Photograph and memories.

Chapter 10

Reid's memory was clouded by a mental thunderstorm. He remembered that time all too well, and the week following wasn't too good either. He lost perspective for a while but being a genius; he could switch off his dark cloud and switch on work mode. Besides, he loved doing profiling. It didn't take him long getting into his work. Jessie was soon forgotten. A year later, his memory took a stab at him as her birthday came closer. Guilt flooded him and he decided to send her flowers. He first found out that she was no longer in Seattle; she was working in her dad's hotel, and then sent her a bunch of purple Hyacinths. Her favorite flower. After that, the guilt subsided and he continued on for another year before sending her more flowers. It became a tradition.

Jessie on the other hand, went into a depression. She finished her studies son after and then went to work as a floor manager for her dad's hotel. After receiving Reid's flowers the first time, she snapped out of her depression and went on a hiking trip in Africa. She ended up back in Vegas, with a broken leg and moved on to better things. Every year she got the flowers; she burnt them and sometimes got burnt in the process. But she moved on for the most part.

Reid gave himself the night to have a Jessie memory re-run. He had a few photographs hidden away, so he dug those up and lived through the memories one more time. He took a shower, had dinner and went to bed. Putting the whole Jessie-thing behind him.

The next few days, the FBI was stuck in a conference room, doing seminars on safety all the way to no fraternizing. Everyone had to attend and even though Reid knew the seminars good enough to give them, he attended like everyone else. He arrived just in time for each session, and flew out the minute they were excused.

Saturday afternoon, Morgan caught Reid before he could dash out.

"Hold up, hold up! Where you running off to everyday huh?" he asked with a sneaky smile. "your girl waiting on you?"

"What are you talking about?" despite his efforts, Reid had managed to get himself into a bubble for the last few days. Even though he was in class, he didn't listen and suddenly Morgan's voice sounded particularly loud. He tried to remember Morgan's words but all he could recall, was the volume.

"Jessie waiting for you at home?" Morgan asked again.

"Jessie?" then Reid caught what he was talking about and wanted desperately to get away. "No, I'm not running after her."

Morgan picked up on Reid's morbid tone and stopped him from escaping again. Garcia and Prentiss picked up on this too and walked closer.

"What happened Reid?" Morgan prompted. Reid stared between Morgan, Garcia and Prentiss and found no way out.

"She walked away." That was all Reid wanted to say about it.

"Wait. Jessie walked away from you?" Prentiss wondered.

"And you didn't go after her?" Morgan completed the thought.

"Shame on you Reid." Garcia toyed with him.

"She's really fast." Reid mumbled.

"Reid, how do you really feel about her? You know you can't lie to us." Morgan asked. "I can see it's tearing you apart or at least driving you insane. I've never seen you like this. What's going on?"

Reid thought for a moment. "I love her." He finally said, surprising only himself with his statement. "I always have. But I lost her a long time ago…" he started to mumble.

"And what would you say to her if you saw her again?"

"I don't know. But I would give anything to just see her again." Reid realized how true his words were.

"Then call her." Morgan offered his phone.

"I don't have her number."

Garcia cleared her throat loudly and then said: "She doesn't have a listed phone number." And when she realized she wasn't helping, she bit her lip.

"I don't know where she's staying either." Reid added.

"I can track down her credit card…. If you want…" Garcia suggested.

"No. She chose to walk away. This time it's on her." Reid started walking away. Morgan caught his arm and pushed him down into a chair.

"You wait right there. Princess," he turned to Garcia, "will you track her down for us please?"

Garcia took off without another word. Morgan sat down with Reid and asked about everything Jessie had said. He wanted to find some subtext that Reid was missing because he was so close to the subject.

About twenty minutes and two cups of coffee later, Garcia showed up with a smile.

"Jessie's Credit card was charged at the Hilton Hotel on Monday. She's still there." Garcia was excited about her news.

"Her friend is getting married today." Reid said. He couldn't think around what to do next.

"Then go get her." Morgan said. "You know where she is. Hell, I'll even take you there."

Morgan got the car and he and Reid drove to the Hilton Hotel. Reid tried to break through his millions of thoughts and to get just one that could tell her how he felt.

As they arrived at the Hotel, many guests were dressed in formal and heading to the hotel's makeshift chapel. Reid walked up to the front desk and lost his nerve.

"We're looking for… er… Lynden?" Morgan asked and when the clerk stared at them with supremacy, Morgan took his FBI badge out. That's when the Clerk jumped to work.

"Miss Lynden's in the bridal suite. She's getting married in…" he checked his watch. "half an hour."

A shock went through Reid. She said it was her friend that was getting married! Morgan extended his arm to keep Reid from falling.

"What room number?" Morgan urged.

"Six o seven." The clerk said and handed Morgan a spare key. Morgan pulled Reid to the elevator and pushed him inside before the clerk could say something else.

"She said it was her friend… She said…" Reid mumbled but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Everything she had said and done pointed to her being the one who's getting married. First of all, she did say there was an exception to every rule/statistic. She has always been that exception. It's what made her so hard to read. She did say that she didn't really think of his as a soul mate. She did mention that she was mad at him. And she did leave him this time. Maybe she just came here to say good bye to him. It was interesting to him that she's getting married here. And not in Las Vegas. With her dad. It made him wonder about everything all over again. But the main thing was, she was getting married. And if that made her happy, then he was okay with that. However much it might hurt. On the other hand, she did also say that it was her friend getting married. And it wasn't in Jessie's character to lie like that. Okay, so maybe it was part of her character but not like this. She would have said something. Reid's mind was torn between the two possibilities.

They reached the sixth floor. And Reid was ready to turn back but Morgan pulled him out of the elevator before he could push a button.

"Morgan! If she's getting married, I don't want to get in the way of that. I want her to be happy." Reid pleaded.

"Come on man. I'm not stupid. You'll be a zombie for months. At least talk to her."

"There's no point. If I see her, I might stop her. That is only if she really is getting married. " Reid wasn't moving anywhere.

"What do you mean man?"

"I don't think it's her. Something must be wrong. Their information might be corrupt." Reid was getting hopeful. "on the other hand. She really is hard to profile.

"So what do you want to do man?" Morgan turned his back to the elevator.

"Okay maybe I should talk to her." Reid said but he still had no idea of what to say to her.

"I'll wait right here." Morgan moved closer to the hallway bench.

"No. you should come with me. To… hit me in case I lose my mind?" Reid wasn't too sure of himself. He already wanted to disappear. Morgan patted Reid's shoulder and together they walked to the room door. Morgan knocked and they waited.

"May I help you?" An elderly lady answered the door.

"ma'am…" Morgan began but Reid cut him off.

"Ma'am. I'm here to see Jessie. Can I see her?" Reid was sure what he wanted. He wanted whichever scenario included Jessie in his life. Even if they could just be friends. But he was suddenly hoping for something more. Yes, they argued. All good couples do. And he felt really strongly that she was not the bride.

The lady opened the door wider and let the two gentlemen in.

"She's in the living room." The lady said and pointed to the door. "Jessie, You have company." She called into the room.

Inside the living room, Jessie stood in front of a tall mirror, in a seriously fancy white dress. Her hair was curling down her back and she looked the picture of radiance. Her head turned to the door and shocked flooded her face as she laid eyes on Reid.

Reid felt a surge of pain when he walked into the room and saw Jessie in the wedding dress. So much for that theory. Another girl ran into the room from what must be the bed room. She was wearing a light green bridesmaid's dress and ran to stand next to Jessie. She was so excited about something that Reid could not fathom.

"Jessie! Look at you! You make the prettiest bride!" the girl said, oblivious to Reid and Morgan.

"She makes a pretty everything." the old lady said bitterly.

"Grammy! Be nice" the bridesmaid snapped back.

"Jessie…" Reid began but started backing out of the room. Only then did the girl notice the new comers.