Slowly... ever so slowly... we will get there I promise.
The girls were back in a half hour. JJ and Emily went to their own rooms so they could finish packing and not be late for the plane. Garcia carefully got her door open without dropping anything. She closed the door behind her and smiled when she turned around. Reid and Nia were asleep on the couch. Reid had his head back against the couch with one hand on Nia and the other at his side. Nia was lying across Reid's lap. She shifted and laid her head more on Reid's stomach. Garcia took a quick picture of them. They were so adorable together she couldn't pass up on the opportunity. Garcia began packing her things as quietly as she could.
Before long, Garcia was almost done packing when there was a soft knock at the door. She hurried to the door so whoever it was didn't knock again waking up the sleeping duo. Breathlessly she opened the door to Hotch. She put a finger to her lips and waved Hotch in while telling him to be quiet. He raised an eyebrow at her as he let Garcia usurer him in. He glanced over at the couch and saw why Garcia wanted him to be quiet.
Hotch smirked a little at the sight. "I went ahead and packed his bag." Hotch said holding up Reid's to go bag.
"Good thinking boss man." Garcia said moving to finish up packing.
Hotch's phone vibrated in his pocket. Rossi, JJ, and Emily were heading to the jet now and would meet them on the plane. Garcia walked over to him as he closed his phone.
"Who was that?" She asked placing her bright pink suitcase on the table.
"The team, they will all meet us there except Morgan. He is going to drive."
Garcia nodded. "When is he going to be here?"
"Soon." She nodded and looked over at Reid. "Should we wake him up now or later?"
Hotch grinned at the way Garcia could think sometimes.
Nia answered Garcia's question when she jerked awake, kicking Reid in the process. She fell off him and the couch. She hit the floor and jumped up. Reid bolted awake and gasped for air. Nia had caught him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. She looked up at him, saw him in pain and whined.
Garcia moved to help when Hotch put an arm out and stopped her. "Wait…" He said. Garcia looked at Hotch like he was crazy. Hotch just shook his head at her and turned back to the scene before them.
Nia whined again looking at Reid. He finally saw her on the floor. "Hey…" He paused when he noticed Nia was shaking and her eyes were wide. He leaned down and held his arms out to her.
"It's okay, you didn't hurt me." Reid said reassuring Nia. She looked at him like she didn't believe him. He gave her a small smile.
"Come here. You just knocked the wind out of me that's all. Come here." Nia carefully came to him. He picked her up and set her in his lap. "See I'm fine and no one is going to hurt you." Reid said soothingly, cuddling Nia.
Garcia glanced at Hotch amazed. He gave Garcia a small smile and walked over to Reid. Reid looked up when he felt Hotch's presence near him. He looked up at Hotch in surprise.
"I thought you had left." He said.
Garcia laughed. "He did. You and Nia were out when I got back which was about 20 minutes ago." Reid was shocked.
Hotch smiled. "Come on. I packed you bag and Morgan will be here any minute to take us to the jet Hotch said holding Reid's bag up for him to see. No soon had he said this than there was a loud knock at the door. Nia picked up her head looking at the door.
"Must be Morgan." Reid remarked when Nia just sat there. Garcia opened the door and found that it was Morgan.
"You guys ready to go?" He asked with a big smile. Nis jumped down from Reid's lap and stood behind Garcia studying Morgan. He laughed and knelt down with his hand held out. Nia looked at him for a second before she returned to Reid who was still sitting on the couch. He gave Nia pat and stood up grabbing his bag.
"Come on let's go." Hotch said with a smile. Morgan went out first to start the SUV with Hotch right behind him. Morgan slide into the driver seat while Hotch got in the front passenger. Garcia and Reid were just a few minutes behind them.
"Nia, let's go." Garcia said bubbly. Nia stuck close to Garcia and Reid but when Reid went to go around the SUV Nia didn't know what to do. Reid saw her hesitate.
"Go with Garcia." He said walking around and getting in the SUV. Garcia opened her door and held it open for Nia. She jumped up in the vehicle and onto the seat next to Reid who was already buckled in. Garcia got in, closed the door behind her and buckled up with a whoosh. Nia sat in between Reid and Garcia. It was a 45 minute drive to the airport but they passed the time by talking. Everyone participated but Reid was less than usual.
Garcia called Nia over. "Come here, look out there." Garcia said pointing out the window when Nia was in her lap. Nia looked out the window amazed. After a bit she moved over to Reid's side. Throughout the whole ride, Nia would go back and forth from Reid's lap to Garcia's so she could look out the windows.
Morgan glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the look on Reid and Garcia's faces. They were happy. He pulled up to the jet and turned the car off. Everyone unbuckled and opened their doors. Nia jumped in the back of the SUV where all the bags and suitcases were. Morgan opened the back of the SUV and smiled when he saw Nia sitting there. He shook his head, grabbing his duffle bag and Garcia's suitcase.
Hotch grabbed his bag and looked at Nia. She was sitting far from him in the beginning but she had sat next to his bag. When he had grabbed for his bag, she had sat there without flinching. He noticed Reid waiting his turn to get in the back. He took his bag and stepped back.
Reid never put his bag in the back but saw Nia go back there and decided he was going to carry her onto the jet. He stepped up and held his arms open for Nia. She walked up to him and jumped into his arms. He picked her up and held her close as they walked to the jet.
Hotch closed the back door and walked beside Reid. Nia reached up and licked Reid's chin. He giggled and shifted so he was holding Nia in one arm so he could wipe his chin.
"You are a trouble maker. I just know it." Reid said laughingly as he climbed up the stairs. Hotch closed the door behind them and watched to see how Nia would react. Reid set her down so he could get to his seat. Nia looked around the jet nervously. She found Garcia at the front and went to her. She jumped up in Garcia's lap who laughed. Reid was going to sit up front with Garcia but he decided that he was going to try and get Nia use to the team and sat at the back.
JJ informed the pilots that they were ready and sat across from Garcia next to Emily. Hotch sat in the middle with Rossi and Morgan sat across from Reid in the back. The engines roared to life scaring Nia. She jumped and curled closer to Garcia. Soon she realized that it wasn't going to hurt her and tried looking out the window next to Garcia. JJ laughed as Nia's ears picked up as she watched the ground give way as they took off.
Rossi had turned to look at JJ and Garcia to see what they were laughing at. "She is going to be a wonderful addition to this family." He said turning back around to Hotch.
Hotch nodded. "Yes she is."
Rossi studied him for a minute. "You have taken a liking to her too."
Hotch looked at Rossi surprised for a moment. "I guess I have."
Rossi leaned so he was closer to Hotch and could talk in a whisper so no one else could hear.
"Does it have to do with the young genius that has begun coming out of his shell?"
Hotch looked at him with his mouth open.
Rossi smiled. "I have been your friend for a long time Aaron. I know things." Hotch closed his mouth and shook his head at Rossi.
"If we must talk about this, can we do it later?" Hotch asked in a pleading whisper. Rossi just grinned and sat back letting Hotch slip for now.
They were almost 20 minutes into their flight when Nia jumped down from Garcia's lap. Garcia, Emily and JJ were going through a magazine and Nia apparently got bored. She walked through the plane looking at everything.
Morgan had gotten up to get coffee and watched Nia make her way to the back. Reid was reading one of his books and didn't notice Nia next to him. She jumped up next to him and looked down at the book. He looked at her surprised at first but smiled when she looked up at him and then back at the book. He began reading out loud. Morgan sat with Hotch and Rossi while Reid read out loud. As much as he loved Reid, he just couldn't sit that close to him when he read out loud from one of his books. He would have been asleep in minutes.
The on board lights began to turn on as the sky outside turned dark. Reid finished his book and closed it. Nia looked at him and sighed contently putting her head in his lap. Reid smiled and laid his hand on her shoulder.
Garcia got up and sat across from Reid. "So I was thinking that we could have like a shared custody thing with Nia." She blurted out.
Reid looked at her confused. "But I thought since you were the one she really connected with she would live with you."
Garcia waved her hand. "She has really taken a liking to you Reid. Plus I was thinking that may be this way we could get her to spend more time with the others."
Reid thought about it for a moment. It was actually a good plan. "That sounds alright with me."
Garcia beamed. "Great. If you don't mind could she stay with you? I have things to take care of plus Kevin said he was going to stop by."
Reid nodded. Garcia stood up and gave Reid a kiss on his forehead before she went back to her seat. Reid smiled down at Nia who had fallen asleep.
Hotch moved and sat down in front of Reid. "Reid, do you want someone to stay and help you tonight?" He said.
"What do you mean?" Reid asked moving so he could stretch. Hotch pointed at Nia who had adjusted her position so her head was still in his lap after he stretched.
"Oh, sure other than the couch is the only other place I have for you to sleep."
Hotch chuckled. "That's fine." Reid smiled at him.
The seatbelt light came on. They buckled up and woke up the team members that had fallen asleep. Soon they were ready to disembark.
Reid picked up Nia and carried her off the jet. Hotch grabbed his bag and the keys to his SUV. Reid got in the passenger seat while Hotch drove. They stopped at Hotch's first so he could get a change of clothes and then they went to Reid's. Hotch parked at the back of the building and helped Reid get out. Nia was still fast asleep in Reid's arms. Hotch grabbed their bags and followed Reid to his apartment.
Nia's head lolled over Reid's arm as they climbed the stairs. Hotch looked at her as they climbed. She had only been with the team for a couple days now but she had all of their hearts. Even if Hotch didn't admit it, he really liked Nia. She was just what Reid needed.
They reached Reid's apartment and Reid struggled to find his key.
"Where is it?" Hotch asked.
"Um, my front left pocket could you get it?" Reid asked raising Nia up so Hotch could get to the key.
Hotch was shocked at first but shook himself mentally. He reached into Reid's pocket and quickly grabbed the key. He couldn't help but feel the heat from Reid's body when his hand was in his pocket. He opened the door and held it open for Reid.
Reid went straight to his bedroom and place Nia gently on his bed. She moved a bit and curled herself up in a loose ball. He went to his closet and pulled out a couple blankets and an extra pillow. He found Hotch in his living room.
"Here are some blankets and a pillow." Reid said setting his bundle on couch.
"Thank you." Hotch said setting his bag on the floor.
"I should be thanking you. You let us bring Nia home." Hotch grinned. Reid gave him a smile back and waved him good night. Reid changed and slid into bed. Nia moved and curled up next to him. For the first time in a long time, Reid fell asleep quickly.
Hotch smiled at Reid's retreating form. He had offered to come more for moral support than to help Reid with Nia. He would have been the last choice if it was just about Nia. She was scared of him the most. No, he knew that Nia was probably going to have another nightmare and Reid needed someone there to tell him it was alright. From the story Garcia and Morgan told him this morning, she would be scared of Reid when she woke up. He hopped it wouldn't be as bad but that was why he came. Hotch made the couch and laid down. It was slightly weird to be staying at Reid's. He heard rain begin to patter quietly against the windows. He let the soothing rhythm lull him to sleep.
so we are slowly going somewhere...