How did that old saying go? Oh yeah, it was something like (of all the gin joints in all the world she had to walk into mine). It was sarcastic and considering the crazy turn of events of the past 24 hours seemed rather appropriate to Reid. Sitting in the run down, smelly, and very dirty motel room had him wondering why the hell of all the times to leave work early it had to have been last night? Not to mention why of all the people to happen upon Garcia in her time of trouble had it been him? It was that second question that had his mind think things he never would have imagined in a million years. No make that a hundred million years. But in the here and now he thought those thoughts. There was no way of escape from them now. They were etched into his psyche. They had formed into a tattoo upon the flesh of his brain.

Truth was it had been him instead of anyone else in the world to happen upon Garcia when she needed help. And it was him instead of Morgan that was with her in the swamps of some two road town in the middle of Florida. Why of anyone was it him? That was what had been plaguing his mind since first drawing his gun on Kevin Lynch back at the BAU. And now he believed he knew the answer. For all of his genius IQ, his amazing memory, his trained FBI skills he hadn't been able to see it. He didn't believe in such things.

Fate?

People made their own way in life. There was no huge man walking on the clouds picking who, what, where, when, and why. That concept was Ludacris. Or so Dr Spencer Reid had thought.

But watching Her from across the room type away like a tornado on the laptop had him finally think that perhaps for him fate had decided to come knocking. Damn he hated it when people or anything for that matter showed up unannounced.

Penelope was laying her trap. If Kevin really wanted to talk to her(and she sure was betting on that), then his sorry ass would take the bait. She and Reid had purposely left behind their cells so the others could not track them. Reid had chosen some nowhere motel in a nowhere town in a state where neither of them knew anyone (yet another tactic to keep Hotch and the team from finding them). The whole plan was to lead Kevin away from everyone they loved. Morgan was already hurt more than Penelope wanted to think about. The protection of the rest of her family was now all that mattered. She hadn't counted on Reid following her or coming with her. He was one of the ones she wanted desperately to protect. But the boy wonder had done just that. And Garcia had to admit that she was so beyond glad he was with her. It helped with keeping calm. Plus having someone else around as backup was probably a good idea. Probably a great idea considering what she had in mind for Mr Kevin Lynch.

"Bait message has been sent" Penelope said with a smile.

"Then we should set everything up before he arrives"

"Spencer?"

"Yes?"

"I have to say that I am a little scared here" Penelope couldn't help but admit.

In only half a second Reid crossed the room and knelt down in front of her. He looked her straight in the eyes and smiled.

"I promise I won't let him lay a hand on you. "Reid swore to both her and himself before standing up and pulling her out of the chair into an embrace. Fate had come knocking at his door and he was going to answer. The world could drop out from underneath them both at any moment. But until that happened he promised himself he would take care of and protect Penelope Garcia.