Prentiss stared at the clock then turned and looked at JJ. JJ shrugged and looked at Garcia. She was smiling and the other two agents turned and looked at her confused.
"Why the smile?" Prentiss asked.
"I think Reid might have found someone that he likes," she answered softly.
"Why do you think that?" JJ asked confused.
"Morgan gave me the total run down of how our sexy yet geeky doctor Reid reacted. He likes her."
"Uh huh," Prentiss answered clearly not believing what Garcia was saying.
"Come on. Are you going to tell me that he has mentioned this girl before? Or that he has admitted to sitting around a cafe during his free time?"
Neither JJ nor Prentiss could answer because the truth was Reid had never mentioned this girl before or even spending so much time at this cafe. They shared a look and thought that maybe Garcia might have something this time. The three of them turned when they heard Reid's voice coming from down the hall. They all turned and watched as Reid turned the corner with a petite brunette walking beside him. They hid their shock when they saw one of Reid's large wool cardigan sweaters on the girl. Her hair was in soft waves on her shoulders with a pair of aviator sunglasses on the top of her head. They also saw that she was wearing a pair of Reid's dark dress pants. A white wife beater was peeking out from underneath the sweater and the look was completed with a pair of flip flops. Garcia smiled at the two other agents and got up.
"I love it when I am right," she said walking over to Reid and the girl.
Tucker leaned closer to Reid when she saw a woman walking towards her. The woman had blonde hair pulled into two buns on the top of her head with purple streaks wrapped around the buns. She wore long sparkly earrings and a bright red shirt with purple feathers lining the neckline that she had paired with a red leather skirt. Tucker smiled as she remembered Reid mentioning their unorthodox but awesome computer tech, Penelope Garcia.
"Why hello there gorgeous brain matter," Garcia said to Reid.
"I like your co-workers, already, Spence. This one thinks I'm gorgeous," Tucker said winking at Garcia.
"I do not believe she was talking about you, Tuck," Reid said feeling himself blush.
"Then who would she be talking about?"
"I, ah, mmm," Reid sighed, "Tucker McLean this is Penelope Garcia," he said giving up on trying to think of an answer.
"You gave up too easily, gorgeous brain matter," Tucker said bumping her hip against Reid's.
JJ and Prentiss couldn't hide their shock now. They stared their mouths gaped open at the actions. They were then doubled shocked when Reid bumped her hip back and placed an arm around her shoulders. They turned when Rossi walked over them sipping his coffee looking at the case file.
"Is the girl here yet?" he asked without looking up.
"Yeah, she is," JJ answered trying not to make any judgements.
"She is flirting with Reid and he is flirting back," Prentiss said immediately.
Rossi looked up and watched the girl with Reid. He had to admit that Prentiss was right. Reid was holding her close to him as they spoke to Garcia. He saw how the girl leaned against Reid for support and Rossi knew that the only person she trusted at the moment was Reid. He sighed knowing that it was going to be harder to get her to open up about her past but it could also make it easier as long as Reid was the one asking the right questions. Question was would Reid be able to ask those hard questions.
"Well, I need to get back to work. Call me if you need anything," Garcia said smiling at Tucker and Reid.
"Thank you, Garcia."
"It was nice meeting you Penelope. I hope we can have coffee sometimes without all... All of this," Tucker said softly.
"Oh, sweetie definitely. You can tell me all about how you got tall, lanky and dorky here to let you borrow his favourite sweater."
Reid rolled his eyes and felt himself blush again. He watched as Garcia walked away. He looked down and saw Tucker smiling at him. He was glad that she was smiling even if it was at his expense. He looked over and saw JJ, Prentiss and Rossi watching them. He raised an eyebrow and they suddenly turned and started looking everywhere else. He turned and looked at Tucker and saw her watching them. He pulled her close and gave her a little squeeze.
"They won't bite," he said.
"I don't know. I mean Rossi seems pretty scary," she muttered.
"His bark is worse than his bite."
Tucker took a deep breath and nodded. She let Reid lead her over to the rest of the agents. She smiled at them and was relieved when they smiled back. JJ reached out and offered her hand. Tucker shook it and smiled at the blonde.
"I'm Jennifer Jareau, but you can call me JJ," she said kindly.
"Tucker McLean. I prefer Tucker," Tucker said.
"I'm Emily Prentiss," Prentiss said shaking Tucker's hand.
Tucker took in the raven haired women and immediately wished she could be like Prentiss. She looked at the agent and saw how Prentiss sat straight in control of her environment. Tucker knew that this woman didn't break down at all and would remain calm in any situation. Tucker then turned to the older man and legend that was David Rossi. Tucker had read a couple of his books but had stopped. She had lived the life of a serial killer's child and she resented when he mentioned in one of his books that a child of a serial killer would go on and commit crimes just like their parent without the help and guidance of therapy. Agent Rossi was not one of her favourite people and she dreaded the questions he would ask.
"Special Agent David Rossi," he said nodding at her.
"I know who you are. Spence talks about you. Although, nice touch reminding me that you an agent and that this is your domain and I am not in charge here," Tucker stated.
"I meant no such thing."
"Really? Because JJ, Emily and Garcia didn't introduce themselves with their titles. Only you."
"Are you profiling me?"
Reid looked from Rossi to Tucker. He didn't know why Tucker was taking this stance with Rossi but he had a feeling it had to do with Rossi's books. He quickly went through them in his mind and cursed inwardly when he remembered the passage that Rossi had written about the children of serial killers. He suddenly knew what Tucker had meant by Rossi looking scary. To someone like Tucker, the biggest fear would be someone who would judge them on their parent's actions alone without asking questions.
"Maybe I am. I mean, after all, you are profiling me," Tucker answered softly.
"Why don't we head to the conference room? Morgan is waiting there," JJ said trying to diffuse the situation.
"JJ is right. The sooner we get this started with, the sooner it will be over," Reid said.
Tucker nodded and let Reid pull her away from Rossi. She stayed close to Reid and let him lead her up the stairs and down a hall. She felt her nerves getting the better of her. Suddenly it was all becoming so real. She was really going to sit there and explain everything she had seen to these strangers. Worse, she was going to explain it to Reid. She stopped dead in the middle of the hall. Reid turned and looked at her when he stopped about a foot ahead once he had realized she wasn't beside him.
"Tucker?" he asked.
"I need a few minutes. Where are your washrooms?" she asked looking at his shoes.
"I'll show you-," Reid started.
"I could," Prentiss said seeing the look on Tucker's face. She didn't want Reid to follow her.
"Thank you, Emily," Tucker said turning and following Emily.
Reid watched them go a frown on his face. He didn't understand why it seemed that now Tucker was pulling away from him slightly. He turned and walked past Rossi and JJ without a word. He didn't think that either of their input would be helpful. He pushed open the door to the conference room and stood there. All around on the white boards and screens were pictures of the Inquisitor's victims. Reid walked in and tossed his bag on the table causing Morgan to turn around and face him.
"These need to go," Reid stated.
"Reid, we need-."
"I am not asking, Morgan. All these pictures either go or I take Tucker and leave. It is bad enough she is going to have to describe these horrible things, I won't let you torture her with the pictures."
JJ and Rossi stood back and watched the standoff between Morgan and Reid. They had never seen Reid look so angry before and they suddenly knew that Reid did care about this girl. The only question now was if Morgan saw it and if he was going to give in to Reid. JJ thought he should while Rossi thought the pictures should stay. Neither voiced their opinions though and just stood there waiting.