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Reid had just finished cleaning the kitchen countertop when his phone rang. "Hi, JJ."
"Hey, Spence."
"Is there a case," Reid asked.
"No, I thought that since it's Saturday afternoon, I'd call you and find out how your appointment with the ophthalmologist went this morning.
"Oh."
Reid meandered to his sofa to sit. He shifted around, lay back on the cool material, pulled off his glasses, and rubbed at his eyes.
"Spence? You okay."
"What? Oh yes. I'm sorry. I went to lay down on the sofa."
"So what did your doctor say?"
"He said my eyes are healthy, and the medication I'm taking is helping with the allergy. He gave me new eye-drops to use and said that I'd be able to start using my contacts again in a week or so. He said it was up to me and how I feel."
"Are your eyes bothering you now?"
"Normal for the moment, but I haven't read much today, and I'm not stressed right now."
"I'm glad," JJ said. "I don't like to see you in pain."
"I think I'd prefer pain to the burning and itching. When you feel dehydrated, you can drink water or put lotion on your skin when it feels dry. There's not much you can do with dry eyes, except eye drops and rest."
"Then you better get your rest."
Spencer grinned at the admonition in her voice. "Yes, ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am," JJ said. "It makes me feel old."
"You're not old."
"Why Spencer Reid, you know how to flatter me."
"I hope so."
They were quiet until JJ said. "I called because I wanted to know if you want to go out tonight. However, I think you should rest your eyes instead."
"I can do both."
"Babe, I don't want you to suffer because I call you at the last minute."
"I want to see you. I miss you."
"We saw each other yesterday at work."
"I know, but having you near me where I can see your beautiful eyes and hear your quiet voice, takes my mind off my eyes. I love how you always smell like flowers and spices. It's sensory overload, but in a wonderful way."
"You don't make it easy for me to say no."
Reid smiled as he heard the change in her tone. "I hope so."
"Alright, but it's up to you to plan our date."
"You want me to plan it," Reid squeaked.
"Yep, it's your turn this time."
"Then I better think of something."
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Reid sat on his sofa staring at the table that held his chess set. The prospect of planning a date for JJ felt like the most daunting task he'd had since defending three dissertations.
"Okay, how difficult can it be," Reid said to his empty apartment. "It's a date."
Still, he couldn't think of anything to do. Reid sighed, grabbed his coat, and decided that he would do what he always did when confronted with something new to learn. Research!
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"Thank you for working me in today, Becky."
"You're welcome. Anything for my favorite customer."
JJ gave her friend and hairdresser a hug. "You're the best."
"Come and sit down."
Becky shook out a black cape and adjusted it around JJ's neck. "What do you want me to do?"
"Can you make it look like I styled it myself?"
Becky winked and gestured to a hair-washing station. "You're not the only one that asks that question. Why don't I trim it and maybe give you an angled bang and then a style? I have a conditioning treatment that will make your hair look like silk."
"Let's do it."
"Good. Sherrie is here, and she's got time to do your nails while you wait for the conditioning treatment to do its job."
"Wonderful. You're both too good to me."
"Don't worry. You're going to look gorgeous. Now, tell me more about Spencer."
JJ grinned at Becky as she lay back for her shampoo and conditioner treatment. "He's so cute and sweet and wonderful."
Becky laughed as she adjusted the water temperature. "I think you've got it bad, Jennifer."
"I do, and I feel like I've finally found the right man."
"I hope so. You deserve someone special."
"Spence is special."
An hour and a half later, JJ left the salon basking in the look of her hair and a new set of nails. She hurried to her car, and as she walked, she decided to shop for a new outfit.
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Reid found what he looked for by using a computer at his favorite coffee shop. He knew that everyone thought he didn't know how to use a computer outside of work. Reid understood computers, but he didn't have one at home because using one daily didn't appeal to him.
Reid quickly found the information he needed, and he was grateful for easily remembered freeway billboards that advertised special events.
Ten minutes later, Reid hurried back to his car and returned to his apartment. He was entering when he got another call from JJ.
"Hi."
"Hello, Jenn. I was going to call you in a few minutes."
"Good because I need to know what we're doing so I can dress properly."
"Um, it's a surprise, but if you need to know, then something nice, but not formal."
"Alright, but what time."
"Um, seven. I'll pick you up."
"Well, that gives me three hours. I'll see you then."
JJ hung up, and Reid wondered why JJ was so happy to have three hours to prepare. She didn't need to do anything to look beautiful.
Reid had everything he needed for the date, including the tickets for the event he'd chosen. He decided to read, and then he'd take a shower.
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"Okay, you've piqued my curiosity, Spence. Where are we going?"
"Here," Spencer parked the car in front of a small bakery that was closed for the night. "We have to walk half a block because I couldn't find a closer parking space."
"That's alright."
JJ zipped up her coat and joined Spencer on the sidewalk. She noticed several couples and other groups of people walking in the same direction and all wearing suits and dresses. She took Reid's hand, and they joined the others.
"I'm getting excited about this surprise."
"Good."
They approached a brightly lit storefront with the name Olympus Gallery. "An art show? Oh, Spence."
"You'll see."
Reid let her inside after an older couple and a single young woman. He nervously watched as JJ surveyed the pictures on the gallery walls. "This is amazing."
The featured artist was a well-known photographer. The photographs were related to her travels around the United States and different species of butterflies. Some of them were black and white, but most were in brilliant colors.
"Wow," JJ hurried to a blown-up image of a blue Monarch that was going to land on a giant yellow sunflower. "So beautiful."
"I'm glad you're happy, JJ."
"Happy, this is a fantastic surprise. Thank you, Spence.
Reid and JJ wandered around the gallery with the crowd of spectators and studied the photographs. JJ noticed that it was a fundraiser to help bring back butterflies to the Inland Empire in California. The funds would provide nectar and milkweed and educate people on the dangers of pesticides to butterflies.
"I wish I could afford to buy one of these," JJ said. "I'm afraid it's beyond my budget as a government employee."
"I know what you mean," Reid said.
JJ had a bit of difficulty pulling herself away from the show as the photos were so beautiful, but at last, they had to leave it all behind.
"I can't believe you put this together so quickly," JJ said.
"I've been considering it since I saw the advertisement. I thought you'd love to see it, and I liked it too."
"It was terrific, Spence. Thank you again.
"You're welcome. Do you want anything to eat or some coffee?
"I think you want coffee," JJ teased.
"I could do with a cup, but I'm also hungry."
"Then let's find somewhere to sit and have a meal."
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The next morning, Reid and JJ were back to reality with a case in St. Louis. Reid was a bit shocked when JJ sat on the arm of his chair as they discussed the killer while en route on the jet. There were other chairs free and considering they wanted to keep their relationship a secret – well, it was a shock. He decided to cover his surprise by using the subject matter as an excuse.
"What's wrong," JJ asked him.
Reid liked the concern in her voice as he explained the rarity of two serial murders functioning in one city at the same time.
The closeness of JJ's body and the enticing odor of her subtle perfume, plus the heat from her, was comforting and a bit disorienting at the same time. Still, the difference two months made was dizzying and wonderful. Reid loved that he was more comfortable with her without trying.
The feeling of comfort continued through the case. Reid enjoyed talking to her about handwriting analysis, and a secret part of him was elated that JJ didn't know that sometimes he analyzed the examples of her handwriting he'd seen.
When it came time to collaborate with JJ and Jim Barnes to write a personal ad that would draw out the Mill Creek killer, it was easy to be professional, even if getting the ad precisely right was a bit challenging in the time frame, he had. Still, he was unreasonably happy when JJ's expression confirmed her faith in him.
Everything good about the day went absolutely off the rails when their second killer burst in with a gun. Reid knew they were safe with more than a dozen cops and his team with their weapons drawn.
Reid never believed description's in fiction stories about a heart-stopping due to fear. Such an event was merely a plot device, but then Reid remembered that he'd seen evidence of severe stress due to fear causing heart failure.
All these thoughts ran through his head as he watched the brief standoff, and then it was over. JJ gave him a look, and Reid felt his heart function again.
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JJ opened her front door. "Hi, thanks for coming over so quickly."
Reid entered the small house, and immediately JJ tugged him into her arms. They stood together for a long time, not speaking but basking in the feeling of closeness between them.
"Are – um, Jennifer c-can I do anything or –"
"No, sit with me. I want to forget about men that kill women and hide them in the woods or men that shoot women to prove they're someone."
Reid decided not to speak as JJ led him to her sofa. They sat and cuddled together for an extended period. Reid felt that he could relax and let his mind slowdown from its frantic revolutions for the first time in hours.
"I was so frightened," JJ said.
"Why?"
"I knew there were cops all around me, and you were there, but I didn't want the worst to happen because we're so new, Spence. Two months isn't enough time for me. I want more."
"JJ, we're going to have more time. I promise."
"How do you know?"
"Because we have each other, and I'm not sure if you notice, but we do well together."
"Just, well," JJ said.
Reid saw the teasing light in her eyes, and happiness flooded his chest. JJ was coming out of her momentary depression.
"Do you prefer fantastic, or fabulous, or terrific –"
JJ stopped him with a kiss. "I prefer every adjective you can think of, Spence."
"I am happy you said so because I can think of dozens."
JJ smiled up at him and then said. "Let's get up and do something. I'm so wired."
"Um, I have something else in mind. I was going to plan a romantic dinner or something but – "
"Spence?"
Reid shivered as JJ stared up at him with a questioning look that sent the blood pounding through his chest.
"I – um – I want to do something, but it's not what you might think, at least not yet. I have an idea that might help me –"
"Spence, what it is. Talk to me. You'll feel better if you."
"Um – to hell with it!"
Reid pulled JJ up and began to kiss her as no one had ever kissed her. His mouth ravaged her lips like a man dying from hunger, and every rational thought fled from her brain as her arms snaked around Reid.
"My God," JJ spluttered when Reid let her go and stood heaving for breath, his eyes bright and his mouth desperately working as if he was trying to speak.
"Spence."
"I want –" Reid began to say.
JJ grabbed his hand and yanked him down the hall to her bedroom. "Come with me."