Author's note – Sorry for the extremely long hiatus, life got in the way. So, I'm currently rewriting the chapters I do have up but after that I should have more for you guys. I'm feeling inspired.

Reid POV

I was walking toward one of the elevators inside the building after flashing my ID at a security guard when I heard somebody call out my name from behind me.

"Dr Reid?" I turned around to see a petite young woman with bright red hair and sparkling green eyes, she was wearing a visitor's badge.

"Sorry do I..?" I trailed off as I came to the sudden conclusion that she was actually rather pretty.

"Oh... Sorry. You must save people's lives so often in your line of work that they probably all run together. I'm Sally. Sally Matthews" She rambled.

"No… I remember you" I said as I gestured towards the elevators.

"I'm actually not surprised, given the fact that you have an eidetic memory" she replied as she pushed the call button.

"I suppose that's not too big of an assumption" I laughed, and the elevator dinged. We both walked in and I pushed the button for the BAU offices. "What floor?" I enquired.

"Same as you" she responded, tucking her hair behind her right ear as the doors closed.

"You changed your hair colour. You know it's actually quite common for people who have suffered trauma to drastically change their appearance in order for them to distance themselves from the event in question. It's also a form of self-care which is widely regarded as a good coping mechanism for individuals suffering from PTSD. Another interesting note…" I trailed off. She'd smiled a little at first, it was a somewhat nervous smile but the more I spoke, the more hardened her expression became. I realised how insensitive I was being and immediately changed the subject, after all she must be at Quantico for a reason other than talking to me. "Anyway, are you here to see someone?" thankfully, the elevator came to a halt and we both stepped out.

"I'm in training, I came to get a psych eval before I can get my final sign-off to graduate the academy. It's an unfortunate requirement of someone with my background" She smiled again when she talked about her training but deflated a little when she mentioned her past.

"Who's doing your evaluation?" I asked, it was rare for this kind of thing to happen in the BAU, it was usually outsourced to one of the many psychiatrists on the FBI's staff.

"Aaron Hotchner, but… He appears to be running late" She said, looking at a watch on her right wrist. She appeared ticked off at the fact she was being kept waiting in front of the elevator with me, likely a result of my earlier faux pas. I seem to make a lot of those, despite my intelligence.

I saw Hotch hurriedly walking toward us with a look of determination etched across his face.

"Miss Matthews. Sorry to keep you, it was unavoidable. If you'd like to follow me, I'll take you up to my office" He greeted her quickly and efficiently and began to walk towards the bullpen, expecting her to follow him. She did, striding purposefully behind him and up to the bullpen. I trailed after them and we arrived there in moments. JJ walked toward us and smiled, shaking Sally's hand.

"Sally, it's been a while" She said happily. My face brightened at her tone.

"Yeah, about a year? I should really thank you for talking to me back then, you helped me a lot" She mumbled, a little embarrassed.

"It was nothing, so Hotch is doing you psych eval?"

"Yeah, I guess they thought it was fitting" she laughed a little, before the ghost of what she'd been through passed across her face.

"Miss Matthews if you'd like to come up to my office. Reid? Could you get her something to drink?" He asked.

"Sure" I nodded before turning to look at Sally.

"Tea please. Really strong with no sugar" She smiled and walked behind Hotch and up to his office. He closed the door behind them. I went to the kitchen to make Sally's tea and I got Hotch some coffee. He'd only just got in and was likely to need it. I walked up to Hotch's office and knocked on the door before entering. I handed Sally her tea, she took a sip and smiled brightly.

"Thank you" She smiled again before staring down at her tea cup as if she was embarrassed. I walked around Hotch's desk and set his coffee down, he looked up and nodded at me thankfully. I went to leave the room but decided to risk another look at Sally before I left. My words from earlier, although a natural behaviour from me were hurtful to her and I wanted to make sure it didn't have an effect on her evaluation. Our eyes met across the room and we stared at each other for what seemed like the longest of moments before she broke away. I left and I closed the door behind me. I walked down the stairs and sat at my desk, glancing at the Manila folder in front of me.

"So Pretty Boy, who's the girl?" Morgan asked from his desk, I turn to look at him.

"Sally Matthews, we worked her case two years ago" I replied quickly.

"Ah, yeah I remember. Blind unsub abducting and killing women" He remembered.

"She looks different don't you think?" I pondered.

"Since when do you notice how a girl looks? But yeah, she does; new hair, tattoos and she's lost a lot of weight" Morgan said.

"Being held captive by a madman is enough to make you reinvent yourself" I explained, mindful of my earlier ramblings. I turn back to my desk and get back to my paper work.

Sally POV

"You can call me Sally you know Agent Hotchner, I'd actually prefer it" I said calmly, trying to diffuse the tension.

"So Sally, what made you want to join the FBI?" He asked, I got the feeling that he was always very straight the point.

"You're rather straight to the point aren't you? Sorry we're talking about me aren't we. Well... It was you. All of you I mean for starters you saved my life and then last year I saw a news report where Agent Morgan admitted being a victim of a serial offender and I was in awe. Before I knew it, I'd sent in my application and was asking JJ to write me a recommendation. I was struggling before I saw that report, I was too thin, I was sad, and I had no purpose after leaving college; but I was inspired. I don't want other people to feel the way I was feeling. I want to save them" I explained, I realised that for the first time in a long time I had bared my true emotions to somebody. He took some notes and looked at me again.

"Do you suffer from nightmares about your ordeal?" He inquires.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't. What I went through was horrific and it would have broken me had I not been so worried about my mom. Of course I relive it sometimes in my dreams that's natural right? It helps me process it more thoroughly"

"How do you feel on a daily basis?" He asks. The question confused me; it was more generic, but it felt good to get past my issues.

"Better lately, content even. Training makes me happy; it means I'm working towards a future where I can help people" I explained, a smile passed across my face.

"What are your personal relationships like?"

"Good I guess, I fight with my Mom and my sisters sometimes but that's natural when you're similar. I don't see my brother much, haven't really since I was sixteen and I get on with my friends quite well, boys and girls. I broke up with my boyfriend a few months ago, we're still good friends. I generally get on well with people I meet I guess"

"Do you often take unnecessary risks?"

"No, not really. I tend to think before I act and I've always been careful. I guess I'm a little more cautious than I used to be but I think that's to be expected"

"What is your sex life like?"

"Such a personal question Agent Hotchner... I'd say normal, I don't tend to have sex with people I'm not in a relationship with and I'm not in one right now. But I suppose you mean what do I like? What arouses me? Sexual deviance isn't really my thing. I like consensual, normal sex" I felt bad for trying to make him feel awkward, but I wanted to see the emotions I had seen in him two years ago. That mix of muted anger and relief when they found me, he'd become emotionally involved with my case. I saw the way he shifted slightly in his seat after hearing my answer, the way his pupils dilated a little and I had my reaction. I felt a little happier, more relaxed. I drank some of my tea and I noticed how cool it was getting so I drank it all.

"Do you do that often?"

"Do what often?"

"Try to manipulate other's emotions so you can exert control"

"No, I reserve that for people asking me extremely personal questions"

"The questions need to be personal. Now tell me, what scares you?"

"Not much anymore. I survived being abducted and tortured over a period of two months I think after that I can handle the dark, spiders and clowns" I giggled a little to mask the pain.

"You're trying to make light of the situation. Do you do that a lot?" He inquired; a look of concern passing across his stern features.

"I... I guess so. It helps me cope with what happened to me. How would you react? Let me guess. You'd lock it up inside you and compartmentalise it to the extreme" I reply a little snarkily.

"How do you know this?" He asks, inquisitive.

"I know what you've been through and I can see it. Your posture is rigid, you hold yourself in check. You're a dad which means you have to be able to separate being a profiler and being a father; you can compartmentalise well. You can see what you have to see on a daily basis and not be in a corner crying and screaming. Oh and I know you're a dad because I see that picture of your son reflected in the mirrored clock behind you. It's the only personal item in this entire office which makes me think he's the most important thing in your life and what could be more important to a person than their own child?"

"I think we're about done" he said. Resigned as if he'd come to a reasonable conclusion.

"Okay. Thank you Agent Hotchner" I smiled at him, a little nervously as I was over analysing what his conclusion could have been.

"Call me Hotch. It was nice seeing you again Sally" He extended his hand and I shook it.

"You too. Thank you again, for saving my life and requesting to do my psych eval" I smirked and turned to leave.

"How did you know?"

"Your behaviour Hotch" I smiled and picked up my cup and walked out the door. I walked to Dr Reid's desk.

"Can you show me to the kitchen? I'd like to wash my cup" He seemed startled.

"Okay..." He got up and he led the way to the kitchen.

"Did I scare you?" I asked.

"What? No" He sputtered

"Are you sure? You jumped when I spoke and you hesitated when you answered me as if you were still processing and absorbing what I'd said" I explained happily as I placed my cup in the sink and turned on the faucet. I washed my cup quickly and efficiently before turning off the water and drying my hands.

"You're profiling me Dr Reid I can see you watching my every move and calculating it" I looked into his eyes and for a moment I was trapped. It was like I could see the wheels turning in his mind, I looked away. "Will you walk me out?" I asked, daring to hope for a moment that he was as intrigued by me as I was by him.

"Of course, I will" He agreed and began walking.

"Do you like what you do Dr Reid?" I asked.

"Yes, I do. I help people and I fit in, all my life I've never fitted in and when I'm here... I belong" he explained.

"I like you Dr Reid, you're intelligent. Thank you for walking me out" I stopped just before the door and I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Blushing, I went to leave. I turned to look back once more.

"Goodbye... Spencer" I smiled, despite the unfamiliarity of his name on my lips I liked it. I turned and I left.