Chapter 2

Reid and Morgan made their way down another alley. They turned a corner and a warehouse came into view. There were several people seated in various places on it.

One of the boys jumped down as he saw the men round the corner.

"This is a no Soc zone." He said, aggressively shoving himself into Reid's face.

"Shoo fly, you bother me." The boy seemed a little put off at how unperturbed Spencer was. Several of the older men farther up the tower laughed. One slid down the drain pipe and grabbed the boy gently by the arm as he began to move forward into Spencer's personal space. The boy jerked the appendage out of the older man's grasp and stepped aggressively into Reid's face. The rest of the team moved nervously forward as he took a swing.

If Morgan hadn't seen it with his own eyes he never would have believed it.

Reid easily dodged and blocked the swing. He pivoted 180 degrees, taking the boy's hand with him, throwing the boy off balance. He then delivered a sharp left hook to the boy's jaw. The boy fell and Spencer had just raised his foot, as if to step on him, when someone grabbed and twisted it. Spencer spun in mid-air and landed hard. The team shifted uneasily as he looked fearfully up at the man and Morgan moved forward as if to protect him.

But then Reid rolled and crouched, catlike, and lunged at the man. The man laughed and caught the flying man in his arms. He dipped Spencer over, as if they were dancing and planted a kiss on his forehead. He then pulled him back up and they actually did begin to dance, the man spinning Reid into him and then out again. He let go of him, sending Reid flying into the open arms of the other man and stepped forward to Morgan.

"You packing heat, baby boy?" he asked over his shoulder. Reid grimaced.

"You know I don't like guns…Rubeus." The man turned around and shucked him on the chin.

"I told you, it's Rat, nothing else."

Then he turned back to Morgan. "What about your friend here?" he paused, seeing J.J.

"I know you from somewhere," he said considering her face. Then his eyes widened and Reid sagged against the man holding him up. Rat turned slowly, dangerously. He stepped toward Spencer, who shrank back, then seemed to reconsider.

He turned to the crowd in front of him.

"HEXIDECIMAL!"

A thin man came sliding down the drainpipe. Morgan gasped as he came closer. He looked exactly like Reid.