A quick thank you to all my readers... Sorry for the delay in posting new chapters- I had a bit of a computer problem. I hope you understand! PS. More on the way as I am starting the third of this series, to be called "Keeping Scarlett". Many more chapters yet to upload in "Knowing Scarlett" also, please be patient! :-)

Please continue to leave reviews and feedback! I do listen! Love to all! ~Becky

Chapter 21

Scarlett heard her phone ringing somewhere inside her dream. She wasn't even certain that it was truly ringing or if it was a figment of her subconscious until she heard Reid speaking to someone on the other end.

"She's still sleeping, Garcia," she heard him say quietly. Scarlett thought to respond that she was awake but was so exhausted she waited instead to determine if the conversation warranted her waking up...

"How important could it possibly be, Penelope... the news only rehashes what we already know..."

Scarlett opened her eyes now and saw Spencer's brows furrow. "Sorry..." he mouthed to her. She just stretched and moved closer to his warmth.

"It's fine, pretty boy... put Pens on speaker so I can yell at her for calling me at five o'fuck in the morning," she mumbled into his chest.

Spencer laughed at her choice of words. "She's up and crabby now, Garcia- I'm putting you on speaker."

Penelope started talking before the speaker connected. "I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't something important... seriously guys, I mean this has gone viral and the news is going to air at six am so as acting liaison I need to know what kind of statement to make here..." she ran her words together without a breath in between.

Scarlett shook her head. "Penny, what are you talking about, what's gone viral?"

"Oh cheese and crackers Scarlett, the news feed from the club last night... they blogged it and its gone viral, everybody and anybody is retweeting and posting it..."

Scarlett sighed. "Posting what, Pens. Please, explain- I haven't had coffee yet nor have I turned on any social media... Just tell me what's going on..."

Garcia huffed out a breath. "It'll be easier to show you... I'm coming over so get decent..." she told them and disconnected the call.

Spencer pulled on a pair of sweatpants and moved over to open the door just as Penelope's knock sounded. Scarlett dragged one of his t-shirts over her head as Penelope stormed in.

Garcia completely ignored their various states of undress as Spencer dug through his bag for a shirt. She set her laptop down on the table and waited impatiently for them to join her.

Scarlett walked over to the table, looking at the screen. "This better be good, Pens. I'm not caffeinated yet," she warned her as she yawned hugely.

Spencer exited the bathroom to come stand behind Scarlett and wrapped an arm across her shoulders.

"Honey, my phone has been ringing off the hook since this went up overnight. I waited as long as I could to wake you... but now every news crew in fifty miles wants an interview and I have to find out what to say..."

Reid pulled Scarlett back against his chest and looked over to Penelope. "Garcia, maybe you should start from the beginning. We still have no idea what you are talking about..." he said gently, trying to push her back into the right direction.

"Right- right... okay, then watch;" she said clicking some links in her computer. "This is what you missed. This is what's gone viral...

The computer cued up to a news crew reporting from the club last night. A woman reporter was centered, setting up the story.

"Good evening, this is Debbie Dunn reporting live from outside a local club the "Toybox" just outside Akron city limits. We have confirmed that FBI agents had tracked down a serial killer into this location, where one of their own agents single-handedly took down the would be assassin. We have eye witness reports stating that this agent, whom some are dubbing "super woman" approached the person of interest, and when he pulled out an automatic weapon into the crowd of over four hundred, she fired one shot that disarmed the criminal and led to no injuries or loss of innocent life. We are following the police outside the club at this time, trying to catch a glimpse of this so called super woman, but the police are keeping tight ranks at this point..."

The camera panned the area, focusing briefly on Hotch and Morgan who were talking to some local detectives. Suddenly the camera cut to the side and Reid's voice could be heard identifying himself as FBI. The reporter could be heard telling the camera man to follow him.

Scarlett heard Reid swallow hard behind her as he was watching the footage. "Uh-oh," she said softly, having an idea of what was coming up next.

The video played on as it followed Spencer stop at the sound of Scarlett's call. When the camera zoomed in on him picking her up and kissing her, the reporter was heard in the background saying, 'Are you getting this?'

Reid watched the video continue, as Scarlett's image pulled back from him and he saw himself yank her by the back of her hair into his kiss. Her feet weren't even on the ground and by the looks of the images, he was manhandling her. On a scene. In clear full FBI gear. He groaned loudly and moved to go sit in one of the hotel chairs.

"Christ," Reid rubbed at his eyes. "I am in so much fucking trouble..."

Scarlett looked between him and Penny. "Why? There are no rules in the books saying that interoffice personnel are not allowed to date. I checked all the protocol. There isn't anything wrong about us being a couple..."

Spencer looked up at her. "Scarlett, protocol or not, it just looks bad for the team. Unprofessional. You know that... besides, Jesus, that wasn't some simple show of affection- I mauled you on a crime scene..."

Scarlett scowled. "Extenuating circumstances, pretty boy. It'll be fine... I'll handle it."

Penny held up a hand. "There's a bit more, if you want to watch?" she asked.

Spencer rolled his eyes and hid his face behind a pillow.

Scarlett smiled and shook her head. "Play it Penny. I want to know what they think they saw..."

The reporter was back in the scene as the camera angled to keep Scarlett and Spencer in the shot.

"It seems that we've located the woman of the hour... I will try to continue to get an interview with her, but it seems she's tied up a bit for the moment." the woman offered a quirky yet friendly smile. "I'd think it would be safe to say she's a hero to more than just one person tonight. Even her fellow agents are enamored by her."

Reid groaned loudly through the pillow.

Watching the video, Scarlett saw them get to the scene where Spencer noticed the blood on her clothes. The camera man focused his lens in closely to get a shot of how badly she was covered in gore. She shivered slightly at the memory of feeling that covering her.

"Ugh. I hope that they edit that from going over the air..." Garcia made a face and turned her head.

Spencer peeked out to see what they were talking about. The camera clearly showed the two of them, staring into each other's eyes as if there wasn't another person in the area. He watched himself tuck Scarlett back into the blankets and drag her by the hand to where they met up with the others.

He furrowed his brows and looked at Scarlett. "Why didn't you ever tell me that I have a tendency to drag you around?" he stated a bit mulishly.

Scarlett laughed. "Because I like it when you do, farm boy. And usually you have a good reason. Like then- I was in a bit of shock and you wanted to get me out of there. Why would I mind you wanting to take care of me?" she moved over to where he was sitting and leaned forward to kiss his forehead.

"Relax, Spence. This will blow over and be fine..."

"Easy for you to say 'super woman'," Penelope quipped. "I have to talk to these reporters this morning and I don't know what to say- and I know they are going to want an interview with you..."

Scarlett sighed. "I guess we better talk to Hotch and see how we can play this out..." she stated.

"I'm going to hide," Spencer stated. "For about a month..."

Scarlett looked down at his reddened face and ears. "Poor baby," she said and lifted his chin to kiss his lips. His blush deepened as he looked quickly over to where Garcia stood smiling. Scarlett laughed and pushed him back and sat on his lap.

"Spencer..." she looked into his face as he turned to look at her. She stroked a finger down across his cheek. "I love you, my sweet shy boy..." she smiled gently.

Reid cleared his throat. He resolved to ignore Penelope's presence and rubbed his cheek to Scarlett's. "I love you more, crazy girl..." and smiled back at her.

"Aww. You two are just the cutest couple..." Penelope smiled. She lifted her phone and pointed it at them. "Say cheesy fries!" she laughed as she snapped the shot of them. Scarlett stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes.

"Cute, very cute," Penny laughed. "Maybe I'll show that to the reporters..." she teased.

Scarlett threw a dirty look at her and so Penelope snapped another picture.

"Okay, stop with the camera now, Pen. I'm only in a t-shirt here," she said and stood up off Reid's lap. As she crossed the room to the bathroom, Spencer noticed that he could see right through his white tee. He heard the click of the camera again and turned to catch Garcia snapping his picture. She grinned and crossed over to him, handing him the phone to see the photo.

"See, that's the 'look' I told you that you have when you look at our little girl..." she teased.

Spencer took the phone with a scowl and looked at the picture. Penelope had shot the image as he was admiring Scarlett's curves. His face had a slight dreamy look to it and he had a small grin on his lips. He scrolled to the other two pictures and smiled at Scarlett's goofy face then looked at himself. His head was turned slightly grinning at her. The next picture showed her in a scowl as he had his face nuzzled into her hair. He expanded the images to check if he could see as clearly through the t-shirt in the pictures as he could while she was walking away. He heard Penelope's giggle.

"Don't worry Reid," she teased. "Your arms were strategically placed, I made certain of it..." she ruffled his hair as she reached for her phone back. "I kept it PG, my neurotic friend," she joked.

"I'm not neurotic," he groused. "I just don't want half naked pictures of my girl floating around..." he scowled.

Garcia smiled. "That sounds so nice..." she said looking down at him.

"What?" he asked confused.

"Hearing you say 'my girl'... it has a nice ring to it, sweetie. I'm so happy that you two are happy," she said simply.

Spencer ducked his head slightly and blushed. "Yeah... thanks," he said nervously rubbing at his neck. "But I don't know how the Bureau is going to feel about that..." he said indicating the laptop images with a wave of his hand.

Penelope shook her head and smiled again. "Don't you worry, doll face- If Scarlett says she can handle it, you can consider it handled..."

Scarlett came back out of the bathroom dressed in her jeans and a Killers t-shirt. "And I will," she told them both. "But first we have to talk to the others- I've got to get their take on this, especially Hotch. I need to know what direction he wants to go in..."

Spencer sighed and moved into the bathroom to get changed. "Wait for me," he told her, still nervous about the coming reaction of their team leader.

"Spence," Scarlett stopped him halfway. "It will be fine, I promise," she told him softly.