Author: Ren Kayashima

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I really hate that I have to do this. I do not own Criminal Minds. The title and its characters belong to CBS and its original creator.

Shout Outs: So this weeks shout outs go to mangofishy and ally leigh. As a note, after looking over my last chapter I find ally leigh to be right, in that the chapter wasn't as tense as it could be and I really wish I had worked on it a bit more. I wasn't sure how to end it and so it was left as it is. Perhaps one day I will try and fix it, but at the moment it will stay as it is. Thank you mangofishy, for your very nice reviews. It's nice to know that people out there like this story.

0o0o0o0

Chapter Nine:

The BAU sat in a private waiting room of a Baltimore Hospital. Neil came in with his parents. They were followed by Serena, Bridget, the twins, and Brandon.

"How's Brooklyn?" Rossi asked.

"She's awake," Serena answered. "The concussion isn't too bad. She's going to be kept overnight though. She's irritated, but knows she can't fight it."

"Can we see her?" Reid asked hopefully.

Bridget's face contorted in anger. "She refuses to see anyone except her brothers and Serena."

"Dave," Serena looked at him. "She's told me she wants you to take her statement, and only you."

Rossi nodded and noticed Reid's downcast look. Serena seemed to notice it too.

"Spencer, I need to ask you some questions," Serena said. "Will you come with me to the cafeteria to get some coffee?"

Reid looked at her and after he got a nod of approval from Hotch, he followed Serena out of the room. The remaining members of his team moved to talk to the four brothers. Rossi pulled Neil to a corner and sat him down in a chair.

"What happened at the camp site?" he asked.

Neil looked at the ground. "We were eating breakfast and we heard a gunshot. Brandon went to check it out, because it didn't sound like a shot gun. He kind of knows that stuff. Also hunting wasn't allowed in the camping area. I think ten minutes passed and he still hadn't returned, so Brian went to see if he was okay," Neil explained. "Blair had us stand back to back after five minutes. I don't remember what happened after that, but I woke up later in the cage."

"What else?"

"Zack and Zoe were there. They said the collection wasn't complete. They gave us food and everything, but they never really spoke to us until Brooke was there."

"They didn't talk to you at all?'

Neil shook his head.

0o0o0o0

Reid sat at a small table with coffee; he started emptying several sugar packets into the cup. Serena grabbed four packets of artificial sweetener and poured them into her small coffee cup.

"Are you mad at Brooke?"

"No," Reid answered.

"You know I saw the letter. It was on your desk. From what I hear, you hate getting letters."

"She's coming back. Gideon and my dad didn't."

"She still left."

"Are you telling me that I should be mad?"

"I'm just curious," Serena said. "You got upset when I said Dave was the only agent allowed to talk with Brooke."

"I'm her friend. I can talk to her," Reid said. "She's not telling me anything now."

"Why do you think that is?" Serena asked. "How can you profile it?"

"Something happened to change the relationship," Reid answered.

Serena took a sip of her coffee and looked the young genius right in the eye. "What do you like about Brooke?"

0o0o0o0

Rossi walked into a hospital room to find Brooke sitting on a bed. She had her knees bent and had set a book on them. She was flipping through the pages quickly, but didn't actually seem to be paying attention. Her messenger bag sat on the end of the bed. She looked up after her godfather cleared his throat.

"Come to take my statement have we?" she asked.

"Serena brought your bag."

"Kerrie gave it to her to give to me."

"Do you want to tell me what's going on between you and Reid?"

Brooke looked away from him. "Not particularly."

"All right, what happened at the Smithsonian?"

Brooke smiled and shook her head. "It was really great. You see I was in a one on one fight with Al Capone, and I got to fly Amelia Earhart's plane!" she stated in mock excitement.

"Brooklyn," Rossi growled.

"Touchy, touchy. I was just hanging out in Kerrie's office. I left to use the bathroom. When I got back, Kerrie was on the ground unconscious. I dialed nine-one-one, and then lights out."

"We think Zack grabbed you and your brothers after he was denied visitation with his younger brothers."

"Fantastic!" Brooke stated.

"What kind of pain killers did they give you?"

"Enough."

Rossi smiled. "Do you need anything?"

Brooke looked around and held up a hand to her mouth. "I could use some decent food," she said in a stage whisper.

"Always making light of a situation I see."

"Why not? Zack was nuts I established this years ago. You caught him. I only have a minor concussion which to be honest is better than the time I was in Israel and got shrapnel in my abdomen. I know what the job is and I know it involves people who aren't completely there," Brooke said. "What about Neil? Is he okay?"

"He's fine. No injuries."

Brooke sighed. "I need to talk to my dad and Callie, they're going to want to take him back to Orange," she shivered and curled her lip back. "What a horrible place to live."

Rossi nodded and looked at her. "Not everyone can live in places like England and visit places like France and Liberia," he said before leaving the room.

Brooke shook her head in amusement and sighed. She closed her book and set it down next to her and looked out the window.

0o0o0o0

Serena looked at Reid waiting for him to answer. "Well?"

"She's my friend," Reid answered.

"That's not what I asked," Serena sighed. "What do you like about her?"

Reid moved his cup around nervously. "I don't know," he said. "She understands what it means to grow up and be smarter than everyone else your age. She likes science fiction like me. She's read all of the books my mother used to read to me. I like it when she sends me an old book she's found, even though she knows I've already read it."

"What else?"

"When we were in college, and I would come to visit you two in the bay area, she would always have this wild look about her. Her bangs would be pushed to the side because they had gotten too long. Occasionally a few strands would fall in her face and she would get irritated.

"When she took me to the San Francisco Pier, she insisted I buy a seashell that looked just like hers. It still sits on one of my shelves.

"When she came back from England, I noticed that her voice had this softer more gentle tone. It was like she had never grown up in the United States.

"I liked waking her up when she was staying at my house. She would have this tired childlike face," Reid finished.

Serena smiled happy with his answer. "You should probably tell her all of that."

"She doesn't want to see me."

"You're going to let that stop you?" Serena asked standing up. "I've overestimated you Dr. Reid." She walked quietly out of the cafeteria leaving the young doctor to his thoughts.

0o0o0o0

Reid was walking to Brooke's room and stopped just outside the door when he heard her stepmom talking.

"He comes to live with you and look what happens," Callie stated.

"That was a pure fluke. It wasn't supposed to happen," Blair's voice came from farther in the room.

"Dad, Callie. Neil wasn't happy in L.A. He just wanted to be somewhere, where he can be himself," Brooke said.

"He was happy," Callie argued.

"And I'm telling you he wasn't. You two are always busy doing something else. Dad's always working, and you're always working on the small business you manage. Here he would get the attention he needs," Brooke said.

"No," her father spoke. "He will continue to live with us."

"Look I don't mean to sound rude, but living with you two is a difficult thing to do. I couldn't do it; Blair couldn't and at one point Brian moved out too. Besides the schools in the D.C area are a lot better than the ones in Orange County. I can help him with his schooling as well. Do you know how hard it is to teach someone math through the phone?"

"Why should we let him live with you?" Callie asked.

"Because he has family here. Uncle Dave works in Quantico, Blair has the security company, Brian has the bar," Brooke said. "I'm going to be teaching at a university. Ask Neil what he wants. Maybe it's time you actually listen to your children."

There was a long pause.

"I'm feeling a bit tired, can you all please just leave?" Brooke asked.

Reid moved away from the door when he heard people moving towards the door. He made his way towards the exit as Callie and Nathan came out of the room followed by Blair.

0o0o0o0

Three days later Reid stood outside of Brooke's front door. He knocked on the door and Blair answered it. "Hey Dexter, Brooke's in the shower, but you can come in and wait for her," he said. "Is she expecting you?"

Reid walked in and shook his head. He found Neil sitting at the dining room table flipping through a packet of printed pages while simultaneously flipping through The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

Brian walked over from the living room to greet Reid. "Neil has to get the summer reading assignment done for his new school," he explained.

"He's staying in D.C?" Reid asked.

"I told my mom that I would run away again," Neil said looking up.

"Have a seat," Blair said gesturing around.

Reid looked into the living room and found the three older brothers playing Call of Duty. He decided to take a seat across from Neil at the table. He tried reading the packet upside down and found it contained plot analysis, theme notes, and character development questions.

Ten minutes later Brooke came up her flight of stair in pair of checkered green pajama shorts and a neon green tank top. She had left her glasses in her room. Her bangs had begun to grow out and just brushed her eyelids.

"Is there a reason you insist on playing video games in my house?" she asked brushing her slightly damp hair out.

"You have a bigger TV," Brandon answered not looking away from the screen. "Dexter's here."

Brooke's eyes widened and she turned to look at her best friend. "How did you get in the building?" she asked.

"You gave me a spare key, just in case you locked yourself out," he answered as he stood up.

Brooke bit her lip and looked away. "Right, so what brings you to my humble abode?"

Reid shifted awkwardly as all four of Brooke's brothers watched the two of them. Brooked started to mess with her hands. "I didn't catch you before you left the hospital."

"You know I hate them. I got out of there as soon as possible. Let's go talk in my room."

Brooke headed back down the stairs and Reid followed her. Neil stood up and tried to sneak down the stairs with them when Brian paused the game and grabbed him by the back of the shirt.

"Leave it alone Neil."

"Why was Brooke acting so weird?" Neil asked.

"Don't know," Brian answered.

"She hasn't spoken to anyone in the BAU since she got out of the hospital. Serena has been passing messages along to Uncle Dave. Don't worry about it," Blair said.

0o0o0o0

Brooke sat in a tan chair surrounded by book shelves. The room was divided in two and the second half of the room had a king size bed with a dark wood headboard that had built in shelves. Across from it was a large wardrobe that opened to reveal a large TV and stereo system.

The bed had been made with a dark brown quilt and tan sheets. It was adorned with decorative pillows in varying shades of brown.

A door led to a large bathroom and walk in closet. The bathroom had a shower and tub with his and hers sinks. The walk in closet was set under the stairs.

As Reid looked around he caught the scent of pomegranate coming from Brooke's bathroom and he was reminded of hi guest room. "Your room looks nice."

Brooke looked around. "It's still a work in progress. I have to get some photo's up on the wall."

"How are you?" Reid asked.

"I really wish people would stop asking me that," Brooke said. She reached up and touched her stitches. "I just can't believe Zack did all of this."

"Why did you only allow Rossi into your room at the hospital?" Reid asked.

Brooke looked at a bookshelf to avoid looking at Reid. "I just wanted to be with family."

"Why are you lying?"

"Spencer-"

"Why have you stopped talking to me?" he interrupted.

"I'm sorry. I just," Brooke looked at the ground in shame.

"What's going on?"

"Spencer, it's complicated."

"Explain it to me. You run off, leaving a letter with your friend, and now you won't talk to me," Reid said. "I thought we were friends."

Brooke looked at him. "We are, Spencer you are the greatest friend I've ever had. It's just-"

"What?" Reid asked realizing it came out harsher than he had intended. "Just what?"

Brooke stood up and walked over to Reid. She placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled him into a kiss. A second later she pushed him away wide eyed.

"Oh my god, why did I just do that?" Brooke asked herself.

She backed away quickly and headed for the stairs muttering to herself. Reid turned quickly and followed her, determined to get some sort of explanation from her. Brooke ran out the front door and Reid followed just squeezing through the door as it was closing.

Neil looked over at the door. "What's going on?"

"Brooke's running," Brandon said. "Dexter was chasing her."

"Why?"

"When it comes to those two together its better not to ask question and just assume that it has to do with something that we as people of average intelligence won't understand," Blair said.

"Finish your summer homework," Brian said. "She doesn't need a spectator."

0o0o0o0

Reid followed Brooke into the central courtyard of the building. "Brooklyn!" he called, using her full name for the first time in years.

Brooke turned to him. "What?"

"Why did you kiss me?"

Brooke laughed slightly. "I'm pretty sure that was the most obvious things I've done since I moved to D.C." She stomped over to a concrete bench that rested on the edge of a large patch of grass.

"Brooke, what's going on?"

Brooke buried her face in her hands and moaned. "Spencer, I can't do this. I can't lose my best friend."

"What are you talking about?" Reid asked getting really confused.

Brooke looked at him. "You are the most oblivious guy on the face of the planet. I like you Spencer, and not like a friend okay?" she explained. She had begun to cry.

Reid walked over to her. "Really?"

"I stopped talking to you because I've been trying to figure all of this," she waved her hands around. "Is."

Reid sat down next to her and looked at the courtyard dimly lit pathways. "Have you figured it out?"

Brooke laughed again. "Please, this is me we're talking about. I can decipher any little emotion in another person, but when it comes to my emotion's I'm a total dunce. It takes me a month to figure things out on an emotional level."

Brooke looked at the sky hoping to find some stars. "At least I could see the stars in England."

"D.C's too bright." Reid said.

"Are we actually going to talk about this?" Brooke asked.

The two sat in an awkward silence. Both of them trying to find something other than the person sitting next to them to look at. After five minutes of silence Brooke stood up and walked a couple steps away.

"See this is why I abhor feelings like this," she exclaimed.

Reid looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"I hate it when I start to have feeling for a friend. It ruins everything, but do I learn? Of course not. I haven't once spoken to the friends I have dated since I broke up with them," Brooke said. "Spencer, you're my best friend. The best of the best and I can't lose that."

"So, if we were to have a relationship and we broke up. You're saying you would stop talking to me," Reid said.

"Well… maybe, but I can't risk that," Brooke stated. "You're the only one who understands what it's like growing up, but somehow being your friend is no longer enough."

Brooked turned away and crossed her arms.

Reid looked at her and tried to think of something to say. "My guest room still smells like your lotion and perfume," he said. "It's the same as your body wash right?"

Brooke looked at him confused for a moment. "You scent in layers. If everything is the same you don't have to put so much perfume on later. That way it's not overpowering."

"I like it."

"Thank you," Brooke smiled and wiped away some of her tears.

"I came here to tell you how I feel," Reid said. "You're aunts really good at getting information from people. She asked me what I liked about you and I ended up telling her everything."

"She's always been good at that. She pulled the same stunt just after I moved to D.C," Brooke stated. "What did you tell her?"

"I told her about the seashell you had me buy at the pier and how it sits on a shelf in my apartment."

"I was eighteen and refused to act like an adult. Sue me," Brooke said.

"I told her about how you send me old books for Christmas and my birthday."

"There's something about the smell of old leather and paper combined that is just so refreshing," Brooke said. She came and sat back down. "What else?"

"Does it matter?"

"To a girl, everything matters."

"I liked waking you up in the morning because your face reminded me of an unaware child."

Brooke began to laugh.

"When you came back from England, your voice was softer, more elegant."

"I couldn't have them thinking I was a stupid American now could I."

Brooke rested an elbow on her knee and placed her chin in the palm of her hand. She looked back at Reid. "Anything else."

Reid looked at the grass. "No."

"You lie," Brooke said. "So Spencer Reid the question has now become, do you like me as much as I like you?"

Spencer looked up into her grey eyes. Brooke turned to get a better view.

"It's not great being put on the spot is it?" she asked.

Reid shook his head. Brooke stood up and placed her hands on her hips.

"Call me when you figure it out. I have to go back inside and make sure Neil is working on his summer reading."

Reid watched her walk away as a million thoughts crossed his mind. What should he do? Should he stop her from walking away?

"Brooke," he called.

Brooke turned and looked at him. "Yes?"

"What does it mean if I say yes?"

Brooke smiled. "I guess we'll have to figure that out. Won't we?"

0o0o0o0

Author's Note: Yay! Anyway, I hope that this chapter brought some smiles. And finally after nine chapters we see a relationship blooming. Now it's your turn. Tell me what you thought about this particular chapter as well as the story in general.

Sorry for the late update, with the holiday this past weekend I found myself cleaning the house, visiting family, and over all playing hostess to one of my good friends as we sat and watched a marathon of Criminal Minds episodes.

She kindly reads my stories, but sadly is not a member of Fanfiction so her reviews are never in my inbox. I'm still going to give her a shout out from now on.

Till later than my friends I leave you with this nice chapter.

Ren.