"Knight in Dry Cleaned Suit"

DISCLAIMER: Still, I don't own CM and its characters because if its mine, Erin would still be very much alive and she and Rossi are together and Spencer would be their son, so, Its not mine. I'm so sorry for the delayed update again, this chapter has been longer than I really planned but well, I had so much fun writing the part of Spencer and Erin, I really like making their relationship into mother-son thingy. Again thank you for those who reviewed the past chapters like eternal vampire, JenTWCSIFAN, Sue1313, guest reader and alyx Here we go, enjoy and let me know what you think okays?

The following morning started early for Reid who got up extra early due to Rossi's snoring and the constant ringing of his phone it was the staff of the hospital where his mother was admitted informing him that she has been doing pretty well for a whole week without her anti-depressants, it was good news but not really at the right time. He quickly showered and hope to God that the hotel restaurant is already open at 4:30 in the morning, Reid gave one last look at Rossi who lay under the thick duvet comfortably, oblivious of the distress that his snoring caused. Reid opted to take the stairs to spend some more time with the thought that perhaps a couple or more minutes delay would be enough for him to find the restaurant open, his veins is screaming caffeine and his eyes are demanding more sleep, he can only give to either and at the moment coffee is much more needed. The other night during dinner Strauss announced that the next activity is target shooting in the CIA range, he squirmed in his seat remembering that 3 weeks ago he failed his shooting test so his license to carry gun is provoked until further promissory allowance from the director is released, he knew Rossi is aware of this together with the whole team, but the sympathetic look that Strauss has been giving him, it also tells that she know, he can only hope that only one participant of each delegate would be asked to participate the "activity". Spencer took the remaining descending steps of the stairs and purposefully strode in the lobby towards the restaurant, he coincidentally bumped into a smart dressed in a black suit a very fresh looking but pissed Section Chief Erin Strauss, Erin cursed under her breath for the tardiness of the restaurant staff's she wanted to have coffee before her begins, she frowned as she turned her heel back to the lobby but along the hallway she met Spencer Reid who looks to be having the same purpose as she had just a while ago, her frown ceases into a bright smile, unexplainably she feels comfortable with the young doctor.

"Good morning Spencer"

She piped in a good natured way with her first smile of the day at 4:45 in the morning which is almost an extinct trait of her.

"Morning Ma'am, errmm I mean Erin, I was about to get some coffee"

Reid obviously forgot that he and Erin are in some sort of first name basis, at first calling her anything more than Ma'am feels awkward till the words rolled in his tongue and came out natural, almost warm and he smiled.

"I've been in there, apparently they are not early birds like ourselves, come with me we'll head out and look for some coffee shop, I f it's okay with you."

"Yeah it's okay, I mean its cool.."

Erin smiled at Spencer's choice of words, "cool" it sounds like something her youngest daughter Lauren would say, it's so youthful, sometimes Erin and the rest of the world forgets that Spencer despite his unbelievable IQ is still 26.

"I'll have a double espresso and a frappucino for the gentleman"

Reid looked on as Erin gave her order to the young waitress; he realized she's not so bad to be with like the team makes her to be. He watch her smile to the waitress a sincere smile and the waitress smiled to Reid before she left.

"How did you know I like Frappe Erin? If you don't mind me asking."

"Believe it or not Spencer but you remind me so much of my youngest daughter Laurie"

"I hope that's because Lauren is a chemistry genius and not because you think I'm like a girl."

Erin looked at Spencer unbelieving, she can't believe that He knows her daughter is a chemistry genius, which is true by the way but only too little people know this.

"You know my Lauren? I can't believe it! How?"

"We've meet a couple of times in chemistry forums and we actually worked on the same chem. Experiment for Harvard research institute 2 years ago, I knew she was your daughter because she looks a lot like you and well, she's hard to negotiate with, and she knows I'm your agent but we never mentioned anything to each other."

Erin raised her eyebrows but the quirk up in the side of her mouth betrayed her purpose.

"I wont read too deep in that hard to negotiate part, but tell me, why would you say that I would thing that you're like a girl?"

Reid huffed and pressed his eyes which feel like they are falling from their sockets from lack of sleep.

"Well, Rossi always tells me that I'm like a girl."

"Oh Spencer, don't mind David and his dry wit. He's just being an ass like he always does. He really cares for you, you know."

"Yeah I know that, I just wish his caring doesn't always come with taunts and sarcasm."

"That is close to hoping that CIA be ruled by nuns."

They laughed together with an honest to goodness gut wrenching laugh, none of them noticed that light outside is starting to spread and the sky that once was dark is now of shade of light blue. The waitress came back with their coffees and a smile.

"Thank you, but we didn't order these pretzels"

Erin pointed at the two salted pretzels that sat in the tray together with their coffee.

"That's on the house Ma'am, I must have mention something to my father over there who owns this place, he said its always nice to have a mother and son tandem as first costumers, say's its lucky."

Spencer worried that Erin might get offended by the misunderstanding, he was about to correct the girl but Erin smiled at her and said her thank you in a very pleased manner.

The sun broke and gave illusions of a very good weather for the day, agents from different departments and agency are either on the range showing off or sitting on the bleachers drinking tea or coffee, Erin and Spencer sat on the bleachers waiting for the formal opening of the ceremony when David strode from across the field like the celebrity that he is, savoring the giddy whispers of young female agents and the jealous glances of the other men who thinks that they would never look quite as good as him.

"Good to know that my colleagues are willing to leave me alone."

His eyes averted specially towards Reid who looked as guilty as a child caught not eating his peas.

"It's not his fault that you sleep like a hibernating polar bear David"

"Oh good morning Erin, I didn't see you there. Wait, were out together?"

"Uh yeah, Rossi. Chief Strauss and I had coffee"

"Oh yes, I forgot your buddy's now."

David winked slyly at Strauss who only raised her eyebrows in disgust but secretly willing herself to stop admiring how good he really looks with his midnight blue suit, it is true that he only looked better with age, like damn fine wine. She shook herself from her reverie and concentrated on the ceremony. Two participants were asked from each delegates for the firing activity, Reid looked bothered and anxious but Erin stood up as Dave lent his hand to assist her to stand up, The younger agents both from CIA and FBI who didn't knew any better thought it funny that Chief Strauss from BAU, the great pencil pusher presented as volunteer, but those like Kaminski and McGee who knew the real deal is somehow bothered that Erin Strauss could hand them their asses in front of everyone, she hasn't been in the field for so lone but someone as good shot as she is, never forgets. Dave and Erin knew they have to cover up for Spencer or else he would be made the laughing stock of everyone if they knew is license is provoked. After Dave "showed off", he sauntered towards Senator Palmers who looks like he's very sure that Erin would fail this and leaned to him

"Watch her Chad, ain't no one in the field like her then, more so now."

Erin held the gun with one hand.

"She's crazy, she'd hit nothing or break her arm."

McGee smiled towards his minions and to Palmers but the look in David Rossi's face made him doubt his own statement.

Erin let out a breath as she squeezed the trigger and hit the same target 5 times making no other holes but one, the rest of the 4 bullets went through the same hole as the first, no excess.

Cat calls and whistles surrounded the field, Reid stood up with pride from the bleachers as he clapped as loud as he can, he can't believe how clean of a shot Erin is.

Erin and Dave stood with Reid in the field not far away from the firing range

"Wow, congratulations you were such a good shot Erin"

Reid almost whispering her name in case anyone would accuse him of insubordination

"Thank you Spencer, perhaps when we'd return I can give you some tricks."

"Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course"

David smiled at how close Reid and Erin became during the forum and he knew the relationship would do them both good, he left the two to go to Palmers and McGee in the firing range to add insult to the injury of their over inflated ego's. But his Italian temper stirred when he heard McGee

"That bitch, its not that hard to shot with one hand you know,"

He squeezed the trigger with one hand. Things happened in such a blur. The impact of the gun in McGee's hand sent it pointing towards and the ripples of muscle shock in his arms made his fingers squeeze again pointing where Spencer and Erin were standing, David Rossi's heart leapt out to this throat as he saw Erin pushed Reid out of the range of shot and another uncontrolled

*BANG!*

Rang through their eyes, the world stopped as David pushed everyone out of his way as he ran towards Erin who lay sprawled in the ground with blood seeping out from her wound from somewhere in her back.

"Erin? Bella look at me, you're okay, you're okay."

Erin pushed David's hand from her face,

"Spencer, Dave…Go! Go to him, see if he's fine."

Reid who is not much damage other than the bad fall he garnered from Erin who pushed him roughly to the side, crawled towards Erin.

"I'm here Erin I'm fine"

Dave looked around to the curious faces around them

"Why are you moron's staring? Has anyone called the medics? And where is that stupid bastard McGee?"

David is really out of his wits now, ready to tear Phil McGee into pieces, the fear in his heart when he saw the gun pointed at Reid was unbelievable there was a dull pain that tugs his every muscle fearing for the worst but when Erin pushed Spencer and took his place, his heart stopped all together, someone better run and hide.

The medics came no less than 5 minutes and wheeled Erin to the ambulance, Reid insisted on riding with Erin and Dave chose to stay, he has business to finish he said, Erin behind the oxygen mask just rolled her eyes.

"Erin, thank you for saving my life"

Spencer squeezed her hands, the one that he has been holding from the start, he wanted to hold both hands but the medics warn him not to because her left shoulder blade was the one shot.

"Anytime kid."

"This is funny, you're like the knight and I'm the damsel"

Erin laughed but she winced as soon as she did, the wound did hurt like hell. But everyone in the ambulance smiled at Spencer's joke.

TBC