"Spencer!"

"Spencer, Watch me!"

"Watch me, Spencer! Watch me!"

"Spence?" JJ gave the scraggly looking man sleeping on his couch a gentle push, and watched as the space between his eyes crinkled. It was kinda cute. She smiled and shook him again.

Seeing Spence, even while he was sleeping, was the highlight of her day so far. Even though it was early, this day had little indication it was going to get better. Hotch's call had come at six. In the morning. On a Saturday. After getting back the night before from Branson where the team had worked a homicide for a week.

When the call had come in, JJ had to physically stop herself from chucking the accursed phone across the room and screaming profanities that would have awoken the small, adorable seven-year-old angle who was sleeping soundly next to her. Henry had sleeping in her room quiet often of late, ever since she and will had split up.

The divorce had been amicable. Will was in love with someone else, and with her being gone as often as she was, JJ wasn't surprised. That wasn't to say she didn't miss Will. Some mornings, she still reached over to grasp his hand, only to find that the bed was empty. But it was strange. Sometimes, she missed Will so much, it was like a punch in the gut. Other times, it was nothing, as though nothing was missing. She didn't understand it, but she hoped it was ok to feel that way.

The hardest part of the divorce was explaining things to Henry. How do you explain to a little boy why his Mommy and Daddy don't live in the same house? You couldn't, not really anyway. Things were easier since he liked Will's girlfriend (he was constantly talking about Miss Lori). So even that was working out for the best.

So, instead of throwing the phone, she called Will, arranged to drop Henry off with him, and pack her go-bag. Who knew where they were headed this time.

JJ dropped off a drowsy Henry into Lori's arms and pressed a kiss to the sleepy boy's head, and told Will that she would call later that night. Then she hopped in her car and drove towards Quantico. This familiar routine was becoming more and more ridiculous with every repetition. JJ knew Henry needed a stable home, not a home that changed day to day. She considered asking Hotch how he managed so well with Jack, but that situation was so different, she had a feeling that it wouldn't really help.

Her phone rang loudly, jolting her out of her revelries. She glanced at the number and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"JJ, thank goodness!" an excited and relieved voice exclaimed on the other side of the line. The almost dramatic sound in her voice brought a smile to JJ lips.

"Hey Garcia. What's up?"

There was an odd, loaded quiet Garcia's end. "Well, I a little worried about something…"

"Um, ok?"

She was silent for a moment more, then she took a deep breath.

And the dam broke.

"JJ, look. Something's not right with Reid. It's like he's a totally different person lately. I mean, do you remember three days ago while we were in Branson? And how weird he was acting? He stared at a wall for two hours, not saying anything! He just sat there!"

"Maybe he was just tired," JJ tried to offer up, but Garcia plowed on ahead.

"And he's been so snappy lately! He practically bit Morgan's throat out for teasing him, and he's never done that before! But he's also been quieter than usual. He isn't even correcting us lately, or even offering up his random bits of scary facts like he usually does. And-"

"Garcia!" JJ finally broke through to the torrent of worries the usually bouncy woman was spewing out. "Look, I'm sure it's nothing. That was a rough case. Spence is tough, he'll bounce back."

"But I think it's more than that!" Penny fretted. "I just noticed it this week, but he's been like this a lot lately! And I worried something's wrong! He usually texts me to find out what we're dealing with when a case comes through, so that he can bring some books that might help him, but it's been an hour, and I haven't heard anything from him! Not a text, not a call, Nothing! So, I need you to just run by his apartment and check on him. Please?"

JJ sighed slightly, but replied, "Alright. But tell Hotch we might be late. Traffic is terrible this morning, and I'm still ten minutes from his place."

JJ heard Garcia sigh in relief. "Thanks JJ. No one else listened to me about this. But I'm sure there is something wrong. I just don't know what."

She smiled. "No problem. See you soon."

"Bye!"

Thinking back on her conversation with Garcia, JJ took a moment to look at Reid. The shadows under his eyes were darker than usual, as though he hadn't slept in days. And was he thinner than usual? She eyed him, then shook her head. Something was up with him. She made a note to buy Garcia a coffee for tipping her off about Spence.

"Spence? Reid? You need to wake up." She gave him another firm shake, and he groaned. His eyes blinked open slowly, his warm brown eyes looking watery.

"JJ?" he mumbled sleepily. "What are you doing here?"

"Garcia was worried, wanted me to check in on you. And I'm glad she did. You were sleeping like the dead!" she laughed slightly, then broke out into full out laughter when he attempted to sit up, misplaced his hand on the side of the couch cushion of the couch and collapsed back into a heap on his back.

"Shut up," he mumbled quietly, finally managing to sit up. He glanced down and frowned. "Why am I still in my clothes?"

"Umm, well, unless you sleep on your couch a lot, I'd guess you fell asleep reading." She glanced around and found and book on the floor near where Reid's head had been laying. She picked it and waved in the air slightly.

"Oh," he shrugged, swung his legs off the couch, and then scrubbed his eyes with the back of his hands. JJ frowned. Oh yeah, something was definitely wrong.

"You ok?" she asked. No reason to beat around the bush with him.

He looked at her, his expression natural. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

JJ pressed her lips into a firm line, then sat down in the leather armchair next to Spence. "You know, you're a really bad liar."

Reid cocked an eyebrow at her. "JJ I'm…" but he stopped, sighed and said, "What gave me away?"

She smiled kindly at her friend. "Well, I'm not going to take the credit. It was Garcia who pointed it out to me, but you've been acting weird. Kinda like…" she paused, realizing what his behavior reminded her of. The moodiness, the distance. Terror flooded her suddenly, and she quietly asked, "Reid, are you- I mean, you're not…"

Reid looked confused for a moment, then wide-eyed horror filled his face. "No!" He stood frantically. "No, JJ. I'm not using again! I swear to you!" he dropped to his knees, his eyes pleading with her to believe him. He held his arms out to her. "Look! See! I promised you I would never use again."

She frowned momentarily. He wasn't angry that she had mentioned the drugs, so that was a good sign, but why was he so desperate to prove it? But then, this is how it had always been. With Hotch, he never mentioned his drug problem. As far as she knew, he never talked about it with Garcia or Morgan. But every time she mentioned it, which was only a handful of times, he was almost desperate to prove himself. He always seemed so worried that she might think the worst of him, though she never would. He was Spencer, her best friend, her family, her-

JJ stopped herself. She was not continuing that thought. Instead, she took his hand, smiled at him and said, "Smile."

Reid looked at her like she was nuts. "What?"

"I trust you Spence. You don't need to prove yourself. I'll let you work through whatever you're going thorough on your own, if that's what you want. But I want you to smile first, and then I'll forget about it."

Reid looked a little calmer, but he was still looking at her like she was crazy. "Why?"

"You haven't smiled for a while, and I miss it. So just smile, and I'll let you be."

He paused, eyeing her carefully. Then, in a flash, he gave her a grin so big, it was actually really creepy looking. He stretched it as far as he could, his eyes crinkling and all of his teeth showing. It was such a hilariously terrifying face, that JJ laughed loudly, giggling hysterically. As she laugh, she watched as the weird smile slipped into Reid more natural, soft smile. Wiping the water leaking from her eyes away, she gripped his hand tight. "Never do that again," she chastised, still giggling.

He laughed. "Too much?"

"Just a little."

He really smiled this time, then stood and stretched. "Alright, let me get dressed. Then I think you said something about coffee?"

JJ laughed again. "Maybe I should bribe you with coffee more often. You already seem more chipper!"

He smiled again, walking out of the room. "It's not the coffee, JJ. But it helps."

Garcia squealed in delight when JJ passed her the latte she and Reid had picked up for their bubbly friend. Hotch just nodded, his seemingly constant scowl as steadfast as ever.

"Sorry we're late." Reid breathed out, sinking into the chair next to Morgan. He smiled across the table at JJ, and he was relieved to see that calm look settle across her face.

JJ had been so stressed lately, with everything going on with her and Will and Will's girlfriend. He couldn't help but frown at the thought of Will. How anyone could let someone as amazing as JJ go, Reid would never know. She was just amazing, and steadfast, and wonderful. Her face, which had lately been straightened into a frown, usually lit up with a smile that seem to light up the room. Will was an idiot to leave her.

Hotch began talking, but for once, Reid couldn't focus. Prentiss still hadn't shown up, and Hotch never really began talking about the case until everyone was here. So Reid let his mind fade from happier prospects like JJ, to something that had been bothering him since he woke up.

The dream.

It was getting more and more vivid every night. Every night, he could see her pretty black hair, her blue eyes piercing through him. Her voice calling him. He closed his eyes, listening to her voice echoing in his head.

"Spencer!"

Her voice was so real. She had been so young. Too young.

"Spencer?"

Reid's eye's flashed open. All eyes were on him.

Reid cleared his throat. "Sorry."

Hotch gave him a concerned glance. So JJ and Garcia weren't the only ones who had noticed his behavior.

"Well, now that we're all here," Hotch began. Reid glanced around and saw the Prentiss was sitting near Morgan. Hotch motioned to Garcia, who stood and began opening files on the screen on the wall.

"The CIA has asked us to help them on a cold case that just recently opened back up. About six years ago, the little girls of prominent families were being kidnapped and killed all along the east coast. "

Reid felt his stomach drop. No. Not this case. How could this happen! Was it not enough that this case haunted his dreams, but now his daily life too?

"The case went cold after Lily Harper, a seven year old whose mother a member of the State legislature in Maine, went missing. The family had received a letter three days before the kidnapping, and an elite team of CIA agents were sent to protect her. The protective measures failed, and she was kidnapped, and three days later, her body was found.

"The anniversary of Lily's disappearance is in one week, and yesterday, Daniel Messing received a letter, exactly like the ones from the previous kidnappings. The team that originally worked the case has reassembled and is asking for our help."

"I remember this case," Rossi chimed in. "Awful thing. I remember that we offered to help them before, and the refused. What changed their minds?"

"Apparently, the team lost a few key members and resources that they were relying on." Hotch inserted.

Guilt pooled in Reid's stomach. He should tell them. But no, that wouldn't help. Surely they didn't need to know his part in this. As the team agreed to help, then walked out of the room, Reid made a snap decision. If he could convince Hotch to let him stay behind, maybe the team would find out about his past. After all, he had been a completely different person back then. There was no way they would figure it out.

"Hotch," he called out, rushing to catch up with the older man. Hotch paused in the doorway. "Is there any way I can stay behind for this one?"

"Stay behind?"

"Yeah, I just kinda think I might be more help here at Quantico than out in the field."

Hotch looked at him for a moment before saying, "Reid, we're not going anywhere."

"We're not?"

"No, they're coming here. The Killer is here in D.C." Hotch walked away, leaving a shocked Reid standing in the door.

This was not going to be good.

"Shea! I screwed up!" Shea Williams didn't even glance up from his book as his twin sister burst into the room in her usual dramatic manner.

Shea turn a page and said idly, "Whatever you did, I'm sure it's not nearly as bad the cookies you gave to the director." He glanced at Fae, her dark eyes large and worried.

His comment distracted her, making her laugh. "No, that wasn't bad. That was funny!"

Shea cocked an eyebrow at her. "You put so much salt in those cookies, she just about had a heart attack."

"Her life wasn't in danger, Shea! And the look on her face? Priceless!" The youngest Williams sibling laughed gleefully, but then sobered. "But this time, I may have went a bit too far. My life may be on the line."

This made Shea pause. If his sister was actually considering the consequences of her actions, then she must have really messed up this time. "Fae… what did you do?"

Fae glanced over her shoulder, the whispered nervously, "I put baking soda in Katlyn's coffee instead of sugar."

Shea groaned. Of all the harebrained schemes, Fae just had to pull one on Katlyn. And worse, she messed with the team leader's coffee.

Fae Williams was a doomed woman.

Shea returned to his book, humming the death march loudly. His sister slapped his arm. "Shut up, you! If you're not going to help me fix things, why do I even come to you?"

"To provide me with my daily entertainment, dear sister."

"Oh, so I'm just a toy to you?! Katlyn's going to murder me!"

Shea closed his book and stood, stretching. "Well that's what you get for messing with your supervisor. Especially when you should be getting ready to go. Were supposed to be at Quantico in an hour."

"What are you two doing?" the twins jumped as a tall blond man walked in. Shea almost laughed as Fae spun on the spot and placed her hands behind her back. Her classic "whatever it was, I'm not guilty" look. Everyone who spent an hour with her was familiar with that stance, because Fae caused a minor catastrophe every fifteen minutes. When she stood like that, all you could do was hope that you weren't the butt of her joke.

The man at the door must have noticed this too, and he smiled ruefully. "Getting into trouble again, Fae?" he said in his calming, low voice.

Fae smiled widely at him. "Innocent until proven guilty, Mika! Nothing's happened yet, so you can't blame me!"

Mika chuckled. "If you say so, Fae. Are you ready to go?"

"Go?"

"Quantico, Fae." Shea hissed in his sister's ear.

"Oh!" Fae blushed, and Shea sighed. Why did he even try? Sometimes it was hard to believe that this six-foot-three willow of a walking disaster was one of the greatest covert operatives in the history of the CIA. But maybe that was the genius of it. She was such a professional when it got down to the nitty-gritty of a case, but until then, she acted like a five-year-old. It was enough to give a person whiplash.

"Her bag is already in the car." Shea offered up. He had stored his sister's bag along with his own, knowing Fae would probably forget things she didn't deem important at the time, like socks, or a toothbrush, or her gun.

Mika's green eyes sparkled with humor. "Fae, you're a mess. What would you do without your brother?"

Fae laughed, unashamed. "Probably find a nice little box on the side of the road and live my days happily as a hellion, forced to wander the streets on my own."

Mika and Shea both laughed at the girls dramatics. Shea grabbed his backpack he always carried with him and placed his book inside.

"It's going to be weird, isn't it?"

Shea turned to look at his sister, and she was staring at Mika.

"What is?" the older man asked, though his vice gave away that he was thinking the same thing. They all were. Working this case again, after six years, minus two members of their team, their family.

"It's just… I don't know. Maybe we should try to find them. Surely they would want to see the end of this case."

"Fae," Mika began, but he was cut off by the woman that strode into the room at that moment, a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Fae, I've already contacted Baylee. She reassured me that there was no way she wanted back on the case. She happier with her job now."

"But what about-"

"And as for Spencer," Katlyn Morris continued, "We don't know where he is. He said he wanted relocating, that he wanted to forget. Even if I needed to, I can't get ahold of him. You know that, Fae. How many months did you spend trying to find him?"

Fae hung her head. "More than you wanted me to, I know. But," she looked at her supervisor, her eyes firm and steady. "This is the case that drove him away. Maybe, if he knew that we had another chance to catch this guy, he would come back. Maybe-"

"Fae," Fae stopped and looked up at Mika, who had a hand on her shoulder. "We all miss him. But we can't find him. His last request to us was that we don't look for him. How can we go against that?"

Fae looked like she wanted to argue, but she hung her head instead. "Your right," she whispered. "But I still miss them.

"We all do, Fae," Shea chimed in quietly.

A silence fell over the room, each member of the team, settling his or her own thoughts. But then Katelyn cleared her throat. "Alright, guys," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "Let's go out there and catch this weasel. It's time for Mandy, Patten, Emma, and Lily to finally have their stories closed."

The rest of the team murmured in agreement, and Katlyn smiled and took a large drink of the coffee in her hand.

The sound following that drink sounded like someone drowning and trying to spew the liquid filling them out of their nose. Katlyn gagged and spat, tossing the coffee in the trash. She glared at Fae, who suddenly brightened. She had the unmistakable look of someone who had just witnessed the greatest slapstick joke of all times.

"FAE!" Katelyn roared, and Fae bolted out the door, laughing as she went. Shea heard Mika chuckle as the two men watched Katlyn race after Fae, cursing profusely.

Shea enjoyed the moment, sensing that there wouldn't be another moment like it for a while. Then he picked up his bag and headed out the door.