Rossi, from the apartment block, switched cars with Prentiss, resulting in Reid and himself being alone. It seemed like a good idea to open up an opportunity to talk with him, but now, when it came to it, he had no idea what to say. He didn't have the fatherly experience of even the talk, and up until now he was quite happy about it.
He glanced over to the Doctor, drumming his fingers non-rhythmically with his own on the wheel. "You haven't known her long," he commented, reaching in the very depths of his conversational banks to keep the kid from losing his mind. But no reply.
"You know, it was like that with Mrs Rossi number 1," he recalled, smiling fondly at the memory. "I met her and instantly fell. Each marriage, each attempt at another life, ill still never forget that one," he added, but caught himself before he sunk into his memories.
Spencer stared blankly out the window, but still clutched the green postet notes in his hands. He made no move to reply.
"we've got 'em, kid, smile," he reminded, and caught a momentary twitch at the corner of his mouth. "That's the spirit."
They pulled into the car lot of the unit, and paced inside wordlessly. Just as wordlessly, they gathered with the others in the briefing room.
"Right, JJ has contacted the press, the tv networks and the radios of Quantico, and the ones in the surrounding states in the unlikely event that he'll avoid capture," Penelope bustled, clutching the projector remote in the hand that wasnt motioning out her words. The screen popped on, and on it a picture of a green car displayed itself, the registration plate visible. "This will be on every tv by 7pm, on the hour, every hour," she concluded, taking a deep, refreshing breath to signal the end of her speech. "Good work, Garcia," Hotch complemented, and turned his face to Spencer.
"You, go home."
Reid began to protest that he wasn't as exhausted as he looked, but Hotch wasn't one you could argue with. "Reid, we'll need you're brain tomorrow but right now there's nothing more we can do. The whole state is on alert, it's only a matter of time."
Spencer rummaged to find a lack of logic, and nodded reluctantly. "You'll call as soon as-"
"As soon as, kid," Rossi's dry voice assured. Reid looked at him in thanks, before making his way out of the building.
.
Reid was barely through his apartment door before his phone buzzed in his pocket. His hands fumbled for it desperatly, snapped it open and held it to his ear.
"Hotch?"
A sound, like rain could be heard, and that was all for a moment. It seemed faint.
"Hello?"
A small weep, or a sigh, sounded in his ear. "Reid?"
Spencer clutched the cell to his ear. "Who is this?" His cracked voice barely touched the mouth piece.
"Thank god, you're ok," the voice breathed, and clear enough to be recognisable. Spencer very nearly dropped his phone at the sound of Anya's voice. "Where are you?" He asked, and his eyes noticed the fluidy reflection of grey on the floor by his window. He'd never been so happy to see it raining.
"Pay phone in Quantico," her scared voice replied, confirming Reid's reason for relief.
"I'm on my way," he stated, fully alert as he raced back out to his car. "I'll stay on the phone," he assured.