I know, I know. This is not what is next on my requests list (not even part of the same fandom), but hear me out before you all start freaking on me!

The person who requested this story, she's a pretty good friend of mine, and I just found out she's in hospital. So this is for her, and if you've ever read Prince of Tennis fanfiction- or know someone who does or has- you should- or let them know to- give her a 'get well soon.' If not for her, than me?

This is for Akira Yama and our new favorite pairing.
Although I think its been new for awhile...

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds... hell if I did... Spencer would be mine!

The sounds of the morning run had become dull to him after so many years of seeing and hearing it. Not dull as in boring beyond belief, but dull as in he had gotten so used to it. He had gotten used to it as an agent and special agent and now he had gotten used to it as Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner. He had experienced it first hand in his younger days in first person. Now he experienced it as he watched from his office window, hot coffee in his hand.

The hum that rose from the bull pen may not have excited him, but one voice was able to jolt him out of his morning daydream with a side of coffee. It was a deep and loud voice; Special Agent Derik Morgan's voice. However, it was not his voice nor himself that sparked excitement in their fearless leader, but what he said every single morning. "Hey there, Pretty Boy Genius."

Hotch's eyes fell on the boy in question as he walked into the pen. Tall, lean to the point of almost lanky, with messy brown locks and beautiful, bright brown eyes. He had his usual messenger bag, wore his usual purple scarf. It refreshed Hotch to see the brilliant boy. The one thing that brightened his day even more than his daily coffee.

"Hi." Dr. Spencer Reid said quietly, waving at Morgan and taking his desk to begin another day of work.

Hotch turned away from the window and took a deep breath, looking down at the pile of paper work on his desk. The shy smile, and small wave was fresh in his mind. That image would be enough to get him through the day.

A soft knock brought Hotch off his autopilot run through of old case files. He blinked up and saw Reid standing at his door with a stack of files in his arms. "Enter."

Reid, with a little struggle, opened the door and entered, closing it behind him. "Hotch, these need your look over." He said, as he walked over to the desk and set them down. "JJ says there's a new case to be looked at. Ten minutes to the round table." He informed smiling. There was something in the smile. Something saddening.

"Thank you." Hotch said, trying to hide his examination of his subordinate. "It something wrong?" He asked, not changing his voice. Reid wouldn't want any signs of pity I any sort of situation.

Hesitation. Hotch caught it. Any one with a quarter of a brain would have. After the brief hesitation, Reid shook his head with a quiet, "No, not at all." Then he was gone. A little faster than necessary, but he left, closing the door quickly behind him.

Hotch decided not to pursue, but knew if anything, he'd have to let Reid no that he was a horrible liar.

"How's everyone feel about Alaska?" JJ asked as she walked in. Everyone was already sitting together at the round table in the briefing room. As the door opened to the blonde, silence reached the room. She clicked her remote for the monitor and gruesome shots of dismembered and eviscerated bodies filled the screens, along with the original identities of the unrecognizable bodies in the form of collected photos.

"It's the closest US state to Canada in climate, culture, and geography." Reid piped up. There was a brief pause when everyone glanced at him all savoring the moment of pure amazement. They should have been used to his extensive knowledge; after all, how long had they all worked together? However, there were times where they still couldn't believe it, however it was even more rare that he seemed to slouch in his chair and look down at the table like he had done something horrible.

"Well, these are the first three victim's of a serial killer from the last two months." JJ continued after the short moment of silence, flipping through each individual's picture.

"How many are there total?" Morgan asked, trying not to grimace at the extensive blood that filled the screen. He was used to it, but this was the worse they had seen in, well, at least months.

"About 7, as of last night."

"Why are they now just contacting us?" Hotch asked, looking up at JJ, not the screen. He had seen all he needed to. The victims all had brown or blonde hair. They were all well off men, job wise and wealth wise, seeing the brief descriptions beside their pictures. All were very good looking, and all had bright brown eyes. They were pale and lean and, in each picture, smiling brightly and happily. In some of the photos, there was another man kissing their cheeks or hugging them around the waist or shoulders.

Hotch felt something hit the pit of his stomach. He had a bad feeling about the victimology.

"Well, the victim's were all found in the woods, so the mutilations were first believed to be animal maulings, but they realized the connections between who the people were. They're all gay men, in committed relationships of at least five years. They don't look similar except for the brown eyes and each was either blonde or brunette." JJ explained. "Turns out the last three didn't spend much time in the woods, which was the majour tip off."

"The law enforcement has invited us?" Hotch asked, closing the file before him. He was ready to nail this bastard.

"Yes sir, the chief officer in charge of the case invited us this morning." JJ informed, closing her file. She knew Hotch was ready to go; his decision made.

"Alright team. Everyone be in the jet in half an hour."

Hotch grabbed his go bag and shut his locker. He made sure he had everything he needed. So far it looked like he did. If anything, he would have to get something like shampoo or toothpaste.

He swung his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door, but was stop by the sound of a soft sniffle. "Please, I-I d-." That sounds a lot like Reid, Hotch thought as he peered around the lockers to see Reid sitting on the bench, his cell phone to his ear. He wiped his eyes and continued, "Yes, I said that, but I didn't know I was going on a c-. Please, I'm sorry." Silence. Reid sniffled and nodded. "Yes, sir."

He hung up his phone and held his head in his hands, his hair curtaining his face. Hotch hesitated, debating whether to see if he was alright. They were going to a case. If anything he could see if Reid was fit for it.

It was not because of some inner torrent of emotions running through him. Whose hurting Reid? Whose making him cry?

"Hey, Reid?" He called, revealing himself and moving over to where Reid sat. "Are you okay?"

Reid froze, his body going rigid at the sound of the other man's voice. He looked up at the man sitting beside him. He forced a smile and nodded. "I'm fine, Hotch," he assured, pretending to be stronger than he really felt.

"Are you sure? If you want to take a break-."

"No!" Reid shook his head as he nearly shouted the word, looking desperately into Hotch's eyes as if forcing his superior to believe he was okay. "No, I would much rather go on the case. Please, Hotch. Don't make me stay here."

"Reid, what's wrong?"

Chapter 1- End

TBC

Akira, hope you like it so far! Get well soon, love!

Hope everyone else liked it too.

New chapter up soon.