Disclaimer: Most characters belong to me, other than any new characters I add.

This story is set somewhere around the end of season seven.

Chapter One : Press Problems

"My family is my life, and everything else comes second as far as what's important to me." -Micheal Imperioli

"Reid, you know we were joking right?" Morgan asked, a tease in his voice. Emily nodded in agreement, and amusement glittered in her dark brown eyes.

Reid rolled his eyes and looked back down at the old case files."Yeah, of course, I did." he mumbled.

"You have to admit, it was funny, right?" Emily asked, eyes wide with laughter.

"Whenever a person is joking, he or she is actually disguising thoughts and emotions, either subconsciously or deliberately," Reid growled simply, still looking at the same case page that he had been staring at for over two minutes. "Is that how you feel about me?" Reid continued.

"Kid, it really was a joke," Morgan stated, his teasing gone at the threat that Reid was upset.

"You called me an FBI trainee in front of the press, do you know how that feels?" Reid snapped, his voice suddenly cold. It was only now that Morgan and Emily understood how serious the situation had gotten.

"Spencer, Morgan didn't mean to embarrass you…" Emily whispered and Reid just shook his head.

"Forget it," With that, Reid looked back to his case files with a frown. "I need some air." He added sharply, taking one of his books with him before walking away briskly. When Emily stood up to follow he shot her a look and she sat down again. He was gone in a few minutes, the door swinging shut behind him.

Emily and Morgan shared a concerned look.

Dropping into a bench, Reid tossed his book by his side. "FBI trainee, I've had more education than everyone in our team," he complained to himself.

When his phone hummed, he read the text with an annoyed expression.

JJ (Work): There's a new case, and are you okay? (9:07 AM)

Reid stared at the message for a moment, an all too familiar pain in his head start to pulse. Closing his eyes tightly he rubbed his temple with his thumb. The sun felt like it was flashing through his eyelids. The agony was excruciating.

His phone buzzed again and he rubbed his eyes with his lower palm. His phone buzzed again and he hit his book with frustration. "Just stop messaging me!" he snapped to nobody in particular.

A few minutes passed before the pain receded and he was able to read the unread messages from whoever had been texting him.

JJ (Work): Are you outside? (9:10 AM)

JJ (Work): Everyone's waiting on you. (9:19 AM)

Morgan (Work): Reid, we're starting without you (9:27 AM)

Reid narrowed his eyes, annoyance prickling his skin. Did they need to treat him like a child? Like a trainee? Maybe that was how everyone saw him. Finally, he looked away from his screen, the light of the screen beginning to make his head hurt again. He closed his eyes again and put his head in his hands.

"Head hurting?" Reid opened and narrowed his eyes at the person who had addressed him. The sunlight pierced his gaze when he looked up and Reid looked back down at the stone tiles.

"No, just… thinking," The doctor lied, grimacing at the pain in his head. "Do you need something?" He asked, keeping his gaze on the stone.

"Yeah, stand up," The person spoke gruffly, demeanor changing in an instant. Reid looked up, trying to focus on the man's face, once again the light made him look back down. "I said stand up." This time Reid obeyed grudgingly, standing up and shielding his gaze from the sun to look at the man. His face was covered with a black mask.

"Who are you?" Reid asked, licking his lips with growing apprehension. When the man moved closer and pressed a gun to Reid's stomach. Reid tensed up, pursing his lips. If there was ever a time for his team to show up, it would be now.

Cursing himself for not having his gun, or his vest, or even his phone at hand, Reid went silent. It was either he was going to get shot, or he would listen to what this man wanted.

"Come with me, Doctor Reid," the man said coolly. "We have business to sort out."

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." -Sydney J. Harris

A/N: Sorry this first chapter is so short, the next chapter will be much longer! This is my first time writing a 'Criminal Minds' fanfiction so reviews can and will really help me. Thanks so much for reading!