Chapter 2
JJ called the team into the conference room and announced the details of their new case. They had been invited to Kansas to help solve a string of double murders.
After their initial briefing and throwing ideas back and forth Hotch informed them they'd be leaving in 20. Prentiss was stacking up the folders on the table when she noticed Reid fumbling with his cellphone. Trying to respect his privacy she concentrated on gathering the files up. A beep broke the silence and she looked up to see Reid frown as he read whatever was on the little glowing screen.
"Something wrong?" she asked in concern.
Reid's head shot up "Uh.. What?" he asked startled.
"You look down about something" she commented. She used her head to gesture to the cellphone in his hand.
"Oh. Uh no. I'm fine." he replied rather unconvincingly. He shoved the cellphone into his pocket and got up shoving the chair in place under the table.
"You sure?" she furrowed her brow trying to read him. Nothing about him said he was alright. In fact the more she looked at him the more she noticed how dishelved he seemed to be.
"Yup" he said with a small smile and left the room without looking back.
He left the room in such a hurry, his thoughts racing that he didn't even notice Hotch till he stumbled right into him. "Oof" the knock took the breath right out of both of them. "Hotch! I'm so sorry!" Reid's voice was panicked. He backed away and looked his boss up and down to assess the damage.
"It's fine, Reid" Hotch tried to contain his anger "Just watch where you're going". Reid nodded and bit his bottom lip a look of sorrow in his eyes.
Hotch walked away and Reid quickly darted to the bathroom. He pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and walked into one of the stalls, locking the door.
"It's my job"
Rossi heard the voice say when he opened up the door to the bathroom.
"I gotta go"
He recognized the abrupt voice and identified it as the young doctor. Nonetheless physical confirmation came in the form of Reid stepping out of the stall. The boy gave him a forced smiled and quickly made his way out of the room.
Rossi dismissively shook his head and entered another stall.