Unit Chief Emily Prentiss paced around the conference room as agents David Rossi, Luke Alvez, Tara Lewis and Matt Simmons sat at the round table.

"Where are Spence and JJ?" she wondered aloud, pacing for another moment before fishing her cellphone out of her pocket and texting the missing agents. Addressing the assembled agents, Prentiss told them, "I'm going to Garcia's office. Be right back."

Getting no response from Reid or JJ, Prentiss made her way to the tech analyst's office. The door was locked, and Prentiss took out her access card. Swiping it through the lock accomplished nothing. The door was still locked, which told Prentiss it was secured from the inside. As Prentiss pondered what to do next, the telltale ping of a received text message sounded from her back pocket.

She pulled the device from the pocket and glanced at it. The text was from Reid:

On my way in. Sorry to be late. Need to talk.

Ok. Talk when you get here. No worries, she replied immediately.

The office door opened and JJ pulled Prentiss into Garcia's lair.

"What's this all about guys?" Prentiss asked as soon as the door closed behind them.

"It's Spence," JJ told her. Garcia nodded, a most serious expression on her face.

"Oh no, what happened?" Prentiss pressed, sitting down on the desk top next to Garcia's computer.

"Tell her, Pen," JJ directed.

"Okay, Emily. So I saw a woman at the coffee shop the other day. She had Spencer's mail in her hand." Garcia saw that Prentiss was about to interrupt her with a question and forestalled her, "It was addressed to Dr. S. Reid at Marbury University. Anyway, I followed her. She went to an apartment building, and there was a unit in there rented to an S. Reid."

Prentiss waited, expecting more information.

"Emily," JJ contributed, "He couldn't possibly afford this place and his apartment over on Hoover. He still lives there, I was there just last week."

"Okay, let's say he's got a second place. Why? We know his mother's back in the nursing home."

"A girlfriend?" Garcia bubbled. "OH! A wife!"

"You saw her, Pen. Would she be Reid's type?"

Garcia nodded emphatically. "Oh yeah. Smart, judging by the briefcase and the clothes. And gorgeous, almost as pretty as he is."

They all laughed at that. "Well, I'd love to stay and gossip about our genius, but we have a case, ladies," Prentiss rose from the desk, hoping they'd take the hint. They followed her to the conference room and found Reid had arrived in the meantime and was now seated with the others.

Garcia handed out files and then clicked on the smart board to present the case. "All right my fine furry friends. Some of you are furrier than others," she pointed out the beards on Rossi, Reid and Alvez, "Anyway. Over the last four weeks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, they have discovered three men. Or rather, parts of three dead men. Arms, legs, torsos. In various pla—" she paused as her glance moved from Rossi to Alvez to Reid. Once her eyes lit on Reid, she lost her train of thought and paused. "Um, right. Three victims. All murdered and dismembered. Dumped unceremoniously in various dump sites, one in a bin behind a mall. Another in a ditch by the side of a road and the third in a park."

She stopped speaking and clicked through the provided pictures, stopping at images of ID used to identify the victims. The agents waited expectantly for her to continue but Garcia was staring at Reid. Prentiss noticed, and also noted that Reid seemed to be staring back at their analyst.

Rising from her seat, Prentiss took the remote from Garcia, who fled the room, hurrying to her office. Eyebrows rose but nobody said anything as Emily read out the victims' names, gave out their last knowns and the team started to toss around ideas as to why these three men were killed. As they spoke, Prentiss' cell phone rang and she stepped out of the room to take the call.

"It speaks of a lot of anger," Rossi opined. "I mean, look at the amount of rage that must have been involved."

"None of these three men knew the others, though," Lewis gleaned from the information on her tablet.

Alvez looked up from his computer, "They didn't work at the same place. Didn't go to the same church. Don't appear-" he trailed off.

The door opened and Emily reentered the conference room. "Well, this is a first, guys. We've been called off."

There was a chorus of disbelief and disappointment and Prentiss called for their attention. "Believe it or not, the unsub turned himself into police just an hour ago, and confessed. He gave details only the murderer would've known. Local LE is going to corroborate his story, they don't believe they'll need profilers."

As the others looked to each other, Prentiss continued, "And now the bad news." With a little smile, she added, "We won't be going to Pennsylvania today. But I'm sure you'll all appreciate the time at your desks to catch up on paperwork, reports and other consults." As they rose to leave, Prentiss took Reid aside.

Lewis closed the door behind her, leaving Reid and Prentiss alone in the conference room.

"Okay, Brainiac, I got the text. What's up?"

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Reid knocked on the door to Garcia's office and waited until she called out for him to come in.

"Enter if you dare, welcome to my lair," she sang out over her shoulder as she typed away on her keyboard.

"Penelope?" he ventured.

She froze when she realised it was Reid standing behind her.

"Can you call JJ in please, Penelope?" he requested.

"Um, sure. Yeah, I can do that," she replied, and punched the numbers into the intercom that would ring at JJ's desk. "Hi. Yeah, Jayje, can you come here please?"

Reid waited in silence for JJ to join them, shutting the door firmly behind her after her arrival. He gestured to the empty chair beside Garcia and indicated JJ should sit down.

"Spence?"

He drew a deep breath. "I want you to know that I wasn't trying to keep secrets from you. We've had that discussion. This wasn't about deliberately keeping something from you guys, cause obviously I can't."

They looked at each other and had the grace to look at least a little chastened.

He continued, "This was about Samantha and I wanting to have to time to get to know each other without any outside interference. I know you guys mean well, and I know you both have some sort of vested interest in my life. I really like this lady. For the first time in years, I've found someone who really likes me, who interests me and is interested in me, who challenges me. We've really taken our time getting to know each other."

Spencer bit his bottom lip, as he paused to collect his thoughts. "I'm hoping there's something there. I'm hoping this is serious and—" he paused again, steeling himself for the point he needed to make.

"You don't need us making it uncomfortable for you," JJ realised.

"Penelope, you really scared Samantha this morning."

"I did?" Her eyes grew wide and her lip quivered.

"You followed her out of the coffee shop this morning. And it wasn't the first time."

"She saw that? Oh my god, she saw that."

"I don't have to remind you about," he stopped midsentence, a catch in his voice. They all knew he was referring to Maeve.

Garcia started to cry. "Oh my god, I'm a stalker! I did not mean that at all. That was not my intention. At all. Oh my god. Oh my god, I am so sorry!" She dropped her head into her hands and cried earnestly. JJ felt the need to enfold her arms around Garcia to comfort her. It took several minutes, but Penelope managed to regain self-control and soon the sobbing stopped. "I'm so sorry if I scared her, Spencer. That was truly not my intention."

"Penelope," Reid interceded, "I'm not mad at you, okay? I just really, really want you—I need you—both to stay out of this. Please. Please let Samantha and me cultivate this relationship."

The two women looked up at him and nodded. "Of course we will, Spence. Right, Pen?" JJ promised.

She nodded and reached out to touch Reid's arm, "I promise. No more following."

He gave them a smile of appreciation.

"Can I ask you something, Spencer?" Garcia requested.

His eyes met hers. "You can ask," he told her and with a slight smirk added, "But I won't necessarily answer."

"How'd you meet this Samantha?"

He broke into a wide smile and moved a few of Garcia's knickknacks aside so he could sit down on the desk between their chairs.

"Back in March, she inadvertently received mail intended for me from one of my students at the university." He paused when he heard Garcia's gasp and looked at her questioningly.

"That's why I followed her the first time, the other day, Spencer. I could clearly see a letter addressed to Dr. S. Reid, Marbury University, sticking out of the top of her bag."

He laughed and she was happy to see that reaction.

"I swear I already told my classes to please use my full name on their submissions. Clearly, I am going to have to emphasis that most unequivocally. And perhaps insist they include email return addresses from now on." He shook his head and continued, "Anyway, she came by the Criminology Department to return the mail. And the funny thing is, I'd seen her on the train the day before and well," he blushed a little as he paused and Garcia and JJ both giggled. "I think I might've been staring at her. Though she never said anything about that."

"But she recognised me from the train, too. And our Crim Department secretary Mandy told her to come by the office when she called to ask about the criminology students. Mandy thought I should meet someone." He rolled his eyes and a laugh escaped his lips. "Anyway, Sam came by, returned the mail and there was—" he paused, blushed again and told them, "There was a spark between us. I asked her to join me for lunch that day, ostensibly to thank her for bringing the term paper by. Sam thought the student should buy the lunch and we just hit it off. We've been seeing each other since then."

"Since March?" JJ almost shouted.

Reid nodded, pleased that he'd been able to keep it from these well-intentioned meddlers as long as he had.

"Since March, Penelope. He's kept this from us since March."

Penelope looked at her, then at Spencer and then at JJ again. "I'm beginning to see why, Jayje."

She made a face and nodded, "Yeah. You're right." She made a production of heaving a great sigh.

"Even though he promised no more secrets," Garcia incited.

His mouth opened to say something and he abruptly changed his mind and closed it again. "Now you know. And I'm asking again, please let us develop this relationship. Please?"

Both JJ and Penelope stood, enveloping Spencer in a hug.

"Absolutely, Spence. I think we're both really happy for you. Right Pen?"

Garcia nodded.

"Thank you. Now, I gotta get back to work."

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"Hey Pen, Luke. Seen Spence or Emily this morning?" JJ asked upon arriving at the BAU's sixth floor bullpen the following day.

Garcia was standing next to Alvez' desk and the two of them paused their conversation about his dog to answer JJ's question.

"Rossi's taking the lead today. Emily and Spencer are in court today, testifying in the Tavares case from last year."

"Ah, okay," JJ replied, "Is Rossi here yet?"

Alvez shook his head and the two women made their way to Garcia's office. Shutting the door firmly behind them, JJ turned to Garcia.

"Find anything?"

"No. I didn't. I didn't find a single Samantha on the Marbury University faculty list. There are four female professors with the first initial S and none of them are Samantha. I called up the staff directory and didn't find her photo among them either."

JJ grimaced. "Are we absolutely sure she's actually a professor there?"

"She had his mail. I don't see how anyone but another professor would have a faculty mailbox next to Spencer's."

"Maybe she's a T-A?"

"Oh, Jayje, please. You think I didn't think of that?"

"Sorry." She thought for a moment and then said, "Well, we gotta keep on it. We've gotta find her."

A knock sounded on the tech analyst's office door. It was Alvez, and he called through the closed door, "Hey, Garcia? JJ? You have a visitor."

The two women looked at each other in surprise and Garcia rose to unlock the door. Opening it, she came face to face with Reid's girlfriend Samantha.

"Oh!" she gasped and stepped back as though struck.

"Pen?" JJ called from behind her, hurrying forward when she heard the shock in Garcia's voice.

"Penelope?" she repeated after reaching Garcia's side.

"Um, I, um, I'm Penelope Garcia, and this is JJ-Jennifer Jareau, we uh, work with Spencer."

It was JJ's turn to catch her breath as she anticipated just who was standing before them.

The auburn haired woman, wearing a smart pearl suit and deep pink shirt extended a hand as she spoke, "I'm Dr. Samantha Reid."

"Oh my god," JJ and Garcia said in unison as the pieces fell into place for them. Quickly, JJ took Garcia's arm and indicated they should all proceed together.

"Um, let's go down the hall here," JJ directed them towards an unoccupied office furnished with a pair of sofas. Shutting the door behind them, JJ turned and addressed Samantha, "I thought it would be more private here, and more comfortable than the tech office."

Samantha stood in the centre of the room. JJ looked from her to Garcia and finally said, "Please sit down, Dr. Reid." Samantha seated herself as directed and smiled at JJ who let out a tiny snicker, "It feels so weird to say that and not be referring to Spence."

"Doctor. Samantha Reid?" Penelope squeaked in surprise.

Samantha laughed, "It's my birth name."

"Well, hopefully, it'll be your married name too," Penelope purred.

"Pen!" JJ admonished, and then softened her voice, "Besides, not every woman takes her husband's name when she marries." JJ's pointed glare reminded Penelope that she maintained the name Jareau after marrying William LaMontagne.

Penelope was undeterred. "Well, it's a moot point here, isn't it?"

Garcia and JJ were surprised to hear Samantha laughing. "Spence was right! You guys!" She shook her head.

Growing serious, Garcia stood in front of Samantha. "I just wanna say, I'm really, really sorry to have scared you into thinking I was a stalker the other day. I am so, so sorry. It was totally not my intention to frighten you, Dr. Reid."

"I'm afraid I might have overreacted, Miss Garcia."

"Penelope. Call me Penelope, please. Or Pen. And I don't think you overreacted at all, I think I underestimated how it would have looked to you. And to Spencer."

"It's okay. I understand. And I'm Samantha. Or Sam. Please."

"You do?"

"Spencer told me that you two are his best friends in the world. And that you tend to be a little," she paused to find a word and settled on one, "protective of him. You look out for him." Cracking a smile, she added, "Whether he likes it or not."

Garcia nodded, "We do. At least, I do. Not just Spencer. All of them. But especially him. I'm not sure how much he's told you," she paused and narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "although I bet it's quite a lot. It's just, well, Samantha, the BAU members are like, my babies. I help them from my office here, but they go out into these humungously dangerous situations and sometimes things go kinda bad. And I hope and I pray and I will my babies to come back here to me safe. I'm protective of all of them, but especially Spencer."

Samantha smiled, "I know, Penelope. He loves all of you like family. And I can see that you guys love him, too."

She rose from the sofa and continued, "I came by because I thought he was supposed to be here today. He mentioned a few days ago that the class had an assignment due today and I realised that he was here, so I thought I'd save him a trip and bring his mail here."

"He's in court today. With Emily, our boss," JJ told her.

"Why didn't you just take it home to him tonight?" Penelope asked innocently.

Samantha laughed, "Because we don't live together, Penelope."

JJ was laughing as she muttered under her breath, "Yet."

Both Penelope and Samantha heard her. Penelope choked and gasped, Samantha laughed.

"I heard that. I'm not rushing Spencer into anything though. I think we both need the time to get to know each other." She paused and laughed, "So I say. And having said that, I also wondered, you mentioned the boss is out today?"

JJ nodded, "Court," she repeated.

"Right. Damn. I was hoping to ask her to give Spencer Monday off."

"This Monday?" JJ asked.

Samantha nodded. "It's his birthday on Sunday, and I made plans and I'm hoping, since it's like a two or three hour drive, that maybe she'd let me keep him until Monday."

JJ was already texting Prentiss as Samantha was speaking.

"Oh wow, can I ask what you're planning to do with our Boy Wonder? Oops, I didn't mean it like that," Garcia giggled.

Samantha laughed. "He's crazy about fall and Halloween."

"Wow, you know him well," Garcia interrupted.

JJ clicked her phone off and gave Samantha a broad smile, "It's a go. Spence is off Monday."

"How'd you do that?" Samantha wondered in amazement.

"I texted Emily. Told her something important and personal just came up in Spencer's life and he was going to need Monday off but he doesn't know it yet."

Garcia couldn't contain her laughter.

"And?"

"Emily texted me back." JJ clicked her phone back on and read the text from their Unit Chief aloud, "The GF? NP. My lips sealed. We're en route back from court in an hour or so."

"Perfect."

JJ's phone sounded again. She consulted it and made a face. "Rossi's looking for us, we have a case."

They left the office and headed towards the conference room. Walking through the bullpen, JJ stopped at Reid's desk.

"Pen and I are due at the roundtable, but you can wait here for Spence, Sam."

The BAU team members carried on to the conference room, and Samantha sat down at Reid's desk and took out her cellphone to finalise plans and reservations for her birthday surprise for Spencer.

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End Part One