Disclaimer: I think we've established the fact I really don't own Criminal Minds.

Thanks to all the reviews I've been getting. I didn't really have a plot or anything in mind like I normally do, I was just winging it. Hopefully I iron out all the kinks as the story goes on.

Currently Untitled (yet again): A Criminal Minds Fic

Chapter Five: Facts About Fiction

The quickest way to learn something about someone is to stalk them. But in this case, a different word such as "observe" had to be used in order to coax Dr. Reid into following Esmee Richard and learning what he could.

What he learned was that Derek Morgan needed a case to work on and immediately. Granted no one else in the office was putting up a fuss about Derek's grand scheme to learn what he could about Esmee.

So why, if it was Derek's idea, was Reid the one "going undercover"? Because Garcia had discovered Esmee Richard, as Jaye Doe, taught a public writing class at a community college not too far from Quantico. And since Reid was such a die-hard fan of her work, it was a natural choice for him to "go to school."

Hence the reason he was now seated towards the absolute back of the class and observing as Esmee instructed a class through the process of writing a novel. As she taught, Reid kept careful mental record of anything that caught his eye so he could report back to the others later. Seriously, sometimes he felt like a lapdog that heeled nicely. But he didn't particularly mind observing Esmee as she taught.

Her voice was calm and steady, her tone teasing as she addressed a class made up of mostly college students. Garcia had found that although Esmee was a successful author and so on, she had never attended college, which is why everyone present was either the same age or older than the 23 year old.

She had dressed casually, a simple pair of jeans and a plain blue shirt along with flat shoes. Her movements were quick and when she was describing things she tended to sway back and forth on her feet, lifting them slightly as she did. When a handsome student started to flirt with her, she'd run a hand through her hair while smiling politely before diverting the topic back to the subject at hand.

When it came time for questions, she'd tap her forefinger on her lips before choosing someone to call on. If she were teasing, it would be three taps, if she was serious, just one before she'd rest her finger on her lips moving it only when she called on someone. When she answered questions, she moved as close to the person as possible, but wouldn't make eye contact. Instead, she opted for looking at the side of the person's face or at their nose.

Really, the spot Reid had chosen to sit was perfect for observations. Occasionally, though, he was certain she knew he was there as she would sometimes pause and her eyes would scan the crowd as if she was looking for someone.

"Alright groupies," she said teasingly, "I want a detailed character profile done and ready to be read aloud by next Friday." There were a few good natured groans and a couple pleads for mercy since it was Friday, but Esmee just shrugged them off.

"Just because I'm the same age as the rest of you," she stated, "doesn't mean I'll be getting you any slack. Now git, I have somewhere I need to be."

"A date with a boyfriend perhaps?" inquired a playful college student with sandy hair and mischievous green eyes. Esmee smiled at him flirtatiously.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Pointing to the door with a finger that showed she had a nail biting habit, Esmee repeated her earlier statement of "git". This time, the entire class filed out with over the shoulder goodbyes.

Once everyone was gone, Esmee packed up a few of her things into a messenger bag that was far too large for her and headed for the exit while slinging it over a shoulder. She misjudged a step though and went careening forward. Thankfully, she had managed to catch herself on a desk as her bag went clattering to the floor. She made a move to pick it up, but someone else had already beaten her to it.

"Why Dr. Reid, I didn't know you took my class," she stated politely as she made a grab for her bag.

"Let me walk you to your car," came Reid's reply and when Esmee shrugged nonchalantly, he slung the bag over his shoulder marveling a bit how she could carry so much stuff.

"Don't tell Aaron I tripped," she said as they stepped out into the sunny courtyard, "he'll never let me live it down if he learned I tripped again."

"What's so wrong with tripping?" wondered Reid aloud and Esmee smiled.

"There's nothing wrong with tripping in general, it's just tripping up stairs and tripping over absolutely nothing has earned me more than a few rounds of teasing over the years." They lapsed into silence for a moment as they rounded the corner, passing a few students who Esmee smiled and waved to.

"You're popular," Reid remarked offhandedly and Esmee laughed.

"Only because I'm rich and famous. It has very little to do with my personality." Reid looked down at her, quite literally seeing how there was more than a few inches of difference between them, with a puzzled look. Esmee caught the look and ran a hand nervously through her hair.

"How much has Aaron told you and your team about me?" she inquired smoothly.

"You and Sean were close friends as children. That's it," he explained.

"Well," Esmee stated, "let me tell you a bit about myself so you can go back and tell the rest of the team and hopefully flesh out that profile you've been doing on me." Reid's eyes shot up slightly and Esmee shot him a Cheshire cat grin.

"Aaron told me. And he only knows because he's your boss and is therefore entitled to knowing more than he should. Any particular place you would like me to start?"

Silverwood would be nice, he thought briefly before squashing that thought.

"Wherever you feel comfortable starting," came his actual reply. Esmee pointed to the left as they came to a cross section and they turned easily, never breaking stride.

"People like me and are nice to me because I'm an author, singer, and so on," she explained, "which I really don't mind. I could care less if people really like me for me so long as they're polite. And considering how I pour my heart into what I do, they actually get to see me. Whether or not they know it depends on them."

"I took ballet when I was younger and I still have very little grace. I have to be actively thinking about being graceful or else I trip like you saw earlier." At this she broke out into light laughter. "I'm a total neat freak, I love to read, I hate cooking but I'm good at it, and I organize my wardrobe by color." Esmee glanced over at Reid who looked rather amused by that statement.

"I got bored one day when I was 12 while visiting a friend. She didn't have any good books in the house so I ended up grouping the clothes I packed according to color," she explained, "and I've been doing it ever since."

"Why the name Jaye Doe?" Reid questioned earning himself another smile from Esmee.

"Because Jane was already taken, Julia was too feminine, and I'm no John," she quickly spit out. Obviously, she had been asked more than once. She paused for a moment, taking in a ray of sunshine before continuing.

"I smile too much and I adore people who use quotes or quotes just in general. I love random facts and I can convince anyone that I'm telling the truth except for Aaron. I also prefer wearing flats over heels because although I sometimes complain of my height, I love when people think I'm some tiny little thing. Sean used to think that until I kicked his butt when we were 12." Although Reid didn't really know Sean, he found it humorous that Hotch's brother had been beaten by the small girl next to him.

"Anything else?" he asked quickly as they came to a halt beside her car. Esmee unlocked the sleek vehicle before tossing the messenger bag into the passenger seat.

"I want people to assume I know nothing and thus teach me everything," she stated dramatically, smiling as she did so. "If you want to know anything else, you ask Aaron and tell him he's to answer any question you throw at him, alright?" Reid nodded and Esmee grinned again before bobbing a quick curtsy and climbing into her car.

Reid tapped on the window though before she could drive away and she lowered the tinted out glass with a low whirling sound.

"Why do you curtsy?" Reid asked from outside. Esmee bit the inside of her lip as she thought about that before shrugging.

"It makes me unique and noticeable I suppose," she admitted, "Chances are I read it in a book. Have a nice day Dr. Reid." She kept the window down as she pulled out of the lot and Reid noticed more than a few people staring at her vehicle of choice.

Really, Esmee curtsying was the last thing that made her unique and noticeable. At least to other people. To Reid, it was probably one of the first.

Along with her loving random knowledge.

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an: ice, ice, ice. I'm not really thrilled with this chapter, but I sort of wrote it during Spanish class, so what do you expect? As always, reviews are great and seeing how I don't really know where I'm going with this, any reader preferences would be appreciated.

And that was my oh-so discreet way of trying to get you to review. Did it work?

Cheers.

Changer.