Author's Note: I don't own Criminal Minds but the stuff you don't recognize, that's all me. It came from the innerworkings of my mind. Wow, that's a scary thought.

Chapter 16 What Actually Happened

"Lila, what are you doing here?" Spencer asked in total shock.

"I was in DC filming a pilot for a new television show and thought I'd drop by…" she said, smiling that chemically-created white smile. At least Olivia's smile was natural…where did she go? He had to catch her before she got to her car.

"…thinking you'd like to go there?" Reid realized he hadn't been paying attention to a word she was saying.

"Sorry, what?"

"I saw this new restaurant on my way here and thought that you'd like to go there with me for dinner?" she asked again, her smile fading a little.

"Oh, well…the thing is Lila-"

"You told me if I was in town that I could drop by," she said, "Do you not want me here?"

"No, no! It's not that at all," he said quickly, "I just really need-"

"Then do you not want to go out with me?"

"No, I'd like to catch up, but-"

"Then what time can I expect you at my place?" she asked with another smile. Spencer sighed, defeated. Olivia was probably in her car by now or at least lost in the sea of people.

"I get out at six thirty, so how about seven?"

"Perfect! Oh, it was so great to see you Spencer. See you tonight!" she cried happily and put on her designer sunglasses before walking out into the open air.

Reid shoved his hands in his pockets and walked slowly over to the elevator. Of all the times he had wished Lila would come into the BAU headquarters, she had to come in then. He thought of how different she looked. Besides her too bright smile, her skin was too tan for it to be natural. It was the middle of December and he highly doubted she had time to sit out on her back deck and get that dark. She worked nonstop with her television show. Her hair, which had been a pretty blonde, was now platinum and stiff from straightening too many times. She had been a pretty girl but now, she looked like she was trying too hard. It was a bit of a turn off for him, especially when he thought of Olivia's natural beauty.

"I'm such an idiot!" he muttered as he pounded the elevator call button, as if that was the thing he had the problem with. How could he let her walk out of there like that?

"Did you catch her?" Morgan asked as Reid walked into the room and collapsed into his chair.

"Look at him Morgan, what do you think?" Prentiss asked with an annoyed tone and continued softly, "Give her some time to cool off and call her to explain everything. Call her as soon as you get out of here."

"I can't," the young doctor said heavily, "I'm going out with Lila Archer."

"WHAT?"

Everyone looked up to see Garcia standing outside the break room with a clipboard and pink fuzzy pen in hand. The blonde walked over angrily, heels stomping, and stood in front of Spencer's desk.

"You're doing what?" she hissed. Out of all the BAU agents, Olivia had become the closest with Garcia. It was hard not to; she was such a bubbly and welcoming person that Olivia and they just clicked. That being said, Reid knew Garcia was rooting for their relationship to stand the test of distance.

"I didn't want to!" said Spencer defensively, "I'm trying to tell her I need to run somewhere and then she's asking me what time I'm picking her up. I don't know how it happened!"

"God I hate her!" Garcia said, stomping her foot in anger.

"Don't you think you're being a little harsh, baby girl?" Morgan asked, coming over and placing a hand on her shoulder. Garcia shrugged it off and spun to face Morgan now.

"Hell no! Lila's just using him now that she's on this side of the country," said Garcia and Morgan started backing away with his hands raised in a surrender pose but she kept going, "For years she never made any contact with poor Spencey and now she comes, acting like everything's hunky-dory? I think not! She isn't in Hollywood anymore, the people here have morals."

"Actually, I know a woman who's a sister out in Hollywood working for-" started Rossi, who appeared out of nowhere and didn't realize what was going on.

"I wasn't talking to you!" Garcia snapped, turning around and seeing Rossi. She immediately froze in horror and muttered, "Sorry sir." The blonde turned back to Morgan and continued in a calmer tone, "My point is, Lila may have liked Reid while he was her knight in shining armor but after he left, she moved on and never looked back. She hurt him and I can't forgive her for that. Then she has the nerve to come groveling back to him just because she's probably bored or something. I think that's good enough reason to hate her rotten guts. Did you know that Olivia had a ton of job offers when she started applying?" Garcia said, turning to Reid, "But the reason she chose this place was because she wanted to be closer to where you were. She was deciding between here and the Sand Diego Zoo, but she chose you over a big pay check."

Reid stared at Garcia in shock. He had no idea. Morgan apologized and Garcia put on her smile, patting his shoulder before walking away Morgan watched her go for a while. Reid raised an eyebrow at his co-worker, who just smiled and shrugged it off.

"You do remember she's dating Kevin, right?" he said quietly so Emily couldn't hear. He noticed how Morgan would look at Garcia or talk to her, he wasn't a certified genius for nothing. His friend had liked the spunky technical analysis for a while and Spencer had a feeling it wasn't the usual only-for-one-night kind of like.

"Which is why I only looked," said Morgan with a wink and went back to work. Reid sighed and started dreading the time when he had to go home.

…...

"So then Taylor told me that Brad told her that Lindsay told him that she thought I was a bad actress. Can you believe the nerve of her?"

"Yeah, I know," said Spencer as he pushed his peas around his plate while barely paying attention to what she said. He could literally feel his brain cells dying off as the minutes passed. The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, the food was fantastic, but the company was lacking…an intelligent conversation. Spencer realized that he hadn't actually talked with Lila about anything except that case years ago. Had she been like this then? Probably not, otherwise he would've run the other way.

He had picked her up at seven and found her in the tiniest black dress he had ever seen. He remembered when Olivia wore a black dress on their first date. It had class and style. This thing was like a black towel wrapped tightly around Lila's body. It wasn't like Lila had a bad body, she was on a show that took place in the beach. It just wasn't appealing to Spencer to see her in something to tight. Modesty created an air of mystery around a girl.

Reid watched as Lila ordered another glass of the most expensive wine on the menu. She insisted on paying but even still, Reid stuck with ginger ale and was glad he did. Lila was sure in no state to be driving. Spencer was pretty sure she had drunk the equivalent of a full bottle of wine by herself. She was sloshed.

The orchestra had stopped for a break but they were getting ready now. Spencer couldn't see them very well from where he was but he saw one of the girls change places with the other so now her back was to them. He watched as the girl raised her violin and bow, counting off and began to play. It was the Fur Elise. Reid smiled as he remembered listening to Olivia play this on the CD. He vowed to call her first thing tomorrow morning and explain himself to her. How could she think that he liked Lila more than her?

"That was soooo good!" said Lila with a loud, drunken giggle, "I can't eat 'nother bite."

"You want me to take you home?" he asked, trying not to sound too eager. He just wanted to go home and change into more comfortable clothes. He was so tired after everything that happened.

"Yup!" she said, popping the "p" and giggling again.

Spencer asked for the check just as the song came to an end. Reid clapped along with everyone else and listened to the other songs. The restaurant was crowded and the waiter had forgotten to bring them their check until half an hour later. The man apologized but Spencer waved it off with a smile. He had spent the time listening to the amazing music while Lila went on a drunken monologue. Lila managed to get her credit card out and handed it to the waiter with a flirtatious smile.

"Thanks," she slurred and signed the bill.

"I'm so sorry about before," the waiter said to Reid.

"It's fine, I was enjoying the music," said Spencer with a small smile.

"I know, they're amazing, aren't they? It's a shame that the violinist is leaving in a week," the man said sadly, "The owner begged her to stay, but she starts her new job at the Tiger Haven in a week. Apparently she's an animal doctor and absolutely brilliant. You'd never know it, would you? When I heard her the first time, I thought she was a musician."

The waiter smiled and left Reid staring at the girl whose back was to him. The way her hair fell past her shoulders, the color as the light hit it, could it really be Olivia?

"Come on Spencey," said Lila, grabbing his sleeve as she stumbled to the door, "Let's have some fun!"

"Lila, it's getting late and I have to work tomorrow," said Spencer as they reached the cold air of the outside, "I'm just going to take you home now, all right?"

"Come up to the apartment and we can continue up there," she said suggestively and Spencer sighed.

"What happened to you Lila?" he asked sadly, "Hollywood's really changed you, you were never like this."

She stared at him with unfocused eyes and her eyes rolled up into the back of her head. She was unconscious before Reid caught her. Spencer half carried, half dragged Lila to his car and drove her to her apartment. When they reached the lobby of the building, Lila came to and grinned at him.

"You're such a cutie," she whispered and pressed her mouth to his. He quickly pulled away and set her down in a chair, going to the guard at the desk.

"Here, can you make sure she gets up there all right?" he asked, handing the guard a twenty dollar bill. He had a feeling the guard would earn every penny trying to get this girl to her room.

"No problem," he said. The guard was a young man of about twenty-five and seemed happy at the prospect of helping a gorgeous blonde to her bedroom.

"Good luck to you sir," said Reid and he patted Lila's hand. "Good-bye Lila and good luck. I wish all the best to you."

Lila giggled and tried to kiss him again but Spencer slipped away and headed out to his car. He had to get back to the restaurant and talk to Olivia. He realized calling her the next day was a dumb idea. This was the kind of thing that needed to be done face-to-face. Reid reached the restaurant just in time to see the manager locking the front doors.

"Sir!" Spencer shouted, "Sir, wait!"

"Sorry man, we're closed for the night. You have any idea how late it is?" the man said coldly.

"No, I don't want a drink or anything. I was wondering if an Olivia Tusconi works for you."

The man's expression lightened as he said, "Oh yeah, Olivia's our newest violinist. She's gone home though, you literally just missed her."

"Do you know where she lives?" he asked and noticed the man's expression grow cold again. "I'm a friend of hers, Dr. Spencer Reid. I work for the FBI."

"Are you one of those profile dudes?" asked the owner and Reid nodded, "I heard how you helped her out. Well, I'm sorry but I don't know. Olivia doesn't like to talk about her personal life too much and, quite frankly, I don't blame her after all the crap she's been through. Sorry man."

"It's all right, thanks." Reid walked away and quickly pulled out his phone, dialing Garcia.

"You have reached the goddess of all things technological, how may I be of assistance today?" said Garcia in her bubbly voice.

"It's Reid, I need you to do me a favor," the young doctor said.

"Speak, oh genius, and I shall obey."

"You knew that Olivia was coming here so I'm assuming she told you where she was moving into," said Spencer, "I need you to tell me her address."

"May I ask why?" said Garcia with confusion evident in her tone.

"I need to talk to her and I think it's better if it's done in person."

Garcia gave him the address and Reid could tell she was happy he was going to see her. Before he hung up, however, she gave him a warning.

"Heads up angelfish, being a woman I can predict how Olivia is feeling right now. She's most definitely uber pissed at you and will want an explanation. Tell her everything and don't lie because she's smart and will know when you're lying," she said and then her tone became colder as she continued, "And you know I love you, my super-human computer-brained genius, but if you hurt her, there will be hell to pay. Got it? The poor girl has suffered enough."

"Trust me Garcia, I have no intentions of hurting her."

Reid hung up and hurried in his car to the address. He reached the row house and parked behind Olivia's car. He could tell because there were animal rescue bumper stickers all over it. Spencer walked up to the porch and stood in front of the door, not sure what to do. Should he knock or use the doorbell? Did it really matter? Was he just using this thought process as an excuse to put off the inevitable?

A cough on his right made him jump and he saw a woman standing on her porch, smoking a cigarette and staring at him curiously and suspiciously. He smiled slightly and the woman just continued to look at him. Gulping, he decided knocking was the best choice and pounded his fist against the wood. He shifted his weight and went up on his toes in nervousness. Had she heard him? Should he knock again?

But there was the sound of Cujo's barking so he knew Olivia would come to the door. Yes, he could hear her footsteps and the door unlock. The door swung open and there she was in front of him, standing there in grey sweatpants, a green William and Mary sweatshirt, and fuzzy socks. She looked paler than when he had seen her earlier that day as she looked him up and down with unemotional eyes. Even in this state, she looked gorgeous.

"What brings you here Spencer?" she asked, raising her eyebrows at him. Spencer felt his throat close as he tried to form a sentence.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed hearing Spencer's side of the story. So the rest of this story is going to have some from Reid's POV and some from Olivia's, just to switch it up a little. I start my classes tomorrow so I'm going to try and update every day but if I can't, please forgive me. First semester senior year is going to be kind of rough, trying to get used to things again.

Thank you to my amazing reviewers, especially Ellen Julie whose constant reviews make me smile. :) Also, shout out to XxNimith531xX. It looks like Garcia hates Lila just as much as you do! Thank you also to those who have me on alert and in their favorites. Finally, last but certainly not least, my sister missdavinci77 for reading my chapters and making sure everything flows perfectly. All you guys are totally awesome and I appreciate it! :D