Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own the beautiful Dr. Reid. Nor do I own any of the other criminal minds characters listed in these chapters. I also do not own any of the songs, or movies used here. There are several facts and quotes also from criminal minds that I did not come up with. However, Kara and her family, Jessie, the unsubs, Stephen and his band, the coffee shop and its workers are all mine. This is rated M for sexual situations, some language, and some violence. The title used is the song "Lovesong" by the Cure. I thought it was appropriate. Hope you enjoy!
Shutting the door to the cooler, I leaned back against the door and took a deep breath, wishing I was somewhere else. Today was the big lecture on campus and here I was, at work, missing it. I needed to take a break and went into the walk in cooler to relax for a minute. "It's so slow today," I mumbled to myself, sitting down on a nearby crate and putting my head in my hands. I sat there for a few minutes, debating sneaking out the back door and running down to the college. Deciding that was not the best course of action, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pulled up the app to the school's website. Once there, I opened the link to the live feed. Members of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit stood in front of the podium, discussing the most recently solved cases. Special Agent Prentiss was discussing the profile they had created about the unidentified subject (unsub), with the others chiming in at their discretion. I gave myself in to it for a couple of minutes, listening intently on what they said, when the door of the cooler opened, revealing one of my coworkers.
"What are you doing in here?" Stephen asked, placing his hands on his hips, "I'm absolutely bored out of my mind."
Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I stood up and followed him out into the coffee shop, "Well, ya know, taking a minute to rot my mind with the latest lecture from the BAU taking place as we speak at my very own college." I was at the end of my first year at graduate school, getting my masters in psychological therapy and behavior analysis at the nearby college where the BAU was giving a lecture.
"Yea, I hate you had to miss that," he stated, leaning back on a nearby counter.
"The boss is out to get me, I'm telling you. We are just so busy today, I don't know how we are going to function," I exclaimed dramatically, waving my arm around the empty coffee shop.
Stephen laughed, "Yea I know, Saturdays suck."
"Yes they do, and do I ask for them off? Nope. I work every. Single. One. Without complaint, may I add and the one time I want it off it's: 'I'm sorry Kara, no can do. There are important people in town and people are going to want their coffee.'"
"You speak the truth my friend, he said it just like that! I understand though, last time I needed a Saturday off was for the big Kings of Leon concert and the answer was no."
I rolled my eyes, "Stephen, that's not anywhere near the importance of this lecture, no offense. I mean, Richard knows that I want to work for the FBI. Profiler, psychologist, secret agent, whatever. This was the perfect opportunity for me to meet some pretty important people and I had to miss it for this stupid place. It's irritating."
"Maybe they will stop by," Stephen said hopefully.
"Not when there's a StarBucks right there," I stated, pointing out the window.
"Very true. Guess you will have to get into the FBI using your intelligence and your good looks."
"Yea okay," I laughed, going back to wiping down the counters, wishing that one of the members of the BAU would indeed walk through the door.
Later on that evening, I found myself sitting alone in my room, drowning my sorrows from missing the lecture into my favorite television show. I heard my cousin yelling my name as she bounded up the stairs of our two bedroom house. She let herself into my bedroom, brown curls bouncing, and plopped down on my bed.
"Hey." She stated, looking at me with crazy amounts of excitement behind her big hazel eyes.
"Hey," I replied, hitting pause on my DVR, "Dude, this is my last episode of 48 hours mystery before I have to start studying for finals. I really just want to continue to immerse myself in this until it's over."
"I know, I know, but you are not going to want to miss this," she said, pulling me up from the bed and dragging me to my walk in closet. "Get your sexiest outfit because we are going out on the town."
"I really can't, I have to study so I can-"
"No no no! Listen! You aren't listening!" she exclaimed, shoving me down onto a chair and tossing garments into my lap "Remember that guy from freshman year who I dated and swore up and down he had connections to the FBI and we thought he was just making up crap? Wellllll he came back in town today with a certain group of people who were giving a lecture over at the college this afternoon that you wanted to go to but couldn't because of work. And he is going to take us out to partay with them"
I raised a skeptical eyebrow at my cousin, "Jessie, please tell me you aren't really going to believe this guy."
"Kara, I'm telling you, it's for real! Don't ask me how I know, I just do. You know I get feelings about these things," she said, pointing her finger at me. She picked up a pair of my thigh high leather boots and sat them down in front of me, "Yes those will do."
I shook my head, "Um, no they won't. Those are special use only. I'm not going out dancing in those things. I will attract all kinds of filth."
"Not Filth, cuz, the infamous Dr. Reid."
"You have lost your mind. Just because I have kept up with his lectures and essays doesn't mean that I'm head over heels for him. I do that with all the members of the BAU, all of that stuff interests me, " I insisted, the redness rising in my cheeks betraying my every word.
"Whatever you want to say, Kara, but I know the truth. His lectures have more views on your IPOD."
"You're a snoop."
"Just observing the facts. Look, you haven't seriously dated in years, after that creep Danny broke your heart. I think that you need to consider going out on a date."
"This is just ridiculous," I stated, "I haven't had any problems with guys, ever. Sure I've dated some creeps, but haven't we all. What about this Michael that is claiming to be going out with the BAU tonight? He knows I want to work for the FBI and he is just saying this stuff to get into your pants again. And even if Dr. Reid was there, what the crap would I say to him?"
Jessie put a finger to her lip, "Hmmm, how about 'I think you are a beautiful and intelligent man, would you care to have some drinks and dance the night away? I love that thing you do where you tuck those stray strands of hair behind your ear," or, or you could go subtle, "Dr. Reid, I think you are fabulous, want to come back to my home and read the latest literature?'"
I laughed at my cousin, standing up and dropping all of the clothes to the floor, "Now I know you've really lost your mind. Look, I will go with you, but just because I am not letting you go out with that creep alone. If the BAU is there, I will deal with it then." I could see the happiness on my cousin's face as I picked up my leather pants and long cream colored tank from the floor, "Just remember, you will be coming back home with me. So don't get any crazy ideas," I added quickly, before turning around and heading to the bathroom.
After a quick shower and putting on some club appropriate make up, I pulled my clothes on, adding several bracelets to my right arm and my Tiffany watch and black pearls on my left. My black heels were waiting on me by the door, along with my cousin in her jeans and black tank top. "Just wait, Kara, you are going to die when we go and they are there."
Rolling my eyes, I put on my heels and followed her out to her Altima. It was an older model, one that she and I had ridden around in since she had turned 16. Sometimes I envied her for her ability to minimize and be thrifty, but I was one of those girls who worked hard for my money and spoiled myself accordingly. Our families were a lot different, our mothers were sisters who married into to two totally different families. Mine, a wealthy doctor and Jessie's a farmer in the country. We'd both decided to go to the same college and then the same graduate school, looking to make names for ourselves separate from both our families. She wanted more money and prestige; I wanted a fulfilling job that could help me be an individual, separate from the success of my family. I didn't want to be Mr. Winchester's daughter forever; I wanted to be my own entity.
The more I thought about these things, the closer we got to the club, the more nervous I got that if the BAU was there, I wouldn't fit in with them. I was a lot younger than they were, just turned 23, and had no clue what I would say to make conversation with them. I'd always dreamed about being a member of the FBI, several different jobs appealing to me. I was still trying to decide what pathway to take, since I had one more year of graduate school, I had a few more months to decide for sure.
Jessie noticed my ever present knee wiggling up and down in anticipation, "Kara, you need to chill out girl. If you go in there all nervous, you won't be able to make a good impression. I'm doing this for you, ya know."
"I know, I'm just not prepared, and you know me, that never happens."
Jessie went on about how I shouldn't be nervous and I needed to relax but I just tuned her out for the reminder of the ride. I was an in charge kind of girl and always prepared for what needed to be done. Reminding myself that I was doing this for my cousin, I took several deep breathes and tried to concentrate on the sound of her voice. When we arrived at the club, we pulled out our ID's and met Michael at the front door. He was the same guy I remembered from Freshman year, clad in jeans and a button up shirt, his blonde hair arranged in small spikes on his head.
Michael stepped up to Jessie with open arms, "Hey girls! It's so glad to see you! Are you excited? This is going to be such a fun night! Everyone is here! Garcia, Prentiss, Morgan, Hotchner, JJ, Rossi, and Reid."
My stomach dropped at the mention of his name. Oh god.
"I need a fun night out after all the studying we've been doing for finals," Jessie smiled, following Michael into the club with me behind them.
It was dark inside, lite up by several multicolored laser lights all over the place. Black lights, rock and roll music mixed with hip hop and pop, the biggest club for miles. I handed my ID to the girl behind the counter, while Michael proceeded to pay for both me and Jessie's tickets. I let my eyes wonder over the crowd of people, looking for a familiar face from the BAU whose faces I'd memorized while digging into any book I could get ahold of to educate myself on my dream job.
I followed Jessie and Michael, not really listening to them due to the loud music pounding in my ear, until I saw them. I froze. They were all hanging out around the pool table, looking like normal people (as if they'd look abnormal), playing pool and having drinks, also occupying the tables nearby. Oh dear , I thought as my eyes found that mop of messy long brown hair, the button up shirt, mismatched tie, corduroys, and converse shoes. Jessie noticed I was no longer following them and came back to grab my hand, "Oh come on, Kara. They look really nice."
My pulse was racing, my heart in my throat, "I'm going to need a drink," I said, following her to the table.
Derek Morgan and Dr. Spencer Reid sat at the table beside the pool table, which is where Michael and Jessie decided would be our first stop. I felt myself pulling myself backwards, but unable to get away because of Jessie's death grip on my hand. Both men stood up, Derek giving a high five and half hug to Michael, while Dr. Reid shook his hand. Reid's eyes moved over Jessie's and then to mine, deep brown eyes that I could get lost in. Oh dear.
Michael and Jessie slipped into the booth beside Derek, leaving the only open seat for me, beside Reid.
"I'm Derek Morgan," Derek stated, extending his hand to me.
"Kara Winchester," I smiled, taking the hand.
My gaze turned to the only open seat and it's occupant, "I'm Dr. Reid, um Spen, Spencer Reid."
"Hi," I managed to reply, still standing beside the booth.
"Dude, aren't you going to make room for her?" Derek asked.
Dr. Reid looked around nervously, "Oh yea, um. Sorry." He scooted over to make room for me and I slid in beside him, balancing myself on the edge of the booth. I caught a sly smile out of both Jessie and Derek's faces, which told me that they were all in on this. Jessie must have already met them and here I was left speechless like an idiot. I remember reading in Gideon's book that Derek would often try to set up Dr. Reid. Crap.
The waiter arrived in perfect time for me to order a strong drink, while the rest of the table began making pleasant conversation. Reid was going into detail about something, it was loud in the club and I was not close enough to hear everything he said. And I was too busy trying not to fall out of the booth or bite my nails. The waiter returned with our drinks, two for one margaritas thankfully, and I began sipping on it.
"So, Kara is studying criminal justice actually. She has read all of your books and hopes to work in the BAU someday," Jessie said, smiling at me, trying to get me in the conversation but embarrassing the crap out of me at the same time. I felt the fire well up in my cheeks, taking a long sip of my margarita.
"That's impressive, Kara," Reid stated, going into a lengthy explanation of criminal justice and women and I don't know, I was too stuck on him speaking my name.
"Dude, I'm sure she doesn't need to know those statistics, way to scare her off," Derek stated, puling me back into the conversation.
"Oh I apologize," Reid stated, looking in my direction.
I smiled, feeling the alcohol start to work its magic, "It's okay, no problem."
The conversation continued on, the five of us ended up laughing and talking as the night went on and our drinks took hold of us. I felt myself shifting in the booth, easing my way closer to Reid, and into the conversation. I'd never had any problems talking to guys before, this was just a special case, seeing as I had read his books and did look up to him. What would I do if this were someone else at a club? I asked myself.
"Would you want to dance, Dr. Reid?" I asked, wishing I could pull them back after the words were out.
Those brown eyes turned to me and he smiled that brilliant smile, "Please, call me Spencer. And I must apologize, I don't really dance."
"Oh come on, man. One dance won't kill ya," Derek said, "You might even find you like it."
Spencer shook his head, "I don't think so. Did you know that dancing originated as a way to tell stories-"
I reached out and placed my finger on his lips. "Shh, it's just a dance, Spencer," I laughed and, grabbling his hand, pulling out of the booth with him behind me. I saw the sneaky smile on Jessie's face, pleased with herself that she had been able to coerce me into coming and then continuing to provide me with alcohol until I felt comfortable enough to be myself around the Spencer Reid.
I'm sure I heard him objecting all the way towards the dance floor. I made a detour to the bar and asked for two shots, handing one to him.
"I really don't need to-" he started to say.
I shook my head at him and clanked my glass against his, "To bravery". He shrugged his shoulders and took his shot with me, right before my favorite song came on and I drug him out on the dance floor. Arriving on the dance floor, I pulled him to me, dancing with my eyes locked on his. This was a fun song and I could feel myself dancing crazy and singing along with the song, at the same time that Spencer laughed and tried to dance as well. Occasionally we would see Jessie, Derek and the others watching us, laughing at the sometimes uncomfortable looks Spencer would give them as I kept making him dance with me. I could tell he was having a good time; he just wasn't the best dancer and was probably feeling pressure just like I was from his friends to have a fun time. Eventually, the rest of the crew made it out onto the dance floor with us, continuing to provide us with shots, leaving me to my normal goofy self, with no problem making myself comfortable up against Spencer during the more elicit songs. Leaving Spencer more comfortable out on the dance floor and open to dancing with me until late in the night.