Author's Note: I don't own Criminal Minds…but I do own the stuff you don't recognize! Yay!

Chapter 6 Eavesdropping on Conversations

Reid was riding shotgun in a police car to Olivia's apartment. Hotch thought one of them should be with her at all times and Morgan eagerly volunteered Reid for the job.

So much for helping me, he thought.

The investigation was still in progress because apparently a lot of the workers at the zoo fit the profile. However, none of them had an apparent motive for harming Olivia. Usually Reid liked being involved in the investigation but he didn't mind taking a backseat this time. Gideon put him in charge of learning about Olivia and seeing if her past would give them clues. He was waiting to hear from Garcia who was doing a background check on Olivia's parents. Finally, his phone rang as the car pulled up in front of the apartment building.

"What have you got Garcia?" he asked, waving to the officer and walking into the building.

"Getting straight to business I see. You're no fun," Garcia said with mock hurt and Reid could picture her pouting, "You know, you're turning into Hotch more and more every day."

"I take offense to that," he said with a laugh.

"Come on my Junior G-man, you know I love to joke with you," she replied happily, "I know you're saving your good humor for the doctor. I did a quick look at her past and credit card records. She was valedictorian in high school and college and took a whole slew of advanced classes during that time. She spends her money on rent, pet supplies, vet bills, phone bills, and plane tickets to London to visit her younger sister. She also donates to local animal shelters, although not much because wherever she's living costs way too much for rent. Tell her I know someone who's looking for renters and it costs half as much and they're fantastic apartments. Hey, did you know she's a Phillies fan too?"

"Garcia…" Reid said as he walked up the stairs. He could've taken the elevator but he had bad experiences with them, particularly once when he was stuck for about three minutes with Morgan while on a case. Plus the fact that there were six elevator deaths a year and thousands of accidents didn't help much either. He didn't want to push his luck today; the elevator wasn't the best looking one he'd seen.

"I know, I know. I digress," Garcia said, "You want to know about her parents. After my investigation of the father, I have concluded he is a scumbag and a gold-digger."

Spencer snorted a laugh and said, "Olivia told me he was bad. How bad is he?"

"Um…pretty bad," Garcia said, "Let's start with his juvenile record. At fourteen, he was charged with assault and battery against his grandmother and at sixteen against his then-girlfriend. He pleaded not guilty to both but the charges were dropped before they went to trial. He dropped out of school after high school and worked at his uncle's bar in Philly. I'm guessing that's where he met Olivia's mother, a Ms. Vittoria Tusconi. Charges were filed for assault by Ms. Tusconi but again they were dropped. I pulled up the hospital records of Olivia and Emma, no mention of a father, but his name is on their birth certificates. Ten years after Olivia was born, Martinelli went to an online college and got his degree in business. He took over that bar his uncle ran, bought him out actually, and made it a restaurant chain along the east coast. He married an Irene Jacobs eight years ago and they are expecting their fifth child in May. Mrs. Martinelli is a wealthy heiress whose father works in the oil industry. And guess where the scumbag goes every Thursday evening and spends his money on booze and girls?"

"A strip club?"

"They call it a gentlemen's club there but same idea," she said with disgust, "The guy's bad, but not our unsub. Sorry."

"That's okay, what about the mother?" Reid asked.

"Ah, another grim tale but not because she's a bad person. Vittoria Tusconi graduated from Penn State with a degree in accounting and had a steady job in the city. Then she was laid off due to budget cuts and met Martinelli, and it all went downhill from there. It looks like she used financial aid and a discount for working in the financial department of her children's grade school and high school in order to pay tuition. They both went to catholic schools, an all-girls high school and co-ed grade school. Yikes, it was expensive! Okay…in two thousand and three, she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and died a few months later after treatment failed. Hmm, that's weird…"

"What's weird?" he asked.

"It looks like Martinelli did help pay for the medical bills but he used his wife's credit cards. He took the money from his wife's father to pay for his old girlfriend's medical bills. Ouch, that's cold. This dude's a piece of work."

"Anything else I should know?"

"I'll call you if I get any more. Oh and Spencer? I looked at Dr. Tusconi's driver's license picture and she looks pretty. So if she looks great there, I know she must be a knock-out. Good luck!"

Garcia hung up and Spencer chuckled as he blushed. He just reached the floor and saw the officer standing guard as faint violin music came from the apartment room.

"She's been baking somethin' that smells amazing and just called her sister," the officer reported, "And she's been playing that classical junk for the past hour. It almost put me to sleep!"

"Good thing you didn't sleep," Reid said and the officer smiled and left.

Reid unlocked the door and a chocolate smell hit his nose instantly as the sound of the Fur Elise blared from speakers. Olivia was talking and had obviously not heard the door open or close. Reid would've called out if he hadn't heard his own name.

"…names are Derek Morgan and Spencer Reid…hold on, I need to put you on speaker while I get this together." Reid heard the fumbling of the phone and he hid behind the wall before the kitchen so she wouldn't see him. He had to hear this.

"You there Emsy?" Olivia said loudly.

"Yup," a voice answered, "So tell me about these agents! Give me description, age, and hotness level."

"Okay, Morgan is this burly dark-skinned dude whose head is shaved yet he has five o'clock shadow. Go figure on that one. He's in his early thirties I guess. You'd think he's hot because you like guys with big muscles, hence why you think Jude is a fifteen out of ten. I however am not into Mr. Macho Man so I guess I'd give him…a seven. I guess his personality is a bit of a turn off for me. I don't know, he just seems very forward and in-your-face, which is good for what he does."

"Send me a picture when you get a chance," Emma said with a laugh, "And the other."

"Oh Emma," Olivia said with a sigh and giggle, "Get this, he's a doctor, has two bachelors and three doctorates, and he's about my age! He's super smart, but doesn't go around flaunting it. In fact, he's kinda shy but he's so kind. He always knows what to say to make me feel better. Em, I've never met anyone like him before! He's adorable but not like a little brother way. My stomach does this flip thing when I see him, even talking about him makes me giddy. And last night, he comforted me after that nightmare I told you about and I hugged him, just out of the blue! I didn't realize I had done it until after I did it! I was so embarrassed, but I felt better afterwards."

"Gosh Livvy, you never do stuff like that."

"I know, I know," Olivia said and her voice was muffled so Reid assumed she put her head in her hands.

"Tell me what he looks like," Emma said eagerly.

"He's a bit taller than me, really skinny, and he has long brown hair. Well, not long long hair; it only goes to about his ears. It's not really shaggy though. Oh, and he doesn't do that weird pony-tail thing I don't like when guys do. He also has these deep brown eyes that I could look at forever…" She paused for a bit.

"Liv, you're daydreaming again," her sister said with laughter, "Snap out of it and give me a rating!"

"A ten, hands down," the doctor said instantly. Reid felt his face grow hot but inside he felt elated. She liked him! A sigh brought him back to Earth as Olivia continued talking.

"But I don't think he likes me the way I like him."

"What?" Emma cried.

What? Reid thought.

"Livvy, the guy has comforted you through this entire ordeal, been as sweet as can be toward you, and gave you his bloody number! What, do you want him to plaster "Hey Olivia, I like you a lot!" on a billboard?" Emma continued.

"His job must entail helping people like me," said Olivia, "He's just doing what he would do for anyone else in my situation."

"But he gave you-"

"Yes he did give me his number, but only in case I felt uncomfortable or remembered something," the doctor said, sadness creeping into her tone, "I know I like him not because he's like a knight in shining armor protecting me from the evil outside my door and all because then I'd be like this around Morgan. I get easily flustered and embarrassed because he's how I picture my perfect guy. He probably has a girlfriend anyway, knowing my luck with guys."

"You never know," said Emma weakly. Olivia didn't respond so she continued, "Look sis, I know I'm not there in the situation but I do know that he'd have to be a complete Neanderthal, in a relationship, or gay not to like you. From what you've told me, I don't think he's gay and I highly doubt he has a girlfriend because he hasn't mentioned another woman besides his mother. If a guy has a girlfriend, they always find a way to bring her up so the girl their talking to knows he's taken. He also doesn't sound like the type to lead you on and then say, "Oh by the way, I have a girlfriend. Sorry.". Finally, he is obviously not a complete Neanderthal because you said he's like a human computer."

"I never said that! I said he was super smart!"

"Whatever, my point is since he's none of those things, he must like you," finished Emma.

"What if he's just not interested in me?" Olivia asked.

"Olivia Maria Tusconi, I love you to death but you are so infuriating!" her sister cried, "You're smart, kind, sincere, and an animal lover. You have a lot in common and get along together. You're a match made in heaven! Why can't you-ow!"

"What is it? Em, what's the matter?" Olivia said quickly.

"No, it's all good," her sister said more calmly, "The baby just kicked a lot harder than usual."

"It's trying to tell you to stop harassing its aunt," she said jokingly.

"No," Emma laughed, "It's telling me to stop because even it realizes this argument is pointless."

"Why didn't you ask to know the sex? I feel so weird calling a baby an "it". It reminds me of that horrible clown movie you made me watch when I was six…I'm still terrified of clowns so thank you for that. Don't you want to know what you're baby is?"

"Hey, I was four and I'm not scarred for life," said Emma with a laugh, "And I didn't ask the last time and it wasn't so bad. I like being surprised when the doctor tells me if it's a boy or girl. I wish you could be there with me like last time. You were the one who got me through after Jude fainted. Can't you ditch the FBI agents and sneak on a plane here?"

"Sure, if you wanted the baby's aunt murdered by a serial killer," Olivia said in a joking tone.

"God Olivia, don't joke about that!"

"Okay, okay I'm sorry! I wish I could be there too honey, but Jude said he'd call me as soon as you went into labor. He won't faint this time, I promise. This is his second time around and he's used to everything now. I'll be on the phone with you the entire time. Oh, speaking of FBI agents, I should go. I got a call from this nice lady named Penelope Garcia from the office who told me Spencer was on his way so to expect him."

"All right, I'll call you tomorrow then. Send the hot doctor my love and I want to know the minute he kisses you."

"Emma!" Olivia cried.

"Bye sis!" There was a click and a dial tone. Reid heard a sigh and the violin music grew steadily louder and stopped at a volume.

He couldn't believe it, she liked him! It was unreal and impossible, but true. Spencer could've leapt and shouted but he remembered he was hiding. Then he remembered she thought he was only doing his job.

She'll think I'm pitying her if I do anything now, he thought, I'll wait until the case is over. Then she'll know I really do like her. It's probably better that way anyway since we won't be in such close proximity all the time.

He nodded to himself, proud of his plan, and carefully looked around the corner. Olivia was grabbing stuff from the refrigerator with her back to the door. This was his change to pretend like he just got in. He quietly tip-toed to the door and opened it silently. He closed it again with a loud bang and walked into the kitchen.

"Hi!" Olivia said over the music, "How's everything at the station?"

"We didn't find the guy yet," Spencer replied, "We interviewed a lot of possibilities but none seemed to have motive. Is this Beethoven's Fur Elise?"

"Oh, yeah it is. I'm sorry, I always listen to this CD while I'm cooking. I should've turned it off when you came in. Not many people are as obsessed with classical music as I am," she reached to turn the player off.

"No, don't turn it off!" he said quickly, "I'm a classical music fan too. I've never heard this version of the song before. Who's playing?"

"That's…that's me actually," she muttered, blushing furiously, "I had a friend in college who was into recording music and he needed a violin soloist for a project. I've been playing since I was five so I volunteered and got to keep a copy. He got an 'A' on the project."

"You're…wow," said Reid in awe. Could this girl be even more amazing? "That's incredible."

"Thank you Spencer," she said, shifting her weight nervously. He sensed she was a little uncomfortable so he decided to change the subject quickly.

"So what have you been doing?" he asked, gesturing to the dirty pots everywhere and Olivia smiled.

"In case you haven't noticed, I tend to cook or bake when I'm nervous or have free time. Since I have both, this is the result."

She opened her fridge and freezer and Reid saw piles of storage containers. He laughed as Olivia grinned sheepishly and Cujo let out a yip, wagging his tail.

"Okay buddy, I'll get those treats ready in a minute," she said and Cujo began sniffing Reid's shoes happily. "I have a triple-chocolate cake in the oven that has about five minutes left," she explained as Cujo chased his tail and the cats watched him with bored expressions, "I was thinking we'd have it for dessert?"

"Sure!" Spencer said, "So I take it the treats are for the animals?"

"Yeah, I've always made home-made dog treats. Leonardo loved them and I used to bring Sally some for this little guy here," she said and rubbed the corgi's belly, "I've never made any for the cats because Michelangelo has a heart murmur and always gets sick if I change his diet, and I can't give Galileo one and not him."

"Will he be okay?" Reid asked, looking at the grey cat as it licked its paws.

"As long as he takes his medications, he'll live a normal life," said Olivia, picking up Michelangelo and cradling him like a baby, "I also can't take him to get his rabies shots because he had a horrible reaction the first time, so I keep him indoors and he doesn't seem to mind."

Michelangelo purred loudly and Olivia rubbed the cat's stomach. Reid watched this and couldn't stop a smile from creeping across his face as he thought about what he had heard. She thought he was a ten!

"Spencer?" Olivia asked, causing the young doctor to snap back to reality, "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," he said, blushing and looking at his feet.

"Okay, do you want to help me make the dog treats?"

Reid eagerly agreed and she tossed him an apron, instructing him to wash his hands well. While she took care of the other ingredients, Reid measured the flour and brought it over to her. As he walked across the kitchen, he tripped over a sleeping Galileo, the cat hissed angrily, and he hit Olivia with a face-full of flour.

"Oh no, oh…I'm so sorry," Spencer stuttered, "It was an accident, I-"

He was cut off when Olivia took a handful of flour and chucked it at him. She was smiling with an unrestrained grin and laughing harder than he had ever seen her before. A flour fight ensued so it looked like it was snowing in the kitchen. At one point, Reid raised his hand to stop Olivia from dumping a handful on his head and saw her face was inches away from his. The smile slowly faded from her face as she looked at him and the gap between them started to disappear. Her eyes were half closed when she suddenly opened them wide and quickly took a step back.

"I uh…I should clean this up," Olivia said quietly, looking everywhere but at Reid.

"Let me help you then," he said.

"No!" she cried and Reid looked surprised by her tone so she continued in a softer voice, "No, I've got this. You should clean up. You look like a ghost."

Reid nodded and went to the bathroom with a change of clothes. He sighed at his white reflection and started the shower. He needed to keep his emotions in check, he couldn't let that happen again. He had to wait until after the case to get involved. They could like each other sure, but no acting on it until they finished the case.

When Reid came out of the bathroom, Morgan was there sitting at the table while Olivia served dinner onto their plates. Tonight it was stir fry. Morgan saw Reid and waved.

"We were wondering when you'd come out," Morgan said.

"I had a lot of flour to get out," he replied with a shrug and glanced at Olivia. Her hands, face, and hair were free of flour but her clothes were still covered in the white substance. Her hair was pulled back in a wet messy bun so she probably washed it in the sink.

"Yeah I heard about that," Morgan said with a questioning gaze and raised eyebrows. Reid gave him a look that clearly read "Drop it", so Morgan didn't say anymore.

"The cake needs to cool a little more before I put the icing on," Olivia said, breaking the silence, "But everything else is ready now."

They had just sat down to eat when the phone rang.

Author's Note: Uh oh, does anyone else sense trouble coming? Thank you to my awesome reviewers as well as those who have me on alert and in their favorites. I'm so glad you all enjoy reading my story.

Here's a bit of trivia for you: Michelangelo is based off my cat Nunu (pronounced new-new…my sister named him when she was three) who died over a year ago. He had a heart murmur so that's why I know so much about the medications and stuff. Galileo is based off our kitten (well technically he's a year old and not a kitten but he's still our baby) and he is one crazy cat! The name Cujo came from the Stephen King novel and that's what we call our dog when she starts barking at stuff outside. My sister is obsessed with corgis so that's why I chose that breed.

Thank you to missdavinci77 for not only inspiring the character Emma but also reading my chapters and looking for errors. Please review and bring my reviews into the double digits! I'm putting the next chapter up now as you read this. You'll see why if you read the author's note at the end of the next chapter.