A/N: Yup, it's time to update. BUT! Before getting to the point…

Oh… woah! Seriously. So many friends! THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for this baffling amount of reviews, listings and support! You're absolutely amazing. (HUGS)

Awkay, before I'll become a total softie… Let's go! I REALLY hope that what's to come doesn't fail to meet your expectations.

It Was a Story About a Snake, a Scorpion and Magicians

/ Two days after being released from police custody Spencer Reid stood in a shining, white elevator next to Luther Brandt. So far all he knew about the man was that the guy was a CIA team-handler, one with an inescapable job offer. Surely this was a better alternative to spending who knows how long in jail?

"So…" Luther's eyes were observing the numbers of floors diving down yet he could've sworn that he was monitored. "I told your team about you yesterday. I must warn you, to a sudden they… may not seem like the friendliest bunch. But give them and yourself some time." Was that the beginning of a smirk? "Something tells me that you'll fit right in."

Spencer wished that he'd been as convinced.

That was when the doors opened, revealing the biggest gym he'd ever seen. Spencer allowed his gaze to scan through it. To his immense surprise he sort of liked it. Then his eyes widened while his heart skipped a beat.

Entirely too close to the ceiling was a woman who seemed no more than a couple of years older than him. She was hanging from her ankles with her wrists tied behind her back. Her eyes were closed and there was a look of intense concentration on her face.

Spencer was about to step in when Luther's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Don't, trust me. The last thing you want is to interrupt one of her training sessions."

Spencer was about to argue but before he could get a word out of his mouth the rope that trapped her wrists fell down surprisingly loudly. Her long, reddish brown ponytail whipped angrily while she arched her upper body, one hand supporting her weight and the other beginning to free her ankles. In a flash she was ready. With sure, fast movements she swung herself from one metal bar to another, making her way towards the floor. She landed gracefully, already turned towards him with a smile on her face. "Hey. You must be Spencer." A New Yorker, then. Somehow she knew not to offer her hand for a shake. "I'm Scarlet."

For a second, maybe two, Spencer stared. Then smiled back. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. "Well… Hello."

Before they had the time to continue the sound of an explosion rang through the wide space, making them all duck instinctively.

Luther sighed loudly, like a parent who'd had enough of their children acting up. "That would be Merlin." The man offered him a look that was one part sorry, one part amused. "Welcome to the family." /

A call in the middle of the night never promises anything good. Especially when you're a federal agent. Especially when you've seen the things a certain BAU-team has.

When Derek woke up to the sound of his cell phone ringing he groaned loudly, a harsh hand immediately shooting out to silence the offensive item. Savannah, still mostly asleep, groaned as well, almost as harshly as he did. He wasn't sure if the ice-cold hand swatting him was an accident. It took far longer than it should've before he managed to pick up. "Yeah?" he muttered.

"Come to the bureau as fast as possible." Aaron sounded eerily awake. "We… have a case."

Well, that most definitely roused Derek effectively. He nodded until he remembered that the other couldn't see it. "What?" He rubbed his face roughly with one hand. "Didn't we just come home from one?"

"I know, and I'm sorry. But these circumstances are… unusual." There was something very unnerving in Aaron's tone. "Just come here and we'll fill you in."

Derek frowned. "'We'?" The phone call was already over.

The frown deepening still Derek sighed, his shoulders slumping. Something told him that he wasn't going to like what was to come even one bit. He looked towards Savannah who had one of her eyes halfway open. "Sorry. I've gotta go."

Savannah shrugged, leaning forward just enough to press a lazy kiss to his shoulder. "'s okay. We both get those calls." She yawned. "But if you wake up the dogs you'll sleep with them for a month."

Derek grinned and kissed her forehead, pleased to have her hum with pleasure. He hated having to go, especially when he just came back. But this was what he signed up for and he knew that she, of all people, understood. "I'll see you soon."

"Hmm." She closed her eye slowly. He was almost out of the room when she murmured softly. "And Derek? You'd better be careful. I don't want to see you in my ER ever again."

Derek smiled. It was easy to hear every single one of the words that she wasn't saying. "Aren't I always careful?" His eyebrows furrowed as he looked around, spinning a couple of circles.

"If you're looking for your boxers, Mr. Bond, check the lamp because they flew pretty high."

It took Derek infuriatingly long to make it to his destination. By the time he reached the briefing room his head had come up with at least ten possibilities as to what kind of a case prompted this night-time invitation. The sight in the room struck out most of the air in Derek's lungs.

Aaron was standing there with a grim look on his face. Spencer, his hair a mess and signs of despair loud on his face, sat like the bottom had just dropped from his world. Absolutely all of the genius seemed to be begging for help.

This was far too much like Maeve Donovan all over again.

Based on the tense air in the room the rest of the team agreed. Derek didn't have the patience to wait until Spencer started talking. "Reid? What's going on?"

Spencer swallowed loudly, seeming very unsure as to where he should start. "I… Someone I used to know just contacted me." The young man's eyes went through them all, as though trying to profile how much they were ready to hear. "This BAU-team… It isn't the first one I've been a part of. A member of my former team has gone missing."

At this point Aaron stepped in before any questions could be made. "Agent Scarlet Moreau. Code-name Viper." He showed them the picture of a very beautiful young woman. She had long, cherry-wood colored hair and dark eyes that held intense focus even in the photo. "Her team had just finished a CIA-operation. They grew worried when she didn't show up for debriefing. They investigated her apartment to find signs of an intense struggle. She hasn't been seen since. That was twenty-seven hours ago."

The team digested the information for a while, confused. It was hard to think past the revelation that Spencer had a team before them. "It could have something to do with the mission they just completed", Jennifer Jareau suggested. "Maybe someone was still out for revenge."

Aaron shook his head. "I just spoke with the team's handler. The team was… efficient. The information is highly classified but he assured me that no hostiles were left." The announcement sent a breeze of chill through the room.

David Rossi frowned, shaking his head. "Classified missions? Code-names? What is this, Special Ops?"

Aaron, however, didn't seem to appreciate the joke. The unit chief nodded. "Yes."

That froze and silenced the room for several long moments.

In the end it was Spencer who spoke. There was a great deal of apology in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to get you involved. I don't expect…"

Alex Blake interrupted him with taking his hand, firmly yet gently. "Reid, you have nothing to be sorry about. I'm glad that you came to us."

The others were quick to nod their agreement. "And of course we'll help", Derek promised. Yes, it hurt him that yet again Spencer had been keeping secrets. He wanted answers, a lot of them. But they'd have to take this slowly. "So that former team of yours… They're CIA?"

Spencer fidgeted, seeming even more nervous than before. "Well… Between us, the team does work under the CIA. Officially they don't exist. That's why there isn't a mark of it on my records. It was put together to handle mainly international missions considered… unsuitable for the rest of the agency."

"You mean the kind of things those in charge wanted to sweep under the carpet?" David translated in a dry tone.

Spencer opened his mouth. Then closed it again and shrugged. "Well… Yes. If such a team or agent fails it's easy to claim that they acted without orders."

"CIA won't be working with us", Aaron announced. He folded his arms, nodding towards the picture of Scarlet. "Officially we're looking for a missing person that it presumed an UnSub's victim."

"Have we even been officially called to investigate this case?" JJ asked, a touch of disbelief and a great deal of curiosity audible in her voice.

Aaron and Spencer shared a look. Something about it made the others' alarm bells ring. "Yes, we've been invited."

There were a million questions that Derek would've wanted to make. He didn't get to voice a single one of them just yet. For exactly a second later a young security guard appeared, a look of immense discomfort on his face. "There's, ah… A couple of men are asking to have a word with you. They seemed… insistent."

Spencer groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Aaron settled with breathing in deep. "As soon as you've made sure that they're unarmed send them in."

The security guard blinked twice. Most likely questioning their sanity. Then nodded slowly and disappeared. Something told Derek to brace himself for a bumpy ride. Or quite possibly a tornado sweeping in.

They all stood up when steps approached the room, unsure what to expect. The first man entering immediately sent a shudder of cold through Derek. The arrival was at least a head's worth taller than him and the large spider tattooed to the back of his bald head didn't make the appearance any more reassuring. Nor did the flash in the razor-sharp blue eyes that met him, sizing him up from head to toe like he'd been a piece of meat at a market. "You said that we can trust these people." Where was that accent from?

"Yes", Spencer confirmed, stepping forward. It was impossible to tell if the dominant visible feeling was amusement, nervousness or annoyance. "They've been my friends for years, now. Relax, Leo."

Leo's eyebrow arched. "You're telling me to relax? I'm not the one who threatened to bash the guard's teeth in."

It wasn't until then the group became properly aware of the second new person in the room. The rather small man with perfectly cut, slightly messy dark brown hair couldn't be described as anything but beautiful. The promise of danger in those big, brown eyes had most likely broken a lot of hearts. Well, based on the cuffs the man was wearing he rarely failed to meet that promise.

Spencer sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping a little. "So… How's the anger management going?"

The smaller man grinned in a far from sheepish manner. "The therapist has no idea what she's doing outside bed." The stranger then went through them all with his gaze, a blinding, honest smile of delight on his face. "Ah, you must be the famous BAU! It's been fascinating to watch you and Spencey on TV." Only the clatter of metal alerted them that the cuffs had been removed. The man began to advance with determined steps, rubbing his wrists. "So are we going to start working or stand here gawking at each other?"

At this point the security guard took his leave. Based on the poor guy's expression he didn't want to stay and possibly witness a murder. Derek feared that it wasn't a pointless concern.

Most likely to prevent the oncoming mayhem Spencer took care of the introductions. He started with his new team, then focused on the old one. "These two are Dante Watson and Leonardo Farris. We worked together for five years."

That surprised Derek. Five years… That's a long time.

"We have an hour and a half before the jet is ready." Aaron's eyes were those of a firm leader. "If we're going to work together we're going to need some answers."

"Well, since I've already tested FBI's bracelets why don't I go first?" Dante stepped forward with a charming smile and winked at JJ. "To you I'll answer anything."

"Married", David warned.

Dante rolled his eyes. "Yes, I did see the ring." He measured her up with a very openly curious gaze. "I'm going to find out whether the marriage is a happy one."

About nine minutes later Spencer wasn't very surprised to find Leo outside smoking. He sighed, taking a stand beside the taller man. "Those things are going to kill you", he pointed out.

One corner of Leo's lips twitched, just a little. "So you kept telling me for five years, two months and twenty-one days." The CIA-agent's eyes softened. "Lettie is almost as bad."

Spencer inhaled, involuntarily getting a generous dose of the poisonous smoke. "We'll find her", he murmured, focusing firmly on the traffic passing by. All of a sudden he felt old beyond his years.

"You and I both know that with the… friends we've made there's no way you can promise that." There was a long, surprisingly comfortable silence until Leo went on. "I'm sorry that I called you. I know how hard you've worked to build this new life."

"It doesn't erase the one I used to have." They looked at each other, both marveling the subtle little ways the years that'd passed had changed them. "You're still my family, too. I shouldn't have forgotten that."

Leo mouth twitched to a rare, small smile. The older man turned away, inhaling a generous breath of smoke. "The Great Rubik Five", the agent mused out loud, his tone almost fond.

Spencer looked down, a wave of sadness washing over him. "Yeah." There was so much, so very much, that he would've wanted to say. But for some reason the words were missing.

"This life suits you better." They'd been quiet for so long that Leo's words startled him. How was it possible that the man seemed to be observing him intently even when looking away? "It's good to see you with them. You look happy."

Spencer stared at the sky. And came to a sudden realization that startled him with its force. "Yeah. I guess I am."

The silence that followed, warm and comfortable as a blanket, was the atonement Spencer had been yearning since the day he walked away.

"So…", he started at last. A hint of mischief in his voice. "I noticed the way you walked. How did you lose a toe?"

Leo's face transformed to a dry expression. The man's nose wrinkled. "An accident with one of my experiments. Earned me a day at the torture den." Coming from Leo that was actually a very polite way of calling the base's medical wing.

Spencer winced. He felt as sorry for the staff as for Leo. "At least the coffee there is good."

A nearly dreamy look appeared to Leo's eyes. The man nodded firmly. "It is."

"What did you do with the toe?"

"What's left of it is in a jar on top of my treasure shelve."

"Of course."

JJ was surprised by how civil Dante became when they made it to one of the smaller briefing rooms. Well, to a point. The man leaned forward, chin resting on his hands and that disturbingly pleasant expression on his face. "You said that you had questions, agent Jareau. Do share, so I'll know how to help you."

His intense gaze, full of none too subtle hints, actually swerved JJ off course for a second or two. She gathered herself with the experience of a field agent. "Why don't you start with describing your relationship with agent Moreau."

Dante's eyebrow bounced up. "Is that your way of asking if I've ever bedded her? And I thought I was… direct." He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, definitely no! Even I'm not stupid enough to shit into my own nest." His fingertips began to drum while he got lost into a thought or perhaps two. "We became teammates a couple of months before Spencer joined us. So I'd say that we know each other fairly well by now."

JJ nodded, genuinely stunned. After all those those years the three were basically a family. "Did you notice anything alarming before she disappeared?"
Dante frowned. His eyes seemed ever darker than before. "She was tense. Carried an extra knife with her. I figured that she was preparing for a high risk mission." Seeing her surprise he continued. "We go solo pretty often."

"What kind of operations does she handle?" She clarified as soon as she saw his lips begin to open. "I know that you can't give me any details. But it's highly likely that one of her missions backfired. That's why we need to get a picture of what kind of people you deal with."

The look on Dante's face was nothing short of grim. "Well… That's why we need your help. Scarlet… She's specialized in elimination. Locate and terminate. Quick, subtle and efficient." The CIA-agent gritted his teeth. "If one of her targets caught up with her we're running out of time. Because they won't hesitate to take her down first."

JJ swallowed, cold shivers running through her. An actual assassin, huh? "I'm so sorry that I have to ask this, because this is going to sound incredibly insensitive. But I need to know this, so we all understand where we stand." She took a breath. "Do you think that we have a chance of finding her alive?"

"No."

Penelope Garcia's head was spinning. Having been woken up in the middle of the night right after coming back from a case was one thing. Having all this new information on top of it…

She yelped when a hand was laid to her shoulder.

"Sorry, baby girl", Derek sighed. He seemed even more tired and tense than she felt. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Penelope inhaled deep. "Yeah, well… This all has me a little… jumpy." She stared at her computer screen, trying to bring some sense to it all. "Our Reid, a secret agent… Can you believe it?"

Derek shook his head. There was hurt and confusion on his face. "I can't believe that he hid all of this from us."

Penelope smiled sadly. "He didn't really have a choice, did he?" She kept typing, pleased to discover that one of the nets she'd cast seemed to be catching something. "That old team of his is… interesting."

Derek gave her a dry look. "Interesting is one word", he muttered.

Just then Aaron, Spencer and Leo walked in. Something told her that whatever conversation the three had had, it wasn't pleasant. "Wheels up in fifteen", Aaron announced. He nodded towards the computer. "Did you find anything?"

"Hang on…" Penelope's fingers flew for a few moments. Then she emitted an exclaim of delight. "Yes! Now we're talking. This place is only five minutes' walk from her home."

The men leaned closer. What she had on display was a security camera's footage. A couple was leaving a small café, with the man having wrapped a protective arm around the woman. It might've seemed innocent enough if they hadn't recognized the woman as Scarlet. Her expression was remarkably well composed but something about her eyes made alarm bells ring. She looked around, eventually focusing her attention on the camera. Satisfied that her departure had been recorded she disappeared to a clearly expensive black car.

Their attention focused on her companion. The footage was black and white but they were able to distinguish a tall, much trained frame, dark hair on a neat ponytail and a long, black coat. He kept his face hidden infuriatingly well. They did, however, see a scorpion tattoo on his neck.

Both Spencer and Leo stiffened at the sight, obviously recognizing it.

"Reid?" There was a warning in Derek's voice. "If you know that guy now would be a good time to share."

Spencer stared for a moment. Then shook his head. "Just… a coincidence. That man is dead."

"How can you be so sure?" Aaron pointed out.

Spencer lifted his chin a little. He squeezed the desk before him so hard that his knuckles turned white. "Because I shot him in the head."

"What time did that take place?" Leo demanded sharply.

Penelope did some digging. In a bit her eyes flashed with satisfaction. "There you go." She glanced towards the man. "Why?"

Leo's jaw tightened while he fished out his cell phone. In a few moments he showed them a text message. "Because seventeen minutes later I got this."

They leaned forward to read. It was very brief. Somehow it was still chilling enough.

'Sorry I'm late, honey. I forgot the milk.'

Aaron frowned. His eyes were sharp upon meeting the CIA-agent's. "What does that mean?"

Spencer and Leo exchanged a look. It was the larger man who replied. "'Run'."

TBC

A/N: Some team Reid had! (chuckles) But oh boy, it seems that trouble is up ahead. Just what are they getting involved in? And at what price?

Soooooooo… Any good, at all? Back to the drawing board? The word is now yours!

Until next time, ya all! Who knows. Maybe I'll see you there.

Take care!

emma: Your wish is my command! (bows) I really hope that you'll enjoy the next one as well.

Monumental thank yous for the review!

Guest: I'd say! (grins) We'll see just what's to come.

Lots of thank yous for the review!

Patricia: So do I! Good to hear that I'm not the only one. (grins) I really hope that you'll enjoy what's to come!

HUGE thank yous for the review!

Guest80: Awww, I'm so glad to hear that! (BEAMS) Hopefully the chapters up ahead meet your expectations.

Massive thank yous for the review!