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A/n this is a sequel to "Auld Lang Syne. I wanted to do more with Reid and Detective Rosario Castillo. It's set this year in Season 10. Please enjoy.

Unexpected Vacation

The late December air was bitter in DC. It whipped at his hair like a wild animal trying to drag him away and he wished that he had the knitted cap Garcia had made him for his last birthday. His cheeks and ears were nearly numb and his fingers felt frozen despite his gloves. The sun was beginning to sink toward the horizon as he finally made his way into the library and blessed warmth.

His cheeks and ears tingled when he passed through the glass doors of his favorite place. He dropped his armful of books into the return slot and then turned to face the rows and stacks of books that were like a feast of fat things to him. He thought he could smell the paper and ink as he made his way to the sci-fi section to see if there were any new offerings for consideration. The quiet perusal of other people soothed his soul in a way he never took for granted.

"Hello, Dr. Reid," someone said as he daydreamed at the head of the aisle.

He turned to see a short, stout woman dressed in a gray and white pin stripped suit with a cartful of books. Her sky blue eyes twinkled at him from a round face framed with platinum hair. She smiled and he couldn't help but grin back at her.

"Oh, hello Mrs. Williams."

"I see you're headed back into the land of science fiction."

"Yes, ma'am."

She winked at him. "You just take your time."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, son. You're our best customer, after all."

He watched her move off with her cart to return the books back to their rightful places. He wondered for a while if librarians ever felt like they fought a losing battle, returning books only to have them be checked out again and then returned and back to the shelves. He supposed it didn't matter. After all, they had one of the best jobs in the world, he supposed.

When he arrived home an hour later, he balanced ten different books in his arms and a white take out bag from his favorite Indian restaurant. He had the makings of a perfect Tuesday night, and he meant to enjoy it.

His phone vibrated when he was about halfway through his third book and nearly finished with his curry. He looked at the number and a huge smile took up residence on his face.

"Hey," he said. "I was just thinking about you."

"No, you were reading a book and probably finishing an order of chicken curry."

"How did you know that?"

"I love it when you squeak, babe."

"How did you know?" He persisted.

"I know because I know you."

"Do you?"

"Yeah… I know exactly how you like to spend a weeknight when you're case free."

"It would appear you're picking up on my profiler skills."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

He laughed. "It is, if I can't surprise you anymore."

"You want to surprise me."

"Yeah, isn't that what love is all about, keeping the mystery?"

"Oh, there's plenty of the mysterious about you, SSA Dr. Spencer Reid?"

"There is?"

"Yep."

"Like what," he wondered over the very last bite of his dinner.

"I can't tell you. It'll spoil the mystery that is me."

He choked on the last of the soda he drank in place of his usual coffee. Oddly enough, he didn't like the taste of curry mixed with coffee, but soda was okay.

"Is this how it's going to be for us?" He demanded cheerfully.

"Yeah… you got a problem with that?"

"Nope," he said making his lips pop over the "p."

"Good answer, Spencer."

"How're things in Vegas?"

"Same old, same old, crime and slime ever day," she complained, but he knew it was only for show.

"But you love it," he teased.

"Yeah, I love it. Spencer?"

The change in her voice put up the hair on the back of his neck. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, I'm just…"

"What is it?"

"I miss you, babe, so much."

He got up and went to his couch to lie down. "I miss you too."

"I want to see you."

"I want to see you too."

"Please, Spencer, it's been three months. Can't you get away for a couple of days? It's Christmas."

"I wish I could, but -"

"I know, you can't promise me because of work."

"What's really bothering you?" He demanded.

"Don't profile me."

"I'm not!" He said and his voice rose a little. "I can hear how upset you are. Talk to me!"

"You got shot in the neck, Spencer. You almost died."

He blinked in surprise at her sudden change of topic.

"But I didn't," he reminded her. "I'm okay."

"I want to see it for myself, Spencer. I want you to hold me and tell me everything is okay. I want to kiss your lips and feel the strength in your hands. I want to drown in your eyes."

"Rosa -"

"Look, I understand. I'll talk to you later.

"Don't -"

He was listening to dead air. "Rosa," he called, but she'd disconnected. "Damn it." What now?

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

Reid knocked on Hotch's door at eight the next morning. He entered when Hotch called "Come in,"

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Hotch?"

His boss observed him expectantly. "What is it, Reid?"

"I, um, well I have a problem and I need a few days off to go home."

"Is it your mom?"

"No, she's fine, but I'd like to see her, too."

Hotch nodded slowly. "I take it this has something to do with a certain LVPD homicide detective."

"Can I sit down for a minute?"

Hotch indicated the chair. He put down his pen and gave Reid his full attention. "What happened?"

Reid told Hotch all about his call to Rosa. He spoke so fast, his words poured over each other like water on stones. "She's so angry with me, Hotch. I know I have a lot of cases on my desk, but I really need some time away."

"Take as much time as you need, Reid."

"Really," Spencer squeaked.

"Yes, I was going to announce we've been taken off case rotation until after the New Year. SC Cruz and the Director both signed off on it."

Reid jumped to his feet. "Is it okay if I leave early? I really need to get out to Las Vegas."

Hotch shot him a big smile that lit up his dark eyes. "From what you've told me, I'd say you're right."

"Thanks, Hotch."

"You're welcome. Now go do what you have to do."

Reid hurried out of the room and to his desk. He passed Kate on the way. "Hi, Reid," she greeted when he flew past. "Where's the fire."

"Nowhere, just got things to do, then I'm leaving for a few days."

"Going home?"

"Yeah, gonna go see my mom."

"You're mom's in Las Vegas, right."

Reid nodded as he sat behind his desk. "Um, she's a patient at Bennington. She's schizophrenic."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Reid. I didn't mean to -"

"It's okay." He smiled for her because it wasn't so hard to talk about his mother as it had been in the early years. "She's actually doing much better in the last year or so."

Kate rested a hip against his desk. "I was reading an article online that said they're making pretty good strides with some patients in the treatment of schizophrenia."

"Yeah, the drugs she's taking are much better than even five years ago."

"I'm very glad for you."

"Thanks, um sorry, Kate," he picked up a file. "I really need to -"

"Say no more," she moved to her desk and didn't comment when Hotch called them to the conference room, and Reid didn't join them.

Reid set the last of his consultation files in the out box and picked up his go bag and messenger bag. He was halfway to the elevator when Morgan left his office.

"Hey, Reid."

"I'm in a hurry, Morgan."

"I know, Hotch told us you're going out of town. I just wondered if you wanted a ride. I managed to get on a flight to Chicago this afternoon, a bit of a minor miracle on Christmas Eve, but I'll take it."

Reid eyed him warily. "Only if you promise not to grill me about going home."

Morgan grinned at him and held up both his hands. "You wound me, pretty boy."

Reid rolled his eyes. "Oh stop it!"

Morgan chuckled. "Alright, I won't grill you about what's bothering you. Consider it a Christmas gift, from me to you."

"Thanks, Morgan."

"Well, come on then. We don't want to miss our flights."