Criminal Minds Series Rewrite: Season Four

The Instincts: Part One

"Who speaks to the instincts speaks to the deepest in mankind and finds the readiest response." - Amos Bronson Alcott

You hang up on your mom with a smile. Your job is taking you to Las Vegas, where your parents currently live. They just moved there, so you haven't seen their new house. Maybe this time will be different if you decide to bring Spencer along to meet with them. Your dad is having an attitude like he always does, but he's just being protective of you; there's nothing wrong with that.

Your parents are excited to see you, but they aren't excited to see Spencer. You can't force them to like him, but you can definitely try.

You're the last one on the plane, and when you get on, you see Spencer slouched on the couch with his eyes closed. Poor baby, he's been having nightmares for the past few days. You've woken to him screaming in the middle of the night, and you've had to comfort him back to sleep (when you can). He's been dreaming of a little kid who had been abused and murdered, but he can never save him.

You wish you could make it better for him. The team decided to let him sleep a little longer until you are at cruising altitude. The team needs to discuss this case, and Spencer needs to be awake for this.

"I got this." You kneel on the floor so you're at his level, and you run your hand gently down his cheek. "Sweetheart."

He jumps at your soft voice, and he sees everyone is staring at him. You touch his hand in comfort, and he wipes his eyes with his other hand.

"Sorry, I was dreaming. We found a six-year-old boy who had been abused and stabbed. Your baby was at the crime scene," he says to JJ who raises her eyebrows at him. "I was trying to get him out of there. Sorry."

"It's okay," she responds.

"You know, Reid, if there's a baby in your dreams, that baby's actually you. It's a simple dream analysis."

"I don't believe in dream analysis."

"I don't know. It makes sense. The case we're working on and the case in your dream both involve children. Maybe your subconscious is telling you you want to sit this one out," Hotch speaks up.

"I don't."

"Well, maybe you're just stressed out about going home to Las Vegas. Did you tell your mom you're coming?" Emily asks.

Spencer's bottom lip wobbles, and you take matters into your own hand. He doesn't like talking about her, especially with other people. He's more comfortable if it's you.

"Why don't we talk about the case?" you ask, and he thanks you with his eyes.

"Alright, let's start from the beginning one more time," Hotch chuckles.

"The victim's name is Ethan Hayes. He was five when he was abducted out of his own front yard two weeks ago."

"Where were the parents?" Spencer asks.

"His mom just ran inside to grab her purse. When she came back, he was gone. She wasn't away for more than a minute or two. Police found his body exactly one week later in the desert. He was in a new change of clothes with his nails clipped and his hair was combed."

"That's a lot of remorse."

"There's no sign of sexual assault. The medical report suggests he was smothered. The unsub could see this death as merciful."

"Who's the new boy?" Emily asks JJ about the more recent abduction.

"Michael Bridges. Yesterday, he set out to walk by himself to a friend's house a block away. He never showed up."