Thanks for the support!
Chapter Sixteen:
For Miranda, a hot shower in the morning helped wipe away the frustrations of yesterday, but not this time. She let the water run until her fingers turned wrinkly. She missed him last night. She was afraid this would become routine when the kids weren't around. Miranda couldn't believe how badly she messed up.
Eventually, she managed to pull herself out of the stall. She wrapped a towel around herself. She wrapping a towel around her head when she saw Reid approach her. He was still dressed for bed.
"Hi," he said softly,
"Hi," she said back and finished wrapping her hair.
"I heard you in the shower and wanted to talk you," he said.
"Okay," she said carefully. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I missed you last night," he said honestly. "I missed holding you."
"I missed you too Spencer," she said.
"I also think that whoever is responsible for all of this wants us to be fighting. He or she is preying on your inability to trust people."
"We can't them win Spencer. We can't."
"I haven't fully forgiven you," he hesitantly. "But I will. I just love you so much and I don't want any more secrets between us. Okay?"
"Okay," she said. "I'll trust you with my life Dr. Spencer Reid. Like I should have from the start."
He approached her and pulled the towel off her hair. He massaged it as she dropped the other towel to the floor. They kissed.
…
They were playing Risk late into the night when Miranda received a phone call, she was needed in the Situation Room.
"I bet it's a nuclear rocket test," Alex said.
"I think it's a terror threat," Rachel said.
"I think we should finish the game after the next round," Reid said.
"I give my holdings to you dear," Miranda said and got up. "I don't want anyone up by the time I get back."
She pulled on shoes and opened the door. A secret service agent was waiting for her.
Miranda had only been in the room two other times. Once for a tour and the second time was over an American drone found where it shouldn't be. The place reminded her of how much responsibility she had.
"Everyone sit," she said as she entered and nodded to Gina quickly. "What am I looking at?"
"We've located the hideout of a terrorist we've been after for four years," a military general said.
"How sure are you he is in there?"
"Ninety-five percent," an intelligence agent said.
"Are there women and children in the vicinity?"
"No."
"What is the proposed course of action?"
"We have SEALs on stand-by."
"Like Bin Laden?" she asked
"This area is less secure and more heavily armed. There are easy escape routes and possible hidden traps."
"It sounds like an air strike might be a more viable option then."
"It would stir to much attention among the locals."
"If you think your SEALs can do it, then you have my approval."
"Yes Ma'am."
"What is the timeline for this takedown?"
"We start now, you'll be able to watch it in real time, if you wish or we can alert when we have the result of the mission."
"No, I think I need to see this," Miranda said and sat back in her chair.
They watched in silence as SEALs arrived on the scene. She couldn't help but notice Gina glancing at her from time to time. They watched for two hours as they searched what turned out to be and underground labyrinth. For the first time, Miranda watched a man a die. Warren Carr had been in the military for over ten year and had a wife and daughter who was nine. The terrorists also faced casualties. In the end, they didn't catch the terrorist, but they found valuable intel on possible attack sites and his second in command was captured.
It was three o'clock in the morning when the mission was completed. She was about to head up stairs when Gina pulled her into an office.
"He's letting me borrow it," she said in hushed tone.
"What is it Gina?" Miranda said.
She took a deep breath. "My deputy chief of staff planted the vial. I did a cognitive thing with Jennifer Jareau."
"Okay," Miranda said slowly. "Now what?"
"Hotchner said to remain calm and he would interview him in the morning."
"Then do just that," she said.
"Ma'am, I did some digging on my own with my security clearance. I don't think Janson is acting on his own. There is trouble in his marriage due to the job and online gambling. I think he is being black-mailed."
"First, stop digging, that is what technical analysts are for," Miranda said. "Second, what is your theory?"
"Calvin Shaw," she said. "His wife remarried after he died in prison several years ago. Her brother-in-law is Janson's assistant."
Miranda let the words sink in. "Who knows about this?"
"Only you," she said.
"Let's keep it that way until our meeting with Hotch okay?" she said and put her hands on Gina's shoulders. "We'll be fine. This is a good lead. We have a lot to do tomorrow-today."
Gina nodded. "I think I'll try to sleep upstairs in my office for a little while."
"That sounds good. See you later Gina," she said.
"You too, Ma'am," she said and they left the office.
…
Reid was in their bed when she arrived. He woke up the minute she laid down.
"Anything you can discuss?"
"Rachel was partially right," she said and stared at the ceiling. "I watched a man die today."
He snaked an arm around her. "You don't get used to it. But with the right support, it doesn't eat you alive."
"Calvin Shaw's legacy has something to do with all of this," she said flatly. "I'll have Hotch or J.J debrief you after the meeting. Tomorrow is going to be crazy."
He pulled her closer. "We're going to face this together. No more secrets."
"No more secrets," she said.