As always I do not own the rights to Criminal Minds, CBS, ABC and their affiliates. This is a fictional story for entertainment purposes only. All Original Fictional Characters are of my imagination and any resemblance to living or deceased individuals is purely coincidental. Do not use any or all parts of this story without prior permission from the writer.

Buried Beneath Still Waters

Chapter 3

"Famous last words, before you fall over. Come, take a seat, I didn't call an ambulance, just a friend." She tried to take his arm but he shrugged her off, taking a spot on the couch. He watched Ryan as she stepped in front of him. He had to sit back so she could get between the coffee table and the couch. He originally thought she would take a seat next to him, but when she sat on the coffee table, face to face with him, he was stunned. Her chestnut brown hair took on an auburn huge with the back lighting of the fireplace. She wore it long and the back of it hung well past her shoulders. She had wispy bangs that were a little to long. She used her fingers to sweep them out of her eyes on more than one occasion. Reid watched as the hair slowly slid back across her forehead almost as if it caressed her. In the light of the cabin he noticed her wide brown eyes, the shade of brandy. Her heart shaped face and delicate features were extremely attractive, and Spencer could not take his eyes off of her. And yet he was furious with her, that she called for help when he asked her not to. He didn't want anyone to know he was here or to have people know he was an FBI agent. Paramedics would ask for ID. He sighed, and the tiny woman in front of him took his hands. "I only called a friend." She repeated. "She isn't going to do anything you don't want, just look in your mouth and listen to your lungs. She is a nurse."

Her hands were cold and Spencer realized for the first time since coming inside that the room was clear of smoke and it was a little cold in there. Without thinking about it he rubbed her hands trying to warm them up.

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Ryan was amazed at that gesture; he had been angry that she thought he was sick and needed medical attention. But now he was almost taking care of her instead of the other way around. He had large hands the engulfed hers easily. An odd feeling washed over her at the contact. She almost felt as if she knew him for years and he was a long lost love. She dismissed those feelings quickly. She didn't know this man at all. Sally Ann knocked on the open door before coming inside. She smiled at Ryan when she caught the young girl pulling her hands away from this fellow she never had the chance to meet. He eyed her suspiciously and hunched his shoulders. Sally Anne decided she would just get on with it and not try to convince him to allow her. She took a seat next to him, put her stethoscope in her ears and said "Deep breath, again, again…once more."

Reid did as she said, afraid to argue with this robust woman. She was tall around 5'10 or more, dark skin and eyes as dark as coal. She had on lavender scrubs, no jewelry save for a watch. Her hair was shaved almost to the skin and what she did have left was dyed an unnatural shade of orange/blonde. She wore almost black lipstick and nothing else in the way of makeup. When she smiled her teeth were crooked with a large gap in the front giving her character. Reid couldn't help but smile with her. She introduced herself and he did too. Spencer was strangely attracted to this woman, feeling a maternal bond between them almost immediately.

She asked Ryan to get a spoon and Reid told her it was the first drawer by the sink.

"I don't want any medicine." He said defiantly. Sally Anne eyed him warning him to do as she said. He crossed his arms over his chest, feeling like a naughty child. He almost laughed when she huffed at him.

When Ryan returned Sally Anne told him to open up and say ah, he did and she used the spoon as a tongue depressor. "Sugar you're as red as a plum tomato. You need to be seen by a doctor."

"I'm fine."

"Mr. Reid, do I need to force you to do it?"

Spencer watched as Sally Anne puffed up her ample breast as she put her hands on her hips. He wouldn't be surprised if she picked him up and carried him to the hospital. "That's Dr. Reid and I'm not going to the hospital." She furrowed her eyebrows, narrowing her eyes at him and he added, "But if there is a local doctor I will see him."

Satisfied Sally Anne sat back on the couch. "Quite a nice place you have here Dr. Reid, glad to see you finally using it."

.

Ryan was quietly listening to them and she raised her eyebrows when he admitted he was a doctor. No wonder he was never here, and didn't know how to light a fire. She wondered how long he would be in town and if there was a Mrs. Dr. Reid. No wedding band, but that rarely proved anything. She flipped open her phone, calling the station. She told them she would be late and why. Reid watched her until she got off the phone.

"I can drive myself."

"I'm sure you can but she would never let me alone if I didn't take you to the doctor." Ryan hooked a thumb at Sally Anne and Spencer knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with these two women. They had ganged up on him and were bullying him into doing as they wish. He smiled a little thinking he could easily get rid of them if he pulled out his badge. And what was up with not wanting to tell them he was FBI? He didn't have an answer.

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Bath County Medical center was in reality a small store front Doctor's office that housed one Doctor and a Phlebotomist. The waiting room was painted white all but one wall which had one of those wallpaper murals of trees and a creek. The three chairs in the room were vinyl covered and appeared to date back to the seventies. A strong smell of disinfective solution hung in the air and Reid resisted the urge to hold his breath. He still hated the smell of hospitals. His mind would instantly go back to those days when his mother was first institutionalized and how upset she was with him. He quickly banished theses thoughts and any others that reminded him of his mom, the guilt was too thick to swallow. A receptionist sat at a desk behind a sliding glass window. Young bleached blonde with dark roots and heavy makeup, long fingernails. She was in a pale yellow scrub top, covered in pictures of Warner Brother's Sylvester and Tweety. His first thought were, 'this must be her day job', and when he read her name tag 'Candi' He mentally kicked himself for stereotyping. 'I must be cranky because I am being forced to see a doctor I know nothing about.' What he was doing to Candi was not profiling, it was judgment, and he hated that. He felt like apologizing but knew he couldn't say, 'Sorry for thinking you're a stripper.'

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Dr. Emery was waiting for them in the tiny waiting room. He was a short man, in his late fifties, rounder in the middle and shuffled his feet when he walked. Snow white hair, crystal blue eyes, which twinkled when he smiled, and leathery well worn skin that creased at his eyes, made Reid think he could be Santa. Spencer was almost certain the doctor was called upon for that very task each year. He wore a simple gold wedding band that was sized for a thinner man. Reid doubted he could take it off. Dr. Emery took Reid's hand with gusto, shaking it longer than was necessary, "Dr. Reid very nice to meet you. Come, let's go on back." He motioned to the door behind him and allowed Reid and Ryan to go first. The receptionist was staring at them and when Reid glanced at her, she averted her eyes quickly. Spencer had a feeling she was assessing him like he had done to her. Apparently, Spencer's first day here and he was already the talk of the town.

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In the examination room Reid was shocked by two things, the state of the art equipment and the fact that Dr. Emery didn't ask Ryan to leave.

"So you inhaled a lot of smoke this morning?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Reid knew Sally Anne must have called him. "Yes, but I am fine." Although Reid's voice was still raspy, he sounded so much better than he did this morning. After his blood pressure was taken, the doctor listened to his lungs and looked into Reid's mouth.

"Swallow please." Reid did and grimaced. "That hurt didn't it? Well I don't have to tell you doctor, what that means.

"No you don't, I'll take it easy and the inflammation will go down in a few days."

"Also I'll write you a prescription to avoid thrush. Your lungs are clear and you're going to be fine. So do you fish?"

"Actually doctor I do not." Reid smiled at the abrupt change of subject.

"Well, young man you are sitting on a trout gold mine. Call me if you would like a lesson."

"I will and in the mean time, feel free to help yourself when I am not here." Reid didn't know why he offered the use of the place to this man but he assumed it was because he hated that no one was enjoying this special area.

"I may take you up on that offer." Dr. Emery shook Reid's hand again before turning to Ryan, giving her a hug.

Spencer drove Ryan to her place, there were moments of silence, and oddly it wasn't as awkward as he thought it would be. He felt comfortable with her and believed she felt the same way about him. He thanked her as she got out of the car. She leaned in the door and looked him straight in the eye. "Be careful Dr. Reid."

"I will and please call me Spencer."

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The ride back to the cabin was quick. As he drove down the lane he yawned a few time. This day had started really early and he was getting sleepy. Coming out of the tree lined roadway and into the gravel clearing, the sun was blinding. His eyes watered and his throat stung. All he wanted to do was go inside. He opened the screen door to the cabin as a hawk flew over head calling out into the crystal clear sky of early afternoon. Spencer's stomach growled. He hadn't eaten all day. The cabin was warm a little too warn from the heat being up to 72, he had forgotten to turn it down with the confusion of the morning. He pulled his shirt over his head and kicked off his shoes, next were the jeans. He laughed, 'Maybe he should always wear his pajama bottoms under his pants, this way he would be ready for bed in an instant.' He had some cold fried chicken in the refrigerator from last nights take out. He grabbed a drumstick taking a bite of it. He poured a glass of milk and finished the chicken. On his way to the couch he grabbed two apples off the table; sitting there for a few minutes eating them. The fire place was cold. Reid chuckled at it, thinking about the days events. Ryan, he had never heard that name for a woman but he liked it on her it seemed to fit. Something in her eyes told him she loved this place maybe even a little more than Gideon. He still didn't know where she came from this morning. He hadn't seen her when he was watching the sunrise. She was just there out of the blue when he felt like he was dying. Yawning once again he laid down on the couch tucking his arm under his head as he looked at the ceiling. His eyes grew heavy and as they drifted close he said, "Maybe she was an angel."

A/N Special thanks to CSK for helping me with the forensic aspects of the case. Without you Crime Scene Kelly my case would be a bunch of fabricated foolishness. From the bottom of my heart a very big thank you for your time and effort!

Thanks to all of you who are out there proof reading, giving me suggestions and helpful hints. And to you the reader for your reviews and your continued support!