Author's Note:

This chapter kind of has a song, but it's not the greatest. It's "We Build Then We Break" by The Fray.
"I don't know you, but I know what you did to her. She told me and I happen to believe her, too. They will be three steps behind. You will not know what's got you... I will be two steps behind. You will not know what's got you..."

So yeah...

Monday, February 6th, 2012 7:12 PM
Reid's home, Quantico, Virginia

Reid felt an odd sort of finality to the sound of his front door closing behind him as he hung his keys on their hook next to the door. His bag thumped to the floor next to the coffee table as he examined that day's mail. Bills, junk, bills, junk, Mom, junk, junk, bills, huh? Reid pulled out an otherwise-unmarked cream envelope marked DR. SPENCER REID in someone's neat print. Reid instantly recognized it from the dance studio as being Stan's, and tore it open to find bus money, a movie ticket, and a note, also in Stan's handwriting.

Take the first bus you can to the movie theatre mentioned on the ticket, enter, and sit as far to the back as you can. Steer clear of the interior aisle and the middle of the row.

~Stan

Reid was hesitant to leave, but flipped over the note to find extra directions, and the last line was what forced him out the door and down to the closest bus stop he could find:

I will be searching for you after the movie starts. If you have spare change, buy a large popcorn and plenty of candy. Amy's got a sweettooth, and I'd hate it if she were disappointed.

The line at the concession stand wasn't very long, so Reid paid for the popcorn, a small soda, and what he knew to be Amy's favorite candies out of those available: Sour Patch Watermelons, Twizzlers, Milk Duds, and a Milky Way bar. He walked into the theatre then, sitting in the row farthest back, in the seat closest to the left exit. The movie began, and Reid found himself polishing off the soda and popcorn within the first fifteen minutes. Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket, showing a number he didn't recognize. He answered it anyway.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Reid." The voice on the other end sent a chill down the one named's spine.

"Stan," Reid replied.

"I see you. I suggest you ditch the trash. Head to the back parking lot in fifteen minutes. I'll meet you there."

"And Amy?" Reid asked, his voice quivering slightly.

There was a moment of pause, but there was a faint sound, almost like laughter. "She likes the choices of candy you purchased." The line went dead.

Reid checked the time almost constantly, fidgeting in his seat as the minutes slowly ticked by. Finally, he stood, exited the theatre, tossed the paper cup and bowl in the nearest trash can, then headed out the back door. He walked as far as he could from the building itself, and went to stand in one of three empty parking spots next to each other. On his right was a Chevy truck. On his left a black Mercedes-Benz, the windows tinted darkly.

The minutes ticked by. Ten minutes after he had left the theatre, a mini van pulled into one of the empty spots next to him, and a mother with three children got out and headed into the theatre, talking about how good the movie they were about to watch would be.

Reid found himself watching as they walked into the building, never noticing a tan Camry pull into the spot next to him until the driver put down the window.

"You follow directions so easily, Dr. Reid," said the driver, and Reid whirled around to see Stan Fields at the wheel, staring off into the woods in front of the vehicle. Reid's eyes flew to the backseat, but Stan's words confirmed what his eyes were seeing. "Isn't it best that she isn't involved? She sends her regards, however."

Reid took a step back, but Stan sighed, turned off the vehicle, and opened the door, stepping out as if he were a movie star.

"You are so easy to lure, Dr. Reid," Stan said, his voice brimming with perverse satisfaction. "You have such a care for Amy, I am almost made believe you seek to have her for yourself. However, I know you to be incapable of such a feeling, so I know it to be false, but why else would you care so much for a girl whom you are almost two times older than?"

Reid took another step back, but the mini van prevented him from going any farther backwards.

Seeing this, Stan took a leisurely step forward, then said, "Come. I'm sure Amy would love to see you."

"No," Reid said, but his voice nearly quivered.

Stan displayed little dissatisfaction. "No?"

"I will not go with you. Not unless you will end up releasing Amy and anyone else you happen to be holding against their will. Even then I wouldn't go with you."

Stan shook his head disapprovingly. "I hoped I wouldn't have to tell you this."

"Tell me what?" Reid said with false confidence.

"If you don't come, well, many will die. She may be on the list," Stan said, then turned back to Reid's shocked face. "Do I have a passenger yet?"

Reid knew he would end up in the Camry with Stan no matter what, so he sighed. "Yes."

Stan smiled smugly. "Very good." He led the young agent to the passenger seat and opened the door, then walked around to the driver's side.

The two didn't get very far out of Quantico before Stan pulled over at a gas station. He left the car to pay with cash, but kept his eye on the passenger door as if daring Reid to run. Stan came back, filled up the tank, then drove away, Reid still in the passenger seat.

Stan drove along the highways, then ditched them at an exit advertising a McDonald's and a gas station. He drove around the town a little, then found whatever he was looking for: a jewelery store. He pulled up to it and parked, then came around to open the door for Reid.

"We're making a pit stop for something for Amy. I know she'll like this one," Stan said as Reid slowly got out of the Camry. While he was getting out, Stan grabbed his wrist and squeezed. Reid instantly opened his hand, his cell phone dropping out of it and on to the ground, the battery falling out, a crack appearing in the screen.

"Thank you," Stan said, letting go of Reid's wrist and picking up the phone and battery. "When we get in, you're getting married and searching for something for your fiance. I'm her father, and we're picking out our wedding gifts for her, got it?"

Reid nodded, his other hand around his sore wrist, so Stan pushed him forward and the two entered the jewelery store laughing. Stan pulled a wedding band from his pocket and shoved it on his finger just as an employee walked forward, her sweet voice saying, "Hi, how can I help you?"

Monday, February 6th, 2012
Somewhere in the wooded foothills of the Appalacians, United States

Journal,

I didn't quite finish what I was saying before, but that doesn't really matter right now. What matters is that I am seriously worried. Remember that room I found with a window? Well, everything's blanketed in snow, but that's not the least of my worries. It's already lightening up. That means Stan's been gone for quite some time. Last I saw him, the sky outside was light, and I spent quite some time in that room just watching for some sign of life outside of here. After I visited Mr. Bronsky, Mrs. Meyes, and Cameron, the sky was darkening, so I had gone and made myself a sandwich. Now that it's lightening up, I had made myself a bowl of cereal, but I still know something is wrong. Stan never leaves for an entire day like this.

It's so quiet in this house. I composed another several music pieces today, just to give myself not only something to do but some other sound here besides the water in the pipes and the radiators running.

Someone's coming!

That was Stan. He was just letting me know he's back, and that he's going to go to sleep now and that I should behave myself. Something was wrong with the way he acted. He gave me two pieces of jewelery. One's a butterfly necklace, with purple amethyst wings. That one instantly went into my jewelery box. Another is a beautiful locket with diamonds and rubies on the front. Inside is, well, what do you expect to be inside? Exactly. A photo of the two of us, then one of just him. It's a shame it's such a pretty locket. I would have loved to wear it.

You know, now that he's back, I think I might as well go back and visit Mr. Bronsky, Mrs. Meyes, and Cameron, at least to warn them he's back now.

Amy

Amy closed her journal and put it where it belonged before springing up and heading to the basement, her feet barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. Once she reached the basement door, she silently opened the door, and walked down the stairs after closing the door behind her. She headed over to Mr. Bronsky, Mrs. Meyes, and Cameron.

Mrs. Meyes breathed a sigh of relief. "Stan took us completely off-guard when he came in earlier. He wasn't whistling or anything! Thank goodness it's only you!"

Amy was confused. "Wait-he came down here? When? Why? What did he say?"

Mr. Bronsky replied, "Not but fifteen minutes ago. He told us not to do anything stupid. The why is over there." He pointed to where the mini-stage was. Amy followed his finger to where he was pointing, and when she locked eyes with him, hers instantly welled up in tears.

There, tied to a chair with a large bruise on his cheek, was Dr. Spencer Reid.