Stepping into the Unknown
Chapter 11: Sharing the Secret
Author's Note: This takes place after Daily Morning Routine. Since this is part of my first Criminal Minds story, I don't think I am going to go into cases in detail. This will mainly be focus on what Dr. Reid's life outside of work might be like.
I do not own Criminal Minds or Dr. Spencer Reid. I do own Michelle, though.
"No really, I found my glasses here." He says as he opens the door for her. She walks in and takes a deep breath; she says that she just love the smell of a good thrift store. He just laughs, having gotten used to those kinds of strange affirmations over the past months. He finds it especially entertaining to see her at work now in the morning; he can always tell when she's stopping herself from saying something that most people might find strange. He just loves the fact that when they are together, they are very much themselves.
He walks slowly behind her as she looks through the books they keep at the front of the store. She grabs an old, used copy of Return of the King and mentions very excitedly that she's been looking for that specific edition for years to complete her series.
She strolls over to the clothes and as she starts looking around, he picks up a grey and black sweater vest. He tries it on over his button-down shirt and tie, but unfortunately, it's two sizes too big for him.
"Anyway, I don't think you need any more sweater vests, Dr. Reid!" He jumps at the chirpy voice behind him. Oh, God, no, not here, not now, is all he can think. He turns around and there she stands, smiling at him, Penelope Garcia in all her exuberance. "I should have guessed that you were the thrift store type! If I had known I would have made sure that we went shopping together sooner."
He clears his throat and adjusts his glasses, he quickly, and hopefully subtlety, looks up to Michelle who's still going through the racks.
"Well, shopping all by your lonesome isn't fun so, why don't I keep you company! I might even be able to add some color to your wardrobe." She puts her arm through his and starts pulling him forward.
That's when Michelle looks up and makes her way back toward him, a questioning look on her face. This isn't going to be good.
"Hum, Garcia... I'm... I'm not here alone."
The blonde looks back and forth between him and the short, black-haired girl who's just a few feet away now. Penelope's eyes grow bigger and her mouth opens to form an almost perfect 'O', she quickly pulls her arm back against herself.
"Oh, oh my God, I'm so sorry. I didn't expect... I mean, of course, it's possible... But I... I'm so sorry." She's talking at an impressively fast pace, her cheeks turning more red by seconds.
"Michelle, this is Penelope Garcia. We work together at the BAU."
"Nice to meet you! Spencer told me a lot about his team, over the years. It's nice to finally met one of you." Michelle says, putting her hand in his. In his head, he can already imagine the teasing and the ridiculous amount of questions he'll have to answer at work tomorrow.
Garcia is staring at him in disbelief. "Years? Reid, have you been hiding the fact that you have a girlfriend from us for years?"
Michelle explains that they've only been dating 3 months, but have known each other for years. He's having some difficulty making sense of what is happening, before he knows it, Michelle is paying for the book she found and a shirt and the three of them are headed to lunch.
As they sit down at a small Italian place Garcia said they just absolutely need to try, he can hear the girls talking but can't quite make out what it is they're saying and he just blurts out: "Garcia, please don't tell anyone at work."
Two pairs of eyes just stare at him, Garcia is frowning a little and Michelle looks slightly hurt. Despite the fact that he explained to her why he wants to keep this to himself and keep his work life and their life separate; he knows she thinks it's because he's ashamed of her, when in all honesty, all he wants is just to have this as his and his alone and not have to share it with the team.
He passes his fingers through his hair and rests his hand on his neck, sighing.
"You know how everyone gets when there's something new in anyone's life. Why do you think it took J.J. a year to acknowledge the fact she's dating Will?"
"Reid, I won't say anything if you don't want me too but..."
Garcia's sentence is interrupted by Michelle's incoming email alarm. She apologizes, pulls out her phone and sighs audibly.
"I'm gonna have to go, I'm so sorry."
"Is everything okay?" He looks up at her, as she's already on her feet gathering up her coat.
"Yeah, just an emergency order and it's a huge one; 120 wedding favors to be shipped by next weekend. I'll have to pull a few all-nighters if I want to get it all done." She says as she digs through her purse, trying to find her wallet to pay for her lunch.
"Don't worry about lunch; I'll take care of it. I'll come by later to drop it off and, if you want, I can help out for a while."
"Thank you! You're a lifesaver!" She kisses his cheek and he blushes, since Garcia is watching them seemingly quite interested by his interaction with his girlfriend. Michelle turns to her, she's speaking so fast that he easily picks up her French accent. "I'm really sorry for running out like this. You can ask Spencer, I'm normally not that rude, but it was great meeting you and I hope we'll get the chance to do this again at some point!"
His gaze follows her as she makes her way through the crowed restaurant, almost taking out two waiters on her way to the door. His attention is brought back to the table by Garcia's laughter.
"She's something else, isn't she? I like her." She takes a sip of water. "But I thought she said she was a barista, so, what was that about wedding favors?"
"Michelle does work as a barista, but she also has her own home business, she makes soaps and perfumes and bath products that she sells online."
"No way!" Suddenly Garcia is shooting questions at him; what's the name of the company? Her website? Does she make bath fizzies? Does she take fragrance requests? "I love that kind of stuff. That's it, Reid, I am going to make your girlfriend, my new best friend! Well actually, you know my silence you wanted to buy; maybe some samples would sweeten the deal, don't you think?"
She smiles, that typical Garcia smile and he can't help but chuckle.
"You've got a deal!" They shake hands as she tells him, that she wouldn't have told anyway. "I know, thanks Penelope. I really appreciate that. Oh, and please, don't run a background check on my girlfriend."
"That I can't promise, but don't worry, boy genius, your secret love story is safe with me!"