Old Friend

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

'There is no better looking glass than an old friend' ~ Thomas Fuller

XXXXX

Reid reached over and gently pushed the long dark hair off the woman's face. He was about to repeat Maeves's name again, but her name froze on his lips when the woman suddenly opened her eyes. Spencer stood stock still barely able to breathe, she smiled at him and took his hand.

"Reid" said the all too familiar voice. She pushed her hair back and sat up.

Spencer stared at the vision before him, simitaneously experiencing a mixture of relief and dissappointment.

"Elle," he said quietly.

Elle went to him and hugged him, he felt too stunned to hug her back.

Suddenly it all made sense, the woman he had been seeing in NYC wasn't Maeve, it was Elle all along. He held her out at arms length and quickly took in her appearence. She looked good, she wore her hair differently. It was long again with bangs. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and for some reason she was wearing the cardigan that had belonged to Maeve.

"She furrowed her brow. "Reid are you all right? you look like you've seen a ghost."

"Elle, what are you doing here.?" he said, still trying to recover his composure.

She took his hand and led him to the couch. "I'm sorry if I scared you " she apologized.

He looked at her in wonderment as the pieces of the puzzle came together.

"You were in New York weren't you, and you were in my apartment before?" he asked, still reeling from seeing his old friend and colleague in his apartment.

She shrugged and gave him a guilty smile."Yes, this is my second time here and you weren't home, this time I stayed, and how I got in ...well you probably know "

Spencer did know, he recalled her very expertly picking a door lock long ago and him asking if she learned that in FBI School. He smiled at the memory and nodded.

She saw him staring at the sweater."Oh I hope you don't mind, I was cold and I borrowed youir sweater,"

He shook his head "It's ok, but I'm a little confused, why did you come to see me?" he persisted.

Elle cleared her throat.

"I heard about Maeve, I'm so sorry Spencer."

Everytime someone offered condolences it was like getting a punch in the gut. The pain was immediate and left him speechless, how did Elle know?

Elle understood his confusion and felt a little guilty for being so cloak and dagger with him, The last thing she wanted was to cause him any pain but she had her reasons. She asked him to be patient and she would explain everything.

"Could I get you something to drink first, I know I could use one" she offered. She felt a little odd playing hostess in his apartment, though he didn't seem to mind.

"Yes, I'd love a coffee," he said.

She smiled to herself, only Reid could decompress with coffee.

"Ok then."

Elle fixed them both a cup and then she settled down on the couch beside him. She watched him as he sipped his coffee. Years ago she had always thought he was kinda cute and would one day be a fine looking man. She wasn't wrong, even though he was still long and lean there was something different about him now, it showed in his face. It wasn't just age or maturity but more like a loss of innocence. She could see pain lurking behind those eyes, even when he smiled. It saddened her.

His eyes met hers "How did you know about Maeve?" he asked.

"I still have friends at the FBI, ones I made when I worked in sex crimes, they have friends in your office, we still talk," she explained.

"He nodded," I see, why didn't you come see me in NYC?"

Elle sighed, "Spencer, I didn't want to run into Hotch or Morgan. Morgan can hold a grudge and Hotch... well I can still feel the disappointment emanating off of him at fifty paces." she explained. "Again, I'm sorry if I scared you. I mean't to come see you at your hotel, I chickened out."

Reid leaned back ."I'm glad to see you" he said simply.

"And I you. but I don't want to talk about me. Tell me about Maeve, how did you meet, what was she like,?" she asked gently.

Spencer looked at her in surprise. This was the first time anyone ever asked him about Maeve as a person, not a victim. He was even more surprised that he felt he really wanted to tell someone about her.

XXXXXX

Reid began at the beginning when he first received a very complimentary letter on an article he wrote for a scientific journal, not only did Maeve praise the article but she seemed to have an excellent grasp on the material. He was impressed by her insight and intelligence. He felt compelled to write her back until they began corresponding to one another on a regular basis. She helped him with his headache problem and he became her confident on the stalker that was terrorizing her. Eventually they found an unique way to call one another on the phone. He felt he could tell Maeve anything; he realized he was falling in love.

Elle watched Spencer's face as he talked about Maeve. He was very animated and his eyes shone as he recounted some of the conversations they had. A shadow seemed to cross over his features as he told her about his first and final meeting with the woman he loved. His eyes now shone with tears and his voice hitched as he spoke of her. Then he was silent. Elle reached over and took his hand and gave it a squeeze. Spencer gave her a sweet sad smile.

"Thank you for listening," he said.

Elle tried to blink away the tears she felt forming behind her eyes. She had done the only thing she felt she could do and that was listen.

XXXXX

Derek Morgan stared at his phone. Did Spencer Reid just tell him Maeve was sleeping on his couch. He debated on who he should call if anyone.

"Fuck it, I'm going over there." He said aloud.

He decided just to go over there alone. If Reid had lost it and was running around with his underwear on his head, he was certain the boy genius sure as shit didn't want too many witnesses. With that decided he went out and got in his car and headed to Reid's.

TBC.

`AN. Please read and review. Thanks.