This is a really long chapter (at least compared to the last one!)
I don't own anything mentioned below. Still bummed I don't own CM!
"Love is the master key which opens the gates of happiness." -Oliver Wendell Holmes
2 Weeks Later:
JJ pulled into the New Beginnings Rehabilitation Center parking lot and put her car into park. JJ was in such a rush to get out of the car that she had to turn back because she'd left her keys in the ignition.
She couldn't help it; JJ was extremely excited to see Reid. Almost the entire time that he'd been in the rehab center, she'd been working for the BAU. In the past two weeks they'd been called on two grueling cases. She had had a doctor's appointment on the day off in-between the cases. JJ had only been able to visit Reid on the first two days of his treatment. Now it had been twelve days since she'd seen him, the longest time she could remember not having him around.
Today was the last day of Reid's treatment. They'd talked on the phone the day before and JJ said that she'd be there to pick him up. They had plans to go out to eat at a small Italian restaurant nearby.
JJ entered the building and was welcomed by a chipper, brunette receptionist, "Hello, are you here to see someone?" But JJ didn't need to talk to the woman; Reid was already walking towards her. JJ smiled and pointed at Reid. The woman understood.
Reid and JJ embraced, "I missed you" they both said almost simultaneously. JJ giggled. Reid smiled.
"Let's go." said Spencer. He was holding JJ's hand and in the other he carried a suitcase. His satchel was slung over his shoulder.
"You don't need to check out or anything?" asked the blonde.
"Nope, already did that. Plus I checked myself in here, it's not like they could have stopped me from leaving or anything."
"True." JJ replied as the pair exited the building.
"Hey, can I drive?" Reid asked.
"You sure you wanna do that?" JJ laughed. "I think I'm still recovering from the last time you drove!"
"What are you talking about?" Reid asked, perplexed.
"Dr. Eidetic Memory forgot?" teased JJ.
"No, the last time I drove you anywhere was to that Redskins game…" said Reid, even more confused.
"Duh! That's what I was referring to!"
JJ hit the trunk release button on her key remote.
"Oh." Reid put his suitcase in the trunk. "That car was driving erratically. I had to get out of the way!"
"Spence, I think it was YOU who was driving erratically." said JJ playfully. She tossed him the keys anyway.
Before putting the key in the ignition, Reid inspected JJ's keychain. Attached were a mini-flashlight and a green "J" decoration.
Reid started the car and pulled out of the parking lot as JJ flipped through the radio stations. "Ohh I love this song!" she exclaimed.
"What is this?" Reid scrunched his face as he listened to the music, trying to see if he recognized it while also focusing on his driving.
"It's called "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's." JJ explained.
"Never heard of it." said Reid.
"Figures." JJ listened to the lyrics. "Darn, it's half over already!" She sat in the passenger's seat, awkwardly humming. "Do you mind if I sing along?"
"Go right ahead! It's your car after all!" laughed Reid.
JJ began singing softly, eventually belting it out.
"A thousand miles seems pretty far
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
Our friends would all make fun of us
And we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way
Delilah I can promise you
That by the time that we get through
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame
Hey there Delilah
You be good and don't you miss me
Two more years and you'll be done with school
And I'll be making history like I do
You'll know it's all because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Delilah here's to you
This one's for you
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me"
The song ended and Daughtry's "It's Not Over" began playing. JJ turned down the volume.
"So, what'ja think?" asked JJ playfully.
Reid smiled, "About what? The song or your singing?"
"Whichever."
"I actually enjoyed that song, even if it was only the second half. And you're a better singer than I thought!" replied Reid as he pulled into Buccemi's parking lot.
"What's that supposed to mean?" JJ pointed to an open parking spot, far down the row.
"Nothing bad." he put the car in park "I just didn't know you sang."
"I guess I'm just a mysterious person!" JJ laughed.
They walked hand in hand to the Italian bistro.
A hostess greeted them inside. "Welcome to Buccemi's! Would you like a table or a booth?"
Reid said "Booth" at the same time that JJ said "Table."
They looked at each other, smiling.
JJ said "Booth" at the same time that Reid said "Table."
The hostess laughed, "Wanna try again?"
"Booth." said Reid.
"Alright, booth it is! Follow me."
Immediately after the hostess had seated them, a waiter approached. "Hi, my name is Ryan, I'll be your server this evening. What can I get you two to drink?"
"Iced tea." replied JJ.
"I'll have a lemonade." answered Reid.
Ryan left them to read their menus.
One quick glance at the menu told Reid exactly what he wanted, "That 5-cheese lasagna sounds good."
"Wow Spence, I never get used to how fast you can read! I'm not even done with the first page!"
Reid laughed, "Sorry." He remained silent a few minutes, waiting for JJ to decide on her entrée.
JJ finally looked up from her menu, "I can't decide between the tomato ziti or the alfredo."
"I'd pick the alfredo if I were you, but it is your meal, so it's your decision…" replied Reid.
"I'm going with the alfredo." she smiled.
"I uh need to visit the man's room, if the waiter comes back before I do, will you order for me?"
"Sure."
While Reid was gone, JJ thought back to the car ride over. She had actually sang! JJ realized that she'd been acting very unlike herself lately. Especially around Reid. 'Maybe it's the hormones.' She thought. She reflected on the song she'd been belting out. The lyrics to "Hey There Delilah" made her think about the days that she and Spencer had been apart. 'Why am I thinking about Reid in this way? He can't love me… I'm pregnant with another man's baby for God's sake!'
Reid reappeared. "Did the waiter come?" JJ didn't have time to respond, Ryan had followed Reid back to the table.
"Are you ready to order?" he asked.
Reid nodded at JJ, signaling her to start. "I'll have the fettuccine alfredo."
"And for you sir?"
"Uh… the five-cheese lasagna." replied Reid.
"There'll be about a 20 minute wait on that, I'll be back with your breadsticks shortly." said the waiter as he took their menus away.
"Did you almost forget?" giggled JJ.
"Forget what?" he asked.
"You uhh-ed for five minutes!"
"That's not true!"
"Okay, whatever." replied JJ.
There was a lull in conversation for a few minutes. Reid broke the silence, his tone more serious now: "So how are things going with your pregnancy?"
"I went to the doctor a few days ago, she said things are developing normally."
"That's good! I was thinking about you while I was at the rehab facility." he paused. "So how far along are you now?"
"About five weeks." she replied.
"Five weeks… the baby's fingernails should be starting to develop."
"Wow. That's incredible! How do you know so much about fetal development?" JJ asked.
"I don't know, I must have read a chart or something before. I've been in enough hospitals to read all kinds of medical posters."
JJ laughed, "You could probably get a medical degree, DOCTOR Reid."
They both laughed at this. Ryan approached with a plate full of breadsticks.
"Thank you." said the pair as the waiter set the tray down.
"Just a little longer on your meals." Ryan explained. "Is there anything else I can get you?"
"Not right now, thanks." replied JJ.
Reid took a breadstick and smothered it in marinara sauce. JJ delicately dipped hers in the sauce cup. "No double-dipping!" she joked.
Spencer finished his breadstick and reached for another. "These are delicious! I haven't had this good of food in a while!"
"Spence, this is only the appetizer! What, did they not feed you at New Beginnings?"
"Yes, the food was pretty decent, but come on, JJ! Are these not the best breadsticks ever?"
"Okay, I'm making a mental note that this is your new favorite restaurant!"
"Cool it, Ms. Food Critic. I'll wait until I've finished my entrée before I pass judgment on this establishment. Another pro is its clean bathrooms!"
The waiter returned with their meals.
"Looks delicious, thank you!" said JJ.
After they had dug into their pasta, JJ continued the conversation: "So back on the subject of New Beginnings, how'd everything go? I mean, it seems everything went pretty well, you're acting happier than I've seen you in months!"
'Maybe it's because I'm with you.' thought Reid. Instead, he said, "Thanks, JJ. I really do feel great. Just talking to the counselors and others who'd struggled in the past helped quite a bit. I was really determined to end my addiction." His voice broke. JJ put her hand on his, giving Reid the nerve to continue. "I really had some great motivation too. My job… and you of course."
JJ couldn't meet Reid's eyes for the duration of the meal. She stared directly at her plate until she was forced to look up at the sound of the waiter's voice.
"Can I get you a refill on your lemonade, sir?" Ryan asked Reid.
"No thanks, I think we're almost finished."
"Well in that case, here's your bill. Are you sure there's nothing else I can get for you?"
"I think we're good." Reid replied.
"For you ma'am?" the waiter asked JJ.
JJ met Spencer's eyes and she blushed. "No, thank you."
"Have a nice evening then." said Ryan as he left the table.
"I've got the tip." said JJ as she reached for her purse.
"No JJ, my treat. I insist!"
"I know, that's why I'm paying the tip!" she flashed him a glare that said "Don't argue with me, you lose!"
"Okay!" Reid relented. "Jeez, you could stare down any unsub!"
"It's called being a woman."
After she'd left a generous tip at the table, they went up to the counter and Reid paid the bill.
They walked outside and JJ handed Reid her keys once again. "You're not such a bad chauffeur after all."
"Thanks" he replied as they got in the car. "Where to?"
JJ laughed, "I know you haven't been home in forever, but would you like to go shopping with me?"
Reid was completely taken aback. "Um… sure, what for?"
"See this skirt?" she motioned at the skirt she was wearing.
"Yeah, what about it? I mean it looks nice on you and all…"
"I NEVER wear this skirt. But it's the only thing that fits that looks halfway decent."
"So clothes shopping?" asked Reid, sarcastically rolling his eyes.
"If you don't mind… I'm not really showing yet, but I guess I'm just bloated. Remember, I've spent the last two weeks away on cases, that means eating out or fast food for EVERY meal!"
"Okay, shopping it is! What store?"
"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies." –Aristotle
I thought this was a good stopping point! Next chapter=shopping trip! I know it was pretty fluffy, but they got into some serious stuff too!
I picked the two songs mentioned off of a list of 2007's top hits. That's when this took place, so yeah…
I overused the waiter's name intentionally, for some reason I'm obsessed with knowing the server's name whenever I'm at a restaurant. Oh, by the way, I came up with the name of the restaurant myself, just picked an Italian-sounding name!
And having JJ fight Reid about paying the tip is something that I do myself. I feel like both parties on a date should pay 50/50, but I'll let the guy think he won the argument! haha
Please review! :)
