Chapter 14: When Hearts Become One

Reid was walking with JJ on one of the rare nights they had a chance of being alone. "You seem deep in thought," He told her as he entwined his fingers with hers. JJ glanced at him and let out a sigh.

"Just a few things on my mind," she replied.

Letting her hand go, he wrapped his arm around her back. "Want to share them?" he asked.

"There's nothing to really share, Spence," she replied.

Pulling her a little closer, he kissed the side of her head while his hand moved over her waist. "I just wish we could find the guy who did this to you," she finally admitted.

"You mean that Charles guy?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

Sighing, he pulled her a little closer. "We'll find him, he's just really smart, he's hiding right now," he replied.

"I know, I just wish we could find him so we can move on with our lives," she told him.

"What does he have anything to do with our lives? We can't stop living just because he's waiting for the right moment to pounce," he replied.

She moved her hand over the arm around her waist. "I love you," he told her.

"I know," she murmured, resting her head on his shoulder.

Reid let out a sigh. "Is there going to be a time I'll hear you say it back?" he asked. She looked up at him with a soft smile.

"I'll say then when the time is right," she replied.

He kissed the top of her head before they stopped walking and he hugged her tight. She hugged him back, closing her eyes as they just stood in the middle of the park, hugging each other tight. As he hugged his girlfriend close, he suddenly had the feeling they were being watched again. Looking over his shoulder, he saw someone in the bushes. "Hey!" he called out, letting JJ go, going after the person when they started running.

"Spence!" JJ called out.

Reid kept chasing the spy. "HEY! STOP!" he shouted. His shouting only made the man run faster. Suddenly remembering there was a shortcut through this park, Reid went in another direction.

"SPENCE!" JJ shouted as she ran after both of them.

JJ went in the same direction as her boyfriend, reaching into her bag to pull out the small handgun she kept in it.

Reid spotted the man who was about to run across the street. Using all his strength and adrenaline, he grabbed the man around the waist and they both ended up on the ground. "Who are you?!" Reid demanded.

"Take it easy man! Take it easy!" he exclaimed, keeping his hands raised.

JJ ran over, but then saw the man wasn't Charles. "Spence, let him go, he's just a kid," she told him.

"Who are you?" Reid ordered.

"Damien Massey," the boy replied.

"Why were you watching us?" Reid demanded.

"I had a message for you," Damien replied.

He reached into his shirt pocket, handing Reid a yellow piece of paper. Reid took the paper and opened it.

Hello Dr. Reid,

It's been awhile. You think you have won, but you have yet to realize the game has only begun. I am looking forward to winning this game.

Reid glanced at JJ before looking back at the young man. "Who gave this to you?" he asked.

"He said his name was Charles," the boy replied.

JJ swallowed hard before Reid let him up. "You need to come to the station with us, we have more questions for you," JJ told the young man.

Going to the BAU, Reid was sitting at his desk, staring at the picture of him, JJ, and Henry. He was trying to figure out what he had done wrong to gain such hatred from someone. As he was thinking, JJ came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "The kid checks out, he's a straight A college student. All he thought he was doing was making an easy 50 bucks," She told him.

"At least he's not in on this," Reid murmured.

Noticing the off look on his face, she pulled a chair up and looked at him. "Talk to me, Spence," She said softly.

"I'm trying to figure out what I did to this guy," he replied, "Obviously he is after me, but what did I do to gain such hatred from a person?"

Frowning, JJ rested his cheek on the top of his head. "I wish I knew what to tell you, Spence, this man has been out to get us from the start," she murmured. Reaching up, he held her hands in his and let out a sigh.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you," he told her.

JJ watched as Reid started pacing the bullpen. "Spence, calm down we'll find him," she insisted.

"I can't figure this out," he told her as he sat back down.

"You're going to give yourself an aneurysm with this," she answered.

Sitting down, Reid rubbed his forehead. "JJ, just take Spencer home to get him some sleep," Hotch instructed. JJ nodded as she got up and helped her boyfriend out of his chair before they left.

When they arrived home, Reid was so exhausted he kissed his girlfriend goodnight before he went up to his room. Pulling off his clothes and pulling on his pajamas, he climbed into bed and sleep almost immediately claimed him.

He was floating, floating in a white mist. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was in his house, but it was dark. "JJ?" he called. He saw his gun sitting beside his bed and grabbed it. "JJ? Henry?" he called as he walked through the dark halls.

"Spence! Help us, Spence!" he heard JJ call out.

"JJ! I'm coming!" he answered.

He started running through the halls when he saw the back door wide open. "JJ!" he called out as he ran into the backyard. Instead of the regular backyard, it was the same tall field. He heard JJ and Henry screaming. "JJ! HENRY!" he shouted as he ran through the tall grass.

He came out on the other side of the field when someone punched him in the face and he went sprawling across the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw JJ kneeling in front of him with Henry beside her. "You will watch, Dr. Reid, you will watch as you lose everything just like me," Charles told him as he held a gun to Spencer's head.

"NO!" Reid shouted as two men held guns up to JJ and Henry.

Reid shot up from bed, gasping for air. Quickly getting out of bed, he practically threw his bedroom door open and rushed down to JJ's room. Opening the door he was relieved to see that JJ was fast asleep. Walking over, he reached out and touched her hair lightly.

JJ woke up to the feeling someone touching her hair. At first she was alarmed, but when she opened her eyes to grab her gun, she saw that it as just Reid. "Spence…you okay" She asked as she sat up.

"I had another nightmare, I was just checking to see if you were okay," he replied.

Reaching up, she took his hand in hers and pulled him down onto her bed. "I just need to hold you," He murmured.

"Then hold me," she answered.

He held her close, feeling relief wash over him as he held her in his arms. She was touching his cheek lightly when their eyes locked. Leaning forward he kissed her deeply. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around him and pulled him down on top of her.

Outside, Charles was watching the two of them. Watched as they kissed each other and then started undressing each other. He was disgusted, completely disgusted. He couldn't believe that his plan backfired so much that it only brought them closer together. He thought his little warning would've made Dr. Reid want to leave his precious little JJ to keep her safe. No, damn stubborn man insisted on staying with her to keep her safe. "Stupid food," He muttered, gritting his teeth when JJ let out a moan of pleasure. Letting out a hiss, he left the backyard to come up with another plan. A plan that would be foolproof and not even the great Dr. Reid can figure it out before he acted upon it.

Later on, Reid was watching as JJ slept. She had on his shirt on just in case Henry would come in during the night for anything. He had his head resting on the pillow as he watched her, his thumb caressing her jaw lightly. He smiled as she reached up in her sleep, gripping his hand lightly in hers. "I love you," he whispered as sleep claimed him for a second time that night.