The night was cold and dark, and damp. The humidity hugged his skin like a wet rag, but Lucas refused to take off his jacket. He couldn't. He wasn't allowed to.

He entered the run-down apartment building through the front door. There was no security; anyone who was here didn't want anyone to know. He swung the door to the stairwell open, the sound echoing around the tile floor and narrow hallway, and he took the steps two at a time, the only sound the thumping of his footsteps. On the third landing, he opened the door and slid out into the hallway, the overhead fluorescent lights flickering above him. The walls around him were begging for a new coat of paint, and forget about the doors. They were thin and worn down, but the locks were solid.

Lucas turned the corner in the apartment building and his eyes zeroed in on his door, just slightly ajar. Pulling the gun from the back of his jeans, he cocked it and nudged the door.

Stepping in, he peered around the corner of the entryway in the dark, mentally clearing every room until he came to the living room and froze at the shape of a person sitting in his chair.

"Who are you?" He asked lowly, his gun trained at the shadow of their head.

"God, you're such an idiot, Friar," the person sighed, as she snapped on the light and he came face to face with Maya Hart.

He narrowed his eyes, not lowering his gun, even though he knew he wouldn't shoot her. It wasn't only that he couldn't, by law. He couldn't, by history. The history he would never forget. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What, you thought I didn't know you weren't dead?" She snorted. "Drop the damn gun, Lucas. You're not going to shoot me."

He clenched his jaw, but after a second he lowered his weapon and tucked it into the back of his pants again. To Maya's credit, she looked well. She wore formal clothes, a fancy rich red dress that reached her knees, panty hose, and a long black coat. Her face was done up with makeup and a red lipstick, and her hair flowed out around her shoulders, blonde beach waves just messy enough to give the impression of sexy.

Lucas knew exactly where she had been.

She stood up, her black heels clicking on the wood floor as she crossed the room to him. She crossed her arms and stared up at him expectantly.

"Why are you here, Maya?" He asked, voice tight.

"It's Riley," Maya confessed, and Lucas's mind began to soar back. "She's been compromised, and she needs our help."


A/N: Yeah, I'm starting a new story because I'm blocked on Anecdoche and Petrichor. I've got about half a chapter of Petrichor written but I can't seem to finish it. Anecdoche I'm totally stuck (I'm sorry if you were hoping for an update). I have no idea how much writing I will get done in the coming moths, because my college starts back up again tomorrow :(.

I also had such a great idea for a Criminal Minds story but the timeline and details are so mixed up in my head that I doubt I'll get it out any time soon. I also have no clue where this story may go, but I liked the idea so much that I wanted to get it out.

Would anyone want me to pursue this story?

Kisses,

C

Edit**: I've created a spotify playlist for this story. It is linked in my bio :)