Disclaimer: Criminal minds are not mine
A/N So, it's done. I hope you have enjoyed it at least little bit.
The day was slow. The team was supposed to be catching on a paperwork, but as the time slowly flew to the end of the shift, the laziness took charge over the agents.
It was hard to believe it had already been over a three months since the abduction case. They had already solved seven outside the city cases and wrote dozens of consults. The life went back to normal as they had started to ignore the lab workers as they used to. They were just resources that helped them solve cases.
Emily was almost ashamed as she realized she had no idea if Annabelle was back at work yet. She took the first lab report to ongoing case and check the name under it. Well, whoever it was, it wasn´t Annabelle...
And then she realized Reid had been seeing the lab tech occasionally. Maybe it still lasted. Although the doctor was the only one still working, Emily didn´t hesitate to interrupt him.
"Hey, Reid, I was just wondering, when does Annabelle come back to work?"
"She passed psychological evaluation last week and she was supposed to start on Monday." he informed not realizing he was betraying the fact he stayed in close contact with Annabelle.
"Well, my reports are still written by someone else" Morgan joined the conversation "and seriously, they might as well be written in Japanese. I had no idea lab reports could be so complicated." he complained.
"Maybe slightly less clear. Ani had used to write me some explanation when she used new method or found something interesting." Reid daydreamed.
Emily looked hesitatingly at Reid. He used to get passionate about all kind of weird stuff. But this time she guessed the doctor's passion wasn't all about the reports. "I agree with Morgan, never before my lab reports contained words I couldn´t not only understand, but even read correctly" she said anyway, deciding rather not to change topic.
"Maybe I can help you with that, Agent Prentiss" the vaguely familiar voice startled them. Emily breathed out with relief. She had made good call, deciding not to pick on Reid.
"Ani..." Reid turned to her enthusiastically but all joy disappeared from his face as he noticed the huge box she was holding. She smiled at him and answered the unasked question.
"I have handed in my resignation yesterday. Frank was sad but very forthcoming. I really thought I could come back, but after two days here it was more than clear it wasn´t going to work."
"It usually takes time" Emily smiled at the lab tech "And I thought you have passed the evaluation"
"I did" Ani admitted "and with the PTSD therapy I´m undergoing I believe it would have been all right. But I decided for the easier way out. I´m moving to Boston. My brother had even found me apartment in the same building he is living in. His wedding is in two weeks and his fiancee had just found out she´s pregnant. So, the little one is going to need its auntie to spoil him rotten"
"And what about a job?" Morgan asked practically.
"Frank had offered me to call the Boston department to get me job there, but I don´t think it´s good idea. I´m thinking about some medical labs. But I´ll see. Right now, I´m going to enjoy my holidays and I need to get myself in shape for the national championships"
"It sounds like a good plan" JJ, who came out of her office as she noticed Annabelle there, joined the conversation "But we´ll miss you around here" she said truthfully.
"I´ll miss you too guys, at least the ones I didn´t have to translate my reports for" Ani teased.
"But I..." Reid complained but Morgan jumped right in "She wasn´t talking about you..." and he stood up and shook Ani´s hand. Emily as well came to say her goodbyes.
"But I have just signed in for Taekwondo classes" Reid finally got out of himself and caused the whole group to stare at him in disbelief. The doctor continued "You have promised you were going to show me what you like about it the most" he obviously referred to some conversation the two of them had before.
"I´m sorry, Spence" Ani said sadly "but I..."
"I know, I get it. I´ll just revoke my application"
"There´s no reason for you to do that... Just go there and start practicing. The masters in local gym are great. The national championships are in three months, here in DC. So come and watch and you´ll see, how much more you appreciate it even with only three months in. And I´ll be there, I promise"
And then the doctor did something no one had expected. He made just the few steps towards Ani and hugged her tightly. She reacted automatically, hiding her face on his neck. He whispered something to her and when they let go, there were tears in her eyes. Ani smiled through the tears to the rest of the group, bidding her goodbye and before anyone realized what was going on, she was in the elevator.
Annabelle knew she had made the right decision, but as she was taking shower that evening she realized there were again tears in her eyes. She let them flow freely as she remembered the honest hug Spencer had gave her and the whispered words
"I know we shall see each other again"
THE END
