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Library Therapy

She found him sitting at a round table in one corner of the library. He was reading at the speed of light, which made her smile. She watched him for a few minutes as other people passed by her.

"Hey," she said.

He jerked and nearly dropped the book. "Hi, Emily."

She sat down across from him, "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

He pushed his hair behind his left ear and looked down at the book instead of at her.

"Are you sure?"

"You're not supposed to talk in a library," he reminded her.

A couple of teenage girls walked past and giggled in their direction. Emily bit back a smile.

"I'm keeping my voice down."

"Emily."

"Alright, I'll just wait for you outside. At the rate you're going, you'll finish that book in a few minutes. The sun's shining and it's warm. I'll just take a seat on the bench out front and wait."

Reid shut his book very hard. "What if I don't want you to wait?"

"Too bad," Emily said. "I'll see you when you're done."

She went outside to one of the benches that sat facing each other across the concrete sidewalk leading to the building. She put on her sunglasses and proceeded to wait. He walked out ten minutes later with a stack of books in his arms. He scowled at her, and she smiled back.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay. Hotch told me about Mr. Corbett in Roanoke."

Reid put his books down and sat next to her. "He took a gun to the courthouse."

"We all make choices, Reid. Sometimes they're not very smart choices."

"I know," he said and then he slumped back on the bench. "I'm okay, I've just been thinking about the case and how much pain Mr. Corbett went through for all those years. Hotch talked about closure, but I don't know if I believe in that. How do you just put it all behind you? Yeah, the killer is in jail, but that doesn't bring back Darcy. He has to live every day without her in his life."

"That's true, but there's nothing you can do to make it better for him."

"Yeah, I guess I'm just taking it too personally again." She smirked at him and he finally smiled. "I am trying not to do that anymore. It's a work in progress."

"I just don't like to see you so sad."

"I'm fine. In fact, my personal form of therapy is working pretty well."

"What's that?"

"A trip to the library for new reading material."

She watched his eyes because there was something in them that was new. She wanted to ask him why he had a new strength in his face and the way he carried himself, but he wouldn't like it. Maybe one day…

"I'm glad," she said, instead and picked up her purse. "Why don't we go get something to eat?"

"Are you asking me out?"

She realized the heat was rushing into her face and her stomach had tingles. "Yeah, is that okay with you?"

"I'm not sure," he said with a prim expression.

"Why not?"

"I can't help thinking about that yearbook photo. I wonder if that girl is still inside you. If she is, I'm thinking its a good thing I have my gun with me."

Annoyance replaced the butterflies in her stomach until he began to laugh."Oh very funny, Reid. I was going to pay for dinner, but now I think you'll be picking up the check."

"Come on, Emily… I was just teasing you."

"You should have thought about that before," she informed him.

"I promise I won't say another word."

"Too late, Dr. Reid. You're paying for dinner."

He sighed and picked up his stack of books. "Fine, but I get to pick the restaurant."