Disclaimer: I still own nothing, darn!
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"Camping." Reid was dumbfounded, of all the scenarios he might have had in his mind, he never considered this one. "You're not serious, right?"
"Yeah, of course I'm serious. It'll be great. Manny's dad's going," Manny nodded his head eagerly as if that fact in itself would make Reid agree immediately. "Jared, Devon, Peter and Michael are all coming with their dads."
"Evan, you know what my job is like. You know that I really can't commit to anything because there's always a chance I'll be called away on a case."
"Okay, if you got called away on a case," Evan conceded, "You couldn't come. I get that, but if there's no case, you'll come right?"
"Oh brother, I am really not the outdoorsy, pitch a tent and roast marshmallows in the campfire kind of guy. Someone like Gideon or Morgan would be better."
"No," Evan said emphatically, "I like Gideon and Morgan a lot but I love you and I want to go with you." He sat dejectedly on the loveseat with his head down, 'You're not gonna do it are you?" Manny joined him on the loveseat looking equally miserable.
Had they planned it this way? Did Evan think guilt would work on him as well as it did on his mother? Had he and Manny decided to try to double team him thinking two boyish faces looking at him like he was the Grinch that stole Christmas would work better than one? Well damn if it wasn't working. Evan couldn't understand PTSD he told himself. The boys had no way of knowing that things like being in the dark in wooded areas and seeing dead leaves could trigger flashbacks and extreme panic attacks. His brother knew nothing about his kidnapping and torture in Georgia. All he knew, Reid thought, was that this was probably the first time he would be able to participate in an activity with other kids. He'd always been too sick in the past. Well, Reid decided, he'd just have to suck it up and do this for his brother. He just couldn't look at those two faces and let them down.
"Okay, if there's no case, I'll go," Reid managed to get out before Evan threw himself at his older brother engulfing him in a hug and to Reid's total surprise they were joined by Manny. The boys succeeded in pushing Reid back on the couch and were piled on him like he was a fallen football player.
Janice peeked into the room, "Evan, Manny, get off Spencer for God's sake. Do you want to smother the poor man?"
"Mom," Evan babbled excitedly, "Spencer said he would go on the camping trip if he doesn't have a case. Isn't that great?"
"Yes, that's great."
Allie, standing in the dining room doorway, raised her eyebrows and, looking at Reid, mouthed "Are you sure about this?" Reid shrugged.
"Okay pal," Janice said, "We can talk about this more later. Allie and I made lunch for you guys so come and get it." She shepherded the two boys into the dining room leaving Reid sitting on the couch, then she poked her head back into the room, saying, "You too Spencer, get in here." Reid got up and followed the group into the dining room.
As they ate the Cobb salad and garlic bread, the boys chatted animatedly about how happy they were to be going on this camping trip together especially now that Spencer was coming.
Janice seemed happy with the turn of events as well but Allie looked skeptical. Reid had talked to her about some of his ordeal in Georgia, although he didn't like to dwell on it, he said. His teammates were not that forthcoming either. At times she felt that they were standing guard around him lest someone try to hurt him again. Garcia had made it clear that, although she liked Allie, she would be keeping an eye on her. No one, it seemed, would be allowed to get close to Spencer if there was a chance they might hurt him. Reid, for all his genius, she thought, seemed totally oblivious to the machinations of his teammates behind his back. Allie felt sure if he was aware, he would be upset that the group felt such a primal need to protect him. Since his teammates were not letting her in or telling her how she could help, she had resorted to books and to talking to the father of a friend, who was a psychiatrist, in an attempt to be as supportive as possible to a man she had come to care for deeply.
She was unsure if embarking on a camping trip with twelve people, eleven of whom were virtual strangers and all who knew nothing of the kidnapping and torture he'd endured in Georgia, was a good idea. However, she knew Spencer, and she knew his good heartedness and compassion for others would override any concern he felt for himself. If he was determined to do this, she would support him in any way she could. She would offer encouragement tempered with humor. She would take him in her arms when fear took hold and soothe him with gentle words and soft kisses. She would remind him that she and Evan and everyone on the team loved him and nothing that happened on some camping trip could change that. And she'd pray it would be enough.
Spencer and Allie left shortly after lunch and Spencer promised to come over soon so he and Evan could go shopping for the gear needed for the camping trip. As they were driving Allie asked, "Are you sure this is a good idea," giving his arm a tender squeeze.
"No, it's probably not, but I didn't have the heart to let them down; you couldn't see their faces. I suppose I can't avoid these things forever."
"Okay, I hear you, so why don't we take a little drive out to Rosaryville State Park. We can just stroll around and you can get the feel for it with no pressure and when you want to leave, we leave."
Reid glanced briefly at Allie in the passenger seat. "That won't be much fun for you. What if I flip out?"
"Then we come home, I hold you till you stop shaking and then I feed you the best meal you've had in a long time. And if you don't flip out we can do it anyway minus the shaking, of course."
"You're a good woman Allie Graham," he said squeezing her hand.
She ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it behind his ear, "And you're a good man Spencer Reid."
