Chapter 3-

Chapter 3- Named

The coroner stroked his chin.

"What is it?" J.J asked. The coroner paused.

"Well… high levels of carbon dioxide are usually found in victims who have died in their cars, usually as a result of asphyxiation… so I was just wondering…" the coroner trailed off.

"You mean, when they gas themselves?" J.J asked with shock. The coroner nodded.

"I was thinking that maybe there may have been some gas leaked into the house, but if the windows were open, then it would have all gone out wouldn't it." The coroner shrugged off what he thought was a silly thought and was about to resume explaining his findings again. Morgan glanced at J.J, a look of realisation on both of their faces.

"Excuse me for a moment." Morgan rushed out of the room and called Garcia.

"Good times for mates rates..." Garcia answered in a musical tone. Morgan smiled.

"Hey baby girl. I need you to cross reference people with criminal records of asphyxiation or people who work in the gas company. They need to live or have worked within this suburb sometime during the last couple of weeks." He explained. He could hear Garcia typing away. He smiled. She was so dependable.

He could just see her sitting at her desk with bright coloured ribbons in her hair, along with pink streaks. She would be twirling her fluffy pen in her hand, already thinking of a smart remark to end the conversation on.

"Ok… I've got like 20 hits… I'll send them through to the Police station, ok?"

"Thanks baby girl." He smiled, waiting for her closing remark.

"Sure thing Romeo." Garcia smiled to herself, as did Morgan as he closed his phone.

- - - - - - - - -

Hotch and Rossi approached the couple at their house. They were warmly welcomed and were offered biscuits and tea upon arrival.

"So what happened?" Hotch asked as Rossi munched on a biscuit that had been dipped in his tea. The young couple glanced at each other.

Rossi profiled them as they prepared to tell their story.

The husband, Jared, held his wife's hand. They both looked at each other for support. Their home was organised and so their was order in their lives. Their wedding rings sat on their fingers, glistening. The husband's was not as tight and seemed to glow brighter. Obviously he didn't wear it as much as his wife did. Perhaps he worked with machinery which required him to remove it. The couple seemed deeply in love. Nothing strange here.

"We were out for our morning walk. Suddenly I heard screaming. There are a lot of houses around here with young kids, so when I asked my husband…" The wife explained, sadness etched on her face.

"I said that it may be just the neighbours kids squealing… you know… playing. But Renee was right. She told me that it didn't sound right." Jared finished.

"We walked around the corner and I saw a young girl about 15 or 16, in a blood spattered dress. Her hair was matted and she was stumbling muttering to herself. She saw us and pleaded me for help…"

"I called the ambulance and Renee comforted her. She passed out." Jared explained, patting his wife's hand.

"I thought she may have been drunk, but I couldn't smell any alcohol on her breath. When I saw her injuries and her puppies, I knew that something bad had happened. Jared went to check houses around the street." She gulped. Hotch noticed how she clasped her husband's hand tighter.

"I jogged up and down and then noticed the one at the end with the door open. I went up the path… I didn't even need to go to the porch… I could already see a body on the floor…" Jared's eyes glazed over as he relived the morning before.

Hotch and Rossi nodded.

"Did you notice any strange the night before? Any unusual vehicles parked out front? People walking around who don't usually?" Hotch questioned. The couple exchanged glances. They shook their heads.

Hotch and Rossi knew that they had all that they needed for now.

"Thanks… we'll be in touch." Rossi said as they left.

- - - - - - - - -

Reid entered the hospital room again, smiling. The girl smiled back. She had gotten the nurse to unhook the heart monitor, and so now all that she had to hide was her expression. She knew that she wouldn't have much luck with that… he was a profiler.

He walked over to the bed cautiously and sat in the seat next to the bed. He smiled, and sighed.

"So… I think that maybe we should start with trying to remember your name.." Spencer said, crossing his legs and opening his notebook. The girl nodded.

"It starts with an 'M'… I remember that I shortened it to something that was only a few letters…" she said. Spencer pursed his lips.

"Mia?" he asked. The girl shook her head.

"Maddy?"

"Nope."

Spencer crossed off names in his book as the girl continued to shake her head. Finally, something clicked.

"Mel?" he asked. The girl paused. She thought for a moment. She bit her lip. Realisation lit up her eyes.

"Yes! That's it! My name is Mel!" she screamed happily. But soon after, her face was replaced with tiredness and sadness. Spencer smiled.

"Do you remember your real name?" he asked. The girl looked out the window, shaking her head.

"No… but I know that I was known by Mel to nearly everyone." She said, shrugging. She sighed and then yawned. Spencer bit his lip.

"You should get some sleep you know, Mel." He suggested. Mel turned and smiled when he used her name. She returned her gaze to the sunset outside the window.

"No… I don't think that I can… not yet."

"Why not?"

"I'm scared…"

Reid gave her a sympathetic look.

"I know."

"I can't even close my eyes without seeing them…" the girl turned away fighting back tears. One tear drop slipped down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped it away.

"I better let you get some rest. You've done really well today." He said, beginning to stand. Mel turned her teary eyes to him.

"No!... please…" she said, grasping his sleeve. He turned.

"I… don't want to be alone right now… please… I'm afraid." She pleaded, tears spilling from her eyes. Spencer nodded and sat down again.

"Alright. I'll stay."

As he waited for Emily to return, he began to make some conversation with Mel, distracting her from her thoughts.

"You know… it's not abnormal to feel unsafe. About 95% of survivors of violent crimes feel this way after…"

Emily stood behind the door, just out of view. She could everything that Spencer was saying. She smiled. He was back to normal… normal for him. He had started to bombard the poor girl with statistics, yet she was hanging on his every word.

'It's only a matter of time before the girl goes insane…' Emily thought to herself. She smiled.

TBC…

a/n: chap 4 coming soon guys! What's to come? I'm not even quite sure myself! I have a storyline in mind, but that's for later… I need to fill in the blanks! Anyway, hope you enjoyed. Bellbird xoxo PS: I love Spencer Reid FOREVER.