A/N- I should have said, this is slightly AU in the fact that the whole Tobias thing never happened. Don't worry, this isn't just a carbon copy of that story, it's just, how many times can one guy get kidnapped? :)

Thanks to my first reviewer, I like your theory, it's better than my story LOL. How about another reviewer? Think you guys could manage it?

Sorry about my spelling, I wrote this in Word Pad and I can't spell very well :(

As always, I own nothing.

This was not good. Spencer reached for his gun instinctively but realized he hadn't bought one. The blonde screamed and the two other patrons of the store, a middle aged man and an older woman, stood stunned at the commotion.

For a moment the pair just stared at each other, willing one another to make a move. Soon though she was waving her gun around at the customers.

"Sorry about this. You can leave" The older woman said nothing and neither did the man, but the man looked hesitant to move. The girl realized what was going on fairly quickly.

The girl sighed.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt her." she said pointing to the Beth with her gun hand, a move she instantly regretted when a sob escaped Beth's lips.

"You wanna be a hero, then take this woman outside and call the police." She said, gesturing with her free hand to the elderly lady beside him.

Call the police? As spencer knew from experience hostage situations were usually either acts of desperation or motivated by greed, but at the moment this seemed like neither. Of course, she certainly did not look calm. She looked stressed and troubled. This all seemed too well planned. Did she know he was an FBI agent?

"She's right." contributed Spencer, whos hands were now in the air. Defeated, the man took the older woman by the arm and made and his way to the door. He would have gone faster if the old woman's legs would have let him.

When they were gone, the girl kept her gun trained on Spencer but turned her attention to the now crying blonde girl.

"Look, you need to relax. I know this isn't easy. I know I'm screwing things up for you. And i'm sorry. But it's going to be over in a minute, and it's going to be a happy ending for you."

She spoke quickly, in short spurts. Spencer said nothing but shift his glance periodically between the two of them. It was strange. She sounded like a mother comforting her child. It was strange not only for the fact that the girl was threatening their lives, but that she was obviously younger than Beth. Late teens Spencer might have guessed.

"I'm sorry it's you. But I can tell you're strong. I need you to do something for me, and then you can walk out of here a free woman. Can you do that for me?"

Spencer gulped at the prospect of a 'favor', but Beth, through tears, managed a small yes.

"Good girl. When you leave, I'm sure you'll find that man that just left. And I'm sure the police will be here soon. I need you to tell them that Valencia Porter is here and she wont speak to anyone but agent Aaron Hotchner of the FBI."

Uh oh spencer thought, eyes wide.

"Give them this," said Valencia, throwing Spencers wallet at Beth and causing her to flinch. She missed but picked it up.

"Do you remember?" Valencia asked.

The girl nodded and wiped away tears with her forearm.

"What's my name?"

"V..Valencia Porter" Beth said quietly with a stutter.

"And who do I want to speak to?"

"Agent Aaron..." Beth mentally kicked herself for not remembering.

"Hotchner." Valencia finished.

"Thankyou. I can't tell you how sorry I am I involved you in this." Valencia said with a sincerity Reid noticed. He hadn't said anything yet. He hadn't needed to intervene or negotiate - The girl, Valencia, while obviously looking worried, spoke with a calm voice and had already agreen to release all the hostages. Something more was going on and he would wait for her to explain it.

Valencia looked to beth a second time with a sad smile. "Off you go." she stated simply. Beth moved cautiously at first, moving slowly past both Spencer and Valencia, but soon broke out into a sprint across the few metres of the shop.

When she left, it was down to business. "Sit down over their" she ordered, pointing to a bare spot against the blue wall. Spencer complied and sat down.

The girl took a beanie she was wearing and through it across the room. It must have been to disguise her obviously recognizable hair when he had entred the shop. She combed a hand through that hair, now becoming more obviously distressed as if she had been holding it together for Bethany's sake. Valencia's eyes darted around the room and Spencer searched for words. She beat him to the punch, talking as she slid down the opposing wall onto the floor.

"I'm sorry about this Dr Reid. I really wanted things to be different." She smiled, almost amused at her previous statement. "I honestly did. And I tried everything. I told them all the time. It's a catch 22, agent Reid. You tell them you aren't crazy and it just confirms to them you are. And maybe I am crazy. In fact, that's not even a question. I am. But I'm right about this." She took another breath and waited for him to say something.

"Who are you? Did I... Do something?" Spencer had a eidetic memory and was aware they had never met before bar their little meeting in the coffee shop. However, it didn't mean she didn't think they had.

She sighed, for not the first time that day.

"My name is Valencia Porter. You didn't do anything. You had the misfortune of working for Agent Hotchner." She paused and looked down, but Spencer did not speak as he had a feeling she would go on. "I needed someone close to him. I couldn't take just anyone. I'm not- I don't want to be a monster. I figured that taking another FBI agent would be hard work but, I don't know, better?" She laughed. She knew this was awful. But she had too, didn't she? "Anyway, I was tossing up between the young doctor and the media liason. Blondie had a kid. You drew the short straw. Sorry."

"And Suzy?"

Valencia laughed half heartedly, In the soft voice Spencer had heard earlier, she said "Well Dr Reid, you came on in to get your wallet and I came on in to give it back to you. Look like it just ain't your day."

Reid realized it had been her on the phone, and he couldn't have felt more stupid. Isn't he supposed to be a genius?

Spencer attempted to take this in. For some reason she had it in her head Hotch did something to her. This was organized. Looking around him, he realized just how well organized it had been. She knew where he got coffee. She had been able to get his ID. She lured him here, knowing he would come. She knew the team, at least, she knew Hotch, JJ and himself. She had chosen to do this in a small shop with windows painted over with Murals and no back doors. She knew what she had to say to the Shop Keeper. He didn't know whether this was good or bad.

After a short few moments Spencer asked the question he should have asked a long time ago.

"Why Agent Hotchner? What did he do?"

"It wasn't his fault. Not entirely. I don't blame him. He's just the only one who can fix it."

"Fix what?" Spencer questioned.

She smiled. "You ask too many questions Dr Reid."