A/N: Not much to say here, but thank you all again for the great support on these stories, I greatly appreciate them all!

Chapter 11: Girlfriend

It had been almost exactly two days since he had left Gloucester Hospital. Since he had walked away from the girl that he had found himself falling deeper in like with than he could have ever imagined. Two days since he had spoken to her, and he was getting more concerned. He had called the hospital to speak with her, after the third time she didn't answer her phone, the nurse told him she was asleep.

He started to get more worried, and more anxious to return, so he found himself Friday after school jumping in his best friend's car and taking off, without letting Tyler know. He found himself calling her on and off the entire way up to Gloucester, and each call ended up in her voicemail.

Now he wasn't sure if he should be worried, pissed or maybe even jealous. Had she gotten a new roommate? Had she decided to completely disregard everything they talked about before he left? Had she forgotten hat he had told her how much he liked her.

Though, for her, that might not mean much. If she was one of the girls in Ipswich, one of the girls around town that knew exactly what he was like, she would understand. He pressed his foot down on the gas and used just because.

He wanted to get there faster, he wanted to see Isobel.

He parked his car, grabbed a visiting pass and headed straight up to their floor. He crossed by several familiar faces, waving slightly as they gave him looks of concern. He stopped in front of their door and signed the visiting sheet the guard shoved at him.

"She awake?" He asked signing his name.

"She's been awake for the last two hours," The guard replied lifting his chin to the door. "Go on in…"

Two hours, he had been calling her for the last hour at least, why hadn't she called him back? Did she find out about his precarious behavior before ending up in this joint? Had she completely shunned him for his previous indiscretions?

He opened the door and saw the look of pure shock on her face. The first thing out of his mouth wasn't a "Hello" or an "It's good to see you," instead it was a little more harsh, and brought her back to reality.

"Why haven't you answered my calls?"

Isobel licked her lips, looking for a good explanation. She had gotten his first message, she had gotten his first message, and all the ones following. A part of her wanted to believe every word he said, but a part of her couldn't. A part of her couldn't let go of her past, of all the things people had done to her, all the others that had runaway.

"I'm sorry, Reid…" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Reid crossed the room, he noticed the empty bed, a bit relived when he took a seat on the end of hers. He pulled her hands in to his and kissed her knuckles, loving the feeling of her hands in his.

"I missed you, I was worried…" He pursed his lips together, he wanted to get angry with her, he wanted to yell at her for making him worry like he had, but he couldn't find it in him. He couldn't yell at something so beautiful.

"I'm sorry," She repeated.

He shook his head, "Why didn't you answer?"

Isobel stayed at the top of the bed, her hands still wrapped in his, feeling the comfort from him, "I was scared," She whispered.

"Scared of what?"

He wanted to trump that fear, he wanted to take it away and send it off.

"I didn't want you to leave," She felt the tears in her eyes as she spoke, slowly sliding down her paling face. "I was so scared,"

"I told you everything would be ok…" He reached up and pushed her bangs out of her face.

"I know," She sniffled and shook her head. "I couldn't believe you. I really wanted to," She croaked. "It's just hard… hard to let myself believe something that I've heard before…"

His heart literally broke at her words, "I wouldn't do that to you Iz," He shook his head. "I told you, I can't lose you… I can't lose the way you make me feel…"

"I know," She nodded. "I'm so sorry Reid, it was just so hard to believe… I really wanted to… and after all the calls… I kept telling myself to answer…"

"You should have, I wouldn't have done 90 on the way here…" He laughed.

"Ninety? Are you crazy?" Her eyes bugged out, her mouth fell open and Reid grinned.

"I certainly am," He grinned leaning in to meet her lips, "For you…"

Isobel blushed and kissed him back, she scooted closer to her, letting herself be. He pulled her close against his chest and held on to her, for what seemed like an eternity. He closed his eyes and Used, just this once, he objectified it as a night pass appeared in his hand behind his back.

"And look what I've got…" He held it up for her.

She looked at it and looked concerned, "A night pass, for what?" She asked.

Reid sighed and rolled his crystal blue eyes, "So I can take you out on our first date, of course…"

Isobel smiled and held it against her chest, "Seriously?"

He pursed his lips together and gave her a look that said it all. She laughed as she glanced down at her hospital gown, "You're going to have to leave the room so I can change…" She pointed out.

"That's what a bathroom's for babe," He remarked with a grin, lifting his chin to the bathroom that was in their room.

She shook her head, pulling herself out of bed she grabbed her large duffel bag and closed the door behind her. What was she going to wear on her first date? Wow, a date. She couldn't wrap her head around this. It had been so long since she had been on a date, so long since a guy actually knew everything about her and was going to take her out no matter the consequences.

She had been so scared that he wouldn't come back that she didn't want to answer his calls. She feared that if he did show up it was to tell her that he was done with her, especially after ignoring him. She quickly changed in to a pair of relaxed fitting jeans, a t-shirt and pulled on a hooded jacket, making sure to hide her wrists.

She walked out in to the room and Reid smiled seeing her dressed in normal street clothes, "You look great," He informed her.

"Are you a professional liar?" She asked calmly, a small smile on her lips.

"No," He shook his head. "I just know a beautiful girl when I see one,"

She smiled and took his extended hand as he pulled her towards the door, "How did you manage to get that?" She asked referring to the pass in his free hand.

"I have my ways," He grinned passing the guard at the door and handing the pass to the woman behind the desk. She scribbled down Isobel's room number, her name and time of departure, not really asking many questions.

"Be back by nine," The woman behind the desk stated.

"Nine?" Reid pursed his lips; he closed his eyes for a half of a second and offered a negotiation, "Ten?"

The woman glanced at him and nodded, "Ten," She jotted it down with a small smile.

Isobel diverted her gaze up at his gorgeous face and smirked, how did he do that? She shrugged her shoulders and wondered what he had in mind.

"Where are we going?" She asked him.

"I'm taking you to Nicky's…" He stated.

"Nicky's? What's Nicky's?"

Reid grinned, "Trust me; you're going to love it…"

Isobel narrowed her eyes at him and sighed, she wasn't so sure of this. He opened the car door for her, and she slid in to the vehicle, the black leather interior was cool as she got herself comfortable.

"Where is this Nicky's?"

"Ipswich," He replied.

She watched as he cranked up the large SUV and headed towards his hometown. Her eyes flew to the clock to see that is was just shy of five o'clock. It took roughly a half hour or forty five minutes to drive from Gloucester to Ipswich, or the other way around, so she relaxed, she trusted him.

She knew he wouldn't get her in to any trouble.

Reid smiled over at her, his right hand reaching over to take hers, "You're going to meet my friends, I hope you don't mind…"

Isobel glanced up at him and smiled, "The ones you thought weren't your real friends?" She held in her want to laugh at him.

Reid rolled his eyes, "Yes, those friends…" He nodded his head.

She grinned, "I can't wait…"

She tightened her grasp on his hand and he smiled, letting the soft rock music fill the truck. Isobel was staring out of the window; it felt nice to be out of the cramped hospital bed, to wear some real clothing. She glanced at the blonde for a second, to have a real boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

Was he really her boyfriend? The thought had crossed her mind, they were going out on a date, they were technically together, he wanted to be with her, and she with him. The word it just seemed to fit perfectly.

She didn't know if he approved of the term, she would just have to wait and see. Wait and see how he introduced her to his friends.

Thirty minutes in to the ride Reid's phone began to buzz in his pocket. He held the wheel steady with his knee and used his left hand to fish out the small piece of technology, not wanting to break his hold on Isobel's hand.

He held it up to his ear, his eyes on the road.

"Hello?" He hadn't bothered to look at the screen, Isobel noticed.

"Where are you?" Reid glanced over at her and she smiled at him.

"On my way to Nicky's… I'll be there in about ten minutes," Reid answered.

"You could have told me you were taking the truck,"

"Sorry, dad… emergency…" The corners of his mouth lifted in a grin as he spoke to his best friend, Isobel could tell.

"Smart ass, you bringing Isobel?"

"You wish," He grinned, and Isobel felt her stomach flutter, she loved it when he smiled. She didn't dislike his smirks, but sometimes they fit him, his personality, but she absolutely loved it when he smiled or showed that he was genuinely content.

"Alright man, I'll see you in ten,"

"Later baby boy,"

Reid hung up his phone and tossed a glance at the dark haired girls sitting next to him, a genuine smile graced her pink lips. He loved that she wasn't wearing any make-up, her hair was pulled in to a tight pony, letting the thick dark brown hair curly in many different directions.

She was exactly the kind of girl he had always pictured himself with, if he had ever thought of having a serious girlfriend. He had dealt with way too many high-maintenance girls from Spenser, he wanted someone who was low-key, laid back and didn't have to wear a pound of make up on her face to look pretty.

"Here we are," He lifted his chin to the bar he parked in front of.

Isobel looked at the place and then back at Reid, this wasn't exactly the kind of place she expected him or his friends to hang out in. He pulled the keys out and glanced over at her, seeing the odd look on her face he grinned.

"What's up?"

"N-Nothing," She shook her head giving him a small smile.

Reid got out of the driver's side of the car and ran over to open the door for her just as she was about to reach it. She gave him a grateful smile and accepted the hand he offered her. They walked in just like that, Reid smiling like an idiot, holding her hand.

She walked in and immediately felt a wave of comfort fall over her. Why? She wasn't sure, but there was something a bout this place that just felt right. She smiled and followed him weaving through the smoking, drinking patrons.

He released her hand but only to connect with the hand of his best friend, whom Isobel recognized right away, along with the others at the table. She gave a polite smile to them when Reid took her hand again and pulled her under his arm.

"Isobel Brady, these are my best friends…" He pointed to the table. "You know Tyler…" He pointed to the dark haired, blue eyed boy and she nodded sending him a pleased smile. "You met Caleb the other day," he pointed to the dark haired boy who seemed to be always brooding. "The others…" He gestured to the last three, "My other best friend, Pogue Parry…" He pointed to the long haired, leather clad guy. She would have been scared of him if it wasn't for the smile on his face, and the spark of playfulness in his hazel eyes.

"Nice to meet you guys," She nodded her head and glanced at the girls.

"This is Caleb's girlfriend… Sarah Wenham…" He pointed to the blonde, whom she had thought was his girlfriend days ago. "And Pogue's girlfriend, Kate Tunney…" He motioned to the beautiful girl with dark, long hair that hit her waist.

He paused for a second, and she frowned a bit, half-expecting him to introduce her as his girlfriend, but the other part of her told her not to. She felt her heart sink and he pressed a kiss to her temple, "Fellas, Sarah, Kate… this is my girlfriend Isobel…"

Read & Review... because you know you want to... ;)