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A/n hello all... Here's the next chapter. Please enjoy and thank you for your kind comments.
Santa's Workshop
When the world resolved into solid color and sound, Reid lurched forward as though he occupied the front seat of a rollercoaster car beginning its descent up that first steep hill. He stumbled two steps and nearly pitched headlong into a very wide conveyor belt that moved colorfully wrapped Christmas presents out of sight.
"Not that way…" That same officious voice from his apartment said.
He looked around to see that the little midget - person, dwarf, elf or whatever - standing there staring at him like he should know his way around.
"Where are we?" He demanded in his best Supervisory Special Agent voice.
"Come along… I don't have all night. We must launch in - he pulled a watch from his coat pocket - exactly five hours and nine minutes." The tiny man started off in the opposite direction as several other little people - Reid refused to call them elves - weaved in and out around him.
They didn't seem to notice him standing there. For his part, he was beginning to feel very self-conscious and tall!
"I'm not moving until you tell me where I am." Reid planted his feet as one little person with a black beard veered around him. A stack of gifts nearly as tall as Reid floated along in front of him. Wait! How could the stack be floating? He looked back at the little man and saw that the stack was indeed floating. He shook his head like he'd been swimming for too long and looked back at his tiny kidnapper.
"Why are you standing there gaping like a startled fish?" Harold snipped.
Reid realized that his mouth was hanging open. He shut it with a snap and turned on the little man. "I told you I'm not moving until you tell me where we are."
"I should think it's obvious. I thought you were some kind of genius. We're in Santa's workshop." He swept his arms wide and with something like the pride of a parent of an obedient child.
Reid craned his head around, finally realizing that he stood in the middle of the biggest room or warehouse, or factory he'd ever seen. In fact, he couldn't see where the room began or ended, it was so enormous. It was filled with activity and color. There were Christmas trees, decorated in red, gold and white at different points along the path.
He also noticed that all the little people, while hurried in their tasks, seemed very happy. He could hear music and hundreds of voices raised in song. It should have been cacophony, but somehow all their voices blended into the most joyous melody he'd heard outside a church choir.
He looked up, but couldn't see the ceiling over his head. The building seemed to be as tall as it was wide and went on forever, even though he knew that was impossible.
All of this is impossible. Are you just noticing that!
He noticed that his feet were following his kidnapper along a busy corridor. He stopped and the elf turned as though he had eyes in the back of his head. "Stop dawdling young man. Santa is a very busy man. If he's going to make his deadline then we must hurry."
"I don't believe any of this. It's some kind of trick." Reid said. "Logic dictates that Santa can't possibly -"
Harold glared up at Reid, his stare more intimidating than Hotch's best glower. An icy shiver raced up Reid's back. "You're here," Harold began icily," because you don't believe. Santa thinks you're worthy of a rare intervention. Personally, I think I should send you back where you came from right now so I can get my schedule back on track."
"Fine, send me back," Reid, agreed.
His temper was beginning to spark just a little. How dare this little man, or elf, or whatever he was, presume to judge him.
Another little person bumped into him as she moved past him trying to dodge others as they worked. "Oh excuse me I didn't -" She stopped her eyes widening at Reid.
Her eyes, as blue as JJ's, twinkled merrily at him. The red Santa cap on her head bobbed as she greeted him, her blond curls bounced on her shoulders.
"Who is this?" She asked Harold who scowled at her enthusiasm. "He's cute for a human." Her voice rang like bells as she spoke.
"Really Lisle, I don't have time for -"
The tiny elf - Reid decided just to call them by that name to save time - reached up for one of his hands. She stood about six inches shorter the Harold. "I like 'em tall and skinny," she gushed, winking one of her big eyes at him.
"Santa is expecting us and you have duties to get to." Harold snapped. "Get out of our way and get back to work."
"Shut up Harry… I'm on a break." She hissed back.
Reid tried to pull his hand away from her but like Harold, she was stronger than she looked.
"You got time for a glass of eggnog, sweetie." She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
"That's enough Lisle." Harold shouted over the music and the conversation of elves that worked and ignored them.
Lisle let go of Reid and turned on Harold. "For someone that works at the North Pole your sense of fun is sadly lacking."
She turned her attention back to Reid. "If you change your mind, just say my name." She flounced off, leaving him there staring at her.
"May we please get on with the reason you're here." Harold hissed through gritted teeth. His pointed ears seemed to flutter indignantly and independently of their master.
"I didn't ask for an 'intervention' from anyone." Reid snapped irritably. "I don't need. -"
"Come along." This time the elf grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. Reid had to go with him or risk losing his arm. "Santa is waiting for you."
He pulled Reid onto a moving track that looked like something in an airport. They whooshed along so fast that all the blurred colors made Reid's stomach heave. Then they stopped and Harold pulled him off the moving belt. Reid's head spun and he tottered like a child trying out his first steps. Harold didn't let him stop to get his breath. He pulled him along a rapidly emptying corridor until they came to a large oak door with a nameplate that said "St. Nicholas," on it.
Harold glared at him with a look that clearly said, "Behave or you're in big trouble. Harold knocked and waited.
"Come in…" A booming and jolly voice called out to them.
Another chill worked its way down Reid's spine at the sound of the voice, but it wasn't unpleasant this time.
Harold stood aside and gestured that Reid should precede him into the office. The room resembled an old-fashioned study in a Victorian mansion. In one corner, stood a Christmas tree that Reid thought must be at least fifteen feet tall, stood decorated with golden ornaments and real candles. The icicles hanging from the branches looked real to him despite the roaring fire right next to it.
"Hello Spencer," boomed the voice.
To Reid's right sat a man with a full head of white hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. His dark blue eyes twinkled behind rectangle shaped, gold framed glasses.
"Who are you?" Reid asked firmly. "I don't like being kidnapped."
"I haven't kidnapped you." The man said. "I've just invited you to see things from a new perspective."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Reid insisted because none of this could be real. It had to be some kind of an elaborate hoax or a dream.
"This isn't a dream or a hoax." The man said. "Please sit down and I'll explain."
Reid looked around as if for help, but only the old man and Harold were in the room. He sighed and took a seat in a red, wing back chair across from the man. He refused to call him Santa Claus.
Santa Claus sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. "You're here because you're a special case, someone that I feel can benefit from knowing the truth about me."
"I don't understand." Reid said. "What do you want from me? I'm not working on any hot case. I don't have anything you want."
Santa Claus chuckled. "I don't want anything from you my young friend except that you believe in me and pass it on to Henry and Jack."
"You can't be Santa Claus because everyone knows you don't exist." Reid insisted.
Santa became grave, his eyes sober and sad. "Children believe in me, at least for a little while and then they grow up and lose their innocence. You lost your innocence much sooner than you should have Spencer. For that I'm so sorry."
"I don't know you -" Reid started again.
"I know you don't trust people you've just met. A wise precaution, but as you'll soon see, I know you better than you know yourself."
"I'm not going to tell you anything." Reid said.
"I don't want you to tell me anything you don't want to share." Santa responded as the fire crackled.
Reid stared around the room lit with low golden light that seemed to glow from every corner of the room. The polished hardwood floors showed his reflection and he noticed that Harold was gone. He also noticed another door with a brass doorknob at the other end of the room.
He jumped from his seat, hurried across the room and yanked open the door. It was a closet full of red suits,
"I'm only trying to help you Spencer." Santa said.
Reid returned to his seat. "You won't let me go." He said.
"Yes… You can leave whenever you want." Santa gestured to another door next to the Christmas tree that Reid hadn't noticed. "All you have to do is believe."
"Do I have to wear the silver slippers too?" Reid asked sarcastically.
"I see you've read "The Wizard of Oz," not just seen the movie like so many people. It's one of my favorites." Santa said.
"Yes… I read it when I was four."
"Then you know the power of magic and desire." Santa asked.
"I know magic is just illusion." Reid answered.
Santa sighed. "You're going to be a tough one, but I think I can convince you that I am real and why my existence is so important in this cynical world. Come with me." He stood up and moved to the door Reid had entered with Harold.
"Where are we going?" Reid asked, but his feeling of apprehension was slowly fading.
Chris Cringle laid a finger next to his nose. "Trust me, Dr. Reid."
