They were coming this way. Reid turned to face the bulletin board, pretending all this information which he had already memorized was much too important to turn away from.
Morgan moved closer to him, lowering his voice to a calming tone. "It's going to be okay, Reid. We're right here."
He shouldn't be this nervous. He was a grown up, they couldn't do the things they used to do to him, he shouldn't be so afraid of what they'd think or what they'd say. If he didn't let them make him feel inferior, they would have no effect on him.
Alexa was walking towards the door, her husband and in-laws in pursuit. She stood before entering, turning to the three.
"Before we go in there," She said. "You have to make a promise that you will act civil with each and every one of these people."
"Like we're going to piss off people with guns, Lexi." Harper said with a roll of her eyes.
"So all three of you swear that no matter who you meet in there, you will treat each person with the respect he or she deserves?" Alexa pressed.
"Yes!" Jeremy grumbled. "Now can we go in there so we can get on with the rest of our lives?"
After a pause, Alexa gathered her composure. "Thank you, Jeremy, for understanding how important it is to me to find my son." She muttered bitterly.
"Shut up and let's go." John ordered. "I'm tried of dealing with this; let's just get it over with."
With no way to argue, Alexa took a deep breath. "Just remember what I said."
At least she was trying to stick up for him, Reid thought. It was very considerate on her part. But Reid quickly pushed the nicety from his mind. She was just like the rest of them. Cold and cruel, picking on the weakest of the crowd just to make herself feel superior.
He remained facing the board as they stepped into the room. "These are three members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit." Alexa explained. "They've agreed to investigate the case."
"Behavioral Analysis Unit." Harper repeated slowly. "Where have I heard that before?"
Before anyone could remember or realize, Morgan stepped forward. "I'm SSA Derek Morgan," He said frigidly, flashing his badge to the group. A perfect excuse so as not to shake any of their hands. "This is SSA Emily Prentiss."
"Emily Prentiss," John said in a playful tone, offering his hand to her. "Well… if I had known the female agents were this beautiful, I would have reconsidered my career."
Emily was not amused, even less so than his wife, who watched the seen a few feet away. Emily neither accepted his hand nor responded to the comment. Instead, she folded her arms. "Agent Morgan and I will be interviewing you, Mr. Hillman, and your brother-in-law, Mr. Bundle, in just a few minutes."
"Why do we need to be interviewed?" Jeremy asked, confused. "We didn't do anything with the kid."
That very statement told the two profilers a great deal already. This interview was not going to be very pleasant. Morgan turned to Alexa, suddenly feeling a bit of sympathy for her. "I understand Agent Rossi already took your daughters to the interrogation rooms?"
"Yes," Alexa nodded. "Is there any way I can be with them?"
Her body language was telling them a lot. They way she distanced herself from her family, avoided looking at them as much as possible. There was a large wedge between her and these people… it could definitely be a clue that lead to Peter's disappearance.
"It's best they do this alone, Mrs. Hillman." Morgan explained. "Children are often more likely to open up when parental figures aren't around."
"I'll go see what's keeping Riley, that way she and Reid can get started." Emily said, pushing past the group rather forcefully. Glancing back, she noticed the hunched form of her dear friend before the cork board. He was as quiet as a mouse, wanting to be as silent and ignored as the evidence hanging on that board.
"Who's Reid?" John wondered. "I'm not letting some stranger talk to my kids, I don't give a shit if he is an FBI agent!"
"Well…that's something else I need to tell you guys." Alexa said, at last turning to them. "See… there's a reason why the unit agreed to take this case, despite how long Peter's been missing… I know one of the agents. Personally."
John looked at her, amazed. "Personally?" He asked, angry, suspecting the worst.
"Who?" Harper wondered, skeptical.
"It's someone we all know." She said. "And, despite everything, he has graciously agreed to spend his personal time, including the time of his team, to help us. To find what happened to Peter… we all owe him a great deal. He could have just as easily turned me away… in fact, he almost did. And I can't blame him in the least."
Each one of them were interested, not in the least suspecting who it could be. The moment was upon him and for a split second, Reid believed he was going to be sicker than his wife.
"So who is it?" Jeremy demanded.
Alexa took a deep breath and finally blurted out. "Spencer Reid."
There was stagnant pause, the conference area became as silent as a tomb. Reid was about to turn around and see their shocked faces… when suddenly his ears felt like they were burning.
Amused laughter spread around the area, the three in disbelief and amusement. "You have got to be kidding!" Harper giggled.
"Spencer Reid?" John asked. "That shrimp of a thing? He works for the FBI"
"It's Dr. Spencer Reid now and he's one of the best agents the BAU has ever had!" Morgan corrected angrily. "And he's standing over there, trying to forget that you're not worth his time."
The laughter quieted as, at last, they spotted the figure turned away from them. There was no avoiding it now. Slowly, Reid turned and found the faces of the three people who haunted his nightmares long before unsubs and bloody bodies came into his daily life.
The laughter fell into a silence, lying in wait to burst forth again. Harper was smirking a bit, biting back her lip to keep her giggles down.
"Oh my God," Jeremy mumbled. "I never would have guessed."
"He's all grown up." Harper pointed out, speaking about him like he was some object in the zoo.
"It would be a little too hard to stick his head in a toilet now." Jeremy added, his laughter getting the best of him.
"I think I could still manage it." John said. He, however, was not laughing. Not in the least. His expression was hard, staring at Reid like he was the reason his son was missing, like he was the bully all those years ago.
He was, however, the first one to speak directly to Reid. "Why are you doing this?"
"You mean, why am I trying to find what happened to your child?" Reid asked. "Because my team and I are the only ones who can."
"This isn't any of your concern." John took a dangerous step towards Reid, who was a bit grateful the square table stood between them. "You don't care about my family, you don't know my children. I don't want your help."
"I'm here because your wife begged me." Reid said. "Although, if I'm stepping on some toes here, my team and I can mosey on. I've got plenty of old rivals to help in this country."
"No!" Alexa cried, as if Reid had been serious. "Spencer, please don't listen to him. I came to you, I'm asking for your help. If they're too much of a problem, they can leave."
Reid met her horrified eyes and swallowed his anger. "Alright," He nodded. "Perhaps I'm just overreacting. After all, it's been twenty years…" He glanced at the others. "People can change a great deal in that time."
He turned back to the board to continue his studying, but John was determined to get the last word. "Maybe you have, numb nuts, but I'm just who I've always been. Even better. I'm popular and revered and can still get any girl I want… what the hell do you have besides some fancy gun and a shiny badge?"
Reid didn't answer, focusing on the board. He looked so entranced, they believed he hadn't heard.
Morgan, who had stayed out of it in an attempt to let the kid fight his own battles, caught a glimpse of his face. Reid was trying to remain impassive, but he looked on the verge of tears, struggling to keep himself together.
JJ was trying to figure the best way to approach this. She didn't just want to come out and clobber the girl with the theory, it would be best if Riley came to it on her own. She'd be more willing to accept it that way. As they stepped into the precinct's break room, Riley grabbed one mug and went to the coffee maker. JJ stepped beside her, watching as she braced herself at the sight and smell off the coffee.
"None for you?" She asked, curious.
"No," Riley shook her head. "The smell makes me so nauseous; I'm trying to keep my breakfast down."
"I'll make you some more tea," JJ informed, grabbing another mug. "It doesn't do much, but ginger tea did at least make the nausea a little more bearable for me."
"Funny, I don't remember you being sick." Riley said, glancing at her. "How long ago was it?"
"Oh… it was awhile ago." She said casually. "I am curious, how long have you felt this way?"
Riley was reluctant, looking around to make sure they were alone. "Please don't tell Spencer… he thinks I've only been sick for a few days, but in truth… it's been a couple weeks."
She struggled to keep the joyful smile from spreading on her face. "And you haven't been to a doctor?"
"No," She replied. "Why, do you think I should?"
"Well… let's consider that." she said slowly. "You've had nausea and vomiting, exhaustion and frequent urination, right?"
"Right," Riley confirmed. "I also had a fever last night, but it broke around 3."
"How high was it?" She questioned.
"It wasn't very high, 99.1, if I remember correctly." Riley gave a shrug. "Not a big deal."
"That doesn't really sound like a fever at all." JJ retorted. "More like a raised temperature."
Suddenly they were arguing semantics? "I suppose… Where exactly are you going with this?"
Pouring out some hot water, JJ dunked the bag into it, letting the striations of tea spread through the liquid. She reached into one cupboard, pulling out the box labeled Essence of Ginger.
"I'm just wondering if maybe… this isn't the flu at all." She informed.
Riley was getting further and further confused, not to mention worried. "What else could it be? You think it's something worse?"
"Not necessarily." JJ replied, the smirk on her face could be repressed no longer. "I'm just considering a different alternative… maybe you should, too."
Despite her urging, Riley wasn't getting the hint. She thought for a moment, but eventually gave a shrug. "I honestly can't think of anything."
Either she really didn't suspect or she was unwilling to come to the conclusion on her own. "I'm just saying, if you take all those symptoms you have with a raised temperature and sudden cravings for foods you almost never eat… it really doesn't sound like the flu. It sounds like something else, something… namely…" She trailed off, hoping she would see the point.
The light bulb finally ignited in her mind, sparkling in her eyes. Riley rolled her eyes in disbelief. "I am not pregnant, JJ."
"How can you be sure?" JJ asked, folding her arms.
"I'm sure because I'm sure!" Riley said, a little annoyed. "I'm not pregnant, I can't be."
"Sure you can," She argued. "Unless you have medical proof that you're barren, I think it's very possible."
"But Spencer and I are always safe." Riley informed calmly. "It's impossible."
With a shake of her head. "Nothing is impossible. Accidents happen, people forget."
"I'd think I'd know if I were pregnant, JJ." Riley said sternly. She was in complete denial about it. There was no way she could be pregnant… it just couldn't happen. Not now… maybe not ever.
Going for broke, JJ went for a something a little more scientific. "So you're whole body is like clockwork. You haven't been late at all?"
Fine, she would humor her. Counting on her fingers, Riley went back week after week, tracing the timeline to her last menstruation. It was easy to backtrack, considering she counted her weeks usually by Spencer's cases and stays out of town.
However, she got more and more frightened the further back she got. Running out of fingers, Riley was nothing short of terrified.
"Oh my God, I might be pregnant." She squeaked, a trembling hand coming up to cover her mouth.
JJ rushed forward, putting her arm around her. "Riley, it's okay. Don't panic."
"No…" She said calmly, pulling her hand away. This couldn't be true, it just wasn't plausible. "I… can't be pregnant… it just wouldn't happen. I would have known before if something went wrong."
She suddenly realized JJ was giving a few friendly strokes to her shoulder, trying to ease her anxiety. "Just relax, it's not going to help getting upset. I know it's scary to think about, but it's going to be alright."
"What's going?" Garcia asked, interrupting the girls.
Riley and JJ looked over, seeing both Garcia and Emily join them in the break room. She did not want more people brought into this, but she didn't know what to say to make them leave.
"What's up?" JJ asked.
"The other family members are here, Reid's ready to interview the daughters as soon as Riley gets back." Emily explained. "Is everything alright, what's wrong?"
"Everything's fine," Riley muttered, looking away.
"Sweetie, you look like you just had a heart to heart with a ghost." Garcia cried, noticing how all the expression had faded from Riley's face, turning her very pale. "What's wrong?"
"Is she getting sicker?" Emily said, looking to JJ.
There was smile on her face, however, which deepened the confusion. There was no point in lying to them. After all, they were all friends. "We're not positive, but… we think… Riley might be pregnant."
The girls were flabbergasted for a moment, never expecting that. Unlike the supposed mother, however, they were joyful and ecstatic.
"Oh my God!" Garcia squeaked, practically jumping for joy.
"Are you serious?" Emily wondered, looking between the two for confirmation.
"Like I said, we're not sure, but…" She gave a shrug. "I've been pregnant twice, I know the signs."
While the others were filled with happiness at the news, Riley was ready to burst into tears. Her hands gripped the counter top behind her, her knuckles a pure white. It helped her keep hold of her emotions, keeping a neutral, stone faced expression, so afraid if she let her passions get the best of her, it would be true. This couldn't be happening. This had to be some terrible nightmare. Maybe this whole thing was just a bad dream and any minute, Riley would wake up in her husband's arms in their home. Their home, alone. Just them.
"No," Riley said, her voice even as she shook her head. "I'm not pregnant; we're just jumping to conclusions. There has to be a rational answer that explains why I'm feeling this way."
"There is, Sweetie! It's because there's a cinnamon roll in your toaster oven!" Garcia cried, much too loudly. Luckily, no one from the team was within earshot.
"Obviously, you and Reid weren't planning this, but it's going to be alright." Emily assured with a warm smile.
She expected any second, Riley would accept this and feel at least a little happy about it, but she didn't. Her feelings were cool and calm, giving a shake of her head. They suspect, maybe, until she was sure, she didn't want to get her hopes up.
Pulling it together, Riley straightened up, smoothing out the wrinkles in her sweater. Speaking rationally, she said "Look, as excited as you all are, I don't want to just assume anything. How do we know this isn't just some bad flu? I mean Morgan's sick, too."
"She has a point." JJ said, conceding. "It's not good to just assume things. These symptoms could be a number of ailments, as she said. We should find out the truth first."
"How am I supposed to find out?" Riley asked, considering that. "I don't think there's any way I can sneak back to the hotel today and if I take a test tonight, Spencer will see. I don't want him to know anything about this. I don't even want him to know we discussed this."
"He doesn't need to know yet." JJ insisted. "We can take a test right here, as soon as possible."
"I've got nothing to do while those searches are running!" Garcia exclaimed with delight. "I'll run out and get you a test."
At that, Riley felt relieved. In a few hours, she'd learn this was just some stupid wishful thinking on her friends' part and it would all be behind her. "Let me get my purse, I'll give you some money."
"Oh, pish, Sweetie, it's on me!" Garcia said with a bright smile. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Can you still do the interviews?" Emily asked. "I don't want to press you, but if you really don't want Reid to know, you might not be able to hide it from him."
"It'll be alright. He already knows I'm sick." Riley avowed. "I have to be there for him, he needs me."
Emily agreed. Riley looked sternly at all three girls. They weren't gossips, but anyone could let something slip. "No one else is to know about this, understood? The last thing I need is for word to get back to Spencer, especially if it's not true."
"Mums the word, Sweet Pea." Garcia agreed. "We'll see you in an hour or two."
Mutely, Riley nodded, grabbed Spencer's coffee, and allowed Emily to lead her out. Once the girls were out of sight, the other two let their joy get the best of them.
"I can't believe this! Reid finally reproduced!" Garcia squealed like an excited kid at Disneyworld.
"We don't know for sure yet." JJ exclaimed, not wanting to get her hopes up. "Though I have to admit, even without proof, I'm pretty certain. And I have a feeling Riley is, too… a woman knows her body. I know she's afraid, she'd be crazy if she wasn't, but once it sinks in, she's going to be so happy… and Reid…"
"How do you think he's going to react?" Garcia wondered, curious and apprehensive at the same time.
JJ, however, knew better. She remembered, from a few years ago, long before he became a married man. When Reid had been mistaken and believed that Riley was pregnant instead of JJ. The look on his face, the light in his eyes, he wanted to shout from the rooftops he was going to be a father… only to have the truth ripped away from him a second later.
"Reid…" JJ said slowly with the brightest of smiles. "He's going to be thrilled."
"Oh man," Jeremy mumbled as he stared across the bull pen, spotting the group of women conversing in the break room. "Are those all agents?"
"If they are, no wonder there are so many unsolved crimes." John muttered, his eyes skimming over each one. "How the hell do these guys get anything done?"
"I love the blonde." Jeremy noted in a low growl.
"Which one?" John wondered with a smirk.
"The skinny one obviously." Jeremy retorted with disgust. "Though I doubt the carpet matches the drapes."
"Are you men scamming for your next wives?" Harper said with a slight laugh.
"Wife, easy lay, whatever." Jeremy said with a shrug. While John and Alexa seemed at odds, this couple got alone pretty well, even with the suggestion of infidelity. "What about you, John? Which one do you like?"
John Hillman, who gave no concern to his wife's scowl, scanned the cluster and spotted the one who made his stomach twist pleasantly. "The brunette…" He said softly. "With the curly hair… she is gorgeous."
"She looks too smart." Jeremy brushed it off.
"Are you kidding?" John cried. "A girl in a sweater and jeans that tight is just looking for an excuse to take them off."
The two agents remaining in the room were not involved in the conversation. Morgan was desperate for Emily and Riley to get in here and finally reprieve the poor boy from this torture. Cautiously, he moved over to the board again, acting as if he were helping Reid arrange some of the items.
"You doing okay?" Morgan whispered, barely audible.
Reid stood so rigid, if something were to apply pressure, he'd surely snap in two. "How can I be okay?" Reid hissed through gritted teeth. "They're insulting my friends and objectifying my wife… I hate them. I mean, I physically hate them. I can't believe I'm here."
"It's going to be alright, you just need to stay calm." Morgan assured. "You know Prentiss and I will lay them out if you need us to. Karma is a bitch, I think I could manage to give both those jackasses a swirly if you like."
There was a pause and Reid suddenly had a small smile on his face. "I could help you with that."
Morgan stifled his laugh and patted the kid on the back. It wasn't much, but Reid felt a bit better. At least he had his friends on his side.
"Here they come," John said, getting to his feet. His took a glance at Reid, ready to show him that he was the same player he'd always been. Twenty years didn't make a bit of difference.
Emily and Riley arrived, stepping into the enclosed area. Before she could go over to her husband, there was suddenly a monstrous barrier in her path.
"Hi," He said slyly, offering his hand. "I'm John… and I have to tell you, when I saw you over there, I could not take my eyes off you."
Riley eyed him with caution and nodded. "Try harder next time."
She attempted to step around him, but John wouldn't let her pass. "So you work for the FBI?"
Clearing her throat. "I'm an associate."
"Oh, so, you're not actually an agent." John said with a smile. "I guess it would be unfair to give you a gun, those looks of yours could kill."
"If only," Riley said with a fake smile, once again attempting move past.
"I imagine you have a lot of interesting stories from your job." John said, feigning interest. "I'd bet you'd make great conversation, maybe over drinks?"
At that, Riley lifted her hand in triumph, the gold and silver rings glistening from the lights. "I'm married."
"Me, too." John said. "There's no rule that says married people can't talk over drinks."
Reid gathered his materials, slipping them under his arm. He caught a glimpse of Alexa, sitting at the table with a sour, dejected expression on her face. Once again, he felt a pang of sympathy for her and it didn't disperse so quickly this time. He knew this little show was simply for Reid's benefit, but he suspected it wasn't the first time her husband flirted with other girls right in front of her."
Riley gave him no answer. With a deep breath, she rolled her eyes and looked past him. "Are you ready, Baby?"
"Yeah," He smiled and at last Riley made it over to him, handing him his coffee. He took a long sip. After he swallowed, he gave her another grin. "Thank you," He said and slipped a kiss on her cheek.
It was obvious her next gesture was just for the benefit of the others. With a bright smile, she brushed some of his hair of his face, looking deeply into his eyes. "Let's go."
"Right behind you," Reid said with a dopey smile. As she hurried out, Reid followed, leering triumphantly at his former living hell.
"I guess you can't get any girl you want." Reid stated. At last the superior one, he turned and victoriously exited the room.
Emily and Morgan couldn't hide the pride they felt for Reid, especially Morgan. "If you four could step out and wait for us in the bull pen, we'll begin your questioning in a moment." He said, chipper.
The four obeyed, moving out into the main room of the precinct. John Hillman, boiling with rage over what happened, was not about to take this lying down. A step behind the women, he grabbed his best friend's arm. Eyes glowing with fire, he lowered his voice and ordered, "She's mine."
Jeremy nodded in agreement, more than willing to help his friend. They were not about to let Spencer Reid get away with this.