Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
"That was the most boring lecture I have ever sat through!" Lila complained as she and Spencer walked down the sidewalk. "And you look totally geeky in those clothes."
"Really?" He asked pulling a face slightly.
"Yeah, they are totally not flattering-" She began, but was cut off by her friend.
"Not the clothes," He said. "I meant was the lecture really boring?" He asked. Despite the confidence he projected during his magic act, it was just that. An act. While on that misty stage, he was a confidant, mysterious, talented. 'Leo Grey, the Man Behind the Mask' and 'Dr. Spencer Reid' were two very different people. One was a man who never showed his face, was graceful, who dazzled the audience and disappeared without a trace. The other was an awkward, clumsy, easy to read genius with an IQ of 187 and eidetic memory. Lila knew this, and backtracked quickly.
"No, Spence, it was actually pretty fascinating. I've never thought to take a criminology class, but I think I would enroll if only to see you up there." She flashed her dimples and winked. He laughed.
"Of course you would." He said. "Now about the clothes, they are supposed to be geeky." He told her.
"Why?" She asked.
"So that no one will recognize me." He said. She snorted.
"As if any normal person would look at you and think, 'hey, is that Leo Grey?'" She said.
"Better safe than sorry." He muttered. She gave him a look.
"I still don't understand why you go to such great lengths to keep the public from knowing who you really are."
"Because it's bad enough with the paparazzi taking pictures of me when I'm with you, imagine what it would be like if they found out I was really 'the Man Behind the Mask'. Really, think about it. 'Leo Grey actually a certified genius'. Mass chaos." he told her, hands moving emphatically. She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever." She said as they reached the car. He chuckled.
…
"Morgan." Derek looked up at whoever said his name. It was his partner, Elle Greenaway. A fiery, confidant woman who had transferred from the Sex Crimes Division to Homicide a little over a year ago.
"What's up?" He asked, closing the file he had been looking over. She sat on the edge of his desk.
"I was wondering if we had a new case come in recently." He raised an eyebrow.
"Trying to combat boredom?" He asked. She looked at him.
"The files just keep coming! I need to do something constructive." She threw her hands up.
"You don't think that paperwork is constructive?" He asked.
"No." She said stubbornly.
"You know what the Lieutenant said. Noe more cases until the paperwork is done." He said, looking back at the file.
"Don't try to tell me you like paperwork." She said. He snorted.
"Of course I don't. But at least I'm up to date on it." He said, giving a charming smile. She rolled her eyes, flipping her dark hair behind her shoulder.
"Well, I guess I better get to work on it." Her voice was slightly sulky, and he sighed.
"Bring me some of it." He muttered grudgingly. She smiled brightly.
"Thanks Morgan!" She said, and half ran to get the paperwork, lest he change his mind last minute.
…
"No, Aaron, I'm done!" Haley shouted at him.
"Couldn't we try to work this out?" He asked, watching her drop more clothes into her suitcase.
"I'm leaving." She said, more quietly now. He wanted to go and comfort her, but knew his affection would not be wanted.
"Why couldn't we 'try to work it out' when I asked?" She turned to face him. He knew he had no answer to that. "I'm sorry. I can't stay in this one sided relationship with you."
"Please, just give me another chance…" But he knew it was useless.
"No. This is just… too much. I just- I just need more." She finished, a single tear tracing down her cheek. She wiped it away viciously.
"More what? Time, attention, money, what?" He asked, desperately.
"You go to work early every morning, come back at ghastly hours of the night, work six days a week! It's like living with a ghost, for God's sake! I tried. I have tried so hard to be supportive. So, so hard. But what I need? Is more than you can give me."
"I can!" He shouted.
"You can. But you won't. No matter what you say, actions speak louder than words. And yours are screaming." he knew she was right. But a thought suddenly stuck him.
"Is there another man?" He asked. She spun so fast her hair whipped around her face.
"What?" She all but shrieked. But her eyes held guilt, and he knew he was right.
"Who is he?" He growled. Her eyes hardened.
"That is none of your business." She hissed.
"How is it not my business, who my wife is having and affair with?" Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm not the only one who is having an affair, here." She said.
"I am not!" He yelled. She shook her head.
"You have been married to this job since you got it. My point? For a very observant guy, you didn't even noticed when I didn't come home all night last week." He sighed, closing his eyes. She was right. But they both knew that nothing the other did abolished their own mistakes. And they both felt the guilt. She picked up the suitcase, and walked out the door. He didn't follow her, both simultaneously putting the final nail in the coffin of their marriage.
…
JJ looked over the script she had been given, studying what she had to say on the air that day. She noticed that the Man Behind the Mask was mentioned, and she was excited. She loved his show, the mystery aspect and all. Something was set in front of her, and she looked up to see one of the new interns looking nervous. She smiled.
"Hi, uh…" She tried to remember the young blonds name.
"Ashley," She said. "Ashley Seaver." She shook JJ's hand enthusiastically.
"Jennifer Jareau." She greeted.
"Wow, um, I just can't believe I'm like really talking to you. I mean, you're like a celebrity, and I'm just starting out, and I was wondering if you could give me some tips for, well, ya know…" JJ let the girl ramble for a moment, before saying,
"Of course, I'd love to give you some pointers. When you make it big, you've gotta give some credit, though." Her light joking payed off as she saw the girls eyes light up.
"Y-yeah, I mean, if I do totally." She was still nervous, but a bit more relaxed. JJ looked at her watch, and back at Ashley.
"We need to start soon, so maybe over lunch some time…" She suggested, not wanting to shoot her down but knowing she needed to start soon. The girl smiled and nodded.
"How about Saturday afternoon at…"
…
"I can't work miracles, Jane." Rossi told his publisher, who was sitting across the desk from him.
"I'm not asking for a miracle, Dave, I'm asking for a new book that I can publish." She said sharply.
"Can't you just…" He gestured with his hands and she sighed.
"It's called supply and demand, Dave. which I'm sure you knew." He grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like a curse under his breath.
"You have other authors, don't you?" He asked.
"People don't want to hear from them. They want to hear from you." she crossed her legs, serious look never leaving her face. "I'm not joking, and you know I'm not. Or, at least, you should. You are a profiler, for God's sake." Rossi nodded.
"Yeah. Writer's block is a son of a bitch." He muttered. She nodded.
"That it is. But I still need the start of a book by the end of the month."
…
Penelope Garcia sat at her vanity, applying her dark makeup. A strand of black hair fell in her face, and she brushed it away impatiently. Slowly spreading the dark purple lipstick across her soft lips, she heard her phone go off, and growled. She grabbed it, knowing who was calling.
"What?" She asked, her voice cold.
"Penelope, really, do you want to do this?" Her ex's voice came through the phone.
"Yes." She growled.
"Why? We were made for each other, and you know it." He purred the words. She shook her head, though she knew he couldn't see her.
"We were not made for each other. And I know you know it."
"I'm making you immortal. You will live forever with me."
"No, you taking videos of me will not keep my memory alive. Because those videos are not me." she hissed.
"Our relationship is the best thing that's ever happened to you."
"No-"
"I have you saying so on camera. You love me, and you know it."
"No, our relationship is toxic, and I'm sick of it. I don't love you." She shut the disposable phone, throwing it to the side. She could feel her resolve weakening and she let a few tears fall for the fact that she did love him. Or, more accurately, she loved the man he used to be. After fixing her makeup, she grabbed her bags and walked out the door, never to return to the small apartment.
…
Emily Prentiss rubbed her face, hoping her makeup wouldn't smudge. She sat at the table for two in a busy French Restaurant she didn't bother to learn the name of. She saw the man who must have been her date sit walk across across the room and sit down opposite her. Her mother set her up with yet another man she wasn't interested in. She knew his type. Rich, handsome, with political influence. The problem was, men like that almost always had terrible personalities.
"Emily, it is so nice to finally meet you." His eyes raked up and down her body. Yup, another one of those guys.
"Mike," She nodded, forcing a smile.
"You know, Emily, you are a very attractive woman." He said, flashing a charming smile.
"Thank you." She said feeling a bit awkward. He opened his mouth to say something else, when the waiter came to take their orders. Saved by the bell, she thought. After he left, Mike turned to her again.
"Your mother said you were looking for a serious relationship…"
"Did she, now?" Emily asked. This was going to be a long night.
A/N: Okay, so just a bit of insight into their lives. Next chapter, things get a little weird for them. Hope you liked, please R&R!