Chapter 28: Reid
The sun was shining and the temperatures were relatively mild as JJ and Hotch carried the picnic basket, cooler along with a blanket to spread on the ground to a shady spot they were able to claim in the large park being used for the town picnic. The boys were trailing along behind them helping carry what little they could which was mostly a few of their toys and snacks in case they got bored and didn't find other children to play with. The long row of picnic tables were already lined with food and JJ carried their basket up to add the dishes she had prepared to the feast while Hotch spread out the blanket on the ground for them to sit on. They had given the kids a reminder in the car about how to maintain their covers no matter who they saw, even if it was someone from their work who the children as they were all aware that the whole team should be in attendance this time.
As they settled on the blanket they saw many now familiar faces from the community and though many people still made a point to come over and say hello. "Look over there." JJ suddenly whispered to Hotch, drawing his attention to a nervous looking Reid sitting on a blanket with some other people they knew to be faculty at the small high school.
"That's our new science teacher." Bruce Kepler stopped by their blanket, seeing the direction of their gaze.
"I didn't think I'd seen him before, still trying to learn everyone in town." Hotch responded easily as Reid looked up and noticed the trio. Bruce Kepler was the assistant principal at the school so quickly beckoned for the young man to come join them, obviously intent on doing introductions.
"Spencer Redding, I want you to meet Officer Aaron Hatcher, his wife Jennifer, and their children Jack and Henry." Bruce said jovially as he indicated the family still gathered on the blanket, the boys having not yet taken off to play as they were intent on unpacking the toys. JJ felt a little nervous as she saw Henry look up at his godfather but he just smiled shyly before going back to his toys. "Spencer is our new science professor at the academy, he's quite the whiz and should be getting his doctorate in chemistry very soon." Bruce let pride show about their newest employee.
"Hi, nice to meet you all," Spencer said in a slightly awkward manner.
"You'll probably have young Jack here in your class before you know it." Bruce made an obvious effort to engage the nervous young man with the Hatcher family and was rewarded by an awkward smile.
Recognizing Reid's usual nervousness Hotch took the lead and leaned to shake his hand. "I'm sure you'll be quite the asset to our educational community." Hotch said assuredly while JJ followed his lead and reached across to also shake their fellow agent's hand. "We're pretty new here ourselves, but it's a great place so far and we hope you like it here as much as we do." She said brightly, seeing Reid relax slightly.
"Thank you, it does seem like a nice town, I'm still learning my way around," Reid acknowledged as he smiled in response. He opened his mouth to say more before he was interrupted.
"Let's go meet the York family, I just saw them come in, their daughter Amanda is one of the star students in our school," Bruce Kepler halted the small talk as he beckoned for Reid to follow him to another blanket. Reid managed an awkward wave goodbye before he turned to follow the principal, leaving Hotch and JJ both watching him with amused smiles as he excused himself before starting to weave through the crowd in the indicated direction. Apparently one purpose of the town picnic was to let everyone get acquainted with any newcomers as people milled around to talk. "He's a little shy," Bruce said by way of explanation, turning back to Hotch and JJ briefly before he followed the young genius." He's brilliant but a little socially awkward," he shared in a confidential tone, not sounding critical and accurately describing the role the young agent was playing. "Many geniuses are," Hotch said agreeably as he received a smile in response before the assistant principal departed to catch up with his young charge and continue the introductions.
"They did pick a perfect cover for him," JJ's voice was low as she almost whispered to Hotch, glad that the FBI had found a role for Reid where his occasional awkwardness would not seem out of place.
Reid's POV
"I can't believe how everyone looks so natural here," Reid's thoughts raced through his mind as he passed Morgan who was emptying a trash bag, apparently having been hired to help keep the park clean during the picnic. "Henry didn't even act like he knew me and I'm his godfather, I sure hope I'm acting that well," he continued to think as Bruce Kepler dragged him towards yet another family whose child would be in his class. He was grateful for his photographic memory as the faces of various students and parents kept passing by him before they had apparently completed the tour and he was allowed to get a plate of food and relax.
A moment of eye contact with Rossi was all he got as he was served a piece of pizza that looked absolutely mouthwatering as he made his way through the line. The older agents cooking skills had apparently not been overestimated considering how much he had already heard about the vast improvement in food quality at the local pizzeria. He had to agree he thought as he bit into the piece he had and tasted the subtle nuances of spice that put what seemed to be nothing more than a basic pizza head and shoulders above what he was used to tasting. He didn't realize how hungry he had been as he quickly finished his food while observing the crowd. His analytical mind quickly taking in all the information he could as he watched people interact. There was nothing that caught him off guard yet as he watched the townspeople interacting, though he tried to keep his focus on them he couldn't help also catching glimpses of his teammates. He noted how Hotch and JJ were appearing to blend in nicely with the other couples and children scattered about the park, while Rossi enjoyed his role at the food area. Derek tended to either be ignored or be the recipient of a few suspicious glances if he veered too close to areas where families were at, but nothing that wouldn't be expected considering his role.
"Emily seems to be sticking out a bit awkwardly also," Reid observed as he saw her walk around with pen and pad in hand with a bag over her shoulder likely holding a few additional accessories such as a camera and tape recorder judging from the weight of it. People seemed polite to her he noticed as she milled through the crowd but no one went out of their way to talk to her and her approaches to others seemed to be met with unusual brevity.
"Oh no, she's heading this way," he noticed as she had started to walk towards him, but fortunately Bruce Kepler had not strayed too far from his side and stepped up as the brunette reporter approached their area.
"Hi, I'm Emily Parson's with the Montana Star, I'm here to cover the picnic and would like to get some responses from the community, I'm also interested in any human interest stories," she introduced herself with what appeared to be a winning smile though Reid could tell that no one seemed impressed or inclined to respond to the dynamic reporter. He watched as Bruce Kepler gave her the same line she had probably already heard a hundred times over about the basic purpose of the celebration and what it was commemorating but was obvious closed off as for the first time he didn't even make a motion to introduce Spencer to the reporter.
"They do seem to share a certain boundary in regards to people they would classify as outsiders," Reid observed and made a mental note to type into his report later considering the abrupt change he had seen in people who tended to be friendly and outgoing when it involved someone considered a part of the town as opposed to perceived outsiders like Prentiss or Morgan.
As the young genius continued to form his impressions about the town he remained oblivious to the attentions he was receiving from a few of the teenage girls he had been introduced to as those who would be members of his class when the session started as they watched him with some whispers behind hands and giggling indicating they were looking forward to having the new young teacher in their school.
AN: Sorry as always for the delay. The next few chapters will include perspectives and experiences from the rest of the team as they interact with the town as well as with each other and shed some thoughts on their own undercover work. Next up will be Morgan. Thanks for the humbling reviews: Lexa, jekkah, Jessica Faith, stelmw02, chiroho, hotchfan1, and CMfandoodle.
