Reverberations

Chapter 8

Please, no case. Please, no case. Please, no case.

The words were running through Reid's mind all day Friday. Please, no case. I have a date! And I have a lot to do to get ready.

JJ couldn't help smiling to herself as she watched him. He'd barely spoken to her all day, he was so preoccupied with making plans. Watching from Garcia's office, they both laughed to see Reid and Morgan with their heads together, and then a look of disbelief on Morgan's face.

"Uh-oh, JJ. Judging from Derek's reaction, I can only imagine what you're in for tomorrow."

JJ was protective. "Pen, whatever Spence has in store for us, I'm sure it will be wonderful… I hope." And then the two looked at each other and giggled.

They watched as Reid moved on to consult with Emily. He was earnestly discussing something with her, and she was waving him down to calm him. She got him to sit and take a breath. And then he started furiously taking notes.

Apparently word had leaked up to Hotch and Rossi. They saw the two senior agents standing at the railing, both of them laughing at what was going on below. It was a rare moment of pleasant anticipation for the BAU team, and they were savoring it.

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Morgan knocked on Garcia's door and joined Penelope and JJ. "That boy is crazy, you know that, don't you, JJ?"

Garcia interjected, "Crazy about her, you mean, don't you Derek?" He was admonished by her look.

"It's all right, Morgan. He's just excited. I am too. This is really our first official date, you know."

Morgan was remembering. "Didn't you two go to a football game together, back when he was, what, twelve?"

The women both laughed. He had looked and seemed so young then. JJ responded with, "Well, that didn't really work as a date. More of an event. And for Spence, more like something to be endured."

"Well, I don't know if he's taking any of my advice, so don't blame me if this one doesn't go any better."

Garcia and JJ looked at each other. Neither was willing to actually speak it, so they both thought, really loudly, "that's because he wants a second date!"

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Hotch gave Reid a scare when he called the team together late in the day. No! No! I asked you nicely, please, no case!

That prayer was answered when Hotch revealed he was simply announcing a new on-line report submission procedure and reviewing some administrative items before they broke for the weekend. The rest of the team held in their smiles at Reid's visible relief. Only JJ was aware that Hotch had actually diverted a case to another team. She'd overheard him on the phone when she stopped by his office. He realized what she'd heard when she mouthed "Thank you!" to him, and responded with that knowing smile. He knew that taking care of his unit was what he, the unit chief, was for.

As they were getting ready to leave, JJ stopped by Reid's desk. "Will I see you later?" They'd gotten into the habit of spending most evenings together.

He looked apologetic. "Not tonight, JJ. I've got something I have to do. But I'll see you at 7 tomorrow, right?"

She was worried he was making too big a deal of this. That was always a sure road to disappointment. "Spence, you don't need to go out of your way about anything. We can just have dinner and hang out tomorrow, if you'd rather."

He looked a little put out. "Dinner and dancing is what we said, and dinner and dancing is what we'll do." Then he was worried about imposing his will on her. "If you still want to, that is."

She realized she had to let him do this his way. "I do. I'll see you tomorrow night. I love you, Spence." And she kissed him goodbye.

"Love you too, JJ, " he said as she walked away. And then, to himself, added, "I must, or else I'm crazy." He was thinking of his plans for the evening.

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Saturday, promptly at 7, Spence rang the bell. He expected an excited Henry to come to the door, but it was JJ who answered…..and the house seemed unusually quiet. She saw him looking around.

"Karen took Henry back to her house. He'll spend the night there." She gave Reid a look as she added, "You know, in case we get home really late…..or whatever."

Reid's eyes widened at the thought of 'whatever'.

When he'd recovered himself, he noticed JJ again. "You look beautiful….as always." She was wearing a dress that managed to be both flowing and clingy at the same time….and the blue brought out the color in her eyes.

"And you, handsome….as always." Reid didn't normally give much thought to his appearance….his mind was usually otherwise engaged…..but he'd been determined to do his best tonight. He'd followed Emily's direction about the dark gray shirt and tie….JJ had apparently commented on it in the past.

"We have reservations for 7:30, so we'd better get going.

"Going where, exactly?" He'd kept her in the dark.

"To a restaurant of my choosing, at a location soon to be disclosed." She smiled at how much he seemed to be enjoying himself. There was definitely a noticeably greater level of confidence than there had been for the first two attempted dates.

The ReidMobile had been cleaned up again, this time missing even Reid's ever present coffee cup. As they headed out, Reid reached for JJ's hand and kissed the back of it, holding it briefly to his cheek.

"I love you, Jennifer Jareau."

She raised her brows at him. "Don't guys usually try that line at the end of the night?"

He gave her a sideways look back. "Only the guys who aren't actually in love." "Which I am." "Very much."

She reached over and played with his hair. "And I love you, too, Spencer Reid."

They traveled slowly over the DC area highways, eventually making their way into Old Town Alexandria. Once JJ realized this was where they were headed, she clapped her hands. "I love this area! Can we walk the boardwalk later?" The area had become gentrified and was now a popular spot for restaurants and the arts, and drew a crowd to its boardwalk entertainment every weekend.

"Whatever my lady wants."

After finding street parking several blocks away, Reid escorted JJ to a small, dark Italian restaurant, complete with soft operatic music playing in the background. He seated her and then slid in next to her, in a booth near the fireplace.

"Spence, this is charming. I've never been here before. Have you?"

"No, but Rossi recommended it. He knows the owner….and he definitely knows Italian food."

JJ hadn't realized Rossi had been in on the date planning as well. She began to wonder if tonight's event would be on the agenda of the team's Monday morning meeting. Should I prepare a report?

The dinner was wonderful, starting with a lovely bottle of wine, "compliments of Mr. Rossi." The service was attentive, the food delicious. And JJ and Reid managed to spend the entire meal in a conversation that had nothing to do with work.

"Spence, this was a great idea. It's cozy, and romantic….just perfect."

He was pleased. Holding up his wine glass, he offered a toast "to the woman who completely changed my life. I've never felt so…so…..full,…..so….content….." He was struggling to find the right words. "I've never felt like I was 'home'. And now I do."

She lifted her glass as well. "And I…have never felt so loved."

Without even taking a sip, they each put down their glasses and ended their toast with a kiss. They didn't need the wine to become intoxicated.

After the meal, they strolled the boardwalk, holding hands and relishing the evening atmosphere. A caricaturist drew them together, leaving them with a permanent remembrance of their first date. Farther down the boardwalk, they encountered a gentleman who was making amazing music simply rubbing the rims of glasses filled with water.

Reid simply couldn't help himself. "Did you know that every object has its own resonance, or rate at which it vibrates? Some are at a pitch that's not audible to the human ear. But crystal has a vibratory rate that is audible, and rubbing a finger along the rim brings out the sound. Putting different amounts of water in them changes the weight of each glass, thereby changing the vibratory rate…"

"And making lovely music." JJ looked at him meaningfully, but with a grin on her face.

"Was I rambling?"

"Not exactly, but I thought the crowd might be more interested in the music."

"Oh. Gotcha. Speaking of music, aren't we due for some dancing?"

She thought this part of the plan would be painful for him. "Spence, we don't have to go. We can just stay here for a while longer."

He looked almost relieved, but didn't want to disappoint her. "JJ, I don't think I'll ever be a good dancer, but I've been reading about it….."

That brought a smile. The idea of Spence thinking he could learn rhythm and movement by reading a book. That's my man.

He was continuing. "I got through seven books, but then I ran out of time before my lesson."

She was wide-eyed. "You took lessons? Since Thursday?"

He looked a little embarrassed. "I took a lesson last night. Three hours. I can do a fox trot and a cha-cha…..I think. Or maybe it was a rumba. I had trouble keeping them all straight. That's a right brain thing. I'm better with the left."

Now she was laughing…and then felt bad. "I'm sorry, Spence, I shouldn't laugh. It was very sweet of you to try to learn to dance. If you still want to go, let's do it."

Before they had to decide, there was a waft of music coming from the dinner cruise boat that had come back to the dock. Both had the same idea at the same time.

Reid bowed before his date, and she curtsied to him. And then they found that they melded perfectly together, one hand held, the other around the waist, cheek to shoulder. Under the moonlight, on the boardwalk, a warm spring breeze blowing the music their way, they danced.

Reid lost himself in the rhythm and the swaying. He'd literally never done this before. Holding JJ close, taking in the scent of her hair, finally free to openly love her, he thought, this must be what heaven is like.

They spent an hour dancing, sitting, kissing, dancing again. JJ felt like she'd never been so perfectly in tune with another human being. The night was enchanting.

They began to dance again, this time barely swaying with their arms around one another. They kissed throughout most of the music. Earlier, Reid had found himself thinking, I could do this all night. But now, he needed something else. JJ must have been feeling it too. When he pushed her away to say, "I think we should go," she offered no protest.

As he started to drive, Reid offered, "JJ, I didn't know Henry wouldn't be home tonight. I'd….um….kind of thought we might go back to my place for a while." He hazarded a look. "Is that okay?"

Oddly, JJ had never thought of that. They'd always been together at her place and it had simply never occurred to her that they had another option. "Sure, Spence. It would be great."

JJ had been to Reid's place before, but only to carpool or bring by a meal when he was sick. She remembered it as being neat….and full of books, music, videos and…..art. She'd asked him about the art. He had a fascination with the many forms of expression, and had even dabbled in watercolors himself. More recently, she knew, he'd added a keyboard. He'd become interested in playing music after an encounter with a gifted autistic child….it had been the method that broke through their communication barrier with the child. Reid had been playing ever since.

They held hands for most of the trip, riding along in silence, each lost in the anticipation of what might come next. When they arrived, Reid escorted JJ to the door, and then waved her in ahead of him. She noticed the bottle of wine and two glasses on the coffee table, a spray of flowers on the side. Reid lit the small gas fireplace, and set some soft music going on the stereo. JJ liked it, but couldn't place the genre.

"It's Celtic. It reminds me of you. Pure, sweet, bright. And, sometimes, heartbreakingly beautiful."

JJ teared up as she studied him. "What did I do to deserve the love of someone like you?"

He made light of it. "Lost the lottery?"

She snuggled next to him on the sofa. He put his arms around her and drew her close. "Not on your life. You are definitely first prize."

She tilted her head up at him. "Spence? This was one of the most beautiful nights I can remember. It was just perfect."

He smiled down at her. "Does that mean I get a second date?"

She looked at him with meaning. "Is there anything you might want before that second date?"

He got serious very quickly, leaning down to deliver a passionate kiss. JJ returned the passion, and they were lost in each other for a long time,kissing, exploring. Breaking for air, Reid studied every inch of her with his eyes. He started, "JJ….."

She just nodded. He got up and led her by the hand to his bedroom. She almost cried when she saw there were yellow roses on the pillows. "For joy," she said, remembering.

"For joy."

The fireplace threw dim light into the bedroom. In that light, they undressed one another and slowly, deeply, loved one another. Neither thought it would have been possible to feel closer than they had before, but they found they were wrong. Lying together, essentially one, they felt full, and complete, and home.