Disclaimer: unfortunately for me, I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the characters, and I probably never will, but if I did, this is what I would write.

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." -Theodore Roosevelt

Dr. Spencer Reid sat at his desk and thought. He contemplated the irony of his beginning his job as an FBI agent at age 24 and the fact that his 30th birthday was in less than a week. He made a mental note to send his mom a card. The young genius (his IQ was a certified 187) was just thinking about if he should keep his birthday a secret, or if any of the members of his team even remembered when it was, when his colleague Derek Morgan shouted across the desks to him.

"So, genius boy, what do I have to get you for your birthday this year? A full set of encyclopedias for you to read?"

Reid responded,

"Actually, Morgan..."

"You know I'm playin' with you, don't you, smart boy? I'm NOT getting you encyclopedias. If anything, I'll get you a date!"

As Derek said these words, Aaron Hotchner walked by with a look of curiosity.

"Just who did you intend to get a date for?" he asked with a smile, which was rare for the usually stone-faced team leader.

"I was thinking of getting a date for Reid."

"Not on the job, I hope."

"No sir, of course not."

Hotch walked to his office, and on the way, nearly collided with Agent Jennifer Jareau (AKA JJ), the attractive blonde, who was the team's communication liaison.

"Sir, we have a case."

"Where are we?"

"Chicago. "

Ten minutes later, Agents Jareau, Hotchner, Morgan, and Reid were joined by Agents Emily Prentiss, David Rossi, and the technical analyst Penelope Garcia.

"What do we have here, Garcia?" David asked.

"We have an successful homicide attempt, and three witnesses."

"Why do they need us, then?"

"The Chicago Police think it may be a serial killer."