A/N: Hello! I'm Becca. This isn't my first fanfic, but it is my first published work on here. I will refer to this story as Two Minds in the future, just to let you know. This story starts somewhat near the beginning of season four, after JJ had Henry, so there will be spoilers for the show from there on in. There will also be a lot of memories and flashbacks to Spencer's past and also Zyla's, who is my OFC and the main character in this story.

This story is rated M, but keep in mind it's a light M. There will be sexual content, but not too graphic. Other warnings are listed below, and if a specific chapter has something in it (NSFW, violence, sexual assault, etc.) I will post it before every chapter.

My face claim for Zyla is Sky Ferreira (long blonde hair), and my face claim for Andrew Trump (appears in later chapters) is Wentworth Miller; if you're wondering what they look like.

I hope you won't think this chapter is too boring. It should pick up soon, but I'm not quite sure when. Thank you for taking time to read this, and reviews are always appreciated. If you have any concerns about my story, whether it be a typo or a miss of a warning, please tell me and I will try to fix it. Happy reading!

Story Details:

Title- Two Minds & All the Places They Have Been

Author- dreamlandwonder7 (a.k.a Becca)

Fandom- Criminal Minds

Rating- Rated M for dark content typical of the show, violence, sexual assault, mild language, mild NSFW, verbal & physical abuse, mild domestic violence, angst, alcohol & drug abuse, family loss

Summary- Zyla Bree Zone's life has never been stable, let alone normal. She was a child prodigy in the depths of Las Vegas, struggling to keep her mother out of rehab as well as support herself. When she meets Spencer Reid, both their lives change inexplicably, and they will never be the same; which, somehow, turns into troubling doing. Reid/OFC.

Disclaimer- I do not own Criminal Minds, or any of their characters. I'm just playing with them and giving myself feels. No profit is coming from this story.


Two Minds & All the Places They Have Been

Chapter One / Ring


Everybody thinks that Spencer Reid has never been in love, or knew what love even was. Many think that he's still a virgin, even at 26. Nobody really thinks to question his childhood; what friends he could have made, what experiences he could have had.

And, to be quite honest, Spencer liked it this way. He, selfishly, liked to think that what they had, whatever it was, was his little secret. He liked to think that she was his private thoughts, his intimate feelings.

He liked to think that she was his.

However, like all good things, that came to an end. He had believed that it ended with that phone call, but honestly, he was wrong. It was the beginning of another chapter. He just didn't know the terrible cliffhanger looming in the distance.

It was late. He, Emily Prentiss, and Derek Morgan, his trusted colleagues and friends, were sitting in their arranged desks. Morgan was sitting with a federal file on his lap, his feet up on his desk with a coffee in hand. His vision was becoming blurred as his chocolate browns continued sweeping down the page. He was obviously trying to viciously fight an oncoming yawn, but was failing. Prentiss was sitting with her head resting on her hand, red eyes drooping sluggishly as her other hand lay rested around her becoming-cold coffee cup. Laced between her fingers as they rested on her chin was a pen, and she was staring down at the page, reading the same sentence she wrote over and over again sleepily. Spencer was, as always, chugging down black coffee like it was water and reading 20,000 words per minute as he finished reviewing their latest case file.

Aaron Hotchner, the captain of their little squad, was sitting in his office, eyebrows always furrowed as he took phone calls and read over files. He was looking like he could go on sitting in his chair for hours doing that very thing, but in reality, ready to pass out on the spot from exhaustion. David Rossi, on the other hand, did not have the energy nor care for keeping up the workaholic act and was asleep in his chair in the next office over. He was borderline snoring, and had been like that since the first early hours of the night.

Spencer was so entirely engrossed in his work that he didn't even hear his phone ring the first two rings; even as Prentiss jumped about two feet in the air at the sudden noise in front of him. He only engaged in the world around him when Morgan threw a crumpled Post-It note at his head in what was trying to be an annoyed manner, but was actually a little amused.

"Phone, Reid. Answer it." Prentiss said testily, mostly annoyed at both how she had dozed off and that the damned ringing woke her up. Spencer wasted not another minute, not wanting to agitate the agent further.

"This is Dr. Spencer Reid," he answered, sitting up straighter in his chair and rubbing his hands from the bridge of his nose. "Dr. Reid? We have a Marilyn Moriarty here at Mercy Heart Hospital in New York. She has here in her medical files that if anything were to happen to her, we were to call you."

He had froze when her alias was said. Could it be? Could it actually be her? It had been years since he last saw her; sitting in that hospital bed, lying next to her, feeling her flushed skin against his as they held each other. She was crying, and he wiped her tears.

The woman on the phone spoke again, snapping Spencer out of his beloved memory.

"Sir? Dr. Reid?" she questioned. Spencer cleared his throat weakly, his mind working into overdrive. It was filled with so many thoughts, too many thoughts, and all about her.

"Yes, I'm here. What happened?" he quaked, demanding his voice to stay calm and professional.

"Ms. Moriarty came in earlier from a bullet wound to the abdomen. It pierced through the lining of her stomach. It was touch and go for a while, but they got the bleeding under control and patched her up. She should be getting out of the ICU now and into a room." While the woman was talking, Spencer felt a mix of different emotions. Anxiety was the most upfront one. His heart was in his ears, and his hands were shaky. He had felt relief that she had made it, then he recalled the saying of a bullet wound. Someone had shot her. He then felt white-hot anger course through his veins; anger that he had felt only once before, and anger he had promised himself he wouldn't let happen again.

Spencer took a second to get his emotions and thoughts under control, closing his eyes briefly, before opening them again and having another professional face on. "I will be there first thing." he spoke, then hung up without another word. She was back.

Zyla was back.

And she was hurt.

Spencer pushed that thought out of his mind for now as he stood from his desk in a controlled frenzy, not even caring that Prentiss and Morgan had been eyeing and listening to him the entire phone call. Both were now wide awake, and staring with both suspicion and worry for their friend.

"Reid? What's going on?" Morgan asked, his feet now planted firmly on the ground. Spencer didn't answer at first. He pulled his growing hair back behind his ears as he gathered his things and stuffed them warily into his bookbag and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm going home, I-I don't feel very well. I'm thinking I might take tomorrow off too. I'm going to go tell Hotch."

He left without another word to his friends and made his way up the stairs to his boss's office. He peeked his head in the door. "I'm going home, and I won't be in tomorrow." he said, wringing his hands together anxiously as he stood under the door frame.

Hotch glanced up for a moment, only to look back up and observe closer at his colleague. He was showing obvious signs of anxiety; fidgeting hands, excessive blinking, no eye contact. Something was bothering him, and it was something that made him need to flee. "Are you okay, Reid?" he asked, staring him down.

The lie that was bubbling to Reid's mouth instantly faltered, and he was left silent, mouth slightly agape. Of course they would see right through him. "Uh, no. I'm not. I need to go to New York, and I probably won't be in the next couple days." he spoke honestly.

Hotch frowned in suspicion, and in concern. "What's happened?" Spencer cleared his throat, dropping his hands to his sides as he entered the room further, standing in front of his desk. "It's a long story. The short version is that my best friend from Las Vegas got shot in New York, and she just got out of surgery."

Hotch set down his pen, standing up. "Is she okay?" he asked, sincere. Spencer nodded faintly. "They said that it was touch and go for a while, but she'll be okay. She just needs me right now, and-"

"No, you go. Take as much time as you need. Just- take care of yourself. You haven't slept in 24 hours." Hotchner said, arms crossed. Spencer nodded again, a look of gratitude and what looked like relief brought out a very weak smile. He quickly walked out of the room, where Morgan and Prentiss was watching him, their go-bags in hand and seemingly waiting for him.

"What are you guys doing?" Spencer demanded, stopping in front of them. "We're going with you." Prentiss answered simply. Spencer scoffed lightly, and started walking towards the elevator, the two following closely behind. "Why?" he asked, hitting the button down.

"Because you look like you need some company, and there's no way in hell we're letting you go alone, kid. So it'd be better if you just shut up about it and told us what's going on." Morgan said. The elevator dinged open, but Spencer took a moment before entering, having a feeling of comfort at how much his friends care about him. He swallowed a small lump forming in his throat as he entered the elevator, Prentiss and Morgan following. The doors shut and they went down.

"It's a long story." Spencer spoke faintly. His voice seemed to fade, and his eyes looked like they were in a different time, and a different place.

"Well, kid," Morgan said, looking ahead as the doors slid open. "We've got time."