I'm sorry it took me this long to update, and I wish I could have given you a decent chapter, but unfortunately you are stuck with this piece of crap. I'm not gonna lie, this fanfic is incredibly hard to write, and I hate each and every chapter. The writing style is not one I'm used to, not one that I like using it either. When I started this, it was meant to be a oneshot, and the style seemed to fit my intentions for the story… But as it became a multi-chaptered, I felt that, for the sake of consistency, I needed to maintain the writing style of the first chapter… I thought it would be easy, and a good exercise too, but it's not, and every chapter makes me really unsatisfied with the work I upload. This, I think, it's the main reason why I take so long to update: Writing this story is not exactly enjoyable, even though I love reading your reviews and seeing a lot of people enjoy this story,

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I'll try to update as soon as possible! Please review, they motivate me to keep going!

Chapter 06:

Getting the files he needed was easier than Spencer had originally expected. As he sat in his desk, going through the pictures that were sent to him, JJ appeared and asked Spencer if he could (once he was finished with what he was doing, of course. JJ, unlike Prentiss, Rossi, and even Derek, always waited until the young genius was finished with his work before trying to give him something extra) complete some of her files for her and take them to Hotch at the end of the day. She had just received a call from Will and needed to leave early, not even having the time to take said files home or give them to Hotch. Spencer had just smiled and said he would do it, for her not to worry about it and head home where Will and Henry were waiting for her. She had thanked him and told him, to his disbelief, that the files were inside her office and he could just go in and take them and then lock it up afterwards.

The timing of this request, the request itself, couldn't have been more perfect! Now Spencer had the perfect excuse to go inside his friend's workspace and look through all the files of unsolved cases that requested his Team's assistance.

Could his Winchester luck (the one he apparently acquired after becoming an honorary Winchester years ago) have finally turned around?

Of course not. Spencer should have known better.

When he entered JJ's office, it didn't take him long to get started on his mission. First he set out to look at the pile of possible cases for his Team. He wasn't sure if he should be surprised or not by the quantity he found; while the BAU tried to focus on crimes with extreme levels of brutality and/or unusualness, an exceeding number of victims, or cases that required urgent action (kidnappings, national threats, things of the likes), local officials tended to send them cases that had a slight hint of some fanaticism with the occult, even if there had only been one victim, and the "occult" element in the crime scene was a mere pentagram (People really should stop making random assumptions and do some research on the subject… Or maybe not… Ignorance on the subject did make the secrecy part of a Hunter's job much easier). The police, especially those of small towns, tended to get nervous around the subject, usually imagining they were dealing with some cult or someone who with a mental illness and severe delusions… It took time for the Team to explain that the Unsub was most likely someone who either wanted to freak out the police (and did so with extreme success) to get them off their tracks, or that it was some sort of teenage act of rebellion (Spencer was always sure that his Team never got to hear about the cases that involved Hunters or people with some knowledge of the Supernatural)… Then there were those who were just trying to call out for attention, and found that doing something that would be considered sinister would work splendidly for their cause (and once again, they were right, for the police did call the FBI, and, really, isn't that attention enough?).

That being said, he was thankful, not for the first time, of his super-speed-reading-abilities, as both Derek and Dean liked to call it. He scanned each file, searching for names he was familiar with, and pictures of wards drawn around the house. It took a while, but eventually he was able to find everything he was looking for, put them inside his messenger bag, and got out of JJ's office, like nothing had happened, locking it just as the woman had asked. No one around had even raised an eyebrow.

It was too good to be true. He had just sat back on his desk when Hotch came out of his own office, with his usual frown and serious expression. To most people the chief of Spencer's Team, Aaron Hotchner, would seem like an expressionless, maybe even emotionless, man; one who was impossible to read. However, Spencer, just like the rest of the Team, had, not only an incredible training on reading people's behaviors (Sam and Dean liked to call him a lie-detector-human-machine, which, if he was honest, was not far from the truth… That was the job a profiler, after all), but also years and years of knowing said "expressionless and emotionless" man. Spencer knew how to read Hotch clearly, and to him his chief's thoughts and feelings was as easy to see as if he were smiling from ear-to-ear, or crying like a little child. He and his Team knew what each and every one of Hotch's micro expressions (which were even harder to spot than in most people) meant, and they didn't even need to look for it. One look, one quick glance, and they would know what Hotch was feeling.

Which is why Spencer stopped what he was doing right away when he saw the Unit Chief approach his desk. He was frowning in a way that showed slight displease, but his eyes also revealed a bit of concern. Last time he worn that look around Spencer he had asked him about abusing drugs, and after the morning he had that was the last thing the genius Hunter wanted to talk about.

Although his eyes were focused on the older man now in front of him, he could see Derek heading out of Hotch's office, looking at Spencer with an apologetic smile.

"Reid." He said, his voice softer than Spencer was used to (though not soft at all, to those who were not used to Hotch's kindness).

"Hey," Spencer tried to smile "If this is about JJ's office, she asked me to go there and…"

"Don't worry about that." Hotch said. "Can you come into my office? I want to talk to you in private."

Of course, while that was phrased like a request, Spencer knew that what he really meant was "Come into my office right away. I need to talk to you, and I'm not taking no for an answer."

Spencer always thought that when Hotch said that he sounded like a principal talking to a troublesome student, ready to call the parents if said talk did not go well.

The two agents stepped inside the office, Spencer first so Hotch could close the door behind him. The young genius couldn't help but feel a bit anxious in the presence of his boss. After seeing Derek, he knew that this conversation would most likely not end well. Did Derek still suspect him to be using drugs? Yes, his behavior the previous night had been weird and… Oh, did Derek think that the reason why Spencer refused to spend the night was so he could buy and use drugs? Certainly now his lover would be worried; the death of a beloved could always push an addict (for Spencer knew that a person, even after stopping the usage of drugs or alcohol, would never stop being an addict; the craving would always be there, and they would forever be constantly fighting those urges) back to their old ways. It was often a stressor for serial killers, the final straw that made them snap… But of course, addicts went back to drugs. Spencer had even confessed that he almost relapsed when he believed Prentiss was dead. Certainly Derek would be suspicious, especially because he never spent the night at his home.

How was he going to get out of this one?

"Spencer, please, sit down." Said Hotch, gesturing towards the chair. He called him by his first name… Even though his Team was like his family, they all referred to each other (well, with the exception of Derek, now that they were dating, and JJ) by their last names… The usage of first names was often meant as a sign of affection and worry; it usually happened when someone had witnessed something incredibly awful, injured themselves or someone else.

"Actually… I… I rather stand." He said. Standing meant less time talking about whatever it was Hotch wanted to talk about.

"Are you sure?" the older man asked, and there was a slight raise of one of his eyebrows.

"Pretty sure." He said, nodding slightly to himself.

"All right; I'll get straight to the point then." Hotch said. There was barely a second of silence before he continued "Morgan told me what happened, Reid."

Well, that could be many things, couldn't it? Hopefully he didn't say anything about that salt incident, or else this conversation would be about Hotch sending him to rehab.

"W-what happened…?" he let the sentence linger, hoping for a more precise explanation, so he could come up with a better lie.

"About your friend from Kansas."

Oh. Missouri… In his worry over being (wrongly) accused of doing drugs again he almost forgot about her, and how he was in JJ's office in order to find out what took that wonderful woman away from this world. It didn't seem real… Not really… Part of him expected his phone to ring and Missouri to be on the other line, saying he should stop worrying so much, that nothing could kill her that easily (because of course she could tell if he was worried over something, even if she was far away). She would then make some inappropriate comment about his relationship with Derek, and because of her powers, she would just know that Spencer was all red and tease him more, saying he was all grown up now.

But who was he kidding? Missouri was dead; as was Tamara, and countless of other Hunters that have been dropping like flies. Across the world those with knowledge of the Supernatural have been brutally killed in an alarming rate. Spencer only needed a quick glance at the files in his desk to see understand more whatever these things were. He would profile them and, when possible, send that information to Sam and Dean so they could put an end to it once and for all.

Yet killing it would not bring Missouri back. Never would he see the woman who had been almost like a second mother to him; the woman who knew all of his secrets and guarded them as closely as she did her own. No, Missouri was dead and gone, never to come back.

And by whatever god was out there, he was going to miss her so much.

"She… She was my mother's friend." He found himself saying "We would go to the house almost every summer. She helped me out, taking care of mom because of her condition and…"

"You don't have to explain it to me if you don't want to, Spencer." Hotch's voice was as gentle and soft as his gaze. If there was ever a doubt in the young genius mind that Hotch was more than just his boss, that he was also his friend, that doubt would have gone away right then. "I understand it must be very difficult for you."

Spencer didn't say anything; he simply looked down, finding his shoes much more appealing than the idea of Hotch seeing his almost tears (Too much time with Dean left him somewhat ashamed of crying and showing weakness as well… Or maybe it was just the way Hunters were; showing of weakness was dangerous when the creature you were hunting things that could somehow use that weakness against you)

"Take the rest of the day off." Hotch finally said "It's Friday; spend the afternoon at home, or maybe fly to Kansas for the weekend… Whatever you need to do to mourn. I can also give you another week off, if you need."

Well, that one he didn't see coming at all. What was going on with his luck? It seemed like just today it changed about five times.

"Are you sure?" he asked, because, really, what were the chances that life would give him exactly what he needed at the right time?

"Positive." The Unit Chief said "You need this time off. Go home, and I'll ask Morgan to join you as soon as possible. I would send him back with you right now, but since JJ is already gone, we'll need him for most of the day."

"T-thank you." Spencer smiled, before remembering JJ's request; he still had the files in his desk, and although they weren't his priority, he still wanted to help out his friend "I have some of JJ's file on my desk and…"

"Give them to Prentiss. I'm sure she can handle whatever it is." He paused, before his voice softened even more "Go home, Spencer. You really look like you need some rest."

"Thank you." He smiled, and excused himself out of the office.

He quickly packed his things, gave Prentiss the files JJ needed done (Prentiss had looked at him surprised, eyebrows raised in a silent question; but when Spencer signaled to Hotch's office, she understood the message and put the files in her pile, giving a defeat sigh).

Derek met him at the elevator door, and escorted him to the outside of the building.

"I'll stop by your place as soon as Hotch lets me out, okay?" he said, looking at him in the eyes with a tenderness that Spencer knew he did not deserve.

"Okay… Thanks…" He tried to smile, tried to appear calm, but once more the reality of the situation hit him; Missouri was dead, and not even finding her killer would bring her back.

"Hey…" his voice was as gentle as his gaze, and as he cupped Spencer's cheek, it took all of the young genius' will power not cry right then and there "I know this is hard for you… I'll make us dinner tonight, and then we'll talk about everything… or not talk about anything at all… Whatever you prefer, Pretty Boy."

Spencer smiled at the nickname that once bothered him so much; he never thought of himself as attractive, so when Derek first called him that, he believed it to be his way of mocking Spencer's thin figure and long hair. Every time Derek called him that Spencer would remember his days in high school, when jocks would bully him for being so weak (or at least, that's what they thought. Spencer knew how to fight, and could probably have defended himself and sent each and every one of his tormentors to the hospital, but that was the last thing he needed). He remembered looking at Sam and Dean, and wishing he had the same imposing and masculine features as the two; the one that made men and women look at them with hunger and desire. He remembered Ethan, and how for a long time he wondered if he had looked more masculine, more like a proper Hunter and a future FBI agent, then maybe Ethan would not have left to New Orleans, leaving him to carry the burden of Two Worlds on his own.

Those were silly fears, stupid insecurities that plagued Spencer's mind every day of his life. It wasn't until he and Derek finally got together that Spencer started to enjoy the nickname, loving how to Derek it mattered not that his arms were too thin and his hair too long. Rather than a reminder of all his insecurities, the nickname was now a reassurance that he needed not to change his physical appearance to be accepted and loved by the one he cared for the most.

And now, as the nickname slipped from Derek's lips, and the older agent placed a gentle kiss in Spencer's own, he couldn't help but feel guilty about all the secrets he kept from the man before him; the man who was so willing to give up his life for him. It made Spencer feel horrible, for he knew he did not deserve Derek's love (and once more all those insecurities returned, and he remembered Ethan once more, and feared that the day would come when Derek would leave him as well), but not horrible enough to tell the truth. Spencer was born, raised, and trained in the world of the Hunters; the world of Sam, Dean, Cas, Bobby, Ethan, Missouri, and even his mother… That was a World Derek and his Team did not belong to. His Team already dealt with enough pain, the single World they lived in was dark and complex even without the added responsibility of those with Supernatural abilities. Yes, it may difficult, painful even, but Spencer must be the only one two carry both Worlds on his shoulders; he was the only one properly trained to handle them, after all.

And so, he accepted Derek's kiss, the kiss that sought to comfort him, and left with a small smile. He walked towards the bus stop (occasionally looking behind, to see if Derek had already returned to work), and made his journey back home.

As soon as he got home, Spencer cleared the dinner table and spread all his files across it, along with a picture of a map of North America. He grabbed a few pens and started marking the location, date, and name of each of the Hunters that had been killed in the past two months. Next, he grabbed a notebook, and started taking notes on each of the crime scenes, putting the available pictures together with it. His next task was to highlight any and all similarities in the crime scenes; after looking over the autopsy reports, he did the same to them. All and all, it looked a lot like what he might do with his Team in a regular case, though Spencer knew it wouldn't remain that way for long.

As soon as those info facts were organized, Spencer could eliminate some creatures from the list. Sulfur and salt were present in almost all of the scenes, and that, compiled with the drawings that were also found in the crime scenes gave Spencer a pretty good idea of what they were dealing with. Yet, just to make sure, he checked online the weather patterns for each of the locations, and sure enough, the weather in those locations not only had been abnormal, but the houses located near the crime scenes that electrical malfunction.

There was no doubt in Spencer's mind that they were dealing with demons.

Which, of course, only complicated things. Most Supernatural creatures had patterns to their killings, and once you figured out that pattern, you could easily figure out their next victim and stop them. They did not put a lot of thought into their killing either; ghosts went after people who either had something to do with their deaths, or did something related to it; vampires killed for the blood, nothing else; and werewolves were hardly in control of their own minds during the full moon. Demons were different, though. Their actions were more human-like then Spencer liked to admit. They killed for the fun of it, or, sometimes, because they had some sort of scheme and needed those deaths. Demons planned, they could be motivated by many things, and their killings were as varied as the demons themselves.

And in this case, the killings, all of which had been of well-known Hunters, told Spencer that whatever the demon (or demons, for it could well be that there were more than one working together) was planning on doing something big, and those Hunters were in the way.

Eliminate the enemy before going through with the plan… That seemed to be the strategy they were taking. Not a bad one either, if Spencer was honest.

Now all Spencer needed to do was figure out who these demons were, and where to find them.

Going back to his notebook, Spencer wrote down the information on the weather and electrical malfunctions, as a note to remind himself (well, remind Sam and Dean, whom he was going to give all these info to) to keep an eye out on abnormal weather and power surges with no apparent cause. Next, he started to get into more detail on each of the Hunters, trying to figure out a pattern, and perhaps see if these Hunters had dealt with these particular demons in the past.

Like most of his other findings, that information had been easy to find. These Hunters had been mostly stationary, like Missouri. Unlike Sam and Dean, they stayed mostly in the same area, which meant they were easy targets. After the death of her husband, Tamara had settled down in a small town in Florida, and hunted around the area.

While this meant Dean and Sam were safe for now, it also meant that people like Bobby, Ethan, and Spencer's mom were at risk.

Before he could reach the phone to dial them, though, someone knocked on the door. A quick glance to the wall clock revealed Spencer had been working at this for a few hours, and that it was about time Derek arrived, considering Hotch was going to let him leave early.

"One second!" he said, before putting all the pictures, files, and folded map inside the notebook. He set it aside, putting it close to some of his books, hoping that this would make it look less suspicious, and looked around the apartment to make sure everything was in order.

Satisfied with his work, he quickly opened the door to let his lover enter the apartment.

Like promised, Derek decided made dinner for both of them, but not before asking Spencer to shower and dress in something more comfortable. When the genius returned from his room, his hair still wet, he saw the darker agent setting the table while the smell of delicious home cooked meal filled the apartment.

Derek smiled, and soon both men were sitting on the table, enjoying Derek's meal (it was, he said, a recipe he got from his mother… One of his favorites when he was younger), and before he knew, Spencer was crying.

Missouri used to cook for him and his mother like that. She used to talk about how he was too thin and that he needed some meat in his bones. Derek hugged him and allowed him to cry on his shoulder. The two curled up on Spencer's bed, and went to sleep with Derek caressing his hair, as Spencer talked about all the good times he spent with Missouri, of how she was almost like his second parent.

When Spencer woke up the next morning, he realized this was the first time Derek had stayed over… And his heart ached over the fact that this could never happen again.