Hey guys,so I am sooo sorry about the delay in updating! School has me so busy that my writing time has been limited! I hope this long chapter makes up for it! Also,if you are reading Crime and Punishment we should have an update soon! Again,school has made writing hard with mine and EmilyJades different schedules! Please review this chapter and give me your thoughts,I appreciate hearing from all of you!

Happy Reading:)

"So,we are thinking breakfast first,obviously,and then after that hit up the mall. Lunch at the little bistro,a movie in the afternoon and then we can decide from there. How does that sound?" Emily asked Brooke as they pulled out of the driveway.

"Sounds fine," Brooke answered.

JJ and Garcia shared a look,something was bothering Brooke and they were determined to figure it out.

"Sleepover at Christina's last night?" JJ asked,trying to get Brooke talking.

"Yeah."

"Did you have fun? I feel like we haven't seen you at all since Saturday! Tell us what has been going on in the world of Brooklyn Reid."

Brooke smiled at JJ, "Yeah,I always have fun when I'm with her and Leighton."

Garcia turned around to face Brooke, "So what about school?How is cheer?How is darling Abby doing? I haven't seen or heard about her in awhile."

Brooke felt her stomach churn at the sound of Abby's name, "Schools good. I'm number one in my class,granted it is only a few weeks in but still. Cheer is great. I'm loving being a flyer and we always have a lot of fun at practices."

Emily smiled at Brooke in the mirror, "Congratulations,kiddo!"

"Thanks."

"You must work pretty hard. I mean cheer takes up a lot of time I know and to be number one must mean school keeps you busy as well."

"I guess,yeah."

The four girls chatted about other things until Emily pulled into the parking lot and announced their arrival.

"I'll have the lumberjack breakfast with orange juice," JJ said as she handed her menu to the waitress.

"I'll have the exact same," Garcia said.

"Oh hell,why not? I'll have the same as them except apple juice instead," Emily said.

The waitress turned to Brooke who was still studying her menu, "What can I get for you,sweetie?"

Brooke quickly finished doing the math in her head, "I'll have the fruit bowl and water please."

"That's all?" Garcia asked,looking across at Brooke.

"Yeah,I had forgotten we were doing breakfast and ate at Christina's this morning."

Garcia nodded,easily accepting Brooke's explanation but JJ and Emily were not quite as sure.

"Do you have these a size smaller?" Brooke asked the sales lady who was in the dressing room area.

"I can check,what size would you need?"

Brooke felt her face flush, "A size two..."

"I'll be right back."

Brooke sat back down in her dressing room and waited. She knew she had lost weight but not this much. She was slightly proud of herself though and sent Christina a SnapChat of her pinching the excess a material.

Christina sent one back immediately with a thumbs up and words 'keep up the great work:)'.

Brooke smiled and put her phone back down as the sales lady handed her the jeans through the door. Brooke slid into them and figured they would work,they were still a little loose but good enough for her.

"Lets see how everything looks," Emily called out to Brooke and the others.

All four stepped out at the same time and started laughing at the ridiculous outfits they were wearing.

"I know we were going for stupid looking things but Brooke,that actually looks cute on you,"Garcia commented.

"I agree," JJ said looking at the neon blue skinny jeans Brooke had paired with an off the shoulder white top.

"I feel like you are one of those girls that could wear anything and look fabulous," Emily said as she studied Brooke's outfit.

"Thanks,guys," Brooke said shyly as she turned back towards her dressing room.

"Brooke? Is that you?" A voice asked from further down the row of changing rooms.

Brooke turned, "Hey Lizzie."

Lizzie walked over to Brooke and the three women that were with her, "You look adorable,are you buying that?"

Brooke laughed, "No way,it was just for laughs."

"Well,I think you should get it," Lizzie turned her attention to the three women before introducing herself, "I'm sorry,I didn't mean to be rude. I'm Lizzie,I cheer with Brooke."

"It's a pleasure to meet you,I'm Penelope," Garcia shook hands with Lizzie and then waited for JJ and Emily to introduce themselves.

"I'm Emily," Emily shook her hand.

"And I'm JJ," JJ said as Lizzie smiled and shook her hand.

"How do you guys know Brooke?"

Brooke jumped in, "They work with my brother."

"Oh my gosh,so you're all FBI agents?"

The three older women laughed but it was JJ who spoke for them, "I am and so is Emily but Garcia is our tech goddess. There isn't anything she can't find."

"Wow,that is so cool. Brooke you are so lucky," Lizzie gushed.

Brooke smiled, "I wouldn't say lucky," she muttered under her breath.

"Well,I better get going. It was a pleasure meeting you all and Brooke I'll see you on Monday."

Everyone said their good byes and went back into their rooms to change into their regular clothes.

Lunch was a quiet affair,everyone was worn out from all the shopping they had done earlier.

Everyone was more focused on eating then they were on actually talking,except for JJ who was watching Brooke as she ate.

JJ noticed she was very careful to separate her food into sections and cut it up into tiny pieces. She moved it around more then she actually ate but she did eat so JJ was content,for now.

"Dessert anyone?" Garcia asked as she pushed away her food.

"I'm so in," Emily said,raising her hand.

"Why not?" JJ said laughing.

"Brooke,you want something?" Garcia asked Brooke who seemed lost in thought.

"What?"

"Dessert,you want some?"

"Oh umm,I think I'm good but thanks."

Garcia raised her eyebrows, "Brooke Reid is passing up dessert,are you feeling okay?"

Emily laughed and Brooke felt her face flush, "Yeah I'm sure. I'm going to go to the bathroom,I'll be right back," she said as she slid out from the booth.

Garcia waited until Brooke was out of earshot before talking, "Alright,Brooklyn Reid does not turn down dessert,what gives?"

Emily shrugged, "I don't know but I'm placing my bets on cheerleading having practically everything to do with it."

"And that Christina girl she's become friends with," JJ added.

"She isn't really eating again. Do you think..." Garcia asked,worry evident in her eyes.

"I don't know," Emily said sadly.

JJ patted Garcia's hand, "Last time she managed to fix it herself before everything got too bad."

"I know she did but I still worry."

"She has us here for her,she knows that," JJ said trying to reassure the worried tech analyst.

"And we know kind of what to look for this time around and can intervene if we need to," Emily added.

"Although that may happen pretty soon,judging by the weight she has lost and the way she just picks at her food and moves it around," JJ said, "We'll just keep an eye on her."

The three were interrupted by their waitress, "Can I get you ladies any dessert?"

Brooke dug around in her purse for some gum and popped a piece into her mouth. She had learned to always carry some on her at all times for times like these.

She looked at herself and saw her hair was slightly messy and fixed it so it was just perfect. Everything about her was finally just right.

Brooke reapplied her make-up and was finally satisfied and headed back out to the table,her secret hidden behind the scent of wintergreen gum.

"Brooke,the movie is over," JJ said while gently shaking Brooke awake.

Brooke looked around confused, "Hmm?"

Emily and Garcia laughed, "You fell asleep,kiddo," Emily said.

"The movie is over?"

The three other girls laughed a little harder, "Yeah it is," Garcia informed her.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep," Brooke said as she rubbed her eyes.

JJ helped her up, "I don't blame you,it was pretty boring."

The four girls walked out of the theater to find it down pouring.

"I guess this means we aren't going the park to play ultimate frisbee,huh?" Garcia shouted as they ran for cover in Emily's car.

"Nope,what now?" Emily asked as the last door shut.

"Game night at my place?" JJ suggest.

"I'm all for that...Brooke?" Garcia asked turning around.

"That's fine with me."

"Should we invite all the guys and make it girls versus guys?" Emily asked as she headed towards JJ's house.

The vote was a unanimous yes.

Brooke laughed as Morgan jumped around,she knew exactly what he was acting out but apparently his team did not.

"Hurdler,"Spencer shouted out and Morgan waved him on encouragingly.

"Runner?" Rossi threw out.

"TIME'S UP," Garcia and JJ shouted.

"Track and field you idiots," Morgan groaned as he collapsed on the couch.

"That means...girls win!" Emily said as she tallied up the points.

"And that means it is time for me to head home and get some rest,you guys wear me out," Rossi said standing up.

Emily and Garcia nodded, "I think we're gonna head out as well."

"Brooke,you ready to go?" Spencer asked,turning to his little sister.

It was apparent to everyone that things were still tense between Brooke and Reid when Brooke just simply nodded and said, "Yeah. That's fine."

Emily pulled Brooke into a hug, "We'll see you soon,kiddo. Go easy on your brother," she whispered.

"Thanks for today,guys. I had a great time," Brooke said as she got hugs from JJ and Garcia.

"Anytime,sweet cheeks," Garcia smiled.

Brooke went out on the porch to wait while Spencer got details from Rossi about some question and answer thing they were going to later in the week.

"He loves you,you know."

Brooke turned and saw Hotch standing there, "Huh?"

Hotch moved to stand next to Brooke to explain what he meant, "Spencer. It may seem like he doesn't but he does love you."

"I know he does."

"Sometimes I don't think you do. You're at that age where you're struggling with stuff that we can only imagine and it's hard to remember things like that."

"I'm not struggling with anything."

"You may be fooling everyone else but you can't fool someone who has been where you have been."

Brooke looked at Hotch, "I'm not trying to fool anyone."

"Right."

"I'm not," Brooke said defensively, "I'm sick of everyone thinking I'm so different from a week ago when I'm not."

"Who are you trying to convince,me or you?" Hotch asked gently.

Brooke didn't say anything so Hotch continued, "You don't need to be perfect. Reid loves you just how you are. We all do."

"Who said anything about being perfect?"

Hotch laughed, "I thought Spencer was exaggerating when he said you've gotten sassy but apparently he wasn't."

A small smile crossed Brooke's face, "But seriously,I never said anything about trying to be perfect."

"You don't have to say a word for me to see what you aren't saying."

Brooke leaned up against the profiler who put his arm around her thin waist, "It's harder then I thought,being a varsity cheerleader. There are so many unwritten rules about what you can and can't do,what you can and can't say,who you can hang out with and such."

"Maybe you should just say screw it and be true to the Brooke you have always been," Hotch said,carefully. This was the first time in almost a week that Brooke had showed a little bit of weakness.

"What if..." Brooke trailed off as Spencer,Morgan,Rossi,Garcia,and Emily came out of the house.

Hotch silently cursed but knew the moment was gone. He was about to tell Brooke one last thing but she had already slipped from his side and was half way down the walk.