(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters)

Yes! I've been working this story for some time now, I've been trying to get organised. This idea has been going around and around my mind and I thought it was time to make something of it.

its felt like ages since I started a new story, so I'm super excited!

I hope you guys like reading it as much as I've loved writing it! Please tell me what you thought in the reviews.

Chapter updates should be once every two days unless I'm feeling organised. And for anyone reading 'The Storm' or 'What if', don't worry I haven't forgotten, my co-author is working on the next chapter of the storm.

I really need to publish this because I am falling asleep while checking for errors! ;D

Morgan spun around on his chair, looking at the clock and smirking. Reid was half an hour late and he couldn't wait to dig into the kid.

"Hey, Morgan, those files won't get done with you gawking like that", laughed Emily, shaking Derek from his thoughts.

"Aw, come on Prentiss, when is Reid ever late?"

"Give him a break. Shall we count how often you're late?" JJ asked, her eyebrows raised.

"I'm just saying, it's not like him", Morgan surrendered.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear", Prentiss winked, nodding towards the glass doors. Reid stumbled through the door, pushing his hand through his...short hair! Morgan had to do a double take. Reid's hair which had been down to his ears in messy curls was now short on the sides and back with a sprawl of noodle brown curls on top. Morgan also swore the kid's hair was darker than normal, no way would he dye it, Morgan thought. Reid's messenger bag hung over his shoulder and his blue shirt and grey cardigan were typical Reid. But clearly, the kid had decided on a change for his hair.

"Uh...Spence?", JJ smirked at Reid as he took a seat and gave her an awkward smile.

"Nice haircut, Kid", Morgan complimented and Reid frowned before his face broke with realisation and he grinned.

"Thanks", he said, slinging his messenger bag onto the floor.

Reid's cell phone had also changed. Gone was the small flip up 10 year old phone. In its place was the latest model of the iPhone. Morgan looked at it enviously as Reid watched something on its screen a scowl on his brow. Suddenly and without warning, Reid slammed his phone onto the table, his teeth bared.

The agents in the bull pen looked up at him and he sheepishly hid his face in his hands.

"New phone and you're already trying to break it", laughed Morgan. Reid looked up his brow still furrowed, making Morgan pause.

"What's wrong, Pretty Boy?" Reid rubbed his palm into his eye and sighed.

"It's uh...it's my mom", he muttered sadly. He motioned to his phone, "I was reading an email. She's...she's not doing well", he admitted. Morgan's smile fell and he closed the gap between him and Spencer.

"I'm sorry, Reid", he put a hand on Spencer's shoulder. "Is there anything I can do to help?" He offered, but Reid shook his head, swallowing back his emotions.

"No, n-nothing you can do anyway... do we have a case?" he asked when Garcia broke into the conversation, revealing a handful of case files.

"Yes we do my little Boy Wonder an- Reid! Your hair!", she ruffled it, and surprisingly, Reid didn't pull away or even flinch. Morgan smirked at this.

"Since when do you let anyone touch you", Reid shrugged and pocketed his phone.

"Where is it Garcia?"

"It just so happens to be Vegas. You gonna visit your mom?" Reid shrugged again and made his way to the conference room.

"And since when does he shrug?" Morgan hissed. Garcia shrugged with a grin causing Morgan to roll his eyes.

They piled into the jet, choosing their seats and buckling in.

"What no books? What are you going to do for 4 hours?" Rossi was watching Reid who had been looking out the window.

"Discuss the case..." he mumbled, as if he was unsure.

"For 4 hours? No thanks", Morgan waved his headphones in the air. Hotch looked up from his case file as Morgan put the headphones over his ears.

"We will be discussing the case as soon as we're in the air, so hold off on those." Morgan pulled the headphones off sulkily, folding his arms and waiting for the jet to take off.

Reid fidgeted with his fingers nervously, his eyes twitching at the sights out the window as the jet rolled along the runway. He tried to ease his breathing, but as the jet sped up, so did his heartbeat.

Calm down, he thought to himself, gnawing on the inside of his gum. Don't make a scene.

When the jet was in the air he let out a small sigh of relief and glanced around; luckily no one had been watching him.

"Okay, 5 murders in Las Vegas within the last 3 weeks...", Reid felt himself zoning out as he read the words on the pages, he slowly flipped the page and looked around to see the others were already a page ahead of him. He gulped and flipped through the pages, taking none of it in. He rubbed his temples harshly.

"Each victim was killed using a method commonly associated with suicide. Victim one was hung, victim two overdosed, third had her wrists cut, the next fell from a bridge and the lastest had a single gunshot wound to her temple."

"Did the girls show any signs of being suicidal", questioned JJ.

"That's the thing, they were all happy and healthy. Just your average teenage girls", Garcia added from inside the laptop screen.

"Reid, What's the average suicide rate for teens in Vegas?" Hotch asked, knowing the question was far out, but with Reid no question was too far fetched.

Reid looked up from his file staring back at Hotch in bewilderment. "Huh", he squeaked.

"Do you have any statistics on suicide?" Rossi reiterated.

"Oh...uh...", Spencer looked around anxiously, his fingers returning to his temple. "No I don't", he said honestly, biting his gum. The jet was silent for a minute, before Morgan snorted.

"No statistics?" Morgan frowned, and yet again Reid shrugged, turning his focus back out of the window. Morgan watched him, his brow lowered, something felt off about the kid.

"Looks like we've finally stumped Pretty Boy", cheered Morgan. Reid shot him a glare and gazed back out of the window, avoiding Hotch's eyes burning into him.

"I don't know everything, Morgan", Reid growled. He returned his focus back to the window, leaning his chin on his palm.

The team exchanged a worried look amongst themselves, but decided to leave it, returning to the case files.

"When we get there, JJ and I will go to the latest crime scene, Emily, you and Rossi talk to the witnesses and Reid and Morgan, I want you to head to the police station, and be careful; they're wary of our presence and intervention on this investigation." Morgan snuck a look at Reid, who was scowling at the window.

"So, you're the agents?" An aggressive looking cop greeted Morgan and Reid. Morgan nodded, but Reid only glared back at him, like two savage dogs gnashing their teeth before a fight.

"Yes. Is there a room we could set up?", Morgan asked, keeping his voice calm.

"Pick one", grunted the cop, he was watching Reid with a smug smile. "He's not really a fed, right?"

"Yep, one of our best", retorted Morgan, giving the officer a dark look. The officer just stared Reid down a second more before turning.

"I see what Hotch was on about, looks like we won't be getting much help from them", Morgan sighed.

Reid stepped in front of him, leading the way to the conference room. "Asshole", he muttered as he passed Morgan. Morgan blanched slightly at what Reid had said, but after recovering he thought it best not to dwell.

Rossi and Emily arrived a little over an hour later.

"One of the witnesses has been brought in for questioning. His aliby isn't sound", Emily explained.

"He asked for his lawyer, so this is going to go down well", sighed Rossi, slumping into a chair beside Reid, who was tapping his pen rhythmically on the table, looking over the case files.

"Do you think he could be the Unsub?" Rossi gave Morgan a weary look.

"No. Not in my opinion anyway, but when we tried to explain that to the cops they just dismissed us and now we're wasting time dragging this out."

Emily stepped up to the board to examine the pins Reid had placed on the map.

"You guys find anything?" She asked.

"Not really, but we have also been shown how welcome we are", grumbled Reid. "I swear If he calls me sk-", Reid was cut off from muttering under his breath. In the hour they'd been there, he'd been called skinny something over 12 times.

"What was that?" Rossi interrupted.

"Nothing. I just can't wait for this case to be over."

"Here here!" Morgan toasted sarcastically.

Voices rang out from the hall and a man in handcuffs was pulled in, followed closely by another man in a suit and tie.

"You have no reason to treat him this way. He can answer your questions..." the lawyer's voice got louder as the group passed the small conference room the BAU had squeezed into.

"Reid, isn't that your...?" Morgan started, his eyes following the lawyer in suit and tie.

"Yea", Reid breathed, reaching out for the door handle, although he didn't have to because as if by some parental sense, William Reid's head whipped around and his eyes met with Spencer Reid's. He stopped mid-step, his mouth agape, staring at his son. The atmosphere was tense in that moment, but when William was called, he closed his mouth and hurried after his client, looking back to Spencer.

Reid shook his head, what were you expecting? A family reunion, he thought, feeling as if he could laugh at his own naivety.

"Reid?" Rossi asked cautiously.

"Let's focus on the profile", Reid said, changing the subject and returning to his seat. "I'm surprised he even recognised me after all these years," he added as an afterthought.

"Are we ready to deliver the profile?" JJ asked. She frowned at the map Reid had set up. He hadn't marked the possible future dumpsites, instead he'd pinned everything they already knew. He'd been sat in front of it ever since they'd all arrived. Luckily the suspect pool was pretty small. She'd had a feeling that this case would've been a short one; they'd dealt with similar unsubs, and from the proximity of each dumpsite, it was clear that this unsub wouldn't be leaving the area.

"Yes. They might as well have something to go off for now. Anything to add, Reid?" Hotch raised his eyes at Reid who looked up from the map and shook his head, giving a strained "no".

"Come on, Kiddo. What are you thinking?" Rossi asked. He too was suspicious of Reid's uncharacteristic quietness.

"Nothing."

"Seriously, Reid? Is it your brains day off or something? You have to have something", Emily urged. Reid stood up suddenly, knocking his chair back. He sighed angrily and grabbed his messenger bag.

"I said no", he spat, ignoring their shocked faces and storming from the room.

"What's up with him?" Emily queried.

"I don't think his mothers doing very well."

"Oh." Emily suddenly looked very guilty.

"If I had known I would've given him time off", Hotch frowned.

"Yes, but isn't Reid allergic to vacation", chuckled Rossi.

"Also, that one cop has been getting on his nerves. He keeps referring to him in derogatory terms and I could tell it was getting to him, and not to mention his father", Morgan added.

Said cop slunk by the glass door, looking in on them with disgust.

"I see what you mean."

"What about his father?" Hotch frowned.

"William Reid is here. He passed right by here, he even saw Reid, but he kept on walking. His client was brought in for questioning", Rossi filled in the gaps.

"Maybe we should go have a word with Mr Reid", Hotch suggested.

Reid kicked the wall hard, growling in pain. Get a hold of yourself, his mind hissed. He sucked in a deep breath to try and stabilise his breathing. He was about ready to hit someone.

"Bad idea", he grunted, rubbing his head and making his way out of the alleyway. "Shouldn't have come to work...", he stepped back onto the road with his hands in his pockets.

The team finished delivering the profile when Reid came back. He gave them an awkward little wave, which gave the whole team a wave of relief that he seemed back to normal.

"How is that going to help us?" Reid paused upon hearing the unwelcoming cop whining to his partner. JJ rolled her eyes and made her way over, the team followed.

"We have a pretty good success rate", Rossi glowered at the young cop, who twirled around, his arms folded over his chest.

"Really? What about Tuscany? Or the one in Alabama last year? You weren't successful then," He argued smugly.

"Well you've done your research", Reid remarked sarcastically, which knocked not only the cop off, but also his team.

"The twig speaks!"

"How long did it take for you come up with that insult? Last time I heard that was in elementary school" The cop twitched angrily.

"Look, man, just let us get on with our job and you can get on with yours", Morgan offered, but the cop was seething.

"You look like you should still be in school"

"Well I'd rather graduate early, than not graduate at all," Reid shrugged.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sorry, I was trying to dumb it down as much as possible", that did it, the cop lunged out at Reid, but Spencer was too quick for him, he ducked and upon recovery smashed his knuckles hard into the cop's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Hotch and Morgan pulled Spencer back and he didn't resist, he watched the man roll on the floor with a sadistic smile over his lips.

"REID!" Morgan gasped, shaking the younger agent, and the smile suddenly fell and he looked around shamefully.

"I doubt you could even shoot that gun", shouted the cop, holding his bloody nose. Reid straightened and glared at the officer.

"Would you like me to prove you wrong?" He hissed. Hotch pulled him away roughly.

"Reid!"

Reid glared at Hotch. But then suddenly his face dropped and he gazed down at his feet.

"Get a hold of yourself", Hotch hissed, and Reid swallowed thickly with a nod.

"What's this?" The Chief growled, looking down at his fallen cop and then over at the restrained agent.

"Little disagreement is all", Morgan mumbled.

"I'm sorry. Davidson has been involved in things like this before. I'm taking you off the case", he snapped at the cop, who struggled to his feet desperately.

"What!? No! Come on, Chief!" He begged. The Chief turned away from him.

"I'm pulling you from the case too, Reid", Hotch glowered at his youngest agent, waiting for a similar reaction from Reid as from the cop.

"It was provoked", Reid growled, but Hotch shook his head.

"No excuses, Reid. Go back to the hotel", Reid looked ready to give Hotch the same treatment that he'd given the cop. But he simply shrugged, took his bag and walked out.

"That was easy", Morgan snorted. Too easy, thought Hotch.

"I'm sorry about that", Hotch apologised to the chief, who offered him a sympathetic smile.

"Don't sweat it. Davidson can be quite the asshole, but he gets the job done. We'll put out an APB on the profile you gave us", the Chief said, before taking his leave.

Hotch turned to Morgan.

"I've never seen Reid that riled up, let alone actually throwing a punch", Hotch muttered.

"Yea...he's dealing with some personal issues."

"I'm not excusing him for this. Emily could you check he got back to the hotel", Hotch ordered.

"I will," offered JJ.

"No, you'll need to talk to the media soon", she nodded and Emily grabbed her keys.

As she stepped out of the room William Reid tromped in. He glanced at the team and saw Reid missing. He carried on past them. Morgan blocked his path, his muscular arms folded.

"Excuse me, agent", William said calmly, avoiding Morgan's eyes.

"What are you doing here?", Morgan growled, staring at William in disgust.

"Doing my job."

"Did you know the FBI were working this case?" William shrugged. "I'm surprised you didn't bail on this case if you did know. Always the avoider", Morgan goaded.

"Yes, I knew. I'd hoped to see Spence-"

"You gave up the right to see him when you abandoned him", Morgan snapped, cutting William off mid sentence.

"I had good reason."

"Really? What was that? There isn't a good reason for leaving your child." William squirmed under Morgan's glower. Hotch knew it was his job to intervene, but he happily stood by to watch the neglectors tongue lashing.

"I'm not planning on going to see him. You don't have to worry", William muttered weakly.

"Why would I be worried by the likes of you", William finally looked up into Morgan's eyes. He shifted his gaze nervously.

"You think you know him", he murmured.

"I've been in his life longer than you have. So, yes, I think I do know him."

"I loved him... I still do. I'm prouder than most fathers, but he never needed me. I was an unnecessary variable in his life. He was safer once I left. I only did what I thought was best, like any fath-" William stood tall, trying to defend his actions.

"Stop saying that. You are the most unworthy man to use that title. You are no father", Morgan bellowed. He walked away from William; leaving the man stood alone, appearing deflated.

Emily knocked lightly on Reid's door. She heard someone fumbling around inside, until the door was pulled open and a slightly disheveled Reid pooped his head out.

"Hey, Reid. Just checking to see if you're alright."

"I'm fine, Prentiss", he deadpanned, ready to close the door on her. Emily put her foot between the door and the doorframe.

"Good", she paused, choosing her words carefully. "So where did that come from?" She asked, trying to to sound accusing. Reid didn't look up at her, he turned his back on her and continued searching through his go bag.

"Where did what come from?" He shrugged. Emily frowned.

"Um, that. I've never seen you hit someone", she continued to scowl at his back, he still remained with his back to her.

"I was just putting him in his place", Reid grunted.

"When have you ever felt the need to do that? You usually ignore people like him", her brow was bunched together in tight concern.

"Just leave it, Prentiss", Reid muttered coldly, pausing with his rumblings.

"Bu-"

"Stop!" Spencer spun around and glared at her. Emily felt herself stumble back slightly in shock at how angry he looked. "Stop acting like you know me! I can fight back!" He growled, his teeth clenched in rage. Emily's mouth bobbed open, but no words formed. She stepped back and bumped into the dresser. Reid closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I think you should just go", he deadpanned, turning his back on her again and rummaging through his messenger bag.

"O-okay", Emily squeaked nervously. "If you need to talk...call me", with that she darted from the room. Reid dropped his bag uncaringly on the bed and stomped to the door, slamming it shut.

Calm down, a small internal voice called out. Control yourself, it begged.

"Hey, Prentiss. Was Reid good?" Morgan asked as Emily trudged back into the police station. She looked up with a quick nod.

"Yea, he's fine...just a little on edge, I think."

"He'll probably go see his mom." Emily nodded again, before turning to the board.

"Garcia's got a lead", Hotch said, pulling out a kevlar vest while the tech queen sent him the address.

They piled onto the jet to find Reid sat with a file in his lap. He was staring as one page thoughtfully.

Hotch frowned, he would've read that page in seconds.

Reid looked up as they entered, though he didn't smile.

"We got the guy. 37 year old-"

"Toby Matthews. Yea I know", Reid muttered with a shrug.

"Uh...Yea, Course you do", Morgan said with a grin, rubbing the back of his neck. Reid turned back to his file, pulling his phone out and putting headphones in. Morgan scowled. Clearly the kid didn't want to talk, but he'd usually bury his head in a book.

A thought crossed his mind and he tried his best to push it away, but it remained present in his mind. He wouldn't...not after the first time, his mind argued with the idea, but still...

It wasn't until they got back to the Bureau that Morgan actually built up the courage to talk to the kid.

"Reid..."

"Morgan, I don't want to talk about what happened, Okay", snapped the younger agent. "I-I have a lot on my mind."

"Like what?" Morgan asked. Reid turned his heel and came face to face with Morgan.

"You have no idea." He paused, taking a deep breath. "That son of a bitch was there a-and he-h-he..."

"Calm down, Reid. What's going on?"

"I-I don't know how much longer s-she can last. She's not doing t-too well", Reid's breath hitched and he looked away. Morgan kicked himself mentally, guilt creeping over him.

"Oh, Reid I'm sorry." Morgan touched Reid's arm gently and the younger agent turned his head. Morgan expected to see wet eyes, but they were dry and this hurt him more. You don't have to prove anything to me, Morgan thought, you're strong and I know that.

"I'm going to talk to Hotch...I think I might need to go out to Vegas again and sort out the problems with her medications", Reid explained sadly.

"Hotch will give you more time than you need off, trust me", Morgan feebily joked. "Listen. I'm here if you need anything, and I mean anything, I will always be here to talk, okay. I could tell something wasn't right."

Reid smiled back at Morgan and took a deep breath.

"I'll ask him now. Thanks Morgan", Reid stood up taking his surviving phone with him.

"I hope she gets better", Morgan called after him.

Hotch gaped at the files that had been brought back to him for inspection. Too many anomalies? He thought to himself. He was even more surprised when all 6 files belonged to Reid. Hotch glanced at the files and his frown deepened. The information was wrong. Hotch dropped the file when a harsh knock echoed through his office.

Reid opened Hotch's office door when he heard a gruff reply.

"Sir, I was hoping I could talk to you." Hotch hid the files in a desk drawer, he couldn't embarrass Reid until he knew where the kids head was at.

"Take a seat, Reid."

"Where's Reid?" Garcia asked as they were being debriefed.

"I gave him the week off to deal with his mom. There were some complications with her medication", Hotch replied, taking a seat and opening his file. He had given Reid as long as he could off. His files proved that there was a problem.

"Oh, poor Spence", JJ muttered.

"He'll be alright. He just needs some time. I noticed that he wasn't acting his normal self", Rossi mused.

"I hope my boy genius is back to himself by next week", Garcia prayed, glancing at the empty chair before beginning the debriefing.

Reid slung his messenger bag on the couch, collapsing on it with a beer from the freezer. He closed his eyes.

This is going to be hard, he thought taking a swig of the bottle and raising his eyebrows at the surprisingly sweet taste that enveloped his tongue.

He looked at his case and sighed. At that moment he wished he had a normal family...it was a futile desire. A childish whim that he endeavoured to hope for.

So that's chapter one! I don't know if the other chapters are going to be as long, but I'm going to try. They should hopefully be between 2,000 and 3,000 words. I'm really into this story so I don't think that short chapters are going to be a problem.

This may have just confused people beyond imaginable and I apologise, but everything happens for a reason in this story.

P.S. I won't drag out the mystery for too long ;)

Please leave a review, I'd be so so happy if you did!

Thanks for reading; I'll see you real soon!