Set after finding out about Prentiss, J.J., and Hotch faking her death, Reid decides to drink away his frustration. Senator Siena Wallis is hosting a Wisconsin expats party at the same bar. Secrets are shared, and bonds are formed. Companion piece to Profiling Survival.
The name of the beer, to my knowledge is made up.
When Reid Got Drunk
Reid chose a new brewery on the edge of DC. It was exactly two blocks from a bus line, which he believed he could manage, inebriated. This was all meticulously planned, from his blue plaid shirt and jeans, to what he was ordering. The idea was to get sloshed alone and without out the team knowing it.
"One Birkebeiner," he said.
The bartender was built like a lumberjack, dressed looked like one too, in red and black plaid and suspenders. He merely filled up the glass with a dark amber brew and slid it to him.
There appeared to be some sort of political event going on there. In the back, A blond-haired woman in a University of Madison sweatshirt, was standing on a stage with the flag of Wisconsin, behind her.
"These presidential candidates treat us more like a campaign stop than an actual state!" she shouted to cheers. "They promise to bring back jobs, help working-class families and blah blah blah! You've heard the lines! They haven't changed much since Reagan's time!"
This got some laughs.
Reid knew who it was: Junior republican Senator Siena Wallis. She was playing to crowd. This was political soft ball. Reid wished he could have read J.J. and Hotch as well as he read Wallis. This made him down the rest of his beer quickly.
He signaled the bartender and he brought him another.
"The democrats don't want our iron!" she said. "Don't they know tapping into this resource would create jobs, jumpstart the economy and all sorts of good shit?"
More lies led to Reid drinking more. Politicians lie for a living, so it's expected. It isn't expected from friends, especially the mother of his godchild.
"We're going to get Planned Parenthood out of our state! Mark my words! One day, there will be no more legal baby-killing."
More cheers.
"Areas with the most access to legal contraceptives have the lowest abortion rates!" Reid shouted, as the alcohol emboldened him.
"It appears we have a heckler," Wallis said. "What's a skinny child like you doing here? Hard Rock Café is downtown."
The laughter rose.
Reid stood up shakily.
"I happen… to be… an FBI… agent."
He had never heard laughter so loud in DC. It gave him flashbacks of being bullied in school.
"Charlie, finish for me," she said. "I'm going to get this boy in a cab before he steps into traffic."
Charlie was Congressman Charlie Calhoun, of Wisconsin's fifth district.
Wallis slung an arm around him.
"I need to… pay…" he slurred.
"Put it on my tab Lou," she said and looked at his glass. "Birkebeiner? You were trying to get drunk fast."
"I can take the bus," he managed to slur out.
"I don't need the headline, 'FBI agent gets hit by car after walking out of Wisconsin expats party,' to trend online."
They entered the cool darkness. She flagged down a cab.
"Where to?"
Reid reluctantly got in the cab. Wallis joined him.
"I don't need a babysitter!" Reid shouted.
"Meter's running," the driver said.
"Capital Plaza Apartments."
The car started moving. Reid grew dizzy.
"Thanks giving me a reason to duck out early," she said lightly.
"Why do you lie?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You're a liar! I know who you are Siena Wallis. You're a democrat in republican clothing!"
"I know why you're mad as hell. You were lied to regarding the death of Emily Prentiss. I saw footage of your congressional hearing."
"You don't know me," he said. "You don't know anything about me."
"You don't know me either."
"That doesn't make lying right, though. Especially not to the people who voted for you."
"You're in no shape to debate politics with me. I get why you're upset."
"You knew if that iron was mined it would create a boom town that would go… boom."
"I have also seen the environmental impact studies. It would be prohibitively expensive in the long run to mine it."
"Then why'd you lie?" Reid roared.
"Because honest politicians don't get elected!" she said. "People are too busy raising their kids and making due with less and less to read up on things such as runoff toxicity."
"It sounds like you came close to call your own consti-tuen-ts stupid."
"Far from it! I care about things such as the birth rate, the poverty line, and infrastructure spending, so that the people who don't even have reliable internet access don't have to. Unlike some of my colleagues, I take my job seriously."
Reid couldn't process everything she said. God, he hated being impaired.
"Why did J.J. lie to me? As I cried into her arms, she didn't stop lying."
"We both work for the government, where trust is a myth. I work politicians who openly cry over children dying because of guns, and then speak at second amendment rallies."
"I don't know what else she could be lying about." Reid said.
"Does Jareau have a history of lying to you?"
"No," he said honestly.
"Could she have been merely following orders from Hotchner?"
"I'm her son's godfather!"
"It's not fair. I know I can't say anything that will make it seem fair. You have to work this out with your coworkers, not a random senator."
The cab stopped.
"Let me make sure you get upstairs. I know these buildings are walkups."
"You don't…"
Wallis caught him as he fell out of the cab.
"So, this was your plan, get drunk away from the team, to forget about your problems?"
"It seemed perfect."
"Grieving people don't always act smart. You're grieving the loss of trust on your team."
Reid and Wallis walked up the stairs. She kept a firm grip on his arm.
"Are you sure you feel safe being seen with me?"
"My divorce was finalized three months ago. James has already been photographed with other women. Don't you want a scandal to ruin me?"
"No," he said. "You're doing good work. I like your agenda. I think you believe you are doing the will of the people in ways they don't realize. I just don't like how you do it all the time."
"Fair enough."
Reid pulled out his keys. They fell to the ground. Wallis picked them up and unlocked the door.
"I'm O-K from here," he said.
Wallis walked around his kitchen.
"You got sprite," she as she opened the fridge. "You did prepare for this outing."
Reid took a seat on the couch and promptly fell asleep.
…
He woke to the smell of coffee and a pounding headache.
Wallis was still in his apartment.
"Why are you still here?" he asked. His own voice sounded loud. "What about your kid?" he said softly.
"You struck me as someone who has never woken up hungover," she said softly. "It is only six a.m. Kinsey is staying with grandma for a few days."
He opened his eyes, and then closed them, the light was bright.
"Kinsey, did you name her after the character in Sue Grafton's books?"
"God, you are smart. Yes, I hope the author lives long enough to finish the series. Do you like sugar or cream in your coffee?"
"Sugar, lots of it."
She handed him his sunglasses and a mug. She then took a seat next to him.
"I was an ass to you last night," he said. "Thanks for staying, and thank you for taking care of me."
"Saying that BS makes me feel as sick as you were last night. It felt nice having someone call me out on it."
"I could have blown your cover."
"My 'cover' is thin. I have had people try to blow it before. You weren't particularly effective."
"You should go home. Call your kid."
"I greatly enjoyed your testimony at the congressional hearing. It is the closest anyone has come to landing a blow on that guy. You have nothing to be sorry for Dr. Reid."
"I know why they lied," he said. "It just hurts so much still."
"I know. I hope Hotchner has team building exercises planned in the future."
Reid realized how close he was to Wallis.
"I can't," he said. "I think there might be someone else."
"I understand," she said. "You wouldn't want to be stuck with someone who lies for a living anyway."
"Maybe you won't have to, as much someday. The party could change."
"For worse too, I've read the tea leaves. We're one megalomaniac away from destruction."
Wallis kissed him on the forehead.
"Thank you for saving me from lying for another four hours."
"Thank you for saving me from acting even more stupid."
Wallis gently put the mug in the sink, and slowly closed the door as she left.
Reid wondered if he'd ever meet Siena Wallis again. He was thinking about how much he liked talking to the woman who was treating his migraines. It wouldn't have worked out. She lied too much to get things done. It was an interesting idea though.
He vowed to never get drunk again. Reid didn't like losing control of his mind. The day-after feeling was awful too. It didn't make him forget problems like he wanted to. It was a valuable lesson he was glad he learned away from the team. Alcohol doesn't solve problems either. Reid got drunk once, had a brief emotional connection with Senator Siena Wallis, and decided there were better ways to handle problems than with Birkebeiner beer.