Hotch took a steadying breath as he closed the door of the room. He had been annoyed with the dark, closed off closet of a room that the LEO's had given his team to work in, but now he was grateful for it. It was just his team in that room, completely secure with no way for anyone to listen in. He turned and looked at his team, uneasy at the divide he saw. The team was clustered together at one end of the conference table, and Reid sat on his own at the other end, the two duffel bags on either side of him. His elbows were on the table and he had his fingers pressed against his forehead with one hand, while staring down at the Ace of Spades card in his other hand, eyes lingering on the spatter of blood.

"Alright, Reid." Hotch said, forcing his voice to be gentle. It was more than obvious that his youngest, and most emotionally fragile agent, was distressed. "You said you had something to tell us." Slowly, following their Unit Chief's lead, the team took their seats, though they left Reid alone at the end, sensing his need for the distance at the moment.

"I… don't even know where to start." Reid mumbled. "I have to tell you now… at the end of it all, I… I'm going to lose my job over this." The team looked stunned, now. "And that's if I'm lucky. Odds are… the Bureau will place me under arrest, and I'll have to either submit to never seeing the light of day again, or going on the run."

"Reid, it can't be that—"

"You have no idea, Hotch."

"Okay… Let's start with… how did you know what floor we had to go to. When we hadn't even been told? It seems that you know something about our newest victim, this…" He glanced at the paper, "Eddie Lennox." Reid snorted, an amused smile crossing his face and he shook his head when Garcia, at the other end of the table, announced "who there are no records of. I don't think that was his real name."

"It's not." Reid confirmed, and then to himself, "That idiot. Where the hell did he come up with that name?"

"So you do know him?"

"… Yes." Reid sighed, lifting the Ace of Spades and staring at it. "He's… very important to me. And… it's my fault that this happened to him…"

"Reid… you know it's not your fault!" JJ immediately said.

"But it is." Reid said. "He's our anonymous informant. He was there… because I was."

"What do you mean?" Morgan asked.

"I mean… when he found out I was here on this case he drove up here and booked a room in our hotel. To… help out and spend time together."

"When we knocked on your door this morning…" Rossi began slowly.

"I didn't hear it because I wasn't in my room. I was in his." Reid confirmed. "And… when you called me this morning I left in a hurry."

"And left your scarf." Hotch concluded. "That explains that. But Reid… how do you know a… a mutant."

"I met him a year or so before I entered the Bureau Academy." Reid said softly. "He was one of the mutants who… helped me."

"Helped you what?"

"… get control of my own powers." Reid finally said, letting out a sigh that sounded like he had just relinquished the weight of the world. Silence followed this revelation for a long time. Reid finally had to look up, to see their reactions. They were all just staring, dumbfounded.

"… I'm a mutant." Reid finally said, just to break that God awful silence.

"No way." Morgan countered. Reid sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. Morgan and the others tensed when an iridescent sheen passed over Reid's eyes for a moment before they flashed white, and then became a brilliant swirl of dancing colors, like a shaft of light fracturing into a rainbow within a prism.

"My powers came to me later in life than they usually do. I was in college." Reid explained, his eyes slowly fading back to normal. "I started having trouble with them. Gideon had wanted me to join the Bureau but it was too dangerous for me."

"Gideon KNEW?!" Hotch asked, sharply.

"Yes." Reid nodded. "He was the… only one who knew."

"You told him?"

"He profiled it." Reid chuckled. "I just didn't deny it. Anyway, my last year in college, when I was finishing my third PhD, this… random kid came up to me. He said that he was a mutant and he could sense the trouble I was having. He had no interest in helping me, but he knew someone who could, and he gave me a number. A week later, I called it. And as soon as I graduated, I went."

"Where?" Rossi asked.

"A school. For mutants." Reid answered. "Mutants of all ages live there. The head of the school is a powerful mutant. While it functions like a private school with a proper education, the true purpose of the school is to give young mutants a place to be safe. To be themselves. To be accepted. To learn to embrace who, and what, they are… and most importantly… to learn to CONTROL our gifts so that we do not become a threat to ourselves or others."

"And this Eddie…" Garcia said, making Reid smirk and snicker at the name again, "was another student?"

"No. He was one of the teachers. He helped me a lot. He became a friend, a mentor… and then he became… more."

"Define 'more', Reid!" Morgan blurted, looking alarmed. Reid gave him an amused look.

"I just told you that I spent the night in his room, Morgan. And you were just IN his room."

"And?"

"I think his point is… there was only one bed." Emily said with a grin on her face. Morgan looked stunned.

"Let me get this straight… you were sleeping with your… your…"

"Boyfriend?" JJ offered.

"… on a case?!" Morgan finished. Reid winced and glanced at Hotch. The man's face was unreadable.

"We take what we can get. Between my work and his, we… rarely see each other. When he found out I was so close…" Reid trailed off and shrugged.

"Reid…" Hotch said. "We need to know who he is, what he looks like, and what he can do."

Reid flinched and lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry…" He murmured. "I can't tell you that."

"Reid, he—"

"Would be furious." Reid said quickly. "Even with his life in danger. What I can tell you is that these guys are stepping up their game. He's a powerful mutant, and there aren't many who can take him down. Even with a tranq gun, he metabolizes stuff like that too quickly. These guys are fast and efficient. He's the most powerful mutant that they've taken so far. And I have to find him." He closed his eyes and clenched his fists as he tried to steady himself with a deep breath. "I can't lose him…"

"We can help, Reid!" Hotch pressured. "But you need to tell us everything you know about our new victim!"

"I can't!" Reid cried. "It would reveal too much! I'm not just protecting him, Hotch, but that whole school!"

Hotch rose to his feet, but before any more words could be said, there was a commotion from out in the station. People were arguing. Shouting. And then a gruff voice roared "Where are the agents?!"

"Now what?" Rossi groaned, but Reid had leapt to his feet, eyes wide in shock.

"He's okay... Oh, thank God..." A moment later, and he had bolted from his seat and burst through the door. Feeling a sense of déjà vu, the team followed, heading towards the mess of officers in the lobby area, a few who had their guns out.

"Get yer hand off me, bub. Before I take it off!" Game the threatening snarl.

"Let him go!" Reid cried, shoving his way through the officers. Through the path he had made, the team set their eyes on a short, but powerfully built man with rugged features, wicked sideburns and a nasty gleam in his eye that vanished when he laid eyes on Reid. He lowered his raised fist and his snarl vanished from his face.

"Oh my God… Logan." Reid said. "You're okay."

"Cops wouldn't let me in the hotel. Wouldn't tell me a Goddamned thing." The man growled, blue eyes flashing.

"I know."

"Someone said that something happened. Involving a mutant?" The man named Logan continued. Reid nodded.

"Yes… Logan… I…"

"Spencer." Logan cut off. "Where is he. Where's Gumbo?"

That question was all it took to break through Reid's cracked resolve. And it all came crashing down. He began to tremble and his eyes prickled and his vision blurred as the tears welled up and spilled down his face. His breath hitched and he flung himself forwards, throwing his arms around the other man with a sob of both grief, and relief at the feeling of the powerful arms immediately holding him close.

"They took him, Logan!" He cried, burying his face into the juncture of the man's neck and shoulder. "They took Remy!"

"Shhh…" Logan soothed. "Calm down, darlin'. It's gonna be okay."

"Okay?!" Reid nearly shrieked, stepping back and staring down at him. "You have no idea what they're going to do to him!"

"I've a vague notion." Logan said calmly. "But what I do know is that our Cajun is a survivor. We'll get him, and he'll hold on until we do. That sonuvabitch is too damned stubborn to up and die, pup."

"Gentlemen…" Hotch said, approaching. "This would be best done elsewhere." Logan eyed him, narrowing his eyes, but Reid dashed away his tears and nodded, composing himself once more.

"Yessir. Come on." And he towed Logan away by the hand.

"I'm not liking this direction." Logan grumbled in protest.

"You'll live." Reid responded. The team scrambled after them, and they all ended up in that God awful little break room, shutting out all of the cops, who were NOT happy. Once inside, Logan's eyes lit up and he immediately seized one of the duffel bags that Reid had taken from the hotel.

"Hah! Knew I could count on ya, kid!" And he dug in one of the side pockets and pulled out a cigar.

"It's illegal to smoke in a federal building." Hotch said firmly. Logan leveled a glare on the man, then just stuck the cigar between his teeth and started viciously chomping on it. But then his eyes fell to the little item Reid had left on the table top and he momentarily froze before slowly picking it up. The team saw worry flashing through his eyes as he looked at the blood spattered Ace of Spades.

"I can't believe this…" He sighed, slowly sitting down beside Reid and ignoring the team. "I was only gone fer two hours. Tell me he took a few down?"

"… He never had a chance, Logan." Reid sighed. "The place was a mess. He fought, but not for long. I think he managed to get to his cards, but never actually managed to grab them. It's like they were spilled around. And they were all there. A full deck. He… he never got a shot off."

"That's impossible!" Logan blurted, looking alarmed. "That swamp rat has some of the fastest reflexes I ever seen! In humans and mutants alike! He's no pushover! How did they get him?!"

"Tranquilizer darts and an inhibitor collar, I think." Reid said, and Logan growled. "Pump him full of enough stuff to slow him down just long enough to bash him on the head and get the collar on. Witnesses report that he had… a head injury that was bleeding… You were with him right before?"

"I was only gone fer two hours, darlin'."

"Right before you left… what were you two doing?"

"I had just taken a shower. Gumbo was bitchin' that it was too early. He was goin' back ta sleep."

"That's how they got him, then." Reid said. "He was asleep."

"No way. Ya know what a light sleeper he is. Ya know how fast he can be up and fighting."

"Unless he thought it was you, coming back."

"Doubt it. He would know. That damn empath would KNOW."

"But fast enough to not get shot? Even Remy isn't perfect, Logan."

Logan growled at Reid's point, clenching his fists.

"… What's gonna happen ta him?"

"You don't want to know."

"Yeah. I do."

"Logan, you—"

"Ya ain't protectin' me from this, pup. I want the goddamned truth! I got the right ta know. Just like you."

Reid stared at Logan with a pained look, but then nodded.

"Reid." Hotch said firmly. "You can't just go sharing evidence."

"He can help, Hotch." Reid responded, standing. "He can take it, and he can help. More than you know. I've worked with Logan before. I know what he can do. And he can help."

"Reid…"

"Please. Take him on as a consultant."

"Reid, I can't just—"

"Look bub." Logan snapped, standing and moving between Hotch and Reid, staring down the Unit Chief. "I'm gonna do what I do, with or without the approval of a bunch of damn Feds. Even if ya ARE Spencer's friends. I don't let nothin' get in my way." And then he turned a look onto Reid. "And just what makes ya think I wanna be a consultant?! I'll find the Cajun. MY way."

"Logan." Reid sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Now is no time for you to go off half cocked and solo. Like HE does. And you HATE it when he does that. Don't be a hypocrite. We'll find him faster together. For his sake, please…"

Logan growled. "… Fine. Fer now."

"Fine." Reid said, plopping down and shoving folders in Logan's direction. "It's a pack. We don't know if they're human, mutant or both. We suspect there are at least five of them. They abduct mutants on Sunday morning, keep them for week, torturing them, and then they kill them and dump their bodies on Saturday night."

"Why."

"That's part of what we do." Reid said. "We try and figure that out."

"No big question here. They're humans who hate mutants."

"Maybe. But it's not always that simple. WHY do they hate mutants?" Logan gave Reid a disgusted look at that question.

"Do they ever need a reason?" He growled.

"This is different, Logan." Reid sighed.

Emily slowly moved and sat down across from the strange man that she was, honestly, shocked to be on such friendly terms with Reid.

"There are… a lot of people out there who don't like mutants." She said, and fought not to flinch at the surprising ferocity of this man's gaze as it snapped over and locked onto her. But she was just as good of a profiler as anyone, and she could see that this man was beyond worried, not matter how much he was hiding it. "People who don't trust mutants, who hate them, who want them gone." She continued. "There are people who go out there and… protest and lobby for ways to get rid of them. But there are NOT many out there who gather in a small group and actively hunt, torture and kill mutants. Not like this. These are people whose fear of mutants, has been inspired by something. Something pushed these men into doing what they're doing. I hate to say it, but… either they have been wronged, or they perceived that they were wronged, dramatically so, by a mutant. And so they're taking out their rage on any and every mutant they can get their hands on."

"These guys are incredibly in control." Rossi continued, understanding what Emily was doing. He moved to sit beside her and now locked eyes with Logan, who was beginning to relax, and listen… "Mutants are NOT easy targets. If these guys were cowards, they would go after easy targets… the mutants' friends, families, loved ones. The ones who couldn't fight back in the way mutants can. But they go after mutants and they go after them successfully."

Morgan had caught on now. "They likely are or were members of law enforcement, maybe military veterans… big game hunters. They work seamlessly as a team. That's the only reason they're able to pull off these abductions."

"It would take no less," Reid said softly, laying a hand on Logan's arm, "to take down Remy. These guys are good. And they know what they're doing."

"There's a Pack Leader. The Alpha." Hotch now said, moving to sit, surprisingly, right next to Logan, and he opened up the folders and began to spread out the photos for the man to see. Logan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the bodies, and snarled, now beginning to get an idea of what was going to befall one of the two young men that belonged to him…

"He's a charismatic individual, and he has manipulated the others into doing his dirty work. It's likely that they all knew each other. Maybe they worked together, have been life long friends, maybe they're related. If it wasn't one event that sent them on this path, then either they all had their own grievances with mutants that the Alpha was able to use to manipulate them, or he was able to manipulate them into believing that one grievance, whether they were all involved or not, affected them as much as it affected him. Either way, we're looking at people who believe that they are… making the world safer. Getting rid of that which makes the world a more dangerous place."

"We call them House Cleaners." Reid told Logan. "They believe they're cleaning the streets of the trash that is… us."

"Why don't they just kill them, then?" Logan asked, now genuinely confused. "Why aren't they just goin' around killin' us where they find us?"

"Because…" Morgan answered. "For them, it's also personal. This is a vendetta being carried out by sadists."

"… And they say mutants are the freaks." Logan snarled, abruptly standing and pacing the length of the room before turning and storming out. Reid sighed and stood, not even glancing at his team as he followed the feral out. Once he was gone, Morgan looked around.

"So… who the hell is that guy, anyway?"

Reid found Logan in the alley to the side of the station, lighting his cigar. He took a deep drag and held his breath for a long moment before slowly letting it out again, closing his eyes and leaning against the wall. He sensed Reid approach and settle next to him, not quite touching, but close enough that he could feel the warmth coming off of the slender young man.

After a long silence, Logan spoke softly. "What's our timetable?"

"Hard to say, really." Reid confessed. "We know what they do, but we're not entirely sure of our accuracy on when. So many of the previous victims' injuries could be fatal, eventually. But they all actually died the same way."

"The cut throat?"

"Yes."

"Hnh. If that Cajun don't watch his mouth, they'll do that first." Logan grunted. Reid winced.

"Yeah… that worries me." He admitted. "Remy isn't exactly the type to hold his tongue and play it smart. If he pushes them too far…"

"He might not make it ta Saturday night." Logan finished, and Reid gave a silent nod. "Okay kid… what are the odds?"

"… I… I can't put numbers on this, Logan. I don't… want to even try. I just want to find him."

"We will, darlin'."

"I know." Reid whispered, wrapping his arms around himself. "But… will it be too late?"

"Hell no." Logan said firmly, putting out his cigar and heading back inside. Reid followed him through the doors. "Don't forget, pup. One phone call and I can put Jeannie and Chuck on the case. Get Cerebro workin' on it."

"Logan… the inhibitor collar would disrupt that. Even Cerebro wouldn't be able to pinpoint Remy's location. Even if the Professor could find Remy, he wouldn't even be sure that it was HIM!" Reid pointed out as they returned to the room/closet where the team was cloistered.

"Have ya talked ta the local muties?" Logan asked, tucking his lighter into his duffel bag and digging around in it for something, which ended up being a package of jerky.

"It's hard to find them." Hotch answered. "Most of them hide what they are. Those that don't, or can't, well… they won't talk to the cops."

"Much less the FBI." Rossi pointed out.

"Well then." Logan said, smirking and showing an overly sharp canine. "Maybe ya SHOULD take me on as a… consultant." The team stared at him.

"Mutants will be much more likely to open up to their own kind." Reid clarified, smiling slightly. "Let me change. I'll go with you. That way it can still be… semi-official."

"Reid… I need a word with you in private before you go." Hotch said. Reid stared at him and nodded tensely, but then turned to Logan.

"I only have work clothes. Did you, by any chance…?"

"Have ya ever known Gumbo NOT to bring ya something he thought ya would be hot in? He doesn't trust ya to dress yerrself." Logan chuckled then, looking quite happy all of a sudden. He grabbed the other duffel bag and dug through it as Reid sighed out "Yeah… I was afraid of that. But this time it's helpful."

"Okay. I'm sorry." Garcia finally blurted out, standing. "Gumbo? Cajun? Remy?"

"Remy." Logan growled as he tugged a pair of jeans out of the bag and tossed them to Reid. "His name is Remy. And that's all yer gettin'."

"I need more than just a first name and the fact that he is, I'm assuming, from Louisiana…?" Garcia said.

"Yer not gettin' anything else." Logan said firmly, watching as Reid leaned over and snagged a shirt out of Remy's duffel bag. He smiled slightly; Spencer had deliberately taken one of their Remy's shirts, and then brushed his fingers over the back of Logan's hand, tracing where his claws were, before he slipped from the room.

Once he was gone, Logan felt the attention of all the other agents turn onto him. He sighed and picked up the blood spattered Ace of Spades again, saying "I'm not puttin' up with any interrogation. I don't like cops, I don't like questions."

"Sorry…" JJ said with a wry smile. "You have to understand. Spence is family. We're all close. But he… never mentioned you or this… Remy. Who he's apparently dating. So we're all a bit shocked and confused and… wondering who YOU are to Spence? Call it being overprotective."

"That's his life ta talk about. Not mine." Logan said calmly, studying the photos of the injuries on the victims. "How many have died?"

"… twelve."

"And Remy is lucky thirteen." Logan murmured.

"Who is this Remy?" Morgan asked.

"A mutant." Logan responded.

"That's WHAT is he. WHO is he?"

"Remy." Logan stated. Morgan was looking annoyed now. A moment later, Reid walked back in, his clothes tucked under his arm. He was now in the dark blue jeans and a long sleeved black shirt that looked like it was designed to hug and cling to the boy, but it fell a bit loose on him. Logan looked him over and smirked.

"Don't exactly fill it out like Gumbo does, do ya?"

"Shut up." Reid said with a smile, stuffing his work clothes into Remy's duffel bag and pulling out the trench coat. He stared at it for a moment before he pulled it on, closing his eyes and savoring the scent of Remy Lebeau that clung to it, along with the smell of cigarettes, and at the end of the sleeves, close to his hand, that scent that could be detected when Remy charged something up. Then he fixed his gun onto his belt, sliding it back so that it was hidden in the trench coat.

"It's a bit big on you, Reid." Morgan laughed.

"Gumbo would pounce ya on sight if he saw ya wearin' his clothes like that." Logan grinned, eyes raking over Reid in a manner that told him that Logan was wanting to pounce him just as he had said that Remy would. "Ready?"

"In a minute. I'll meet you outside." Reid told him. Logan dug out another cigar and tucked it into his pocket, nodding to Reid and leaving the room. Reid turned to Hotch.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes." Hotch nodded.

"In private?" Reid asked. Hotch said nothing. "By private, you meant 'without Logan'."

"Who is he, Reid?"

"A friend."

Hotch narrowed his eyes. "You won't tell us anything about him, or our victim. Reid. Either you need you tell us what's going on, or I'm pulling you off of the case. By all rights, I should! If you're dating our victim…"

"Then pull me off!" Reid snapped, eyes hardening. "Logan and I can find Remy ourselves. You want to know why I'm not telling you anything? Because I love them! I love them both, and I have to protect them! They're mutants, Hotch! The government doesn't care. The only reason we were called out on this case was because they didn't know that the victims were mutants until WE uncovered that pattern! If they had, the police wouldn't have bothered looking into them at all! You don't know about them because I have TWO lives! My life as Doctor Reid of the FBI, and my life as Spencer, the mutant. I very rarely get to be Spencer the mutant. But that part of my life has become precious to me, because of Remy and Logan. I'm going to protect it with everything that I have! Especially now. Because once the Bureau finds out about me, there won't be a life for Doctor Reid of the FBI anymore. It will be Spencer the mutant, FBI's Most Wanted!"

"Reid… we're not going to tell the Bureau." Hotch said softly. Reid stared at Hotch, and at the team.

"… What?"

"You think we don't know what they'll do to you?" Morgan asked.

"I don't understand?" Reid gasped, looking completely flummoxed.

"We talked it over while you were outside with your friend, Spence." JJ told him. "You're family. And it's not right that things should change just because you're a mutant. You've been able to hide that all this time. From us. We'll help you keep it hidden from everyone else."

"And… we can hide the fact that you know the victim." Hotch said.

Reid stared around at them. "But if you were to be found out," he gasped, "You could all lose your jobs."

"Some things are more important than careers, Reid." Emily smiled.

"Like family." JJ nodded.

"But Reid…" Hotch said, catching his attention. "If we're going to help you, we have to know everything."

Reid was silent for a long time. "… I can't." He finally said. "I'll tell you everything in regards to me. And I can give you some info about other stuff but… Remy's name cannot appear anywhere on any documents."

"That's going to be impossible, Reid." Garcia said softly. "When we get him, he'll need medical care and—"

"It will be provided. But not at a hospital." Reid said, picking up the Ace of Spades and tucking it into his wallet, which he slid into his pocket before heading to the door. "We'll talk tonight. Right now, Logan is waiting."

"Reid…" Hotch said warningly, grabbing his agent's arm. Reid looked up at him.

"I promise, Hotch." He said, softly. "I'll tell you everything I can. But right now, I need to be with Logan. He means as much to me as Remy. And Remy means as much to him, as he does to me. As much as we both mean… to Remy."

"You're in a three way relationship?" Morgan blurted out in shock.

"I'll explain it all tonight." Reid simply said, and walked out the door. The team watched as he met up with Logan in the lobby of the station, and the pair walked out, side by side.

"… There is a whole other side to that boy…" Morgan mumbled, and Rossi nodded.

"Yes, there is."