Spencer Reid stood outside Bennington Sanitarium, afraid that he might not actually be able to go through with the visit. A few patients and nurses wandered the grounds nearby, but Diana, his mother, wasn't one of them. Spencer sighed and pushed the doors open.
He found his mother sitting in her usual spot, a chair that looked out the window onto the lawn, just close enough to the bookcase. Quietly, cautiously, Spencer made his way over and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned slowly.
"Spencer?" she asked, barely more than a whisper. "You've come to visit me!"
"Hi, Mom," Spencer said. He tried to smile.
"I'm so glad you came, there's something that's been bothering me for at least a month now… I've been thinking about Florence…"
"In Italy? I've heard it's a beautiful city, Mom. Maybe I'll take you there someday-"
"Spencer Reid, don't you dare."
"What, take you to Italy? I know, you hate flying, but it'd be worth-"
"You and I both know that you're smart enough to know I'm not talking about a vacation spot, Spencer. I know it's hard for you to think about her, especially after what happened between you two."
"Nothing happened between us, Mom."
"She was your best friend! That's something!"
"Look, I haven't even heard from Florence in years. She never contacted me after she left."
"That's exactly what was bothering me, Spencer." She held up a shoebox that she'd been holding in her lap. "She did, in fact, contact you."
Quantico, VA, Two Days Later
"Hey, JJ," whispered Morgan, elbowing his team-mate just as Spencer left the room. "Do you know what's up with Reid? He's gotten real behind on his paperwork, spending all his time with that stuff on his desk. Know what it is?"
"No, I don't…" JJ replied. "But I'd sure like to find out."
Trying to look casual, they went over to Reid's desk so inspect the pile of papers, photos, postcards, and other junk. JJ picked up a line of photos, probably taken from a booth. Each one featured a young Reid and a red-headed girl, making faces into the camera. The red-head made wild gestures and wacky expressions while Reid just smiled softly. In one picture, the girl had hooked a finger into either side of Reid's mouth, pulling it into a ridiculous grimace that JJ couldn't help but giggle at.
"What?" Morgan asked. JJ handed him the photo strip. Morgan grinned, and then flipped it over. "Spencer and Florence," he read, "1999."
"Who's Florence, do you think?" JJ asked.
"No idea," Morgan replied. "He's never mentioned a Florence to me before."
"Judging from all this stuff, they were pretty close. Look, all of these letters and postcards are from Florence, addressed to Spencer."
She picked one up off the top of the pile.
Dear Spencer, it read.
I've been waiting for word from you! Why won't you ever write me back? I know international post can be slow, but surely it doesn't take six months. I'm sure you have a decent reason for never writing back. Anyway, we've found a new apartment, so be sure to look at the return address. I've gotten a part-time job as a bar singer, but I've got an interview for a psychology magazine tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get it, and put that degree to good use, eh? Read anything interesting lately? I've been visiting the library but I still haven't gotten over not having you there to read with me. You probably think that's silly, don't you? I went to a marvelous restaurant yesterday. I know it's a cliché, but the fish and chips there are amazing. If you'd write me back, we could arrange for you to visit. And if you visit, I can take you there. Look, I send you letters, so could you please return the favor? I miss you.
Florence
"Interesting," JJ mumbled.
"What's interesting?"
Morgan and JJ jumped at the sound of Spencer's voice.
"What's interesting?" Spencer repeated.
"Oh, um, the amount of paper on your desk compared to the amount of work you're getting done," said Morgan, trying to cover up his snooping.
"What are you holding- hey!" Reid snatched the photo strip and letter away from his coworkers. "Do you two have no sense of privacy? This is all very personal, what did you think, that you could just, just dig around through my stuff?!"
"Reid, man, settle," said Morgan, holding up his hands in defense. "We just wanted to know what was up with you. We were worried, I mean, you've been acting really weird ever since you got back from Vegas. Even for you," he ended jokingly.
"That gives you no right to mess with my personal belongings. I don't care how worried you think you are. That was completely… out of line."
"Sorry, Spence," said JJ.
Reid scooped up all the papers and shoved them into a shoebox that he'd picked up from under his desk. They hardly fit, bulging at the sides.
"Reid, are you leaving? You can't, there's a new agent coming in today! You'll miss the introduction and everything. I've read her work, she's a great writer at Psychology Today…"JJ trailed off. Spencer wasn't even listening as he walked out the door. A single photograph slipped free of the box, unnoticed, and fell to the floor.
"Hey, Reid, I think you dropped-" Morgan called. Reid was already out the door. "-Something…" Morgan walked over to pick up the lost picture. It was Spencer and the mysterious Florence. Florence's arm was extended towards the camera, as if she were holding it. She grinned widely, while Spencer waved awkwardly next to her. Morgan held it up to JJ. "Past girlfriend, maybe?"
"I don't think so," JJ replied. "More like 'just friends.'"
"Hmm." Morgan slipped the picture into his pocket. "Suppose we'd better get to that welcome meeting for our new team member."
"Remember to be nice, Morgan," JJ said. "She's a newbie to the FBI."
Spencer was unbelievably nervous as he dialed the number. In one of her letters, Florence had given him a phone number (this was before she'd given up on ever getting a reply from him). He could only hope it worked. He listened to the dial tones, waiting for someone to pick up. With a click, someone did. "Hello?" came the accented voice.
"I- uh…"
"Hello?" Again, the voice.
"Florence?" Spencer asked tentatively. What was he going to say to her?
The phone was silent for a moment. "Spencer Reid, is that you?"
"Florence, I-"
"Spencer, I'm not Florence, this is her mother. If I'm even that anymore."
"Oh, Mrs. Carroll, I- I wanted to talk to Florence, if she's still there…"
"I don't know where Florence is, Spencer dear. She left a few years ago, and we fell out of touch. She went off on her own, and from what I've heard she's not up to any good. I'm afraid she's become a drunk."
"She's- I'm sorry, what?"
"The last time I spoke to her, I was trying to convince her to get out of the life she was living and come back to acceptable society. She was in the sink of the ladies' lavatory in a horrid bar, completely wasted. But that was years ago. For all I know, she's dead, overdosed on some drug or alcohol poison on someone's doorstep. I don't know where she is."
"Mrs. Carroll, if you could just-"
"Goodbye."
The phone clicked as Mrs. Carroll hung up the phone. Dejected, Spencer made his way through his apartment back to his bedroom, where he flopped down on his mattress. He stared at the blank whiteness of his ceiling, remembering the last time he'd seen Florence Carroll.
Spencer had never seen Florence so distressed. Her clothes were rumpled, her hair a mess, and the bags under her eyes were tinged with a sickly purple. Tiny lines ran down her face where she'd cried. Florence had come in through Spencer's window, just before midnight. Spencer had woken up to the creak as she'd climbed in, seen her trembling figure outlined by the moonlight. He'd leapt out of bed, flinging the blankets onto the floor, to wrap his arms around her. They'd stood like that, Florence sobbing quietly onto his shoulder, for the better part of an hour. Her tears were still wet on his t-shirt.
"Florence, you've got to tell me what's wrong," he said. "I can't help you unless you tell me what to fix."
"I- I can't, I can't, Spencer, I can't do it. I can't…" She broke down in tears again. She leaned against him. "I can't tell you." Spencer put his arms around her waist, to pull her into a hug. She took notice of this, and looked at him. She said, "I love you, Spencer Reid. Always have." And then she kissed him. Put her hands behind his head, pulled him close, and kissed him, before he could even react to her confession. Spencer was shocked beyond anything he'd ever experienced before, but then he found himself kissing back, holding her closer than he'd ever been able to before. And, like any eighteen year-old boy, he was only too aware of the fact that they were kissing in his bedroom. A foot away from his bed. He tried to ignore this fact. This was all the better for him, as she abruptly shattered the moment, gasping and pushing him away. Spencer fell back onto his sheets. "No, no, no…" Florence whispered. "I can't do this, I can't do this," she repeated. "Not to anyone, I shouldn't do this, let alone to you."
"Florence, please. Tell me what's going on!" Spencer sat up.
"Shh…" She leaned down and hugged him, one last time. "I am so sorry," she murmured against his neck. With that, Florence Carroll disappeared out Spencer's window. Seconds later, Spencer heard a car door slam and the squeal of tires as Mrs. Carroll's old blue station wagon sped out of the neighborhood. Spencer never saw Florence again.
Morgan and JJ went to join Gideon, Elle, and Garcia over by Hotch's the window, they could see the new girl's back. She wore a forest green business suit with purple tights and kitten heels. Her dark red hair was pulled into a loose bun, which was adorned with feathers and ribbons. JJ raised an eyebrow at the strange attire, exchanging looks with Morgan, but said nothing. Hotch, seeing the team waiting outside, motioned them all in.
Aaron Hotchner's office was only a little bit crowded with seven people in it. The new girl turned around. Morgan's eyes widened and JJ's jaw dropped at the sight of her. "Where's-" Hotch started.
"I sent him home. The poor kid needed it," Gideon answered.
While Hotch mildly reprimanded Gideon, Morgan pulled the photograph out of his pocket and showed it to JJ. "Is it just me or does she look exactly like…"
"I'm Florence Carroll, everyone. It's nice to meet you," she said in a lilting British accent.
"That's Agent Carroll, now. You'll have to remember that," said Hotch.
"Uh, hi…" Morgan said. JJ was silent.
The rest of the team welcomed her warmly, and JJ followed suit, masking her surprise. Only Morgan hung back.
When the others had moved on, Morgan went up to introduce himself. "I'm Derek Morgan," he said.
"Florence," she replied. She seemed exactly the same as in the photo, if only a little older.
"Look, I know this might sound strange, but do you know someone named Spencer Reid?"
The smile on Florence's face faded. "Who?"
"Spencer Reid," Morgan repeated, handing her the picture.
She stared at the photo, hands shaking as she took it. "Where the bloody hell," she whispered, "did you get this?"
To be continued, my darlings! If you like it, keep reading. If you get to chapter three or read the reviews, then you know what's up with my newly cancelled update/review policy. I'm sorry.
12/10: I'm really, really sorry to all of you. I've been, let me REPEAT, selfish and amateur, and I'm not going to let it happen again. The update/review policy is officially revoked. It was stupid. I don't deserve your time. If you really like Criminal Minds, you'll get off my worthless, shitty writing and go read someone like Cassieoeia823 or CatherineJosephineMarie007. Or if you like Jasper, you'll read chuffed-git, or if you like Harry Potter you'll read lostmidtranslation. They're all better than me and much more worth your time. I don't even follow up on real life promises, let alone the stuff I promise to people on here. Disgruntled Reader, whoever you are, thank you for disenchanting me as to my worth as a writer. I needed the reality check.