Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Spencer was the first, aside from Hotch and JJ, to arrive, settling behind his desk and starting on his paperwork. Emily and Derek stepped out of the elevator together, chatting about their weekends.

“Morning, pretty boy.” Derek greeted.

“Hi, how were your weekends?” Spencer asked.

“It was nice to actually have a full weekend.” Emily sat down. “I spent most of it on my couch hanging out with Sergio.”

“I worked on one of my properties, they’ve got some original 1930s bay windows that I think I can salvage.” Derek said.

“Is the house Art Deco style?” Spencer asked.

“Mhm, I’m going to try to keep as much of the ornamentation as I can.” Derek said.

“Can’t wait to see photos.” Emily said.

“What about you, kid? That boyfriend of yours in town?” Derek asked.

“Not this weekend.” Spencer denied.

“What does he do for work again? You said he traveled a lot.” Emily said.

“Investigative journalist.” Spencer lied.

“He out of the doghouse for the whole not-calling potentially dead incident?” Emily asked.

Derek shook his head. “I don’t know that I’d ever let that fly.”

“It was a hunting accident, he was in the hospital and everything.” Spencer said.

“He should’ve called.” Derek said.

“He was in a medically induced coma at first, he couldn’t call.” Spencer defended.

“For weeks?” Emily asked.

“A week, then he was… healing.” Spencer gestured.

“Mhm.” Emily said.

“He wasn’t dead.” Spencer said. “And that’s good enough for me.”

Emily and Derek exchanged a look.

“Yeah, kid, but maybe keep him on a short leash, yeah?” Derek said.

Spencer rolled his eyes.

“This one’s a doozy.” JJ waved the file as she strode through the bullpen.

They followed her up the stairs, taking their seats around the round table. JJ handed out the files, stepping up to the monitor, filling the screen with images of bloodied bodies.

“Five college students were found dead in the Jenner home, they were having a get together over their winter break. Parents Kyle and Connie came home to find the bodies of Joseph Kent, Lyla Adair, Chloe Morrison, Thomas Woods, and their own daughter, Ally Jenner.” JJ flicked through the photos as she spoke.

“These are… brutal.” Emily flipped through the photos.

“There’s no way one person could have done this.” Rossi denied.

“That’s what the locals are thinking which is why they called us.” JJ said.

“It would have to be a group, at least three people.” Spencer thumbed through the photos.

“But they didn’t come armed, all the wounds have been matched to household items.” Derek said. “So it’s an unorganized group.”

“It reminds me of the pack we encountered in San Diego.” Rossi said.

“Except this time it looks like the entire group was in on the killing.” Emily countered.

“Like they had fun with it.” Spencer said.

“That’s a grim thought.” JJ grimaced.

“I’ll have Garcia check for murders in the area predating this one, I can’t imagine this is their first, and it definitely won’t be their last. Wheels up in thirty.” Hotch declared.

Spencer picked up his file, fitting it into his messenger bag, and filing out of the room. They grabbed their go-bags, drove to the plane, and boarded, settling into their seats. Spencer looked through the crime scene photos again, focusing on the blood spatters. He wasn’t a forensic analyst, but there seemed to be something off about the patterns, though there was so much blood it was hard to say for certain. The called Penelope once they were in the air.

“So, I looked back at unsolved murders in the area, but none of them are quite so um, icky as this one. We have a dead prostitute, a home invasion gone wrong, and an armed robbery.” Penelope said.

“Send them all over we’ll sort through them.” Hotch said.

“Yes, sir, but um, you should know the media’s already all over this. They’re calling it the work of a satanic cult.” Penelope said.

“Satanic, why?” Emily asked.

“They’re saying it was a sacrifice because it was on the full moon.” Penelope replied.

Rossi sighed. “There’s not even any symbols or sigils and they’re already jumping to a satanic cult?”

“I’ll try to get a handle on the media once we land.” JJ said.

Hotch nodded. “Thanks, Garcia.”

“Sure thing.” Penelope ended the call.

“Reid, Morgan, I want you to go the scene. Prentiss, Rossi, check in with the ME. JJ and I will begin interviewing the families.” Hotch decided.

Derek drove them to the Jenner house, and they broke the police tape covering the door, stepping inside. Pulling on a set of gloves, Spencer moved through the entry way into living room. The rug was stained with blood, it had dried on the floor boards, and it was splattered against the furniture and the wall. Spencer used his imagination to place the bodies in the room, trying to imagine where the other people would stand.

“There’s no sign of forced entry.” Derek said. “You think they knew the killers?”

Spencer stepped deeper into the room. “They could have had a ruse, but instinct would likely prevent them from letting themselves be outnumbered. Maybe they let one of them in, then that one let the others in?”

“What you mean is that it’s likely they knew at least one of them.” Derek clarified.

“Yeah.” Spencer agreed.

He looked at the blood spatters on the mantel. With a slight frown, he ran his fingers over the edge only for his gloves to pick up a yellow powder. A sniff told him it was sulfur.

“You have something?” Derek asked.

“There’s traces of sulfur along the mantel.” Spencer replied.

He swabbed it, placing it in an evidence bag, and pocketing it.

“Hey, does the blood spatters seem odd to you?” Spencer asked.

“Spencer, it’s everywhere.” Derek gestured.

“No, I know, but there should be, well for lack of a better word, missing patches where the unsubs were standing, it would have been impossible for them to keep clean the way they killed these people, but like you said, it’s everywhere.” Spencer waved.

“What are you saying?” Derek asked.

“That it looks a lot like the murder-suicide scenes I’ve seen, just, messier.” Spencer replied.

“You think they killed each other?” Derek asked.

“I think there’s something off about the blood spatters.” Spencer replied.

“We’ll talk to the forensic analysts.” Derek said.

Spencer crouched down, looking at the cables on the floor. The ME’s report had said a wire of some sort was responsible for the ligature marks on the victims, though the victims hadn’t been bound when their bodies were found.

“Even the bindings were found here, they didn’t come prepared at all.” Spencer rose.

“Could speak to disorganized unsubs, or they could be young.” Derek said.

“Or they could be confident, they know that they don’t need to bring a weapon to subdue their targets, they could be physically imposing.” Spencer countered.

“Wouldn’t that make them less likely to let them in?” Derek countered.

“Yep.” Spencer agreed.

“So we’ve conflicting profiles.” Derek said.

“That usually happens with a group.” Spencer offered.

“Alright, so one of them isn’t physically imposing, they use a ruse, get themselves let in, let the others in who are bigger, stronger, they subdue our victims, tie them up, then…?” Derek waved.

“We should check in with Emily and Rossi, see what the ME has to say.” Spencer said.

They dropped the sulfur sample at the lab on their way back to the station, and the analysts said it would still be another few hours before their report on the blood spatters. The regrouped with the others in the conference room the station had set up for them.

“Anything at the house?” Hotch asked.

“I found traces of sulfur dust.” Spencer offered.

“And pretty boy here thinks there’s something wrong with the blood.” Derek added.

“We’re waiting for the analysis.” Spencer replied.

“What’s your theory?” Hotch asked.

Spencer shifted. “I’m not a blood spatter analyst.”

“Reid.” Hotch prompted.

“But it looks like they killed each other otherwise we should have spots where, um, there wasn’t blood because it would be on the unsub. Like missing puzzle pieces.” Spencer said.

Hotch frowned. “You think they killed each other.”

“I think I’d like to hear what the ME had to say before I continue to theorize.” Spencer replied.

Hotch nodded.

“Joseph and Thomas had blows to the head likely enough to knock them unconscious. The cause of death for all of them was exsanguination, they had varying stab wounds from different kitchen knives.” Emily filled in.

“This is where it gets weird, they all had ligature marks, but they all had defensive wounds as well, so either they fought before they were subdued or the unsubs untied them before they were killed.” Rossi said.

“Like if they made them fight each other?” Spencer asked.

Rossi dipped his head slightly.

“I don’t buy it, maybe if it was in a controlled environment, if they kidnapped them, but everything about this seen reads disorganized.” Derek gestured to the photos pinned up on the board.

“We’ll wait on the analysis.” Hotch said. “For now, let’s try to profile this as a group, what do we know about group killings?”

“There’s always a leader, usually with a loyal second hand, everyone after is like a subordinate.” Emily said.

“The subordinates will be the easiest way to catch the pack if we can put a wedge between them and their leader somehow.” JJ said.

“The leader is likely a sexual sadist based on these kills, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his followers are, they’re likely younger than he is and vulnerable to him in someway.” Derek said.

“He’d have to be incredibly charismatic to convince someone who isn’t a sadist to participate in something like this.” JJ sifted through the photos.

“Anything from the families?” Spencer asked.

“We’ll speak with them again once we have a better profile to see if they recognize anyone their children knew that fit, but they couldn’t think of anyone with grudges against them.” Hotch said.

Spencer nodded.

“They must have planned to kill them, why not bring weapons with them?” Rossi asked.

“Maybe they did, maybe they brought guns they just didn’t use them.” Emily suggested.

“Or maybe that’s part of the fun.” Spencer said.

Hotch raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe subduing them and being, um, creative about it gives them a thrill.” Spencer said.

“Now, that, I buy.” Derek agreed. “Especially if they’re younger.”

“So we’ve got a charismatic sexual sadist leader, a few years older than his followers. Either one of them were known by the victims, or they had a ruse to get inside. At least three members.” Rossi said.

“Only three?” JJ asked.

“It would be harder for a leader to control more than two members.” Hotch said.

“Wouldn’t it be hard for three to subdue five?” JJ asked.

“Not if they blitzed Joseph and Thomas first, it’s likely the others would be more likely to cooperate.” Derek replied.

“For disorganized killers they did a great job.” Spencer said.

“And by that creepy statement you mean that it’s not their first go.” Emily clarified.

“Uh, yeah.” Spencer rubbed the back of his neck.

“Divide up the recent homicides, see if anything sticks to their MO.” Hotch instructed.

Spencer read through open cases in the area, but most of them were petty crimes; vandalism, shoplifting, trespassing.

“I’ve got a robbery gone wrong.” Emily waved a file.

Derek took it from her hands. “Home invasion, they cleaned out some valuables, it looks like they woke up the residents, killed them with… a candle stick? Like clue?”

“Looks like.” Emily agreed.

“That could be something.” Rossi said, taking the file. “I’ll talk to the lead detectives, see if they had any leads.”

Hotch nodded. Rossi stepped out of the conference room to speak with the locals as Hotch’s phone rang. He accepted the call, putting it on speaker.

“SSA Hotchner?”

“Yes, what did the lab find?” Hotch asked.

“In our virtual recreating of the scene we’ve come to conclude that the only way the blood spatters make sense is that if, um, if the offenders themselves were at the far edges of the room for the majority of the bloodshed.”

“You’re saying the victims killed one another?” Hotch said.

“The angle of the blows compared with the heights of the victims make it appear likely that Thomas killed Lyla and Chloe, while Ally killed Joseph and then Thomas. However the stab wounds to Ally’s body make it evident a third party was there.”

“That’s the only pattern consistent with the blood sprays?” Hotch asked.

“There’s always a margin of error, especially considering the sheer volume of blood at the crime scene, but Ally had Thomas and Joseph’s arterial spray on her face and clothing along with her own blood, and the same for Thomas having Chloe and Lyla’s blood on his skin and clothes.”

“And the murder weapons?” Hotch asked.

“One knife has Ally’s prints on it, another has Thomas, and a third and forth have different prints. Both unidentified.”

“Is there anything else?” Hotch asked.

“Those are our conclusions thus far.”

Hotch sighed. “Okay, thank you.”

He ended the call.

“You were right.” Hotch said.

Spencer shifted. “We should have the ME test for drugs that can alter perception, like scopolamine.”

“I’ll call.” JJ agreed. “We’ll do a full drug panel.”

“Some of those drugs are quickly metabolized they might not appear.” Emily said.

“They would have been killed soon after ingesting them hopefully something will show up.” Derek said.

JJ made the call.

Rossi rejoined him. “The locals didn’t have any leads on the home invasion. Nothing that wasn’t in the file.”

“Alright, let’s break for dinner.” Hotch decided.

“Not it!” Spencer put both fingers on his nose, earning a few smiles from the others.

“We’ll all go, I saw an Italian place around the corner.” Hotch rose.

They left the precinct, getting a table at the local Italian restaurant. Spencer could have easily ordered for everyone at the table, if not for social niceties and the illusion of choice when he already knew JJ was just going to order the house salad and eat half of Emily’s pasta.

“Alright, here’s what’s bugging me.” Derek began. “If they were forced to kill their friends then why the overkill? Wouldn’t the wounds be shallow? Why are their no hesitation marks?”

“That’s where the drug would come in. If their perception, or if they were in a sort of trance, then they could be persuaded into killing their friends. Really killing them.”  Emily sipped her drink.

Derek’s face showed how little he bought that theory.

“Something’s not right.” JJ agreed.

“It could have been planned, in partial,” Rossi theorized. “One of the victims was in on murders, something goes awry, and they end up a victim as well.”

“I believe that more.” Derek agreed.

“We’ll see what the ME has to say.” Hotch said.

The waiter arrived with their food, and like an unspoken pact, they moved away from the case as they ate. Maybe to save their appetites.

“Michael is at that stage where his favorite word is no.” JJ sighed.

“I remember that one.” Hotch said.

“Mhm, no to food, no to picking up his toys, no to bedtime…” JJ took a bite of her salad.

“Jack once said ‘no’ to going to the zoo, then cried about not going to the zoo.” Hotch offered.

JJ laughed. “Yeah, that’s about how it goes for Michael too.”

“Glad I missed that stage of parenting.” Rossi said.

“How is Joy?” Emily asked.

“Oh, she’s good, thinking about writing a book, I figured I’d put her in touch with my publisher.” Rossi said.

“Like father like daughter.” Derek said.

“Mhm.” Rossi puffed out his chest.

“Is it true crime?” Spencer asked.

“It is. She got a few exclusive interviews with some convicted serial killers.” Rossi said.

“I’d be interested to see the similarities between your books, especially if you plan on using the same publisher. I mean, I know she didn’t grow up with you, but that’s why I’d be interested to see if your writing styles are similar without growing up hearing you talk on a regular basis.” Spencer sipped his soda.

“Mhm, and how’s Sam?” Rossi countered.

Spencer narrowed his eyes. “Why’d you say his name like that?”

“Like what?” Rossi raised an eyebrow.

“Like he’s an infectious disease?” Spencer fiddled with his straw.

“Did he go on anymore mysterious hunting trips?” Hotch asked mildly.

Spencer sighed. “Are you guys ever going to let that go?”

“No, not really.” Derek denied.

“Maybe once we meet him and get a better impression.” JJ sipped her drink.

Spencer looked away.

“You’re going to have to introduce us at some point.” Rossi said.

“I don’t know when he’ll be in town.” Spencer defended.

“Then we’ll meet him over your newfangled phones.” Rossi waved a fork at him.

“Spence, it’s been months, you guys are serious, aren’t you?” JJ asked.

Spencer chewed on his straw.

“Take it from me, that if you don’t want him meeting your family, that’s probably not a good sign.” JJ said.

“Even worse sign if he’s the one that doesn’t want to meet your family.” Emily countered.

“When did this turn into an interrogation?” Spencer slouched down in the booth.

“Way overdue, pretty boy, we should’ve met him months ago.” Derek informed him.

“I don’t need you to vet the people I date, Derek.” Spencer scowled.

“I’m surprised Penelope hasn’t run a search.” Emily said.

“Without a last name she hasn’t managed it just yet.” Derek replied. “But as soon as she gets a little more information out of Spencer, she’ll run a deep search.”

Spencer’s stomach turned at the thought.

“I’m surprised she hasn’t stolen the Sam phone.” Emily teased.

“It’s not weird to have a phone separate from my work phone.” Spencer defended.

“It is if there’s only one number on it.” JJ countered.

Spencer flushed. “You don’t know that.”

“I do, because you’ve never texted any of us from it.” JJ replied.

“I have other friends.” Spencer crossed his arms.

“Sure, pretty boy, sure.” Derek nodded.

“Anyways, Derek, what about you? Where’s your girlfriend?” Spencer raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, Derek, where is your girlfriend?” Emily grinned.

“Woah, woah, hey!” Derek held up his hands. “We were getting on Spencer’s case, not mine!”

“What goes around comes around.” Spencer sipped his drink.

Derek glowered at him. Spencer mouthed, ‘karma’s a bitch’.

“Really?” Derek gave him an unimpressed look.

“I’m not going to swear in front of Hotch.” Spencer sniffed.

Hotch raised an eyebrow at him.

“It’s like swearing in front of your parents.” Emily agreed.

Spencer’s lips quirked up. “Did I ever tell you that Elle called you ‘mom’ on several occasions?”

Hotch grimaced. “Mom?”

“Gideon was dad.” Spencer informed him.

“Naturally.” Hotch sighed.

The others smiled. They settled their bill and returned to the station, getting in their SUVs, and driving to their hotel as dusk turned to true night. It was out of the way, almost on the edge of town. The radio was playing softly, Hotch behind the wheel, Emily sitting passenger seat, and Spencer in the back. Spencer watched the town pass through the window, but the street lights were dim and spread far.

A gasp was knocked from Spencer as the car skidded to a stop. He heard Emily cry out, and watched the air bags deploy in the front. Something hit them from the side, and his head slammed into the window. His vision went dark.

Chapter Text

“Spencer. Spencer, wake up.”

Spencer opened his eyes with a groan, blinking hard as his vision righted itself. He was lying on a concrete floor, his hands cuffed and chained to the floor. He sat up slowly to find the others similarly bound, they were in some sort of cellar. Emily had blood matted in her hair, and JJ had a bruise swelling on her cheek, but otherwise they looked unharmed.

“Is-is everyone okay?” Spencer asked.

Derek tugged on his chains. “Depends on your definition of okay.”

“Physically unharmed?” Spencer offered.

“Relatively.” Emily agreed. “I think they dosed us with something though, they gassed the car, and then, well, we woke up here.”

“Have you seen any of them?” Spencer asked.

“Not yet.” Hotch replied.

Spencer tugged at his chains checking to see if he could find enough room to slip his hands free. The cuffs bit into his wrists as he tugged at the chains looking for a weak link.

“Spencer, if I can’t break these, you think you can?” Derek asked.

“Doesn’t hurt to check.” Spencer gave one last yank. 

“What’s our play?” JJ asked.

“The same as it is for any group interrogation, turn the subordinates against their leader, make them question him.” Rossi said.

“And hope one of them let’s us go?” JJ asked.

“It’s our best bet.” Rossi said.

“Great.” Derek yanked at his chains.

The door banged open, and a woman stepped inside, followed by two burly men.

“Oh good, you’re all awake.” The woman smiled. “I wouldn’t want any of you to miss the show.”

“Show?” Hotch asked.

“Mhm, and don’t worry, we’ll be taking volunteers from the audience.” The woman grinned.

“Volunteers for what?” Spencer asked.

“I’m so glad you asked.” The woman crouched down in front of him.

She grabbed his face with one hand. Spencer tried to jerk away, but her grip was iron, keeping their gazes locked. She puckered her lips, and blew in his face. Spencer grimaced. She frowned, eyes flicking over him. She grabbed the front of his button down and ripped, buttons flying off as she revealed the tattoo just below his collar bone.

“You’re a hunter.” She snarled.

Spencer’s stomach dropped as her eyes flashed black. The sulfur. He should have called Sam.

“I’m not.” Spencer denied.

“That’s the Winchester’s mark.” One of the men said.

“He’s the Winchester’s bitch.” The other said.

Spencer glared. “Then you know they’ll come for me. Let us go, give yourself a running start.”

“Ooh, I don’t think so.” The woman caressed his face. “I think we’ll catch ourselves some big fish, now, tell us where they are.”

“Go to hell.” Spencer replied. “Oh wait, you’ve already been.”

She backhanded him across the face.

“Hey!” Derek shouted. “Leave him alone!”

She rose, turning to look at him. “Are you a hunter too?”

“A hunter?” Emily replied.

“Ooh you're a pretty one, I wouldn’t mind trading for your meat suit.” She turned to Emily.

She parted her lips, blowing black fog out of her mouth.

“Oh what the hell?” Derek asked.

The fog curled towards Emily, but it stopped, like there was a barrier between her and the smoke. The woman breathed in the smoke. Spencer let out a breath of relief, Emily was wearing the necklace he had given her.

“It won’t work.” Spencer said. “They’re all protected.”

The woman turned in circles, her eyes landing on Hotch. “No, not all of them.”

“He doesn’t know anything.” Spencer tugged at his chains.

“No, but I’m sure he knows how to get answers out of you.” She grinned.

Spencer yanked hard enough that the cuffs cut into his skin as she knelt down before Hotch. Hotch met her eyes with his own unwavering stare, even as her eyes turned black.

“Spencer, what the hell is going on?” JJ asked.

Spencer closed his eyes, murmuring under his breath.

“Did you drug us?” Emily demanded.

The woman laughed. “You can’t dream this up, honey.”

She blew black smoke into Hotch’s face, and Spencer’s heart lurched in his chest as Hotch swallowed it down. The woman’s body collapsed to the floor as Hotch’s eyes turned black.

“Hotch?” Derek asked.

“Not anymore.” Not-Hotch replied.

“What did you give us? Scopolamine?” Emily asked.

One of the men uncuffed Hotch.

“Uncuff the Winchester’s bitch.” Hotch directed.

Goon2 uncuffed him, yanking him to his feet. He shoved him towards Hotch, who grabbed his jaw, forcing him to meet his eyes.

“Where are the Winchesters?” Hotch demanded.

“Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus-“ Spencer began.

Hotch hit him hard enough to snap his head to the side, teeth cutting his lip as he was cut off mid-sentence.

“Hotch!” Derek yanked at his chains.

“Cute.” Hotch said as Spencer wiped blood on the back of his hand.

Spencer put his hands up in the same fighting stance Derek had shown him a thousand times. He blocked a second hit to his face, and Hotch’s fist connected with his gut instead, sending him stumbling back a few steps. Rossi was trying to talk to Goon1, his tone level and calm; Spencer couldn’t focus on what he was saying, but he assumed it was the standard spiel to turn underlings against their master. Spencer rolled under Hotch’s next hit, circling to keep space between them. Hotch kicked him, knocking the breath from him. In a blink of an eye Hotch closed the space between them, grabbing him by the collar, hitting him again. One to the jaw, to the ribs, to his stomach. He wrapped one hand around his throat, lifting him off his feet. Spencer clutched at his wrist, legs kicking in the open air.

“Where are the Winchester?” Hotch demanded.

“Exorcizamus te-“

Hotch threw him to the ground. His foot connected with his stomach, and Spencer gasped, curling in on himself.

“You’re pathetic.” Hotch spat, kicking him again.

Spencer wheezed.

“Where are the Winchester?” Hotch demanded.

“They’re dead!” Derek yelled.

Hotch glanced back at him. Spencer reached towards the woman’s body, fingers curling around the keys in her pocket— Hotch’s foot slammed down on his arm, pinning it to the floor.

“Nice try.”

Hotch hauled him back to his feet only to throw him across the room. He collided the with wall, crumpling to the ground beside Emily.

“Spencer-“ Emily began.

Hotch advanced.

“Hotch, stop! Snap out of it!” Emily shouted.

Spencer coughed. “They-they’re demons, it-it’s not really Hotch-“

Hotch grabbed him by the ankle, dragging him back towards the center of the room.

“They don’t know? They wear those little charms, and they don’t even know the truth?” Hotch asked.

“Let them go.” Spencer said. “They’re just FBI agents, they-they’re not hunters, they’re not a part of this.”

“It doesn’t matter, we were going to kill the lot of you any way, just like those college kids.” Hotch said.

“You were getting in the way.” Goon2 said.

“But now, now I think I’ll take my time, cut you into pretty little pieces for the Winchesters to find, how’s that sound?” Hotch loomed over him.

“Live bait is better than dead,” Spencer replied. “Why don’t you let me call them, they’ll come running.”

Hotch tilted his head to one side. “Hm, no, I’d rather see the looks on their faces when they find what’s left of you.”

Spencer kicked him in the stomach, scrambling to his feet.

Spencer spat out blood. “Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica-“

“Would you stop with that!” Hotch swung at him.

Spencer side stepped, Hotch’s fist just skimming his cheek.

“…potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii-” Spencer continued.

Hotch’s fist connected with his jaw.

“…omnis legio, omnis congregatio-“

“Shut up!” Hotch slammed him into the wall, knocking the breath from his lungs.

Spencer gasped, grabbing at Hotch’s arm as he fingers encircled his throat, cutting off his airway. Spencer’s lips moved, trying to complete the incantation. Hotch slammed him back against the wall again, and Spencer blinked black spots out of his eyes. His chest heaved as he fought for air, toes just skimming the ground.

The door burst open, and Spencer registered the sound of a shotgun going off. Hotch released him, and he fell to his knees. Through watery eyes he watched as Dean shot Goon1 and Goon2 with rock salt while Sam restrained Hotch. Cas pressed play on a tape recorder and Sam’s voice filled the room as the incantation Spencer had been trying to say played.

“No!” Hotch shouted, struggling in Sam’s arms.

Cas and Sam each restrained one of the Goons. Spencer pressed a hand to his throat, trying to force air back into his lungs. Black smoke was torn from each of the bodies, forming a cloud on the ceiling, burning a circle on the black concrete as they returned to hell. Dean hauled him to his feet, a calloused hand forcing him to meet his eyes.

“Hey, hey, you okay?” Dean asked.

Spencer tossed his arms around him, hiding his face in his shoulder.

“Hey, okay, you’re fine.” Dean hugged him gently.

Spencer still couldn’t catch his breath. Dean eased him out of the hug, turning him to Sam, who cupped his face with both hands, eyes flicking over him.

“Are you okay? Sam asked.

“Fine.” Spencer rasped.

Sam pressed a soft kiss to his lips, and when he pulled away he had blood smudged against his bottom lip.

“How did-“ Spencer swallowed hard. “How did you g-get here?”

“Cas got your prayer.” Sam replied.

“He-he can’t tele-teleport…” Spencer said.

“We were in the area, investigating demons.” Dean toed at one of the goons.

“Spencer.”

Spencer’s eyes snapped to Hotch.

“What the hell is going on?” Hotch commanded, rising unsteadily from the floor.

“Um,” Spencer glanced at the others. “This is Sam?”

“You-you’re joking.” Derek said.

“Hi.” Sam offered a little wave.

“Keys, um…” Spencer grabbed the keys from the woman’s pocket, moving over to unlock Derek first.

Derek shoved himself to his feet, facing off against the Winchesters. Spencer unlocked Emily, JJ, and Rossi in quick succession. He moved to rejoin Sam, but Derek grabbed his arm.

“It’s okay, they-they’re not who you think.” Spencer said.

“They’re serial killers.” Derek replied incredulously.

“No, we’re hunters.” Dean corrected. “And we just saved your ass, so, you’re welcome.”

“Dean.” Sam chided.

“Saved us from what?” Emily asked.

“Demons.” Spencer replied.

“Demons.” JJ repeated.

“I-I know it sounds crazy, but how else would you explain it?” Spencer asked.

“Drugs?” Emily tried.

“If that helps you sleep better at night.” Dean replied.

“Come on, you guys can’t actually be buying into this?” Derek glanced at the others.

“I buy it.” Hotch said.

“Hotch?” Derek asked.

“Morgan, I just beat the hell out of Reid all I could do was watch as I nearly killed him.” Hotch said.

Derek’s jaw worked.

“It wasn’t actually you, Hotch.” Spencer reminded. “It’s not your fault. They could just get to you because, um, you don’t have a charm.”

Spencer tapped the mark on his chest. Sam and Dean tugged down their shirts to show their matching tattoos. Derek’s hand fell to the one hidden under his shirt sleeve. Emily reached for her pendent. JJ looked at her ring. Rossi at his cufflinks. They all looked at him.

“I was trying to protect you.” Spencer said.

“So you-you’ve known that there are… are demons?” JJ asked.

“And werewolves, vampires, wendigos, and um, angels.” Spencer looked at Cas.

Shadows of tattered wings appeared on the wall behind Cas along with the sensation of thunder without the sound of it. Emily gasped. JJ clapped a hand over her mouth. Derek’s grip tightened on Spencer’s arm. Rossi took a step back. Hotch’s fingers curled into fists.

“Yeah, um, I’m not sure they were ready for that, pal.” Dean clapped his shoulder.

“Apologies.” Cas said.

“I need a drink.” Rossi sighed.

“We have to call this in.” Hotch said.

“Any chance you can do that minus us?” Dean asked.

Hotch’s eyes landed on him, and Spencer watched Dean’s posture straighten, shoulders square, and chin up. He looked like a solider reporting for duty.

“Go.” Hotch said.

“Thanks.” Sam smiled.

Spencer slipped from Derek’s grip, stepping up to Sam.

“We’re at the Greenway Hotel, meet us there?” Spencer held out his room key.

“Reid.” Derek said.

“Don’t Reid him, I want answers.” Emily elbowed him.

Derek scowled.

Sam took the key, pressing a quick kiss to his lip.

“Alright, that’s enough of that.” Derek grabbed Spencer, yanking him back.

“Ow.” Spencer complained.

“Make sure he gets checked out by the medics, yeah?” Sam said.

Hotch fixed him with his dark eyed stare. “We take care of our own.”

Sam winced. “Right, sorry, sir, um, we’ll be going.”

Sam, Dean, and Cas made their way out of the cellar. JJ knelt down by the woman, checking her pulse. Rossi checked the other two, shaking his head.

“What’s our story?” Emily asked.

“They had a cardiac event, one of them dropped close enough for us to get the keys, and we unlocked ourselves.” Spencer said.

“And your face?” Derek asked.

“They roughed me up a little first.” Spencer shrugged.

Derek shook his head. “Who are you, man?”

Spencer flinched.

Hotch pulled a phone out of the woman’s pocket. “We stick with Spencer’s story, agreed?”

“Agreed.” JJ said.

The others nodded, though Derek didn’t looked pleased about it. Hotch called the locals and an ambulance. Spencer let the EMTs check him out while the others filled in the locals on their story. His jaw was swollen, his lip split and bleeding, and his throat ached with every word he forced out.

“You probably have a cracked rib.” The EMT informed him.

“But my breathing’s fine? No internal injuries?” Spencer asked.

“You should still go to the hospital for monitoring.” The EMT said.

“I’m okay, thank you, though, um, thanks.” Spencer hopped off the back of the ambulance with a wince, wrapping an arm around himself.

Emily stepped up to him. “You okay?”

“I’m good, you?” Spencer asked.

“Having my whole outlook on life rearranged, but yeah, sure, I’m good.” Emily said.

“Yeah, I’ve been there.” Spencer offered her a little smile. “Are you, um, are you mad?”

“About what?” Emily asked.

“That I didn’t tell you?” Spencer asked.

“Spence, honestly, I don’t think I would have believed you unless I saw it for myself.” Emily said.

“Yeah, that’s, um, pretty much what I figured.” Spencer said.

“About Sam, though…” Emily began.

Spencer ducked his head.

“We’re done here.” Hotch lead the others over. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“Mmhm. Nope. I’m good.” Spencer said.

“Spencer.” JJ chided.

“I’m good.” Spencer promised. “But, um, I probably shouldn’t fly home, y’know, just incase.”

Hotch sighed. “Let’s go… debrief.”

Derek clicked his tongue. “Sure, let’s call meeting with wanted criminals that.”

Spencer knocked on his hotel room, and Sam let him inside.

“What did the EMTs say?” Sam asked.

“I’m fit as ox.” Spencer replied, his voice still rough and raspy.

Dean snorted. “Yeah, you sound fantastic.”

The others settled around the room, Derek standing by the door, Hotch in the corner with his arms crossed, Rossi had taken the desk chair, Emily and JJ sat on the edge of Spencer’s bed, Dean and Sam faced the rest of them, Cas just behind Dean’s shoulder. Spencer eased himself down so that he sat on the floor, his body aching. Sam tossed him a concerned look.

“So, uh, questions. Hit us.” Dean said.

“Saint Louis.” Hotch said.

“A shapeshifter, wearing my face, that’s why I was assumed dead because I shot it.” Dean replied.

“The grave desecrations.” Rossi asked.

“In order to put a ghost to rest you have to salt and burn the bodies.” Sam said.

“Salt and burn… oh come on, man, this is insane.” Derek said.

“How else would you explain what you just saw?” Dean asked.

“I don’t know, drugs, hallucinations, not… not demons.” Derek shook his head.

“Go get a blood test or a psych eval then.” Dean waved.

Derek scowled, looking away.

“That’s what I thought.” Dean said.

“Look, we know this a lot to take in, trust me, I do, but whatever questions you have, we’ll answer them.” Sam assured.

“Fine, how’d you and Spencer…” Derek waved one hand.

“He saved me,” Spencer said. “From a ghost, and um, a shapeshifter, and a wendigo.”

“Actually I think I saved you from that one.” Dean said.

Both Spencer and Sam gave him an unimpressed look.

“And what? You’re just okay with shacking up with a murderer?” Derek challenged.

“He’s not a murderer.” Spencer said. “They really were all demons, or monsters, or ghosts.”

“Yeah, and where’s the proof?” Derek said.

“The proof is the fact that you just watched Hotch get possessed and we didn’t because of a tattoo.” Spencer retorted.

Derek glanced at Hotch, who pursed his lips.

“You guys buy this?” Derek asked, sounding unsure.

“I’m going to need a strong drink of whiskey, but yes, I buy it.” Rossi said.

Dean held out a flask. Rossi took a swig.

“I don’t see any other explanation.” Emily agreed.

“I’m a little afraid I’ve lost my mind, but yeah, I mean, we saw it with our own eyes.” JJ said.

“We have the proof, Morgan.” Hotch’s eyes flicked over to Spencer.

“It’s not your fault.” Spencer said.

Hotch looked away, his jaw working.

“Besides, we did say we wanted to meet Spencer’s boyfriend.” Emily pointed out.

Sam’s lips quirked up. “Yeah, hi, sorry the meeting was so rocky.”

“Those seem to be our only kind of meetings.” Dean said.

“It’s true, he stabbed me when we first met.” Cas agreed.

“But we can grab you guys dinner to make up for it?” Sam offered.

“To make up for the fact that demons just kidnapped us?” JJ asked.

“You like burgers?” Dean asked.

“I like burgers.” Emily agreed.

Dean grabbed his jacket.

Sam crouched down before him. “You okay?”

“I’ve been better.” Spencer replied.

“At least I get to meet your family.” Sam said.

“I could do without the likely concussion.” Spencer replied.

Sam gave him a sympathetic look, brushing his hair out of his face. “I’ll grab some Advil while we’re out.”

“Thanks.” Spencer smiled.

Sam, Dean, and Cas stepped out of the room. Spencer used the wall to pull himself back to his feet.

“I’m gonna, um, shower, and change into something that uh, doesn’t have blood on it, so…” Spencer gestured.

“Yeah, I could use a change as well.” Emily glanced down at her rumpled clothes.

“I think we all could, regroup in fifteen?” JJ asked.

His room empty, Spencer took a hot shower, trying to wash away the ache setting in his bones. It felt somewhat illegal to wear sweatpants in front of Hotch, but he was too exhausted to care, pulling on an old Cal-tech long sleeve, and a pair of sweats. Toweling off his hair, he answered a knock on the door.

“Hey, feel any better?” Sam stepped inside, a big paper bag in hand.

“Sure.” Spencer bluffed.

Dean cracked a water bottle, holding it open. Spencer accepted it, and the Advil Dean handed him. He knocked it back, but he knew it would do little for the bruises swelling on his skin.

“Let’s see the damages.” Dean waved.

Spencer lifted the hem of his shirt to show him blue and purple skin.

“Yeah, you definitely cracked a rib.” Dean grimaced.

“Feels like.” Spencer said.

He jumped as a warm hand came to rest on the claw scars on his side.

“The wendigo scars still haven’t faded?” Sam asked.

“Not yet.” Spencer let his shirt fall over his hand.

“We should have let Cas heal you.” Sam said.

“It’s fine, I’m fine.” Spencer turned around to face him.

Sam looked unconvinced. “We should get some ice on those bruises. Sit down.”

Spencer perched himself on the edge of the bed while Sam slipped out of his room to find the ice machine. Dean handed him a milkshake.

“Yes! You’re my favorite.” Spencer took a deep sip.

Dean laughed. “Yeah, I’ll let Sam know he’s been upstaged.”

Spencer smiled around his straw.

“I’m sorry I can’t heal you.” Cas said.

“S’okay, just some bruises.” Spencer denied. “I’m just glad you could still hear my prayers.”

“I’m still an angel of the lord.” Cas said.

“Kinda.” Dean said.

Cas glowered. Sam returned with a bucket of ice, wrapping ice cubes in hand towels from the bathroom he pressed one to Spencer’s ribs, gesturing for him to hold the other to his jaw.

There was a knock. “Spence?”

“Yeah, come in, JJ.” Spencer called.

JJ and Emily stepped into the room.

“Burger?” Dean held out a wrapped burger.

“Oh yes, please.” Emily accepted.

Dean handed another to Emily. They settled on the floor, starting on their burgers. Spencer made grabby hands and Dean handed him a burger. He set down the ice to eat, his jaw aching. Derek was next to arrive, reluctantly accepting a burger from Dean, and leaning against the far wall. Cas vacated the desk chair upon Rossi’s arrival, and Rossi took his place. Hotch joined Emily and JJ on the floor, apparently demons had done a good job of ruining his near-permanent professional front.

“Milwaukee.” JJ asked.

“Another shapeshifter, he would take the shape of one of the people at the bank, rob it wearing their face, then kill the real person, make it look like suicide, and abscond with the goods.” Dean answered.

“That’s actually kind of genius.” Emily said.

“What about the pediatric nurse drained of blood?” Derek asked.

“Demon.” Derek said.

“And the blood draining?” Derek asked.

Sam and Dean exchanged looks.

“Um, it’s complicated.” Sam said.

“It’s a story for when you can say ‘ghosts’ seriously.” Dean said.

Derek took a big bite of his burger.

“The president.” Rossi said.

“Possessed.” Sam said.

“Your subsequent deaths?” Hotch asked.

“Not so fake, we just got revived afterwards.” Dean said.

“And that’s why you…” Derek trailed off.

“Was a little upset, yeah, um, that was it.” Spencer sipped his milkshake.

Sam wrapped an arm around him.

“And the credit card fraud?” Hotch asked.

Sam rubbed his neck looking away.

“Yeah, um, I don’t got a great excuse for that one other than hunting don’t pay the bills.” Dean said.

“Uh, sorry?” Sam offered.

Hotch didn’t look particularly impressed by this.

Spencer leaned against Sam’s side. “Any more questions?”

“You actually like him?” Derek asked.

“Yeah, a lot.” Spencer smiled.

“No more questions.” Derek said.

“…poker, anyone?” Dean asked.

Hotch sighed. “Do you have cards?”

“Always.” Dean produced a pair of cards.

They circled up on the floor, Spencer settling down gingerly, still holding ice to his side.

“I’ll shuffle.” Spencer said.

“No!” His team chorused.

Sam raised an eyebrow.

“Never let the house deal.” Derek denied. “And he’s a cheater.”

“I’m not a cheater!” Spencer denied.

JJ rolled her eyes.

“Counting cards is not technically cheating, it’s a strategy.” Spencer sniffed.

“You count cards?” Dean asked, shuffling the deck.

“And?” Spencer asked.

“And nothing, I’ll take you on, what are we playing for?” Dean asked.

Emily pushed a basket of fries to the center.

“That’s almost better than money.” JJ said.

“Let’s play.” Hotch said.