"Help! Help!" cried the voice of a young boy.

The boy, who could be no more than 11 or 12, was tied to the goalpost out on a football field in the back of Las Vegas high school.

The boy, or Spencer Reid, as he was known tried his best to wiggle himself free, but the bullies had tied him cunningly and no matter how much he tried to get free he was unsuccessful.

He knew that if he didn't wiggle himself free that he would likely die of the cold, for this was the desert and it tended to be very cold at night. Las Vegas was scorching hot in the daytime and freezing at night.

"Help! Help!" Spencer called again his voice beginning to sound hoarse as he'd been yelling for help for hours.

He knew that his mother would likely not miss him, as she had schizophrenia and often didn't know what was going on around her. He couldn't blame her for this, although sometimes he hated her, even though he knew the disease was not her fault, but he did blame his father who had abandoned his family just two years ago.

He also blamed himself for falling for an old ploy where Alexa a girl he was interested in had been waiting for him, as well as the whole football team and he had been led like a lamb to the slaughter. They had beat him black and blue after they had tied him to the goalpost out on the football field and then once they had had their fun just left him. He was sure that they didn't realize he could die from being tied up here from the cold, as it would likely be at least tomorrow before he was discovered, but then it would be too late as the deed would be done.

He hoped that they went to prison, as every single one of them was a senior and therefore, 18.

"Help!" Spencer called again as he continued to struggle to get free and finally someone responded to his cries which amazed him as it was dark out and quite late at night.

"Ah, you poor boy, what happened to you?" came an unmistakably female voice, one that Spencer was unfamiliar with.

The blonde haired woman undid the ropes and got Spencer free.

"Thank you," Spencer said. "I had no idea how I was going to get free."

"You're quite welcome," The woman said. "I'm Jennifer Jareau, but mostly I'm called JJ."

"Spencer, Spencer Reid," Spencer said shaking the blonde woman hand.

"So why don't you tell me what happened while I take you home, though perhaps, we can get some dinner first as it's quite late."

"No, no that's okay my mother is going to be worried if I don't turn up soon," Spencer denied.

"It seems to me that she's probably already worried," JJ said. "Any mother would be when her son doesn't come home from school on time."

Spencer knew that this was probably mostly true for other mothers, but in his mother's case, he doubted mom had even noticed that he had never arrived home. He said nothing though, for as far as he knew no one knew of his mother's illness, except those in his own neighborhood.

"If no one had come along, you likely would have been frozen by morning, you might even have died or perhaps died in the hospital later when someone finally found you. Whoever did this to you went way beyond the boundaries of good taste or even a practical joke. Whoever did this needs to be punished, so they never do something like it again."

"The school will probably just hush it up," Spencer said cynically.

"Well, you sure are cynical for one so young," JJ sighed. "Considering how I found you though, I can't really blame you. So what were you doing there anyway?"

"I go to that school," Spencer said JJ stared at him in astonishment. "I'm actually a senior and I suppose the students that did that to me thought it would be a good going away present. Every single one of them was 18 and they could go to prison for what they did, but it's more likely that they'll just gets slaps on the wrist, because of their age."

"Well, you must have skipped quite a few grades, because your only what? 11? 12?" JJ said finally.

"12 actually. I was due to go to college in the fall. I'd be 13 then," Spencer said.

"13 is much too young to go to college, even if you're academically prepared," JJ said shaking her head. "I don't know how your parents could allow it, as it would be much better to stay here perhaps hire tutors until you are old enough to go."

Spencer said nothing, but he really agreed with this woman JJ who had helped him so much, but there was no chance of that happening for he couldn't reveal his mother's illness in case, she told the authorities and he ended up in foster care. Also, there was not enough money to possibly hire a tutor, much less several of them, not since his father had left a couple of years ago.

"Here you go," JJ said driving up to Spencer's home. "I'll wait until you get inside and make sure you eat as soon as you do as it's after 9 o'clock. You're only lucky I was in the area heading back to my hotel when I heard your cry. I'm sure your mother is very worried by now."

"Thank you," Spencer said, as he opened the passenger door and got out with his messenger bag over his shoulder. Spencer hurried into the house and just as JJ was about to drive away there was a great cry.

JJ was out of the car before she could blink and into the house, even though she did not have permission.

JJ saw the body of a woman that she assumed was Spencer's mother and felt her long silent heart go out to him. Just because she was a vampire, one of the undead, did not mean that she could not care or love. All vampires had the same emotions humans did really and they were also much stronger, but many did not believe this.

"What am I going to do now?" Spencer asked his voice broken

"You'll come with me," JJ said firmly. "I'll call my husband Aaron who's at one of the casinos although I'm not sure which one, as it might not be at the same one that I left him at. He'll come right away and we'll work this out together. I promise that I won't abandon you until we come up with a solution."

JJ didn't mention what she already had in mind and besides, she needed to discuss it with Aaron, Dave and Emily before any decisions were made, because they were a unit, which was rare among vampires, but still, they made decisions together

"You don't have to do that," Spencer said. "You've already done so much for me."

"Come on," JJ said firmly. "Let's go pack a bag, so that you have at least some of your own possessions and then I'll take you to where we're staying."

Spencer followed in a daze and JJ knew that he was in shock as he was a 12 year old boy who had just lost his mother after all.

"Where is your father?" JJ asked. "Still at work this late?"

"No, dad abandoned mom and me about two years ago," Spencer said. "I don't want to go to him, as he just ignored me as if I didn't exist and when he finally left I was nearly relieved instead of upset."

JJ seethed with rage, but she was careful not to grip the steering wheel too hard for she could crush it if she did or pull it completely out of the steering column. She didn't think Spencer realized quite yet that she wasn't human, but then, the poor boy was in shock, so that wasn't surprising. Still, she and Aaron, Dave and Emily would certainly treat this boy much better then his father had and as for his mother she didn't know enough about her to form an opinion. However, since she had apparently committed suicide, well, she probably had some sort of mental disease, because JJ couldn't see a mother leaving her son unless it was something like that.

"I suppose I'll have to go though, unless he disowns me completely," Spencer said finally gazing out the window at the star darkened sky. "I'm not sure what would be better foster care or being ignored by my father if he gets custody of me."

"There might be another solution," JJ suggested gently. "But I'm going to have to discuss it with Dave, Aaron and Emily before any decisions are made."

"What other solution can there be?" Spencer asked, not looking to JJ at all.

"Just you wait," JJ said mysteriously.

The rest of the car ride was silent, but finally, JJ pulled up at one of the most expensive hotels in Las Vegas.

"Wow! This is really nice!" Spencer said looking around with an awed expression.

"Never been to the strip before?" JJ asked with twinkling eyes

"Not really," Spencer said eagerly looking around trying to see everything all at once.

"You've lived in Las Vegas all your life and you've never taken a trip to the strip?" JJ pretended to be shocked at this.

"Hey! I'm only 12 and I won't be old enough to gamble for years," Spencer protested.

JJ said nothing and simply led the overawed boy past a desk clerk and to the elevator without a word.

Once they got to the suite that all four of them were sharing, JJ pushed Spencer gently in the direction of the bathroom.

"Get a shower or a bath and change into the nightclothes you packed and then I'll show you where you can sleep."

Spencer did so and was out in just a few minutes as he was just too tired to soak in the tub.

"This way," JJ said and led him to the bedroom that wasn't being used and turned down the bed for him.

Spencer was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and JJ gazed down at him for a long moment running a gentle hand through his brown hair. Finally, she left shutting the door gently behind her.

She dialed a number on the phone that she had no trouble remembering and it rang precisely 2 times before it was answered.

"Yes, JJ is there a problem?" Came the voice of her husband Aaron Hotchner.

JJ calmly explained the situation, although inside she was boiling with rage.

"I'll get the others and we'll be there in a few minutes," Aaron promised before hanging up.

~~~Dave, Emily, Aaron and JJ~~~

"He's asleep," JJ said using super sensitive hearing to make sure that Spencer was truly, deeply asleep and not about to wake. "He won't wake for hours, possibly not until morning, so long as we keep our voices down."

"Alright then," Dave who was leader of their little coven said. "Tell us exactly what happened."

JJ repeated what had happened and the other three vampires in the room listened closely.

"So he has no one other than a father who abandoned his wife and son a couple years ago," said Aaron his dark eyes glimmering with rage.

"As far as I know he has no other relatives," JJ said. "I really don't want to send him to his father not from what little I know of him. He wouldn't give Spencer the love and attention he needs to grow into a confident young man. He would likely ignore his son completely and Spencer would have to look after himself, just like he's probably been doing for the last couple years. I have no idea what his mother had, but it was probably some type of mental disease, it might even be something that's fairly rare. From what I could discover with a swift look around the house they had no help whatsoever, no maid or housekeeper. I doubt very much that Spencer has any time just to be a child, as he was probably too busy taking care of his mother, going to school and doing his homework. I'm sure he feared that every day he came home he'd find her dead and that finally happened."

"There are several mental diseases I can think of that would cause someone to commit suicide due to their delusions," Emily said. "If his mother went into an episode while her son wasn't home it's quite possible she slit her wrists, not realizing what she was doing. Schizophrenia, dementia, even delirium, so that one doesn't really count unless she had a very high fever as well."

"Dementia usually only shows up in the very old though 60, 70," Aaron said.

"She wasn't that old," JJ denied. "I would say late 40s possibly early 50s."

"Schizophrenia is what I would bet on, but since I could very well be wrong..." Emily said.

"You don't think you are though," Dave said looking at Emily

A shrug was his only answer, but since that was Emily's way of saying that she was nearly positive but not completely, Dave took it in stride and so did Aaron and JJ for they knew Emily well.

"You're thinking of taking in that poor boy," Emily told JJ as the two men listened in. "Making him part of our coven."

"I think it's the best solution, but all of us have to agree," JJ said. "All of our agreements is what we agreed to when we decided to form a coven of our own. Unless there is some sort of danger where decision has to be made quickly and then Dave has the authority there, since it's his coven."

"I'm not against it, but we'll discuss it indepth before any decisions are made," Dave said. "For us to take in a human, especially a child, it needs every single one of us to agree to it, because while all of us have good control of our bloodlust he'll be a constant presence in our home and in our lives for quite a few years to come. We'll have to be extra vigilant to make sure that none of us gets too thirsty that we drain him completely. We'll have to hunt much more frequently than we usually do just to make sure we keep our bloodlust under control at all times and he'll have to agree to become our ward. Unlike most vampires, we will not force him to be under our protection, as it has to be his decision. We'll have to see to his education and from all JJ has said about him he's absolutely brilliant, so that brilliance will have to be nurtured. If he wants to join the coven permanently once he reaches 25 then he can and if not, well, we'll always be there for him when he needs us."

"Let's make that 35," Aaron objected. "It's just that he'll look so young for the rest of his life if we do it at 25, as he won't age from then on. A lot of people won't take someone so young looking seriously, not unless they tell people they are a vampire and usually that's not a good idea."

"35 then," Dave agreed without argument, mostly because Aaron had pointed out logically that a lot of people discounted someone who looked so young. The world knew about vampires, but still, they tried to stay under the radar.

Really, they weren't like the traditional vampires, like the ones told about into legends, as they could still eat human food, which meant they could join Spencer for at least some meals. Luckily, Dave was a great cook and they often enjoyed eating what he prepared. Also they didn't have to kill their targets when they did have to drink blood, which was another thing that made living as a vampire bearable.

"I think that Spencer Reid is going to have to cease to exist, because I'm sure that the authorities will begin looking for him once they realize his mother's dead. The police might even suspect he's responsible her death at least for a brief time, even if I don't believe that they'll think that for more than a day or two, because it's obvious it was suicide. Spencer likely would've been at school when it happened, which I'm sure is what the authorities will determine."

"So once the police do realize that he's not responsible it'll turn into a missing person's investigation," Dave said. "I think changing his identity is the way to go and he can become Spencer Rossi instead of Spencer Reid. I can have records inserted into the appropriate systems in no time, because we have a very good hacker at our beck and call."

"Penny will be happy to do it," Emily said smiling

Penelope Garcia was also a vampire and was an official member of Dave's coven, but she didn't live with them most of the time as she was very independent, but still, she was someone you could depend on. Sometimes, she did take refuge with them for a year or two occasionally longer, but then she was gone again. Still, they could always contact her and she always responded.

"I have no objections," Aaron said and Emily also gave her opinion.

"I think it's the right thing to do," Emily said. "Of course, we might want to do some investigating and make sure he doesn't have any relatives besides, his father that are willing to take him in and treat him well."

"I think Spencer can answer that question for us once he wakes up, has a meal," JJ said. "He was in such shock over what happened that I don't even think he realizes that I am a vampire and I think normally, not much gets past him."

"So what are we do about the bullies that tied Spencer to the goalpost in the first place?" Aaron asked his expression furious, now that the decision to take Spencer in had been made.

"I know what I would like to do to them, but we need names before we can proceed," Dave said his expression just as furious.

"I happen to agree with you in this case, because he would've been stuck there probably all weekend, since it is Friday, and if he had been he would've been dead long before he was found. I doubt anyone would have discovered him at least until tomorrow maybe a janitor or something and he still might have died by then. If he had survived a whole weekend of being tied up well he would've been in the hospital for a long time, as he would have been severely sun burned and dehydrated. He might even have had sun poisoning from being exposed to the sun for so long without protection."

"Sun poisoning can be just as deadly as being burned by fire," Emily said, "Especially for a small boy."

"I'm not exactly sure what else those bullies did, but I suspect they beat him as well, as Spencer did have a black eye that was starting to turn a rather spectacular black and blue, so I'm sure he has bruises over the rest of his body as well and he will likely be stiff and sore tomorrow. I told Spencer while we were driving to his home that what those students did went way beyond good taste or even a practical joke. No, it very easily could have turned deadly and those students in the school would've been a great deal of trouble, since Spencer said that every single one of them was 18, as they were seniors. Playing a practical joke is one thing, but this went way too far."

"Yes, it did," Dave said unsmiling. "To pick on someone, just because they are so intelligent and skipped a lot of grades is horrible, although I know it goes on. If the father had cared anything for his son he would've sent him to a school for those that are just as intelligent with a classes like algebra, calculus and advanced science and geometry. From all you've told us JJ, this Spencer Reid is really intelligent and that intelligence should be nurtured, not disdained. If JJ hadn't happened to be passing by, well, it could have easily turned into a tragedy."

"I'm glad I was too and that I'm not much of a gambler like the three of you," JJ said. "I needed to feed anyway, being around all those humans is hard enough when you're not thirsty. I know if not for my vampire hearing and I never would have heard him. I was just coming back when I heard him shout for help and from the hoarseness of his voice he must've been calling for hours."

"It's a good thing you were," Aaron said kissing JJ on the cheek affectionately.

"So we've all decided to take him in so long as he agrees," Dave said wanting confirmation. "We must realize that right now he doesn't know what we are, but once he does he might be afraid of vampires, even those that do their best not to harm humanity unnecessarily, because a lot of people are. Finding someone that accepts us for who we are, are very rare and special."

"I believe that he's going to be one of them," JJ said with certainty.

"What makes you so sure?" Aaron asked his wife.

"Because he's very logical and intelligent," JJ said. "I could've killed him for instance, instead of rescuing him, as I am a vampire after all. Every possible scenario will likely occur to him and then he'll realize that if any of us really wanted to harm him we've had ample opportunity, as there is no way that he could get away if we wanted to kill him. We could've killed him in his sleep and he never would've known and yet I helped him and all of you are going to help him and I believe he'll at least listen to our ideas and explanation."

"JJ has made some very good points," Emily said admiringly.

"Yes, she has," Dave agreed smiling a little. "She might even be right, but still, we need to be cautious until we're sure he accepts our explanations. If he runs off he's only likely to get himself killed or maybe picked up by child services."

"I don't consider being picked up by child services as a likely possibility as he's just too intelligent to be caught if he's thinking straight," JJ said.

"Which he might not be, as he's likely still in shock," Aaron said.

"Probably," JJ agreed not at all reluctantly. "If anyone can survive on the street I believe it's him, because as I said he's very intelligent and I would bet on him beating the odds."

"The streets are a hard life though for a human and I prefer that not to happen to a 12-year-old boy who certainly hasn't done anything to deserve it," Emily said. "From all you said about him he's been trying to go to school and learn as much as he can and at the same time he was trying to take care of his mother all alone."

"That's likely why those bullies tied him to the goalpost as he probably showed them up, likely without even meaning to," Dave said. "He might be intelligent, but they likely lured him out there. I'm surprised they waited until their senior year in order to do so."

"I have a hard time believing that a bunch of teenagers were so jealous that they were willing to leave a boy whose only 12 tied up to a goalpost and were just intending to leave him there probably until Monday. I doubt they thought about the fact that he would likely have died of sun poisoning or dehydration by the time Monday rolled around and then what they did would've come out."

"Teenagers aren't known for their logical thinking or at least most of them aren't," Aaron reminded JJ. "Teenagers at that age are a bunch of mixed up emotions and I think they let their jealousy of how intelligent Spencer was overwhelm them. Of course, I'm not claiming that they didn't have the capacity to do what they did, because they never would have done it otherwise, or at least they would've gone back and rescued him or called 911. If they could do that to a 12-year-old boy at 18 then I don't think it speaks well for their futures."

"Not unless they suddenly had guilty consciences," Emily snorted. "No, they probably forgot all about him as soon as they were done beating him up. I doubt he even crossed their minds after that."

"I know you like to see the best in people, but you're well aware of the humans capacity for violence and this is a prime example," Dave told JJ. "I think Emily's right, that they totally forgot about him as soon as they had finished beating him and tying him to that goalpost. I also think Aaron's right and that teenagers aren't known for thinking about consequences and that they always had the capacity to be cruel and thoughtless, just because they were jealous of him. As grownups they might have thought about these things, but might not have acted on them, right now however, they're teenagers who are not known for thinking clearly when their emotions are involved. Even if those emotions of jealousy and envy have no basis in fact that doesn't make them any less real or less toxic."

"Yeah, I know," JJ sighed. "They'll likely grow out of it, but I know they might not."

"They aren't going to be alive long enough to grow out of it," Aaron said his expression fierce, his fangs showing a little. "There are just some things that are unacceptable and one of those is tying a 12 year old boy to a goalpost just because he's proven himself more intelligent and likely more studious then they. They might be young, but they are all 18, which means that they are considered adults."

JJ sighed again and nodded, because she agreed, even if she felt guilty for doing so, but she knew very well the others did not, even though those humans were only 18 and had plenty of time to learn better. The thing was that that others were also right and they were old enough to know right from wrong.

"Well, Spencer won't be awake for hours, so we might as well go do something while we're waiting," Emily suggested smirking.

"You go ahead I think I'll stay here and read while I'm waiting for Spencer to wake up," JJ said waving away the offer.

Their coven was very unusual in the fact that they just weren't two couples, even if that's how they acted in public. They weren't even single individuals living together for companionship, but actually all four of them had sex with each other on a regular basis.

It tended to be something of an orgy at times, but JJ wouldn't have it any other way. She loved her own husband Aaron Hotchner, but she also loved Dave, just as much. As for Emily well she wasn't into female sex, so they were just the best of friends, sisters really.

When your life was endless it was kind of stupid to get jealous just because your husband loved other people while they still loved you at the same time. Dave and Aaron were as close as brothers, closer actually and Emily was her sister in everyway. Penelope was an occasional visitor and also joined in on having sex with both men when she so desired, but she almost never lived with them for any length of time.

"Your choice," Dave said kissing her forehead before heading into the bedroom.

"You sure you don't want to join us?" Aaron asked.

"Not this time," JJ said kissing Aaron on the lips.

"Alright then," Aaron said hugging JJ close to him. "I know you're worried, but I think everything will turn out just fine."

"Probably, but I can't help but worry," JJ said

"And that's one of the things I love about you, you're kind, caring heart," Aaron said kissing her gently before disappearing into the bedroom shutting the door gently behind him.

~~~Dave, Emily, Aaron and JJ~~~