CONSEQUENCES FALL 6
Yeah I am still breathing...just a slip on ice and my carpal tunnel made it pretty much impossible for me to write. By longhand or type.
So I have pretty much finished this tale in my head.
Now I have to translate it onto paper/screen.
Enough of my clumsy stupidity...on with the story.
CHAPTER TEN
[Monday 1830]
Spencer Reid scribbled manically on the large yellow legal pad that was propped up against his bent legs.
He only took a significant break when his train of thought was disturbed by a feline or canine paw intruding onto his page.
He wondered if his Maman had trained them to do that or if they were just spoiled. He decided on the latter ,as Odin the large black cat lying beside him once again extended his leg out over the page to gain his attention.
"You really are a spoiled beast Odin," he muttered as he put down his pen to scratch the infernal nuciences chin. Odin just stared at him complacently then rolled over onto his back. "Oh so you want a belly rub too pest?" Reid questioned even as the cat purred loudly at his gentle ministrations.
"Spoiled." he laughed to himself but didn't stop rubbing.
He smiled as Odin moved slightly so he would rub the perfect spot on tummy.
When he had first visited Alessa here, she had only introduced him to Cerridwin the large German shepherd. Who was currently dreaming at the bottom of his bed. But gradually he had been introduced to the menagerie that made up the families homes.
Zani had a Boa called Lobster and a Rose-back tarantula called Penguin. As well as a tank with two bearded dragon Lizards. One called Koz and the other names Mos. It had taken him quite a long time to get used to Zani's pets.
Jayden's pets were all Cats. And not one of them had a breed.
Like Odin ,all his cats came from animal shelters or cardboard boxes in dirty alley's. At last count he had five, but Spencer was sure the little Ginger female was pregnant.
Maman would throw a fit at that...so he was staying quiet on the subject.
Then there came the four Uncles who lived in houses dotted around the massive estate. Between them the had Irish wolfhounds, Newfoundland,s ,cats and the odd reptile.
It was safe to say the Reid effect had been overpowered by number and lots of treats.
Spencer picked up his pad again as Odin had got bored and went exploring the nooks and crannies of the room.
He quickly ran through his notes and scribbled additions to them or scored out those that made no sense.
After discussing his goals with Alessa for over three hours his brain had gone into overdrive with idea's asinine and brilliant.
Alessa had left him to it knowing at this point any arguments or advice she had to contribute would be lost in the intellectual hurricane that was Spencer Reid's head.
She was satisfied enough with his answers to some really nasty, personal questions to agree to listen to his plan when it was formulated.
Spencer knew she was worried about him. Not only physically but emotionally. She understood what he wanted and what would have to occur for him to get it.
And she really did want him to get whatever he wanted.
She just didn't want him to loose himself to achieve it.
Spencer Reid was not by nature a political animal, not even a social one really. He liked his small close nit family and friends.
But to achieve these goals, he was going to have to play that role.
Pulling strings, calling favours, manipulating events from behind the scenes.
Which he admitted, did smell slightly of the odour of corruption and the old-boy network.
His first goal was easy. Get well.
He would need to be beyond fit to handle goal two.
Goal two was a doozy. Even he knew that.
He needed to find out the ins and outs of the deal surrounding Emily's death.
Find out just who was pulling strings and why?
Goal three was the one that stopped his breathe, but if he wanted to go home he didn't see any way round it.
Find out just who he could trust in the Team. The ones he couldn't, well he would just profile their asses and plan their departure from the BAU..or even the FBI.
And when he was finished he'd spend 24hours in a steaming hot shower to remove the stink from his flesh...from his soul. Then get stinking drunk.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BAU Office 0745 [Tuesday]
the underlying energy that coursed through the building was rising as each agent arrived one by one to start their day.
But on one floor the energy spiked suddenly on the opening of the elevator doors
"Oh come on BabyGirl that is just not fair," the upset male voice stated as he and his companion exited onto the floor that held the offices of the BAU.
Penelope Garcia the technical wunderkind of their unit just ignored the petulant tone and quickly walked into her domain and slammed the door behind her.
Derek Morgan stood dumbfounded at the situation he now found himself in.
"Damn She is evil," he muttered as he pushed open the frosted glass door.
Yesterday both Hotch and his BabyGirl had demanded a full explanation of the 'war' between JJ and Reid from him and Emily
Out of the two Garcia was the one that worried him .
Their Boss man, Aaron Hotchner was a straight talking guy ...well 85% of the time anyway. The most he could do was shoot him or fire him.
Penelope Garcia however ,could mercilessly play with his life on every freaking level- Financially [she could wipe out his pension in micro seconds] Professionally [rumours upon rumours] Mentally [his BabyGirl knew all his secrets] and most importantly emotionally.
Yeah his Sweet Lady held his beating heart in the palm of her soft hand.
"And if I don't figure this out. Her long purple nails are gonna shred it," He muttered as he threw himself into his desk chair. "How the hell do I do this?"
The day was proceeding on track with mounds of paperwork and phone consultations keeping everyone busy. Beta team was absent from the bullpen, as they had flown out to Delaware to deal with a suspected serial poisoner
.
So the bullpen was marginally less chaotic than normal, but still humming along.
0947hrs
Aaron Hotchner's dark eyes watched the flow of interactions through the blinds of his office as he sipped at his coffee. The good stuff Rossi had brewed in the conference room pot.
' If everyone gets this it will be done in a day. And I have no idea where Reid gets it or even the name of the blend.' Rossi explained defending his actions with a cocky grin.
Aaron had to agree as he sipped the brew, that Rossi was correct. This nectar would be gone too soon if everyone got some. Reid obviously meant it for the team when he mentioned it. And it went well with the White chocolate cookies Garcia had presented him with earlier.
He watched as Prentiss and Morgan chatted sporadically as they worked through their assigned piles. It was obvious to him that their relationship was still fragile, but under repair.
Yeah it looked to him like those two were starting to heal their rifts.
When Garcia appeared into view with more files .Morgan must have grumbled.
For the brightly dressed Technical analyst dumped them all on his desk and with a dazzling smile walked away.
Prentiss couldn't hold in the laughter at the shocked look on Morgan's face.
He had to admit it brought a smile to his face too. But then Garcia had that talent for bringing sunshine into darkness. And he thanked God for it every single day.
Prentiss patted Morgan's back with fake commiseration about his extended workload. Then with a giggle took some off the top of his towering pile of files.
Morgan shook his head at his Baby Girls antics then returned Prentiss' smile.
Although this little show JJ had not said one word to either Morgan or Prentiss.
Which worried him immensely .
He understood the fracture between JJ and Morgan. Morgan had not been gentle in his condemnation of her conduct and attitude to Reid when they had talked yesterday. He had made no secret about his feelings about his and JJ actions but this was something new. Had he been blind to this on purpose he wondered.
But this distancing from Prentiss was odd.
JJ had spent hours playing Emily at online scrabble while she was away. Just to keep a connection with her 'dead' friend.
Now every invitation Prentiss issued to join in the conversation were being turned down. With a sweet smile and a word or two. But still turned down flat.
What is going on with you JJ? Talk to us, he silently asked.
His musings were disturbed by a brisk knock on his office door. He had been expecting it.
"Come in Dave," he called moving to sit behind his desk. After all the old dog had probably profiled that quirk years ago.
David Rossi entered with a box and a large mug full of the good stuff.
Aaron couldn't contain the slight upward twitch to his lips when he recognised the birthday gift from Garcia.
The gifts were always unique, fun and usually embarrassing as hell.
Rossi's mug was a prime example.
It was Dark purple with a yellow Wanted poster on the side. The wanted in question was one SSA David Rossi for being a Player par excellence
"don't even start with me Aaron," Rossi instructed seeing the younger man's expression. "If I don't use the damn thing I,ll get waterworks...and probably a decimated stock portfolio."
"At the very least," replied quite seriously.
"F##k you Aaron. After the tonne of crap that landed on Morgan last night. I am not taking any chances of upsetting our Tech-Goddess."
Aaron had to agree about that. He had felt slightly bad for the younger agent having to deal with Garcia throwing a blue fit, then howling into his chest.
"I am sure Morgan can handle it...hopefully. What's in the box?"
"No idea. Garcia just gave me them for you," Rossi informed him as he handed over the small cardboard box covered in pictures of coffee cups.
It was the sort of thing, he would have thought Garcia saved for Reid.
He opened it carefully not wanting to damage it.
Inside he found four cookies two White, two Dark and a scribbled note.
*DON'T TELL MORGAN. X *
Hotch smiled and passed the two dark cookies over to Rossi.
"So what did you get from your little observation?...I saw you when I was getting coffee."
Aaron nodded as he munched on his cookie. They really were very good. Reminded him of his Grandma's. Yum!
"Morgan and Prentiss are handling their own repairs. And seem to be moving slowly, but they are healing. Garcia and Prentiss are doing that girl thing that I never ever understood, and probably never will."Aaron informed his friend with a slight frown.
"Girl Thing? elaborate please?"
"You know go to a spa, max out your credit card on shopping and get tipsy on wine. I have no idea how it works, but Haley and Jess did it every time they had a bust up."
"And that works?" Rossi sounded flabbergasted.
How has he been married three times and not cottoned on to this, Hotch thought. But then again that might be the reason he's been married three times.
"Seems too," he replied through cookie crumbles.
Which Rossi thought made him look about ten.
"So big $64000 question?"
"What's going on with JJ and Reid?."
"Actually I think we should leave Reid out of this for now," Rossi declared leaning forward onto the dark polished wood.
"Explain?" Hotch demanded in a very low voice. Where was Rossi going with this, he wondered.
"Aaron its no secret when I met that kid ,he totally freaked me out. There I was in a new situation. With a personal agenda. Wondering if I had made the right decision. When 'Bam!' I am hit with this babbling child whose read every word I have ever written. And can recite it back to me verbatim.
And understands that there are some Big omissions in my time line...and has the gall to call me on them." Rossi shook his head thinking back to meeting Reid. Who stood there babbling with a noose round his neck from the minute they met.
"Omissions?" Hotch queried very surprised at Rossi's statement. The older man was very particular in having his research done before putting pen to paper. Or finger to laptop.
"Wrong word. I kinda glanced over Waco and Ruby Ridge." Rossi explained then looked at the other man in shock.
"I'm sorry," Hotch got out as he almost choked on his cookie. "Reid would notice them. He has read every file on those events. And I do mean every file."
"But some of them are.."
" classified, yeah I know. Gideon got them for him. I think he wanted a genius perspective on the events. ""Oh hell I don't know if I want to hear this," Rossi groaned his hands over his bearded face.
"Trust me you do," Hotch said quietly. "Gideon pulled me into his office to listen to Reid's `report `if you like. Basically although there were mistakes made, they were at organisation level not by any one individual. He also reminded us that those lessons had been implemented. To hopefully impeded it ever happening again. But with the data you had and the strategies in place he didn't see how it could have gone down any different."
Rossi breathed deeply taking in his friends words.
No one had walked away from those incidents the same. For him it had started him thinking about leaving. To see all those life's lost...on both sides. Well he still saw it all in his nightmares. Much too often.
It shouldn't mean so much that one scrawny kid with a big brain didn't think he was a murderer. But he had to admit it did. Maybe when the kid came back they would have that talk.
"He never said," Rossi muttered quietly. "You know every time I profile that kid...don't pull that face Aaron. We cant stop it. Any of us...we all do it consciously or unconsciously. I did it consciously after meeting William Reid."
Rossi shook his head is disgust , which was mirrored in Hotch's dark glare.
"I have never had that pleasure...for which I am thankful," Aaron spat out quietly. "The thought of a ten year old Spencer having to take care of a paranoid schizophrenic, get an education and avoid the bullies. ...its probably best if we never meet.
Rossi nods and takes a drink of coffee, then sighs.
"You know Aaron I don't think I would have had the balls to go look under that stone. If it had been my old man that I thought had killed a kid...I don't know if I could have looked into it."
Aaron nods in agreement thinking of the times that stubborn need for the truth had involved Reid reaching for that inner strength.
"That's what Reid does Dave He might look fragile, but there is an inner strength. That most people overlook and he doesn't advertise."
Rossi felt his heart rate quicken, they were now where they needed to be. If they were going to fix the team dynamic he couldn't be in the dark any more
If there was going to be trust it had to be 100% or it was worthless in this job.
"He would have had to be to get free of a dilaudid addiction, especially with the physical and emotional trauma he suffered. ..I've read the files Aaron. I've heard him threaten EMTs if they go to give him pain meds. I am not stupid."
Silence fell, while Hotch silently cursed Rossi for being a nosey bas###d.
They stared at each other, both knowing they were at a crossroads.
Aaron took several deep breathes. Even after all this time had passed the Georgia case still had the power to hurt him.
"I would say it would take an exceptionally strong willed person to pull themselves out of that hole. And an even stronger one to continue on in the type of work we do," He stated quietly, while his mind presented him with a sorry image.
*FLASHBACK
It was just after ten and He was considering going to bed. Not a very tempting idea but as Haley and Jack were at Haley's parents for the weekend staying up wasnt fun either.
When he heard the soft knock on the front door he grabbed his glock before opening it.
The pitiful sight before him broke his heart.
Spencer Reid one of the most intelligent men he had ever met stood crying hopelessly in the pouring rain, wearing only a pair of sweats and a thin jacket over a translusent t-shirt.
Without a thought he pulled the skinny youth into his home, into his embrace.
"it hurts Hotch...I don't want this...but I am so tired..please" Reid sobbed into his bosses shoulder.
Hotch pulled away so he could see the boys eyes. "How long?"
"about two hours..AAh! Hotch it hurts so bad...I'm sorry..I'm sorry ..please don't be mad." Reid gasped out as he doubled over in Hotch,s hallway. The cramps running through his body completely beyond his control.
"Come sit down till I get my car keys. Its okay Reid we'll get you to the ER." Aaron promised softly as he carried the shaking man to his couch.
But his soft words had the opposite effect they were meant to. Spencer s fear provided him with enough energy to grab onto Hotch,s leg as he straightened up.
"NO Hotch no...please Hotch I can do it...don't want to loose my family...loose you...Please Hotch Please Please."
Hotchner had read up on Hydromorphine, not letting himself acknowledge the reason why.
He knew Reid trusted him, that was why he'd come here tonight. The withdrawal was relatively brief but very intense and painful. If anything went wrong though... His thoughts jumped from one thing to another in his worry.
"Spencer.."
"Please Hotch please...I can do it."
Hotch stared into the red lidded eyes that had once shone so brightly, and saw a determination he wouldn't have believed could dwell within this shattered shell.
"Please Hotch I promise I,ll be good,"Reid sobbed once more clutching tightly to Hotch,s leg. "Promise...be good."
Hotch placed his hand on the boys straggly wet hair.
Could he really be the cause of him loosing the only family he had. Yes it was against every rule, but dammit he didn't want to loose Spencer either.
"Okay Spencer calm down" he instructed quietly. " We aren't going to the ER...but if we are going to do this- MY WORD IS LAW." he declared as he lifted the far too light body up into his arms.
Reid looked at curiously athim for a moment from his position lying prone in his bosses arms.
"Isn't it always?" he asked seriously before another cramp of pain rushed through his body.
END FB
Rossi's musing pulled him back to the present.
"I knew an agent like that a long time ago. His poison was Jack Daniels and amphetamines. And he was a mean son of a bitch when he was on a tear. How the hell he kept it together on the job..phff! I have no idea. But everything else in his life was slowly disintegrating. His salvation came in the form of one of his kids asthma attacks. He was too drunk to drive to the hospital, and had to sit and listen to her gasping for breathe till the EMTs got there. I'm willing to bet he still attends his `club` every week...wonder if he'll go more often now he's retiring in...about 60 days"
Not many things surprised Aaron Hotchner any more, for good or bad. But he would admit if only to himself that being told- if only indirectly- that Director John E Carentine, the boss of bosses was a recovering addict was a kick in the head.
But surprisingly it was another random thought that had Hotch biting his hand to muffle the hysterical laughter that was bubbling up in his chest.
The insanity of his thoughts plus the What-the-hell look on Rossi's face weren't making it easy at all.
After a few moments he had calmed down enough to look at the confused Italian.
"You wanna share or should I just phone the Psych ward?" Rossi grumbled not liking being outside the joke.
"I'm sorry Dave I must be more tired than I thought. It was just the thought of all the wasted time I spent worrying about the brass finding out about Reid. And here it comes out, that the Man was fully cognisant of the whole situation. Damit he is probably Reids sponser." Hotch explained to his friend , while suppressing the desire to chortle loudly once again.
David could see the funny side of that and let out a warm chuckle of his own.
But he also knew someone who would be furious if told of Reid's connections in the higher echelons of the FBI. For that gave Reid access to the political allies Strauss wanted. For Erin didn't make friends she collected allies.
"Just makesure that Strauss never finds out. Shed try and take him as far away from you as possible, immmediately." Rossi instructed with a grimace. How had that pretty girl turned into the iron-bitch she was now, he wondered. And what part did he have to play in that transformation.
"...because she would see Reid's connection to Carentine as something I could use ...Politically speaking." hotch sighed catching on to the other mans thoughts.
"retired or not John's opinion matters to those who make protocol. He is a very smart man Aaron, and I have no doubt that he has asked for Reid's input regarding policy..." Rossi continued, smiling at the thought of the long diatribes Carentine would have had to listen to. Nothing was ever Yes or No with the young Genius.
"So if Strauss thought that Reid could give a negative picture of her actions.."
"Believe me Aaron, if Reid has Carentine's ear then he potenially could cripple her ambitions within the bureau. And politically too." Rossi stated thinking how odd it was that the least politically minded person he had ever met. Held this much clout.
"Or mine...No Dave I know he wouldnt," Hotch insisted seeing the black thundercloud emerging from the older mans face. "Reid how ever pissed off at me. Would tell me first. He wouldnt stab me in the back..Thats just not who he is."he declared confidently.
"Aaron I agree that I dont believe he would do that to you...to anyone others dont know that. Also ,I think we both have to acknowlege that Spencer Reid is going to be changed by this mess. John is right. Reid could walk out of those doors and by the time he hit the parking lot he'd be in another job. His talents leave his career path wide open. T he fact that he took a sabbatical while Emily was dead tells me he is quite capable of walking away from the job...if not all of us."
before Hotch could comment a knock on the door silenced him.
"come in," he instructed his voice calm and autorative. Not showing an inkling of the shudder of fear that had run through him at Rossi's words.
Would Reid really leave the BAU?
Garcia entered but not at her normally perky pace. Which her next words explained.
"Strauss handed me this file, and instructed me to inform the garage that you we would need two SUVs in an hour." she practically growled handing the FBI file to her bossman.
"Typical Strauss manouver," Rossi chuckled. " Dont let her upset your day kitten."
Garcia didnt want to smile, but that little nickname always had that effect. And that dratted man knew it. Profilers just sucked!
Hotch just shook his head at Rossi. The man could not stop flirting if his life depended on it. At first glance he couldnt see what strauss was in a an all powering hurry about. Then one of the names hit home...the daughter of a congressman. Someone headed for the Senate...a political ally of Strauss'
Hotch sighed. This investigation was going to be conducted under a magnifying glass. Drat that woman!
"Okay Garcia call the Team to the conference room in 10mins. And do your magic with this," he instructed gently as he handed the file back to their Technical Goddess.
Blast, she though they were both trying to make her smile. When she really wanted to hit Strauss with a large external hard drive.
"Very good sir," she said giving in and smiling brightly. "But for your information ...I still want to sink her portfolio." she stated as she exited the office door.
"You know I think Morgan is a very brave man for taking her on," Hotch said very quietly. Just in case the Mistress of all Knowleddge had bugged his office.
"I just hope he knows that this is it. He tries to get out of this and she will make our worst UnSub look like the Easter Bunny." Rossi stated with an enormous grin.
"You like watching train wrecks too dont you?" Hotch stated as he pushed back his chair.
"what can I say," the michievous bearded man got up and moved toward the door. "Coffee?"
aaron straightened his tie and jacket as he to walked to the door.
"Oh god yes! I am going to need it with this case."
1225hrs Washing DC metro police station.
Two hours later they were knee deep in the reports that surrounded this case. One that should have come to light weeks ago. But which hadnt until the victims became visable.
Prentiss hated that some some cops still treated the working girls as if their life's didnt matter. She had seen it before, but it still pissed her off.
But as she went over the scant information they had about these girls, part of her brain was thinking about the brush off JJ had given her earlier.
They used to be so close, even when she had returned JJ had been there for her. But now she was definetly pulling away.
She had tried earlier to talk to JJ about getting together with Garcia, maybe go to a Spa, few drinks, have a good girly talk over Ben &Jerry's.
But JJ had shut her down before she even got to the drinks.
It wasnt just an `not just now` kind of shut down either. It was a `never` shutdown.
But for now...the case came first, she declared mentally. Pushing JJ into that `later` cupboard hard.
Little did she know that Morgan had seen the little scenario and had fed it into his little notes, as he thought of his decision.
Fback
As they drove into DC proper, Morgan was still puzzling over how to do what his beautiful girlfriend had decided was his payback for not telling her everything.
Oh she understood, she said that it was done out of good intentions. That she realised he had done it to keep her `happy` and out of the `warzone`
But, she said, Omission was still a lie.
And lies had no place in their relationship. EVER
and he had to agree that that was true. Most Definetley.
And that was when his beautiful BabyGirl had turned into the Machevellian Goddess of Evil.
Penelope Garcia frustrated matchmaker extrodainaire had declare that he find out just what species of bug had crawled up JJ's ass and turned her into a vile Harpy. And exterminate it with extreme prejudice.
But as much as he wished to gain all those Brownie points from garcia and have peace reign once more at work. He couldnt think of a plausible way to do it.
Obstacle One, he thought. Although not as experienced as him JJ was still a profiler. So would read any tricks he could pull, to get information. And probably whine to Hotch about it. Not Good!
Obstacle Two. He was still pissed at her for the mess the team was in. Okay Hotchner had lied too. But he was trying to heal the rifts. JJ had made no attempt beyond the pitful `sorry` she had thrown Reid after throwing acid at his profiling skills. So any suddenly chummy advances would be totally false and come across that way.
Obstacle three. He didnt know this JJ. She wasnt at the DOD for long, but it was long enough to change who she was.
She was more confident and ambitious now. Which was fine by him. But a long with that had come a hardness and distance that had never been part of the compassionate JJ he aways known.
No, he had to admitt he was stumpped about how to do this.
He was a profiler, not a wizard, he thought. Then cringed inwardly as he realised he had just paraphrased Star Trek.
But wait a mo! He was a Profiler...the profile. Work the profile.
With JJ as the Unsub!?
{what about the no intra-team profiling? His angel questioned sternly, sounding just like his ma}
[Screw it...this is an Emergency! Stated his little red devil, who scarily sounded like Rossi. What you want him to loose his BabyGirl you looser?]
Its not like its going to go public, Morgan put in on the argument.
[Hell yeah!...Clever thinking my Boy. Thats do able]
{If Hotch...} at which point the devil duck taped the Angel and thru him in a ditch.
Morgan promised himself no more Dark movies for a while. His head was definitely getting weird on him.
But decision made.
Morgan was going to profile JJ also known as Jennifer Jareau or The Harpy.
EndFB
CHAPTER TWELVE.
Wednesday1430hrs Garcia's Technical Sanctuary
As Garcia processed through all the data that the team had been asking for.
She wondered if they were working double time to get home fast, so they wouldn't be under Strauss' beady eye. That woman really made her want to scream. Honestly you would think she would be glad of a team that made a unit under her purview look good. But nothing Aaron Hotchner's team did was good enough. Stupid woman!
Her musings and key strokes were interrupted by a knock at the door to her fortress.
Even though she knew she was in the middle of the FBI complex she still didn't like unexpected knocks at her door.
"Yes who is it?"
"Miss Garcia it's Agent Michaels." a warm voice replied. "A bouquet has been delivered...
Michaels took a step back as the door suddenly sprung open to expose the dramatic analyst.
"Oh My!" she cried on seeing the large bouquet the agent was holding in front of him. "Who's it from?"
Michael smiled at the absolute glee on the woman's face. And wondered why his girlfriend never reacted to his flowers like that. Maybe time for a change, he thought.
"There is a card somewhere in there. But I don't know. The mail room brought them into the Bullpen by mistake," he explained as she embrace the vase.
"Thank you very much Agent Michaels. Oh aren't they lovely?" she smiled turning back into her den, not expecting an answer.
Michaels did think she realised she hadn't closed the door behind her, as she started looking around her domain for the best place to put the blooms.
He smiled as he closed it for her. It was definite time for a change of girlfriend.
Agent Michaels was correct Garcia had realised about the door.
She was lost in finding the right place for her gift. One that looked good, but wouldn't damage her babies. Who were very sensitive to moisture.
"Okay we will put you over here for now," she decided placing the multi faceted vase on a small file cabinet in which she stored paper and computer supplies. The Paper was for Reid's arcane files, of course.
"Now lets have a look at the card," she muttered wondering which of the gentlemen in her life had earned brownie points.
Was it Rossi or her Boss man trying to cheer her up again after her encounter with Strauss the Grouse?
Or maybe her delicious Chocolate thunder god, trying to wheedle his way out of his assignment?
But as she looked at the bouquet again she took in its composition and she didn't think it was any of the above.
"Lets see 1,2,3..13 deep pink roses...that's..okay that's "Friends forever", she smiled as she checked the meanings online. " purple hyacinth...oh that's I am sorry. Whose sorry and for what? Okay iris...white iris...I have a message for you...Well that's good, maybe the card..Where is it?"
she gently moved the blooms aside to find the card. Instead she found a little purple drawstring bag attached carefully to the centre flower.
"Okay so I have to `read` the flowers first then the card," she muttered to her self. Unconsciously following the rules that applied in an online game she played. " So Eglantine rose...oh I don't like this...` I wound to heal.` please don't let this be some scary stalker I don't think I am up to that."
Just in case she put on the thin gloves she wore when she was working on the insides of her babies, and untied the purple ribbon.
Untieing the drawstring she took out a small picture card. It was a picture of an old British Telephone box standing on the corner of some London street.
Turning it over curiously she felt her tears well up as she read the words printed carefully in the middle.
#Your favourite Number Two pencil place. 191- DrW = mins#
"Spencer?" she whispered a bright smile illuminating her whole being.
Yeah I know I am a B###h!
In saying that, I am typing the next bit right now. So it should only be a couple of hours till its up.
Again sorry for the delay.
Peace.