Thank you all who are stayin with me on this crazy ride. Here is the next chapter and it leads to what will happen later. Enjoy!
Reid opened his eyes to the sound of rain pounding on the windows. He smiled at he listened. He loved it when it rained. It didn't rain very much in Vegas but when it did, it was like it could wash away all the bad things. Reid glanced at the clock. It was 5am. What had he woken up to? He got his answer when Nia jerked.
He glanced down at her and watched. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she was tense. She jerked again but this time caught Reid's side when she kicked out. He remembered what it was like the first few nights when he had finally been rescued. Nightmares had haunted his dreams. He knew Nia was having hers but they seemed to be worse than what a just a dream could do.
He snagged Nia and held her close sitting up. She thrashed in his arms. Her tail caught Reid's gun holster that was sitting on his nightstand causing it to crash to the ground. Reid held on the best he could as Nia fought to escape her nightmare.
Hotch woke to the sound of something crashing in Reid's room. He bolted upright and rushed to Reid. He paused in his tracks when his eyes adjusted to the room. Reid was sitting up trying to hold Nia who was thrashing in his arms. Reid was struggling to hold Nia.
"Nia… Nia come on it's alright." Reid was to calm her down but she was so deep in her nightmare she couldn't hear him. Hotch walked over and sat on the bed.
"Here" He said holding out his arms for Nia. Reid knew he wouldn't be able to hang on to Nia much longer and carefully transferred her to Hotch. He held her close.
Reid took a deep breath as he watched Nia struggled in Hotch's arms. He got out from under the covers and sat close to Hotch. Reid held Nia's head in his hands.
"Nia!" He said loudly. Nia's eyes flung open. She stopped struggling but she was hyperventilating. They could see the fear lingering in her eyes.
"Shhh… see it was just a dream." Reid said smiling reassuringly.
Hotch held Nia until her breathing calmed. He slowly released her and was surprised when she sat in his lap for a bit before she crawled into Reid's lap. Hotch and Reid looked at each other. Yesterday, Nia would have bolted from Hotch's lap the minute he let go.
Reid gave Hotch a small smile and set Nia on the floor so he could get up.
"Why don't you go back to sleep Reid?" Hotch suggested standing up also.
Reid shook his head. "I am up already and there is little chance that I will be able to fall back asleep."
Hotch dipped his head in understanding and followed Reid into the living room. Nia was on his Reid's heels.
Reid had a small place you could step outside. He opened it up just a bit and let Nia go out there. He had made it safe for when Henry would come over so he wasn't worried about Nia falling off. She stepped out but jerked back when the rain hit her. She looked out and then stuck her head out again. Nia looked at him and then back outside. "Go on." Nia bolted outside and stood there looking up at the sky. Reid left the door open and went to the kitchen.
Hotch sat on one of Reid's stools in the kitchen and watched amused as Nia played out in the rain. She reminded him of Jack as she played. She would stick her tongue out and catch a few drops of rain before she would spin around again.
"Do you want a coffee?" Reid asked startling Hotch from his thoughts.
Hotch glanced at the clock. "Reid it is 5:30 in the morning." He said turning back to Reid. Reid shrugged.
"Usually when I wake up, I stay up so I may as well have some coffee." Reid said looking for his coffee mix.
Hotch stood up and closed the pantry Reid had open. "You need sleep Reid. I don't want you burning out on me later." He said pushing Reid over to the couch.
Reid looked at him doubtful. Hotch sat Reid on the couch. Reid looked at him like he was crazy. Hotch just smiled and sat next to turning the TV on. Hotch flipped through the channels till he found a movie he knew Reid had seen.
They were about half way through the movie when Hotch felt Reid lean against his shoulder. He glanced over and saw Reid trying to keep him eyes open but failing. Hotch smiled as he turned his head to the overhang.
Nia came in walking straight to where Reid and Hotch were sitting and shook. Water went everywhere but mostly on Hotch and Reid. Reid bolted awake and Hotch chuckled as Nia sat there looking at them in their now wet cloths. Reid wasn't that wet but Hotch's shirt was soaked. They both stood up and laughed as Nia jumped up following them to the kitchen.
Reid closed the door to the overhang and rubbed his eyes with his fists.
Hotch grabbed a towel and dried off as much as he could. He was throwing the towel in the sink when he felt something bump his leg. He looked down and saw Nia looking up at him. She looked over at Reid and then back at Hotch.
Hotch looked over at Reid and saw him swaying on his feet. Hotch walked over and grabbed Reid before he fell over. "Come on Reid."
Reid mumbled something but let Hotch lead him to the couch. Hotch sat Reid down and went to go finish cleaning up but was stopped when Reid didn't let go. Hotch smiled. Reid reminded him of Jack when he was tired but didn't want to be alone. He sat down next to Reid who snuggled up to him. Hotch looked at Reid in surprise but didn't move.
Nia studied the two for a minute before she jumped up with them and curled up in Reid's lap. In just a few minutes, Reid was asleep. Reid moved so he was more on Hotch and pulled his knees up on the couch.
Hotch watched amused as Nia curled up between Reid's stomach and his knees and sighed contently. Hotch was surprised at how these two had clicked.
When they first rescued Nia, she was attached to only Garcia which wasn't surprising with her bubbly personality. He figured that the next person Nia would connect with would be Morgan but ever since Garcia left Nia with Reid, they had connected almost instantly. He smiled as looked at the two.
It was good that Reid was connecting with someone. Ever since Maeve died he had pulled away some but the team had slowly gotten him back when Gideon died. It had been a few weeks but Hotch had noticed that Reid had begun pulling away again. He didn't know if Reid was going to survive Gideon's death but may be this little dragon could help.
Hotch let his eyes close to the thought of Reid never having to go through things alone ever again.
Reid woke up confused for a minute. He recognized that he was on the couch but he didn't know who he was laying on top of. He pushed himself up a bit to see. His mouth fell open in surprise.
It was Hotch! He had fallen asleep with Hotch on his couch! He was about to move more when he saw Nia was lying on his arm that was on Hotch's stomach.
Distracted for the moment, Reid remembered how yesterday Nia wouldn't go near Hotch and now she was on him. Then again so was he.
Hotch shifted his position before falling back asleep. Reid took the chance to study Hotch. The only other time he ever got to do so before was on the plane in the rare times that Hotch was not aware of him.
Reid was usually really good at blending in but with the team, that was harder.
The worry lines that Hotch usually had while he was working a case, were gone and he actually seamed peaceful. Reid wanted to reach out and touch where the lines usually were but he controlled himself. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost ten. He jumped up. They were late for work!
Nia jerked her head up when Reid jumped but seeing that nothing was wrong she put her head back where it was before; on the other side of Hotch's stomach. As much as he hated it, Reid had to wake Hotch up. They were already late now.
"Hotch… Hotch… Hotch!" Reid said gently shaking his shoulder.
Hotch bolted awake. "What is it Reid? Is everything okay?!" He asked worried looking around the room.
"Hotch we are late for work!" Reid said rushing around the room. Nia looked up again at Reid running around and rumbled her chest like a chuckle. Hotch chuckled himself.
Reid gave him a glare. "This is not funny Hotch! What do you think they are going to say when both of us walk in late?!"
Reid was freaking out and Hotch just watched for a bit. He looked down at Nia who looked up at him. "Should we tell him?" He asked her smiling. Nia looked over at Reid and shook her head in a disapproving way.
Reid gave them both a glare. "Tell me what?" Nia looked up at Hotch again. He gave her a smile and then looked back at the panicking Reid.
"Reid come sit down." Hotch said patting the couch. Reid looked at him. He slowly walked over and sat down. "I got a text earlier from Dave. The roads are flooding enough that we don't have to go into work today and by the looks of things not tomorrow either."
Reid looked at him confused for a minute. "So that is why you were not worried about being late? You knew that we didn't have work but you didn't tell me?" Reid gave them a hurt look.
Nia crawled over so she was half on Hotch and half on Reid. She looked up at Reid with an apologetic expression. As much as Reid wanted to stay mad at Hotch and Nia he couldn't. He rubbed Nia behind her ears and smiled. "Alright I forgive you." He said looking up at Hotch.
Hotch gave him a sly grin. "What do you say about some breakfast?" he asked getting off the couch. Reid looked up at him and shrugged.
"Sure, I don't have anything really other than some cereal." Reid said petting Nia who had stayed half in his lap when Hotch stood up.
"That's fine. You know, Rossi isn't the only one that can cook." Hotch said with a smile as he walked to the kitchen. Hotch found some bread and eggs that were still good and decided that he was going to make some French toast.
He got them cooking and looked over to the couch. Reid and Nia were now on the floor. They were gently wrestling with each other. There was a knock at the door. The two stopped wrestling and Reid stood up. He walked over to the door with Nia on his heels.
"Go to Hotch." He said pointing to the kitchen. Nia looked at him and walked away a little ways before she stopped and turned back to watch him.
Reid peeped through the peep hole and saw that it was his elderly neighbor Hall. Reid opened the door to him.
"Hello Mr. Hall, is there something I can do for you?" Reid asked with a small smile. Hall told some great stories about when he was young and was like a grandpa to Reid in a way.
"Hello Spencer. I was wondering if you were alright. The storm has gotten really bad and I was just hoping that you weren't planning on go off to work in this weather." Hall said.
Reid smiled. "No, we got the day off because of the weather and my boss just told me that we probably won't be working tomorrow either."
Hall nodded his balding head. "That's good." Hall saw something just behind Reid's legs.
"When did you get a dog?" He asked kneeling down.
Confused Reid looked down. Nia had walked over and peeked out from behind Reid to see the man he was talking to.
"Umm…" Reid said not knowing exactly what to say.
"She is a beautiful German Shepherd." Hall said reaching a hand out to Nia. She shied from Hall's hand but stayed close to Reid.
Reid gave Hotch a glance but turned back to Hall. "Umm… I recued her on our last trip for work. They were going to put her down so I adopted her." Reid said quickly coming up with a cover story.
Hall chuckled and lowered his hand. Nia reached her head around Reid's legs and let Hall pet her head for a second before she moved behind Reid again.
Hall stood up and smiled at Reid. "I am glad you found a companion Spencer. You need someone to spend time with so you are not alone as much." Hall gave Reid a pat on the shoulder before he turned and went back to his room.
Reid closed the door and looked at Hotch stunned.
"That was weird." Reid said walking to the kitchen.
Hotch nodded his head. "I agree. He said that he saw Nia as a German Shepherd?" Reid nodded his head.
"That is wheat he said." Reid looked down at Nia who was sitting next him. Hotch shook his head and went back to the toast. Reid's phone rang from in his room. Reid went and grabbed his phone off his night stand and looked at the caller ID. It was Garcia.
"Morning Garcia." Reid said walking back into the kitchen.
"Good Morning my sweet cheeks. How did you and Nia do last night?"
Hotch laughed as Nia jumped up and tried to see where Garcia's voice was coming from. Reid chuckled.
"What?" Garcia asked.
"Nothing Garcia. Nia can hear your voice but can figure out where it is coming from and she pretty much talked me that's all."
Garcia laughed too. "Hey I wanted to send you some info that a MOU agent got for me yesterday. Not that female agent. She was kind of rude but one of the guys that was there emailed me what info they have on dragons and thought you would want to go over it too. I already sent it to your computer."
"Thank you Garcia." Reid said before hanging up.
Hotch looked at Reid as Reid pulled up the info Garcia had sent him. Reid quickly read through it.
"Look right here. For a reason we have determined is for protection; dragons can alter what others see of them. They will choose one disguise and use that for the rest of their lives. We do not know how they achieved this ability. We have discovered that there are a select few that the dragon cannot hide from." Reid said reading from the document.
Hotch brought a plate over for Reid and gave him a fork. "That would explain why Mr. Hall saw a dog. Nia is what almost 11?" He said sitting down across from Reid.
Nia gave them a lopsided smile before wandering over to the kitchen. Reid called Nia over. She came trotting up and sat next to him. He gave her a slice of toast before turning back to the document.
Hotch glanced down at Nia who was contently eating the toast. "Does it say on there what they can eat?"
Reid nodded. "Says they seem to be able to handle almost exactly what humans can." Reid finished his sentence with a forkful of toast. He looked up at Hotch in surprise. "Hey this is really good!"
Hotch chuckled and held a piece for Nia. She walked right up to him and took it without running or flinching.
Reid and Hotch smiled at each other. Nia was learning fast.
They were almost done when all of a sudden Nia stood up and glared at the overhang door. She growled threateningly and stalked toward it. Reid and Hotch looked at each other before Hotch stood up carefully and got his gun.
Nia continued to growl at the deserted overhang. Hotch slid the door open and checked outside. There was nothing. He looked down at Nia who had stopped growling but was on edge about something. Reid looked at Hotch expectantly as Hotch closed the door and walked back.
"What was that about?" Reid asked giving Nia another piece of toast but looked at Hotch. He shrugged his shoulders.
"There was nothing out there but something upset her." Reid frowned but it didn't last long because Nia had left the room and had come back with a pair of socks.
"What is your deal with socks?" Reid asked laughing. Hotch chuckled as Nia ran from Reid who was trying to get the socks from her.
"I think that may be all she knows she can play with. We need to get her some real toys for her to play with so she will quite stealing socks." Hotch said cleaning up and helping Reid catch Nia.
Nia seemed to know just the thing to lighten the mood and that was a quality that Reid needed. They all laughed as the game went on.
What or Who do you all think Nia was growling at?