Disclaimer: see my profile
A/n all credit for any matching dialog to the writers of CM. We're up to "The Performer," and the chapter follows some of the episode and some has been changed, slightly to fit my vision.
Reid picked up another file and began to read it, his finger running down one page and then flipping to the next and within seconds, he finished and moved on to another page. JJ entered the room with two cups of fresh coffee and a stack of files when he grabbed another file and gave it the same quick perusal, missing nothing with his speed-reading abilities. She picked up a photo of their latest victim, Tara and studied it.
"How's it going?"
"Fine, I've been through all the files and I'm getting a pretty grisly picture of the vampire subculture."
She eyed him and said. "You don't sound disgusted, in fact, you sound – excited about the subject matter, like on the plane."
"I like the supernatural, you know that."
"Yes, I do, but this is real life."
"It is and that's what fascinating because nearly all the old-time movie monsters can be traced to illness that people didn't understand or mental conditions like Lycanthropy, or Xeroderma Pigmentosa in the case of vampires. Or even the use of hallucinogens and poisons derived from blowfish to create zombies in the West Indies."
"Okay, I understand that, but do you have to look so thrilled by the thought of so-called real vampires."
He pushed a lock of hair behind his ear. "Yes," he said.
"I guess I have to accept the fact that I married a ghost story addict."
He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.
"So, what's next.
"We need more information about the victims. Let's look at their lives."
"You said they probably crossed paths."
"Yes, that's so."
"So, we're looking for a connection between the witnesses," she asked him as she pinned up photos to what he called the murder board.
"When vampirists become obsessed, they aren't likely looking for a random victim. If we can find a cross-relationship, someone in all the victims' lives, it'll be incredibly helpful.
"Gina King knew Tara the longest. They apparently had so classes together."
"Let's get all the information we can on that relationship. As a matter of fact, get me all you can on all of Tara's friends."
"All right, in the morning I'll track them down and do some follow-up."
She looked at her watch as he continued to go through files. "Hey, you want to grab something to eat and get some rest. It's getting late."
"Another hour, then we'll go."
"Okay, I'll go talk to Garcia."
"See you later," he said absently, and she smiled. He had a talent for completely submerging into a case and ignoring all stimuli around him. She often wondered what it was like to be able to concentrate so completely on something.
Later, after they quit for the night, she sat with her chin on her knees as she tried to think of something other than the case. Sometimes, when they had to stay overnight on a case, she wished for anything to take her mind off the case and get to sleep. Now, she had something to distract her and he was sitting next to her and read a new book from his messenger bag.
"Spence."
"Hm…"
"Will you stop reading for a minute, please. I need to talk to you."
He shut the book and looked at her with expectant eyes. She met his eyes and as usual, fought to keep her train of thought. His eyes always hypnotized her into a trancelike state that was relaxing or infuriating depending on the situation. At work, she had to avoid prolonged eye contact, or she'd lose her concentration which was dangerous if Hotch picked up on her distraction. Now, it was relaxing, and she wanted him to hold her close so she could hear his heartbeat and sleep without thinking about blood and vampires.
"What is it?"
"I had a quick conversation with Emily before we decided to quit for the day. She wondered why Detective Kim is familiar with the team. I told her about Lila Archer's stalking case."
"Um, what exactly did you tell her?" He squeaked, guiltily.
"Everything."
"JJ!"
"Would you prefer she ask Morgan?"
He sighed and put aside his book. "No. What did she say?"
"She said you're a naughty boy, and that she's impressed that you broke the cardinal rule and kissed a victim."
"Jennifer," he groaned. "She's going to think that –"
"What, you're a normal man with hormones. I think she knows it because we're married, babe."
"Yes, we are because it didn't work out with Lila and I'm glad. She's beautiful but empty-headed and more trouble than she's worth."
"I'm glad you said that, because you're mine, Spencer Reid."
"And you're mine, Jennifer Jareau Reid."
"Well, I'm exhausted," she yawned. "Let's go to sleep."
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"I always feel yucky looking into someone's private life," Garcia said the next morning as they tried to gather more information on Tara.
"You probably won't get far because everything is password protected – and you're in already, aren't you," JJ said in semi-disbelief.
"The password was Cullen."
"Colon," Reid said with clear confusion in his eyes.
"Cullen, like the vampire family in "Twilight."
"What's Twilight," Reid asked.
"We have to broaden your reading horizons from technical manuals. How's the profile coming?"
"I don't know, I never feel ready, you know."
"Babe you're going to be fine. You're an amazing profiler and you see patterns the rest of us couldn't see if we tripped and fell over them."
"I don't know. I think I need more time."
"Look, I'm going to go see Tara's BFF before the media requests come in and it gets too crazy."
"What's a BFF?"
"Best Friend Forever," she said with a shake of her head. "Broadening your reading horizons isn't the only thing we need to look at, you need a course in internet slang, too."
"If you say so. Should I go with you?"
"No, you have a profile to deliver."
"Jennifer, I appreciate your faith in me, but I should work on it a bit longer."
She sighed and grabbed his phone.
"What are you doing with my phone?"
She hit speed dial and said. "Hey Morgan, Reid's ready for the profile," she said and ignored him frantically motioning to her to stop. "Yeah, here he is," She handed him the phone, blew him a kiss and headed out the door.
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"Are you sure you're okay," Reid asked as he hurried in their front door and reached awkwardly for the light switch?
"I told you on the plane that I'll be fine. You heard what the doctor said. I'll be sore for a few days and then okay."
He shook his head and then smiled a little. "I'm sorry I didn't go with you."
"Again, as I said on the plane, you couldn't have known. This isn't like Georgia, Spence."
"I know, I just don't want to lose you."
She sat heavily on the sofa. "Oh," she reached back and touched her head. "I have the headache to end all headaches."
Reid dropped his messenger bag, sat and rummaged through it. He pulled out a red, yellow and blue box and a bottle of pills from the pharmacy. "Here's your prescription strength ibuprofen and a cold pack."
"Spence."
"Sh…" He said as he opened the box. "Let me take care of you for once."
"All right," She leaned back against one of her throw pillows. "Thank you, babe."
He removed the cold pack from its plastic wrapping and squeezed it until she heard a popping noise, then he shook it vigorously. "There, I can feel it getting cold."
"Oh, babe, that feels great, thank you."
"Now, I'm going to get you some water."
She didn't try to argue with him about the limitations of crutches. He'd become quite good at finding ways to carry things with his hands occupied. In this case, he filled her travel mug with water and let it swing from one of his fingers by the rubber attachment that held the lid in place.
"Here," he held it out to her and watched while she took one of her pills. "Now, it's time for bed. Luckily, you don't have a concussion, so I won't have to wake you every two hours."
"Yeah, Emily already made a smart remark about my hard head."
"Dante's manager could've killed you."
"He didn't, Spence. Please let's get some sleep. I'm tired and I want to forget about the last two days."
He reluctantly agreed, but he wondered how much longer they could put off talking about what they'd do if something else happened to endanger one of them. Could he justify continuing to do a job that could kill him?
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JJ returned from her run with a screaming headache and ragged breath. She hadn't thought that running after getting hit in the head with a shovel could bring on a headache, but it had. She sighed and went to her phone. Luckily, no messages and as she'd been ordered to stay home for a couple of days, she decided to run some errands after a shower and stretching. Maybe if she modified a bit of yoga, her headache would go away.
Three hours later, she lay on the sofa with another cold pack on her head and her eyes closed. The doctor said it would be sore, but she'd assumed the doctor was overly concerned. She was about to fall asleep when she heard the door open. Her eyes snapped open to see Reid enter. His appointment with the orthopedic doctor had been a fruitful one because he walked in on one crutch.
"Hey," she said and attempted to stand.
"Stay there," he ordered and walked to her side.
"You're walking," she said, and happiness lit up her eyes.
"Yes, but I'm more concerned about you, Jennifer."
"I'll be okay. I took another pain pill and the cold pack is helping."
He sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm calling Morgan. I was supposed to go in this afternoon, but I've decided, to start my weekend early."
"Don't do that," she said. "I'm all right, Spence. Go to work."
"No," he insisted. "I'm staying here with you and we're going to have dinner. If you want, we can watch "A Clockwork Orange," because you piqued my curiosity about its connection to Beethoven."
She shook her head. "No thank you, once was enough for me. Let's watch something fun."
"If you're sure," he probed, his hazel eyes dark with concern.
"Yes, I'm very sure."
"Then I'll go call Morgan and see what's available to heat up for leftovers."
She lay back on the sofa and thought that she should've argued and made him go to work, but her head ached like an impacted tooth and she was so tired. His presence was enough to lull her into sleep, and when Reid returned, he found her asleep.
"I knew you hit the wall," he whispered and softly feathered back her hair with two fingers. He kissed her gently and walked slowly back to their bedroom.