Atlas: A Dr. Spencer Reid Love Story

Slow It Down (The Lumineers)

-End of Season 6: 2011-

Veronica sat like a stone, her hands tied behind her back and her feet bound together with a frayed rope. She didn't have a bruise or scratch on her body - her hair and clothes perfectly intact. She lifelessly stared at the nearby wall, a distant yellow bulb being her only source of light in the gray, dismal room with water dripping from nearly every square inch of the ceiling.

The man who haunted her life for only over a month had caught up to her and taken her hostage – a man who worked closely with the BAU and knew every detail of the case, including where Veronica would always be and when she would be apart from Spencer.

She attempted to maintain her calm physique as the man walked circles around her. He had a strong physique with pale blonde hair and a chiseled jaw. His eyes were icy blue and incredibly unsettling. She couldn't fathom that a man who worked in the FBI - who worked closely with the BAU - would be capable of this.

"You are so beautiful..." He eerily whispered, leaning towards her ear. Veronica grimaced, refusing to flinch; she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"He'll find me - and when he does, you are going to regret every decision you've ever made in your life," She menacingly spoke, feeling his hot breath against the side of her neck, his firm fingers bracing against her shoulders.

"How could I regret anything in life now that I have you in it?" His fingers moved to lazily stroke her cheek as Veronica viciously clenched her jaw. "You deserve so much more in life, Veronica – you deserve a man who can protect you against any force in this world; a man who can do more than just spout statistics and pointless facts; a man who really knows how to pleasure a woman..." He trailed off, his hands running down her arms. Veronica felt an unwanted cold shiver enter her body as his touch frightened her to the core.

"You have no idea what I deserve," She spat, her fiery nature sprouting.

"Yes – I do," He menacingly spoke, his fingers digging into her forearms. "And you will know soon enough" He smirked, his figure now facing her from the front. Veronica let her face strengthen, holding a glare that shot directly into his eyes. "Come on now, love – why the glare? I'm simply here to admire your many, many talents," He flirtatiously spoke as his eyes ran across every inch of her body. "Now, it's time for the show!" He exuberantly spoke, waltzing off towards a chest that lain across the room. With one swift pull, he reveled a floor-length, violet, satin gown with a strapless, sweetheart neckline. "I did always love this dress on you. The set you performed in this was just – " he took a deep breath, blissfully smiling with a distant look "Breathtaking."

He draped the dress across Veronica's lap as he crouched behind her, taking his knife and cutting the ties from around her wrist, "Don't do anything stupid, love; you can still sing without all ten fingers" he threatened as Veronica loudly gulped, her breath catching in her chest. Once her hands were free, he untied the rope that held her ankles together, "Put it on" he demanded, his demeanor becoming menacing as his look became ominous. Veronica gently lifted the dress from her lap and slowly stood, her eyes staring into his with each move she made.

For the first time since her father died, Veronica heard his voice - as clear as day: 'You've gotta play the game.' Her gaze dropped down to the dress before returning to her captor, "Can you turn around? I don't want to spoil the show," she faux confidently spoke, her hands slightly shaking.

He smirked, chuckling afterward, "I like the way you think," He shot her a wink and with one steady motion, he was facing the wall. Veronica let a quiet sigh of relief release her body.

Swiftly, she undressed and slipped into the dress; she could tell this dress was different from the original one she wore on stage – did he have a replica made just for this occasion?

"Okay," She curtly spoke, watching him turn back around, a large smile now plastered upon his face.

"Oh – you are a goddess!" He chuckled, stepping towards her as Veronica stood her ground, continuing to share eye contact without a single wince. He walked circles around her as if she were on display at an art exhibit. He stood behind her after his rounds and rested his nose in the depths of her dark curls, taking a loud sniff of her lavender and vanilla scent.

"Perfect..." He breathlessly spoke, returning to face her. "Now, before we begin the real fun, I would be honored to have a private performance," He confidently spoke while pulling a nearby chair ten feet in front of Veronica. He comfortably situated himself and continued to stare at her. Veronica gulped, a burst of nervous, small laughter releasing from her body.

"You'll have to forgive me if I sound a bit shaky, I'm just so nervous. I've never given such a...special...performance," She gave a quaint smile, her hands fidgeting with one another. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed dust falling from the ceiling and the distance, dangling light swaying back and forth far more than normal.

Someone is walking upstairs.

Veronica averted her gaze back to him as to not alert him of her discovery, "Th-this piece is one I've recently learned – the words still aren't memorized well," She simpered, agonizingly watching the man who lustfully eyed her like prey.

Her fingers scrunched the fabric of the dress as she took a low breath.

"Aidez-moi, aidez-moi, mon amour. Je suis caché sous terreur. Il est proche mais il ne m'a pas blessé. Ecoutez-moi. Ecoute moi. Je ne sais pas où vous êtes, mais écoutez-moi. Je t'aime'," She sang at the loudest volume she could produce; if Spencer was here, he would hear her and be able to translate the French. She repeated the words over and over - anything to get her message to the floor above.

One floor above the basement Veronica and her captor resided in, FBI agents were swarming.

Spencer's ears perked up as a melodic sound began to raid his hearing, "Everybody stop - stop! Be quiet!" he rapidly spoke, the words spitting out. Each agent froze in their place, silence filling the building to expose a voice, off in the distance. Spencer looked at Derek, his breath quickening, "It's her – I know it is!" He frantically spoke, sprinting off in the direction of her voice.

Derek followed in pursuit, his gun in its formal position.

"Reid, slow down! You can't just run in there – that could be detrimental for Veronica, you know that," He knowingly spoke, stepping towards Spencer while lowering his gun.

"Morgan, I have to get her back. I don't know what he's done to her, but I have to get her out of there. Even if I don't come back, I swear to God, I will not let her be in there any longer than she already has been," He agonizingly spoke, dread covering his face.

"Don't do anything drastic, Reid – we don't want to lose you," Derek caringly spoke, his eyes softening.

"And I don't want to lose her" He despondently replied. His ears perked up once more as the words Veronica sang ran through his head, "Help me, help me, my love. I am hidden below in terror. He is close but he has not harmed me. Please listen to me, please listen to me. I do not know where you are, but please hear my cry. I love you..." Spencer frantically spoke as he translated the words at a lightning speed.

"She's speaking to me – she knows we're here!" He energetically spoke while gripping his gun, dashing down the hallway towards her voice, leaving Derek in the dust.