From Small Towns to Big Cities

Daisy stood on the covered porch in her grandmother's room, a heavy cardigan wrapped around her even though it was a balmy night, her hair still wet from the 45-minute shower she had taken after speaking with the FBI agents, recounting everything that had happened from when she arrived at home earlier. She wasn't sure what time it was or how long she had been standing there, but she knew it had to be really late. Her head still ached from being knocked out, but she almost welcomed the pain. It was the one thing keeping her grounded.

"Daisy?"

She turned, seeing Spencer standing in the open doorway of the room. She motioned for him to join her, not saying anything.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly. She shrugged.

"I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel," she said honestly. She then laughed shortly. "Interviewed all these victims, researched and investigated all these crimes… and I don't know how to feel. Funny, really."

"I'm sure that no one really knows how they are supposed to feel after going through something like that," he said, his thoughts turning to his own experiences over the years. Losing Maeve. The murder charges. He had had his own share of tragedy and trauma. And yet, he stood here, relatively normal. Taking a deep breath, he looked over at her. "I know it doesn't seem like it now, but you can get through this."

Daisy glanced at him and then returned to staring out at the countryside as a harsh laugh escaped her lips.

"Right… I get through this while my four friends are buried in the town cemetery. What about their families? How do they get through it?" she asked. "And how do I move on with my life, knowing that I could have prevented it." A tear fell down her bruised cheek.

"Daisy, there's nothing you could have-"

"Save it, Reid," she said harshly, cutting him off. "If I had just told my parents back then… the truth… I could have, this wouldn't have happened. Randy Walker would have been locked up or… something… back then. And four women would still be alive today."

"You can't blame yourself for that," Spencer said, taking a step towards her. "You were a child."

"Yea, well, even children know that it's better to tell the truth," she said. Reid just stared at her, wondering just why out of everything that had come out that day, this was what she was fixated on. Not finding out what had happened to her or being abducted and nearly killed. She was focused on the idea that she could have done something to save her friends and didn't.

"Daisy… you were a child. You were afraid. That's natural. That's what every person who's been in that situation goes through. And from what I've heard from you and others… I think your parents and your grandmother… they knew… and they believed you," he said softly. "But you can't put this on yourself… you couldn't have known what would happen. You didn't even tell them to do it…"

Daisy was silent as she wiped the tears away from her cheeks, still staring out.

"And you definitely couldn't have known that years later, Randy Walker would do what he did," Reid finished. "He's sick. And didn't get the help that he needed back then. None of this is your fault. Randy Walker chose to attack you as a child. And he chose to murder your school friends. That's not on you. But because of you, he's going to jail for a very long time… may even get the death penalty. And now he can't hurt anyone else…"

Daisy sniffed slightly and swallowed.

"How do I even begin moving on from this?" she whispered before looking over at him. "I've seen so many others do it, but now that it's me… I don't even know where to start…"

"You start the way that anyone does. One day at a time. Baby steps," he said. "You start by getting out of bed in the morning." She nodded, hugging herself tightly. Spencer reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, handing it over to her.

"My offer still stands. D.C. and New York aren't that far apart. And you can call me at any time… I have my own experiences… I'll listen," he said softly. Daisy looked down at it, her brow furrowed and then back up at his face.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

"Too much to get into tonight, but just know that I've been there," he said. She finally reached out and took the card, looking it over.

"I'll keep this in mind," she said, turning back to the railing. Spencer sighed and turned, starting to walk back into the house, sensing she wanted to be alone.

"I can't write it," she said loudly, causing him to stop and look back at her. "The book… I don't think I can write it. I won't, actually."

"I'm sure it would be hard-"

"That's not it… I just… I don't want my story out there. It's… I just don't," she said, not looking at him. "Everyone in this damn town has always clamored to know everything they could about my family – even making shit up when they couldn't get anything. I don't want to give them this."

"You should do what is best for you," Spencer said. When she didn't reply, he turned and continued walking, not stopping until he got to his own room across the hall. As he started packing up his things, he couldn't help but glance towards the shut door of Daisy's room, wondering if she truly was going to be okay.

"How do you think she's handling this?" Luke asked as they stood in the foyer later the next day, preparing to head to the airstrip. "She hasn't been down yet."

"I doubt she'll stay long," Emily said, glancing towards the staircase. "I know I wouldn't. And she's got a job and life in New York. She'll need to get back to that at some point."

Almost as though she knew they were talking about her, there were light footsteps on the stairs. They all looked over, seeing a tired and worn looking Daisy coming down.

"Grams would skin me alive if she knew I let you guys leave without saying goodbye," Daisy said, a small smile on her face, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You all ready?"

"Just about to load up the cars," JJ said. She walked over to the young woman and pulled her into a hug. Daisy's eyebrows rose as she stiffly returned it. "We really appreciate your help. And… D.C.'s not that far from New York."

"I know," Daisy replied. She glanced around the group cautiously, worried someone else would want to hug her.

"And thanks for putting us up," Emily added. She handed her a card. "Keep in touch." Daisy nodded as Emily turned to the rest of the group. "Let's go."

They filed out of the manor, glancing at Daisy, who stood in the doorway watching them.

"Do you really think she'll be okay?" Luke asked as they drove off.

"I hope so," Tara said. Spencer said nothing, just continued to watch her out of the window before they continued on. "But I do hope she keeps in touch."

"I have a feeling this isn't the last we've heard of Daisy White," Luke said, glancing at Spencer. The younger man didn't notice and the rest fell silent. Hopefully this wouldn't be the last time.

Six Months Later

"I don't know about you, but I am tired and ready to get home," Matt said as the group walked through the main building at Quantico.

"What, no after work celebratory drink?" Luke asked with a grin.

"The wife and kids are calling," Matt replied. Luke looked over at Rossi.

"You know my answer," he replied with a smile.

"Anyone else?" Luke asked.

"In," said JJ and Emily at the same time.

"Same here," said Tara. They all looked to Reid, the final holdout.

"Why not?" he said, smiling.

"Do I hear you planning drinks? Oh, I'm in," Penelope said as she walked up to them. "But before that… Reid, you have a visitor. Or well, I guess all of you, but she did say Reid specifically." The group stopped and glanced around at each other, wondering who it could be. Reid stepped away from them and pushed the door open. His eyebrows rose in surprise.

Perched on his desk was Daisy. Upon hearing the others enter, she hopped off, placing a paperweight she had been playing with down and smiling warmly.

"I didn't know you two kept in touch," Luke whispered to him as he walked past him.

"Not a lot… an email here or there," Reid replied, walking up to her. "Daisy… what a surprise." The reporter shrugged as the rest of the group meandered over.

"In town for a story. Thought I'd drop by and see how the old team is doing," she said.

In just six months since they left Oklahoma, it seemed there was a change in her. Where before she had seemed standoffish and serious, she was now smiling. Her hair was down in loose waves, though she was still dressed rather casually. She had lost the glasses and was wearing a bit of makeup.

"It seems New York has been treating you well," Tara said, walking up to shake her hand. Daisy surprised her even more by pulling her in for a hug.

"I won't lie, I needed to get back home to New York. It's done wonders," she said, stepping back from her.

"What story are you working on?" Matt asked.

"Well… you. After everything that went down in Oklahoma, my publisher thought I should write about the BAU," Daisy said pleasantly. The group all stared at her a moment before glancing around at each other.

"Us?" Prentiss said cautiously. Daisy nodded, her face calm. She then burst out laughing.

"Christ, the look on your faces. No, I'm not writing about you. I'm here to cover a string of coed murders," she said. "Surprised you guys aren't on that one."

"We just got back from Phoenix," Emily said. "Suppose that's why. Plus, we don't get invited on every murder that happens in D.C." Daisy shrugged.

"No biggie. But seriously, since I was in town, I thought I'd drop by and say hi. I'll be here for a couple months or so," she said. "Probably going back and forth between here and New York for a bit longer after that." She glanced over at Reid. "You guys finished for the day?"

"Yea, we were just going out for a drink if you want to join us," Luke said.

"Sounds good. Lead the way…"

Reid couldn't help but stare at Daisy as they all sat around a table at their favorite quiet bar. She had been entertaining them with stories on a few smaller assignments she had taken on after returning to New York, though carefully skimmed away from anything related to the case in Oklahoma. She had been back on the crime desk a few months and working closely with the NYPD.

The fact that she was so upfront with information about herself was a near 180 from the woman they had met in Oklahoma, and he wasn't exactly sure what had happened. They had kept in touch, but even then, she didn't really talk much about what she had been feeling or going through. Mostly discussing books and history - a common interest of both.

"You guys up for another round?" she asked, standing. After a chorus of 'yes', she grinned and moved towards the bar.

"I'll help," Reid said, pushing out of his chair as well. He waited until she had ordered and was leaning against the bar before speaking again. "You seem… different…" Daisy shrugged.

"Guess I realized that it wasn't doing me any good to push people away, and well, you guys didn't exactly meet me at a great time. I'm normally a bit more outgoing," she replied, starting to play with a stack of napkins. She glanced over at Reid. "I, ah, started going to this therapist. My boss kinda made me a few months after I got back… Holed myself up in my apartment for a long time… Cut myself off completely..." Reid remained quiet, allowing her to speak at her own pace. "Drank. A lot. And then got my ass handed to me by a trauma therapist… said I wasn't going to do anyone any good if I continued on like I was… She helped me work through a lot of shit."

"You could have talked to me," Reid said, leaning a bit closer. "We've been writing back and forth this whole time…"

"I know. But… I didn't want to burden you with it. And part of me felt like I needed to get myself out of it. I was a bit ashamed. Here I am, a seasoned investigative reporter and I couldn't deal with my own shit," she said, still looking at the napkins. "But… I got better." She then looked up at him as she slid her hand into her pocket and pulled something out. She put it down on the bar and slid it over.

"What's this?" he asked, picking it up, seeing that it was a flash drive.

"I wrote it," she said. Reid looked up at her, surprised. The last time they had spoken about the book, Daisy had said there was no way she could write it. She didn't want the world to know her story.

"I thought you weren't going to," he replied.

"I wasn't. But then my therapist suggested that it might help me move on. If I put it all down on paper. Just to get it out of my head so I wasn't thinking about it so much," she said with a sigh. "My publisher doesn't know about it. I intentionally didn't tell him and he's been kind enough not to force me on it. I honestly don't know if I can publish it, but… I wanted someone to read it."

"Thank you for trusting me with this," Reid said, putting it into his pocket. He glanced at the others, who were laughing about something and then looked back over at her. "How are you? Really?" Daisy smiled sadly.

"Taking it a day at a time," she said. "I don't think I'll be able to step back foot in Whitehall for a long time. I even started on plans to sell the manor just so I wouldn't have anything to pull me back there, but… I couldn't. There are a lot of good memories in that house and it's part of the family… I've hired Mrs. Battle to look after it full-time. Been leasing it out to the town government for pretty cheap to use for events and such."

"That seems good," he said.

"It's a start," Daisy said. "And getting back to work has helped a lot. Kept me focused and moving. I've gotten back in touch with several friends that had fallen by the wayside while I was focused on my career as well. My therapist says that I'm 'making progress.'" She laughed softly.

"For what it's worth, you do seem a lot better," Reid said. "It's good to see you opening up more. I think you've laughed more tonight than what we saw the entire time we were in Oklahoma."

"Isn't laughter supposed to be the best medicine?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him as she smiled.

"That's what I hear," he replied. She looked away, returning to playing with the napkins as the bartender started putting drinks in front of them.

"I should be thanking you," she said, glancing at him. "The emails… they helped too."

"I told you before we left, if you need a friend, I'm here," he said. Daisy sighed as she pushed up from the bar.

"I'm going to need it. I'll have to go back to Oklahoma City… for the trial," she said, starting to arrange the glasses in a way where she could carry half.

"You're testifying?" he asked. Daisy nodded.

"He did confess to me first. And well… I'm the only victim who survived. Though he didn't really get a chance to do much," she said. "The cavalry arrived just in time."

"They'll probably ask for one of us to be there as well," he said.

"Figured," she said. "Draw straws yet?"

"I could go," Reid said immediately. "I mean… if you want me to." Daisy smiled and nodded.

"I'd like that," she said, starting to walk back to the table. Reid picked up the remaining drinks and followed. They settled back at the table and continued on with lighthearted conversation until the drinks were done and exhaustion was starting to take hold of the team.

They all stood and said their goodbyes outside the bar, though Reid lingered, hoping to speak with Daisy alone again.

"So, you're here for a few months?" he asked. Daisy nodded.

"Probably not full-time for very long. I'll go back and forth a bit," she said. "New York isn't that far away."

"We should hang out more while you're here. If you want to, that is," he said. Daisy thought a moment before smiling and nodded her head.

"I would like that," she said.

"We don't have a case at the moment, so if you want, we could get dinner tomorrow. If you're not busy with your case," he said.

"Sure… I think I can swing that," Daisy said. She then glanced down at her phone, noting the time. "But I should get going. Got an early morning at the police station and I'm sure you're exhausted. Plus, my Uber is almost here." She looked up at him as she dug around in her coat pocket and pulled out a card, holding it out. "My number and such." Reid took it and glanced down, seeing her name and contact information on a New York Times business card. "See you around, Spencer."

"Don't be a stranger," he replied as he looked up and noticed her starting to back away. She chuckled.

"Seems Oklahoma rubbed off on you a bit," she said.

"Maybe just a little," he said. Daisy laughed again and waved, then turned around to walk away. "Daisy…"

She stopped and turned, wondering what it was he wanted to say.

"I am serious, though. You can talk to me about it," he said. She nodded.

"I know. And I will… just, baby steps and all," she said. "See you tomorrow."

"See you then," Reid said. He started to back away, though kept watching as she turned and walked away, glancing over her shoulder at him before walking over a waiting car and getting in.

Sighing, Reid turned and started walking in the direction of his apartment building. He had spent a decent amount of time worrying about Daisy and how she was taking everything. Especially when she had gone for six months emailing back and forth without mentioning Randy Walker or the murders of her old school friends.

But after tonight, he worried less. It seemed like she was going to be okay. What's more, it seemed like she wasn't going anywhere. He couldn't help but smile to himself. It didn't seem so bad to have Daisy White play a bit bigger role in his life.

"Baby steps and all…"

Here we are at the end. Originally, I had intended this to be a romance with Daisy and Spencer, but then realized that in the timespan I had planned – and taking into consideration their personalities and characters - it didn't make sense. So, decided to go with a friendship and hope for something more later on. Much happier with that.

Thanks for following, reading and reviewing!