Thanks for the support as always!
Chapter Thirteen:
Reid found Hotch waiting for him at the airport.
"Garcia texted me," he said. "I thought you could use a ride."
"Thanks Hotch," he said as they walked out of the airport.
"Will texted me and said that Jenna is with him. Morgan and Garcia have already dropped by to see her."
"How is she?" Reid asked.
"Tired," Hotch said. "She took a nap in the captain's office. Were you able to rest at all?"
"I had five hours and fifteen minutes to think about the loss of my wife and how it was affecting my daughter. I didn't close my eyes for more than a minute Hotch."
They got in his car and Hotch stared right at him. "I know this must all be unbearably hard right now. I also know I can't say anything that will make you feel any better. Just please know that you have a team of agents to call family who will be there for you no matter what."
Reid nodded. "I know. I know I need to be strong for Jenna."
"And you will be."
Hotch turned on the car and pulled out of the parking lot. They didn't exchange another word until they got to the station.
…
"Daddy!" Jenna said rushing in to his arms.
He hugged her tightly. "I missed you so much."
"Daddy where's Mommy? No one will tell me."
Reid looked to the officer standing awkwardly next to them. He could see the word he was mouthing.
"A place called a morgue," he said. "There are special doctors there who will find what hurt Mommy so badly that she had to go to heaven early."
"So she really is dead?"
Reid nodded and tried not cry. "Yes. I'm so sorry sweetheart."
"Why are you sorry?" she asked. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"It is just something people say when they're sad something happened. Even if it's no one's fault."
"Then I'm sorry too," Jenna said.
"Have they been treating you well here kiddo?" Reid asked trying get her mind off Jane for the briefest of moment.
"Yep, Uncle Will took me out for ice cream for dinner. He said he didn't think you'd mind."
"No of course not."
"Uncle Morgan and Aunt Penelope came to visit me. Uncle Morgan brought me books and Aunt Penelope brought me a coloring book."
Will appeared. "And she has beaten me twice at checkers."
"I think he let me win," Jenna whispered in his ear.
This made Reid smile for the first time since Jane died.
He looked to the officer and then at Will. Will got the signal.
"Jenny I need to talk to the officer over there for a minute. I'll be right back okay?"
Jenna nodded.
The officer pulled him into the small waiting area.
"Thank you for watching her while I got home," Reid said.
"It is no trouble. She's a good kid," the officer. "I'm Officer Adam Malone. We spoke on the phone earlier."
"Yes. I'm Spencer Reid. What can you tell me about my wife's death?"
"All witnesses say it was sudden. She was pushing her shopping cart down the aisle when it rolled out from under her and she fell facing down. Then they heard your daughter yelling."
"When will you know cause of death?"
"We've fast-tracked this one. You should know by tomorrow morning."
"Thank you Officer Malone. I think I'll take my daughter home now."
"That is fine with us. We just need your signature."
Reid filled out the paper work and told Jenna they were going home.
"Yay!" she said. "The couch in the office wasn't very comfy."
"Let's get you home and into your own bed then."
Hotch was waiting at the car for them.
Jenna waved. "Hi Uncle Hotch."
"Hi sport," he said. "I'm driving you and your daddy home since his car is still at work."
"Okay," she said.
They got in the car and Hotch asked Jenna all sorts of quest about school and friends. Anything to keep her mind off Jane.
…
"Daddy what do you think Mommy is doing right now?" she asked as he tucked her into bed.
"Watching you," he said.
"Like a guardian angel?"
"Exactly like a guardian angel," Reid said and kissed her forehead. "She'll always be with you Jenna. Even now that you can't see her, she is always with us."
"I wish I could see her," she said drowsily.
"Me too Jenny. Me too."
Reid watched her fall asleep and then went into his bedroom. It already felt so empty and sad.
He looked around at the bed, remembering the fun they had.
"We're lucky to have a heavy sleeper for a kid," she said.
"I know," he said and then tickled her.
Those times were over now though. It occurred to Reid that he could let it out and Jenna wouldn't hear him, but he couldn't. He couldn't just yet.
He checked his phone and saw that he had missed message from every member of the team. He sent a quick message to everyone saying that he'd get back to them the next day. The days would only get longer after this.
As he got into his side of the bed he thanked whatever higher powers that were allowing him to fall asleep quickly. He also thanked Jane.