Author's Note:
I don't know what is going on with FF. I hope it is resolved by the time this chapter is posted. If I post Thursday, it will be later.
There is a note at the end.
Chapter Twelve:
Okinawa
Simmons
"Matt, it's really bad," Kristy said. "The boys can't go to school without being pestered. Everyone knows J.J. is pregnant. The FBI has moved all of us who are related to you guys to a gated neighborhood in Alexandria."
"I had no idea it was going to be this rough."
"Even Reid's father is with us. He keeps to himself, as he seems to be aware of the fact that he is an outsider."
"What about Mrs. Reid?"
"I don't know much, but I believe she is at a new facility under an alias. Or so Garcia told me, who is with us with the Morgans. His ex-girlfriend Max is also with us. You're lucky Ann isn't here too."
"I'm just glad you can joke about my exes."
"They found her. She sold a story about how she took your virginity for five thousand."
"Ouch."
"Matt seriously, you're lucky. The doctor who treated Reid while he was detoxing came forward."
"What!? Why?"
"A British tabloid paid him one mil for the story. He lost the money Gideon paid him to shady investor and has been trying to get it back. I feel horrible for Reid. They painting him as a junkie who took advantage of J.J."
"Why isn't the FBI taking control of the narrative? How did they even find out about J.J. being pregnant?"
"One of the deckhands managed to snap a picture with a go-pro hidden under his shirt."
Simmons sat back in his chair.
"Matt can I offer a theory as to why?"
"I always said you were smarter than me."
"There is a reason it took them this long to find you. I can't sleep so I've been reading about the tracking radars used to find you. Were you in a place the government doesn't want the world to know about? It that why Reid past is being presented as the sacrificial lamb to the media?"
"You know how much love you right?"
"Without question."
"I don't want to say here."
"You think our calls are being monitored. I see."
"On to more sensitive subjects: I didn't cheat."
"I wouldn't have been mad if you did. I have spoken with opposite halves of the group. We're all-in agreement: We weren't going to hold it against you."
"I love you so much. I just want to come home!"
"Matt, I want you back, and so do the kids. I just feel bad for Reid and J.J."
"I know, me too. We won't abandon them. We'll figure something out. I promise."
"I'll talk to you again soon."
"Love you!"
"Love you more!"
Simmons hung up. He then rubbed his head. The world truly wasn't the same. Sighing, he got up and left his room.
He found Rossi a few paces ahead of him.
"David."
"Hi Matt. How are Kristy and the kids?"
"Good. She's more worried about the circus Reid and J.J. are coming home to."
"I heard the same thing from Crystal. I'm suing that doc when we get home, for every dime he earned from selling that story."
"Good."
"Let's talk to him," Rossi said. "I haven't had a chance to see him."
Rossi turned around.
"They got all my favorite clothing brands," he said. "I almost feel normal. I wonder how I'll have to buy shoes from my favorite designer?"
Simmons smiled.
"Maybe they'll give you a fifty percent off discount."
Ross knocked on the door.
"I might make them."
They waited.
"Maybe he's at dinner."
There was the rushing of footsteps. The rest of the team came from around the corner. Prentiss had a maintenance man with her.
"Open the door," she said.
The man unlocked the door.
Reid wasn't there.
Day Four
"The girl's earing's are why we're going to have full stomachs," Simmons said and shook his head. "This is going to make for one heck of a story."
They carried the fish to the rock formation.
"Shiny things attract the interest of fish," Reid said with a shrug.
"I'm glad I wore my lace-up boots. They didn't fall off while swimming and the laces made for good line."
"We're all contributing to our survival, Matt. I may be the one who knows the most about things in general, but none of us would be alive without each other."
"Always so humble," he said with a smile.
"It's taken me fifteen years to master humility."
"You climb up first," Simmons said. "I'll pass the fish to you."
"Good think I'm past the point of caring about germs."
"How else would you have survived prison?"
Reid climbed up the rock.
"A lot of it was just pretending to be somewhere else."
"Such as an island getaway?"
Simmons reached forward and began to pass the fish.
"More like wandering the streets of Paris while my mom was still lucid."
"Meet anyone while there?"
"Yeah, a spy."
"Wait, really?"
"She knew who I consulted for, when I wasn't with the BAU. She tried to bribe me to betray my country."
"I know you don't kid, but my god this sounds like you are!"
"My mom takes medication that knocks her out for seven hours. Me and let's call her, 'Brigid' had a very nice evening together."
"Did you…"
"Yes, Matt, we had sex. I'm not the virginal choir boy everyone thinks I am."
Simmons was cracking up as he passed the last fish.
"So, you politely turned her down."
"If spies killed every person, they tried to turn like in the movies Matt, over twenty-eight thousand people would be dead annually."
He climbed up the rock formation.
"Who else know this story?"
"Emily and J.J."
"Have you ever seen your spy friend since then?"
"No, and I don't think I ever will."
They gathered the fish and walked to the clearing.
"Oh, that looks amazing, and I'm not a big seafood person," Lewis said upon seeing them.
"Reid was just telling me about his fling with a spy in Paris."
"Oh, Brigid," J.J. said. "She sounded like a nice woman, except for the whole asking to sell out your country."
"Maybe I should be offering to write with you, kid," Rossi said.
"No thanks. I've seen my mug shot enough online to never want another fifteen minutes of fame."
Alvez took the fish.
"What about when they rescue us?" he asked.
"I'll check on my mom, load my car to the brim with books, hide in an apartment until everything blows over, and go back to work."
"You could stay at my place," Rossi said.
"Or with Will, the boys, and I."
"No thanks. I'm going to need time away from you guys."
Lewis flung a stick at his head.
"Hey!"
"Come on everyone," Prentiss said. "We have fish to gut before we cook it."
Reid's eyes suddenly widened. He ran into the jungle.
Simmons began to go after him.
"Matt don't," J.J. said.
He turned around.
"Why?"
Emily groaned and touched her face.
"Hunger is making me stupid!"
"What is it?" Alvez asked.
"For three days, Reid's torturer burned fish guts to keep the devil away, we believe." J.J. said.
"Will he come back?" Simmons said.
"He knows he needs to eat to survive," J.J. said. "We've eaten seafood with him. He'll come back when we're done prepping it."
"I hope you're right," Rossi said.
"Let's get this fish prepared," Prentiss said.
Everyone stood up and took sharp rocks to cut the fish.
Simmons kept looking in the direction of where Reid left.
"He needs us Matt," Prentiss said. "As much as we need him."
Simmons nodded. He hoped that would always remain true.
Author's Note:
I wrote a companion piece, called "Reid's Night in Paris." It should be up soon. I love spy movies. I thought it would be fun.