Family
A/N: Hello, everyone! It's time for Minimal Loss… and… yeah, I don't have much to say this time. Enjoy…?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable. Including, but not limited to: Criminal Minds, the characters or brain bleach. Alexander and Juliet Reid are characters of my own design.
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Chapter 29: The Right Choice
Episode: Minimal Loss (a little over a week later)
The bullpen was relatively quiet and mostly empty. The only person left in it was Emily and she wasn't planning on staying much later. Just as she moved to gather her things, she noticed two people approaching the group of desks. "Hey, guys." Emily smiled at Alex and Julie.
"Emily! You're back." Julie greeted, quickly coming up to Emily's desk.
When Emily raised a questioning eyebrow, Julie explained. "Spencer told us you were out for a few days after…"
At this time, Emily noticed both siblings were studying her carefully and she realized Reid must have told them what she had done. "I'm fine. It was just some bad bruises." She assured them.
Indeed, she was fine. Though she had been swollen and sore, the wounds were superficial. Between the healing she had done and some foundation, it was difficult to even tell anything had happened. Emily had debated over the use of makeup for a bit- she wasn't ashamed of the bruises, after all- but had decided to use it in the end. The stares she got from those who weren't on the team were enough to weight her decision.
Neither Alex nor Julie seemed entirely convinced she was alright, but she didn't give them time to argue. "Reid is talking over a consult with Hotch right now, but I'm sure he'll be done soon." Emily said.
The two younger Reids nodded and seemed to settle into place. Alex sat down in Reid's desk chair and Julie leaned on the junction between her brother and Emily's desks. There was silence for a time, but as soon as Emily closed her last folder and put it in a tray on her desk, Julie spoke again. "He was kind of angry at first, you know."
Emily looked startled and wondered if all Reids had a habit of spouting out random things. "Excuse me?" She asked, regarding the girl with confusion.
"Spencer." Julie specified. "He was kind of mad. About the way things happened, y'know?"
At a loss for a way to respond, Emily remained silent. "Oh, not at you, of course!" Julie amended quickly. "It's just… I think he was just angry that you… needed to do what you did in the first place."
"I told him it wasn't his fault." Emily replied, sounding somewhat exasperated. "It was my decision…"
"Did you really think that would work, telling him that?" Alex interjected form his spot behind Reid's desk.
Emily shrugged, appreciating that it was no longer painful to do so. "I thought I should at least try."
The three of them lapsed into silence for a moment, which was broken by Julie. "Somewhere, deep down, he's probably grateful for what you did." She began contemplatively. "But… he's been taking care of us for forever and then, suddenly, he has friends who take care of him. Even though it's been a few years, I still don't think he's used to it. To having people besides us who will do what you did for him."
Emil nodded. "What was that like, growing up with Reid? I can really only imagine him as my sort of geeky friend…" She asked with a small laugh.
Julie smiled too. "It was interesting, definitely. I think he sort of tried to be mom, dad and himself all at once." Both she and Alex laughed a little. "He was pretty cool, though."
"He… went through a lot for us." Alex said, more quietly. "More than I think he's told anyone… even us."
There was a beat of silence before Emily found herself wrapped in a hug from Julie. She was glad she was healing up nicely or she probably would been in a bit of pain now. Her arms came up around the girl's thin shoulders after a moment. "I don't know if Spencer will ever admit to how he really feels about what you did, but Alex and I are… just… thank you." The girls pulled back, blushing slightly at the unplanned show of affection.
Backing up slightly, she jumped as she nearly walked into Alex, who had stood up and was standing behind Julie. Quickly, as though worried he would think better of it, he leaned forward and pecked Emily on the cheek. He, too, puled back blushing. Emily searched for something to say, but Reid saved her the trouble. "Alex… why were you just kissing Emily?" The eldest Reid asked as he approached his desk, sounding almost fearful.
"I… uh…" For the first time Emily had ever seen, Alex was at a loss for words.
"Don't put ideas in his head, Reid." Emily grinned and glanced at Alex. "Though he is cute."
Reid paled and Alex laughed, faster at catching onto Emily's joke. "That is… slightly disturbing." Reid said, shaking his head and moving to his desk to gather his things.
"Well, gee, don't be afraid to say how you feel." Emily replied, laughing a little.
"I think I may need… what did you call it?" Reid turned his question on Julie. "Brain wash?"
"Brain bleach." Julie nodded.
"Ah," Reid gave a small enlightened noise as he nodded and pulled on his coat.
Emily laughed a little more and began to collect her own belongings. She had never doubted the decision she made, but being in that office and seeing her friend smile after everything she knew he'd been through and some things she was sure she would never imagine, she was more convinced than ever she had made the right choice.
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A/N: Hm… sorry, that was shorter than I thought… However, Memoriam is up next and the next three-ish chapters should be long! Woo!
I would like to thank the academy… no,wait… I would like to thank everyone who reviewed (and that's way better, anyway ;) ). So, thank you very much to Hopeful Writer, clt, donttouch, Eriks angel 15, xXxFailingDreamsxXx, cmwinner, criminalminds99, xXxOtAkU-444xXx, Laura Beth loves Jesus, Noel Ardnek, criminalxxxmindsxxxfreak, Red K 5, and RockerChild1987! You guys are awesome! Thank you as well to everyone who added this to their alerts and favorites, you are also awesome!
