Notes:
TW: Mentions of kidnapping, hostages, guns and bombs etc. no one dies.
Season 7 Episode:23-24 'Hit' 'Run'
Will is kidnapped by bank robbers, shot and strapped to a bomb. JJ asks him to marry her, and Will arranges a wedding.
"Garcia and I are going to the doctor who convention, if you'd like to join us? There'll be a lot of people there and you're not a fan of crowds but if you wanted you could wear earplugs and we'd make sure nobody gets too close to you…"
"Oh, Uh, I'm afraid I'll have to pass."
"Other plans?"
"A date, actually."
"Really? That's great, well… Have fun?"
"Thanks, I'll do my best."
"How was it?" Spencer asked once they'd saddled up and galloped from the paddock, settling into a comfortable walk.
"Good, it was good... The Doctor Who convention?" Olivia returned noncommittally.
"Don't know, we never made it inside."
Spencer walked her through the long day they'd had, from meeting Kevin to responding to the Bank heist. Henry had been held hostage and Emily managed to defuse the bomb just in time to save Will. JJ was really shaken up and Reid had spent the last night on her couch watching the door with his gun at the ready, just to help her and Henry feel safe inside those walls again. Will and JJ were engaged and impatient, the realization of how close they'd come to never having this chance had impressed on both in a way only a brush with death could accomplish.
It was hard for Reid to watch one of his best friends go through that, and been unable to help. Profiling could accomplish so much in a case, but in the field, there were moments, many and long, where it came down to chance and hope and endurance, when Reid's mind was no longer an advantage and he could only wish for something tangible to do. And this being the first day in over a week that he'd had time to talk to Olivia, the tension that had built up drained from him now like an abscess.
This wasn't the kind of thing he could talk to Maeve about. An intercepted communication like that would point her stalker straight to him, and then from him back to her. But he wished she was there too, riding alongside him, listening, talking, smiling back at him. Instead it was Olivia looking inquiringly at him after a long silence.
"Thanks." He said finally.
"For what?" Olivia asked discomfited by his pensive tone.
"For listening, and just… being here."
"That's what I do Doc. And you're very welcome."
"JJ is getting married tomorrow night, its at Rossi's, just a small gathering, and it's a surprise, so don't tell her. Want to be my plus one?"
"A surprise wedding?" Olivia asked, her eyebrows raised.
"JJ was ready to go into a courthouse on her next day off, so Will pulled a few strings so her family can be there too."
"Why don't you ask Ms. Watson?"
"She can't, not yet… So, you'll go with me?"
"Of course."
When they danced together the next night, Reid imagined it was Maeve in his arms, and Olivia wished she was thinking of someone else. A slow song played and they broke apart suddenly, uncomfortable with the romantic atmosphere. Luckily Morgan and Penelope approached and they eagerly exchanged dance partners.
Derek flashed a bright smile at Olivia that softened when he looked in her eyes. "C'mon, dance with me mama, show him what he's missing."
"Who? Reid? Oh, no, there's nothing-"
"You're going to have to be a better liar then that. I've seen that look before."
"Oh, I was just thinking about- about Benjamin, that's all."
"No, you weren't." Derek said, moving in closer and brushing his knuckles across her cheek. "It's alright, the good doctor will get his head out of the sand sooner or later, and when he does, you'll be there."
Olivia sighed, melting into his chest and swaying with the rhythm. "No, no, he's got someone else."
"She can't possibly compete with you, why don't you shoot your shot, see what happens?"
"Because it would ruin us, and I want him to be happy, even if its not with me."
"You trying to be a martyr? Gee woman, how much more angelic can you be? I'm lucky you're not trying to pin me down; I'd be a goner if a woman ever looked at me that way." He laughed, lifting her chin until she looked him in the eye. "But since we're not about that, no reason we can't make everyone else here a little jealous. C'mon, Mamacita, let loose, have a little fun."
There was understanding there in his face, and she thought about his offer. A little meaningless flirtation, a little fun, not having to hold back, not needing to measure and question and inspect everyone and everything around her.
She smiled slowly, and leaned in close to whisper in his ear, "Va papi, show me what you've got."
He laughed loudly and pulled her in closer, keeping his steps low to exaggerate the swing of their hips as he led her into a set of simple Rumba box steps that fit into the music's slow rhythm.
"You've been practicing?" He said, his breath hot against her ear.
"Yeah, Benjamin wanted to take me dancing and I didn't want to make a fool of myself but practicing just isn't the same without a partner."
"I'd say you're doing just fine on your own." The song ended and the tempo increased. "How do you feel about the tango?"
"I could definitely work on that."
"Don't you worry little Mama, I got you."
Penelope stepped in when their second dance was done and Olivia gratefully took a chair at an empty table, slipping her shoes off and smiling at the newlyweds who still held center stage on the dance floor. A glance told her Reid was entertaining the kids with magic tricks and Kevin was looking at Penelope from across the yard with an odd look on his face. Like he was trying to move on, but he hadn't stopped loving her yet.
"You and Derek sure tore up the floor." Emily said, sitting down beside Olivia.
"And my feet, pretty sure I'll have blisters in the morning."
"You did well… You fit here, you know? I mean, we know you and Reid are solid as they come, but you just showed me you can flirt with Derek in that meaningless way he does, Penelope would love to adopt you into the BAU, and I even heard Rossi asking Reid if he thought you'd be interested in looking over his next ARC, whatever that is."
"Advanced Reader Copy. Really? I heard he's super protective of his unpublished manuscripts."
"He is! Like a hungry bear with a fish." Emily laughed and continued, "which is my point exactly. Did you know JJ asked for you the moment she realized the dress was too long, and sure enough, you had safety pins and the wherewithal to use them. I used to think there wasn't room in this family for more people, but you, you stepped up every time you were needed." Emily said pensively. "You filled a gap we didn't know was empty."
Olivia looked her over suspiciously, "ok, what exactly is this about Emily?"
"I'm leaving. Got a job offer oversees and…" Emily sighed, swirling her wine glass. "I just haven't felt home here since. Well, since they buried me. And I guess, I just wanted to ask you, to look after them. Reid especially. you know how he hates change. I don't want him to think I'm abandoning him, but…"
"You need to look after yourself too, and a fresh start can't hurt."
"That's what I'm hoping… I might come back again, someday, and maybe a few years away will make it feel like coming home again, but right now it's not. I just need to move, to stay untethered."
"They'll all be fine, as long as you're well. And Spencer, he'll understand, just give him a time to come to grips with it, don't spring it on them last minute."
"I actually only decided an hour ago, I think its still sinking in. And I will, I'll tell them all tomorrow, but for tonight, we celebrate. Now, I need a refill, how about you?"
"As Rossi's insisting I stay this time, why not."
"Hey that's great! You know the guest suite he lent me last time had a Texas sized bed in it, what say, you, me, Penelope and a spare bottle of red, we'll make it a sleepover!"
Derek looked over at her and winked. His voice echoed in her head like telepathy, 'let your hair down mama, have a little fun.'
"I get the left side of the bed." Liv said with a smile.
"Deal!"
Notes:
Zugzwang is next. Prepare your tissues and stay hydrated.