It's my birthday! 22 years to the day, my parents totally scored in the kid department with me! So, this is the beginning of a four shot I'm going to be working on before things get crazy at my house! Happy Birthday to me :D

Emily Prentiss blew out a steady stream of air softly underneath her breath. This is had been a tough case with the killings and culture and rituals, and Reid hadn't helped. She didn't know what was wrong with him, other than the fact that something was wrong. He had worn his sunglasses, even in doors, and had constantly winced or rubbed his eyes and massaged his forehead. He was snappy and slow to respond when someone talked to him. If Emily didn't know any better, she'd think that he was using again.

She looked over her shoulder for the troubled genius, finding him sitting in the very back corner of the plane, surrounded by darkness. If it wasn't for the light Hotch was using to read the case files, just in front of where Reid was sitting, she never would've seen him. He was sitting with his legs pulled against his chest, his long arms wrapped around them. He was resting his forehead against his knees, occasionally shaking his head and mumbling to himself.

Yeah, this was pretty much typically Reid behavior, minus…everything.

Emily knew, of all people, that it had been a rough year. JJ leaving had taken its toll on everyone, but then again, Reid wasn't just anyone. It was no secret around the office that JJ and Reid were closer than most partners. For years, there had always been something between them. Just below the surface, yet untouched. JJ had a boyfriend and a child. Granted she had made Reid Henry's godfather, which only fueled the fire even more. Many a speculation had been made between the agents whilst riding the elevator, standing in line at Starbucks and even in the break room. Nothing would ever happen, though. If there was one thing Emily Prentiss, and the other members of their team, could guarantee, it was that Spencer Reid would never ever break up a home, much less a happy one. His own experience with coming from a broken home made him someone who would never do that. And JJ would never take her son away from his father. This left the two of them in this weird sort of limbo. They had feelings for each other that they could never act on.

And that was before JJ had been unceremoniously sold to the highest bidder. Forcing her to work for the Pentagon had been one of the worst things the director had done to the team. JJ was their heart and soul; she kept the team together emotionally, and was everyone's shoulder to cry on. Even Hotch depended on her! They all did.

Emily rolled her neck, remembering the moment JJ had walked over to them, her defeat written all over her beautiful features. They were all upset, but she could still Reid's voice in her head, how small and sad he had sounded. "They can't just take you away." JJ had given him a small smile, reaching and rubbing his shoulder soothingly. They had disappeared for almost twenty minutes after the announcement and when they returned, both of their eyes were red-rimmed and they were holding hands. JJ had gone to say goodbye to Penelope and Reid grabbed his bag, leaving without a word.

If Emily had to guess, that's when the headaches started. Now, they were stronger and affecting Reid more than he wanted anyone to know. He had been so reckless, going in without his vest, almost with no regard for his life. Emily wanted to blame the headaches, to say that they were making him act different, but truth be told, there was a part of Reid that came out every now and again; a reckless, irresponsible side that made him take risks such as today. Sometimes they were warranted, sometimes not. Hotch had talked to him about it before, maybe it was time for another.

Emily pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through the contents before selecting a number from the P's. Time to call Garcia and let her know they were coming home.

"Speak Mortal."

"Hey Garcia."

"Oh, my angel dove! Are you coming back?"

"Yeah, we should be there in an hour."

"How'd the case go?"

"Fine. We got the Professor, who was killing all those people just so Daddy would pay attention to him."

"It's always daddy issues. How are my Chocolate Thunder and the rest of the team?"

"We're good, although Reid had another moment."

"Moment as in, running off and trying to save the day himself, kind of moment?"

"The very same. He went to rescue two of our victims and got himself cornered. Without his vest."

"Wait a minute, Reid didn't have his vest on?" Emily froze in her seat the moment she heard the second voice. If there was anything Emily hated more than spending time with Strauss, it was telling JJ (albeit without any prior knowledge of her presence) that Reid had charged in to save the day without his vest. Again.

"Hey, hey, JJ. Didn't know you were there, too…"

"What do you mean Spencer wasn't wearing his vest?"

"Just that. Rossi and Hotch found his vest in the victim's house, but no Reid. I got a call from Hotch asking if Reid was with me, but he wasn't."

"Where was he?"

"In another house against the street with the unsub."

"Is he okay?" Garcia asked, concerned.

"Yeah, other than these really bad headaches—"

"What headaches?" JJ demanded to know. Emily could just see her now, her brow furrowed with anger and her arms crossed.

"Apparently he's been having these headaches since the case started. They must be pretty bad because he wore his sunglasses even indoors and more than once Morgan asked if he was okay."

"And so what? Reid wanted to prove he was fine by going after the unsub without his vest? Where is he?"

"Sitting behind me in a dark corner, mumbling to himself."

"Okay. When you guys get back here, I want to talk to him. And Emily,"

"...yeah?"

"Do not warn him."

There was a click and a dial tone in Emily's ear. She hung up and looked over her shoulder.

Poor Reid. He had no clue that JJ was going to be waiting for them to get back to the office so she could tear him a new one, thanks to Emily.

Well, might as well get some sleep.