A/N: I'm BAAAAAACK, and I DID manage a Sunday update! (BEAMS) We'll see just how much madness there's ahead of us…

FIRST, though…! TONS of thank yous for all your reviews, listings, love and support. I can't believe that you've all been sticking around all this time! It means more than you could ever imagine.

Awkay, before I get all sappy… Let's go! I really hope that you'll enjoy the ride. Prepare yourself for some turbulence…

TRIGGER WARNINGS for mentions of child abuse and drug use.

The Hazards of Playing With Fire

/ It was a public secret that Spencer wasn't exactly doing well after Tobias Hankel. One evening he stumbled home, still very much high, to discover that there was someone waiting for him. A woman sat on his couch as though she belonged there, flipping through one of his books. His eyes narrowed. "You're a CIA, aren't you?"

The intruder appeared surprised but only for a moment. She gave him a fake smile. "I'm Laurel…"

"I don't care", Spencer interrupted instantly. It took a considerable amount of self control to keep himself from throwing her out bodily. "Whatever case you have… I'm not interested."

Laurel's eyebrow bounced up. "Oh, really?" She pushed something towards him. Dilaudid. "Because you have just the right kind of weakness for this little hunt." Her eyes flashed when she obviously knew that she had him. "I'm giving you the permission to be what you're best at."

They both expected a disaster, neither expected that the mission would lead to Spencer becoming a father. /

Spencer's return to consciousness wasn't a painless one. His back and arms felt like they were on fire and chopped to pieces all at once. His head also expressed obvious dislike towards whatever the hell happened to him.

What did happen to him?

Unwilling to let whoever was watching know that he was awake he held still and listened, even if hiding the agony was far from easy. He wasn't alone. There were two more people in the room. One of them was humming a soft, eerily beautiful melody and the other breathing raggedly. By the sounds of it Spencer suspected a punctured lung and almost felt like wincing with sympathy.

Spencer then moved on to catalogue his own injuries. As much as his head hurt he was fairly certain that he didn't have a concussion. But at least three of his ribs were cracked, possibly broken. And the pain in his back and arms… He was hanging from something and had a vague feeling that if he found out what it was he wouldn't like it.

Spencer was led back to his first question. The last thing he remembered was being in a car with The Doctor. Clearly they never made it to their original destination. So what happened? The CIA? No, he'd be dead already. Did some other old friends decide to do catching up? He had an annoying amount of those. A couple of them were smart enough to possibly figure out that he was alive.

"Wakey, wakey." He was almost certain that he'd never heard that male voice before. He was able to detect a clearly audible Russian accent. "My other playmate is getting dull. And I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't like me bored."

Slowly, with every little bit of stubbornness he had, Spencer forced his eyes open. It took a moment before his vision cleared enough to let him see his unwanted host. Shortcut, bleached hair. A pair of ice blue eyes. The man was tall and muscular, towered at least a head's worth above his height even if Spencer's feet weren't touching the ground. A scar traveled down the stranger's face, from the tip of his right ear all the way to his mouth. The man seemed to have been torn from some really bad action movie from the 80's.

As though the man had read his thoughts those hazardous eyes narrowed. A low, loudly speaking growl could be heard. "You're not uncomfortable enough yet, then? Don't worry. We can easily change that."

The kick was so swift that Spencer had no hope of seeing it coming. All of a sudden his stomach was on fire and if he'd been able to open his mouth he would've groaned. For a few moments black spots danced in his line of vision. The punch followed almost immediately after, something metallic covering the fist making his cheek bone bend and crack. Spencer's head jerked sharply to the side, rousing an immediate protest from his neck. For a second, two, the world spun.

It took all of Spencer's willpower to not black out. Instead he turned his gaze towards the attacker, his eyes and blood burning. No way he was going down this easily.

The attacker gritted his teeth. Obviously unimpressed by his defiance. "You didn't have enough yet, huh?" The attacker nodded to himself. "Alright, that's good. I haven't had enough yet, either."

Spencer waited until the other was exactly two steps closer. Then reacted at a lightning's speed, headbutting his tormentor so hard that he, too, saw stars for a few seconds. Without giving his opponent the chance to recover Spencer kicked with every bit of strength he had, sending the large man down.

The attacker swore loudly and colorfully, a trail of blood seeping from his nose. "You little…! Someone needs to teach you manners."

Spencer couldn't have seen it coming. Faster than he blinked large, unforgiving hands wrapped around his neck, squeezing tightly. With such force that there was no point in even trying to breathe.

Spencer wiggled stubbornly, attempted to kick. But he just didn't have the strength for it anymore. Nor did he have a lot of breath left. Little by little the world around him began to grow darker.

So far on his way to unconsciousness he was that he didn't hear the door opening. He barely even heard to much too familiar female voice that barked in Russian. "Jackal, enough."

The man growled, revealing a row of yellow tinged teeth. "I thought you said that I can do whatever I please with him. Right now I want to squeeze him to death." The attacker's hands loosened just a little bit, though, enough to allow Spencer some precious fresh air, then let go.

Scarlet's eyes smouldered in a way that made her look like a stranger in Spencer's eyes. He hadn't even noticed that The Doctor was hanging from hooks on the other side of the room until Scarlet was already holding a knife and approached. There were already at least four arrows sticking from the man. When Scarlet was done there were six stab wounds on him. Quite obviously he wouldn't live for much longer.

Spencer stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. Not really managing to comprehend what he was seeing. That man… He'd been like a fairytale monster coming to life for him for such a long time. And now… He was gone? Just like this? It was surreal and anticlimatic.

A million unpleasant memories flooded through Spencer's head while he stared at The Doctor, his heart racing as he watched his uncle's painful final moments.

/ His very own uncle torturing him and Scarlet. Even if it wasn't until a little later he actually recognized the man. Those emotionless eyes looking at him, their owner fully ready to kill him. /

A horrible, wet sound crawled through The Doctor's throat. Despite being practically unconscious the man wiggled, clearly sensing what was inevitably approaching. Even if there wasn't something blocking his mouth Spencer wouldn't have been able to utter a sound.

/ It didn't make any sense to Spencer. Sitting there in a tiny, filthy motel room. Injured and in pain, still a little high. Covered in his own blood and that of the mother of the child in his arms. The baby wasn't crying miserably. In fact she seemed perfectly at peace in her daddy's arms, as though the horrors around them didn't exist. As though she hadn't already lost her mother.

Insanity, all of it.

"Spence?" Scarlet was holding a firearm while entering the room. If what she faced appalled her she didn't let it show. "We need to go, now."

Spencer blinked twice. In a shock, high and utterly overwhelmed. "How…?" How did she even know to be there? This was a solo mission…

Scarlet's eyes darkened. "Luther watched over his own for once." She looked at the child, clearly to make sure that the baby was alright. "Now let's move it. I know a place to go. But we'll have to hide the kid."

It was very fortunate that the baby girl decided to sleep through the whole ordeal. Gently and protectively they placed her to a huge bag that'd been softened by two towels. Then, trying desperately not to look at the horrors around them, Spencer allowed Scarlet to help him up. He didn't protest when she wrapped an arm around him.

They left swiftly and soundlessly, passing by a receptionist who was fast asleep. There was a car waiting for them outside. They entered it without exchanging a word, both deep in thought. Just before Scarlet started the vehicle Spencer felt the hair in the back of his neck stand up. It was a sure sign of a fast approaching threat. He turned his head quickly to see a man watching them from the other side of the street. As something like recognition dawned his pulse sped up in a way that had nothing to do with the drugs in his system.

Uncle Daniel…? But… No, it's…

"Spencer?" Scarlet had a worried frown on her face. "What's going on?"

Spencer shook his head. At least it wasn't spinning so badly anymore. "I… thought I saw someone. Must be the shock playing tricks on me."

Scarlet seemed to take his gut feeling very seriously. She glanced towards the direction he'd been staring at but saw no one. "Why do you think so?"

"Because the guy I thought I saw died when I was six." /

Daniel Reid was definitely dying now. The man was barely breathing. There was already a glazed over look in his eyes. Spencer had seen it all a sickening amount of times. This was a closure in the most horrifying way. The end of what felt like nothing but a nightmare. As his uncle pulled in his last breaths Spencer remembered entirely too vividly how it all began.

/ Despite being a very young child Spencer was a genius. He understood that his mom was very, very badly ill. That October, when he was four and a half years old, his mom hit a very rough patch. He listened with terror how his parents screamed at each other, unable to understand most of what was being said. And then his father came in to announce that he'd have to take his mom to a hospital. That she'd be fine but needed help. In the meantime uncle Daniel, his father's brother, would be there to keep an eye on Spencer.

Spencer had never been very good at getting along with people. He'd even seen several doctors about it, heard adults whispering and wondering if he 'had that same thing his mother had', whatever that might mean. The second he and Daniel met eyes every single alarm bell went off in Spencer's head. Even if the man greeted him with a wide smile. "We'll have a good time together. Won't we, Spencer?"

Daniel certainly had his good time. The man was careful to avoid leaving marks of his night-time visits to Spencer's room. It didn't make the damage any less real.

Spencer began wetting his bed again. Reverted even deeper into his own world. Once, just once, he tried to tell his father what was happening. He was rewarded for the deed that required all his courage with a slap at his face. "My brother is doing his best to help us, Spencer! Don't you dare spread those lies about him!"

It was the last time Spencer ever shared anything with his father. /

Daniel Reid, The Doctor, was gone. Hanging limply from the hooks, chin fallen to rest on his chest. Eyes closed, not breathing. Gone. Which left Spencer with just Scarlet and the mystery man who dragged him to this new chapter of his very much real nightmare.

His eyes met Scarlet's. He couldn't recognize the young woman he once met through the sea of unbearable grief, bitterness and rage. Immense sadness squeezed around his heart, brought a hint of moisture to his eyes. They'd fought so very hard. Still they'd lost Gabriel. And Leo. And now… Now they'd lost her, too, in a very different way but definitely not less painfully.

Scarlet had always been dangerous but this marked the first time he feared her.

Leo was supposed to be buried quickly and quietly. Without any unnecessary fuss. Forgotten and pushed aside. Just another terrible mistake who'd never be mentioned again, a brutal mark in files that no one would ever see.

But this time the luck of those guarding all the dangerous secrets ran out. Because they miscalculated the element of human emotions. They disregarded the fact that Leo had people he'd managed to touch and their arrogance was their downfall.

Laurel Gibson was in her twenties when she first joined the CIA. Since then she was promoted time and time again, because she was the kind of a woman who didn't hesitate to do her duty. Who wasn't afraid of getting her hands dirty. By the time she was fify-six, the famous silver haired and coal eyed leader whom everyone knew but few had seen, she was at the highest spot of authority and knew enough secrets for ten lifetimes. She was so high up in the CIA command-chain that she didn't even make it to Scarlet's list. She also had far more lost lives weighing her conscience than any serial killer.

Laurel watched with hard, emotionless eyes as Leo's memorial service proceeded. She knew that allowing such to be arranged involved risks. But the temptation to see if Leo's teammembers might appear… It outweighed cold reason in her head. She should've realized that there was more than remains of that team to watch out for.

It took longer than it should've before she understood what was happening. By the time she did see it there was nothing she could do to stop the train wreck. Her eyes widened marginally.

It looked like the entire available CIA-division was there. Including the team that ended up taking Leo's life. Every single one of them was carrying a candle, bringing sparks of light into the shadowy space. Slowly yet inevitably a sea of lights surrounded Leo's picture, lighting up the room and the sombre people gathered inside. Some of them looked like they were seeing the light for the very first time, in far more ways than one. It was the dangerous kind of enlightenment, such that had the potential to cause a lot of damage. Laurel had feared, if not expected, as much.

She was about to signal the three of her men watching to bring an end to it until she saw something that told her it was already too late. Because just then Leo's sister Annie stood before the crowd, her brown eyes shining from tears and determination. "I… I lost my brother. I was told that he died on a mission, but…" Annie wiped her eyes. "But we've all seen the video online. We all know what really happened." Her voice broke badly but she went on courageously. "My brother was the kind of a boy who protected his sister from bullies. Who stood up for what he felt was right. The kind of a man who would've given his life for those he loved. And… That you all came here today, tells me that you knew that same man." She raised the candle high up, the light making her tears shine like diamonds. "We can't let them twist his memory into something awful! We can't let them erase what he was and get away with it! Leo and those like him… We're not going to forget about them!"

The crowd cheered in a response. And one by one more candles rose. Like stars lighting up the night sky. Raging a war and demanding justice far louder than any words could've.

Laurel left the scene without a sound, never having been one to make a scene of herself. Already then she knew that she was done for. When her body was found a day later it was declared a suicide. No one cared enough to ensure whether that was true or not.

Scarlet had hardened herself to a lot of things. Considering the path she'd been pushed on it was a necessity in order to preserve her sanity. But she wasn't quite heartless enough to be completely unaffected by the outcome of her actions.

As soon as she was done with The Doctor her attention shifted towards the other problem Jackal had been forced to drag in. The man had been beaten practically to a point past idenfication. The fact that he was hanging from the ceiling by what looked like metallic hooks and had his mouth sewn closed enforced the quite heartbreaking sight.

Scarlet wrinkled her nose. "You've been toying with him, then?" She looked from the battered man to Jackal, who was still nursing a bleeding nose. Her eyebrow arched. "Did you have fun?" She didn't even try to hide her sarcasm.

Jackal gave her a dry look. "What the fuck does it look like?" The man spat out blood. "I hate it when they bite back."

Scarlet composed herself for a second before speaking any further. With someone like Jackal showing even a hint of weakness would've been a certain pathway to a disaster. "Do you have any idea who he is?"

"His ID said Joseph Bell." Jackal was already putting on his maroon leather coat, obviously preparing to leave. "He works for Interpol. Or did, anyway."

Scarlet observed the man's actions. One of her hands was held on to the gun hidden in the covers of her clothes. "Leaving so soon?"

"You don't pay me enough to convince me to help clean up the mess." With an absentminded wave of a hand Jackal headed towards the door. "If you ever need help like this again call me. It was a lot of fun. The broken nose excluded." The door banged like the hammer of a judge after him.

The remaining BAU-team, along with Emily, watched intently as a news reporter delivered an explanation of a wide reaching investigation concerning the actions of several CIA-officials. Whoever called the shots that led to the disaster, to the deaths of Leo and so many other agents, failed to do their background research properly.

Leo was the son of a extremely powerful politician. Someone who's death couldn't be just swept under the carpet. His parents were determined to make sure that if their son had to die in such a horrible way, at least he hadn't died in vain.

CIA's house of smoke and mirrors was crumbling down, loudly and spectacularly.

Ilsa watched in a silence how the team lit up a candle. Paid their respects to a man they didn't get the chance to know even nearly as well as they would've wanted to. She clung to Derek a little tighter, staring at the flame with very serious eyes. "Is that for uncle Leo?" she asked quietly.

It took a moment before the adults knew how to respond. "Yeah, sweetie", Penelope confirmed at last, wiping her eyes. "It's a sign that he hasn't been forgotten."

Ilsa nodded, processing those words and deciding that she liked the idea. She, however, absolutely hated the fact that one of her favorite people in the world was gone and would never come back to her with puzzles and incredible stories. She wiped away tears with a shaking hand. "I miss him", she murmured, with such childlike honesty and innocence that it would've shattered anyone's heart. She had to fight to get the next words out. "I… I miss daddy, too."

JJ's eyes didn't seem entirely dry while the agent sighed. Even tried to smile although it didn't come out right. "We all do. But he'll be back soon."

Derek ruffled Ilsa's hair. She leaned against his touch, savouring the comfort it brought. "I hope so", she sighed. Sounding far too old for her age. "Because… I don't want a candle for him, too."

Scarlet didn't bother casting a single glance more towards The Doctor. The bastard was very much dead, she'd been throughout enough to ensure that. As it was her attention locked on the still existing problem.

She sighed, looking at the injured Interpol agent. "I'm so sorry that you got involved. But sometimes collateral damage can't be avoided. I'm sure you understand."

There was a great deal of grief in his eyes. No fear, pain or even hatred. Just bottomless sadness, apparently for her sake. It bothered her a lot more than it should've.

Deciding to stop wasting time Scarlet looked at the five arrows sticking from the prisoner's torso. Jackal had been eager and creative with his favorite weapon, then. It'd be a miracle if this poor guy would survive. Surely she had the time for a one more act of kindness?

With slow, almost hesitant steps Scarlet approached. She lay her hand on one of the arrows. If she'd just pull if off the man would bleed out very quickly. Her eyes felt oddly moist although she couldn't explain it when she looked up, meeting his gaze. "It'll be over soon", she promised quietly. "And it'll be quick."

She was just about to pull off the arrow when she noticed something that stilled absolutely all of her. A few tears were running down the man's cheeks. As she stared she finally saw. A slightly chipped, colored contact lense revealed a hint of the prisoner's actual hazel eyes. Scarlet's own eyes began to widen while she reached out a far from steady hand, taking off the contact lenses entirely. What became revealed made the bottom drop from her world. Froze blood into her veins. If she wasn't in a state of shock she would've surely screamed.

She was staring into the eyes of Spencer Reid. Into the eyes of a friend she'd imagined lost. And now…

No, no, no, NO…!

Scarlet stared. Took in the grief and agony in his eyes. All of a sudden her knees felt so weak that it was a miracle she could still stand. She felt sick to her stomach, so utterly defeated that it quite nearly crushed her from the inside. She was completely oblivious to the tears running down her own cheeks.

The silence between them was deafening.

TBC

A/N: That… was harder to type than I'd expected…! MY GOSH, poor Reid! And poor Scarlet too, I suppose. This is NOT going to be pretty… Let's just hope that little Ilsa won't have to light a candle for her daddy soon… (shudders)

Thoughts? Comments? Threats? Kind words, even? PLEASE, do leave a note to let me know! We're almost at the beginning of this mad ride so it'd be AWESOME to hear from you.

TWO MORE CHAPTERS AND AN EPILOGUE TO GO.

Until next time, folks! I REALLY hope that I'll see ya there. Until then, take care! And of course…

HAVE A FANTASTIC NEW YEAR, YOU ALL!