Anote: Some of you might have read this chapter before but be assured I have double posted today just for you guys. I changed a couple of things so you should still read it. I hope everyone still likes the story and the way it's going because the reviews have stopped coming as frequently as before :(
Chapter 8- This is my home
Present day
Morgan knocked back his Heineken as the dealer shifted his casino chips to the gleeful woman seated at his side.
'Come to momma' she said reverently as she counted the growing pile infront of her.
Emily on his left patted his hand consoling as he grimaced at Garcia's antics. Lady luck was not smiling on him tonight.
'Reid, get over here and help a brother out' he tossed over his shoulder.
The trio glanced over in some concern as the man in question just smiled saying, 'I am not gambling tonight Morgan'
The looked at each other as Reid continued to stand a little away from them as he absorbed the activity that swirled and eddied about him. He had seemed a little quiet all the way here but now he was a study of emotions. One moment he looked happy and the next sad. Granted Las Vegas didn't hold a lot of pleasant memories for the man if you took his fractured family into account.
Derek threw down his cards in disgust as he lost the next round. He turned around to summon a waitress but froze as he saw one of the casino's security guard standing behind Reid, talking intently in his ear. The dark profiler read the guard's body language perfectly.
'Stay' Morgan whispered, as he pressed down hard on Garcia's arm and caught Emily's eye simultaneously.
Slowly he walked up to the guard with his hands held away from his chest in a non threatening manner.
'Good evening sir, is there a problem?' he asked politely even as Reid grunted in pain as his arm was being twisted behind his back, 'this is my friend, is there something wrong?'
No need to whip out their badges as yet. This could be all be some sort of mistake.
The guard nervously took in the flat dead look in the man's eyes, 'No problem sir. Mr. Reid and I just need to chat. You can come along if you want'
Morgan felt his heart sink as the guard identified Spencer by name.
Five other guards surrounding the trio as they quietly walked to an Employee's only entrance. Through it all Reid didn't protest as he blindly went wherever he was pushed. The corridor behind the door was cold and sterile.
'Mr. Reid you know you are not supposed to be here?' the man began in a reasonable tone, letting his 'prisoner' go.
Worriedly Morgan watched as the young man hung his head and stared at the chipped vinyl floor, offering no protest or explanation.
Just then an older man in a three piece suit turned the corner and the guards snapped to attention.
'Bobby!!!' Reid shouted with a pleased smile making his way forward only to be roughly grabbed by the lead guard.
The stylishly dressed man glared at his much taller Head of Security and instantly the boy was released. This man didn't need any bluster to get his point across.
'Sir, he's on the list!' the guard protested weakly as his superior continued to bore a hole in his head with his stare.
'I KNOW he's on the list' the man rumbled ominously, 'I put him there'
Chastised the guards backed away while their boss dealt with the situation.
'Stephen, perhaps you can escort those two young ladies who are listening at the door into this corridor so we can have this discussion in private' he ordered quietly.
'I wasn't gambling sir!' Reid said in a panicked voice, the instant the man looked at him.
The man held up a finger for silence as he patted Reid's back reassuringly.
He suavely turned to the young man's confused and angry friends, 'Hello I'm Robert Goldstein, President of operations here at The Venetian. I hope you are enjoying your stay with us so far'
'Well we were, until your gorillas grabbed my babycakes over here' the colourful blonde snorted.
'It's just a minor misunderstanding Madame' the man said smoothly glancing at said gorillas as they shuffled their feet, 'perhaps I can comp the rest of your stay starting with one of our famous Gondola rides'
'Bob it's okay' Reid said quietly, 'these are my friends. There is nothing you cannot say infront of them'
Goldstein took in the determined and concerned faces that surrounded him and quickly agreed with the younger man's assessment.
'Alright' he said softly, gently turning the slim agent around to face him, 'are you alright? You are not in any trouble?'
Morgan, Garcia and Prentiss all inched closer at this curious exchange.
'No sir, not this time,' he said with a half smile.
The older man returned the sad smile as he knew the same select collection of memories flashed through both their minds at that moment.
'And you are NOT giving your friend's err...any advice…as to how to gamble in my casino?'
Reid pulled himself up stiffly as if he was offended but was trying to ignoring it, 'No, sir'
This answer pleased the older man as he patted the young man's non existent biceps companionably.
'Son, you know I can't let you sit down at the tables?' he asked next in a kindly but with deadly serious tone in his voice.
The boy frowned in misery, 'I know sir! Please don't throw my friends out; I'll stay in my room for the entire weekend!!! PLEASE!!!'
Morgan and Emily looked at Garcia and she shrugged her shoulders. Her all knowing powers did not extend to this perplexing situation.
'Calm down, calm down' the man replied hastily as one of his guards caught his attention.
'Sir…the Bellagio, MGM and Luxor just called' he said hesitantly realising he was the proverbial messenger of bad news, 'they want to know why HE is still here?'
Reid went back to staring at the floor and his long hair blocked out the rest of the world as he crawled into some dark place in his mind.
Goldstein sighed, 'Just tell them that Dr. Reid is a guest at my hotel and I will personally take him to the airport when he is ready to leave'
'But?' the guard began to protest but scurried away as his boss scowled at him.
'You can stay but I don't want you to leave the premises, alright' the casino boss commanded quietly, 'Vegas has a long memory'
'Thank you sir' the young profiler said in relief smiling down at the shorter man infront of him, 'I won't be any trouble, I promise'
For a moment Goldstein looked at the long-limbed man infront of him, and except for the straggly hair he could barely recognize the thirteen year old waif whom he had rescued from a life quickly spiraling out of control.
'Spence, why are you here?' the older man asked.
It was a question that he had wanted to ask as soon as face recognition software had picked out the boy's features, sending an instantaneous amber alert through every casino on the strip.
Reid smiled sadly as he looked around at the unfriendly metal walls lining the service corridor
'This is my home'
Anote2:Click below for Chapter nine.
