The Jason Gideon Detective Agency

Chap. 6-Hello, Goodbye

0900 Hours

Boston Navy Yard

Spencer was the last to show for the debriefing, having spent the morning lingering in the hotel café, trying to decide whether or not to call Caroline and ask her to come-even if just to see him. He decided at the last minute that that would be a bad idea, and so he quickly ducked into a car with Morgan and Hotch to head to the Navy Yard. He rode in silence, staring out the window, while Morgan looked him over and sighed.

As they arrived, and were ushered through the gate, the sight of a familiar car made him excited. He smiled big, and Morgan spoke.

"What?" Spencer indicated the car.

"That's Dr. Steinberg's car." He sat back, realizing he felt oddly relieved that she was there. They climbed out and entered, and he ran smack into Caroline as he was checking a text from Garcia. He smiled when he looked up, and stepped back.

"I am sorry. Did I hurt you?" Caroline shook her head, her auburn ponytail shaking as she did.

"No. I am here as a civilian today; your boss arranged it so I could speak to Heather Johnson. Can you sit in with me?" He nods.

"Yes, I will. Let me get a pad, ok?" Caroline nods, and he disappears to find a legal pad. He enters their little makeshift office, where he finds Gideon in deep conversation with Hotch. Both men look up as Spencer enters. He smiles lightly, and speaks to them.

"Hotch, sir? Dr. Steinberg asked me to sit in with her when she interviews Heather Johnson." Hotch looked him over for a moment, and then looked to Gideon, who shrugged. Hotch nodded.

"It's fine with me." Spencer nodded, and located a legal pad, and returned to the Bullpen, where he found Caroline in conversation with JJ. He cleared his throat as he approached the ladies, and smiled as Caroline threw her head back in laughter, and then looked up at him, sheepish.

"Hi, Spencer. JJ was telling me about Henry." He nodded.

"Cute kid. Are you ready?" She nods, and turns back to JJ.

"Please excuse me, Agent Jareau." JJ nodded, and smiled pointedly at Spencer, who shook his head, and led Caroline down the hallway. She spoke to him as they walked, suddenly serious.

"Am I crazy for wanting to do this? I just-I need to understand her motives. I feel like if I could tell the Perez's why, they could heal a little, you know?" Spencer turns to her, and nods.

"I understand. No, I don't think you're crazy at all. But sometimes, we don't get the answers we want. Just know that, OK?" She nodded, and they entered the interrogation room, where Heather Johnson was seated, cuffed to the chair, with an MP standing nearby. Caroline takes a seat across from the woman, and Spencer sits next to her. Caroline glances at him, and then bites her lip. He nods encouragingly and then she speaks.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Petty Officer Johnson. I apologize for hurting you last night; I was on pure adrenaline." The girl simply nodded; Caroline felt terrible for the woman-her hair was dirty and stringy, and she'd been roughed up by the MP's, it seemed. Caroline looked sadly at Spencer, who shrugged at her and motioned for her to continue.

She took a deep breath and continued.

"Ok, so what I wanted to know is simply, why? I mean, of all the men on this base, why Perez?" Caroline stopped speaking and looked hard at the girl. It was silent for a moment, so silent that Caroline could hear Spencer's wristwatch counting down the moments as they ticked past. Then Heather Johnson raised her head, and looked Caroline straight in the eye before speaking.

"He kissed another girl." Caroline fought the urge to scream; did she really just say that? Caroline spluttered, but then Spencer touched her arm lightly. A smile fleetingly touched her face, but then she turned serious again, and spoke.

"Ok, Heather. I understand; if a guy I liked kissed some other girl, I might be upset, too. But did you have to *kill* him? I mean, that seems a little extreme."

"Have you ever been in love?" Caroline blushes, and shakes her head, as Heather continues. "Well, then, you can't possibly understand the betrayal. I loved him." Caroline sighs, but then the MP steps forward.

"Excuse me, Dr. Steinberg, Agent Reid? The fifteen minutes are up." Caroline nods, and stands, following Spencer out of the room. Outside of the meeting room, Caroline turns to him.

"You were right, Spencer." He looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"About?"

"When you said that we don't always get the answers we want." He smiled sadly, and nodded.

"I am sorry, Caroline." He reached out and touched her face with his fingertips, and she smiled, and then sighed. She spoke again.

"Thank you. Now I just have to figure out how to tell the Perez's." He smiled sympathetically, and replied.

"You can have JJ do it; she knows how." Caroline shook her head, accidentally knocking his hand off of her face. He blushed when he realized he had still been touching her, but waited for her to speak.

"I have to do it. They know me, and it wouldn't be fair. Besides, Gideon needs to see that I am capable." He nods.

"Do you need me to come with you to tell them?" She smiled again, brighter than before.

"That would be nice, if you can. I don't want to keep you from your job." He shook his head.

"No, we were finishing up and getting ready to head back to DC. Let me let Hotch know, OK?" She nods, and as he turns, she reaches out, and grabs his arm.

"Wait, we will have to leave the dock…they live in Jamaica Plain; the other side of town. I don't know how long it will take." He nods.

"It's fine. It's part of the case, so I am sure it won't be a problem." She nods and they head back to the Bullpen together, his hand guiding her gently at the small of her back. JJ smiles pointedly as they enter, noticing the closeness of the two, and the way their heads are close as they speak to each other about the horrific things that Petty Officer Johnson had said.

A few moments later, she watches as Spencer drops his hand, and Caroline laughs, and then he turns away, heading for Hotch. JJ stands and approaches the girl.

"Hey, Dr. Steinberg, are you OK?"

"Yes, I just had a sit-down with Petty Officer Johnson. It was rough." JJ nods.

"I know. If you need help, let me know."

"Thank you. Dr. Reid was very helpful, as well."

"He told me about last night." Caroline reddened, and then spoke.

"I shouldn't have done that. But he was there, and it was comforting; I liked the feeling of his arms around me. But, please, don't say anything to Gideon. I think he is already annoyed with me for my chilliness last night. I was scared, and annoyed with him already." JJ nodded.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." Caroline smiled lightly, and then watched as Spencer strode across the Bullpen. He headed for her, and JJ looked up as he approached.

"Good morning, Spence."

"Good morning, JJ. Caroline, I gave your notes to Hotch and Lt. Mackenzie; they will take care of the rest. Are you ready to go meet with the Perez's?" Caroline nods, but just then, Gideon approached the pair.

"Excuse me. Caroline, the Perez's have requested that you and Top wait until tomorrow to talk with them; they're very upset at the recent turn of events." Caroline nodded sadly.

"You are free to go. Excuse me, Dr. Reid, JJ." Caroline nods, but speaks as JJ saunters away.

"So, I got your email this morning; thank you for your words. It was so very nice to hear that you think that I have potential at this." He blushed lightly, but smiled and nodded.

"I meant it." She nodded, too.

"I was thinking, then, that I have a conference to attend in three weeks, in DC. If you want, maybe we could have dinner together one night?" He smiled and nodded.

"That would be wonderful. Why don't you email me or call me with the exact days and I will make a reservation someplace?" Caroline smiled back, and nodded again.

"Sounds lovely. I guess I should go; I don't want to keep you anymore, your boss is looking impatient. Thanks for everything, Spencer." He smiled at the sound of his name on her lips, and then reached out and took her hand in his, shaking it lightly, and then smiling again.

"Of course, Caroline. You're welcome." He sighed as she turned away, retrieving her handbag and jacket from the Yeoman and then exiting the building. From behind him, he heard JJ's soft voice.

"Are you OK, Spence?" He turned to JJ, and spoke.

"Yes, JJ. I am perfect. Shall we head back for the hotel to get ready to go? Home sounds wonderful right now." She smiled at him, and nodded.

End of Chap. 6