Weather the Storm

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

This was a landslide victory on the poll this week – so your wish is my command.

However before I go any further there is a little reminder: This fic was written for the Colours of the Rainbow challenge on CCOAC. The original pairing was Reid and Strauss and so it will end with them. So what I'm saying is this is the end of this particular journey, but it doesn't mean the destination has been reached yet. Will there be a sequel – I am not making promises.

. . .

The alarm rung, not that it was necessary as Spencer had long been awake. His mind had been active from the early hours and was still whirring. Spencer hadn't felt like this in a long time. He had got use to lazy lay-ins and relaxed morning pottering in the last few months. Getting up and getting out the house in time for his meeting was almost alien to him.

Stumbling into the kitchen, he started off a pot of coffee as he set about having a shower and getting dressed. Today was a definite caffeine day.

Not long after Spencer was enjoying a large mug of coffee and a bagel. If he was going into battle – it wouldn't be on an empty stomach.

. . .

As he walked once more into the FBI building, Spencer knew he had timed it right. Everyone should already be in the bullpen or their appropriate office. He had no intention of bumping into his previous colleagues, today was not a day for catching up.

It felt strange to be signed in and escorted up to the appropriate level, an action he had taken for granted over the years he had served. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Spencer swayed gently back and forth as they rode the elevator. The security guard next to him was new; well at least Spencer hadn't seen him before.

Stepping out into the long corridor, Spencer looked around nervously. Glancing in the direction of Garcia's lair and small smile graced his lips. He had missed her quirky humour that half the time he didn't understand. Though she was the member of the team he had had the most contact with over his sabbatical.

Garcia had turned up every time the team was away. There she would be on his door, take out in one hand and smuggled case files tucked into her laptop bag in the other. She would bounce ideas off him as they ate. If the team contacted her, he would remain quiet, in the hope that none of them realised what she was doing. Though his guess was anyone of them would have noticed the background.

Following the guard into the reception area of the familiar office, he waited while Strauss was informed of his arrival.

His foot tapped restlessly as he waited. He had been on time – not late or early, but Strauss was enjoying making him wait. He knew she was trying to make him nervous, to unsettle him.

It was working.

. . .

"Sorry for the delay," Erin smiled sweetly as she spoke, offering him the seat opposite her desk.

"That's fine," he answered curtly as he sat.

"Shall we cut to the chase? I assume you have made a decision this time."

"I have," he answered, bringing his eyes up to meet hers for the first time.

"And?" she questioned, glaring at him.

"And I would like to take the opportunity to return to the team."

Erin smiled the sort of smug smile that coined the phrase 'the cat that got the cream'.

"I knew you couldn't keep away," Erin said as she finally took her seat behind her desk, opening the file in front of her.

Spencer let her have her little moment of victory. He knew it wasn't that he couldn't keep away, more they couldn't. In the eleven and a half months that had passed since he last walked out the glass doors he had had more visits from 'the team' then he in all the years he had been with them.

At first he had found it hypocritical, but as the months passed and the clouds cleared he realised that no matter what he said or did to them, they kept coming back for more. They soaked up his anger and depression and replaced it with compassion and understanding.

He owed it to them to return and stand beside them once more – offering back the friendship he had received. After all who knew which may be next to need the support he had been lucky enough to have.

"You still have a fortnight left," Erin began.

"Which I will be taking since my flights are booked and I am spending some time with my mother before I return."

Erin nodded as she looked over her glasses at him, the same grin gracing her thin lips.

"Well in that case all I need is your signature on a few forms and I can make sure everything is in place for your return, Dr Reid."

"Good," he said briefly, leaning forward onto the cool surface.

Watching his spidery scrawl as he completed each sheet she gave to him, Erin was pleased to secure his return.

The team had suffered under such fractious circumstances. Erin craved the good old days, when Hotch and his band of merry men, spent their time giving her mini heart attacks as they rode rough shot over the case load. Erin hoped this was the band-aid that would finally heal the wounds.

As Spencer stood and left without another word, Erin lifted the handset from cradle of the phone.

"Aaron," she spoke flatly, "Doctor Reid is to rejoin the team in a fortnight."

Placing the phone back down, Erin removed her glasses and interlaced her fingers. Sighing deeply she knew she had weathered the storm.

Reaching down to the draw beside her she pulled out a glass and a bottle containing a clear liquid. Her conscious screamed that ten o'clock in the morning was too early, but her mind retorted with the reason that was why she was pouring neat vodka and not scotch; no one need know.

Rising to stand by the window, she sipped slowly as she enjoyed the unexpected sunshine.

. . .

Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.
Natasha Bedingfield