A/N: Ah, how good it is to be back! (grins) Are ya happy to see me?

First off, though, of course… THANK YOU, tons and tons of thank yous, for all those fantastic reviews, and listings too! The hits tell me that you're there but it warms my heart to see you take the time to list and even send a few words of comment. (BEAMS, and hugs) You guys are fantastic, ya know?

Awkay, before I get all sappy, let's jump on with the story. I truly wish that this bit turns out worthy of your expectations.

Wicked Games

/ Spencer hated guns. And he truly, absolutely detested physical violence. But as it was those were both firmly in his life. That's why one rainy Wednesday morning found him from the bureau's training room that reeked of sweat and testosterone.

Derek chuckled at the sight of him. "You look like a deer in the headlights. This is just a hand to hand training session, not a matter of life and death. Just relax, kid. Imagine that I'm someone else if it helps."

Spencer took a deep breath and attempted to focus, tried to make his mind bent down to his will. Perhaps he succeeded, just not in the way he'd expected. Because all of a sudden it wasn't Derek standing before him. Sending a fist his way. Invading his personal space.

Spencer's body reacted with the speed expected of a trained agent. Adrenaline was hot and sharp in his veins while he countered. Allowed his body to finally respond after all the times he'd been forced to numb his instincts.

All the punches… Kicks… Painful words… All the ache…

They spun around each other, neither quite aware of what was really going on. Attack. Dodge. Fists. Feet. The air around them danced madly as well. Something dangerous stirred in both their eyes as they lost their grasp of reality. Unwanted memories swallowed them up.

'I'll make this feel good for you, Derek.'

'Fucking hell, Spencer… You have no idea of how beautiful you look right now.'

'You could've just said 'no'.'

'You're mine. Only mine. Don't ever forget that.'

'After this no one will ever touch you the way that I do.'

Spencer had absolutely no idea of how long it went on or how far it might've gotten. He didn't come out of his stupor until there was a loud thud and he was on the floor, right on top of Derek's chest. His hands were slammed firmly to the floor while they both remained absolutely still, panting with wide eyes and hammering hearts.

In the end Spencer swallowed, his throat feeling far tighter than it should've. "Did I… take you down?" he sputtered. His head was spinning and all thoughts came out blurry. "I… I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Derek's lips opened a couple of times before any sound came. "Jesus, Reid…!" No 'kid'. 'Kid' would've most definitely not been suitable for the situation.

They remained like that for a couple of more moments until it was over. Derek pushed him off gently and with a great deal of ease. "Now that… was impressive."

Spencer fought between grinning and feeling sick to his stomach. If only you knew… He had no idea of what the expression on his face was like. "Thanks."

Just when Derek had pulled him to his feet they sensed that someone was watching. Turning their heads they discovered Aaron by the room's doorway. The man's face betrayed nothing but Spencer could've sworn that he sensed a sharp twinge. "I was told that the two of you will be here. We got a new case, in Alaska – we'll be briefed during the flight. Wheels up in thirty minutes." So saying the unit chief left.

Derek took a breath, then focused on him with a unreadable expression. "I suppose I've gotta go and get Clooney a sitter. But a word of warning… If you ever tell Rossi or Prentiss about this the payback will be painful."

Spencer snorted. "I know, I know." He barely noticed how Derek left after a pat to his back ('Good job, Reid'). His eyes were darted towards where Aaron had disappeared.

Spencer stood absolutely still for several moments, not quite understanding what the hell had just happened. He blinked once, twice. Then headed towards a cold shower.

Cool water soothed his sweaty, heavily bruised skin and his smouldering chest. /

Before they ever headed towards the meeting with the rest of the BAU Spencer prepared himself for the fact that it wouldn't be entirely easy. He'd been gone for six months, without a word of explanation. And when he finally came back he was a threat to them all. No matter how much of a family they were that was a lot to digest.

So, when Aaron pushed the room's door open (the same room's where Emily was resurrected) Spencer held his breath. Held it to a point where it hurt when a familiar voice spoke. "Hotch, it's six in the morning. I really hope that you have a good reason for…" It was then they saw him.

At first the team stared. Really, truly stared. And then all hell broke loose.

Spencer was far from prepared when Penelope Garcia pulled him into a crushing hug. "Damnit, boywonder…! Don't ever scare me like that again, do you understand?"

Spencer swallowed, slowly coming to a conclusion that the arms around him were safe, familiar. He returned her embrace, inhaling her familiar scent. Gosh, how much he'd missed his family! "I'm sorry", he murmured. "I'm so sorry. I would've come back sooner if I could've."

"I know." Did Penelope… sniffle? "But trust me, genius. If you ever try to leave us again I'm going to put you on a leash."

Emily Prentiss' greeting was a lot more silent and far less dramatic one. They hugged and this time Spencer was prepared enough for it to return it full heartedly. She held on tight for a moment, then put some distance between them so that they were able to look at each other. And right there between them understanding formed.

It was ironic, in some sort of a sick way, that now Spencer was finally able to understand her decision on Ian Doyle. That rift that was once upon a time torn between them didn't feel so wide anymore.

David Rossi's pat on his back was subtle, nearly cautious. Spencer wondered if the man was afraid of causing damage or chasing him away. The smile, however, revealed everything necessary. "Welcome back, kiddo." Spencer found it easy to smile back.

Jennifer Jareau stood on the sidelines at first, as though not entirely sure what to make of his sudden presence. Some hurt was visible in her eyes. (A tiny part of Spencer he wasn't proud of wondered if she finally understood how he'd felt after finding out that Emily was alive.) Then she made her way to him with a unreadable expression. At first her hand rose, as though ready to strike, but in the end she enclosed him to a tight hug. "Next time… warn us."

Spencer took a breath, stroking her hair. Guilt melted together with relief, sadness and joy, overwhelming him. "There won't be a next time", he promised. He hoped that he'd be able to keep that pledge.

JJ gave a suspiciously moist chuckle. "Yeah, there'd better not be. It'd probably give me a heart attack."

When she finally let go Spencer felt a presence at his left. Facing that direction he blinked upon meeting Derek's eyes. At first the older agent stared at him, as though not quite believing that he was there. Then, very slowly, the kind of a smile Spencer had never seen before appeared. Spencer found himself returning it without a beat of hesitation. It was at that very moment he realized that he was finally home. He didn't think that anything else had ever felt as good.

The moment was cut when Emily spoke out. There was a frown on her face and worry in her eyes. "Reid… What's going on? Where have you been for the past six months?"

Spencer wondered what to tell them, how much he really could tell them. The line between revealing and hiding for their safety was nearly transparent. In the end he told exactly what he'd already explained to Aaron. (Except for the fact that he was a father. It would've been too much, for him and them.)

He told them that they they were dealing with a dangerous psychopath. That they and everyone they cared about were in danger. That no matter how hard he'd tried to avoid it (how he'd been promised that they'd stay safe) they'd been brought into this disaster. And it was all his fault.

For the longest time it was very, very quiet. Then David spoke. "We should tell Strauss. She…"

"She already knows. I reported her before I went to Hotch." Spencer swallowed, nausea rising in the pit of his stomach. He'd never noticed that crack on the floor before. "We all and our families will be under special observation. Interpol, CIA and FBI are looking for Anton Silas."

"Do you think that he'll be found?" Derek inquired.

Spencer sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. A headache was already nagging there. "He's very good at hiding and masters his sadistic games flawlessly. So… Honestly? I don't know." Then, deciding that he'd already brought enough fear and misery, he decided to switch the topic. "Look, so far we've only been talking about me. I'd really like to know what's been going on here while I was away."

Aaron barely dared to blink as he watched Derek fooling around with Spencer. Observed how the whole team came together once more, like a recently found missing piece had completed a puzzle. Spencer seemed dazed and overwhelmed, perhaps even nervous, but without the genius even noticing it his very presence warmed up the whole room.

No machine works with one of its pieces missing.

Aaron watched, unaware of the fact that his own expression was changing. Or he was unaware until David spoke. "You should be careful, Aaron." It was impossible to read the older man's expression. "If you let yourself go any deeper into that thought you'll give yourself away."

Aaron swallowed a little bit more loudly than he intended, pointedly looking away from Spencer. "I don't know what you're talking about."

David gave him a far from impressed look before continuing his previous speech mercilessly. "Now that he's back you need to choose. The tingling that's putting that look into your eyes… Are you ready to act on it?"

Aaron squeezed his lips together as tightly as he could, no longer able to look away. For a single, fleeting second that could've been his imagination Spencer met his eyes. And suddenly it was one unforgettable night in Toledo all over again.

Aaron shivered and licked his lips. It took all his infamous self control to keep the surges rising rapidly from showing on several parts of his body. His breathing became a little bit louder. "Even if I did know what I want…", he murmured, almost under his breath. "… now's not the time to act on it." Not when Spencer was still so clearly recovering from whatever he'd been through. Not when they had two children to think about and no clue of what the hell they were doing.

David nodded slowly. "I agree. But one day it will be. And when that day comes… you'll need to be ready. Because you only get so many chances before someone else takes your place." With those words the older agent joined the others, leaving Aaron with nothing but his cryptic words.

The day was far more exhausting than Spencer had known to expect. He shuddered, having been half asleep, when Aaron parked the car all of a sudden. A frown appeared to his face when he realized that they weren't at Aaron's house yet. The building before them was a restaurant.

"I called Jessica while you were catching up with the team", Aaron explained. "She was alright with watching over Jack and Lucia for a little bit longer."

Spencer blinked and looked at the older man. "What's all this?"

He wondered if the slight smile of Aaron's he thought he saw was real. "I have a feeling that you haven't had a break from… everything in a long time. I thought I should offer you one."

Spencer fidgeted slightly. The thought of just forgetting about everything felt very tempting but… "What about Lucia? She…"

Aaron's eyes were softer than usual. Of course the man understood. "She'll be just fine. Trust me. Jessica's pretty good with children. Your daughter is safe and sound."

Spencer sighed. All of a sudden he was very aware of just how hungry he was. "I know. I'm sorry, I just…"

Aaron shook his head. "No apologies. No explanations. No worrying. Only eating."

Spencer swallowed, trying to determine the look in Aaron's eyes. He just hoped that the man wasn't expecting too much of him. "Aaron…"

Aaron appeared almost amused. "It's just a meal in a far from fancy restaurant. Do you think that you're up to it?"

Spencer looked at the agent beside him, allowed his mind to linger. And suddenly the answer was easy to find. "Yeah. I think I'm up to it."

Very, very far away (yet nowhere near far enough) Anton Silas allowed the fine melody of Vivaldi wash over him, his eyes closed and his chest moving in a way that couldn't possibly be considered healthy. His whole body shivered under the nearly animalistic surges.

And then his eyes flew open, full of irritation. It took a mighty while before he actually answered his phone. "Is everything under control?"

"I did as you told me to. I'm in position. Should I proceed?"

Anton's eyes darkened, even with the fireplace they were staring at. The heat of flames seemed to seep into his soul. "Yes. But you'd better remember our deal. If you ever get caught I was never a part of this."

"I know, I know." The caller swallowed loudly. Good. Fear meant that he had the upper hand. "You… You'll keep your part of the deal, too, right? If this all works out… Then you'll let my sister live."

Anton took a deep breath, the irritation from before returning tenfold. People could be so very annoying… "May I remind you that I'd get a lot of money out of killing her? It's not my problem that she scorned the wrong people. If you do your job well enough to pay the debt we're even." With that he hung up.

Anton sat absolutely still for a moment, then got up and moved, letting the music float right through him as he went. He stopped by a drawing that hung on the wall where a sudden eye wouldn't catch it at all. It was his own private pleasure.

It was a chalk drawing he'd made of Spencer when the man was six months pregnant. On that particular day they'd stolen a few hours to see the ocean. In the drawing Spencer sat on sand, his eyes distant and full of secrets as they observed the water.

/ "You're thinking of him again, aren't you?"

Spencer was quiet for a moment, then looked at him. The man's eyes were unreadable. "Would it matter?"

Anton shook his head after thinking about it for a moment. "No. You're here. You're mine. That's what matters."

Spencer looked away, never having been good at maintaining eye contact. The genius reminded him of a caged tiger looking through the bars of its cage. The sight was quite arousing. "I could walk away."

"And I'd burn down the whole world just to find you." /

Anton smiled, brushing the drawing with his fingertips. "You should've listened to me, love. I'd burn down the world. And I'd burn you, too, just to make sure that no one else will ever have you."

Flames kept crackling in the fireplace. Anton stood perfectly still, like a cobra before its lethal attack.

TBC

A/N: Oh boy… It looks like things are going to be quite hectic; physically and emotionally. Let's just hope that Reid makes it through this sane and alive! (sweatdrops)

Please, do leave behind a note before you go! Let me know if this chapter was worthy of your time at all. My stash of cyber pribe goodies is endless… (wink, wink)

I've really gotta get going now. (groans) I hope that I'll see every single one of you next time!

Take care!