NOTE: I do not own any of the characters, places, etc of Criminal Minds. They all belong to their respected parties and I mean no harm in using them. The character of Rachel Blanchard is my own creation as is this story.
After the team's long day on the job Reid walked up to Dr. Rachel Blanchard, the newest member of the BAU. Like him she had an eidetic memory, and a genius level IQ. She was only in her mid twenties like he was, and they had both graduated from college at an early age. She had only been working there a month but had already worked out a lot of cases since then.
Rachel was a petite woman standing only about 5'3." She had shoulder length brown hair and beautiful green eyes. Rachel often wore very old fashioned almost Renaissance like clothing, especially shirts with flowing sleeves. No one knew why though. They never questioned neither her nor Reid's fashion sense. She was an extremely clean women, not obsessively so but she kept herself very well.
She had started out in Forensics after graduating from the FBI Academy, but just got tired of dealing with all the blood and gore of the job. Before she came to work at the BAU she was actually teaching a course on forensics at USC. The offer to come and work at the BAU was a new opportunity for her. She got along well with the rest of the team but sometimes felt out of place because of all the facts she often blurted out. Reid was the only other person who really understood the position she was in. Let's face it when you graduate from college with your doctorate at 15 you don't really make a lot of friends. She had a little more flare, and spunk than Reid but was just as shy and odd in her geekiness.
The rest of the team were about to head out the door as Reid approached the other Doctor.
"Hey um Dr. Blanchard," he started.
"It's Rachel if you don't mind," she said to him.
"Right. . . Rachel," Reid began again. "I-I was w-wondering if."
Reid was not good at talking to girls even though he could spout facts like an encyclopedia. He often stumbled and stuttered over his words. Often times giving up in his attempt to ask one out. Even though his brain could probably power an entire city he felt a little intimidated by the opposite sex. He didn't think women found an interest in him, and wanted more rough and tough men as boyfriends. His brain just couldn't figure girls out.
"If you could take me out for a drink," Rachel finished his blundering for him.
"Actually I was thinking more like dinner," Reid said.
"I'd love to," Rachel said.
The rest of the team stood quite for a moment looking at the two geniuses. Then people began to move out of the door into the elevator. Just as the doors were almost closed Reid and Rachel could hear Emily say to J.J.,
"I've been wondering when he was finally going to ask her out. He's liked her from the first day he met her."
Rachel looked at Reid for a second who began to turn red with embarrassment.
He cleared his throat. "Should we go then," he said leading her into the now empty elevator.
"Absolutely," she said sliding in next to him.
"I have a confession to make, and I hope it doesn't make me any less of a professional but I honestly hate elevators," Rachel said.
"To tell you the truth me too," Reid said. "Hey did you know that Morgan and I got stuck on one working a case once?"
"I think I do remember hearing something about that, yes," Rachel replied. "You guys couldn't stop arguing over who freaked out more."
Reid pursed his lips together and looked off to the side as if he were ashamed. They headed out to the parking garage which now stood empty except for a few police cars and the their two vehicles.
"So where should I meet you," Rachel asked.
"Well there's this great little Greek place on Richmond Avenue. It's called Kristos," Reid said.
"Yum grape leaves are to die for. I'll follow you there," Rachel said getting into her car.
They reached the restaurant, went in and found a table. They ordered the grape leaves, stuffed with rice and pork and a greek salad. To drink they had some white wine.
"I'm not much of a drinker," Rachel was saying.
"Neither am I," Reid answered.
"So what made you want to become a behavior analyst," Rachel asked.
"Well I guess my dad leaving when I was 10. I was a smart kid but I just couldn't wrap my brain around why he would just up and leave my mom and me."
"I see," said Rachel.
"And you," Reid asked.
"Well I actually started out in Forensics. I was always very good at noticing minute details and categorizing things. But, just being around dead bodies and blood all the time wasn't doing it for me. So I started teaching a Forensics course at USC. Then I was offered the job here, it seemed like a nice change and I would actually get to work with living breathing people. So, I took it."
"You are very good at that." Reid said.
"At what," Rachel asked.
"Noticing things."
"Oh. Thank you. And speaking of noticing things you um, have a piece of rice on your shirt."
Reid looked down picking the piece of rice off the place she had mentioned and pressed it in his napkin.
"Sorry I'm so clumsy sometimes," Reid said.
"Don't be I actually think it's kind of cute," Rachel said.
They ate the rest of their meal talking about their backgrounds and histories. Funny facts and off the wall things they knew, a comparing of the minds if you'd like. When they were finished Reid reached for the check.
"Let me get that," Reid said.
"Oh, no I can't let you do that. How about we go dutch," Rachel said.
"No, really I've got it," Reid answered.
"Well, if you honestly insist."
Reid paid for their meal then held the door for Rachel as they walked out into the street.
"So I guess this is it. Thank you for the meal it was delicious. So, I guess I'll see you at work," Rachel said.
She leaned into Reid hugging him and kissed him on the cheek. It was one of those awkward kind of things were you wanted to do more but you weren't sure if the other person would mind if you kissed them. They parted and Rachel began walking to her car.
"Hey Rachel," Reid called to her.
"Yes?"
"Do you mind if I follow you to your place? You know just to make sure you get there okay? After what happened to Garcia I wouldn't want to take any chances."
"That'd be great," Rachel answered.
Reid shook his head and got into his own vehicle. He followed Rachel to a tall seven story apartment building near a string of shops and little boutiques. Rachel pulled into a space and Reid parked on a space in the adjacent row. He followed Rachel through the door to the apartment building. They stopped inside the entry way where someone obviously had to buzz you in to go up the stairs. Rachel looked into the little booth where the night guard was suppose to be. There the old gentleman sat dozing over a stale coffee and dough nut.
"Mr. Hager. Mr. Hager," Rachel said.
That did no good so she tapped on the glass separating her from the man in the booth. Mr. Hager jumped with a start and got his eyes adjusted to his surroundings.
"Oh, good heavens Rachel I'm sorry dear," the old man said pushing the buzzer.
Rachel opened the door and she and Reid headed up a small flight of stairs.
"I'm on the third floor," she said. "Do you want to walk up the stairs or take the elevator?"
"I think we can skip the elevator for now," Reid answered.
"Good choice."
They walked up the remaining two flights of stairs and stopped in front of the door reading: F17.
"Well this is it. Do you want to come in,"Rachel said popping her key in the lock.
"Okay," Reid answered.
Rachel unlocked the door and reached her hand inside flipping the light on. A golden glow spread across the room landing on the many things located in the space. There was a little tiled rectangular section around the door area where a shoe rack sat. There was a small dining room table off to the right. It was round, made of dark wood, very finely carved, and would only hold 3 people at most. A big potted plant sat behind it next to a small side bar. The kitchen area was off to the left it had white counters, beige cabinets, there was a dish strainer with a towel under it beside the sink. A blender, a toaster, and a microwave were all the appliances that lined the counter. There wasn't a coffee maker but Reid had learned she did drink the stuff. The stove was an older model with the eyes visible. It was a gross yellowish color, which made Reid wonder if it even worked. There was a pot rack hanging an island in the middle of the tiny kitchen area. The refrigerator was down a few cabinets from the stove to the left. Even though this space was small every thing was orderly and neatly kept. Everything was very clean and pristine.
The kitchen area was connected to the living area. The carpet in this room was a beige-tan color. There was a sofa on the left wall that was cream with tan stripes on it. A USC throw blanket lined the back of the couch. There was a black and white photograph of The Houses of Parliament from England above the couch. The dark stained entertainment center held a 32" screen t.v. and a duel VCR and DVD player. There was an iPod dock on the right shelf. A picture of Rachel with an older woman and man sat on the left shelf next to a basket that obviously held keys. Reid took them to be her parents There was a black leather recliner on the right side of the room and a hope chest underneath the window on that side. Beside the sofa was a video rack holding various DVD's and VHS cassettes. A lot of them Reid noticed were old black and white films like Top Hat, Royal Wedding, Roman Holiday, and things like that. Reid noticed they were all in alphabetical order and probably arranged by the year in which they were made.
After the living room there was a hallway that lead to the bathroom on the right, Rachel's office to the left, and her bedroom at the very end on the right. The bathroom was blue and white linoleum, with white cabinets, a duel bathtub and shower, a toilet, and a wicker clothes hamper. Reid had not seen a washer or dryer so he assumed there was a washing facility in the basement for tenant use. A ceramic toothbrush holder was attached to the wall, holding one lonely purple toothbrush. Everything again as neat. No bottles lined the counter space, the towels were folded neatly on the right side of the counter, the fish covered shower curtain pulled closed.
The door to her office was closed. They headed to Rachel's bedroom. The carpet in this room was a pinkish-blush color, the walls were white. A queen-sized wrought-ironed canopy bed sat against the wall protruding out into the middle of the room, draped with white netted fabric. A night stand sat on the right side, a lamp sat on the table with an alarm clock, and iPod dock and the book, Little Women. The slat doored closet was on the left. A dresser sat across the room from the bed with a television on it. Only a DVD player existed in this room. Reid noticed that there were no clothes poking out from under the closet door or the dresser drawers. There were more pictures on the long mirrored dresser. Some of them looked like they were of Rachel as a little girl. Pig-tails and cheery smiles. Pictures of her in Halloween costumes, and prom pictures. Here a few hair styling things sat; a curling iron, a can of hair-spray, and some gel. A radiator sat underneath the window on the right. Next to that a small bookshelf which held a lot of classics and mystery romance novels, Reid noticed. These too were in alphabetical order and classed by genre. Juxtaposed between the night stand and the radiator was an antique chair. It was Victorian-esque, gilded gold and pink velvet fabric. This was Rachel's apartment. Not overly huge just humbly home. It seemed a little old fashioned for such a young girl but then again Reid knew what it was like to grow up fast.
"You can sit down," Rachel said while she opened the closet door and hung up her coat.
The closet was as neat as the rest of the place. All the clothes were color coordinated, there were no shoes in the closet, Reid had remembered they were by the door when they first came into the apartment. Plastic stacking drawers held objects like belts, hair accessories, hats, and jewelry. Rachel closed the door back after she was finished hanging up her coat. When she turned back around Reid was sitting in the golden chair.
"I meant you can sit on the bed, I know that thing isn't comfortable. I just have it there for decoration," she said looking at him while trying to stifle a laugh at his awkwardness.
"Oh sorry," Reid said as he moved a few inches to the bed.
"Are those you," Reid asked pointing to the pictures on her dresser.
"Oh my God, don't look at those they're hideous," Rachel said grabbing his hand and putting it back down on the bed.
There was an awkward silence between them for a few moments in which Reid decided it was time for him to go.
"Well I guess I'd better get going. I think it's safe to say you're alone here," Reid said.
Reid stood up to leave grabbing his coat off the gold chair.
"No! I mean, no don't go," Rachel said jumping off the bed and losing her bounds a bit.
She went over to Reid and grabbed a hold of his coat which was under his left arm.
"Stay," was all Rachel said.
She was looking up at Reid with her beautiful green eyes and almost pouty lips. She smelled wonderful like warm vanilla and honey. Reid put his right hand on her left cheek letting his coat fall to the floor. He leaned down and very slowly moved in to kiss her. Both of them closing their eyes right as their lips met, almost as if they would disappear if they blinked. Reid kissed her a little harder almost as if his life depended on kissing her. Everything from there blurred into a vision of crumpled clothes, lips, and skin. Reid was a better lover than one would think just by looking at him. He was gentle enough not to hurt her but had that longing that only men seem to posses. Some how it made Rachel feel extremely womanly and beautiful being with him. After they were finished Rachel lay there curled next to him in the crook of his left arm. Her left hand on his chest, holding on to him as a baby monkey would it's mother. They fell asleep a little past two in the morning.
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