Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds

It is dark outside.

The road the big, black SUV drives on towards Quantico, to home, is basked in darkness, only lit by the yellow light of the head-lights of the car.

Who knew what was out there? This late at night, animals are sure to roam around but Reid knows it are not only animals that are to be found in these dark woods this night.

Somewhere in that darkness, hiding between trees that seemed to stare at passers-by and the leaves rustling almost eerily because of the slight breeze that danced through the air that night, lays the body of a dead girl.

She is missed by her family and friends, murdered by a man who showed no compassion, no remorse and would not give up the location of her body in exchange for a deal in court. Her parents would take years to recover. Would probably never find proper closure until her dead, decaying body was found and buried to decay even further yet this time in the confines of a coffin with a gravestone that allows her family to visit the corpse of what was once their lovely girl.

A shiver, cold and haunting, courses through Spencer Reid's body and he turns his gaze away from the woods, instead staring up at the night-sky through the front window.

He swallows once and for only a moment closes his eyes.

This hadn't been the most disastrous and horrific case they had ever dealt with, by far even. But the fact the girl's body wasn't found grasped at Reid.

Because this girl was missed and the search for her remains would continue until they were found. But there were so many persons who wouldn't be looked for and it made him wonder.

If he were to die would he be missed?

How long would it take for someone to find his dead body, who would care enough to pay for a funeral and who would cry if he were to die?

"Hey kid, you okay?"

Morgan's voice, calm and husky as always but laced with the littlest bit of worry this time, carries through the air.

Reid opens his eyes and turns his head, watching the man that is driving the car, bringing them home. "I'm fine." He answers softly, almost doubtful.

He sweeps his gaze back to the air and he watches the stars, silence yet again falling like a blanket over them although somewhat uncomfortably.

It is a beautiful night with a pitch-black sky and stars shining both brightly and dimmed.

Stars, to Reid, are like little dots of hope painted onto a black canvas that will forever stay black while the stars disappear, one by one.

Hope is a thing all persons are born with but some lose their hope due to events occurring in their lives. Reid has lost a lot of hope in his life and fears every day that he might lose a bit more.

He doesn't want to but it is not a thing he can do something about. Because hope is a thing you place in others, almost like trust. And thus it are others and their actions that either flare or destroy hope.

Spencer has tried, throughout the years, not to place hope in others anymore because he is afraid for more disappointment, more hope shattered and another star fading from his black canvas, the darkness that is within everyone.

Suddenly, to Reid's utter delight, the silence is broken when Morgan says: "You don't look fine to me."

His tone is truly worried this time and Spencer smiles when he catches the other man stealing glances at him.

He then smiles, this time the affectionate and happy quirk of his lips reaching his eyes which shine slightly, and says: "No, I'm sure I'm fine now."

When Morgan sees the brightening of Reid's expression his lips quirk up in a small smile. "Good." He mutters, the words meant for himself but spoken out loud nonetheless.

Reid smiles and turns his head back to the window and he resumes watching the stars, a peaceful silence settling between them and he can't help but feel content.

Because there is one person that always keeps up Spencer's hope, that there is good and that there are people that care.

And thus far, Derek Morgan's star has not once even dimmed slightly.

The End