Fitting in with the Misfits
"Now I've got friends that do want me and take me as I am"
"I hope scruffy is ok for non-FBI personnel," Meredith called from her room.
"Ah, you know these government types any excuse to see a woman in civvies."
Meredith popped her head out the door, "You boys really need to get out more." She stuck her tongue out at Jason for emphasis, while she made a mental note to bring some other clothes over when she had the opportunity. But for now this would have to do. Meredith couldn't even remember the last time she'd warn these jeans, let alone the tee she managed to dig up- must have been at least a year ago.
They got to the BAU fairly early, none of the team was in the bullpen yet and Meredith couldn't resist the temptation; while Jason went to fetch some coffee for them, she bee-lined it for Reid's desk wondering what she could 'file under H for toy'. Unfortunately, just as she was getting settled Jason choose that moment to return. Damn.
She took the proffered coffee, and asked, "So, does last night mean this becomes official?"
Gideon shook his head, "It means we investigate, carefully. I don't want this getting taken out of my hands just yet."
Meredith nodded, "I don't want that either," she added softly.
"When the rest of the team gets here I want to be able to brief them. You think you can have a timeline written up for me by then?"
"Jason, I'm a History professor; I virtually breathe timelines."
"Yeah, well forgive an old man for asking will ya."
---------
By 9 AM, everyone was in the conference room- including Meredith.
Gideon slapped his hands together, "Alright, Prof. Holland has herself a stalker. He attempted to follow us last night, and has managed to gain access to her home on multiple occasions, each time removing small items probably as souvenirs. He also enjoys sending her gifts, flowers, cards, and making the obligatory harassing phone calls. The first of these events was probably summer or autumn of last year; we can definitively trace contact to last October when she received the first written communication from him. As it stands this case is not on the books, Prof. Holland is a very old and dear friend and I want to keep her under our watchful eyes as long as possible. Prof. Holland was good enough to give us a timeline of events starting back a full year."
Hotch, you've got background and get Garcia on the phone records. Elle and Morgan take the delivery services. Reid I want you to work with Meredith on a list of names or anything out of the ordinary around our projected start dates."
Meredith cast a sidelong glance at Jason, wondering if he had assigned Reid to the task for other than professional reasons.
---------
"Chow time!" Morgan called as he stepped out of the elevator laden with an assortment of what looked to be Chinese take-out.
"Yessss," Elle whispered under her breath as she helped Morgan with the packages, "I was beginning to think you forgot about us."
"Ah, El, you wound me," false pain rippled across his face followed by his most winning smirk.
Looking around at the rather empty bullpen, he asked, "Where are the geniuses?"
"Umm," he'd caught Elle with a mouth full of Hunan Pork. She swallowed as best she could, "assuming you mean Reid and the Professor they're in there," and she pointed towards the conference room.
"Guys, there's some damn good Chinese going to waste out here." There wasn't any response. Morgan wandered toward the conference room, "Reid? Professor?"
"Spencer, that's cheating!"
"How?"
"You, you can't use advanced engineering in a paper airplane fight!" Meredith almost screeched trying to suppress her laughter.
"Why not? I didn't have outside help or consult any outside references."
"Maybe not standard references but considering you've got entire libraries in your head…" She didn't know whether she wanted to smack him or kiss him. She hadn't been this relaxed or stimulated (intellectually) in years- excepting for Jason of course, but that was a very different story.
Reid held up his hands innocently, "you should've said."
Morgan couldn't believe his eyes- Spencer Reid, playing! He studied the scene for a moment trying to convince himself it was real. Once he regained his composure, he coughed politely, "Sorry to interrupt, but food's here."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, thanks Derek."
As Morgan left the room he couldn't help but smile- he could hear Meredith, "What do you mean I should've said? You're the one with the 180+ IQ, you shouldn't have needed me to say it."
---------
After the airplane antics, Meredith had opted to return to her station in the break room and actually give Reid a chance to work. Just before six Gideon appeared to let her know they would be leaving soon. She gathered her sparse belongings (which now included some rather innovative, albeit absurd looking, paper airplanes), tossed her plastic cup in the trash, and decided on her next course of action. After all, today she was still "unofficial" and who knew what tomorrow might bring.
"Ready?"
"Just about," Meredith replied. She had one thing she wanted to do before they left for the night, and she was going to do it. "I'd like to say goodnight to Spencer."
With that she scooted past Gideon and over to Reid's desk. "Spence?"
He looked up from his files- he actually smiled. Somehow he seemed at a loss for words and before he could find them Meredith bent over and kissed him.
---------
She and Jason didn't talk much on the way home; she was lost in the kiss. It was more than she expected. Oh, she knew it would surprise Spencer, and that it would be warm and tender, but it was sweeter and hotter and the most gentle kiss she'd ever known. Meredith was beginning to wonder if she'd kissed him or if he had kissed her. She knew what the plan had been, but her still pounding heart was sending different messages.
"You ok over there?" Gideon asked.
"Hmm, oh yeah, just a…"
"…surprising day" he finished for her as they approached the house.
With a chuckle, "Yeah, surprising."
Gideon stiffened when he pulled into his driveway. "Mer, stay here."
"Jason?" He knew she hated being given orders without knowing the reason- even if it wasn't much of an order.
He turned to get out of the SUV, "I'll tell you as soon as I know," he responded to her unasked question. "Please?"
"You know I'll stay…" to his trailing back "…even if I don't like it."
Gideon returned in moments, his cell phone open and dialing.
Meredith didn't ask, she did what she'd always done- she listened.
"It's Gideon. You still at the office."
"Good then stay there! I'm bringing Meredith back in and I don't want her left alone. Is anyone else…"
"Yeah, put her on."
"Elle, I need you to get a CS team to my house. I want them going over every inch, inside and out."
"No, don't wait for us, I'll meet up with you back at the house."
"He found me." It was a statement, not a question. "Dad, I'm sor-"
Gideon cut her off, "NO, Mer this guy, this unsub, he's the one to blame, you know that."
---------
Reid was waiting for them when they arrived back at the BAU. Meredith didn't say a word; her features were surprisingly somber. She wasn't in the mood to play or to fight with herself- she simply went up to Spencer and put her arms around him- and after a moments hesitation he wrapped his around her.
Before long, Meredith was sitting on the couch in Gideon's office with a cup of cocoa and a blanket; she was calmer now and seeming more like herself. Gideon brushed his hand across her cheek and hair, "I'll be back soon. We'll get this guy."
To Reid, "Stay with her."
"I will."
"Don't let her out of your sight."
Reid held Gideon's gaze, making sure he had him by the eyes, and in an unexpectedly powerful tone told him, "Gideon, I won't. We'll be right here until you tell me otherwise."