CONSEQUENCES FALL 4
happy new year [2013]
this is the continuing bit of the flashback to Alessa's first meeting at Bennington with the formidable Professor Diana Reid.
After which we will go see just what is bubbling at the BAU in present times.
Hope it doesn't get too confusing. But the muse in charge seems to be a bit twisted...!1
so onward...Spencer has gone in to talk to his mother, after the conclusion of a twisted case in which he had to kill the UnSub.
CHAPTER 7A
About thirty minutes later a rather embarrassed Spencer Reid came out into the corridor. To find that Alessa was sitting with an elderly man and they were spiritedly discussing the work of Salvador Dali.
"Oh Spencer there you are," Alessa smiled widely at his rumpled form, "This is Alistair he has been keeping my occupied with some interesting titbits about Dali. Are you having a good visit with your mother?"
"Eh yes...hmm Good Afternoon Alistair," Spencer offered politely, not wanting to trigger off any kind of episode. But for now Alistair seemed quite lucid and calm.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Sir," Alistair replied while making a short sharp bow to Spencer. "Alessa my dear, thank you for a most delightful discussion. But for now I must make haste or I will miss the train," he explained bending over her hand an placing a small kiss on the back of it.
"I quite understand Alistair. You take care of yourself, and I will see you soon."Alessa offered a small smile as she spoke.
Alistair positively glowed as he turned away and hurried down the corridor.
"Normally I would ask a million or so questions about what just occurred," Spencer stated still watching the disappearing man. "But after nearly six months of getting straight answers that only give me headaches. I think I am going to pass today?
"And that dear boy is why you are not only a genius...but an intelligent human being," Alessa informed him as she stood up and shook out the folds of her long skirt. "So is it time to go so soon?"
Spencer wondered just what was going to occur if he acceded to his mothers request. Taking a deep breathe he acknowledged that it was probably the reason for Alessa's presence too. Females, and mothers in particular were very tricky he had found.
"My mother has asked to speak to you privately...I have tried to explain..but between her tears and my own I'm not sure just how much she took in," He replied worriedly.
He wasn't just worried about how much his mother understood, but her reaction to Alessa. She could be very protective and possessive were he was concerned. Which could turn to vicious and violent on occasion.
Alessa smiled and rubbed his upper left arm comfortingly. "It will be fine Spencer. Go and get us some tea and bikkies. We will be by the mosaic wall."
she instructed as she moved toward the day room entrance.
It wasn't until she was gone that he wondered how she knew about his mother's favourite place in the garden.
"Professor Diana Reid I am Alessa Dumbarton."
"Are you trying to steal my son from me," Diana hissed getting to her feet. "Because it wont work you know," she continued glaring at the woman before her.
Alessa remained calm and smiling.
"Of course not Diana. You are his Mother and he loves you dearly. He knows who his mother is, and how special you are."
"Don't try and flatter me Madam!" Diana cried wondering just why this woman wasn't retreating from the crazy woman. "Just explain it?"
Alessa knew that Spencer would have only told his mother the minimum of the horrors he had seen and experienced. But his mother was a strong woman. She would have had to be to come off her drugs so as Spencer could be born safely.
"Very well Diana. Lets go sit by the mosaic wall so that no Big-ears can hear a private conversation between two mothers who adore their children."
Diana sat for a moment the glare still very much evident as she watched Alessa. Then a familiar half smile appeared on her tired face. "You're good"
she said approvingly as she fussed with the belt of her blue dressing gown.
"You're not too shabby yourself Professor," Alessa smiled at the intelligent woman, whose life was blighted by a battle with her own mind.
Diana moved slowly, but with a familiar confidence across the well tended garden toward the small bench by the colourful wall.
Alessa was very aware of the presence of the nurse following at a small distance behind. She wanted to scream at the woman to go away, that this surveillance was neither wanted or needed. But she knew it was standard protocol and not the individuals fault.
"Don't look so Angry about our escort," Diana said as she settled herself down. "For the most part I ignore them."
"I will need to watch that," Alessa laughed as she took her place on the seat. "You can read me nearly as well as Spencer. ..Her presence just brings up bad memories of my time in rehabilitation. While most of the staff were great...there were some that should be in those BAU files of your son."
She hoped that by explaining candidly that Diana would listen to what she had to say. Knowing that it came from experience.
Silence fell as both woman waited for the next opening.
"How deep is he in?"Diana finally asked. She wasn't stupid she knew Spencer protected her from what he thought she couldn't handle. But she saw the darkness that surrounded him. Of course she did she was his mother.
"He is fighting so hard Diana. You can be so proud of him," Alessa declared before continuing softly. "But this isn't the kind of battle you can win alone. It isn't the kind of battle that has an end...unless its a wooden box. He doesn't see how far he has come, and how strong he has had to be to get here. He sees it as a weakness. And it kills me Diana to know that he is going to have to summon up the strength every single day of his life. That some stupid life pressure could send him on a trip down some dark alley to find a chemical solution to the pain in his soul. Only to find that that solution is a quick trip to the seventh circle of hell."
Diana nodded her head. She had feared as much when she had seen him months ago. Oh his letters had hidden most of his anguish , but there had been enough hints to prick her instincts. But what could she do?
"So what can I do?" Diana pleaded, silent tears falling down her face. The thought of her perfect boy brought so low rending tears on her heart.
Alessa moved closer taking in the long thin hands in her own calloused and scarred ones.
"Diana you are already doing your part," she assured the fragile mother before her. She knew that Diana reaction was the same as her own would have been, if situations were reversed. In an odd way that gave her hope.
"He loves and needs his mum. He knows you love him no matter what occurs. Those are the important bits...but because of circumstances beyond any of our control he is out there now fighting alone and naked."
Diana let out a small moan and tightened her grip on Alessa's hands.
Alessa felt like the biggest scum bag in the universe causing this poor woman more pain. But she couldn't find another way to save Spencer.
And she knew Diana Reid would do anything to protect her baby.
"I am truly sorry Diana. I don't mean to cause you pain. But you asked for the truth from me. He is alone Diana, a lot of the times through choice, but a lot of times through fear. It cant continue or we will loose him as he looses himself." She took a deep calming breath even as her heart pumped at a furious rate. This was the point where everything could go boom.
"Diana he loves you so much. He would not do anything to hurt your feelings. So I am here to ask for your permission...your permission to pull him in closer to my family. To give me leave to fight for him and to protect him from even himself. To allow my children who adore him to call him brother..."
"And you Mother!?" Diana screamed trying to pull her hands away.
Alessa caught the movement of the nurse at the corner of her eye, and barked at her "Stay there." The tone had such command to it that the woman found herself complying.
Alessa turned to face the sobbing Diana. "NEVER! Do you hear me Diana Reid. Never! That title is sacred to me. I would never steal it from another, and I sorrow for those who will never hear it spoken to them. He is your son, but he needs shelter from the storms that surround him." Alessa stated tears now streaking down her own face."I couldn't protect...couldn't protect him then...or now!" Diana cried. How could she have failed her child so badly.
"Listen to me Diana..Diana. You did protect him. He told me..he told me," Alessa cried now for both child and mother's scars.
"He told you," Diana seemed more shocked by that revelation than anything else that had been said. "He trusts you," she whispered to herself.
Diana knew that the fageries of her illness meant that she had to think...to make decisions now. Tomorrow could be too late. Tomorrow she could be lost once again...and her child would be lost because of it.
Could she really deny him the protection and love he deserved?
Could she deny him the family he should have had?
Alessa felt the strength in the small grab onto hers with all they had, before Diana spoke.
"You have my permission. Protect our boy. Don't let him end up lost like me."
Alessa nodded staring into the wet intelligent eyes.
What a force of nature you must have been, she thought sadly. What could you have achieved? But then again you achieved Motherhood, bringing that special man into the world. Maybe that was what your destiny was?
"Diana Reid you are not lost. You may get sidetracked occasionally, but you are not lost to those who love and care for you," she stated firmly as if daring the Universe to argue with her.
By the time Spencer returned with tea and empire biscuits. He found the two woman gossiping about poor Alistair, as if nothing of any importance had transpired at all.
After tea Alessa left them in a flurry of hugs and kisses, stating she would wait in the car.
At her disappearance Spencer wondered just what his mother would have to say about the colourful woman. But all Diana requested was that he escort her to her room as she was tired.
When they arrived she lay down and patted the space beside her, for her son to join her. Which he did, embracing her petite figure as she closed her eyes.
"I like her," she suddenly announced. "She's right you need her out there...sshh1 don't interrupt Spencer...I am your Mother. No one else can have that title. Its my most precious one. Way above Mrs Professor or doctor. But I know I cant fulfil all the duties that I should now. I do understand that and it has worried me a lot. But Alessa and her family can...But I am still your Mother...She can be your ...be your Petite Maman."
And with that she fell into a silent deep sleep.
Spencer held onto her tightly, cried softly for the woman who was his Mother.
After a moment he got up and went to his mother's bathroom to wash his face and tidy himself up.
As he slowly walked back through the familiar corridors and down the stairs toward the open foyer, he came to partially understand the true strength of his mothers heart.
She was prepared to allow another to foster her child, because she couldn't offer him what SHE deemed necessary for him to thrive. Even though her child was an adult. He shook his head at the paper he could present on that.
And then there was the other side of the story. A Mother willing to open her heart and family to an outsider,A social runt, a stranger with an addiction problem. On paper it was a recipe for disaster and pain, but illogical as it seemed it had worked.
Was there anything as strong as a parents love? In this case two mother's love. It was warmth and safety, balm and encouragement, acceptance and recognition.
But it would turn dark and deadly on those who were a threat to those she called hers.
Could get at least three papers out of this, his unconscious quipped as he reached the rental car.
Spencer got into the car but stayed silent and unmoving, and Alessa just sat and waited.
Spencer could be angry if his mother had gotten upset after she left, She thought. Or annoyed if he thought she was treating him as a child. Or ….
"She called you `petite maman` he finally said after his brain and emotions sorted out all the permutations and finally settled into his busy head.
He turned slightly to watch the reaction of the woman who was turning his existence upside down.
Wasn't that supposed to be the person he fell in love with, he mused silently.
Alessa let a slow smile emerge from her worrying.
"I am honoured," she stated. "And you Spencer, are you okay?"
"No, but I will be," he replied fixing his seatbelt.
"So are you ready to face your sister's curiosity?"
"Actually I think I will just check myself in beside Dear Alistair," he dead panned, then dodged the playful slap he knew was coming.
End of flashback
"of course I do. It was a very special, and stressfulday for all of us. But why that memory today?" Alessa asked puzzled by the allusive tracks his mind sometimes took.
"I guess I was just thinking about families," Spencer replied with a little bite in his tone.
That bite warned Alessa that Spencer had come to some kind of decision. The kind that he would see through no matter who didn't like it, no matter who got run over by it.
It was a trait of bull headed stubbornness par excellence, that ran through the bloodlines of both Reid Dumbarton names, she thought.
"Okay! So you might as well hit me with the rest of the plan wriggling about in that grey matter..hmm?" she replied calmly. While praying that this plan wasn't going to be too convoluted.
A prayer that became a novena at his wicked grin.
CHAPTER EIGHT
BAU Bullpen (same Friday as previous chapter) 1530hrs
The case had been short and sweet.
Short as in three days later the moron of an Unsub was caught, and sweet in that his last two victims were now back with their families planning new futures.
So today was the time to get all their paperwork finalised and on Hotch's desk. Preferably before some snotty Assistant US Attorney pissed the former prosecutor off by constant phone calls.
Then of course there was the delight that waited in the never ending , multiplying buff folders with the intimidating FBI seal decorating their covers.
But the silence from and about their absent genius never left most of teams thoughts for long.
"Hey Morgan do you have any DFA11-11 forms? I've mucked this one up, and I really don't want to visit the `twilight zone` this late," Prentiss begged hopefully.
Morgan had to laugh. The twilight zone was the name Prentiss had coined for the long thin windowless room that smelled funny.
Everyone hated that room, but it held all the forms that kept their bureaucratic masters out of their hair.
"Sorry Princess I used my last one..You could always try in Pretty-boy's drawer. He always seems to have extra copies of everything in there," He stated with a laugh, while wondering how his friend was doing. Three days and no word. This wasn't good in his book.
"I don't think Reid would be too comfortable with me going through his stuff Morgan," Prentiss replied sadly, no point in hiding the truth any more
Nothing was the same any more, she mourned silently. She had known that Reid would be the worst affected when the story blew.
Trust was a big deal for the young doctor. It was a rare jewel. One that she had eventually gained for herself. Then Ian Doyle had appeared and everything went to hell.
She knew that Morgan was dealing with her return in his own way. And she was certainly willing to go through each and everyone of his gruelling workout and hand to hand sessions. If that's what it took to regain the report they had had.
But that route wouldn't work with the good doctor. And she had no idea what route would. To be honest she didn't think she would ever gain back that gentle relationship again. One reason being Reid wasn't the same person any more But then neither was she
Reid had worked with them all, since her return and had been polite and 100% professional.
But that was it.
Every social invitation was politely but adamantly refused. Even from Hotch or Rossi.
Every enquiry about anything outside of work was ignored.
And after the cooking lesson at Rossi's the wall got higher and no one knew why. Or how to get through the reinforced barriers.
At one very low point Prentiss had actually contemplated begging Garcia to intervene with Reid. As she seemed to be the only one he was the old Dr Reid around. Even around Morgan he was wary and alert,
but she hadn't
She didn't, because she sidnt want her bubbly emotional friend to be caught up in the war zone that was bristling between JJ and Reid.
Although she had to admit sadly that JJ had really pushed it by querying Reid's profiling skills.
XX You know what I think it is?
What?
You're mad that Hotch and I controlled our micro expressions at the
hospital, and YOU weren't able to detect our deceptions. XX
Bad enough to have said it anywhere, Emily conceded mentally, but to do so in a crowded police station with the full team and LEO's in attendance was unreal.
Reid's cold `Jennifer` had taken her breathe away never mind JJ's.
From then on it seemed JJ went out of her way to needle Reid when she knew he wouldn't return her barbs. Like in front of Garcia.
"Look don't worry about it. I'll look for you," Morgan offered with a wide smile hoping to shift some of the worry from Emily's face. It pained him to see his partner so unsure of herself
Their relationships both as team-mates and friends was damaged, but they had begun work on healing the wound. Slowly...but it was a start.
"Thanks Morgan..Hey doesn't Reid lock the drawers?" she asked in surprise as her friend took a seat at Reid's workstation.
"yeah he does," Morgan replied going through his keys to find the right one. "We swapped spare desk keys. Just in case you know?" he explained as he inserted the right one in the lock. "Just as well he didn't take it back," he muttered to himself .
Obviously not quietly enough.
"What?"
"Nothing"
"Derek Morgan! Give now," Prentiss demanded loudly, while not really sure she wanted to know.
Morgan silently cursed his big mouth and her big ears.
"Reid changed all his passwords and security protocols...and only Garcia has a new key to his apartment And that was only because Garcia swore to be the only one to use it. Not even Hotch or Strauss will get it off her unless there is an emergency."
"I really hate this Derek. I hate being the cause of all this turmoil and distrust."
Prentiss groaned thumping her head down onto her desk. She was just so tired physically, but emotionally too.
"Emily look at me...Please look at me," Morgan implored leaning across the desk toward her. He didn't want the whole bullpen to hear. This was their business. "Are Reid and I glad to have you back home safe? Yes without the smallest inkling of a doubt. Are we glad that Doyle and that Irish bitch are together in hell? Again Yes, 200% yes."
Morgan knew his next words would hurt Emily just as they had hurt Hotch, but they had to be said. And Reid wasn't here to say them...so it fell to him.
"That does not mean that Reid however is happy about how those he put his trust in, used his emotions against him and made decisions for him without his consent or knowledge...And I fall into that list too," he admitted sadly shaking his bald head accepting the sad truth of his own statement.
"Just now he is working on this part of his life. His life here at the BAU, as our colleague and team mate. And for now I don't think any of us has the right to ask for more of him," Morgan concluded his focus totally on the friend he thought he had let down, whom he thought he had lost for ever in some dingy Boston warehouse.
Emily listened to each word and took on-board the underlying message.
`its Reid's game. We are just going to have to be patient and see how the cards settle.`
"That is such a load of bulls##t Morgan," JJ spat out, interrupting the quiet moment of understanding between the other two. She had come up behind Morgan unnoticed by the others as they whispered. "He is acting like a petulant child. Poor Little Spencer, " she derided loudly causing surrounding agents to look up and frown at the unusually bitchy display from the former Communications liaison "If anyone else had acted the way he has Hotch would have kicked his ass out of the BAU by now. Its pathetic," She growled,
the venom spilling from the junior profilers lips shocked Emily into stunned silence. It had been just under a month since the blonde agent had been worrying that Spence hated her. When it had been obvious to em that he was dealing with some details about his mothers care in Vegas.
And yet later while on that same case in Durant, Reid hadn't been the petulant one. No that had fallen to JJ. Her attitude and petty actions concerning Reid had just plain sucked.
And then there had been the case before this one, where she had honestly believed Morgan was about to haul JJ out of the room by her hair. JJ had made a comment in front of some LEOs, that had been a poorly disguised dig at Reid's previous narcotic problem.
Although she had to give Reid props, when JJ voiced her little innuendo/come dig he had just stared at her like she was some interesting microbe under his microscope. Then casually turned the conversation back into more profitable channels, that in the end helped solve the case.
Which only seemed to piss JJ off more.
Emily found herself dragged back to the present situation by the ice cold tone in Derek Morgan's usually warm voice.
"Are you quite finished? ..Good!...One-this was a private conversation between myself and Emily. Not for public consumption."
Emily actually felt sorry for JJ, for that tone was deadly.
"Two- Doctor Reid has not brought up this matter with anyone on this team since just after Durant. And even then HE handled himself with total professionalism. No matter how badly he was provoked by a SUBORDANATE agent. And finally Three- If you have a complaint to make about SSA Dr Spencer Reid, agent Jareau I suggest you climb those stairs over there and take it up with Unit chief Hotchner, or take that door out and go see Section chief Strauss. Any of those to actions would be preferable to a grown woman throwing a tantrum in the middle of the bullpen...Now sorry em what was that form number again?" he asked throwing the stunned brunette a grin and totally ignoring the fuming blonde standing beside him.
Ahh!..DFA11-11" Emily provided, while trying to catch JJ's eyes. Hoping to somehow smooth over what had just occurred. But JJ just stood glaring at Morgan's bent head.
"Right lets see what my man has got in here..." He muttered to himself, fully aware of JJ stance and glare. But not giving her the satisfaction of returning he look.
Jennifer Jareau stood silently waiting for the apology Morgan owed her for the uncalled for rant she had just taken. But he didn't seem to realise that it was necessary. No the muscle bound baboon was trawling through Reid's drawer totally ignoring her presence. If he didn't have seniority on her she would have blasted his ears. What did he mean she was subordinate to Reid? She had ten years to his nine at the FBI. Couldn't the idiot even count? No matter he wouldn't be around for much longer. Seriously how many more teams was he gonna turn down to ride on Hotch's coattails, she mentally griped, before turning on her heel and storming away out into the main corridor.
Emily took in a deep deep breathe before whispering to her partner.
"That was Ice-cold Morgan. I thought we were trying to heal the rifts, not detonating nuclear warheads into them."
"There is no point in closing up a wound if the cause of the infection is still inside. I don't know, hell no one seems to know what has got her so worked up about Reid. Maybe its as simple as she never thought Reid would call her on the situation. Whatever it is Em I have had enough of her cr##, especially her unprovoked slurs in front of others." Morgan declared firmly. He really did wonder at what bug had changed his friend JJ into the harpy known as Jennifer. "Look lets get this paperwork done and get outta here sharp. I am sure I am hearing a long cool drink calling to us," he grinned at the thought but Emily read it for what it was. A change of subject.
"Right here we go..no,no,no...and we have a winner DFA11-11 as promised.." he crowed then fell silent his eyes still in the cavernous bottom drawer of Reid's desk.
"Morgan! Hey Morgan?"
"Yeah! Sorry Prentiss," he apologised handing over the requested forms and relocking Reid's desk. He took out the pad of Dr Who post-it notes that had appeared on his desk after his last birthday, and wrote on it.
`Owe u 2x DFA11-11. DM` then blu tacked the thing to his computer screen.
"Morgan are you okay?" Prentiss asked after the muscular man had slid back into his own seat.
"Hmm Yeah!..its nothing...I just...I didn't know Reid wrote music," he frowned at the thought of his injured friend. He really needed to know how he was.
"Music! Well I remember Rossi talking about him playing the piano with that young boy Sammy. But why do you think he writes...oh the drawer!" she exclaimed looking at the empty workspace. "Yet another hidden facet to our genius."
"Yeah I guess. Under the various forms, he's got blank composition sheets but others have music and words scribbled on them. The kids writing when he is lost in his head is appalling." Morgan laughed as he remembered how many times Hotch had been forced to get Reid to re-write out his initial case notes because no one else could decipher the damn things.
"Now that does surprise me. I would have thought he would have gone for classical or maybe jazz to compose. But I wouldn't have pegged him to write lyrics..then again to Reid I suppose it would be another method of poetry," Emily mused wondering if she would ever hear any of those pieces.
"Knowing our boy it will be for some new degree that he's working on," he replied with an honest grin.
Then the grin blossomed into a full blown smile at the entrance of Ms Penelope Garcia.
"Well Heeeellloo there BabyGirl. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" he teased softly. For what he said was nothing but the truth. Among the everyday dark uniforms of the BAU, Garcia was their bubbly bright anchor and his own God-given solace.
Garcia's face shone as she reached them.
"Oh my chocolate Adonis, I am a sight to bless any eyes," she challenged laughingly as she blew him kisses.
Emily couldn't help but laugh at their unending banter.
But inside she too gave thanks for the incredible woman called Penelope. For her ability to bring warmth and laughter to their Dark world.
Today Garcia was decked in mainly soft pastel shades, but with the little touches of Garcia magic that made eyes pop.
"Hey Pen just how many qualifications does our Doctor Reid actually have to his credit?" Emily asked knowing just how proud Garcia was of each and every achievement of her BabyGenius.
"As of now he has three Phd's in Mathematics, chemistry and Engineering, added to BA's in Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy. But he has applied to begin his BA's in History and English Lit next term," Garcia informed the whole bullpen, positively preening with pride.
Morgan chuckled at his silly Girls actions. It seemed to him that ,even if Reid wanted his accomplishments kept quiet, Garcia would just promote him herself. To anyone and everyone it seemed.
"So nothing to do with music?" Emily asked rather disappointed. She liked the thought of Reid finding escape through music. It somehow seemed to fit.
"Oh my yes!" Garcia exclaimed practically bouncing with each word. "He has been doing online courses in guitar, keyboard and composition in his spare time. But they are just for fun," she stated firmly, as if making a clear distinction between them and the formal qualifications.
"Spare time!? Where does he find enough spare time to do all this?" Morgan demanded. Finding himself once more in awe of the abilities of the brain of Dr Spencer Reid. But it was the kind heart and gentle soul of his friend that he loved most.
"Who?Find what now?" Rossi growled. His face partially hidden behind an enormous mug as he spoke.
Rossi and Hotch had just returned from a delightful meeting with Erin Strauss, so were in sore need of the caffeinated brew that was now dancing through their systems. Both had intended to return to their offices and get started, but their curiosity at the almost happy vibe surrounding their team mates made them detour over to the bunch.
"Oh hey man how did it go?" Morgan greeted the others, then laughed as Hotch rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"We were discussing Reid," Emily explained really not wanting to hear about that woman. "We were trying to figure out how he finds time to do all those classes."
"Are your referring to the Martial arts tuition?" Hotch , ever the lawyer wanted clarification. And to be honest he still hadn't got his head round the thought of Reid in a Dojo.
Morgan burst out laughing. "Yeah well I suppose that we should add that to the list of..BabyGirl?" he encouraged waving her on.
"BA courses in history and English Lit. Intermediate online courses in Guitar and keyboard, and Advanced in Composition," Penelope happily reiterated.
She was so proud of Spencer's achievements
They made her smile...for to her each one was proof of Spencer conquering each and every challenge thrown in his path.
A path that one day had brought him into her world.
Both their childhood's hadn't been the best and they were the `oddities` of the FBI rota. So they understood each other in a way the others just didn't get.
"When does he sleep?" Rossi exclaimed. "How many academic qualifications does he have right now?"
he understood that Reid was a genius, but why so many courses that wouldn't affect his career path. His question had been meant for Garcia, but his answer came surprisingly from Hotch.
"He has three Phd's the first earned when he was just 17. Mathematics, engineering and chemistry. Then he worked on his BA(hons) in Psychology and Sociology for his entry into the academy. Then he got his BA(hons) in philosophy just recently. He once told us on the jet, that he collected qualifications to annoy his father," Hotch concluded answering Rossi's unasked question.
Rossi found that quite amusing.
He hadn't like William Reid when he had met him, and nothing had occurred to change his opinion of the man.
"Well his old man should be right royally pissed off by now," He chuckled into his mug.
"I really do hope so," Garcia whispered to herself. She had found out so much more after that case had ended from Reid himself. When he turned up at her flat at 0300 in the morning. And she would keep his secret until he gave her permission. It would stay hidden in the darkest corner of her mind under a tarp tied with big chains and many padlocks.
"Anyhoo my doves I bring you tidings," she cried shaking off the darkness of her thoughts.
"Anew case?" Hotch demanded tiredly seeing his pizza and movie with Jack disappearing into the horizon.
"Oh no Sir,"Garcia assured him, even going as far as to grab his free hand and squeeze it. "It is not bad news, its good. Really Good,"she promised with a wide grin. "Okay my Hotstuff connect my BB to your Terminal as we are nearly all here...okay vids and that one." she instructed
Morgan followed he instructions wondering just what had got the technical whizz flying so high.
Then as he clicked...silence fell.
For there on the HD screen was a still picture of their absent team-mate.
Emily swallowed a gulp and took a deep breath to prevent a tear escaping.
Morgan suppressed the urge to scream YEEHa and kiss the living daylights out of Ms Penelope Garcia.
Rossi felt himself relax and then want to laugh. Was that boy never not surrounded by books. For there on the multi coloured throw lay books, magazines, books, scribbled pads and even more books.
Hotch stared at the picture, taking in each pixel and fixing it in his mind. Just in case they needed it he assured himself.
While another part of his brain stuck out its tongue at the lame logic of his reasoning.
Reid was propped up on a king-size four poster by some large multi coloured squishy cushions and covered by an old fashioned crocheted throw. His lank frame was clad in an emerald hoody and what looked to be black sweats.
His face although paler than normal, didn't look unhealthy for him.
But the best thing was the small relaxed half smile on the familiar face.
Morgan clicked play...
yes I know I am horrible..lol
One thing I should clear up. I am not the technically minded one in my family that crown is jointly held by my children [29+24] So please excuse any technical boobs as both are still recovering from New year over indulgences and unable to answer any of my questions..
Thanks for all the reviews and telling off s.
They hopefully will make me into a better teller of tales.
Peace.
2/2/13