I do not own Criminal Minds. I would like to thank my sister for being my beta reader. Now, I know that Dragonmaidan was my beta reader and no, we did not have a fight. She is a very good beta reader and I highly recommended her to everyone. And trust me, when I recommend someone, I don't do it as a favour or out of pity, I do it because they are very good at their job and Dragonmaidan is fabulous at hers. However she is swamped with her studies and doesn't have time to write on her stories, let alone beta mind. I hope that in my next story, she will beable to beta for me. So for now, my sister will be my beta. Enjoy the chapter. I welcome any and all reviews.

Chapter #21

Ashley pulled away from Reid and her gown fell off of her shoulders. Reid stood up and tied it back up for her.

"Thanks," she said. He returned to his seat and waited. Ashley was quiet for a long time.

"What gave it away," she finally asked.

"The HIV comment," he answered. She nodded yes. She drew in a deep breath. It was her turn to look down at the tile floor.

"I don't know where to begin," she finally said.

"Take your time," he said. She felt her hand being touch and then gently squeeze.

"I thought the Scorpions were bad, but this guy, Demon, I called him. Trust me; I have other names for him. He was the worst." She looked up at him.

"When he bought me, I was heavily using cocaine; I was drinking a lot and taking a lot of pills. The first night, he gave me cocaine, a very small amount. This stuff was pure, it wasn't the water down version that I was using when I was the Scorpions. I got one hell of a high. He taught me of how use it differently, chasing the dragon. So I wouldn't have to use the needle to get high. He cut back on my alcohol use. Actually he never let me drink beer or whiskey. It was champagne and fine wine. I didn't mind, it tasted better. I was still using, but now I was a functioning addict. The strange thing that I found besides forcing me to cut back was that he never forced himself on me or even beat me badly. I mean he slapped me a few times, but honestly that is nothing. Once I was clean, he started training me."

"Training," he asked. She opened her mouth, trying to explain it. She closed it, straightening herself up.

Finally she answered, "Do you remember when you showed me how to use my voicemail?" He nodded yes.

"I read that manual several times and still didn't get it. The only way I figured it out was because you physically showed me how to use it. My therapist said that I am a visual learner. Is that what you call it? I learned things better visually than reading the manuals. That is why if you ask me directions to a place, I can't tell you which street to take. I can tell you at which building to turn left or right, and how many lights you need to go through, but that is about it."

Reid, nodding his head, to which, she continued. "I don't know how, but he knew that. I didn't know that, I honestly thought that I was stupid."

"You are not stupid," he said as he gently touched her shoulder.

"Because of my skill," she saying, putting quotations with her fingers in the air. She wasn't sure of what it was. "He taught me of how to "read" people. I knew how with the johns, but only which ones where good and which ones were bad."

She looked up at him who looked back at her with his naïve brown eyes. She suddenly felt a deep touch of fear. She was afraid to tell Reid the truth, afraid of how he would react or how he would look at her from that moment.

"I can't, I can't do this," she said, shaking her head no. She pushed herself back even further away from Reid until her back hit the cold wall. She hissed in pain as she brought her knees up to herself. Reid slowly moved closer to her.

"Don't," she said. "Please don't." He stopped.

Ashley lay down on her side, facing away from Reid.

"Honey," he whispered as he walked around her bed. He bends down into her eye line, where he saw pure fear in her eyes. "Please."

She shook her head no. Reid let out a quiet sigh as he went over to dresser, picking up the black shirt. He went to the bathroom where he changed into it. He tucked it in his pants as he looked at himself in the mirror, seeing his reflection. He turned the cold water from the sink and splashed his face.

This was not going so well. Sure he had witnesses that were afraid to open up to him, but this was Ashley. He took one of the towels that were hanging and dried his face. He heard her softly cursing when he stepped out. She was trying to get into her robe, but her back was hurting.

"Here," he said as he was about to walk up to her.

"I got it," she said as she finally slipped it on over her shoulders. "I need to get out of here for a bit," she said as she tied the belt.

Reid was about to follow her when she said, "Alone." Reid stopped, letting her leave the room.