David could see the pleased look on Spencer's face as he carefully nursed the delicious Vendi Caramel Macchiato with more sugar than coffee as they went back into the FBI building, getting a new visitor badge for him as they did so. The three got into the elevator; both David and Morgan could not help but notice the terror in Spencer's eyes while other agents and personnel got in and out of the elevators, wincing as though in pain each time someone brushed up against him. As soon as they hit the floor containing the BAU; the young man bolted out of the elevator and into a middle aged, somewhat indignant woman, both crashing to the floor, files scattering as they did so. It took David a moment to realise exactly who it was, and once he found out he, and indeed Morgan, found it difficult to prevent themselves from laughing.
David thought it best for him to help Spencer; it was clear that although he had begun to answer Morgan's questions he still feared him. Morgan on the other hand went to help the woman.
"What on earth was that?" Erin Strauss demanded.
"That was a slightly haphephobic Dr Spencer Reid." Laughed David, as he received a wicked look from the Section Chief.
"Haphe-what?" she enquired indignantly as Morgan helped her to her feet once more, before collecting up the dispersed paperwork.
"Haphephobia, also known as aphephobia, haphophobia, hapnophobia, haptephobia, haptophobia or thixophobia is a rare specific phobia that involves the fear of touching or of being touched. It is an acute exaggeration of the normal tendencies to protect one's personal space, expressed as a fear of contamination or of the invasion, and extending even to people whom its sufferers know well." Spencer recited, earning him a shocked look from the woman who was now pointing at him and looking to the two agents for an explanation.
"This is Dr Spencer Reid. And to say the man is of above average intelligence is an insult to him." Explained David.
"And the reciting stunt comes from his eidetic memory." Continued Derek.
"I see. Well Dr Reid, could you please refrain from assaulting federal employees while in the building?" The woman's tone was dry and bored as she went to walk off. Spencer blushed deep crimson. As soon as she was out of sight the two agents laughed, and continued to as they entered the BAU, meeting a team of somewhat perplexed agents.
"Dare I ask?" Hotch queried.
"The good Dr Reid decided the FBI and indeed the world would be better off without Strauss in it and attempted to take her out in the hall there, brave move to make in a federal building if you ask me." Shrugged David. Blake and JJ bit their lips together to stop themselves from laughing while Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"So what's the story with this Mitre guy?" Morgan asked.
"Go to the conference room and we'll discuss it." Morgan nodded and he and the rest of the team bar David obeyed the SAC's orders.
"What about Dr Reid?" David decided to ask.
"I'm not sure to be honest with you." Hotch looked at the timid man next to them.
"Aaron, he did not murder his parents and is in serious danger from whoever did."
"You're sure?" Rossi nodded. Hotch considered the man again. "I will fill you in on everything before we go in so you don't interrupt my team, understood."
The stern glare from the most senior profilers caused Spencer to root to the spot and cower, unable to even answer. Hotch looked at David who smiled sadly at the distressed Reid. "Come on Kid, we'll go in here for a sec." He planned to gently use his hand to guide Spencer to Hotch's office, but once he saw the hand coming for him the youngest man bolted backwards, slamming into the wall with a near sickening thud that David was sure was going to leave severe bruising. Both men jumped at his actions, unprepared for them. Spencer was wincing as he moved away from the wall, standing as close as he dared to the other men while looking at them apologetically. "Sorry Spencer, that was my fault, I shouldn't have went forward like that, you alright?"
Spencer edged slightly closer and nodded, but David noted he kept a vigilant eye on both men as they made their way into the office.
"Well, what have you got for us Hotch?"
"Dr Mitre is officially a person of interest. His bank account shows several payments of unexplainable large sums of cash and he of course illegally took Dr Reid over state lines."
"Did he say why?" asked David.
"No. But some of his answers were cryptic and I have to be honest, neither myself nor Blake were happy with them."
"Anything in particular?"
"How he had to do it and that we wouldn't understand, and other such things. We hadn't enough to hold him so we cut him loose. He knows Dr Reid will be staying here until we're happy with everything, speaking of which, anything I need to know happen on your little walk?" Hotch questioned with a funny look on his face.
"Hey, when a perfectly sane person is locked up for eight years, the least that can be done is you take them for a quiet stroll and a decent coffee." David raised his hands as he spoke jestfully before becoming serious once more. "The nurse was present outside Reid's home the night his parents were killed, and in the hospital he informed Spencer it was his turn, the kid acted in self-defence. Also Spencer was slightly late home that night."
"Meaning you were supposed to be there but weren't, I would imagine they had not anticipated that." Hotch looked at Spencer as he spoke, but the youth stared at the floor. "Alright, let's go talk this through with the team." The SAC walked out of the room and towards the conference room. Spencer was looking at David, who made a gesture with his head, urging the younger to follow Hotch. He could see the momentary confliction in Spencer's face before he walked slowly out the door, making sure David followed, noting how Spencer's constant checking was not about keeping an eye on his back, more checking that David was still there.
The three men entered the conference room where the rest of the team was waiting. All eyes seemed to focus on Spencer for a moment until David pointed to a chair for Spencer to take. Hotch stood in front of the team and began to explain.
"In case anyone here is of the opinion otherwise, we are taking this rather peculiar case. Dr Reid was seen as the only suspect in his parent's murders eight years ago, however Morgan and Rossi were able to conclude that he is not a suspect and following a psych evaluation from the bureau psychological team, that he is of full mental health, meaning we have somebody who has been at large for eight years and is now trying to finish annihilating the Reid family by sending a man to pose as a nurse into Emerson."
"Are we sure he's not a qualified nurse?" Blake enquired.
"Positive. Patrick Laurence "aka Larry" Sawyer is a lot of things, drug addict, thief, thug for hire, but nurse is not one of them. He has a rap sheet that would make some of our buddies in the closest penitentiary green with envy, which begs the question, why is he on the streets you wonder. Well my dears, wonder no more, Daddy Dearest is none other than Michael Laurence Sawyer, and yes, the Michael Laurence Sawyer who is running for Senate. Daddy has used many resources to stop little Larry from spending any time behind bars. Thank you I know I am brilliant." Garcia spoke so fast, she confused one or two of the others, especially Blake was still trying to learn to keep up with her fast spurts of information.
"What sort of lawyer was William Reid?" JJ asked.
"Business law, nothing criminal." Garcia answered scanning through her tablet.
"Michael Sawyer has businesses, would he have known him through that?" Morgan asked.
"I don't know." Garcia frantically looked through the information she had at hand.
"Yes and no." Came a quiet voice from the corner. The team looked around to the unobtrusive form of Spencer Reid.
"How so?" Morgan asked kindly, clearly hoping to encourage Spencer to expand on his answer.
"He used the firm my father worked at, but only dealt with the partners, never with regular lawyers. My father knew who he was, he used talk about him, but he would never have known my father." Spencer stared at the crime scene photos on the board as he spoke. David was glad that there was no pictures of the two victims up on it, he didn't want to cause the young man anymore distress.
"So we're looking for a team, at least two to subdue both victims." Rossi looked at Spencer wince as he referred to Diana and William Reid as victims.
"Right, and how does the doctor fit into all of this." Morgan asked, having not been filled in as Rossi had been.
"He illegally brought Dr Reid with him across state lines, there's something hinky about his financial transactions and to be frank, his answers were less than satisfactory." Blake explained looking to her team mate.
"Agreed, Dr Mitre is officially a person of interest as far as we are concerned. Though we are convinced he is nothing to do with the murders, he is indeed someway involved with the recent attempt on Dr Reid's life within the sanatorium." Hotch added. "I think it best if Morgan and I go to the sanatorium and see Dr Reid's quarters for ourselves as well as talk to Mitre again."
Morgan was getting out of his seat when there was a knock on the door followed by an unnerved looking agent poking their head in the door.
"Anderson, this better be important." Hotch growled.
"It is sir, there has been an explosion in the parking lot." The agent explained. The team rose. Spencer stared.
"What do you mean explosion?" Morgan demanded.
"A car bomb it seems. The man who SSA Blake and you sir were interviewing that doctor, it was his car."
A/N Oh I am mean! More tomorrow (well later today for me) hopefully.