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Pretty Boy: Reprise	By : Wagamama_hime Category: 1 through F > Criminal Minds Views: 5108 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. It is the sole intellectual property of the CBS Corp. This is a work of fiction and I am making no profit from its publication.

Chapter List
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A/N: So, thanks for the feedback and support so far! And thanks to my wonderful beta reader, A_WarriorZ_Haven!
This chapter is a little different from the previous one. It's more like… 'stage-setting,' haha. But, build-up is key, kiddos. I think there are definitely a few more 'fluffy' moments, too, for those of you who like that sort of thing. Me, personally, I can't wait for angst! D:. (Later, my pretties, later)
Also wanted to mention that, while aimlessly strolling through tumblr a little while back, I saw that someone recommended Pretty Boy, Part I, and seeing that totally made my day! So, 'povverbottoms' (if you're still reading), this one's dedicated to you! :D
Enjoy!
xoxo

Derek had woken up at quarter-past six. He knew Spencer was not a morning person, so Derek had decided he would let the boy sleep. In the meantime, Derek completed his daily morning reps before going for a run with Clooney. He then took a shower, and made a huge breakfast, complete with French toast, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a frittata. Minutes to nine, as Derek was washing the last of the dishes and getting ready to go wake up Spencer, he heard his phone beep, alerting him that he had received a text message.
Frowning as he dried his hands, Derek picked up the phone and read the message. It was from Hotch.
Abduction of a 7 Y.O. female from elementary school. Call me ASAP.
Derek immediately dialed his superior and the older man picked up on the second ring.
"What's the case?" Derek asked.
"Nina Parsons, seven-year-old White female, was apparently abducted from the grounds of the Woodrow Wilson Elementary school," Hotch explained. "Her mother, Hannah, dropped her off, as usual, at 7:30 in the schoolyard, but when the teacher did roll-call at 8:00am, Nina was missing. The teacher thought the child was sick and when she called the mother to confirm, Mrs. Parsons informed her that her child was at school. Or should be. So far, Nina has only been missing for less than an hour. But this abduction reminded the D.C. police of the two recent child abduction cases that they've been investigating over the last six months. Those two cases ended with the deaths of those little girls. So they thought it would be best to call us in early on, in case it is a serial offender. Mrs. Parsons is estranged from her husband, Mark, and they are currently in a custody battle, so I'm hoping he's the culprit, and not this un-apprehended sex offender."
Derek cursed as he thought about it. He hoped that was the case too.
"Ok, where do you need me?" he quickly asked.
"Well, it's a local case, and you're actually closer to the scene of the abduction than we are. We're all going to head out to the school and you can meet us there within the hour. Garcia'll keep us all updated on any developments that take place in the meantime. And, I know you had wanted to take the day off, and start your vacation early, but hopefully the hour'll give you some time to make any adjustments you might need," Hotch said.
"No, I understand, Hotch. And thanks for thinking about me and my plans, but he-" Derek began and paused abruptly, cringing as he found himself about to say "he'll understand." Hotch didn't know Derek had a guest, or that it was a he—namely one Spencer Reid—and Hotch didn't need to know. Derek wanted to keep his supervisor in the dark on that topic as long as was humanly possible.
"Um… it's no problem to change my schedule around. I'll see you guys over at the location. Have Garcia text me the address," Derek said instead.
Hotch was silent for a moment, and Derek was sure the earlier slip-up wasn't lost on the seasoned profiler.
But all he said in response was, "Ok, Morgan. See you there," before he ended the call.
Sighing in relief, Derek set his phone down. He had an hour to get over to a location in D.C. That made things a bit easier for him. The hard part, however, was deciding what to do with Spencer. Derek had intended for them to have a lazy morning, and had wanted to spend it with Spencer planning out an itinerary of things the boy wanted to see or do in D.C. But, now, Derek had to be out of the house, for God knew how long, and he didn't necessarily want to leave Spencer all alone. However, that currently seemed like the only viable option. It wasn't like he could take Spencer to the crime scene with him.
Shaking his head, Derek quickly climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Spencer was most likely still sleeping. Stopping in front of the closed door, Derek knocked lightly. He waited a few minutes, and, hearing nothing, he knocked again, a bit louder. Derek smiled wryly to himself as he remembered fondly the first time he had had to rouse Spencer while working on the case in Vegas. Apparently Spencer would always need more than just a little nudging in the morning. Sighing, he turned the knob on the door and peeked in.
He could see tufts of Spencer's messy chestnut-brown hair sticking out from the top of the covers that the boy had tugged up almost over his head. Apparently, this was his feeble attempt to block out the sunlight that was currently pouring into the room through the large windows. Chuckling softly, Derek walked over to the boy, who he could tell was laying on his side facing the door, and slowly pulled the covers back, until they rested under his chin. Spencer was sleeping peacefully, his pink lips parted as he breathed lightly. Derek stared fondly at the boy's placid face, taking in his high cheekbones and small, straight nose. He hadn't often had an opportunity to just look at Spencer. In any light, and at any time, the boy was really quite breathtakingly beautiful.
Reluctantly, he reached down and lightly shook Spencer's shoulder. It took a few relatively persistent shakes for the boy's brows to furrow and lips to purse in displeasure. Derek had to hold back a grin as Spencer's eyes fluttered open and he blinked up at him in irritated confusion.
"Yes?" Spencer asked, voice a little hoarse and tinged with annoyance.
Derek really had to grin then, as the thought 'hissing kitten' crossed his mind.
"Sorry to interrupt your beauty-sleep, kid. But, unfortunately I got called into work, so I need to be out of the house in about an hour," Derek said apologetically.
Spencer's eyes widened slightly and he seemed more awake. Sitting up, Spencer couldn't do much to hide the disappointment in his face.
"Oh… really?" he asked, as he looked down at the covers bunched up in his lap.
Derek immediately felt guilty.
"Yeah… I'm really sorry about that. But, with this kind of job, sometimes you just gotta go where they need you," he tried to explain.
Spencer nodded, still looking down, and Derek watched as the boy absentmindedly pulled his bottom lip into his mouth and began to nibble on it.
Blinking rapidly to draw his eyes away from a sight that Derek was now certain was his own personal kryptonite, he put a hand on Spencer's shoulder.
"Don't worry though. I made us breakfast, and the case is local so we don't really have to rush. And I promise I'll try to come back as soon as I can. We might lose a day, but, really, we have a lot of time. We'll get to do all the things you want to do," Derek said.
Spencer then looked up at the older man.
"Wait… I have to stay here all day? By…myself?" Spencer asked in confusion.
Derek raised an eyebrow and frowned slightly.
"Well… I can't take you with me," he said, as if it should be obvious.
Spencer flushed.
"I know that. Believe me, I don't want to be anywhere near a crime-scene," Spencer said, as he looked away, a slight edge to his voice.
Derek's frown deepened as he could only imagine Spencer was thinking about all the things that had happened six months ago. But before he could inquire with Spencer about it, the boy let out a sigh and turned back to him.
"I meant," Spencer said as he gave Derek an exasperated look, "I can go explore the city or something. I don't have to stay in the house. I think… I'd be lonely."
Spencer then dropped his eyes back down to his lap as if somewhat embarrassed by this admission.
"Kid," Derek said as he squeezed Spencer's shoulder causing the boy to look back up at him. "I understand what you're saying, but I don't think that's a good idea. I don't want you just walking around out there. Anything could happen."
Spencer gave him a disbelieving look, tinged with what Derek could tell were the beginning tendrils of annoyance.
"I'll be totally fine. It's not like I'm not from a major city," Spencer said pointedly. "I'm more than capable when it comes to walking places, and I'm great at getting around using the bus and train."
"Not. Gonna. Happen," Derek said as he stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, hoping to come across as authoritative to the younger male. "You're here for me to show you around the city. And I don't want you going off someplace that might end up being dangerous."
Spencer just stared at Derek. He didn't know if he should laugh or start throwing a fit. Derek was treating him like a child. It wasn't like he was going to get kidnapped just by walking around Washington, D.C. It was the nation's capital for crying out loud. But as he looked at the glowering male who was standing over him, he couldn't help but feel somewhat flattered by Derek's protectiveness and sense of concern. It was totally unwarranted, but flattering nonetheless. So, sighing in defeat, he shrugged his shoulders and gave Derek a small smile.
"Can we compromise?" he asked as he looked imploringly up at Derek through his lashes.
Derek had to fight not to roll his eyes.
This kid is really trying to pull puppy-dog eyes on me? He thought to himself. However, he couldn't deny that Spencer looked particularly cute, and the look caused him to relax his imposing posture somewhat.
"What exactly do you think a 'compromise' would be?" he asked, giving in to his curiosity.
Spencer's smile widened.
"Well… I don't want to sit cooped up in the house all day, if you're not going to be here," Spencer said again, and ignored the sight of Derek's mouth turning down into a slight frown. "But I can promise to go to one place and not leave until you're done with work."
Derek still looked like he was going to say 'no,' so Spencer hurried to explain.
"I… realized last night that I forgot to pack any books for the trip. I think I was just really excited and ended up leaving the bag I had packed," Spencer admitted and his cheeks blossomed with a soft pink hue. "So, I was intending on making a stop to pick up some books during my time here anyway. Why don't you take me to a bookstore, like a Barnes & Noble? I can spend the day reading, and I can get some new books. I wouldn't even have to leave for lunch."
Derek considered the words for a moment, and Spencer knew exactly the moment when the man had decided to give in. Derek had let out a small sigh of defeat and his shoulders had relaxed as the tension drained from his body.
"Fine. I guess that will work. But, kid, I'm serious. You better stay put," Derek said, giving him what he hoped was an intimidating look.
"Promise!" Spencer agreed with a grin.
Derek rolled his eyes. He then glanced down at his watch and saw that he only had about 45 minutes before he had to meet his team.
"Then you better get ready as fast you can. I'll be pretty ticked off if I have to waste that breakfast I made," Derek teased.
And, as if almost on cue, Spencer's stomach growled and he blushed brightly.
"Ah… Well, I definitely don't think it's gonna be wasted," he said, bashfully.
Derek laughed as he shook his head.
"Ok, meet me downstairs," he said with a wink as he turned to leave Spencer's room.

Spencer had been quick about getting ready, and breakfast had passed pleasantly. When the two of them finally piled into the car about a half an hour later, Spencer couldn't help but comment on the shockingly brisk air.
"Don't worry, early morning and late at night is usually the worst of it. It'll warm up during the day," Derek said as he quickly pulled his door shut to keep out the cold air.
Apparently it didn't do very much since the inside of the car was as frigid as outside and Spencer's whole body shivered as he pulled his seatbelt on. He blew on his hands as Derek started the car, and groaned as he was told he'd have to wait for the car to warm up before the heat would start.
"You really can't handle the cold, huh?" Derek said with a furrowed brow and a half-smile as he turned towards Spencer and grabbed the boy's icy hands.
"And it wasn't so smart to come here without gloves, either, kid," he chastised as he began to rub Spencer's hands within his own.
Spencer stopped trembling enough to stare at the older man's hands wrapped around his own. As soon as Derek's warm, large hands closed around his, memories of the few other times Derek had held his hand popped up in his mind, unbidden. And Spencer's face heated up as Derek brought his own lips close to Spencer's hands and began to blow warm air on them. Spencer made a small sound of surprise and it seemed to alert Derek to what he was doing, causing the older man to sit back abruptly, dropping Spencer's hands in the process.
Turning to the heat controls, Derek turned them all on full-blast.
"That should be better now," he said, avoiding looking at Spencer. "And, we really gotta get you some gloves."
Spencer nodded quietly as he looked down at his pale fingers, still feeling the lingering warmth of Derek's hands. Biting his lip, he tried to hold back the small smile that struggled to break free. He had no way of knowing what, if anything, Derek felt towards him, but it was always a great boost to know that Derek didn't mind touching and being close to him. To Spencer, as long as Derek didn't want to push him away, he could work with anything he was given.
Glancing quickly at Spencer, whose head was down, hair somewhat obscuring his face, Derek sighed to himself as he put the car into drive and pulled out of the parking spot. Derek wasn't sure what he was doing when it came to the kid sitting next to him. He was definitely comfortable around Spencer, but it seemed he was in danger of becoming too comfortable. He had convinced himself that this trip would be strictly platonic, so he couldn't quite understand why he was constantly falling into these thoughtless 'slip-ups.' And the fact that Spencer never reacted negatively to these 'slip-ups' didn't exactly help with his resolve.
In fact, Spencer's response was always a wide-eyed expression, his pink lips parted into an 'oh' shape and his cheeks reddened. It was an expression that Derek was actually more than just a little bit fond of seeing. Pausing in his thoughts, Derek gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe that he subconsciously still wanted Spencer. But seeing Spencer again for the first time in months, and finally being able to see the boy relax, and smile, had convinced him that Spencer deserved for things to be easy for once. Spencer didn't need the stresses that would come from being involved with someone like him. Derek would have to make sure to continue to remind himself of that, while also keeping his distance.
They drove in silence as Derek headed toward the bookstore. It was only about ten minutes away, and was actually on the way to the location of the school, which Garcia had texted him about twenty minutes ago. And, as if prompted by Derek's thoughts, the phone began to ring. Glancing at the car's video display, which provided the name of the caller, Derek let out a disgruntled sigh when he saw the words 'Penelope Garcia.' His car had hands-free capabilities, and he could, and should, answer the call without physically picking up the phone, but Garcia's mouth really couldn't be trusted, and Derek did not want Spencer overhearing anything the feisty blonde might think of to say.
"Kid, this is a work call and I got to take it. I really shouldn't be picking up while driving, but I don't make a habit out of it," he said as he glanced over to Spencer.
Spencer shrugged with a small smile.
"Don't worry, I won't tell on you," he said teasingly.
Derek rolled his eyes as he smirked and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"Hey, Mama, what can I do for you?" he said as he answered.
"Good morning, stud muffin," came Garcia's sultry voice. "Did we interrupt your early vacation plans? Is last night's conquest still back at your place, all wrapped up in your sheets, or did you send her home?"
Derek groaned and fought the urge to rub his temples in frustration. Glancing over to the younger man sitting in the passenger seat, he watched as Spencer looked out the window at the buildings and shops they passed by. He could tell Spencer was trying to give him privacy, but he didn't want his reactions to Garcia's comments to tip the boy off.
"It was nothing like that, Garcia," Derek said with a sigh, as he focused his attention on making a turn.
"Yeah right, Derek Morgan. You wanted to take your vacation early, but you had no plans to be out of town. I can only imagine that you wanted to spend that time at home cuddled up with some 'pretty young thang.' Let's all be realistic here. The only thing I really don't know is why you're hiding it from me," she said with an amused laugh.
It sounded more like a mischievous cackle to Derek.
"Garcia, seriously. It's nothing like that, so drop it," Derek said, and this time he really did groan. "Aren't you supposed to be updating me on the case?"
"Derek, who's your favorite resident-genius?" Garcia asked, pretending to be offended, and Derek couldn't help the flush that crossed his cheeks as his thoughts strayed to the genius sitting right next to him.
"You're ridiculous if you think you can just change the subject on me like that," she continued. "You're obviously being evasive, and I'm not falling for it."
"Garcia, really. There's nothing to talk about. So, Case. Updates. Now," Derek said, voice almost pleading.
Then Garcia gasped and he groaned out loud.
"Oh. My. God! Is she in the car right now!?" she asked with surprise.
She then squealed which caused Derek to cringe, and Spencer to look over to him in surprise. Apparently Garcia's high-pitched voice had been loud enough for even Spencer to hear.
"Ok, ok. I'll drop it since I'm sure you can't talk about her freely with her sitting there. But you need to give me major deets later, ok?" she asked, conspiratorially.
"It's nothing like what you think, Mama. So, please, can we focus on work," Derek sighed, as he made another turn. The bookstore should only be about five more blocks away, and Derek looked forward to the relief he would feel once he either got Garcia off the phone or Spencer out of the car. Either would work right now.
"I was mostly calling just to tease you," Garcia said. "However, we do have a small development. The cops who are on the scene have been interviewing the teachers and the students. None of the teachers saw Nina Parsons leaving the school grounds, but a few of the kids saw her get into a dark-blue sedan. Some of them said there was a dark-haired White male sitting in the driver's seat. Both the car and the physical description fit that of Nina's father, Mark Parsons, so the cops are hopeful that this is non-custodial parent abduction and they've put out a BOLO for the dad. Hotch says if you get there before the rest of the team, you can start follow-up questions with some of the witnesses."
"Ok, that's a relief. I mean, it's still dangerous if the guy gets it in his head to try to leave the state, or the country, with the kid, but I'd rather her be with her father than some pervert," Derek said, an edge to his voice.
"I know, I know, sweetness. Those types of cases always get to you, huh?" she asked.
Derek remained silent.
"Well, I do hope everything works out and you guys get that little girl home safe to her mom. I'm rooting for you, sweet-cheeks, and sending good vibrations you guys' way. I'll try my best to get all the dirt on this guy in the meantime," Garcia said.
"I know you will. You always take the best care of us, Baby Girl," Derek said fondly.
"Well, of course I do. I wouldn't let anyone else take care of my babies," she responded.
Derek laughed.
"Ok, I'll talk to you later, sweet thang. Keep us posted," Derek said.
"Will do. And don't think I'm gonna forget about the mystery lady, Derek. You better be ready to spill the next time you see me," she threatened playfully. And as Derek let out an annoyed sigh, she disconnected the call.
Seeing the bookstore come into view, Derek pulled over and tucked his phone back into his pocket.
"Uh…that was a work call?" Spencer asked, with an eyebrow raised in incredulity.
Derek shook his head and laughed.
"That was our technical analyst. She's… 'quirky,'" Derek said as he took a moment to think about the best word to describe Penelope Garcia.
Spencer's brows furrowed, as if he was confused, but he smiled anyway. Derek had sounded really happy talking to this 'Garcia' person, even though it had appeared she had been teasing him for the greater part of the conversation. And while Derek spoke very flirtatiously with her, Spencer could tell there was no real 'heat' behind his words. Derek's voice almost purred whenever he called Spencer 'Pretty Boy,' he thought to himself as his cheeks flushed. He didn't think he had any reason to be worried about 'Garcia.' At least not at the moment.
"Kid, we're here," Derek said, dragging Spencer out of his thoughts. "You good to go?"
"Y-yeah," Spencer said hurriedly as he fumbled with his seatbelt.
"Ok, remember what I said. Stay put. And I'll be checking in with you throughout the day. Hopefully the case won't take too long," he said, already sounding apologetic.
"Don't worry about it, Derek," Spencer said as he gave him a genuine smile. "It's your job. And I totally don't mind hanging out here. There are so many new books I can't wait to check out."
Derek laughed at Spencer's obvious excitement.
"Well, don't spend the entire time you're here reading, kid. Make sure to save some time for me," he said with a wink.
Spencer blushed and laughed awkwardly.
"Um… well, that's definitely the plan," he said as he licked his lips and looked at Derek.
Derek stared back at him, eyebrow raised, and a moment passed between them where it seemed neither one of them breathed.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by a noticeable 'dinging,' indicating the receipt of a text on Derek's cellphone.
Derek blinked, dragging his eyes away from Spencer's.
"Uh… that'll be work. I'm sure my colleagues are updating me on the case, and I definitely gotta get over to the crime scene, so I've gotta leave you now," Derek said, as he began fishing out his phone again.
"S-sure," Spencer said quickly as he grabbed his satchel and pushed the door open.
When Spencer was halfway out the door, Derek called out to him.
"I'll see you soon, kid," Derek said as he gave Spencer one of his 100-watt grins.
Feeling warmth blossom in his chest like a hot-air balloon, Spencer grinned back and closed the door.

When Derek arrived at the elementary school, he frowned to see the number of cops, crying parents, and terrified-looking children that were milling about the school grounds. He hated when things like this happened. It taught kids about the realities of monsters in their world. No child should have to experience things like that.
Shaking his head, he made his way over to a group of law enforcement officers and what he assumed were the administrators of the school. Quickly identifying himself, he was apprised of the situation and informed of where he could go to meet with the witnesses the team would want to re-interview. Derek was in the middle of texting Hotch that he was going to start interviewing when he saw two large black SUVs pull up at the curb.
As he saw his team exit, he waved them down as he walked towards them.
"We made good time," Emily said before he could ask.
"Great," Derek said. "There are four students who reported seeing Nina get into the car with a man. There's also a teacher's assistant who might have seen something but she's not sure. Any updates on Garcia's end?"
Hotch nodded as he pulled off his sunglasses.
"Garcia says Mark Parsons didn't show up to work today. When officers showed up at his apartment, they said it looked like luggage and clothing were missing. She also checked his financials and saw that he recently cleaned out his personal savings account, withdrawing almost $10,000 yesterday. Sounds like he was preparing for a trip," Hotch said solemnly, and his team nodded their agreement.
"But, on the positive side, there's no record of anyone having applied for a passport for Nina, and it seems Mark's is expired. So there's very little chance he can get out of the country, at least," Rossi offered.
"And, even better, it doesn't sound like this has anything to do with the serial sex offender," JJ added, sounding relieved.
"Thank God for small miracles," Rossi said with a sigh.
"Ok. So time is of the essence," Hotch said as he looked at each of the members of his team. "I want to talk to the witnesses and see if maybe Nina knew her father was going to come and pick her up today. There might be a chance she told her friends where he was planning on taking her. If we're lucky, he hasn't left the state."
They all nodded and as they began to walk towards the school, Derek felt a tug on his shoulder.
"Sorry to hear your vacation already got cut short," Emily said sympathetically when he turned to look at her.
Derek shrugged and smiled.
"I don't mind, really. I was technically still on-call anyway. And, to be honest, I probably would've been antsy sitting at home knowing you guys were working a child abduction case and I wasn't helping," he admitted.
Emily smiled in understanding, but then a devious look came across her face.
"I also spoke to Garcia… She made it sound like you had a 'house guest' that you unfortunately had to leave high and dry this morning," Emily inquired with a suggestively-raised eyebrow.
Derek rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Jesus Christ, Garcia," he said, half-heartedly as he faked a grimace. "Prentiss, believe me, I have no 'house guest.' At least not the type Garcia is insinuating I do."
Emily blinked in surprise.
"Ok, so, then, what kind of house guest do you have?" she asked as they continued walking.
Derek floundered a bit, and quickly glanced away from her. He then forced a smile.
"You know what? Don't worry about it. We should probably get started on those interviews," he said as he picked up his pace, leaving Emily behind.
She stared after him with a look of disbelief, and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Em?" JJ called over her shoulder, noticing the dark-haired woman had fallen behind.
When Emily closed the small distance between them, JJ could see that she was looking at Derek's receding back with a mixture of intrigue and amusement.
"What's going on?" JJ asked with a laugh.
"It always confounds me when profilers think they can get something past another profiler," Emily said with an eye-roll.
JJ frowned in confusion, but just shook her head as she held the door open for her teammate.
"Honestly, I don't think I wanna know," JJ said as she followed Emily inside. "All I want to do right now is find that little girl."
After that, the morning passed in a rush of interviews and following leads. Emily and Hotch had left the school to go to Mark Parsons' apartment, while JJ, Rossi, and Derek had remained to speak with the teachers and students. Mrs. Parsons had met with them at the school, and JJ was currently sitting with her going over her interactions with her ex-husband in the last few weeks to see if there had been any hints as to where he planned on taking Nina. Garcia was also hard at work, tracking toll-road cameras to see if there was any evidence that Parsons had driven out of state. So far she had come up with nothing, and the agents tried to take it as a good sign that the man was still in the area.
Interviewing the students had revealed that Nina had been told by her father that they were 'going on a trip.' But none of her friends could tell much about where that destination was. However, it helped to fill in the blanks as to why Nina went straight to her father's car without the man having had a need to get out of the car and draw the adult-supervisors' attention.
And the most they had been able to find out about Mark Parsons, other than the fact that he was an average pencil-pushing office-type, was that he had recently begun taking psychiatric medications for delusional thoughts. Apparently his ex-wife hadn't been aware of that. But, Emily and Hotch had found the prescription bottles in his medicine cabinet, and, after calling in the labels to Garcia, the tech had confirmed what they were for. It didn't bode well that Mark hadn't decided to pack those pills with him in his rush to leave. But, knowing that Mark might be suffering some sort of psychotic-break made the agents believe he was more likely to not be thinking clearly and thus less likely to have plans of going very far out of his comfort zone.
However, even with that information, all they could do, until either his car was spotted or his phone's signal was picked up, was to wait. They had no idea where he or Nina could be. Standing in the bright elementary school hallway, amidst the walls covered in young children's artwork, Derek felt frustrated. This case was frustrating. It was difficult having young children as witnesses, since they were highly unreliable. He also felt that the school administrators were more focused on covering their backs for liability, than they were in recovering the child, as all their responses had been stilted and not particularly forthcoming. As if they didn't want to admit that something about their security protocols were lacking. The teachers had been more willing to help, but most of them had just begun to cry at the prospect of Nina being missing. All in all, no one knew much that could help.
Having finished his last interview, and knowing that Rossi and JJ were currently wrapping up theirs, Derek felt like he didn't know what to do with himself. He was waiting to hear back from Garcia regarding a geographic profile of where Parsons could possibly be, but she was relying on the computer to take care of that and they had often had less than stellar results using that method. Sighing, Derek wondered what Spencer was up to. Glancing back at his colleagues, Derek wondered if he had enough time to sneak away and send Spencer a quick message. Seeing that there was no one in the hallway who seemed to need his attention at that moment, Derek walked around the corner and leaned up against the wall near a 2nd grade classroom.
Pulling out his phone, he saw that he had not received any new messages from Hotch, Emily or Garcia. He also noticed that Spencer hadn't contacted him, and he hoped that everything was fine with the boy. Pulling up Spencer's contact information, Derek opened a new message, quickly typed, 'Hey, kid? How's it going?' and sent the message off.
A few seconds later, a response-text came in saying, 'Fine. Busy reading. And I hate texting, by the way.'
Derek couldn't help the grin that broke out on his face. He could already imagine Spencer's annoyed expression.
Feeling like teasing the younger man, Derek wrote: You're probably the only person your age who's ever said that. You should probably get with the times, Spencer.
Getting no response, and rolling his eyes as he smiled, Derek sent another message: If we're lucky, I think this case will probably be wrapped up by the end of the day. Hope you're not too bored just sitting around the bookstore.
Spencer's response made Derek laugh: Bored at a bookstore? Derek, please.
Shaking his head, Derek responded: Good to hear, Pretty Boy. Stay out of trouble.
"What's that about?" a voice asked, cutting into Derek's thoughts.
Snapping his head up in surprise, Derek looked up to see David Rossi standing about two feet away from him, arms crossed over his chest and looking at him with a smile.
"What're you talking about?" Derek asked as he slipped his phone into his back pocket.
"Well, you were making a myriad of very interesting facial expressions while looking at your phone. I couldn't help but be curious," Rossi said with a raised eyebrow.
"It was nothing… just checking up on some things," Derek said with shrug.
"Those things are pleasant, I'm guessing?" Rossi said with a wink.
Derek scoffed.
"Don't read into it, man," he said with a feigned eye-roll. "Just texting."
"Well, whatever the 'things' were you were checking up on, I'm glad they're falling into place. It's good to see you finally smiling so widely again," Rossi said as he leaned against the wall next to Derek.
Derek gave him a curious look.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, brows furrowing.
"Well," Rossi said as he closed his eyes and shrugged, "You've been pretty sulky for the past few months. Let's say, about six months to be exact. Ever since we left Vegas…"
Derek stared at him, mouth slightly agape, and when the older man finally opened his eyes again he was smirking.
"I am insinuating that you've been pining over Spencer, if that wasn't obvious," Rossi clarified.
Derek felt his face heating up. Why did it seem like all his coworkers were going out of their way to get ten-feet-deep into his business? On the other hand, he knew that the more he tried to hide the fact that Spencer was visiting—tried to keep the kid all to himself—the more suspicious his coworkers would get. They were profilers; it was in their nature to pay attention to the details around them and try to make conclusions. It wasn't surprising that everyone seemed to have so many questions. But, was it so much to ask to have some privacy to figure things out? Whatever those things were, exactly, Derek couldn't quite say. But, he knew that things with Spencer would be more complicated if the other members of the BAU were given the chance to add their two-cents in.
Shaking his head, Derek schooled his face and gave Rossi a placid look.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about," he replied. "I haven't been pining over Spencer. That… that all ended back in Vegas."
"Oh, so you guys didn't keep in touch?" Rossi asked, feigning a look of surprise.
Derek frowned at him.
"Well, I can't say I'm a psychic, so I have no idea who you were texting just now. But I have never seen you smiling with such a goofy grin at a text message before. At least none of the ones I've sent you," Rossi said with a laugh.
Derek still remained silent, hoping that Rossi would catch on that he didn't feel like having this conversation.
"Listen, Derek, I've been watching you ever since we got back from Vegas. We never talked about the 'situation' with Spencer again after that first night I asked you about him, and I have no idea what ultimately happened between you two. But, the first couple of days we were back, you were quiet, brooding, and seemed like you couldn't decide on whether you should feel sad or angry. It was really like watching a train-wreck," Rossi said with a soft chuckle.
"I had assumed that… maybe things didn't go so well with you guys. I didn't know if you had decided to let the kid down easy, or, if, maybe Spencer had changed his mind about his 'feelings.' But, I knew whatever had happened, you felt pretty torn-up. And I thought it'd be best to give you your space before talking to you about it. But, then, a few days after that, something changed and you were suddenly more like yourself again, as if some weight had been lifted off your shoulders. So, I figured, you had either made peace with whatever had happened over there… or, Spencer had been in touch," Rossi said, looking at him knowingly.
"And in the months since then, I had assumed it was over between you two because, while you seemed to be in a better place, mentally, you still seemed to be going out of your way to distance yourself from whatever happened in Vegas. You threw yourself into your cases, were more aggressive in the field, and stayed later at work. And, whenever the Vegas case, or Spencer did come up, you always found a way to exit the conversation, like you didn't want to be reminded," Rossi said seriously as he looked at Derek.
The younger man averted his eyes, and Rossi sighed as he continued.
"Then, about a month ago, you seemed all excited like a kid who can't wait to open their Christmas present. As the month progressed, you got more and more worked up, and put in for two weeks' vacation. And don't think Prentiss didn't mention that she overheard you talking to Spencer on the phone a few weeks before Thanksgiving about possibly visiting," Rossi said with an eye roll and watched as Derek cringed. "So, I figured things weren't as 'finished' as I first thought they were."
Rossi gave Derek a meaningful look, as if he was waiting for the other man to come clean. But, before Derek could open his mouth—or decide really what he wanted to say—they heard the sound of heeled shoes approaching at a brisk rate. They both looked up to see JJ round the corner holding up her cellphone.
"That was just Garcia," she informed. "She said she got a ping off of a cell-tower near the Maryland border. It's Mark Parsons' phone."

Spencer had passed the morning and most of the afternoon pleasantly immersed in the land of the written-word. But after Derek had texted him, and he realized it was nearing two o'clock, he had started to feel the tell-tale grumblings of hunger in his stomach and so, grabbing the thick stack of books he had with him, he moved into the café portion of the bookstore. After ordering a large cup of coffee and a just-as-large orange-cranberry muffin, he settled himself into one of the seats near the windows and cracked open a dense book on the formation of the universe.
He sped-read the first 100 pages or so, while nibbling on his muffin and taking long sips from his coffee. But after about 20 minutes, Spencer slowly placed the book down with a frown. The whole time he had been reading he had found it difficult to shake the feeling that there were eyes on him. After what had happened with Adrian Moore, Spencer found that he had become more paranoid and on-edge than he had ever remembered being. He often found himself thinking someone was watching him. Even worse, he sometimes imagined that Adrian was watching him, even though the rational part of his mind knew this could never be true. Adrian Moore was dead. But, sometimes, when the fear of the past gripped him, Spencer found that he had quite a bit of difficulty being 'rational.'
But, this time, although Spencer had been trying to ignore the feeling that had been growing in intensity over the past few minutes, telling himself it was just his 'imagination,' he still felt that 'presence.' And, finally looking up and letting his eyes canvass the café, he was met with a pair of eyes staring right back at him. With a start, Spencer blinked in surprise. The person staring at him was an elderly man, with thinning white hair, and large black-framed glasses. Having been caught, the man smiled kindly at him, and Spencer flushed, wondering why the man was looking. But, doubting the man could be a threat, Spencer forced himself to avert his eyes and look back down at his book. The man was strange, but strange didn't necessarily mean 'dangerous.' Spencer knew there were probably tons of people who thought he was strange, so he told himself to shake it off.
He returned to reading, and after about another five minutes, he found his attention sufficiently re-captured by the book. So he was not expecting it when the chair across from him was pulled out, accompanied by the sound of the legs scraping on the floor, and a thick newspaper was tossed down on the table in front of him. He couldn't control his jump of surprise, and he looked up to see the elderly man now standing mere inches away from him, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, wearing that same kind smile.
"I hope it's no bother for me to join you?" the man asked as he helped himself to the seat he had pulled out. "But, I just found you to be simply fascinating."
Spencer's brows shot up in concern, and he was sure that he looked about as appalled as he felt, if the man's surprised and sudden apologetic expression was any indication.
"No, no! Pardon me. I just meant that I found your reading fascinating," the man explained. "I couldn't help but notice how quickly you were turning the pages. At first I really couldn't quite believe that you could read that fast. I mean, I've heard of people having that skill, but I've never had the pleasure of seeing someone actually in action."
Spencer relaxed almost immediately upon hearing why the man was 'fascinated,' but, instead he blushed at the man's words, feeling a bit awkward.
"You… you don't think it's… you know? Weird, or anything?" he asked shyly.
"Not at all, my boy," the man said with a wide smile and a laugh. "It is utterly fascinating. How many words can you read a minute, really?"
Spencer smiled slightly, albeit still a bit confused about the man's blasé attitude towards his speed-reading. Most people stared at him strangely when they caught him doing it. It had even gotten to the point where he had trained himself to 'slow down' in public so he could avoid the wide-eyed gawking. It was rare that he ever had to utilize his speed-reading in its maximum capacity, in any case, but, as a function of being able to comprehend the words on the page faster than the average reader, his reading speed was still shockingly fast even when he wasn't trying.
"Um… I can read an average of 20,000 words per minute, if I want to," he admitted in a soft voice.
"That's splendid! Downright amazing," the man praised him.
Spencer blushed again, and looked down at the table.
"Are you ashamed of it?" the man asked, his confusion apparent.
"Well… it's not exactly normal," Spencer mumbled, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice.
"Hmm… well, who wants to be 'normal' when you can be extraordinary?" the man asked, with a good-natured laugh as he raised his coffee cup to his lips.
Spencer looked up at him and frowned with confusion, but he didn't try to explain to the man all the reasons why he was wrong.
"So… um, you mentioned that you were surprised to see me actually doing it in action, but most people have never even heard of being able to read that fast. Do you study it, or have experience with it?" Spencer asked, hoping to move the subject off of him, personally.
"Hmm…. Experience? Well, I study the human experience, so I guess you could say I have a little bit of experience with everything," he said with a smile.
Spencer stared at him blankly.
"My name's Leonard Burgess. I'm a retired professor. I used to teach in the anthropology department over at Georgetown," the old man explained, by way of a formal greeting.
Spencer blinked in surprise.
"Leonard… Burgess!? You… you're the anthropologist that spent twenty years studying indigenous tribes in the jungles of South America. I read your book a few months ago," Spencer said with excitement.
The man looked surprised as well, but pleasantly so.
"Oh, are you a student of anthropology?" he asked with equal excitement.
"Nope," Spencer responded. "I'm actually currently working on degrees in mathematics and engineering. I just picked up your book because I thought it sounded interesting. I read it in my spare time," Spencer said with a smile. "It was well-written and very fascinating."
"Your… sp-spare time?" Leonard asked. "That book was 800 pages long."
"Well, 787, to be exact. But… I can read at a rate of 20,000 words, remember?" Spencer asked as he smiled bashfully. "I read a book on forensic anthropology last week. It's just something I do."
"Ah, I see," the man said with a chuckle. "Truly remarkable. If I was still in the business I would have definitely loved to study you… Ah?"
Spencer blinked as he realized the man was searching for something to call him and that he had never actually given him his name.
"Oh! I'm Spencer Reid. Sorry about that," Spencer rushed out.
The man smiled again.
"Spencer, such a pleasure to meet you. So, may I ask what you're doing here at this bookstore? And with so many books," Leonard asked as he motioned to the tall pile on the ground beside Spencer. "Are you studying for exams? I'd figure all the schools in the area have started their winter break already."
"Oh… I… don't go to school around here. Um, I'm actually here on vacation. Well… more like just visiting...someone. Or… something like that," Spencer mumbled out, not sure exactly how to explain the purpose for his trip. He could feel his face burning and was sure the older man noticed.
Confirming his suspicions, Leonard laughed.
"Ok… so, let me guess, you're here 'just visiting' your girlfriend?" Leonard asked.
Spencer's face heated up even more brightly, but, before he could sputter out a response, it was as if Leonard saw something in his expression, and he cut him off.
"Or… a young lady you'd like to become your girlfriend?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.
Spencer just blushed and shook his head as he looked down.
"I don't know what I'm actually doing," he muttered out.
Leonard laughed wholeheartedly at that.
"Well, if you want advice in the matters of the heart, young man, I can tell you a thing or two about it," he said as he took a sip from his coffee.
Spencer looked at him doubtfully. He definitely did not want to talk about his love life—or lack thereof—with a complete stranger. But, on the other hand, he had often heard that talking to people who don't know you was the best way to get your issues off your chest. He assumed that was probably why people found therapy so successful. Spencer didn't believe in 'therapy,' but he also didn't want to be rude.
"Um… I don't think you could really help me with my um… type of 'problem.' But, thanks for offering anyway," he said as he looked down and picked at a muffin crumb on his plate.
"Hmm… well, you don't have to tell me what exactly the problem is. I know we are complete strangers. But, if I can tell you even one single thing about love, it's that you shouldn't wait around for it. If you have feelings for someone, you need to act on it, before it's too late. I have had the unfortunate experience of almost missing my true love," Leonard said with a bit less levity in his voice.
Spencer looked up at him, and could see that there were strong emotions in his eyes. He could tell that the older man wanted to share a story, and he figured that as long as he kept his own mouth shut, there was no harm in listening to the man's advice.
"Um… what happened?" Spencer asked quietly.
Leonard smiled, but it was a sad smile.
"Well, I put my career over love. I met a girl when I was in high school who I knew… I just knew she was 'the one.' Her name was Pauline Fischer… well, everyone called her 'Paulie.' I had never loved anyone like I had loved her. We had never dated back then, mind you, but there was just this 'connection.' But, I was so focused on my goals, that I never took the time to tell her my feelings. Maybe I thought 'what's the point in asking if there was a chance I could possibly be rejected?' I'm not quite sure," Leonard said as he shook his head ruefully.
"There was one moment, a few weeks before we graduated, when she asked me if I could imagine a life for myself if I stayed in our hometown. I knew Paulie was staying and attending college at our state school, but, I had accepted an offer from a school halfway across the country and so I told her 'What's the point of thinking about hypotheticals?' I could tell she was hurt by my answer, and she didn't speak to me again after that. And then I left for college, and I threw myself into my studies once I got there. But there weren't many days that passed when I didn't think of Paulie… What she was doing, what she looked like, who she was with…" Leonard murmured as he looked wistfully down at his coffee cup.
"It wasn't until I was almost 33, had completed my PhD and been offered an associate professorship at Georgetown when we reconnected. Paulie had obtained her MD and specialized in infectious diseases, with a particular interest in prevention and vaccination in children. We were both presenting at a conference. She looked like she hadn't aged a day… like she was the same bright-eyed girl I fell in love with in high school. We started to talk again, flirt, even… I felt like I was 18 again. She told me she was living in the area, working at the Johns Hopkins hospital. She had never married. It… it felt like a rebirth to me, to know that I hadn't really lost her," he continued, his eyes lighting up at the fond memory.
"But a few weeks after we started to rekindle, I was approved for a grant I had applied for… to move to South America to study the indigenous populations there. It was my dream… everything I had worked so hard for, and I just knew I couldn't turn it down. But I was terrified about telling Paulie, because I thought she'd look at me as 'abandoning' her for my career again. But when I explained to her she just smiled at me and said she would just come with me. It was at that moment that I knew that woman truly loved me," Leonard said on a sigh.
"How'd you know she loved you from that?" Spencer asked softly, enraptured by the story.
"Picking up and moving halfway across the globe for another person? That really shows love," Leonard said with a fond smile on his face.
"We spent twenty years living over there, studying the populations and just loving each other. Paulie had to give up her practice, but she was able to contribute meaningfully to the field of disease management with what she studied in the jungles over there. After the first five years, we returned to the states to get married. We wanted children, but it was just never meant to be. But, we regretted nothing. Everything about our life was perfect. Every moment. The only thing I regretted was that I hadn't made her mine all those years ago, that I had wasted time," Leonard said as he looked into Spencer's eyes.
"After we finished our studies, we had a few more good years together. But, Paulie was diagnosed with cancer a few years back, and I went into retirement five years ago to be with my wife in her final moments. It's been four years since my Paulie died," Leonard said with a sad smile.
"I… I'm sorry for your loss," Spencer murmured, not knowing what else to say.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Leonard said with a small laugh. "Paulie was a firecracker. There are remnants of her everywhere around the house. And I can still hear her voice teasing me and putting me in my place. She'll never truly be 'gone,' and definitely never forgotten."
"But the reason I'm telling you this, Spencer, is because you're young. If for some reason you're hesitating, ask yourself why. Paulie was the love of my life. I knew that as certainly at 17 as I do now at almost 70. Sometimes you only get one," Leonard said.
Spencer sat quietly, nibbling on his bottom lip as he thought over the older man's words. Leonard watched him as he sipped on his coffee. He could see the gears turning in the youth's head.
"I also believe that you're probably the type to think too much, Spencer," Leonard said with a laugh, drawing Spencer out of his thoughts.
Spencer blushed, but smiled.
"Well… what I'm thinking of doing is probably one of the most illogical things I've done in a long time, and if I think about it too much, I'm probably going to talk myself out of it," he said, cringing slightly. "But, I think I'm gonna go for it."
Leonard smiled, the skin around his eyes creasing with pleasure. It reminded Spencer a little of Derek.
"I'll take my leave, then. Best of luck, my boy," Leonard said as he got to his feet and patted Spencer's shoulder.
As Spencer watched the old man walk away, he steeled his resolve. He wasn't going to play cat and mouse with Derek anymore. Leonard had showed him that there really wasn't time for that. He was going to put his cards on the table and get a serious answer. He still had feelings, and he knew there was nothing that was going to make them just go away. And he was tired of guessing and trying to figure things out on his own. He needed to know if Derek still wanted him. Tonight he would find out for sure.

About an hour later, federal agents and local police apprehended Mark Parsons at a roadblock a few miles past the Maryland border. He was disheveled and distraught. Nina Parsons was confused but calm. She thought they were just going on a trip. She didn't understand why her Daddy was so upset.
As they pulled the man from the car, he kept murmuring "I just didn't want to lose my daughter."
Frowning, JJ turned to Hannah Parsons, who was currently tearfully reuniting with her young daughter. They had learned on the way to the border that Hannah remembered asking her daughter a few weeks ago if she would like to 'move.' They lived in a tiny apartment after the divorce and, following a promotion at her job, Hannah could now afford a bigger place. She said the thought had been tentative and she was just asking Nina to feel it out, and see if the child would mind leaving her school, friends, and neighborhood. But she wondered if maybe Nina had said something to her father. Hannah had said there would be no way she would have moved without first talking to her ex-husband, and, in any case, her thoughts had been to move to Northern Virginia, only about a half an hour drive from where they lived now.
As Mark Parsons was being led away by Derek and Hotch, JJ could hear him saying, "She wanted to take her away…. I-I had to do something."
Shaking her head, she walked over to Emily and Rossi who were leaning against the large black Suburban watching the scene unravel.
"It was a misunderstanding," JJ explained with a sigh. "He thought she was taking his daughter away. But she didn't even plan on going all that far."
"I'm sure his disorder didn't help," Emily said, echoing her sigh. "The paranoia, coupled with the fact that he thought his ex was hiding something from him, probably drove him to desperation."
Rossi let out a soft 'hmm' of agreement and the three of them watched as Hotch and Derek helped the man into the back of the police cruiser. They could see Hotch discussing something with the lead detective as Derek began to approach.
"It looks like everything's fine with the daughter," Derek said. "She doesn't even seem to know anything was wrong."
"That's good to hear," Emily said, sounding relieved. "She's so young, and her father's sick. It'd be awful if she knew he tried to kidnap her."
"Well, I'm just happy it resolved like this. Things could've gone much worse," Derek said.
"I'd say that's definitely a job well done for us," JJ said with a smile. "I'll let Garcia know everything worked out."
"Ok, everyone," Hotch said as he walked up to them. "Good work. The Maryland and D.C. police are going to handle the rest from here. Let's head back to the office to complete the paperwork and hopefully we can all call it an early night."
The other agents smiled. Sometimes things did turn out alright.

It was almost six o'clock when Derek pulled up outside of the Barnes & Noble to see Spencer waiting at the curb, smiling, and arms laden with what looked to be five or six shopping bags.
With an eyebrow raised, Derek put the car into park and hopped out of the driver's seat.
"What's with all this?" he asked as he grabbed most of the bags from Spencer and began putting them in the back. "What'd I tell you about spending your time with me instead of with a bunch of books?"
Spencer fought down the warm feeling triggered by Derek's words as he walked over to the car.
"It's not books," he explained as he climbed in. "I went to the grocery store. There's a Whole Foods a couple blocks down from here."
Derek's brows furrowed as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"I thought I told you to stay put," he said flatly as he switched the car into drive and checked the side-view mirror before pulling out.
Spencer huffed a sigh.
"It was only a few blocks down and still on the main street," he responded.
"Plus," he added as his cheeks reddened slightly. "I needed to go…. I wanted to make you dinner."
Derek's head snapped to look at him incredulously for a second, before he remembered he was driving and turned his head back to the road.
"Uh… kid, you don't need to do that. You're staying with me. I can take care of all of the meals," Derek responded.
"Well… I mean, you're being so hospitable, I thought this was the least I could do. It'd mean a lot to me if I could do that for you," Spencer said.
"Hmm… Well, I gotta say I'm pretty curious to see what you can cook. From the look of you, I always figured you were so skinny 'cause you didn't know how to cook," Derek said, pretending to look apologetic, but Spencer could tell he was teasing him. "Plus, the girls told me how they had to commandeer your shopping trip, and basically force you to stock your kitchen. So, forgive me if I'm a little skeptical."
Rolling his eyes, Spencer chose to ignore him.
"It's not that I don't know how to cook," Spencer defended himself. "It's just that, living by myself, I didn't really feel like there was anyone important to go to the trouble of cooking for."
That statement hung in the silence between them for a few minutes, as they both processed it.
Then, Derek gave him a small smile.
"Ok, kid. Well, I'd like to see what you can do then," he said.

A/N: So…hmm, I said there'd be no 'case-fic' related stuff in this story, but I ended up throwing a cursory case in the background here. Haha. Old habits die hard, huh? But, there wasn't very much to that case. I think I may mention another case in some later chapters, as well. But, again, not very integral to the story. It's just reasons to drag the other team members into the fray. And, gotta love when those Nosy Nellies get involved ;p. I also added the 'wise old man' giving Spencer some advice (aka, a kick in the pants). Wasn't sure about it at first, but now I kinda dig it. Hope you guys enjoyed it as well.
Ok. So, next chapter will probably be what you all have been waiting for. It's what I've been waiting for, at least. Unresolved Sexual Tension finally gets RESOLVED ;D. lol. (But, of course there's gotta be lots of angst before any of that happens ;p)
Please leave me your thoughts and comments. They make my day!
xoxo
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Pretty Boy: Reprise