Chapter 21: The Off Button
Reid POV…
I ran back to my desk, trying to figure out what just happened. I knew I looked worn out. I regretted what just occurred. What if someone from this place saw me, I might lose my job!
I saw Morgan was still not here, was he with me there or had I imagined him. Frustration grew in me more.
Run all you want but there is no place to hide.
If, I only had a button to turn them off, I will be in heaven! I sat down in despair trying to recite the decimal numbers of pi in my head, anything to distract me. I knew my nose was red and the bile building up in my throat was burning me.
Who can deny their mind! Don't play tricks.
My phone rang. It was Marleen calling from her hotel. Something to distract me for a while!
Return to reality is only possible if you listen.
"Hi Spencer, hope I am not disturbing you!" She asked.
No one but I can help you.
"No, not at all, how was your visit to your Aunt's place?" I asked trying not to cry with all the mess in my head.
"Hi, is everything okay?" She asked possibly detecting something in my voice.
"Oh yes—I mean no, just work stress I guess" I lied.
Hear me; nothing is as real as me. Can you deny that!
"Oh ok, well the visit was okay, I haven't seen her in a while. I got the files doctors needed at the hospital. Dad's feeling much better now"
"Glad to know that"
"I am so happy that now I actually have someone to share things with" She said. I drank my tears away trying to sound normal.
These worldly fake things cannot satisfy you, I have the key to peace.
"I'm more than happy to be part of this" I replied.
Stop running after this ruthless world.
"Only a great person like you can fulfill the last wish of a dying stranger, thanks is not enough" She said. I knew I would lose my mind any minute now!
I have the key to peace.
"I was about to head back this evening, if it is okay with you and you can totally say no to this! I just wanted to see the FBI headquarters once in life!" She asked. I was in no shape or sense to let her come in here. I hesitated, getting mentally torture at the same time! My will power was giving up, I had no time to make up an excuse, I was about to cry!
"Like I said you can say no and I won't mind at all!" her cherish voice battled with my whispers, her voice was fading in the background now.
Let everyone run over you!
"Sure you can!" I said nothing that I meant. I couldn't hear her voice anymore.
"Hello, are you still there?" I asked.
"Yes, thank you so much, I will come by, possibly near the evening, don't want to disturb the normal work" I made most of it out but her sound was gone too. I turned around panicking and saw my mother was sitting on Morgan's desk looking over at me with a smirk. I closed my eyes. She is not real.
Reality is perceived. Illusion is created, where you dwell is a creation, it's not real.
"Meet you soon" I ended the call unaware of anything anymore. I smashed my already injured head on my desk. The loud bang that it must have created failed to reach me. Was I going deaf? I opened my eyes and saw my mother standing beside me.
It will be okay, trust me, everything has an end in world, you just need to find it.
I closed my eyes again trying so hard not to surrender. I felt a hand on my back. It sensed so real, I wanted to look back but I closed my eyes even tighter.
I am the reality you are craving for.
I heard faint background noises, a female voice, calling me but the inner echoes were more powerful than ever.
It will all be over soon, you just need to recognize.
"Reid?" I recognized Emily's voice. I had to turn around. She stood beside me, her hand on my back, with most concerning looks in her eyes; she was here with me, caring for me. She was my dream that could never be translated to reality.
But, I wanted to never look away, her soothing eyes, the confidence searing out. I kept admiring how beautiful my dream looked, if illusion could be this satisfying I wouldn't mind letting go of reality. I was lost in her, the uproar of the whispers, echoes and sound started to quiet down, slowing fading under the sensory load of my sight.
Her gently eyes, her unforgettable scent lured me out of the blazing fire and I was suddenly so calm that it was unreal. Her stare slowly melted me defining once again the meaning of life, of dreams, of love. It went silent, like suddenly she just switched off all the whispers. I happily smiled at the most spectacular delusion I've created.
Emily POV…
His messy hairs, his desperate eyes, his being, and then there was his smile slowly deteriorating my heart. In that moment, time meant nothing no more, lost in my desires I longed nothing more to but touch the fantasy in front of me. The way he looked at me, ruined all my plans, all my strengths, all my future. I wanted to win him over, fight myself to get him. I was ready to break my ego to take him away.
"Agent Prentiss" Anderson's voice finally broke the romantic trance. I realized how close I was leaning near Reid. I quickly shifted and cleared my throat.
"Yes?" I asked.
"The fax is here" He handed me the papers that JJ just send from Detroit. He left afterward. My eyes were still burning from the sight they just witnessed. I had no energy left to look back and die. I heard something break inside me, my ego. I shifted back. Reid was now staring at his desk.
"I just wanted to know if everything was okay." I heard my voice sounding so strange to me.
"Thanks for asking" His voice was so weak, almost shaking with fear. Something inside me wanted to grab him, hug him until eternity.
Both of us not dared share another eye contact. I slowly walked away dazzled at my emotions.
You have no idea, how much he is inspired by you, how much he admires and observes you day and night, work or vacation; he constantly desires you in his thoughts. Confession and words are not as strong as deep genuine love. I can't think of a reason you can reject someone like him.
I sat down on my seat feeling I just visited heaven and returned back to hell. Was I in love? I once again looked up to see Morgan was back looking my way. He looked scared. Maybe he saw us, dying for each other. I tried to return to work but nothing could make it feel better anymore, nothing could return the high I just experienced.
I would be lying if I said that I was working but the evening approached fast and it was time to leave. I gathered my stuff to leave.
Just then, she walks in. Her hairs messy and curly and were flowing around freely. At first glance, she reminded me of a professor but later her personality sort of contradicted it.
She walked over in her wedges smiling and gazing around in wonder. Reid met her, greeted her by sharing a quick embrace. I saw it from the corner of my eyes. Something inside me blazed seeing her hands behind his back, seeing her so close to him. Why was I getting mad at that contact? I don't own him I reminded myself.
They started talking, she laughed and he smiled in response. She grabbed his wrist and rushed to his desk.
"Is this your desk where you solve all mysteries, wow!" She cheered on.
It wasn't very busy at this hour so they wander around to picture memory wall to different offices like he was giving her a tour. Who was she? Soon, they were out of my sight but I remain frozen in my seat.
"Am I imagining or did he just past by with his girlfriend?" Garcia stood beside me with her go bag. She was leaving home that the odd pair struck her.
"Imagining" I replied.
"He can be so sneaky, no way!" Garcia mouth remained open.
Morgan returned back to head home but instead found two statues wondering.
"Girls, everything okay with yah?" He asked by waving his hand in front of our faces.
"Reid has a girlfriend!" Garcia spoke still frozen. Morgan frowned, almost audibly.
"WHAT?" he finally let out. Garcia without saying much grabbed his arm and dragged him out to follow where Reid and the mystery girl were strolling.
I know Reid too dam well to not believe Garcia's conclusions. He would never fall for someone that fast and that too within few days. There was something up. I too followed them in the main lobby. I hid behind the backs of my two fellow agents as we all sneakily profiled their conversation.
"These all belong to federal agents before us" Reid pointed to the wall of fame and she glared at it so keenly.
"WOW, I can't actually believe I am finally here!" She hailed. She then looked our way and we all pushed back concealing ourselves. Morgan stepped on my feet and I drank up my scream. I pushed this muscular guy aside hard and he fell right on the lobby floor pulling me along too. Oh shot!
Garcia hushed at us and ran away leaving us all exposed on the floor on top of each other. Reid and the girl turned to see two federal agents sweeping on the floor.
"O, are you okay?" The girl ran to us, I pushed myself off Morgan keeping my eyes on the girl. She was far slimmer than me, with black dark circles under her eyes. She looked average. She then smirked which I perceived to be very evil. Her competitive vibes were so damn clear to me. She gave her hand to me for a handshake, but I took it as a challenge. I wasn't backing out; I took her hand and smiled back.
"Hi, I am Marleen and you?" She greeted. I just kept giving her the Hotch-stare folding my arms in front of me. Reid was by now standing beside her.
"Marleen, they're my fellow team members" He introduced us so ruthlessly. Morgan greeted her next.
"Actually we are his friends" He corrected Reid. Marleen beamed.
"GREAT to meet you all! I hope you didn't get hurt." She responded.
"Ahhh….no" Morgan embarrassedly answered.
"Let me show you around the round table where we actually discuss our new cases, it's this way" Reid interrupted and looked straight back at me. I didn't expect his stare to be this angry. He then grabbed Marleen's hand. I gulped down the bile building up in my throat. His gestured with her, walking past me, his stare even angrier. Did he just end it all today? He was so mad at me for not responding to him. I stood still watching the two walking with each other, the side where I should be walking, the smile I should be causing. I knew him for far more time than this possible Marleen could even imagine.
"You look angry, I totally expected her" Morgan answered scanning my worried face.
"Feeling jealous?" He said.
"You gave him away yourself!"
"Regretting now huh?" he kept bombarding me with comments.
"I told you!"
"MORGAN! STOP IT!" I yelled a little. "ENOUGH!"
"Oh….my, so much anger in your voice. I wonder why?" He smirked and pushed him around to walk away. I didn't know why I was so furious all of a sudden. Morgan followed me.
"So that chapter closes then for you" he kept talking. I turned away.
"Are you seriously going to continue making your fool?" I asked.
"OOO, man, I love this! What a move by genius to get his lady all rocking up" Morgan swung around me.
"Love is fire they say" he kept swirling around me bothering the hell out of me.
"Stop misunderstanding, I thought you were a profiler" I questioned.
"Oh girl, you burning in there right" he laughed out loud fuelling me. It wasn't Marleen who was driving me crazy but our very own Derek Morgan!
"GODDD!" I turned back to walked back. He kept his annoying moves on.
"Let's go show her who's the boss here, shall we?" he threw his arm around my shoulder while walking back to our desks. Marleen was leaving, saying her goodbyes to Garcia and Reid.
"This is it ladies and gentlemen, now or never" Morgan whispered lightly beside me. I threw his arm away.
The feminine in me roared. I started to walk over to my man, claiming what was mine, stumping my shoes loudly, stealing all attention, moving like I was a ramp model, I saw Garcia gasping. I went as close to Reid as possible, intruding whatever distance was between us. I placed my hand on his side pulling him beside me. Shock as he was, the touch so familiar, sitting in the cold freezer room exchanging body heat. I dared not to exchange a glance with him at that moment. I might make it out alive.
"Hope my man showed you around everything you wanted to see" I said. Garcia gasped loudly. Marleen stunned a little. Girl had no idea who was the queen around here. But, her expressions quickly shifted to sudden happiness. Unexpectedly, she smiled so joyfully that I panicked. Her eyes showed no sign of defeat but of victory. What was happening, who was she to him?
"I had the best possible time. Thank you all but I have to catch my plane to Vegas now" Marleen said and I released the force from my hand holding onto the man I just claimed mine. Reid quickly created distance between us and followed Marleen out, stumping around the corner, on the edge of the desk. My inside smiled seeing how just one touch by me could make him lose all focus and fall.
Garcia, poor soul so unaware of all this almost forgot to inhale. It was just too much for her! Morgan laughed uncontrollable for few minutes before regaining back. I didn't believe I actually confessed my love and all credit goes to Morgan! Ahh!
"Emm—eemiill-yy?" Garcia slowly called me.
"I will take care of her" Morgan told me and on he went to his baby girl unfolding the tale.
I knew it was now or never. I hoped my point got across to Reid. Time to find out.
**Do Share if you like or dislike the story? I am not the best writer out there but I try to get those emotions bang on. My writing is all about emotions, hope they get through you all. (3 more chapters left )