Chapter Four
Blue and Yellow
The Used
"Palmer, we're landing." Riley was gently shaken awake by Rossi. The music was still playing but she quickly turned it off, but not before catching that it was something classical. Everyone else was gone but Rossi and Reid. She handed the device back to Reid with a quiet thank you and he just grinned in return and got off the plane. All of her files were back in place and she grabbed her bag and exited the plane.
"Sleeping Beauty awakens." Morgan joked when she joined them again. She felt her face flush as she laughed it off.
The ride to the ranger station would take a few hours so the team loaded up in a van and started the second leg of their trip. This mode of transportation suited Riley a lot better and she hoped to take this opportunity to get to know the team a little better. There was just one problem…she was socially awkward and had a terrible time starting conversations with people. Hotch took the driver's seat and Rossi got shotgun. J.J. and Reid piled in the back while Morgan and Riley took the two center seats. Once they were on the road, Rossi glanced back at Riley and said, "So, Palmer, what's your story? How'd you manage to get this case as your first field assignment?"
"Well, I was actually approved to go on field assignments last year but I admit I was unsure about it. When I first joined the FBI that's what I wanted. To work in the field. I was just waiting on the right time. When this case landed on my desk, I decided that this was it. This was the case I would put together and work." Riley looked down at the black case, the product of months of hard work.
"What does your family think about you suddenly taking a field assignment?" Morgan asked. He was fishing for information but Riley didn't mind. "Anybody back home worried about it?"
"My parents live abroad and I'm single if that's what you're asking." She smiled, showing him she was onto him. He chuckled in response.
"Got me. I was just wonderin' for my boy here." Morgan joked, jabbing his thumb in Reid's direction. The way that Reid stiffened and shifted Riley could tell he wasn't comfortable with that idea.
"Morgan…." J.J. warned, cutting her eyes at him and then back at Reid. She patted his hand reassuringly and Riley realized there was more going on here than she knew. One thing was for sure, she had her guard up for no reason. They may be profilers but none of them hid their own emotions. They all seemed very at easy with each other. Except maybe Hotch. He seemed to observe more than inject himself into conversation. Sure, he was intimidating but he didn't give her a bad feeling.
"Sorry kid." Morgan's face went serious and Riley knew that he was truly sorry for his statement. When Reid nodded to signal that he was ok, Morgan looked back at Riley. "So. What are you into Palmer? Sports, games, movies?"
"Actually I am probably one of the most athletically challenged people you know. I can roller skate, throw a football, hit a baseball, and that is pretty much the extent of it. I don't watch much TV, and I don't get out much to watch movies. I like movies, but I guess the issue is that I prefer not to go alone and I'm afraid I don't have many friends. I'm a bit of a Whovian and I have a lot of weird hobbies. Reading, sewing, writing, and all sorts of crafts. But I admit I have a hard time finishing things. It's like I cycle between interests and if I want to finish something I have to wait until the notion strikes again." Rile shrugged.
"Who's your favorite Doctor?" It was as if Reid couldn't help himself. He leaned forward in his seat and Morgan chuckled.
"Well, I prefer Ten. The other Doctors are fantastic but there's something about David Tennant. But I guess I'm a little bias since I loved his stage performances before he even became the Doctor."
And so it began. For two hours the team talked about everything from Doctor Who (which was mostly ramblings between Reid and Riley), to pets, and even some funny stories about pranks they had pulled on each other in the past. By the time they pulled over to stretch their legs at a gas station, Riley felt at home with them. Even felt like she was a part of the team. As if she had always known them.
"Ah, finally. I thought my legs were gunna fall off in there." Morgan jumped out and stretched his arms over his head as Reid arched his back, hands firmly placed behind his hips to aid in the movement. Hotch and Rossi went straight in, followed closely by J.J.. The gas station was pretty busy, being the only one for miles on this stretch of interstate. Reid and Riley were back on the subject of Who and Morgan was walking ahead of them. Another couple stepped out ahead of them and Riley almost ran into the woman. After a quick embarrassed apology, Riley started to talk to Reid again when they heard a voice behind them.
"Excuse me." Reid, Riley, and Morgan turned around. An older woman was standing there but she seemed surprised when the three turned toward her. She looked small and frail with pale eyes and dull blond hair. She looked around them to the couple who had just passed, her words seemed caught in her throat but she just smiled and spoke to Morgan, Reid, and Riley instead. "I'm sorry to bother you but my truck seems to have blown a tire a bit south of here and I need a little help to get the spare on."
"Do you need us to call someone for help?" Morgan flipped out his phone but she quickly held her hands up in protest.
"I'm afraid that won't do any good. My son is very ill so I am trying to drive to see him. I live in Lincoln Wyoming so I'm afraid any one of my relatives that could help me are too far away. Please, if I could just get one of you gentlemen to help me put the spare on?" Candace hoped that Riley would accompany them on the way. She needed her, or the plan would fall through.
"Well, I guess I could help. Reid, could you go tell Hotch to pick me up when you guys get done here?" Morgan looked at Reid, tucking his cell phone back in his pocket.
"I'll go. I mean, I've learned so much from Reid, maybe I can teach him something practical." Riley smiled and joked to Reid. At first Morgan wasn't sure. He looked at Reid, then Riley and with lips pursed he agreed.
"Fine. We'll meet you two in fifteen minutes. You hear me?" Morgan didn't want to let them go but looking again at the woman he saw no threat and made a slow jog into the store.
A few minutes later, Reid and Riley approached an old beat up truck. It wasn't far from the station but due to the terrain it was hard to see the team's van from here. Candace opened the passenger side door and said, "That tire tool is in here somewhere…"
"I'll find it for you." Riley volunteered and Candace gladly moved aside for her. "Reid, figure out which tire is blown please?" She assumed it was on the drivers rear since none of these seemed to be damaged. Then she leaned over into the truck to find the tire tool.
Without warning, Tucker rose up from the bed of the truck and put a thick arm around Reid's neck, pressing a chloroform soaked cloth to Reid's face with the other hand. In the same moment, Candace threw herself on Riley and pressed a rag to her face as well. Reid reached for his gun but the whole world was going hazy. From the corner of his eye he could see Riley struggling and he tried to speak her name but the sharp inhale only made him breathe in more of the chloroform. His head was spinning, and then everything went black.