A/N - This started as a discussion with a friend about the episode "52 Pickup" and how we both felt about it . It was originally supposed to be set in that season - before the Events of Hotch and Foyet occured - but it's been through about 20 versions since then , all unwritten - so I'm going to try to make it a little more recent and somewhat different from the original thoughts . We'll see if it works .

Please Read and Review - and let me know if I'm on the right track

Dedicated to my Mindtwin

Temptation and Desire

Chapter One

" Do you really think it is weakness that yields to temptation ? I tell you there are terrible temptations which it requires strength , strength and courage to yield to " Oscar Wilde

Earlier ...

Billy lay silently on the floor of his dark prison . He might have been afraid , were it not for being very dead . A crack of light began to illuminate his body , and a door slowly opened above him . Into that light , a hand slowly descended and began to stroke his cold face . Slowly . Lovingly .

3 AM

Spencer woke with a start , sitting up in his bed , and reflexively pushing his hair off his face. He groped for his glasses on the nightstand . The alarm clock read 3:00 AM . He sighed .

The nightmares about the dead children had stopped , finally , only to be replaced weeks later by a different kind of dream . One that , as far as he could recall , he had never had before , although he knew it was within the parameters of normalcy for most young men . Even if some of the images he remembered when he woke up in the morning were a little surprising , and forced him to deal with physical evidence that he was much less inhibited in his sleep

He got up off the bed and started stripping the sheets . He was wide awake now , and thought he might as well spend the time making notes in some case files , or catching up on his reading . Anything to distract himself .

He threw the sheets into the hamper in the closet , on top of the others. Second time this week . That was annoying . He pursed his lips and frowned , a tight knot of wrinkles forming between his eyes . Then he quickly stripped off his pyjamas and threw them on top of the sheets , almost angrily .

I'll get to the laundry in another day or so , he told himself , as if his uncharacteristic messiness required him to make an excuse to himself . It's not like I'm going to have company anytime soon anyway . . . He sighed as he walked to the bathroom , wondering why he suddenly felt a sense of emptiness and failure at that thought , when he never had before .

He was the first one of the team in the building , and had already been there for several hours by the time Hotch stepped off the elevator at 6:00 and walked through the bullpen on his way to his office . Unfortunately the workaholic effect was somewhat diminished by the fact that he had his arms folded on his desk , head pillowed on top of them , and he was fast asleep . His breathing was slow and audible , his lips slightly slack , and a little puddle of drool was beginning to form in the corner .

Hotch tried not to let his mouth quirk up in a small smile of affection as he watched , but finally gave in . He had to take his smiles when they came , these days . He hesitated , weighing whether to wake him or simply walk away , letting him maintain his dignity , knowing how easily Spencer could become acutely embarrased .

Then Morgan stepped off the elevator

Walked up . Grinned . And slammed his ready bag on the desk next to Spencer's head .

Spencer sputtered awake , startled into conciousness for the second time that morning , and none too happy about it . His body jerked upright , one of his arms flailed out and knocked over a pile of case files that were on his desk . His coffee cup , hit by the falling files , tilted and splashed coffee onto the desk , but miraculously did not tip over .

Spencer shook his head and looked up at Morgan with an annoyed expression on his face , compressing his lips and narrowing his eyes . .

" Rough night , kid ? " Morgan chuckled , returning Reid's glare with a grin that held absolutely no malice . Just good natured teasing between friends . " Maybe I could get a few tips from you , I've been going through a dry spell lately " It was a familiar joke . Maybe a little too familiar .

Just as he opened his mouth to reply , the heat in his face rising as he remembered earlier that night , a smoky alto voice came from behind Morgan "

"Maybe that's because you've already dated every available women in your peer group , plus anyone that was still standing by last call " Prentiss shot at Morgan , smirking .

"Hey now " Morgan warned playfully , turning the grin on her .

Hotch smiled and walked to his office

The day had begun .

to be continued ..