kill me." John said grimacing.

More clanging and the elevator lurched.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Who would I tell I am about to fall thirty floors to my death?" Reid voice was scared and excepting. Death was inevitable.

The elevator fell.