Chapter #6
Reid bit his lower lip, looking at his watch for the umpteenth time. The show had start a half hour ago. Damn, he thought.
He'd hoped that he could see her before the show, help calm her nerves or at least get good seats. It was a good thing that he had called Harry after they landed to let him that they were coming.
Even Rossi tagged along. Reid didn't know if he would like the type of music that Ashley played, but he probably figured that Rossi was curious about her as well.
The two black SUVs pulled up in the parking lot. The men got out of one while the ladies got out of the other.
Reid followed Morgan, he heard a familiar voice say, "Hey baby doll." He looked up and saw Garcia standing outside of the club.
"Hey, my big chocolate God. Bad news my loves, I tried to get the tickets, but they were sold out."
"Give me a second. Harry knew that we were coming," Reid said.
He went up to the ticket booth, "Dr. Spencer Reid," he said as he showed him driver's license.
"Dr. Reid, yes, your tickets are right here. Now you can slide your credit card through here," the cashier instructed. He dug out his credit card and was about to swipe it through the machine.
"Hold it, I got it," he heard Rossi.
"But sir," he protested.
"Reid, how many times I have told you to stop calling me sir? You can buy the first round of drinks."
"Thank you" Reid stepped aside, letting Rossi pay. Then held the door open for everyone else as they entered.
Music blared loudly in the dark club. Reid could see a large crowd, dancing in front of the stage where Ashley sang.
He raised his eyebrows up, seeing her wearing a black short hair wig and a black leather outfit, consisting a black bra underneath a fishnet halter top, and short black leather skirt with black boots.
"Wow," he said. But he didn't recognize the band was playing behind her.
"Kid, is that her," Morgan asked.
Before Reid could answer him, "Dr. Reid," he heard Harry from behind.
"I'm glad that you made it. I was wondering about you."
"Yeah, the flight was late. Oh this is Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, David Rossi, Penelope Garcia, and Emily Prentiss. Guys," he said turning to his teammates. "This is Harry Davis, he owns the bar and is a friend of Ashley," Harry shook each of their hands.
"Well, it is finally good to meet his family. First round is on me. Just tell Alex, the bartender, that I sent you," he said nodding to the bartender across the room who was pouring a drink for another patron.
"How is she doing?" Reid asked loudly over the music playing.
"She threw up a couple of times and said a couple of colorful things about the singer, but once she got on the stage, she was fine. As you can see, she is really doing well. I didn't have a chance to tell her that you were coming."
Reid nodded his head, "I don't recognized the band."
"That is because it's The Bleeding Gums; Ashley is covering for the singer. She wrote half of their music and on a few times, she was one of the back up singers. So she knows their songs inside and out."
"Really," he said surprise.
"If I can get her in front of the stage more often, it would be great. Now if you'll excuse me, I should get back to work, but if you guys need anything, please come find me. Ladies," Harry said, as he took Prentiss's hand and kissed it. He then disappeared in the crowds.
"Wow," Prentiss said as she laughed. Reid shrugged his shoulders, shoving his hands in his pant pockets, rolling back on his heels.
"So that's Ashley?" Morgan said.
Reid nodded his head. "This isn't normally the type of music she sings. She generally sings mostly rock, not goth."
"Well I could use a drink," Rossi said.
Out on the stage, the guitar player played into the crowd below. Ashley stood beside him, dancing. Well dancing as best she could to heavy metal, in high heels and a wig.
Then she heard a baby cry from behind. She froze for a few moments before she realized it was from the keyboardist.
Without missing her cue, she walked past the guitar player, only slapping him on the side of his head as she pasted him. She glared at him angrily as she stood at the edge of the stage.
With her right arm, she held up the mic where the audience sang this chorus.
Death, War
Death, War
Death, War
Death, War
She walked back finishing up the rest of the song.
They creep and crawl inside
Into the heart of cold
So dead and paralyzed
Perversion of the soul
The blood washes
Across the crucified
So few are chosen
I do not die
In the hands of death
Burn baby burn
In the hands of death
Burn baby burn
In the hands of death
Burn baby burn
The audience cheered again. Ashley put both of her hands in front of her; slowly lowering them down, the audience became quiet.
"Ok, we are letting the DJ take over for a half hour for a bit."
"Why," someone from the audience called out. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Cause and effect. I drank two bottles of water and now I have to pee." She could hear a few people laughing; Ashley shrugged. She along with the rest of Bleeding Gums walked off the stage.
Suddenly Ashley was thrown against the wall. The guitarist had his hand on her throat, pressing her against the wall.
"What the fuck was that for," the guitarist yelled at her.
"You know perfectly well. Both Harry and I told you that I would fill if you deleted that baby sound," she said, before pushing him back. He slammed against the wall.
He lunged at her, slapping her against the face before throwing her against the wall again.
"I will not take any orders from any fucking scorpion, especially a whore like you," he hissed.
"Enough," Harry yelled out as he grabbed the guitarist behind. Ashley saw Reid running behind him with a black man following him.
Harry pulled the guitarist away from her where the black man slammed against the wall. He took out his handcuffs from behind and cuffed him.
Reid bent down, helping Ashley on her feet.
"Spencer," she said, still in a daze.
"Take her to her dressing room, the one on the far right," Harry instructed.