"We're on our way back" Emily's voice said sleepily down the phone line as Reid took a sip of strong coffee and fed Jessie her bottle. "You were right about there being two UnSubs" She said as she relaxed on the jet's sofa and rested her head on the arm of it.
"You would have got it eventually" Reid said with a small shrug as he placed Jessie's bottle on the table and rubbed her back.
"I doubt it; we'd pretty much ruled it out altogether before you called…" Emily said with a sigh.
"At least you'll be home soon" Reid said cheerfully.
"Yeah, I guess so" Emily sighed and rubbed her tired eyes.
"I was thinking we could go out with the team in a couple days to celebrate Jessie turning two months" Reid said slowly, nervous of what she might say.
"Reid, that was today"
"I know… I… I thought you forgot" He admitted quietly.
"It's all I thought about today" She said softly. "I'm not gonna forget about you just because I'm working… You know that, right?"
"Yeah…" Reid said, his voice barely above a whisper, as he carried Jessie out to her crib and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Do you want me to get anything ready for you?" He asked as he slipped on some pajamas.
"Could you bring Jessie to the office tomorrow? I've really missed her" She asked and took a copy of the picture of the team at Jenny's out of her pocket.
"She's missed you too" He said as he watched Jessie sleeping, one hand resting on her cheek with the other reaching at something lying above her head. He gently pulled the thin blanket up to her chest and stroked the strands on her hair.
Emily smiled a little and glanced round at the team spread across the jet, all of them sleeping. "I love you" She whispered softly.
"I love you too" He whispered back, waited for the line to go dead then crawled into bed and let sleep wash over his buzzing mind.
xxxxxxxxxx
"Spence!" JJ called as she walked into the briefing room.
"Hey JJ" Reid said with a half smile. It felt like years since he'd seen the team walking, half asleep, into the briefing to dump the files and go bags and head home for a long needed rest. "I thought I'd bring Jessie in so you could see her before you go running off on another case" He explained and softly bounced her as she stretched out at the sight of her family filing into the room.
"Look who we've got for ya" Morgan whispered to Jessie and he wiggled a finger close to her waving hand as Emily came in and her face split into a big grin.
"Hey honey" Emily whispered so quietly so that only Jessie could hear her soft voice as Reid passed her over. She couldn't help but take in the sweet scent of Jessie's skin as she screeched from excitement and her green eyes widened. She held her close to her chest and let Jessie wrap her hand round one of Emily's fingers as the group made faces at the little girl.
"Hey missy" Rossi said as he walked in and saw Jessie madly waving her hands round with the biggest grin on her face since she'd been born. "Does Garcia know you're here?" Rossi said quietly to Reid with a little wink.
"And what's that supposed to mean" Garcia said with a pout as she walked into the room with a camera in one hand. "Jessie turned two months yesterday" She explained after Morgan gave her a confused look from the sight of the camera.
Reid and Emily glanced at each other and shared a smile as Garcia began gathering everyone, even dragging Hotch from his office to get them all in the picture. "I'm gonna put it on a timer so you gotta smile until it flashes" Garcia warned as she carefully positioned the camera. "Alright, are you ready?" She asked and held her finger over the button. She waited for everyone to nod then quickly pushed the button, dashed over to join Morgan's side and gave a big grin as the shutter snapped close and took the picture.
The group slowly dispersed; Garcia went to the check the picture while Hotch took Reid to one side. "How's it look, baby girl?" Morgan asked as he perched on a chair.
"Perfect" Garcia called as she wandered off to her lair to print the picture.
"What's wrong?" Reid asked quietly as Hotch slowly took him to the corner of the room with only Emily noticing.
"Strauss wants to talk to you" He answered quietly and glanced round to make sure no one could hear them.
"What about?" Reid asked with a look of pure confusion painted across his face.
"She didn't say but something's irritating her. If I were you I'd see her as soon as you can" He said quietly before Reid wandered off toward Emily and Garcia, who was waving crazily at him with one hand and holding the printed picture in the other.
"Hey" He said softly and discreetly brushed a gentle hand against her arm.
"Give your woman some lovin' Reid!" Garcia said with a playful nudge when his cheeks flushed a bright red and he let a few strands of hair fall into his face.
"Come on, Garcia. Leave them alone" JJ said as she tugged on the tech queen's arm.
"But they're so cute!" Garcia protested before she gave up and followed JJ to Morgan.
"What was that about?" Emily asked and motioned to Hotch.
"Strauss wants to see me" Reid said and tried to smile but his worry made it come out half hearted.
"Maybe its good news" Emily said cheerfully as Jessie let out a little cry for attention.
"Yeah... I better go see her now, I'll be back in a couple of minutes" he said as he gently stroked Jessie's head then left for the door.
He slowly walked to Strauss' office, feeling his palms sweat and his stomach turn somersaults. He stopped a pace away from the door, took in and held a deep breath then slowly let it out and reached for the handle.