Thanks for the support!

#5

I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player's personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.

Vladimir Kramnik

"Great game," Erica said. "I only lost by five moves this time."

Reid smiled. "You're getting better."

Erica stood up. "It is getting late. Would you like to buy me dinner?"

Reid shook his head. "No I think I want to stick around to see if anyone would like to play another game."

Erica sighed. "Okay, until next time."

Reid waved. "Bye."

"Bye."

Reid watched her walk away. Erica visited the park a few times a month while on business. She claimed playing chess helped her relax. What she didn't know was that Reid knew she had a husband and children back in New York.

"My turn," a small but urgent voice said.

Reid looked to see a brown-haired boy of about eight year's old sitting in front of him arranging the chess pieces.

"I'll play black so you can go first," he said.

"Who are you with?" he asked.

"My mom," he said impatiently.

"Does she know you're here?"

"I don't know," he said. "Are you going to play me or not?"

"Of course I'll play with you but I don't want your mom to worry."

"Kirk!"

A woman with short brunette hair who looked to be around thirty appeared. She rushed to the boy.

"Kirk what are you doing here? I thought you got lost or worse," she said quickly. "Are you bothering this man?"

"No mom!" Kirk said impatiently. "He was willing to play me!"

"You shouldn't be talking to strangers," she said and then looked over at Reid. "I'm sorry was he bothering you?"

"Was not," Kirk muttered.

"No he really wasn't ma'am," he said assuredly. "I am happy to play him so long as someone knew where he was."

"Oops," Kirk said.

The woman's face broke into a smile. "Thank you. I'm Leah by the way."

She offered her hand but he waved.

"I'm Spencer."

"I'm Kirk now can we get on with the game?"

Reid smiled. "I warn you I don't know how to play at a lower difficulty level. I always play to win."

"So do I," Kirk said fervently.

Leah pulled a paperback novel out of her purse. "I'll just sit and watch from over here okay?"

"Fine mom," Kirk said with his mind already on the game.

Kirk was an enthusiastic player. He could name nearly all the chess moves and was impressed with Reid's skill. The game was over after twenty minutes and Kirk was in awe of him.

"I have only seen players that good in Youtube videos. Are you a grand master?"

"No but I have an Elo rating of 2203," he said with a smile.

"That is grand-master candidate level!" he said. "But I bet you're better than that."

"I can't play that often," Reid said blushing slightly.

"What do you do for work?" he asked.

Leah jumped in. "I think we've bothered Spencer enough."

"But I want a rematch!" Kirk said desperately. "I want to see if I can lose in fewer moves."

"Maybe another time?" Reid offered.

"When?" Kirk said.

Leah looked embarrassed. "The weather will be turning soon. Kirk I'm not sure—"

"How about the community center down the street?" Reid suggested. "I have a friend who helps out there."

"Great," Kirk said. "How about this time there next Saturday?"

Leah blushed suddenly. "That's okay with me if it is okay with you Spencer."

"That's fine," Reid said. "Can I have a number though in case I can't come? My work requires travel and I don't always get back on time."

"So what do you do?" Kirk asked as Leah wrote down a number.

"I'm an FBI agent," Reid said.

Kirk's face lit up. "Cool! Are you like the Men in Black? Do you work for the secret service? Where are the aliens kept?"

"Kirk!" Leah said though she looked equally curious.

Reid paused before answering. "I work for the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia. I study the habits of criminals in order to catch them. There are no aliens to my knowledge being kept by the government and you don't always have to wear black to be in the FBI."

"That is so amazing," Kirk said. "You must be supper-smart to do all that. Do you get to use a gun too?"

Reid blushed and Leah turned away slightly. "Bud, I think it is time we got home. It is dinner time."

Leah and Reid exchanged cards. "It was nice meeting you Spencer," she said with a smile.

"Likewise Leah," he said.

"See you next week Spencer," Kirk said with a wave.

"Bye," Reid said feeling winded.

…

Reid was at J.J.'s house the next day for brunch. Henry was super-excited to show off his gold sticker for doing well in math and Max was starting to crawl. Reid was sitting with J.J. watching Will horse play with Henry when she sensed something was off.

"Penny for your thoughts Spence," she said while holding Max in her lap.

Reid wouldn't answer her at first. "I don't know."

"That's a first," she said teasingly. "You not knowing something."

"J.J. do you think I'd make a good step-father?" he asked outright.

"Of course," she said. "Now what brought this on?"

"I think I met someone at the park," he said. "I met the son first who is a little older than Henry. He was interested in playing chess and then I met his mother."

"Is she cute?" J.J. asked sweetly.

Reid turned red. "I just felt a connection with her that was more than just her son being a reasonably good chess player for someone his age."

"Then pursue it Spence!" J.J. said enthusiastically.

"I just never thought I'd be attracted someone like her," Reid said.

"Like what a single mother?" J.J. asked.

"I didn't mean it like that," Reid said turning slightly away from her.

"All relationships carry their own unique features Spence," J.J. said. "Hers' happens to be a son and I bet a lot of men are scared off by the idea of dating someone with kids but I didn't think you were one of them."

"It is not her, it's me," Reid said. "What if I say the wrong thing? What about this job? Can I start a relationship with someone—"

J.J. patted his shoulder. "Spence you can have it all. I do. But you have to work at it. Are you willing to put in the effort?"

"I think so," he said.

"Then go for it."

…

Leah Andrews was drinking cold coffee in the freezing cafeteria at D.C. General Hospital late one night. She hated working nights but her best friend there was sick and she hated the idea of the nurse's station being short-handed. It was tough on Kirk as he was used to have her around during the night at least.

The image of Spencer's card was spinning in her head. It was so official. Kirk looked him up online and his profile looked slightly ragged compared to how he looked in the park. She had to admit both were cute though.

Leah shook her head. Why did he keep popping up in her head at random times? He was just a guy in the park that her son met. There was something more but did he feel the same way?

Her friend Sandy appeared with a cup of tea.

"You look like you have a boy on your brain and I'm not talking about the under eighteen kind."

"How can you tell?"

"Lucky guess," she said with a smile. "You've been grinning in spite of yourself all week and the only thing I could think of was that you finally met someone."

"But it's not that simple," Leah said looking at her coffee. "He made the connection with my son first and I'm not sure if he is interested in me."

"You don't know until you ask."

"There also all these complications with dating with Kirk. Kirk seems to like him so much and I'm afraid of what will happen if the relationship falls apart."

"If you go by that logic you'll be single forever," Sandy said. "You need to think about your son but you also have to think about yourself. The right man will come and he will fill your needs. You just have to be open to the possibility."

Leah looked for the tan line on her finger that had long since faded away.

Sandy touched her hand.

"He'd want you to move on. He'd want to see you happy again."

"I know."

"Then have a little faith."

…

Kirk was pacing around the community center impatiently. Spencer was supposed to have met up with them ten minutes ago. Leah thought about calling his number but it occurred to her that he might be out on a case.

"Mom do you think he'll show?" Kirk asked.

"He is probably just running late bud, like I do."

As if on cue Spencer appeared. There were rings under his eyes, his hair was a mess, he had a shadow of a beard and his tie was crooked. Leah couldn't help but find him adorable.

"Sorry I'm late," he said quickly. "I just got back from a case in Boise and there was an accident and—"

"And all is forgiven Spencer," Leah said.

"Hey Spencer," Kirk said, all anger had disappeared. "So you were on case? What kind? Did have to shoot anyone?"

The light in Spencer's eyes flickered. The case must have been rough.

"Why don't we start the game, okay Kirk?" Spencer said. "I see you have the game set up. I'll play black this time."

"I know I can't win but I bet I can lose more slowly."

"I'm sure you'll do your best."

They started the game and Leah watched like the last time from a distance with an open book. She couldn't help but notice that his eyes kept meeting her at random times and he was playing more slowly. A hint of smile appeared and she smiled in return. The game lasted exactly thirty-two minutes to Kirk's delight and somehow Leah felt like she won too.

"Good game," Spencer said. "Can I treat you guys to something to eat?"

"That would be awesome," Kirk said and then turned to her. "Can we Mom? It is a Saturday after all."

Leah wasn't sure. "Spencer you look exhausted. Maybe another time."

Kirk look like he was ready to yell when Spencer spoke up.

"No I really want to take you guys out tonight. I need to relax after a long week."

From her work in the hospital she knew what he meant. He needed to do something normal, something happy, after seeing nothing but horror.

"Okay then," she said and Kirk practically cheered. "Did you have a place in mind?"

"I was thinking the pizzeria two blocks from here. As long you don't have any allergies or anything."

"No I love that place," Kirk said.

"I'll see you there then," he said and waved as he left.

Leah watched him leave. He was trying to brush his crooked hair with his fingers and she suddenly giggled.

"Do you like him mom?" Kirk said suddenly.

"He seems like a great guy," Leah said as they walked to the exit.

"Do you like him like him?" he asked.

"That is none of your business for now buster," she said with a smile.

Author's Note:

Please be nice as this one was tough to write partly because writing the kid's dialog was hard as someone who isn't often around kids that age.