Degrees of Sanity

And so I sit here in the dark
You made the rules I played the part
I never rushed or pushed my fate
When time was tight I knew to wait
And circumstance
So well disguised
Within a gathering of lies
And in the dark I lie awake
So I can watch you drive your stake

And in the dark it all unwinds
I pray for change
The kiss of time
And in my thoughts
I sit and dwell
The labyrinth's there
I know it well

And all the things you never heard
While in my mind I search for words
But time was lost
The curtain fell
I take my bows and wish you well

-"Degrees of Sanity" By Savatage

Reid woke suddenly in a cold sweat. His heart was racing as if he had just ran a few miles. It was completely dark. The nightmares were getting worse. Along with the haunting details of Dania's death, that he would never share with anyone, there was the haunting details of a man killing other criminals.

Reid looked over at the alarm clock and found that it was 2:33 in the morning. The rest of the day had been slow and they hadn't gotten any where. Jordan called a press conference in which she told the public about the death of the serial killer, not mentioning that it was the man who called himself Batman. They were hoping that that would make him mad and force him to make a mistake.

They had gotten nothing from the delivery man.

Garcia had found a few cases like this one all around the country, but there was no closer to who he was, so she was still digging.

Reid had looked over the note that was left a thousand times but couldn't seem to figure anything else out. (The note and box didn't have a single fingerprint on them.)

It was about ten o'clock when Hotch told them to go to bed. They had nothing new, and chances where Batman wasn't going to leave the city over night, and wouldn't kill again.

'There can be up to thirty serial killers at a time in the US.' Reid thought looking into the darkness, embracing it. 'Then there are hundreds of arsonists, stalker, and rapists. We will never be able to figure out where he's going next.' That thought wasn't helping his already decreasing mood. 'His other murders where of small time criminal. Justen Lange was a part time stalker. Fredrick Bing was a rapist who had raped only two women. He got luck with Greenwood.' And on his thought went. He knew he was just trying to shield his mind from the horrors that a waited him.

The night went slowly from then on. Reid fought with his thoughts and failed. The dark started to surround him- box him in. But for once in his life he liked it. He liked to be alone- not having to hid from anyone. Keeping secrets around the team was hard, but in the dark he could be open with himself. It didn't take the pain away. Reid was sure the pain would never go away, but it took the stress and some of the anger and hate. He didn't understand why he was angry at them, but he couldn't control himself.

'Maybe her death opened my mind to things I've been missing?' he thought harshly. 'Maybe before I was blind but now I can really see what's going on....' A song floated into his mind at that. Something he had heard on the radio.

A man only sees want he wants to see

When he's in his mind

Where he is that he wants to be

Living in a world where he's safe from reality

The words made more sense to him at that moment then they ever would have. A new anger arose in him, one that he hated but loved. Over and over he said the words in him head. The soft sound of the rain against his window and the occasional thunder added to the dark moment.

A few hours later the team was together again at the small table. Garcia was on speaker phone telling them what she had found. Reid's mood couldn't have been any worse. With every hour in the darkness he saw something else to make him mad. Another reason the lyrics where right. He didn't want to be like this, hated the feeling of hatred and loathing. But then there was a soft need for it. He was sure if he didn't do something about the regret and pain then he would go mad and this was the only thing he had. What he didn't seem to see was this in its own way was madness.

"The killings go from California to Maine. All over the country. I've found six more since we last talked," That made for 11 murders. "I can't seem to find a link between the cities though. No travailing circus, nothing...."

"He would be working a undermining job...fast food maybe..." Hotch put it.

"Hun, do you know how many people are fired and hired every week in those kind of jobs." Garcia said.

'45%...' Reid thought. '"How do you know that, kid." Morgan would say.' He thought coldly and thus kept his mouth shut.

"He most likely tried to become a cop, but failed." Rossi added.

"Nope." She said after a moment. "Still to many." This was impossible.

"Agents?" A voice said and they looked to see a police officer. "There's a call on the tip line you set up. He says its the Batman."

"Garcia?" Hotch said silently asking her to start a trace.

"Got it."

"Line three, sir." The officer said and Hotch answered, leaving it on speaker phone.

"This is Agent Hotchner." He said.

"I killed that guy." The man said.

"What guy?"

"The Couple Murderer. I killed him."

"Your admitting murderer?"

"He was a scum bag. He doesn't deserver to live."

"Is that why you want us to let them out of jail, so you can kill them?"

"So you figured my letter out."

"Yes."

"I'm sure it was Agent Reid."

Reid's heart skipped a beat at the mention of him.

"You still all broken up about your mother's death."

Reid stood quickly knocking his chair over, about to shot at the man, but Morgan grabbed him and put his hand over his mouth. Reid had the urge to bit him, but decided not to.

"You call yourself Batman?" Hotch said keeping his voice even even though they had just learned something they never even thought could be. Some how the UNSUB knew a lot about them.

"I've got to go."

The call ended and Morgan let Reid go. Rubbing his arms where he was held he listened to his co-workers giving them all a cold glare.

"Gracia?" Hotch asked.

"1901 Fraise Ave..... Sam Hudson." Garcia said as fast as she could.

With that they all turned and started out of the small office. At the door Hotch turned and stopped Reid.

"You stay here."

"What?!"

"Do it!" Then they were gone, leaving behind one of their own.

Reid stared after them and considered following but knew he would only be in more trouble. Instead he just left. He wasn't sure where he was going to go, or how he was going to get there, but he needed to go. It was still raining as he walked and he was completely wet only a few minutes later.

'Why do I have to listen to him?' He thought coldly. The small city seemed empty of all life, but for a few cars that went by ever few minutes. 'Why have I always listened to him? He has never respected me, never known me. No-one knows me.'

Reid retreated to the darkness at that time. The one place that he knew he would be safe. The one place he was himself. The one place he didn't have to lie. He was ready to live in the darkness and forget the life he had lived before. Forget the people he once knew and loved. He never wanted to see the light again. He embraced it dipping deeper into insanity.