David Rossi stared at the young man who had finally looked up from the book he had been reading as he tried to grasp what the man had asked. Of all the things Spencer could have said to knock him for six, the use of the other original profilers name was most certainly something he would have anticipated.
"How do you know Jason?" he demanded.
"CalTech, he noticed me there and we got talking. He said to consider joining the BAU, I researched it, that's how I know about you and Agent Hotchner." The youth explained.
Jason had thought that Spencer was good enough for the unit, he couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the lithe young man attempting to get through the academy, but still, as much as he and Jason clashed when they had worked together, he knew the other man had an ability to see peoples true potential, he wondered had Spencer's life not been thrown upside down by the events of eight years ago, could he be in the BAU today, not as a suspect, but as a profiler.
"He left, five years ago; it all finally got to him. I came back as his replacement."
"I'm sorry to hear that. He was a good man." Spencer said solemnly.
"We're going to interview you now. Will this room do?" Spencer nodded. "One of my team mates will have to be present, as will Dr Mitre."
Spencer looked David in the eye and spoke in a low voice. "He can't be trusted can he?" David shook his head.
"How long have you been suspicious?" Spencer just looked to the door as though awaiting David to call in the two other people.
Since it was clear Spencer was going to say no more, he called for Mitre and Morgan to come in. Spencer's eyes grew wide with fear as he looked at the strong bald man who was looking at him almost disbelievingly.
"Agent Rossi, you were informed that no one was supposed to talk to Spencer without me present." The older man said through gritted teeth.
"It must have slipped my mind." The agent's tone was casual and dismissive, angering the doctor more. "Now Dr Reid, by the way congratulations on being so accomplished at such a young age, that is quite an achievement, this is my colleague SSA Derek Morgan." Morgan nodded; Spencer lifted his hand in a sort of salute, but could not look the other man in the face. "He is here to help me established what happened. Any questions?"
"Who won the election?"
"Excuse me?" David raised an eyebrow.
"The election, it was on the other day wasn't it?"
"Obama." Morgan answered. Spencer stared at the floor, eyes wide and merely nodded his head furiously. David noted the young man's shyness towards his colleague, the look on Morgan's face signified the other man had noticed it too.
"Dr Reid, why don't you become comfortable, we want to make this as easy for you as possible." David said calmly. He saw Spencer's eyes and knew this was going to be harder than he expected with the young doctor terrified to even speak as he stared at the floor, avoiding any sort of eye contact and his eyes darting towards the two men's feet over on the other side of the room.
"We're going to get nowhere Rossi if the kid is too frightened to talk." Morgan stated. Spencer shuddered physically. "I mean look at him, this should be one on one."
"Perhaps you should leave then. He knows me with years so it can't be me that's the problem." Mitre snapped. Spencer winced at the harsh raised voice. David found himself getting annoyed that the conversation was taking place as though Spencer was not even in the room.
A knock on the door interrupted the discussion. Blake walked and looked to everyone in the room. "Sorry to interrupt, but Agent Hotchner needs to speak to Dr Mitre immediately."
"Then send him in here." The doctor growled.
"Alone." She replied firmly.
"I cannot leave my patient."
"Correction, you will not. I alone have interviewed many tens of people that are patients of different medical facilities in the last handful of months alone, most of whom were not to full capacity, physically or mentally, and we were able to do so in private. This should be no different only you will not allow it." David argued.
"It is my job to ensure his safety." Mitre countered.
"And we see you took that job very seriously." Blake interrupted. "Our technical analyst found the paper trail; you made the request to bring Dr Reid to Emerson." The doctor turned exceptionally pale, even Spencer looked up to look at the man. "My SAC and I are going to have a little chat with you in one of our interview rooms. So if you would follow me." Morgan and Dave looked at each other as somewhat shook Mitre followed the female agent out of the room.
"Now we can talk." Smiled Morgan. Both men looked at Spencer, who was staring at the muscular agent with a look of sheer terror on his face. "Chill kid, I meant nothing ominous by that." Morgan explained apologetically, Spencer's shoulders slacked a little.
"Right so, let's get this started. Spencer, I want to go back to that day, can you do that? And you don't need to worry about Morgan; he knows about your little scam, we just want to help you." He watched Spencer look to his team mate who smiled encouragingly back at him.
Spencer nodded sadly, before taking a deep breath and starting. "I was on mid-term from college; I was doing my doctorate in Chemistry. It was a Saturday; there was a library not too far from my parent's house. About six blocks, I went there most days. I left home at eleven forty two in the morning, arrived to the library at noon. I left there again at eight in the evening. I was late so I ran across my old high school football field. I thought it would be okay on a Saturday. There was no training then, I had learnt that lesson five days before."
"And you still went back?" Morgan asked curiously.
"My father was not renowned for his patience towards tardiness." Spencer responded spitefully. Both men looked at him sadly, understanding the underlying statement. David was angered that anyone could want to hurt their child for wanting to better themselves with a good education.
"When I got home the house was in darkness and the door was open. I thought it meant that my Mom went wandering again so I ran in to throw my bag in my room before going to see if I could find her, My father's car was there, I assumed he just arrived home and was looking around the house to see if she was there before going searching for her. I walked in, and all I could think was the weird smell."
"Smell?" David asked.
"Like rust, like I said, it was weird." David looked at the man's saddened face. He knew what was coming. "I turned on the light, and there they were, in the living room. Tied to the dining room chairs." The tears began. David nodded encouragingly. "My father's throat was cut, there was blood everywhere, but also seemed to have bruises and burns too."
"There was a lot of signs that he had been tortured before he died." Confirmed Morgan.
"But my Mom. Oh God my poor Mom." David realised then not a single tear the boy shed was for his father, but for the mother he adored so much. "She looked as though she was unconscious. I checked for a pulse, but she…..she…." and the young man broke down sobbing.
"And that's when the neighbour walked in?" David asked. Spencer only nodded. "We'll give you a few minutes to mourn Reid. How about you get the case file Morgan while I get us all another coffee?" Morgan nodded and walked out the door. "How do you like your coffee kid?"
"Loads of sugar." Spencer sniffed. David grimaced at the response but nodded and walked out the door, leaving it ajar as he left.
A/N Thank you all for the great reviews. I know I promised more yesterday, but I burnt my hand and it hurts like a bitch! More soon.