Just a little closer

"Ok guys, this is beyond ridiculous."

Penelope Garcia's cute round face was set in an exasperated pout as she communicated to the team what her technical research had yielded: nothing.

"I can't find anything even remotely related to these attacks. I mean, there have been stakings earlier, but they're usually by vandals. Completely delusional psychopaths who are way too disorganized to clean up after themselves." The team could hear the incessant clatter of her fingernails on the keyboard. "There hasn't been anything even close to staking in St. Germain, Wisconsin. It's a peaceful little place where the vampire subculture is almost non-existent."

"You expect this kind of thing to happen somewhere like L.A, not here, you know." Rossi tried to sip some coffee, then winced because it was way too hot.

"Then again, the deeply religious mindset of the people here and the resulting pressure might have caused the unsub to snap." Emily watched Garcia frown and fret while she blew gently at the coffee.

"Well, we're not getting anywhere with this tonight." Hotch saw Reid rub his eyes. "We're all exhausted, so let's get some rest now. Fresh eyes tomorrow." He set his eyes firmly at Morgan who seemed ready to argue. "Good night, everyone."

"Night, loves. Call me when you need guidance." Garcia's face disappeared as the computer screen went blank.

"Alright guys, your rooms are booked at the Chriorchid Hotel. Its just a few miles from here." JJ slammed down her paper cup. The coffee at the local police station was utterly undrinkable. It even gave the coffee back at Quantico a run for its money.

"What kind of a name is Chriorchid?" Reid questioned, standing and stretching again.

"Who cares, Reid? Just grab your stuff and get some sleep." Morgan yawned loudly. "Hate these cases."

"There's a kind of case you like?"

"Just shut up, genius boy." Morgan made a face before trooping out the door.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Spencer Reid narrowed his eyes to watch a crack that ran the whole length of the ceiling. He was bone-tired, but he couldn't sleep. The case was far too baffling to allow him peace. "Damn it!" He sat up , tugging his own hair. Ever since the whole episode oh being kidnapped by Henkel, he had lost much of his ability to deal with disgruntlement. He hated, absolutely hated situations where the leads, or in this case, the lack of leads led nowhere. He just wanted to get over with finding whichever unhinged mind added to the world's string of miseries.

"If only…" Reid fell back upon the pillows and closed his eyes. "If only…" One shot, just one, and he would feel the gentle stole of calmness drape over his tired limbs . He'd be able to sleep, and in the morning, he would think more clearly..So comforting, so safe, such soft escape…

"No!" His eyes flew open and he almost jumped out of bed. "I need air…" He needed to go somewhere, anywhere…the silence of the room was the enemy. It brought back the seduction, the helpless, intoxicating seduction.

Reid didn't bother to even take his coat. He locked the door behind him and began to stride down the corridor, his steps quiet so as to not wake anyone. He didn't need to be barraged with questions, not now.

The night was cold, the sky clear and woven with stars. He inhaled a deep breath, feeling much comfort at the touch of the cold air to his heated lungs. "Better..much better." He didn't need drugs. He wouldn't need drugs. He needed something…legal.

"Shut up." He cursed his mind. Alcohol was not the answer. He couldn't even think what would happen if he woke the following morning with a splitting hangover and staggered his way to the police station ( where the BAU had set up temporarily). It'd be the end of his life, both professional and personal.

He felt helpless. Angry. Enraged. Enslaved. No matter what, this clawing inside his chest, this constant need, this eternal void within him would never disappear. He wanted to feel the way he did before, he wanted to feel at one with himself. He wanted to be rid of these doubts, he wanted to stop wanting something so much. "What? What do I want?"

"Dr. Reid." Reid spun around with almost lightning speed, almost tripping and falling in the process. He had been walking along the little river that cut through the town, uncaring that there was a serial killer on the loose.

Aisha Rose stood in front of him, clothed in midnight blue. Reid felt himself drawing a sharp breath. She looked so…..unearthly. Her matted red hair lay loose as always, and he watched each stray strand caress and kiss her pale cheeks with unquenching passion. She wore a woolen shirt and jeans of the same color, and the uncovered skin of her arms throbbed with a strange dim incandescence. Her eyes, luminous in the faint starlight seemed to reach his very heart and twist every secret, every thought out with sadistic delight.

"Dr. Reid." Spencer snapped out of his reverie. He realized he had been holding his breath and let it out with a whoosh. "What are you doing out here?" She asked.

"I..uh…I'm sorry..um..I couldn't sleep. I needed…I needed some air" He stammered; suddenly the night didn't seem as cold. Infact, he felt an unknown heat envelope his lungs and heart.

"Oh..well, to tell you the truth, I couldn't sleep either. I came out to think.." Aisha brushed her hair behind her ear. She felt that skip return, it turned into a flutter and her heart started beating in an erratic rhythm. She watched him run his hand through his unamade, ruffled hair and felt warmth assault his cheeks again.

Quickly turning her head to the side, pretending to watch the run of the river, she continued, "But, we shouldn't be out here. I think Agent Hotchner won't be too pleased." She looked back at him, having gained better control over her impulses.

"Yes, absolutely. We should return.." Reid nodded. He started walking back, just a few steps ahead of his companion.

Aisha trailed behind him. She watched him walk. His movements were fluid, resembling a well oiled machine. The wind, which had picked up, whipped playfully at his trousers and he shoved his hands into his pockets. There was something in him that….she sighed heavily. Something that made her feel strangely detached from herself. His face, his hair, the way he spoke, what he spoke….

"Agent Rose?" Reid had stopped and had turned to look at her. Aisha realized she had stopped walking and was gawking like an idiot. "I'm sorry…" She started walking again, cursing herself incessantly in her mind.

"So, have you figured anything out? I mean, regarding the case…" Reid asked, this time walking slowly so that she could catch up with him.

"Unfortunately, no. I'm completely lost…" She was thankful for the cover of darkness. Ever since the afternoon, Spencer Reid had been affecting her in a wholly inappropriate way. "And you…?"

"I've ruled out clinical vampirirsm because the unsub hasn't taken any of the blood. And I don't think he has drank any of it other…"

"No trace of human saliva or other human DNA…the blood is all there." She threw bac her head , looking at the stars as she walked. "What could have done this…?"

Reid didn't answer. He was thinking again. There was no previous history of such deep violence in the area, so maybe it was someone from out of town. After all, the victims had been killed in their homes and one had been dumped in a church. For that. the unsub wouldn't need to know the area explicitly, he'd just need knowledge of where his victims lived. But then, where did he kill the third victim?

"Maybe Garcia could find a list of books that describes ways to exterminate vampires. I know there are a thousand in this century alone, but what if we narrow the search to books or even movies that have a cult following of some sort…If the unsub's mind is fragile, a prominent cult is likely to have a significant impact on it." Aisha suggested.

"That would still be too wide a criterion to cover. If there was just some way to narrow it down.." Reid sighed. The sense to hopelessness was returning.

"I'm sure we can…" It was at the moment that it happened.

They had been walking along the river, Aisha close to the water and Reid next to her. She had become careless, engaged in the discussion and her foot slipped on a slippery rock near the bank. She lost her balance and was about to go tumbling into the water when Reid reached out. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up, towards him, a little too hard. She found herself pulled to his chest, her head touching his chin. In that instant, he could smell the essence of jasmine embedded in her hair, could feel the mild cold of her skin in his palm which still held her wrist. She had placed her other hand on his chest to steady herself, and unconsciously, he had placed his other hand on her shoulder. For a minute, they stood there, together, like lovers.

"I..I'm sorry!" Aisha almost dove out of his embrace, and barely stopped herself from tripping again. "I'm terribly sorry, Dr. Reid. I..I was being unmindful. I tripped. I didn't mean to…" She burst into a profusion of apologies, undoubtedly flustered by the incident.

"Please, Aisha…its alright. It wasn't your fault." Reid said, even though his heart beat like a jackhammer, threatening to rip apart his chest. "You really have nothing to apologise for…"

She stopped. Reid watched her face lighten, the deep blush of embarrassment give way to something else. The reddish hue remained on her face, prominent in the streetlights, but

"What is it?" He asked, unable to realize what had triggered this metamorphosis.

"You…you called me Aisha." She whispered, as if it was something she didn't wish too many people to know, a delicious secret she meant to savour and keep to herself.

Reid realized he had. He blushed deeply as well. It wasn't like him to be so familiar with someone so quickly. It had only been about 3 days since he had met her, and even after all these years with Derek and Emily and Dave, he still addressed them by their last names.

"Your name has a wonderful phonetic effect, its pleasing to the ear and its pleasing to utter." He babbled, trying to regain his composure.

"Right. It is…Thanks.." She seemed to be doing the same, trying to act like the adult she was.

There was an awkward silence between them. Neither knew what to say that would slice through the unusual tension which had suddenly developed in their midst. Aisha berated herself vehemently for acting like a silly schoolgirl and blurting out her joy at him calling her name. Why was she so happy anyway?

"We should go back now. Its really late." Reid broke the silence, for it was becoming unbearable.

"Yes…Yes. We should." She nodded and started walking, really really fast.

Reid watched her walk a few steps before saying, "You can call me Spencer."

She stopped, and turned. He could see the questioning astonishment in her eyes. "It's only fair." He said, his soft voice carried by the gentle wind. "I call you by your name, you call me by mine."

She smiled, a beautiful smile that lit up her face like a star. "I will, Spencer."

()()()()()()()()()()()()

OOC: I know its going slow, but I really want to concentrate on the slow development of their feelings before delving into the romance. Please tell me that's okay. And I'd love it if someone has some suggestions for the plot. Its related to vampires ( duh), but not the Twilight kind vampires. Real, folklore-based Anne Rice vampires. Please suggest. And please review. Love you all.