This is what happens when you have a teenage mathematical genius growing up in Las Vegas with limited parental supervision.

I have been a little anxious about this story because so many people have asked me to write it. I hope that it lives up to your expectations. I also hope the switching between places and times is not too confusing. I have tried to use the names Spencer and Reid to distinguish between the two realities.

Chapter 1- In bright lights

17 years ago

The girl's eyes widened as the pebble landed in the crease of her open book and in one swift motion she jumped off the table and landed in the dirt. With a frown that would have done Attila the Hun proud, she placed her bunched hands on her waist and glared around seeking out her attacker.

Don't show them any fear, her uncle always lectured her.

She yelped furiously as another pebble hit her square in the forehead.

'You come out, you coward!!' she bellowed at the nearby bushes beyond the fence, having determined where the homemade missile had originated from. After all it was just a simple matter of wind speed, aerodynamics and trajectory.

The face that peered out at her through the fence filled her with happiness and relief. Furtively she signaled to the boy to wait as she slowly edged towards toward him. There would be hell to pay if anyone saw them.

'Spence, you should join the baseball team! You have an incredible arm' she whispered excitedly.

'Actually' he hiccupped nervously, 'I was aiming for the table. Are you alright?'

The excitable red hair stared at him in horror, 'AM I alright? What happened to you? Where have you been?'

'Huh, nothing happened to me' he replied with a frown as her bright blue eyes roamed over his unpressed clothes, 'I am right here'

'Spencer, you are such a horrible lair' she shook her head and her ringlets swayed with the brisk motion.

'I have stress, okay?' he snapped.

At that the young lady rolled her eyes.

'Spence, you're ten. What sort of stress could you possible have?'

'My dad's gone'

She stared at him waiting for him to finish his sentence.

'Gone where?' she prodded.

The little boy shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, 'I don't know and I don't care'

For the first time, she suddenly noticed how dirty and grimy her genius classmate was. The only thing that looked normal about him was his face, but even the good washing he had given it could not conceal his red rimmed eyes behind the owlish glasses.

The little girl wriggled her hand through the wire and gently held on to his wrist, 'Let me tell my Uncle Bob. He can find anybody in Vegas!'

The little boy shook his head vehemently causing his long hair to cascade into his eyes, 'I don't think he's in Vegas anymore and anyway I don't want to see him. He's weak!!!'

She swallowed fearfully. She didn't like this new look on her gentle friend.

'Spence, let's tell someone. The teacher is going to come to your house if you miss anymore days' she whispered earnestly.

'Yeah….that's why I am here. Can you give her this note?' he replied, 'it's from my mum'

She took the battered looking envelope suspiciously. Whenever Spencer started to talk quickly, he was always hiding something.

'Kate, do you have money?' he asked

She blinked a couple of times at this odd request but immediately pulled out her Back street Boy's wallet and handed him several crisp new bills.

'My uncle always has money lying around, it's fine' she reassured him as she observed his scared expression.

Spencer quickly counted the money.

'I'll pay you back!' he promised and turned to go, 'thank you Kate'

She pulled on his wrist to prevent him form leaving.

'Tell me where you live and I'll bring more' she demanded, her voice breaking a little in fear. Something was horribly wrong, she could feel it!

He shook his head and then started to freak out when he saw her eyes fill with tears.

'If it wasn't for me, Chris and his gang would have shoved your head in the toilet' she sobbed noisily hiding her face so he wouldn't notice the lack of tears.

The boy effortlessly stuck his thin arms through the fence and gave her hug.

'Don't cry!' he tried to shush her, looking around in alarm in case anyone heard.

'Haven't I been a good friend?' she tried to guilt him, 'I've never asked you for anything!!!!'

'Alright' he yelled a little louder than he wanted to inorder to be heard over her nerve wracking wails.

Gah, he was such a marshmallow!!! It's no wonder he got picked on. Quickly he scribbled his address on the book she shoved at him.

'Bring as much money as you can, okay?' he begged her, blanching when she gave him a kiss to go with her hug.

Gross, he thought, but said nothing as she had thankfully stopped crying.

'I'll be there at seven' she said happily.

Present day

'Earth to Reid' Morgan said waving his hand energetically in his team mate's face.

SSA Spencer Reid glanced up to see Penny, Derek and Emily all looking at him, obviously waiting for him to say something.

'Sorry, I didn't get that last part' the genius lied, stalling for time.

Morgan irritably pointed to the brochure in the young doctor's hands.

'Las Vegas, The Venetian, fantastic package offer, tickets to see Alicia Keys live in concert' the dark profiler succinctly summarized with a dreamy look on his face.

'You really want to spend the weekend with the people that you work with' the boy asked curiously, leaning forward to better hear the man's answer.

Morgan frowned at this question, 'No. I want to spend the weekend with my friends'

Everyone grinned at the quick blush and pleased smile on the young profiler's face.

'We just need a fourth to round out our merry band of brave adventurers' Garcia replied colourfully, pinning him with a pointed stare.

The genius looked around and caught sight of the blonde communications officer, 'you want someone fun, JJ will go with you'

The young woman sighed and shook her head, 'you know I want to'

'BUT!' Garcia interrupted pouting playfully, 'we're not good enough for JJ anymore'

Emily piped up with an unhelpful, 'But you can't blame her Garcia, did you SEE the guy she's with?'

'Guy?' the computer tech said in a voice of mock horror, 'Didn't you get the memo sweetheart? It's GUYS, as in plural'

JJ grimaced at the flak she was getting from her girlfriends. It wasn't her fault that she hardly ever saw Will and Henry as much as she would like to.

'Well what about Rossi?' her son's godfather suggested before Emily could add on another quip to Garcia's outrageous banter.

'Reid' Morgan replied perching on the edge of his desk, 'the man doesn't even know who Alicia Keys is!!!'

The genius profiler bowed his head under the weight of all the hopeful stares. This was crazy, he couldn't go! He would just tell Morgan that and be done with it. Gently he brushed his thumb against the name of the Casino hostess that was offering the special. Reid always knew Kate's name would wind up in bright lights.

'Okay, I am in'

Anote: The Venetian is one of the hotel casinos located on the Vegas strip.