I may turn one of these vignettes into a story in the future. I am trying new ideas and seeing how they work.

#6

Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

The mood on the plane was light going home. Everyone was excited to be arriving home in time for their plans for Valentine's Day in the evening.

"You planning on proposing to Savannah tonight?" Rossi asked.

"No we're just planning a nice night in," Morgan said. "After a dinner we cook together we're going to just hang out and watch a movie, her choice."

"Good man," he said.

"And you Rossi?"

"Wine tasting with a woman whose name I don't care to share at this time."

J.J. smiled. "We'll get it out of you eventually."

"I'd like to see you try," Rossi said. "So how about you? I hope a nice dinner without children is in your future."

She nodded. "Will is taking me out to a fancy restaurant followed by a play that I hope I will be able to stay awake for."

J.J. looked over to Hotch. "Do you have anything special planned?"

He looked up from his paperwork briefly. "A night at the Kennedy Center."

Morgan looked to Reid who was flipping through a book.

"I'm sorry your girl is out of town for your first Valentine's Day together."

"Mindy needed to help her father get settled in Florida, I completely understand that and this the best time with school closed for the holiday," he said looking up from his book.

"What a good boyfriend," J.J. said teasingly.

"Did you know that there at least three saints that Valentine's Day is associated with?" Reid said. "One of whom was clubbed and beheaded for trying to convert a Roman Emperor."

"You are such a romantic," J.J. said.

Rossi leaned in. "Try not to mention that fact on your next date with Mindy."

…

It was around seven in the evening when Reid arrived in his mostly empty parking garage. He had decided to spend some time at his favorite coffee shop before grocery shopping. He took extra time choosing a plant give to give to Mindy when she arrived home.

As he pulled the groceries out of his backseat he noticed out of the corner of his eye a woman with dark curly hair carrying a bag of golf clubs. She stopped at a large truck one lane away from his and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and took a swig before putting it on the floor. Reid suddenly knew what was going on.

"Stop," he shouted dropping his groceries back in his car.

"You don't know what you're stopping me from," she said slurring her words slightly.

"You're about to bash the headlights of that car in with a golf club."

"That's not the only part I plan on a smashing," she said pulling out a club and played with it. "You know this is all he left me when he cleared out our place. He stole everything including my broken flip flops. Just some rusty old golf clubs under the deck. I bet he forgot about them."

"Then you should take him to court, not vandalize his car," Reid said.

"Who would believe, me I am an alcoholic who used heroin once three years ago!" she shouted.

Reid looked at her briefly and saw a glimmer of rage he felt years ago. "I can't let you do this," he said softly.

"Why not?" she said swaying on her feet. "You don't know me. Excuse me while I see what damage a nine iron can do."

She raised the club high but in one swift motion Reid knocked the club from her hand and pinned her to the car.

"What are you a cop?" she growled.

"No I'm an FBI agent," he said and pulled her away from the clubs.

"You going to arrest me for vandalism then?"

"No," he said and let her go. "Why don't you come to my apartment and dry out? I don't want you to be alone."

She snickered. "You don't even know my name and you're inviting me to your home. For all you know I could be a serial killer."

"I study serial killers at my job and I think you are far too inebriated to do much damage even if I thought that was a possibility."

"Then this must be my lucky day to be rescued a profiler, Yay me," she said and stumbled.

"You're coming to my place to dry out," he said firmly.

He kicked the golf bag away from the truck and walked her out of the garage. He didn't trust her to be out alone.

By the time they reached his apartment he was practically carrying her there. At the second flight of stairs he learned her name was Sarah. She fell to her knees the minute he opened the door. She turned on her side and laughed.

"Home sweet home," she managed to say.

"Come on," he said urgently and managed to pull her up on her feet.

Grabbing a pillow and a blanket, he guided her to his bathroom. She didn't put up a struggle when he put her on her side with a pillow and a blanket underneath her. Reid left her by the tub went into the kitchen to grab some water from the fridge. He winced at the sound of her throwing up. It was going to be a long night.

…

Sarah Reynolds woke to smell of vomit. If it weren't for the pounding headache, she felt like she could throw up again. On the ground next to her she found some aspirin and water. It occurred to her that she barely knew the name of the person who held her hair and woke her constantly. She had been extremely drunk before but no one had ever bothered to wake her up regularly and keep her hydrated. Frankly she didn't feel that terrible compared other hangovers.

She left the bathroom slowly and could smell bagels being toasted and coffee brewing. She wandered into the kitchen and found her thin hero in a dark suit and tie.

"Hi," she said awkwardly.

"Hello," he said pleasantly.

She offered her hand. "I'm Sarah Reynolds. I don't think 'thank you' covers how grateful I am for your help."

"Spencer Reid. I have been in a terrible place like you before and I was lucky enough to have people to help me through it. I didn't think you were as fortunate."

"I doubt you were ever in as terrible a place as I was."

The bagels popped and Reid pulled them out. "Do you like cream cheese or butter? I have both."

"I'll take butter," she said lamely and looked at her hair. "I am so gross."

"I don't mind," he taking a seat at the table with their bagels.

Sarah took a seat also. "You really are a saint," she said.

He pulled out a card. "This is a rehab center I have connections to. Mention my name and you can stay there to properly dry out."

She looked at the card. "You know I was fully expecting to end up in jail by now. Ray would know it was me and have the security camera footage pulled."

"Once you dry out you should consider filing a complaint against him," he said. "If you don't mind my asking how did you two end up on such bad terms?"

"It's a long story," she said with a sigh. "I was jealous every time I saw him look at other women. Then when once I discovered he did cheat on me and I lost it and smashed some dishes. He called me a few terrible words and posted pictures of me online and I tracked him to this neighborhood with a bag of a golf clubs."

"I am so sorry," he said.

"Me too," she said. "I'll definitely call this number as soon as I get home and clean up."

"Let me call you a cab so you don't have to take the train," he said.

"I don't have much money," she said suddenly remembering she only brought cash for the cab to get to Van Ness. She wasn't thinking straight at all that night.

"Don't worry about it," he said.

She leaned back. "You really are my hero."

…

Reid could barely concentrate that morning.

Morgan swatted his head. "Did you two talk long distance all night?" he asked playfully.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. What movie did you watch with Savanah?"

"You wouldn't know it if I named it. Now what were you doing all night doing?"

"Being a good Samaritan. Now can you let me get back to work?"

Morgan smiled. "I'll get it out of you sooner or later pretty-boy."

…

He hugged and kissed Mindy Collins the minute he saw her. She was pleasantly surprised to be greeted at the airport.

"How's your father?" he asked taking her luggage.

She tied back her honey-colored hair. "I think Florida will grow on him. It is colder than it should be down there and that is the way he likes it."

"Did you know that El Nino is the main reason for the cooling and warming trends in different parts of the country?"

"I did know that actually. You may not watch much television but these TV meteorologists know a thing or two about the weather."

"But did you know that the wild fires in California are caused by global warming and the wild fires themselves are contributing to the effect?"

"I missed you too Spencer."

…

Four weeks later Reid looked up to see a man dark short curly hair approaching his desk. He was dressed in a trench coat over a suit and tie.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Hi, I'm detective Nathan Reynolds. I wanted to come and thank you personally for all that you did for my sister."

"It really was nothing," he said.

Reynolds let out a short laugh. "Nothing, you got my sister to sober up for the first time in three years! I haven't seen her in two and suddenly she is calling me up from this fancy rehab center to say she wanted to make amends. She is getting her life back together and opening a clothing store. You are one top-notch agent."

"Thank you," he said feeling slightly embarrassed. "I was only doing what I thought was best."

"I was in the neighborhood for a conference and just wanted to thank you. Have a good day and life for that matter," he said and walked away.

Hotch had been watching the whole conversation from the upper level with curiosity.

"Reid is there something I should know about?"

"No," Reid said looking alarmed.

"That was the Baltimore chief of detective you were speaking with."

"I didn't know. He was just thanking me for helping his sister out one night."

Hotch watched him. "You do have a way of making friends in unusual places."

"I guess so."

…

She came back into his life with short hair in a crisp business suit. She was waiting at his apartment door.

"Hi," she said nervously.

"Hi," he said back.

"I don't mean to stalk you, I just wanted to thank you again now fully sober with a fifty day chip."

She pulled it out of her purse and it shined in the light.

"I was just paying it forward," he said pulling out his own chip.

She looked surprised. "Do you mind if—"

"It is a long story. Would you like to come in and hear it?"

Reid wanted to meet the real Sarah Reynolds. He wanted to see who she was and where she might fit in his life.