Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
A/N: Thanks to all who read and reviewed, they always bring a smile to my face. CC: I'm still imagining Reid in those tights and a cape (Sigh)!!
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The banquet was in full swing and well attended. No one appeared to have let fear of Daryl Kullman scare them away. Reid's last check with Rossi at the bar had revealed no sighting of their suspect. Had he expected the police to be here and stayed away on purpose, Reid wondered. He had hoped that Daryl was devolving enough that he couldn't resist the temptation. Maybe he was wrong. The meal of prime rib with roast potato and steamed vegetables had just been finished and the servers were clearing the tables. Reid would have smiled at Emily clearing away his dirty dishes if the reason behind it hadn't been so serious. A decadent chocolate cheesecake followed and Allie groaned at what it would do to her figure but dug into it with relish anyway, causing Reid to chuckle. "Oh shut up Mr. I can eat anything and not gain an ounce Reid." She slapped him good naturedly on the shoulder.
Reid leaned over and whispered, "I'll help you work it off later," alluding to their lunch conversation.
Allie smiled, "Well now, that's an offer I can't refuse."
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He had passed by the ballroom a few times. No one noticed him. The police thought he worked for the hotel and the hotel employees assumed he was an undercover cop or Fed since he didn't resemble himself at all. Yes it was working out very well. Once the meal was over and the dance started he would be able to make his move. He'd already seen her sitting there beside the FBI agent. He could hardly wait.
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Reid was again at the bar talking to Rossi. "So far nothing," Rossi informed him.
"I was so sure he'd be unable to resist the temptation. It's like dangling a carrot in front of him. Maybe he's still worried about self preservation," Reid stated.
Gary Lovett looked at Rossi and then at the people behind Reid. "Dave, do you want to do your chit chatting when you're on a break; there's a bit of a line." Gary gestured with his head to the area behind Reid.
Reid looked behind him. "Oh sorry, my fault, never know when to shut up, ask anybody." He took the drinks, arriving back at the table to find the women gone. "Where are the girls," he asked?
"Ladies' room," Mark responded, relieving Reid of his scotch on the rocks.
"Alone," Reid probed, trying not to appear overly concerned.
"Of course, alone," Craig laughed, "Well, not totally alone, alone together. Did you ever notice women never go to the john alone. Do they hold each other's hands or something while they're in there? They can't all have to go at the same time."
"Well, nowadays," Mark said, "Chantal's in there half the time. She's up and down all damn night."
"Oh I remember that," Craig agreed. "When Karen was pregnant with Heather, I was lucky if I could get in there at all."
He could not believe it. Now the men were talking about the bathroom habits of the pregnant woman. What had he done to deserve this? Had he done something really bad in a former life? He was just wondering if he should go looking for Allie when he saw the three women enter the ballroom. Relief coursed through him although he tried to look unconcerned.
There was recorded music as opposed to a live band. The lights dimmed, the music started and couples made their way to the dance floor. Karen and Craig, and Chantal and Mark, got up to dance. Reid and Allie remained at the table. Reid had never learned to dance and was very self conscious even with people he knew well. Allie loved to dance, he knew, and he could see her foot tapping to the music and her body swaying in her chair as she watched her former classmates circle the floor. When the first song ended, Mark and Chantal returned to the table. "I used to be able to dance all night but right now I tire easily so one dance here and there is enough for me." Chantal sat gingerly on the chair. "What's the matter with you girlfriend, you love to dance; why aren't you out there?"
Reid responded before Allie had the chance. "It's my fault, I'm afraid I'm a very poor dancer. I never really learned and I have two left feet."
"Well, you're in luck, Mark loves to dance and I'm too tired to dance too much so why don't you two go," she told her husband and best friend.
"Thanks," Reid said when Mark and Allie had gone to the dance floor. "She really likes to dance so she'll be happy now."
"You think so; I thought you were a genius and an expert on human behavior." Chantal challenged.
"What are you getting at?"
"Do you think Allie is going to be happy dancing with my husband," she asked pointedly?
"Well, she likes to dance and he's a good dancer, so why not," Reid replied.
"Spencer, a large part of the enjoyment of dancing comes from the closeness to your partner. You see the way the lovers hold each other. Allie loves to dance but she doesn't want to dance with Mark, she wants to dance with you. She doesn't care if you're good or you only stand in one spot and sway. She wants the closeness with you. She loves you. She's proud of you and it's got nothing to do with whether or not you can dance. I'll shut up now," she laughed.
Reid excused himself to go to the men's room. He talked to one of the LPD officers who had nothing to report. The man looked totally bored and the tone of his voice relayed that he felt the evening was a total waste of time. Reid thanked him and returned to the ballroom as one of the waitresses walked by. "Excuse me…"
"Where did Spencer go," Allie asked upon returning from her dance with Mark.
"He said he was going to the men's room," Chantal told her friend. "Oh, here he is now." Reid came up behind Allie.
"You were looking for me," he asked?
"Just wondered where you were."
"I was getting up the nerve to get on the dance floor," Reid squeaked.
"You don't have to dance, I know you don't like it," Allie replied.
"Well, I have to," he grabbed her hand to head to the floor. "They're playing our song."
"Uh, honey, we don't have a song," she reminded him.
"We do tonight, and there it is," he led her to the dance floor as the familiar percussion of a popular old song started to play followed by the intro before Chris de Burgh started singing about dancing with The Lady in Red.
Allie's eyes filled with tears as she threw her arms around her man. He held her in his arms and shuffled his feet awkwardly to the music as Allie followed. He glanced back at the table and Chantal gave him the thumbs up.
Morgan and Emily were watching from the door to the kitchen. "He can't dance but my man's got class," Morgan said.
The song ended and Allie raised her head from Reid's shoulder, tears softly dampening her cheeks. "Was it that bad," Reid asked, wiping the tears with his thumbs.
"It was the best dance I've ever had." Allie whispered, "And now my makeup is a mess. I gotta go fix it. Thank you," she softly kissed his lips.
They met Karen and Craig going for another dance as they returned to the table. "I have to go fix my makeup," Allie informed Chantal. Her friend got up awkwardly and they made their way to the ladies' room.
Allie was fixing her makeup and Chantal who'd just come out of the bathroom stall was washing her hands, when a voice said, "Well, alone at last!" Both women turned. "Well, if it isn't Tweedledee and Tweedledum," Daryl said, standing by the bathroom entrance, his back to the door.