It had been a few weeks since the kidnapping. Reid was back with the team and was more... Argumentative. The team had never seen him act this way.

"How is Reid today?" Fleur asked Elijah as they walked to the Conference Room.

"I don't think he's okay." Elijah sat down, shaking his head.

"How has he been like with you? Is he different than with everyone here?" Fleur sighed.

"No." Elijah sighed,"He's barely letting me hold him, or even just touch him."

"It could just be him reacting to the tramua. He just needs time, don't worry." Fleur assured him.

"I'm patient, it's all I can be right now." Elijah nodded.

"There's the spirit." Fleur nudged him.

"He'll be alright, I'll make sure of it."

Once everyone was in the room, sitting down, JJ began to speak.

"We've got a serial killer in New Orleans who killed at least three men pre-Katrina. Until now, the New Orleans Police Department believed that the serial killer died in the storm."

"And what's happened to make them believe otherwise?" Morgan asked.

"A forth body was found in the French Quarter last night. Same MO, another male, throat slashed, eviscerated." JJ sighed.

"A year and a half, that's a long cooling off period. Are we sure this is the same Unsub?" Emily questioned.

"He claims to be. He sent a letter to William Lamontagne, the Head Detective on the case." JJ nodded.

"Lamontagne have any leads?" Gideon raised a brow.

"He... Died in Katrina. His son is actually leading the case now." JJ shrugged.

"That can't be essy." Elijah sighed.

"Well, we need to pore over the evidence from the first three murders and determine a pattern." Hotch nodded.

"Katrina washed everything away." JJ shook her head,"The three victims we know of, their autopsy reports, witness statements, DNA test results.."

"There goes our help." Fleur cursed.

"So basically all we have to go off of is the latest victim?" Reid asked.

"Until he kills again." Hotch nodded

*********************************

Reid was sitting on the plane, biting his nails as he was deep in thought.

"Hey Reid." Elijah put a hand on his arm,"What's going on up there?"

"I'm just... Thinking about this old friend of mine from Las Vegas, Ethan. I'm pretty sure he lives in New Orleans now." Reid nodded slowly.

"Really? Are you going to give him a call?" He asked.

"We grew up competing against each other in absolutely everything. Spelling bees, science fairs... We also had our hearts set on joining the Bureau but first day at Quantico he backed out." Reid shrugged.

"Probably just couldn't take the heat." Fleur chuckled, leaning back in her chair.

"It's not really for us to judge, is it?" Reid looked over at her.

"Right.. My bad." Fleur looked over at Elijah before she moved next to Morgan.

Elijah looked down, gently patting Reid's arm.

"These are copies of newsoaper articles on the murders dating back to early August 2005, its all we have to go on." JJ handed out the papers.

"He killed three times. He stopped for eighteen months and then he started killing again." Hotch read.

"Should have Garcia run a list on any offenders in the area." Gideon nodded,"Anyone who spent the last year and a half doing time."

"Or anyone that relocated after Katrina and recently moved back." Reid added.

"Whay is the victimology of killing a mechanic, a real estate broker and a cook with ages ranging from twenty-two to forty-five?" Emily asked.

"And this latest is a thirty-three year old taxi driver. They just don't seem to have very much in common." JJ shook her head.

"Besides being male, walking the French Quarter late at night." Morgan shrugged.

"Which is notorious for muggings off the main drag." Fleur pointed.

"Yrah, but this guy isn't in a rush to flee the scene." Elijah pointed,"A slaughter like this takes time."

"Andrei Chikatilo fantasised that the men he killed were captives. And torturing and mutilating them somehow made him a hero." Reid explained.

"This city's barely back to life. Something like this could cripple its psyche." Gideon sighed.

"So, where do we start?" JJ asked.

"With no case file, there's only one place we can start. Square one." Hotch told her.

*********************************

"You must be the BAU, Bill Lamontagne." He held his hand out.

"Hi, Jennifer Jareu. We spoke on the phone." JJ shook his hand.

"Okay then, I pictured you different." Bill hummed.

"Uh, these are Agents Gideon, Morgan and Howards. This is Detective William Lamontagne Jr." JJ looked between the two groups.

"Apprciate you guys being here." Will nodded,"My daddy was always too stubborn to ever ask for any help."

"Sorry for you loss." Fleur sighed.

"I heard you recieved a letter." Gideon turned to him.

"Yeah. Before they were lost in Katrina, my daddy received two others. This one came addressed to him yesterday. And they passed it onto me." Will handed the letter over.

"Are you sure it's from the same killer?" JJ asked.

"It's a detailed account on what he did to the body." Gideon nodded.

*********************************

"Four layers of fatty tissue, sliced through like butter. I've only seen that three other times." The corner told them as he lifted the sheet.

"You worked this case initially?" Reid asked.

"Yeah, you don't forget victims like this. It's like they were dissected." He shook his head.

"I can still smell the alcohol on him." Emily sighed.

"I can't." Elijah mumbled.

"This is New Orleans. Dead or alive, its a smell you get used to." The coroner shrugged.

"The victim had no defense wounds, meaning this is most likely a blitz attack." Reid began examining the body,"No hesitation marks or rapid thrusts. Cuts are methodical, almost procedural."

"My guess, whoever gutted this guy was taught to." The coroner crossed his arms.

"So you think he has some sort of medical training?" Emily asked.

"How else could he carve around every organ and leave every one intact?" He sighed.

"Have any of his relatives come to claim the body?" Elijah raised a brow,"Anyone we can speak with?"

"No, I'll end up boxing the poor bastards ashes. Left to collect dust in storage. All the bodies I've been through in the last year and a half, it's a wonder I still have room."

*********************************

"So all three of you were out together last night?" Reid asked.

There had been another victim, that took the total to five.

"Mark had just paid his tab at one bar and he was on our way to meet us at another." One friend nodded.

"Did you guys get into any trouble?" Elijah raised a brow,"Drunken brawl? Anyone get out of hand?"

"We're just out here to have fun, y'know? Minded our own business." The other sighed.

"Could Mark have met a girl? Maybe upset her boyfriend?" Morgan suggested as he walked over.

"No sir."

"He struck out like we all did." The other nodded.

"Thanks, guys." Morgan sighed as they walked off.

"I can hardly keep up with this guy." Will shook his head.

"Well, if he's mimicking Jack the Ripper, that might be precisely the point." Elijah pointed,"He terrorized London for months and never got caught."

"I'd like you to gather your men. We'd like to give you a profile of who you're up against." Gideon clapped.

"Right." Will nodded.

*********************************

After delivering the profile, Reid began to head towards the door, his jacket in hand.

"Spencer? Where are you going?" Elijah turned to him.

"Oh- I'm going to see if I can find Ethan." Reid nodded.

"Can I come?" Elijah asked,"Hotch hasn't given me a job."

"I just... Yeah, of course you can come." Reid smiled, holding his hand out.

Elijah hesitated but he smiled and took Reid's hand. It had been a while since he'd been able to this. With that, they left the building.

"I said I'd meet him... Down this alley." He pointed.

"I see." Elijah nodded slowly.

"He's nice... At least he was, last I remember." Reid assured him.

"I'm sure he will be, darling."

"Don't worry." Reid squeezed his hand.

"I wasnt worried." Elijah shook his head.

"You're making that face." He pointed.

"That face?" Elijah blinked.

"Well, you've got your thinking face but this is a worried face."

Elijah sighed,"Look, it's just because I don't know him. I'll be fine."

"I'll be in there... Stop worrying." Reid sighed.

"Hun, you know what I'm like." Elijah shook his head.

"You'll be fine, come on." Reid gently tugged on his hand.

"I'm coming."

The two then walked down the alley, nearly bumping into a man as they did.

"Jeez, Reid! You scared me." The man, Ethan, pointed.

"I've always been one step ahead of you, man." Reid hummed, letting Elijah's hand go.

"Yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night." Ethan shook his head before he noticed Elijah,"Who's this guy?"

"This is Elijah, he's my best friend and my colleague." Reid nodded.

"Pleasure." Elijah nodded briefly, his arms crossed.

Ethan smiled, patting Reid arm,"I'm glad you called, it's nice to see you."

"You too." Reid moved slightly, it was his bad arm that Ethan had touched.

"Let's get a drink." Ethan went to start walking.

"Oh I- Okay... Yeah. Eli, you okay with that?" Reid turned.

"Of course." Elijah nodded.

"Let's go then." Ethan pointed.

Elijah sighed and followed after Ethan and Reid as they walked off.

Once they were in the bar, Reid and Elijah's phones kept going off. Elijah looked down at his phone. He wanted to answer it, he needed to... But he needed to figure out what was wrong with Reid.

"So are you going to ask the question?" Ethan asked.

"What question?" Reid blinked.

"Come on man, it's me and Elijah here. We haven't talked to each other in years. I know it's why you called me. Ask the question."

"Why did you quit after one day of FBI training?" Reid turned to him.

"Well, I'm sure you've considered the evidence, analysed the signs. What's your theory?" Ethan pointed.

"You were battling your own demons, you didn't have time to analyze someone else's." Reid spoke quickly.

"Not bad, not bad. Those days I did prefer Jack Daniels to Jeff Dahmer. But they both weigh on your soul eventually."

Elijah's phone went off again and he looked down at it before putting it away,"Sorry."

"The Bat-phone." Ethan chuckled.

Elijah smiled slightly, although he dropped it soon after.

"Let me ask you this, Ethan... Do you ever regret it?" Reid grabbed Elijah's lemonade, handing it to him.

"You know, I may not be changing the world, but my music makes me happy. It doesn't take a profiler to see that you boys aren't." Ethan walked over to some chairs.

"It's not easy. It's not... I don't believe some of the things I've seen." Reid sat down on the couch, letting Elijah sit next to him.

"John Coltrane, he was a genius too. Died of cancer." Ethan nodded as Elijah sat down,"But most people think it was the booze and heroin that did him in."

"What are you trying to say?" Reid shook his head.

"You look like hell." Ethan pointed.

"I'm fine." Reid waved him off.

"Come on, man. I'm a jazz musician in New Orleans, I can tell when someone's not well." Ethan sighed as he leaned forward,"This may be the first time I tell you something you don't already know. It may help you forget but it won't make it go away. And if I can tell... If you think your buddy there can't tell? For a genius, that's pretty stupid."

*********************************

"Everybody kept saying, 'Crimes going to skyrocket after the relocation.' You just never think its going to happen to you." The fiancé sighed.

"The report said your fiance was barhopping for his bachelor party on the night he was killed." Emily looked up at her.

"We were supposed to be married in October. He was just out celebrating with friends." She sighed.

"Was there anybody at Leonard's bachelor party that you didn't know?" Morgan asked.

"We all grew up together. They're like family to me. Whether they met somebody out, now that's a different story. They're a rowdy bunch. They'd party with anybody." She explained.

Soon after, the three of them, left the fiance and headed back to the car.

"Each of the last two victims were traveling in a group. Both were drinking. Both were in public areas. Bar hopping. So how could their friends not see anything?" Fleur sighed.

"Its like when the lion preys on antelope." Morgan tapped his hands on the wheel.

"You lost me." Emily blinked.

Morgan chuckled,"That's because you, Emily Prentiss, have never been one of the antelope."

"Okay, now you've totally lost me." Emily shook her head.

"Okay, check this out. The antelope travel in packs so the lion just sits and waits, waits for just one of the antelope to break away from his herd. And when he's alone, vulnerable and u protected, that's when the lioness strikes. That's when she makes her move." Morgan explained.

"Her move.." Fleur realised.

"Look, there's only one thing that would make a straight man leave his friends on a guy's night out." Morgan sighed,"And it'll make him leave every time."

"One of the victims was out for his bachelor party, another out with just the guys. What's the only temptation that's going to lure these men away from each other?" Fleur looked back at Emily.

"A woman." She shook her head.

Morgan then got his phone out and called JJ.

*********************************

"Hey, you guys are back from Galveston?" Reid asked as be and Elijah walked in.

"First first this morning. Where were you two?" Morgan looked up

"Uh, we were out with a friend. I already told you." Reid shook his head.

"I called you four times." Emily sighed.

"And I called you five." Fleur pointed at Elijah.

"I didn't have any cellphone reception so I didn't get your message until late." Reid told her.

Elijah looked away, his hands in his pockets.

"So what's going on?" Reid asked, sitting down.

"Our Unsub's a woman." Morgan pointed.

"They just found another body in the Quarter." Hotch walked in.

"Just great." Elijah sighed.

"Eli." Fleur nodded for him to follow her as she walked to a separate room.

Elijah got up from his chair and walked after Fleur, shutting the door behind them.

"What's going on?" She crossed her arms,"I was worried sick."

"I know, and I'm so sorry that I never answered your calls." Elijah shook his head,"But I had to figure out what was going on."

"With Spencer?"

"Mhm.."

"So... Did you find out?" Fleur sat on a desk.

"Not really, but he's definitely struggling mentally. He thinks we can't tell." Elijah leaned against the wall.

"He did... Die then come back. You'd definitely have struggles after that. But he doesn't want any of us to worry but it's all we do." Fleur sighed.

"There's something else, I know there is.. It isn't just that." Elijah crossed his arms.

"We'll figure it out soon enough." Fleur assured him.

"I have to.."

"I'm here to help." Fleur patted his arm,"Come on."

Elijah nodded, holding onto her hand.

*********************************

"She's mocking us." Bill sighed.

They'd found another body, right where they had been trying to catch her. This made six.

"And she's true to her word." Emily nodded slowly.

"Do you have any tweezers?" Reid turned to a woman.

She nodded and handed him a pair.

"Thank you." Reid took them, reaching into the victim's mouth and pulled something out. A folded piece of paper?

"What is that?" JJ asked.

"I have no idea." Reid unfolded the piece of paper,"It's a note from the Unsub addressed to your father." He looked at Will.

"Can I see it?" Gideon asked, holding his hand out.

Reid stood up, handing it over.

"Dear boss, he wanted it. With that sharp tongue and vulgar hand. Thought you'd like to know that another will soon get what he deserves. Yours truly." Gideon read out.

"That's weird. Typically offenders write letters to be heard. Jack the Ripper bragged about not getting caught yet this Unsub isn't using correspondence to flaunt her latest kill. Only to explain why she did it." Reid shook his head.

"It's possible she sees herself as a vigilante." Elijah suggesed,"She believes the men she's killing deserve to die."

"Well, maybe she's contacting your father not because he was the lead Detective on the case, but she believes he'd understand." Fleur looked at Will.

"What, you think he knew her somehow?" He raised a brow.

"Can you think of a woman in your dad's life he helped through a tough time? Might be a police officer, I don't know, a prostitute he helped get off the street?" JJ turned to him.

"No, he hasn't dealt with prostitutes since.. Since he worked sex crimes." Will shook his head.

"The UnSub wrote, 'He was asking to he ripped, I just couldn't help myself and he wanted it.' What if she's mirroring the man who raped her?" Reid wondered.

"Where are the files stored from your Sex Crimes Division?" Gideon asked.

"They're housed in the same place as Homicide. Most of it washed away." Will shrugged.

"Did your dad have a partner?" JJ asked.

"Yeah, J.R Smith. Smitty, they call him." Will nodded.

"He might remember something."

"Yeah, but they had a falling out."

"What about?" Fleur asked.

"I don't know. They stopped talking after he left sex crimes, that was nine years ago." Will sighed,"The guy didn't even come to my daddy's funeral so.."

"You have a problem calling him?" Gideon turned.

"Not if it means breaking this case." Will then noted something and looked up at JJ as he kneeled down,"Honey, may I borrow your hand for a minute?"

JJ brought her hand down, lifting up the hand of victim.

"I'll be damned." Will shook his head.

"What is it?" Emily leaned down.

"The stamp on the victim's hand. It's admittance into the Mon Cherie. It's a bar in the French Quarter." He told them.

"Oh yeah?" Reid sighed.

"Yeah." Will nodded as he stood up,"Nine years ago, it was called 'Jones'."

"Bingo. Get Garcia on the horn." Gideon walked off.

*********************************

"Smitty, how are you?" Will asked as they walked in, holding out his hand.

Smitty didn't raise his hand,"I hope you got a good reason drudging this crap up."

"Well, I was hoping you might remember being called up here with my daddy nine years ago." Will told him.

"Is this a joke?"

"No."

"My name's Jason Gideon. We're from the FBI. We're investigating the series of murders in the French Quarter." Gideon nodded.

"What's that gotta do with me?" Smitty shrugged.

"We need you to tell us what happened the night you and Detecive Lamontagne answered the call in this bar." Fleur told him.

"Am I missing something?" Will asked as Smitty just smiled and nodded.

"You really don't know, do you? After that night, your daddy tried to bring me up on sanctions." Smitty told him.

"Why?"

"It was Mardi Gras. Some girl claimed she was raped in this bar. I wasn't buying it." Smitty scoffed.

"What did she say happened to her?" JJ asked.

"Brass backed me up. They ended up transferring your daddy out to shut him up."

"What happened here?" Emily questioned.

"He almost cost me my career." He pointed.

"Do you mind telling us what happened?" Elijah crossed his arms.

"To my best recollection, she said she was sitting at the bar with two friends. One of the boys asked her if she wanted to play some pool. Witness claimed she was up for anything." Smitty stood up.

"She followed him up here?" Emily gestured to a flight of stairs.

"His friend not far behind. She knew he was there. That girl was a tease. She was looking for a good time. Can't blame a couple of guys for going along with that."

"Did she yell out for help?" Fleur crossed her arms.

"She said she did. But not a single person claimed they heard her." Smitty shook his head.

"That's what you registered as a disturbance? She was raped." Fleur scoffed.

"It was Mardi Gras. Listen to me. That girl had enough beads hanging around her neck to jewel a small city." Smitty shook his head as he sat down,"Anyone who exposes themselves that much in one day is not a credible witness in my book."

"But she wanted to press charges." Will nodded.

"I told her it was a waste of time. I knew one of the accused, he was a good kid. He didn't need the stick of that accusation." Smitty shrugged.

"So you defended a rapist?" Elijah glared at him.

Smitty put his whiskey down,"Well that right there was a bone of contention between his daddy and I. As far as I was concerned, no such rape ever took place. Now, you want to tell me why you went and dragged dirt back through my life?"

"You know the serial killer thats cutting men up in the French Quarter?" Gideon asked, sitting in front of Smitty,"She was your victim."

"We're trying to find her name." Will sighed.

Smitty just shook his head.

"You don't even remember her name?" Emily questioned.

"It was nine years ago." Smitty shrugged.

"I remember all my victims names." Fleur muttered.

"What about the 'good kid' who raped her, hm?" Elijah asked, putting his hand on Fleur's shoulder.

Smitty just turned away.

"Smitty, you tell me right now or I'll file a new sanction against you and I guarantee you this time it'll stick." Will threatened.

*********************************

"Mr Tibideaux, we need you to answer a few questions about a disturbance you were involved with in 1988." Emily stood with her arms crossed.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He shrugged.

"At a bar called Jones... It was Mardi Gras." Fleur sat down.

"You know, then I must've been drinking or something 'cause I don't remember a thing." Tibideaux shook his head.

"We just need to know the name of your accuser." JJ sighed.

"Look, I told you I don't know what you're talking about."

"The statue of limitations is up. We just need a name." JJ shook her head.

"Someone accuses me of rape? I'm gonna remember her name." Emily pointed.

"What can I tell you, Cher? I guess she didn't make that good of an impression."

"Unlike yourself right now." Fleur hummed.

"Y'know, I'm guessing if someone did do something to that girl that night, she was probably asking for it." Tibideaux leaned in with a smirk,"Maybe even liked it."

Fleur leaned back, holding her hands to stop herself from slapping Tibideaux right there on the spot.

"The guys not giving up anything." Will sighed.

"Reid, after the double murder, what was the Ripper's next move?" Hotch asked.

"He mutilated and dismembered Mary Kelly in her one room flat until she was unrecognisable. It was believed to be his most vicious kill of all." Reid nodded.

"Because he had privacy." Elijah sighed.

"And time to torture his victim before killing her. Maybe we're not too late." Morgan shook his head.

Back inside the interview room, JJ placed pictures of all six victims on the table.

"She murdered these men. And I'm guessing, it's only a matter of time until she works her way back to the one she really wants to kill."

"She make an impression now?" Fleur smiled.

*********************************

Elijah was waiting around. They'd just found out the identity of the Unsub and were waiting on a location to go to.

"Kid, can you grab Reid's bag? He's forgotten it." Morgan sighed as he walked past.

"Oh- Yeah." Elijah headed ober to the desk where Reid had abandoned his bag.

Although when he lifted the bag up, it sounded like glass clashing against each other. Elijah sat the bag back down, opening it and looking inside. That's where he discovered two, glass vials.. Dilaudid. Some needles were at the bottom of the satchel but looked to be unused. The vials were finished completely.

"Spencer.." Elijah shook his head, putting the vials back.

Reid... Was using. That's what was making him act so.. Distant. Why didn't he think of that sooner?

"We got a location." Gideon walked up to Elijah.

"Got it." Elijah nodded, picking Reid's bag back up.

"Everything okay? You were staring." Gideon crossed his arms.

"No, everything's fine." Elijah assured him.

"Good. Let's go then." Gideon nodded.

Elijah nodded, putting the bag over his shoulder and walking off.

*********************************

The team had arrested the killer, Sarah Danlin. The victim she was about to murder was saved. Everyone was getting ready to go home.

"I'm going to start calling you Mon Cheri." Fleur pointed to Morgan as they walked in the Quarter.

"What does it translate to?" Morgan asked,"Just before you start."

"My idiot." She joked.

"I'm smart." Morgan nudged her.

"Then you'd know 'Cheri' means 'Dear'." Fleur hummed.

Morgan chuckled and wrapped an arm around her,"You got me there, Flo."

"You're smart with certain aspects, not French." Fleur pointed,"I'm going to have to give you French lessons."

"Now that would be very handy, in case you forget a word." Morgan nodded.

"See? I'm the smart one in this relationship clearly."

"Clearly." Morgan leaned closer to her and whispered,"Canelle."

"Shut up or I will tell your mother you're being horrible to me." Fleur pushed him back.

"That's not fair, you know how much she loves you." Morgan pointed.

"Because once again, I am the best." Fleur hummed.

"You are the best, sweetheart." Morgan sighed.

"That's what I thought." Fleur smiled.

"We'd better head off, don't want them leaving us here." Morgan nodded.

Fleur hummed,"Race you."

Morgan kissed her cheek,"You're on."

*********************************

Finally, the two boys were home. They had missed their first jet but they managed to get the next flight home. At least they got to enjoy Ethan's performance... But the whole time, Elijah's mind had been preoccupied with more serious issues.

Reid fidgeted as he placed his shoes to the side,"Hun?"

"Yes?" Elijah asked as he hung his jacket on the coatrack.

"Can I... Can we talk?"

"I think we need to." Elijah nodded.

Reid looked down as he walked over to the couch and sat down. Elijah sat beside him, although he pulled his knees close to his chest.

"Ever since Hankel... I've been struggling. Mentally and- I'm at such a low point."

"Anybody that's been through what you went through recently would." Elijah looked down.

"There's something else too.."

Elijah bit his cheek,"It's about... It's about the dilaudid, isn't it?"

Reid quickly looked at Elijah,"W-What?" He blinked.

"I found the vials- When I got you bag, I heard it and.." Elijah stopped himself, his eyes welling up,"I know you've been using."

Reid looked down,"I... I'm so sorry Elijah."

"No, I'm sorry for not noticing. I should know what this looks like." Elijah sighed.

"You didn't need to notice." He shook his head,"I was hiding it."

"Spencer, I'm your boyfriend and... And I've dealt with substance issues- I should've been able to figure this out sooner." Elijah rubbed his eyes.

"It's not your fault." Reid took Elijah's hand.

Elijah squeezed Reid's hand tightly, trying to hold back his tears.

"I'm- I'm so sorry." Reid clung onto Elijah as he hugged him,"I should've told you."

Elijah rubbed his back, cradling Reid in his arms,"B-but I know now. And I can help you."

"I want to get clean, I want to stop." Reid sighed,"I don't want to feel like this anymore..."

"And you will. Getting sober... It's hard, trust me, I know." Elijah told him,"But if I managed, so can you. And we'll do it together."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Reid gently kissed Elijah's shoulder,"I... I love you Elijah."

"I love you too, Spencer." Elijah held him close,"And nothing's ever going to change that."

Reid sniffed and leaned into him. The two cats jumping onto the couch.

"The whole family's here." Elijah smiled softly as he stroked Reid's hair.

Muffin then lay on Elijah's legs, Horatio loudly meowing before sitting down between the boys. They were going to get through this. Together.