"There," Garcia said as she closed the oven door to heat up the curried chicken and brown rice casserole she'd brought for Reid.

"Thanks Garcia," Reid said, leaning against the L-shaped counter that separated the kitchen from his small dining area and living room. "You really didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to sweetcheeks. Now, I need to talk to you about Melanie and other things."

Reid groaned. "Do we really have to?"

Garcia tugged the jersey he wore, pulling him into the living room where she sat on the worn green sofa and patted the space beside her while the news could be heard softly in the background. "Yes, my gorgeous mass of grey matter, we do. First off, that woman cares for you… a lot."

"Garcia, I'm sure she just said…" Reid began before he was interrupted.

"She was just about in tears when she found out you were hurt and, I might not be a profiler, but I do know white knuckled anxiety when I see it." She told him.

"Well then, I totally don't unders…" Reid started to rise but Garcia pulled him back down by his good arm causing him to grimace in pain at the sudden jerking, "Jeez Garcia!"

"Then stay put until I'm finished with you." She admonished him. "She told me that was the best date she'd ever had."

Reid's eyes widened at this statement. "Then why did sh…" Garcia raised a hand to cut Reid off.

"She said it was completely her fault. She didn't go into it but maybe she's getting over a bad breakup or something. You don't know. She did stress that it wasn't you. So cheer up, there's hope for you two yet. She also told me about her suggestion that you come read to the children's group. I told her I thought it was inspired."

"Garcia how could you say that? You're talking about me and a bunch of little kids." Reid objected.

"Who better Reid? You can read them any kind of book from the Arabian Knights stories to Aladdin. You even know magic; and what about science fiction? You could get the little ones interested in rockets and outer space. You could be the Bill Nye of the library. What about physics magic? They'd enjoy that." Reid opened his mouth to speak. "And," she put up her hand before Reid could put voice to his thoughts. "It would be someplace you could take Henry. Give the newlyweds a little alone time on Saturday mornings. And it'll give you a chance to share one of the things you love most with Henry but he'll have other kids there as well so he won't be bored by a visit to the library. If you think about it you'll know that any way you look at it, it's perfect."

Reid was trying to think of an argument for her last statement but nothing would come; so much for being a genius. Damn, I hate when she's right.

Garcia rose from the couch to check on the casserole when the aroma of curry began to fill the room. "I asked the guy at the Indian market if there was something a little less aromatic and he made something up for me." She told him as she lifted the lid on the casserole dish.

"Probably used less fenugreek," Reid told her as he watched television where the newly sworn in Senator Hartley was speaking to the press.

"Those allegations were completely unfounded and the authorities found no evidence supporting that claim. People in my position, I speak of money and status, are often sought out by those seeking to gain from attempting to involve us in some wrongdoing. Fortunately it did not work out in this instance and the justice system this great country is built upon prevailed. That is all I'm going to say on the subject. Thank you." The senator quickly ran down the stairs of the Capitol building to a waiting limousine and drove off.

The scenes changed abruptly. A man, who the caption indicated was Eric Foster, stood in front of what Reid recognized was the library on Freemont Street. "The woman who accused Senator Hartley of rape also lives and works in DC. I attempted to speak to her earlier." Reid's mouth dropped as he saw Melanie coming out of the library. "Miss Webster," the newsman shoved a microphone in her face. "What are your thoughts on Troy Hartley, the man you accused of rape, being appointed the senator from Massachusetts?"

Melanie's body seemed to stiffen at the sound of the senator's name, and then sag. She looked as if she might literally fall over as all the color drained from her face. "I…I… What… uh… no… no comment." She turned and ran from the reporter.

Reid turned his head, his mouth still hanging open, to see that Garcia had come from the kitchen. They both looked at each other and then back at the screen. Garcia studied Reid as he took in the news, speechless.

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Reid paced back and forth in the small area in front of his coffee table. "I have to do something Garcia. You saw her. She looked like she was about to fall apart."

Garcia nodded. "I can only imagine what she's going through."

"That must be why she ended the evening so abruptly. She was fine at the coffee shop and the theater but when I asked her if she wanted to get something to eat, she balked and it seemed like she couldn't get away fast enough. That didn't jive with what you told me but now it makes sense. It was PTSD." Reid told her.

"That makes perfect sense," Garcia agreed.

"I have to do something Garcia. I've been there. I know what she's going through. I need to help her." He continued to pace.

"I think that's a great idea Reid."

"I should phone… no… I should go there and see her. She must be feeling pretty snake bitten about now."

"True…" Garcia began.

"No… maybe I shouldn't. I don't want to invade her space. A man did that to her before and look what happened. The bastard," he swore as he kept fisting and unfisting his right hand."

"She knows you're not like him Reid. She was afraid momentarily, a knee jerk reaction to the situation. Maybe she thought she could handle a date at last but found out the pain was still too much. I don't think that means she wouldn't want to see you."

He stopped pacing and looked at Garcia, "You think?"

"Yes," Garcia nodded.

"Okay, I'll go." He started for the door and then turned back looking sheepish. "Uh, I don't know where she lives. Garcia, could you…" his eyes pleaded.

"Who can resist those eyes?" She went to her large tote bag and pulled out her lap top. She opened it and her fingers moved over the keys at the speed of light. "Okay, there it is," she turned the screen toward him so he could read the information. "Now go, I'll deal with the casserole and I'll lock up before I leave. Can you drive with that sling?"

"I'll manage, thanks Garcia," Reid said as he reached into the drawer of the small table inside the entryway and extracted his firearm affixing it to the belt on his grey cords.

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Melanie scrunched her eyes closed at the sound of the buzzer. She wasn't answering the phone anymore. After numerous calls from the press for a statement, she'd unplugged the thing and was now curled in a ball on her sofa. "Go away," she yelled into the empty room. The buzzer, however, would not stop its incessantly annoying drone. She got up and marched angrily to her door and pushed the button on the intercom. "No comment, now go away and leave me alone." She released the button and headed back to the sofa when the buzzer sounded again. Both her hands curled into fists, "Aargh!" She stomped back to the machine again. "I said leave me alone or I'll…"

"It's Spencer," a voice shouted over hers. "Melanie, it's Spencer. Can I come up and talk to you, please?"

"Spencer, I've had a really bad day and I…"

"I know; I saw the news. I thought maybe I could help." The soft voice came through her speaker. "If you want to you can kick me out."

Reid heard the buzz and a click that released the door and raised his eyes heavenward. "Thank you," he whispered.

She answered the door after one knock. Reid hadn't quite been prepared for the Melanie that opened the door. Her eyes were red and puffy. There was no smile of greeting. Her usual clothes had been replaced by a pair of blue jeans with frayed hems and a hole at the left knee and a SPCA T shirt. Her tresses had been pulled back with an elastic band. She was barefoot.

She had been prepared for the sling but gasped when she saw his purple eye. She fought off the urge to reach out and touch it. "Your friend said you'd been hurt."

"That's not important right now. I saw the news," Reid said when she'd closed the door.

Melanie stood in front of him, her arms wrapped around herself, looking at the floor. "I don't want to talk about it." She walked over to the couch and curled in a ball again.

"I just wanted to see if I could help. I know what you're going through…"

Melanie's head shot up. "How could you possibly know what I'm going through? I was raped. I was violated in the most violent and degrading way. I'd been incapacitated so I couldn't even fight back. I went to the police like you're supposed to do but not enough evidence to charge him they said. So although I didn't do anything wrong; this whole thing was done to me." She pointed to herself with her finger. "And he gets to walk around free and I'm left with the aftermath." Tears began to fall down her cheeks. "So, thanks but you couldn't possibly know how I feel."

What do I say to that? Should I tell her? What if she hates me afterward? You came here to help her you idiot, so help her. Show her you're not just paying lip service to her feelings. Show her you're not like Troy Hartley. Whatever comes after that will be and you'll have to accept that.

Reid took a seat at the far end of the couch from Melanie. "A few years ago we had a case in Georgia…"