(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

Thank you all lot the support on the prologue, it was awesome to read everyone's reviews!

Since the last one wasn't technically a chapter, you're getting chapter one early.

Enjoy.

David Rossi was late. Aaron had left early to take Jack to school before going to work himself. Dave had insisted he was only 'resting his eyes.' That was until he'd opened them to 9:12 am flashing on his alarm and several missed calls from his husband.

So Dave half jogged through the bullpen, ignoring Morgan's sarcastic cheering. He slipped into his office, dodging Aaron's opening door.

He hunkered down into his desk and threw some papers in front of him just as his door was opened again. Aaron walked in with a slightly amused expression.

"What?" David asked as he looked up from his papers.

"I see you're busy."

"Very."

Aaron nodded and his lips turned up. "Just 'resting your eyes'?"

Dave looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. "Get outta here," he said playfully, waving Aaron away.

"I'll be sure not to mention your nap to Strauss."

"It wasn't- you son of a..." Dave shook his head at Aaron's back as he walked out, the click of the door cutting off his profanity.

He huffed and reorganised his papers, he had to actually work now.

He raised his pen just as his desk phone rang.

"Damn it."

Dave dropped the pen, reaching over his desk to grab the phone instead.

The voice on the other end didn't wait for him to confirm his presence and started rambling into Rossi's ear.

Dave scowled at the information. "Who?"

He waited and shook his head in confoundment.

"I'll... be right down then."

When David got down to reception he saw what the call had been about: A small child sat in a chair on the other side of the desk. He had his head low, a squalid copy of what Dave thought might be Dickens in his hands and a back-pack sitting at his feet. Although, as Dave stared he realised the kid's feet barely made it to the end of the chair, his shoes the only thing not nestled up on the leather seat.

Dave motioned to the child and the receptionist (who'd waved Dave over) nodded.

"Hello?"

The boy didn't react at first, his head buried in his book. Dave cleared his throat and the child startled. He looked up with squinting eyes, his curly bangs falling into his face. Dave recognised him, along with a pang of foreboding.

"Mr. Rossi Sir." The boy hopped out of his seat and brushed himself down, smiling awkwardly up at Dave who stared down at him.

"I know you don't I, kiddo?" Dave asked and the boy shifted his feet.

"Yes sir."

"And... where are your parents this time?" Dave muttered, realising this was the same boy as the one at his seminar.

Spencer looked around nervously before leaning close to Dave. "Can I tell you a secret?"

Dave looked at the boy

and then glanced back at the receptionist who was watching with unashamed nosiness.

"Sure you can," he whispered, putting his ear close to Spencer.

Spencer swallowed and took a deep breath before whispering, "I didn't tell daddy I was coming here."

Spencer pulled back and pulled his bottom lip nervously between his teeth.

Dave blinked, his stare going blank. He was sure he met this kid in Vegas. There had to be something missing from the story. So Rossi leaned forward and put a hand on the young boy's shoulder.

"How about we have a... ah... a little chat?" he asked and to his surprise the boy nodded eagerly and grabbed hold of Dave's extended palm. He tucked his book under his arm and grabbed his backpack.

"Yes please, sir."

"Just... call me Dave, okay, kiddo?"

The boy nodded, unfazed by Dave's nervous hand squeeze. He really had no idea how to treat a child, but this one seemed to making it easy. He took the bag from Spencer, smiling. "What have you got in here?" Dave asked, puzzled by the weight.

Spencer smiled thoughtfully. "I got maps a-and food and um... Gary."

Dave nodded as he walked Spencer over to the elevator and pressed a button.

"Who's Gary?" Dave asked after a moment, still aware of the receptionist watching them.

"My teddy bear."

"Gary's a strange name for a teddy bear."

"Is it?" Spencer turned to look up at Dave, his expression so full of wonder that Dave just chuckled.

Spencer, still confused by the conversation looked instead at the elevator.

He stared at the big metal doors waiting for Dave to push them open and startling when they opened by themselves. Spencer shifted closer to Dave's side as he eyed the metal room in front of them.

"What's that?" he mumbled.

Dave looked down at Spencer and then followed his gaze to the elevator.

"What's what?"

"That metal box? Is it... Spencer bit his lip before whispering, "the tardis." His eyes were wide and curious and Dave chuckled as he shook his head.

He stepped into the elevator, pulling a slightly reluctant Spencer with him. He pushed the button and smiled down at the young boy. "It's an elevator. The doors shut-" Dave motioned to the closing doors. "Then a big piece of string pulls it up and down and stops on the floor you want to go on."

Spencer frowned as the elevator moved. "String can't be strong enough."

Dave rubbed the back of his neck and realised he was being outsmarted by a child. "Yea you're right. It's metal wire. Thick stuff. Strong too."

Spencer nodded, satisfied with that answer, and spent the rest of the ride up to the BAU watching the buttons flash as they ascended each floor.

The idea that the kid didn't know what an elevator sunk slowly into Dave's mind and he was going to ask the kid if he ever left the house when the doors opened on their floor.

Dave stepped out, glancing through the glass into the bullpen. He saw the majority of the team in the kitchenette and so he started walking the opposite way, down the corridor. He stopped in front of the hidden door into the bullpen, one that opened a few feet from the stairs to his office. He reached down and lifted Spencer into his arms.

The last thing he wanted was to be stopped now.

Spencer gaped around the bullpen as Dave hurried to his office. It was better than he could have ever imagined. There were lots of desks and lots of people at those desks working and chatting to one another. Spencer wondered, as he gripped onto Rossi's shoulder, what it would be like to be an adult and to work here. He could find Ashley on his own then.

Dave finally managed to shut his office door and he set Spencer down on his feet, handing the kid his bag back.

"Why are we being sneaky, Mr. Rossi sir?" Spencer asked, forgetting that he was meant to call him Dave.

"Because my boss is... do you know what a dragon is?"

Spencer nodded eagerly.

"Well my Boss is like a dragon. We don't want to wake the dragon, okay?"

Spencer nodded, solemnly this time, his face quite serious for a four-year-old. Dave sat on the couch and patted the space next to him.

"So, bambino, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you, sir." Spencer stood with his hands behind his back, as if he were in the principals office.

"You said you didn't tell your dad. Did you take a trip here? Is he nearby?"

Spencer bit his lip and shook his head. Dave was about to question it when Spencer suddenly grabbed his leg. He looked down into the boy's desperate eyes.

"Please sir, I need your help to find someone."

Dave picked Spencer up slowly, sitting him down next to him. "Did you lose someone? Did you lose you Dad? Because I'm sure we can find him somewhere around."

Spencer shook his head vehemently and Rossi noticed the tears filling his eyes. Spencer got on his knees, his hands clasping together and his bottom lip trembling.

"I ran away from home," Spencer said and he pointed to his discarded bag. "I got lots of buses and I caught the subway and I had to pretend to be with people but I was all alone a-and I was scared... a-and I just...I just wanted to see you 'Cus you find people!" Spencer gasped out a breath and sobbed as soon as he had more oxygen. Dave reached forward, unsure how to comfort the boy. Spencer wiped his tears away quickly and took another deep breath before looking up at Rossi. "M-My sister went missing. Daddy said sh-she's fine b-but I haven't s-seen her and-"

"Hey, Dave, Jess called, she'll have Jack Wed- Dave?"

Spencer and Dave looked up suddenly as Aaron walked in and spencer quickly slid back onto his backside and rubbed his face. Dave opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.

Once he cleaned away the tears, Spencer dropped his head and mumbled a "sorry, sir," in the most repressed little voice.

Hotch looked between Rossi and Spencer before cementing his scowl on his partner. "Who is this, Agent Rossi?"

Dave finally found his voice and he put a hand on Spencer's shoulder. "This special young man is Spencer Reid."

Aaron frowned at the name. "How did he get here?"

"I'm..." Dave looked down at the child. Spencer still had his head bowed but he was looking at Dave in the corner of his eye. "I'm not sure. I think... maybe we should all have a talk."

Aaron nodded. "Conference room. Are you okay, buddy? Need a drink? Food?"

Spencer looked up slowly into Aaron's kindly face and he managed a watery smile.

"I'm fine, thank you, sir. I just n-need Mr. Rossi's help."

"Well come with us into the room where we help people. It has a round table and a TV."

Aaron offered his hand out to the boy who looked at Dave as if for permission.

"I'm right behind you, kiddo."

With that Spencer took Hotch's hand.

Are things getting clearer? No? Good ;D

I like a good slow build, I promise things will all be revealed you just have to keep reading.

Thanks for reading. Please tell me what you thought.

See you soon (hopefully in a week.)