On Saturday night, when Spencer called Chelsea, he had decided not to go to brunch with her. When she answered her phone, she said hi and asked about his day and if he had been called on a case. The conversation was again pleasant and despite planning to say he was out of town, he was getting her address and agreeing to pick her up at 8:45 the next morning.

Her apartment was a nice recently built glass building, with a security guard/door man behind a glass and silver desk. Spencer had phoned Chelsea when he left his apartment and she was waiting out front for him. He was slightly embarrassed about his car; it was a 1965 Volvo Amazon P130 122S and although it was very clean and in good running order he was sure it wasn't the type of car she was used to driving in. He was trying to think of something to say when she jumped in and said, "Cool car! I love classic old cars especially when they are so well taken care of."

She rubbed her hand across the dash looking at him. "Have any of my grandpa's friends seen it? He told me you play poker occasionally with them. I bet a few of them would try and buy it from you."

He didn't know why, but felt much better when she started talking. He usually didn't care what people thought about him. "Yes, Don Walton had made an offer a couple of times, but I assumed he was joking."

They made light conversation on the way to the rifle club. Spencer had been there once before with Bob for brunch and he had been invited a few other times. A large number of both active and retired officers were members of the club and Spencer had met many of them. "How long have you been a member of the rifle club?" Spencer asked.

"My grandpa signed me up as a junior member when I was 18. We didn't tell my mom for a couple of years. We weren't sure how she would take me refreshing my firearm skills."

"Refreshing?"

"My dad taught me how to hold, clean and assemble his service and his ankle revolvers when I was 5. He felt that everyone that lived in a house with a weapon should understand how to use it and how dangerous it can be. Of course he kept it locked up when at home, but he wore it every day and didn't want to take the chance of me getting curious and check it out without him knowing.

He took me out to shoot at targets when I turned 7. Actually, I had a pretty good aim by the time I was 11.I hadn't touched a firearm since my dad died." She sounded much more serious than usual, "After that my mom had all of the weapons removed from the house. When I turned 18, my grandpa decided it was time for me to pick up where I left off. He said I had so many friends in one type of law enforcement or another, it may come in handy one day."

As they pulled into a parking space, she noticed Spencer looked confused. She continued as they walked to the restaurant, "He didn't think I would need it AGAINST my friends. He was just afraid that if someone that had been arrested then released from prison targeted one of my friends while I was with them, I might need to protect myself. Just as a precaution from an over protective grandpa. Did you know that was how my dad died? He was shot in the back of the head by a drug dealer he had put away."

"No, your grandpa had only told me he was killed in the line of duty on a domestic violence case and that it was the catalyst that started his substance abuse."

Spencer finished his comment as they walked in the door and were greeted by Bob and three of his friends. They had just finished eating and were waiting to see Chelsea and Spencer before they left. John, whom Spencer had not seen for several months, picked Chelsea up and swung her around calling her little squirt. After he put Chelsea down he reached over and shook Spencer's hand telling him it was good to see him.

Chelsea said a quick hi to her grandpa and his other friends then took Spencer by the hand and headed towards the hostess. Chelsea was embarrassed and her checks were flushed a deep pink "I'm so sorry," she stammered, "it seems like you know my friend John?"

Spencer was smiling as he nodded and said that they had met several times playing poker and he had seen him at a barbeque at her grandfather's house. He didn't mention their conversation at the firing range last September. Spencer continued, "He has always been very nice and we even talked quite a lot at a football party last fall."

Chelsea laughed as they were walking to their table, "You don't seem like the football type." Her face was losing the pink hue.

Spencer nodded and grinned, "Your grandpa invited me to several Red Skin parties last year, but I was able to get out of most of them because of work. One Sunday in October, he had talked to me on Friday night, he knew I wasn't gone and he can be very persistent." He ignored Chelsea's understanding laughter. "I planned to go just for a half an hour, but I ended up staying for all of the game and having dinner with them. I was talking to John and told him I was thinking of leaving because I wasn't interested in watching the game, but he told me that many didn't watch the game, or very little of it. They just used it as an excuse to get together. He told me to watch how few constantly watched the game. I ended up staying and having a good time. Although I didn't tell anyone that a lot of the fun I had was observing the crowd watch, and not watch, the game."

They both decided to order the buffet breakfast. They watched as the chef made them fresh omelets and both served themselves fruit, breakfast potatoes, and a muffin.

After they were back at the table and both were served coffee and orange juice, Chelsea turned serious and told Spencer that she is really happy with the job that the BAU does, but not for the reason most people would think.

Spencer looked up at her as she continued, "Of course, I am happy that you are able to stop a serial killer and save a victim whenever possible. But when you catch the unsub, you also solve many cold cases."

"I told you earlier that a paroled felon was the person that killed my dad" Chelsea recounted the story of her dad's murder and the investigation all the way to trial. "My dad arrested Stan Douglas for aggravated assault, weapon possession, and intent to sell narcotics to a minor. After some plea-bargaining, he was sent to jail for 10 years. He served 6 years and was released on good behavior. Looking back, they now know he spent that first year free planning my dad's murder. He had changed his name, had very high quality fake IDs made, dyed his hair, grew a beard and started a new life only 10 miles away.

During that year he had also followed my dad and stole a police radio scanner to keep track of him. On the day of my dad's murder, he called his brother for the first time in a year and asked for a ride. His brother told the police that he sat and listened to the police scanner but wouldn't tell him what he was listening for. They sat for over 6 hours waiting for something but his brother swears he didn't know what he was waiting for." Chelsea continued eating as she spoke but looked like she was far away.

"At about 4:40 pm near the end of my dad's shift a call came in for a domestic dispute at an apartment on 21st street. My dad's partner, Tony Noble, told me that they both knew the address because the couple that lived there was consistently disturbing the neighbors with their verbal and physical abuse of each other. No officer ever went into that apartment without backup. The couple had broken various bones of officers who had responded to the disturbance in the past. My dad had radioed in that they were in the area and responding to the call."

Spencer listed to the story in silence. "When they arrived, he acknowledged to dispatch that they were at the scene waiting for backup. Both my dad and Tony were outside the car looking up at the window where they could hear the fight. My dad was on the driver's side leaning on the car and Tony was on the curb looking straight up when a squeal of tires came from behind them. They both turned just in time to see the passenger of a vehicle lean out of the window and shoot my dad in the head and continue down the street. Tony recognized the man as Stan Douglas even with his new look. He ran around the car to see if he could help my dad. The backup for the domestic disturbance arrived just then and Tony sent him after the vehicle as he called 911 for an ambulance."

Chelsea was wrapped up in telling the story and was talking faster and faster. "Stan jumped out of his brother's car the next block over and ran through an ally. The police officer called it in and stayed with the vehicle. He was alone in the car and felt he had a much better chance of apprehending the suspect in the vehicle than trying to get out of the car to start a foot chase. He was able to apprehend Stan's brother, but Stan disappeared. They later found a stolen car from that neighborhood at a strip mall where another car was stolen. The video from that strip mall showed Stan stealing another car and they were able to track that car to a bus station in Maryland. The bus station surveillance picked Stan up walking away from the station and they lost all track of him after that."

She sounded sad and took a deep breath to slow down to continue, "The police questioned Stan's brother and arrested him as an accessory to murder, but Stan had not contacted him for the last year and the brother was not able to help at all, even to save his own skin. He was set up by his brother to take the fall and he was sent to prison for 7 years. After my dad answered the call for the domestic dispute, Stan had his brother seemed please and ask him to park around a corner and wait. After they saw my dad get out of the car, Stan had instructed his brother to drive by him. His brother swore over and over he didn't know what Stan had planned. After that all leads went nowhere and after 5 months the official investigation was concluded.

Because my dad was a cop, the investigation really never was closed. Although no more official resources were used and no one actually had the case file on their desk, Stan's wanted photo was up on every police station bulletin board in DC, Virginia and Maryland. The murder of a cop is just different, it's one of their own and they take it very personally." Spencer nodded understanding what she meant.

She went on to tell of the day nine months after her dad's murder. Two Alexandria, Virginia officers brought in a suspect for beating a prostitute nearly to death. While he was in the station being officially placed under arrest, he saw Stan's wanted poster. "He pointed to the poster and asked if they were still looking for that guy. He told them he knew where he worked and wanted to know if that could help his case."

Continuing she said, "The officers agreed, only if it led to an arrest. He told the officers that the guy on the poster had a different name, but he was sure it was the same guy. He worked as a host in a private room at The Miramar Club near old town Alexandria. The officers locked him up in a holding cell and told him if his lead panned out they would offer him a deal."

She looked straight at Spencer. "He was right; Stan was working under the name Tom Grand and was the bouncer and host of the VIP room at the club. The job looked legit, but he really was a personal assistant and bodyguard to Antonio Deacon."

Spencer was surprised and repeated "Antonio Deacon."

Chelsea nodded, "Yes, he's almost a celebrity in the drug world isn't he?"

He nodded "Do you know how they connected?"

"No one is positive, but he was in the same cell block as Jake Durning." Spencer nodded as acknowledgement. "Stan taking Jake's former position with Deacon can't have been a coincidence. No one was able to find a solid link between the two, but there had to be a connection. All of his paperwork, Social Security Card, driver's license and even credit cards looked legit. The cops went to the club that night and they arrested him for suspicion of an officer's murder. He was later sentenced to life without parole," she said with a weary smile.

"The next morning was a Saturday and Tony came by to pick me up at my house. He had called my mom very late the night before, after I was in bed, and told her they had caught Stan. Tony wanted to tell me personally and my mom agreed. At 8:00 am Tony came by and picked me up and drove me to the Alexandria station. On the way he told me what had happened and how they had arrested Stan Douglas. When we arrived at the station, he introduced me to the two cops that had listened to the suspect and had arrested Stan. I was so happy I ran and hugged both of them. What I remember most about that day besides the good news Tony told me was the reaction of the cops. As I approached them their first reaction was to protect their weapon," she smiled at the memory, "inherent training of anyone with a firearm I suppose, and then the fact that they both were generally surprised and happy at my reaction."

"I was immediately relieved that the man that killed my dad was no longer on the street having fun and living the life my dad could no longer have. I had always wanted that and every day hoped they would catch him. My mom had always told Tony and me that she didn't care; catching the guy wouldn't bring back my dad. I know she was correct about that, but I really hated the fact the guy was free and couldn't understand how she was OK with it."

Spencer was taking in the whole conversation and said, "We do have many relatives of victims that tell us that. They just want to get on with their lives."

"I understand that, but within days of Stan's arrest my mom started to act the way she did before my dad's death. It had been 9 months so I'm sure that time passing had something to do with it, but I really think subconsciously she had been holding in the anger at Stan still living as a free man. Saying she didn't care was a way of coping with the fact that he may never be caught."

She turned her attention back to Spencer. "Every time you catch a serial killer, you solve the cold case of every past victim you are able to attach to him. You are probably long gone from the city before most of the families even hear about their loved ones, and you never get a hug from the 12-year-old girl that is thankful for your work. But from personal experience I can tell you that to hear that the person that killed your loved one is either captured or killed is a huge weight lifted from their lives. Even the family members that don't think they care, like my mom, really do."

"I've never really thought of it like that," Spencer acknowledged. "You're right, as soon as we have the suspect in custody; we are back on the jet headed home. Unless the past victims' families have some evidence or information to help the investigation, we rarely even see them."

"When you are headed home, just remember that you make a huge difference in hundreds of people's lives that you are not even aware of. The sad fact is that if my dad had been a dockworker, a dry cleaner or a college professor, like many of the past victims of a serial killer, Stan would probably never have been apprehended unless he was caught in another crime. I love the thought that you and the rest of the BAU can help solve these poor forgotten victims' murders."

Spencer was silent for a minute. "Thank you. I will try to think of that. We spend a lot of time trying to get into the mind of the unsub, it is nice to think about how we might have made a small difference in the victims' families lives."

Spencer again was surprised how easy it was to talk to Chelsea and how much she understood about his job. They were chatting about some of the FBI cases that hit the news, as they finished their coffee and it was already noon. He was enjoying the company and really didn't want the day to end.

It seemed that Chelsea had the same thought and she suggested a walk around the grounds. The club had two firing ranges; one was a large indoor range in the basement under the restaurant and clubhouse. The other was an outside shooting area, mostly used for rifles. It was well contained with high chain length fences topped with barbed wire and tall thick hedges on both side of the fence. The club was surrounded on 3 sides by trees. That kept the firearm noise to a minimum, although it was now closed for the winter. As they followed a trail past the range and a partially frozen river, Chelsea took Spencer's gloved hand in hers. It was warm enough in the sun to take the walk, but they both had on wool coats, scarves, hats and gloves.

She stopped on the trail to look at him. "Do you mind if I ask a personal question?"

He was sure he knew what she was about to ask. "About the Dilaudid?"

She nodded, "You had my grandpa tell me about it, but talking to you" she paused as if she were trying to say the right words "it doesn't really add up."

He started to walk again and she wasn't sure if he was going to answer. "I asked him to tell you all of that hoping it would persuade you not go on a blind date."

She laughed and he looked very confused at her reaction. "I've been set up on too many blind dates by my friends, my mom and now by my grandpa. He knew that no matter what you said, he would make sure I said yes. You said it yourself he is very persistent. I find it's easier to say yes to whatever he asks at first, rather and argue with him knowing I'm going to say yes later." She stopped laughing and looked at him seriously, "He should have told you that; instead of letting you disclose your personal life. I'm sorry." She paused again and spoke so softly it was almost a whisper, "You don't need to tell me about it."

They were still following the small stream and there was a bench with planters around it that looked like it would be a beautiful garden in the proper seasons. Spencer led her to the bench and told her he didn't mind talking about it. She already knew about the addiction, she might as well know the whole story. "It involves me being kidnapped and tortured. You should know that before I continue."

She met his eyes and nodded. He used one of his gloved hands to wipe the dampness off the bench and they sat down. He recounted the entire event starting with the group all having drinks and enjoying the evening of the Super Bowl at a local tavern. Then getting a call to go immediately to Atlanta for the brutal murder of a high profile couple.

He told her about the case and how one of the unsubs had called the police as the other one killed the couple. Chelsea listened quietly as he recounted all the details of his capture. He and JJ had gone out to interview Tobias Hinkle who they thought might be a witness. After they arrived, Spencer had figured out the witness was actually the unsub. He told Chelsea that his friend and partner JJ had felt it was her fault that he was taken, but actually it was his own fault.

It had been his idea for JJ and him to split up and go into the barn one from the front and one from the back. As he went around back, he had seen Tobias leave the barn and had followed him into the field.

He felt it was also his fault he was caught in the cornfield. JJ had been attacked by viscous dogs in the barn and was forced to shoot them. When he heard the shots he made the mistake of yelling out to her. He knew that from inside the barn she wouldn't be able to hear him, but he had panicked and yelled. That gave Tobias the opportunity to sneak up on him and hit him with a shovel. He then shocked Spencer and started to talk to himself about what to do with him in different voices. Spencer realized that he was suffering from a multiple personality syndrome and there was only one unsub, not two or three as they had originally profiled. There was no way to contact the team to let them know of his discovery.

He was knocked unconscious and taken to a cabin miles away. He told Chelsea about the fish guts, the father's beatings, Raphael's Russian roulette, and Tobias' administering the drug to help him deal with the situation. He was truthful that he had objected to the Dilaudid the first three injections, but after that it was sure he was going to die and the Dilaudid provided an escape from the horrors around him. She was horrified as he told her everything. She had tears in her eyes and caught her breath audibly a few times but otherwise stayed silent. Part way through the story she reached for his hand. He took it and held it tightly as he continued.

He told her that he had died and that Tobias' personality had revived him. He then figured out where he was being held. He smiled when he recounted the part of the story when he had chosen Hotch to die, because he had been sure Hotch would understand what he was telling him. He told her that Hotch was the best profiler he knew and he was counting on a small detail that would be unnoticed by the unsub would be picked up by Hotch.

He was glad that he was able to help the team locate him especially since he felt his capture had been his fault, but after the three days of torture he couldn't wait for rescue anymore and had done what the unsub wanted and confessed his sins. He told Chelsea that everyone has a breaking point and he had hit his.

The turn of events after that had surprised him. When the father's personality had taken him out to dig his own grave, the team had shown up and distracted him for a minute, just long enough for Spencer to pick up the gun. It only had one bullet in it, but luck had been on his side and it was in the chamber. Just as the team arrived he had killed Tobias' father's personality in self-defense.

He told her everything except the visions of his mom. She didn't know about the schizophrenia and he had talked enough for the day. He did tell her that he had taken the rest of the Dilaudid planning to detox himself, but had still wanted to escape and had continued to use. He even detailed his near arrest, final decision to quit and the two cases that had brought him to AA and how he had met her grandfather.