Reid had put this off long enough, he knew it, but, like the rest of his team, he wasn't sure why this was necessary. After all, Hotch gave them their annual evaluation just three months ago, why did the higher ranks of the FBI, including Strauss, feel a "more official" one was needed?
Unfortunately, like his annual one, there was no escaping this examination. If he stayed calm and gave precise, short, exact answers, he could get it over quickly and not give the FBI anything to worry about.
Alone now, Reid headed into town. The psychiatrist, Dr. Riley Parker, was said to be very annoyed with the young doctor, as his assistant had said after Reid's third cancellation. Through obligation only, Reid suspected, Dr. Parker's assistant called to rearrange, saying the only way Dr. Parker could fit him in was if they met at a diner in town. Reid obliged and he and his unprofessional driving skills were on the way.
No one else on the team had mentioned much about their evaluation, which calmed Reid a little. If it had turned out to be something serious or difficult, the first person quickly would have warned the rest. They worked well like that. Still, Reid was nervous. The rest of them didn't have irregular brain powers and a family history of mental illness. Perhaps he was afraid if he said the wrong thing, he'd be fired, or worse, admitted just like his mother.
The parking lot at Lisa Marie's Diner seemed pretty full. The lunch rush no doubt. Reid had no idea what Dr. Parker's car looked like or even the model so there was no way he could tell at this point if he was here yet or not. Or maybe he'd miss the appointment entirely. Reid could put it off for another two weeks. Hotch couldn't get mad if the shrink didn't show up.
Parking the car, Reid grabbed his bag and headed towards the entrance. He took a deep breath, taking a quick glance in the window…
…freezing in his spot, he had to look again.
She was like some mythical creature that had come to life, as if this was the woman a Disney character had been based on, like Snow White. She was beautiful, long black hair, exceedingly long, pulled into a French braid. Her skin was pale, but not sickly looking. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of elegant eye glass frames and even though he couldn't see their color, though he wished he could, he could see such a sparkle in them. Like diamond dust was dazzling in them.
She was young. There couldn't have been more than a few years difference between the two. As the waiter walked over, she began to speak. Reid couldn't hear a word, but loved to watch her lips move around her gleaming white teeth. They were a bit misshapen; it seemed to give her face personality and character. As she smiled, Reid felt his stomach contract and felt dizzy. He took a deep breath to settle himself.
It didn't last long, though. As the waiter walked away, he watched as "Snow White" pulled out her bag and a brown folder. The folder… looked awfully familiar.
And as the official FBI seal stamped on the front came into view, Reid felt his jaw drop slightly.
No, this couldn't the psychiatrist! Reid thought for a moment. He was sure that Dr. Parker was a man, no he was certain. Hotch had said so.
Hotch hadn't said so, thinking back. Hotch hadn't informed them who would be conducting the analysis until just before the procedures began. No one had told Reid about the shrink him(or, in this case her)self. Not to mention the first name was Riley. That wasn't an uncommon girl's name.
"Riley," he whispered. It was sounding more beautiful by the minute, and for the first time in a long time, Reid thought of that name without flashing back Riley Jenkins.
His brain was getting fuzzy, making him sound like some high school kid in a cheesy Lifetime movie. He stared at her longer, watching her go over the file. Reid couldn't bear to make himself go in there. He had to stay calm and collected during this if he wanted to keep his job. He couldn't make himself feel secure out here, hidden from view, how could he do it in front of her?
Reid suddenly felt like he was back in high school. All that was missing was being naked on the football field again.
The waiter returned with coffee for the young girl. She smiled and thanked him and Reid watched. He watched as she added three creams, he watched as she added two sugars, he watched as her delicate fingers slowly stirred the hot liquid to the appropriate color and then lift the cup to drink. And if he thought her lips were beautiful dancing around her teeth, he was completely enchanted as they wrapped around the porcelain as she took a sip.
He couldn't go in. It was like there was a spell on him… maybe she was some kind of enchantress.
"You're delusional." He said to himself.
After awhile, she started checking the clock on her cell phone every few moments. Each time she did, she rolled her eyes and held an expression of annoyance. Reid couldn't help but laugh to himself each time she did it. Her face and its expressions looked so cute.
2 hours went by and Reid didn't notice a moment. His eyes never left her. After awhile, instead of dreading going in, he began to feel invigorated for just getting to admire her so long. He chuckled again. How many unsubs had he profiled, saying they began as peeping toms and stalkers?
As the waiter came over to offer a seventh cup of coffee (she certainly could down the stuff) she waved him away and asked for the check. She began gathering up the files and papers, putting them neatly back into her bag. Riley, or "Snow White" as Reid continued to refer to her, had lost her look of annoyance and simply looked discouraged… like she had failed.
He watched as she walked to the front, wearing a brown skirt with a light blue cardigan over a white blouse, each piece of clothing fitting and showing her curves perfectly, pay for her coffee and head out the door.
There wasn't much thought of the trouble he'd be in, returning without his evaluation done, but a surge of panic hit him. What if he never saw her again?
Quickly, Reid's legs seemed to have taken completely control and rushed to the front door to meet her, faster than was natural.
And, as Newton said, "To every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction". Reid collided with her just as she was exiting, causing her to step on his foot… and sending her straight onto the concrete.
He watched in agony for a moment, terrified of what would happen once the initial shock washed over. He heard her scream of fright and then a loud moan as pain swept up through her from the impact.
"God damnit!" she screamed after a moment. She looked up at Reid with rage and antagonism in her eyes. "You should watch were you're going!"
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, offering his hand to help her up. He tried his best not to stutter or stammer or sound incompetent. He was extremely nervous and hoped she couldn't see it. "I… I'm late for a meeting with someone. I didn't mean to… knock you down."
Thankfully, she accepted his hand and pulled herself up. Luckily, her bag had remained fastened, keeping all her files and work safe. She checked the latches before straightening herself. "It's alright," she said, though her tone informed him it wasn't. She brushed the dirt off of her (Reid felt a stab of guilt at a few dirt smears on her blue sweater) and looked up at Reid in question. She was tall, he noticed. Probably 5'10 or '11.
"Wait, meeting?" she inquired. "You're not… you're not Dr. Reid, are you?"
She was quick. "Yes… I'm sorry, Dr. Parker?"
"Yes!" she cried. Her annoyance had turned to fury which was now erupting to the service. "I had just given up on you! I was about to head back to the office. You're two hours late, where have you been?"
"I lost track of time." He said quickly. "Uh… you know, a new case we're working on."
"I see," she said. She wasn't just annoyed. She was thoroughly pissed. "Well, you're here. Let's get this over with so we don't have to do this again." She opened the door and walked back inside. "It's not like I don't have a schedule, too, you know." She mumbled under her breath.
He couldn't help it. Everything she was doing… it was like he'd never made human contact before. Everything she did, no matter how angry she seemed or how rude her attitude towards him was, made him want to be around her more.
Thirty minutes went by quickly. Reid shook hands with a very cold Dr. Parker, trying to remember exactly what they had discussed, but it all seemed a blur. She put her things away again and pushed past him out to the front doors, without so much as a goodbye. He watched her through the window, this time inside, as she got into her black Jeep and head onto the highway.
Heading out the door, Reid began to believe he'd never see her again. Even if his analysis was a cause for concern, it would be turned over to someone else. Maybe that was for the best, though.
Garcia believed that everything happened for a reason, as she had told him before. For the first time he found himself not only believing but certain it was true. Riley Parker had come into his life for a reason. He'd have to wait, and next time would go much more smoothly.
