Disclaimer: All recognizable story material does not belong to me.

To Surpass

A/N: This is the sequel of the sequel of Abducted. Read that one first, please.

Correct order to Reid stories is: Remember, Hunted, then To Surpass.

Chapter One

Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master ~ Leonardo da Vinci

"I was sure you'd come, Taryn." The UnSub's voice echoed through the empty airplane factory.

Reid moved around another piece of machinery, his gun pointing ahead of him.

"Taryn, aren't you coming to find me?" the UnSub laughed, taunting him.

"I'm not Taryn anymore. You created Taryn with a drug and hypnotism. I'm Doctor Spencer Reid, with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit." He rounded another corner, but the area was empty.

"Drop any weapons you have and come out with your hands behind your head!" Reid ordered. "You're under arrest for the murders of Gabriel Williams, Sherry Brown, Floyd Goodwin, Denise Shearer and Elton Boone."

"Am I?" the voice asked. "Really."

Reid rounded another machine.

"You've gotten it all wrong, Taryn."

"You didn't murder them?"

"No, of course I murdered them. Don't be an idiot – that's what I do. I'm saying that you're looking in the wrong place."

Reid didn't reply.

The UnSub looked down at the top of Reid's head through the weave of the catwalk, aiming a gun at it.

"You should be looking up."

The UnSub pulled the trigger.

The Day Before . . .

Flashback

26 days after abduction.

Averin moved forward slightly, and Taryn changed his stance.

"Why haven't you been correcting me lately?" Taryn asked, as he watched Averin's moves closely.

Averin feinted and tried a right hook.

Taryn dodged.

"What are you talking about?" Averin shrugged. "I've been normal."

"No, you haven't." Taryn took a step and kicked forward. Averin blocked him. "Usually you're always talking 'wrong foot forward' or 'keep your fist higher' or 'watch your opponent'. What's up?"

Averin pulled an unloaded gun from his holster, but Taryn stepped forward and kicked it out of his hand.

"You're doing everything well." Averin explained. "You know exactly how I fight, and exactly how I want you to fight. We're good at training together. We're too good."

"Too good?" Taryn asked, pausing.

"You spar with me for practice, but you don't see it as a challenge." Averin picked the gun up and slid it back in the holster. "We're going to try this spar again, Taryn. You fight me like a real opponent. You beat me, and we'll level you up."

"How so?"

"Never mind that. Just know that you're on a mission, and I have a loaded gun in my belt – and if I get you I will kill you. Got it? That's the scenario. You need to take me down. Ready?"

Taryn nodded.

Averin immediately went for the gun again.

Taryn kicked it from his hand.

Averin grabbed Taryn's ankle, keeping him off balance.

Taryn slammed into the ground, rolled to a crouch, then stood.

Averin stepped forward and struck with a palm, but Taryn stepped back and snapped his leg out in a side kick. He knocked Averin off balance, then, stepped forward and jabbed to his sternum, taking him down. Averin landed on the mat, hard.

Taryn snatched up the gun and pointed it at Averin's head. "I win."

"You sure do." Averin wheezed. "I'll level you up – you get a new instructor this afternoon."

Something beeped softly.

Taryn smiled and helped Averin up. "I'll help you to the office. Then I'm going on lunch break until the new instructor wants to start." He slung Averin's arm over his shoulders and started toward the door. He stopped dead.

Whatever it was beeped again.

You were dreaming. Whatever is beeping may be an enemy. Get up quickly, ready to fight. Surprise may be your only weapon.

Reid sprang from sofa, knocking several books off his lap. The dark room was empty.

He blinked the sleep from his eyes.

Find the noise source.

His phone beeped one more time.

He relaxed and sat back down.

The last thing he could remember was studying sometime after midnight. They won't call us in early. He remembered rationalizing. It's getting close to Christmas. If something comes up, they'll wait until normal hours.

Reid reached out into the darkness, feeling for his phone. His fingers found the edges and he reeled it in.

Garcia: Serial killer in WV and VA. Come in ASAP.

He tossed it back on the desk and glanced at the clock.

5:42

Oh, well.

He checked the other missed message.

JJ: Need a ride?

Reid yawned.

Criminal Minds

Reid fastened the seat belt.

JJ was looking at him closely. "Spence, what's wrong? You look like you haven't slept at all."

"I'm fine." Reid smiled, assuringly.
"Spence." JJ said, reproachfully.

He sighed. "I've been worried."

"What about?" she asked.

"I've had some problems – sorting out memories from when I was drugged. Now I'm having some different ones." Reid tried to explain.

"Well, why don't you start from the beginning?" JJ suggested. "What problems were you having at first?"

Reid hesitated. "I started – hearing my thoughts weirdly. As voices in my head. But they were from the two different pasts that I remembered. I hear the voice of Taryn, and his experience, and then the voice of me, from who I was before I was kidnapped."

JJ frowned. "That's a little creepy."

"You're telling me?" Reid shook his head. "You have no idea. I did some – things I regret – as Taryn, and so I ignored that part of myself. Morgan helped me to see that I have to listen to him, and it helped me to defeat Osborn. But now it – it just feels wrong."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Choosing Taryn's actions over what I would have done before – just doesn't seem right. I'm always tense – always ready. Taryn is trained for missions and fighting to the death – that training doesn't fit with my life."

JJ changed lanes and turned onto the exit. "Reid, if you had gotten that training before the kidnapping, would you have used it? On cases?"

"Yes, of course."

"You would have adapted. You would have fought when it was necessary, and put away those skills when you didn't need them." JJ pointed out. "The Taryn part of you only knew the times when he needed them. You don't need to listen to Taryn the entire time. Just know that those skills are there. You need to find a balance, Reid, and I don't think it's something a psychiatrist can do for you."

Reid blinked. "A balance in what?"

"In your two selves. Taryn has training and experience that you can use to be a better agent, and a better person, but don't let that crush your old self. You need your own adaptability and morals."

"That makes sense."

"That's not the hard part. Reid, you have to accept that people change. You will change. You had a year and a half where things happened that I don't even know about, and it will change you. It will change the core of your personality. Maybe a little, maybe a lot. I don't know. But you need to find that balance, and stop trying to be the person you used to be. You can't."

Reid didn't reply.

Criminal Minds

JJ and Reid had only just sat down when Hotch strode into the briefing room. "We have a serial killer." he announced, grimly.

Hope you enjoy, folks - drop a review to let me know what you liked and what needs fixing.