Here you all go! The next installment. Late, again I know but I didn't expect to be exhausted and swamped with stuff during this break. I will try and get another chapter done before the break ends but please don't expect great things from me. I feel so bad but what can you do? I don't own anything but the storyline! I hope you enjoy this, please tell me what you think. Also since we are still at a tie I think I am going to hint at slash but not do any. Does that work for everyone? Best of both worlds right?
Sam's POV
The next morning Sam and Dean took the Impala back the headquarters for the BAU. This time Sam had one sole goal in mind, find out the end of the story. If he was right about his hunch on this, Reid would be crucial in helping finally get rid of the Trickster. Entering the building the two of them sought out Reid right away. They found him in the board room making notes on the clear board that was there. It had pictures taped to it of the victims before and after and Reid was making lines that connected all of them together. Sam watched in interest, wondering if he would have ever been able to do that if he'd stayed in school to become a lawyer. Then again, Dean and he kind of did that in their hotel rooms on a particularly hard case.
Sam wanted to interrogate the agent himself, Dean could be a little much at times. Reid seemed a little shy and so Sam didn't want him to feel intimidated. He also knew it was going to be close to impossible to force his brother to stay outside and wait for him. It had to be done though. Before they entered in, Sam put a hand on Dean's chest and said "Wait for me out here okay? Go get a coffee or something; I need to talk to the kid alone."
"Are you crazy? I'm not letting you do this alone!" Dean retorted trying to push past his brother angrily.
His brother held him firm "No, go and do something useful. I need to talk to him alone. Trust me, can you do that Dean?"
Dean looked away, almost guiltily and Sam felt a little bad for bringing up their trust issues. It wasn't fair but Sam knew it was the best way to get what he wanted at the moment. "Okay fine!" He brushed Sam off and then stalked away to the lunch room.
Sam watched him go and sighed heavily. He would never hear the end of this one. There was no time to worry about that right now; he walked in while running his hand through his hair. "Dr. Reid?" Sam said coming in and taking a seat at one of the tables "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Reid turned around and blinked at Sam, he sighed and nodded taking a seat in front of him "You want to talk about the connection I have to the Trickster don't you?"
Shifting uncomfortably Sam nodded "Yeah… Is that alright?"
"I don't have much a lot of a choice do I?"
Sam shrugged "You can say no if you want to, but then I'd have to force you."
Reid gave a soft laugh and drummed his fingers nervously on the table "What do you want to know? I can't remember much about him…"
"I think you remember what I need you to." Sam answered "He told you what he was, his name and you two seemed to have been really close." He searched the agents face, trying to find some change in his behaviour. Sam had become quite good at reading people, he knew when people were lying to him now and noticed when they were relaxed or when something he said triggered an emotion in them. "I got him to tell me a little bit but he refused to tell me anymore."
Fear crossed over Reid's face and Sam hid a smile. Reid was obviously used to being able to trust him mind and facts. When Gabriel had told him he was an angel, which Sam wasn't completely sold on, it must have sent him for a loop. He probably thought Gabriel was crazy and blocked him out.
Reid ran a hand over his face and began "I knew him when I was little. We were friends when I was in university. He bothered me while I was studying, I still don't know what made him choose me. I wouldn't have it any other way though. He was my… My guardian. Gabriel never let anyone give me a hard time and he protected me." Reid trailed off "I didn't know that he was a killer at the time, I suppose I should have guessed when he showed me what he was. I was really okay with it at the time. I liked the feeling of having an angel on my side."
He looked up at Sam, his eyes begging "Please, you need to believe me. The Trickster isn't really a Trickster; he's an angel from heaven. He wouldn't tell me why he wasn't up there but I think he may be running. He's hiding from something, or someone."
Sam stared at the agent contemplatively "Why do you say that?"
"His actions and body language. He seemed really paranoid the whole time we were friends. Gabriel would make sure I was okay and then look over his shoulder with this… deer in the headlights expression on his face." Reid explained, shaking his head ever slightly "Things were going good, until I saw him… I saw him kill someone. I saw his Trickster side and I couldn't take it. I wanted to be in the FBI and I couldn't be associated with that you know?"
A slow nod came from Sam as he watched Reid, almost hypnotized. Sam felt a connection to Reid, being the smart one. The one without a lot of friends. He couldn't ever get close to people as a child, for obvious and Sam got the sense that Reid had had the same problems as a child.
"So you let him go then? Told him to get lost?" Sam asked, leaning forward on the table toward Reid, trying to understand why the Trickster had chosen this city of all places to attack.
Reid shifted almost in discomfort as he answered "Yes, I had no choice. At least I didn't feel like I did. It was the last thing I wanted to do. Gabriel was a good friend, but I couldn't be caught with a murderer for a friend."
Sam nodded "I know how you feel." He did, Dean and him didn't have friends for that reason and because keeping friendships in this business was dangerous. It gave you a weakness and the monsters would be able to use it.
Reid rubbed his face with exhaustion "I don't know what to do, I don't want to send him to jail or for him to get hurt but I can't let him escape either."
"No, you can't do that at all." Sam whispered "Don't worry Reid, we'll figure this out. There are some things I should tell you about him. About myself and Dean. There is also the matter with who burned our motel room while I was in it. Someone knew we were staying there and wanted us out of the picture." He glanced around the room nervously "Agent Smith and I have a lot of enemies." Sam said with a soft voice.
"Why?"
"We piss a lot of people off." Sam replied blatantly.
A short laugh escaped from Reid "Well, so have we. Who do you think did it?"
Sam shrugged "That's for another time, right now we need to locate the Trickster and bring him to justice. I know it's wrong but we may need to use you to catch him."
"I'll do whatever I have to…" Reid sighed, sitting up a little straighter "I need to protect my home and the people in above everything else."
The bond he'd felt with Reid before grew stronger as Sam looked at Reid. He was nervous, but not scared. He faced this and worse daily; they both did. Neither of them ever complained about it, how could they? They chose this life and knew what they were getting into when they did. The only difference between them is that Reid had a choice and Sam hadn't had that same luxury.
Sam couldn't help but wonder if maybe he could have met Reid in different circumstances. If he'd continued to become a lawyer. Maybe be a lawyer here, if he'd ever gotten to the point where he was good enough. They may have worked together at some point! Sam couldn't help but feel regret and sadness for the life he'd missed. The demons would never have gotten him; he would never have gone with Ruby and let Lucifer out of the cage… He could have had a much better life and he had thrown it all away when his brother had come to him needing help.
"That's a good attitude to have Reid. We'll catch him together."
Reid nodded and then looked up at Sam with a suspicious look "What did you mean earlier? You said you had a lot to tell me about yourself and Agent Smith… You seem to know a lot about the Trickster."
Panic set into Sam's bones "I worked on the case when he was in the last town. We followed him here…"
"But it's more than just Gabriel, you seem to know more. No cop has enemies that just burn down there motel rooms. How would they even know you were here? Why would they follow you? Wouldn't it be more benefitting to them to make sure they actually got you? A fire has no guarantees." Reid analyzed it was almost like he was talking to himself while eyeing Sam suspiciously.
Sweat broke out under Sam's collar "It doesn't matter, not right now Reid. Please understand you and I have a lot in common. We have the same goals right now, let's keep it that way okay?"
"I'll keep your secret for now Carter, but you better be ready to explain later."
"Deal." Sam said extending his hand to Reid's.
Reid shook it slowly and then stood up to leave. Sam sat back in his chair, exhaling. He had all the information now. He knew the story of Spencer Reid and the Trickster (Gabriel the Angel?). Reid seemed pretty convinced that it really was Gabriel. Sam knew it could be possible but he had really had enough of angels. He seriously hoped this was just some crazy monster. Until he knew for sure he wouldn't say a word to Dean about Gabriel's status.
