I do not owned Criminal Minds and my thanks to my sister for being my beta reader. The song that Ashley is working is called "Morning Song" written by Jewel. Please read and review.

Chapter #33

"Now, don't look at me like that," Ashley said. Bailey was sitting in front of her in the small living room space that was right beside the front door. The room had pale green striped walls with light hardwood floors. The furniture was brand new with a burgundy couch and two chairs position in a circle. There were several small circular black round tables with little knick knacks of crystal figures and ceramic figurines. An oil painting of a field and a farm in the distance sat above the fireplace to the side of the room. This whole room just seems it was set up to impress someone. She had a feeling that this room wasn't used much, except for people that they didn't like. It didn't feel comfortable, but the only reason that Ashley was using this room cause it was the closest room to the front door. She was waiting for Reid to come home.

The vet had put on a plastic cone around Bailey's neck to prevent him from biting his stitches, which he did not like one bit. He was giving her the most pitiful looks that he could muster and a soft whine. Even though, it did bother Ashley to see him in discomfort, but she did not remove his cone.

"The vet said that it must stay on." Paul had given her a notepad and a pen to start writing. She first started sketching out ideas for her classes, but she wasn't coming up any good ideas. She flipped a page over where she started jotting down words. This was going to be an interesting song about her house going boom, biting off a finger and her dog being injured. She wouldn't be surprised if she ended up writing a country western song.

Let the world spin outside out door, you're the only one that I wanna see

Tell your boss you're sick, hurry, get back in I'm getting cold

Get over here and warm my hands up, boy, it's you they love to hold

And stop thinking about what your sister said

She stopped writing where she looked down at Bailey, "What would your sister say," she asked him. The phone rang where Ashley let it ring. She still had trouble getting up from chairs and she also knew that chances are it was for either Paul or Rose. Bailey lay back down, looking up at her.

"How's my Bailey," she heard Mary from behind. She turned around to see her carrying an old white running shoe.

"He's fine, just wants that cone off."

"Aww. That was the front gate, letting me know that Dr. Reid had returned. I got something for Bailey," she said offering the shoe. He perked up where Mary handed it to him. Meanwhile Ashley slowly got off of the chair. She headed to the front door. The doorbell rang just as Ashley was about to answer it.

"No, no, no, I'll get it," Mary said, flapping her hands up and down at her. She opened the door where Reid stood with two garbage bags on either side of him. Both women were taken aback at the foul smell. Ashley covered her nose, looking at him.

"I'm sorry for the smell. The house was literally covered with sewage."

"Oh goody," Ashley sighed.

"Dr. Reid," Paul said as he entered the foyer before catching the smell.

"I'm sorry about the smell," he apologized again as he was about to stepped inside.

"That's alright; it's not your fault. We will be having tea in about . . ." Paul said as he checks his watch, "A half hour. Ashley's clothes are in the bags?" Reid nodded yes. "Leave them outside. You go and shower," he said, sticking his thumb in the direction of his room.

Reid pointed to the bulky bag on his left, "This has your clothes, this," he said holding up the smaller flatter garbage bag, "is your notebooks and sketchbook for work. I will pick you some new ones later on today."

She nodded, still holding her nose. "Thank you, but we will worry about it later. Reid excused himself and headed toward his bedroom.

By then Mary had both of her bags in her hands. "No, no, no. I will take care of it," Ashley said as she tried to get the bags from her.

She shook her head no, "No, you are not. This is my job," Mary insisted as she pulled the bags back.

"But," Ashley protested.

"But nothing. You are our guest who is still healing," Paul said from behind. She let out a sigh, knowing that she was defeated.

"Fine, I will take my books, I am going to set them outside to air out and see of how bad they really are."

Reid stood in the shower stall in his bathroom, standing underneath the shower head, letting the hot water push the soap down from his body, rinsing him clean. But no matter of how hard he scrub, he couldn't wash the image of her blood on the wall in her house inside his head.

Even though Morgan had assured him that the house could be easily fixed. He knew that the force from the explosion caused all of her furniture damage. And she can replace her furniture no problem and get rid of the smell. But still seeing all of that damage, knowing that she could have easily been killed. He knew that when they were alone, she will be asking him of how bad it was. He didn't want to tell her the truth, and yet, he couldn't lie to her.

Ashley opened the French doors that lead to the backyard. She dumped the contents from the plastic bag on the grass. The smell nearly knocked her down, but she managed to stand her ground. Reid wasn't kidding that they had to replace. Sure she can air them out, but the dried crap on them, made them look disgusting.

She pushed her sleeves of her deep red shirt up before touching them. She squished her face as she opened the books with one hand. She can feel the bile at her throat where she swallowed hard. She refused to let herself to get sick.

Once she was done, she headed back inside where she opened the door with her clean hand. Bailey was already lying on her bed, waiting for her, still giving her the same sad pitiful look.

She looked at him, "You are not going to give up, are you," she asked as she went to the bathroom where she furiously scrubbed her hands until they were red and raw.

As she rubbed some lotion on her hands, she headed out the hallway where Reid's door was close. Bailey sat down beside her waiting for her. Ashley knew that he was in the showering, cleaning himself off. It would have been so easy for her to go inside, strip and join him in the shower. Just help him wash his back. But she knew that one thing would lead to another which it couldn't happen.

If this doesn't stop, she was seriously thinking of taking Reid for a drive and go to a hotel or even to his place where she can her way with him. Except that she was only on the pill and she didn't know if Reid had any condoms. She would feel better if they used condoms as well.

She knew that if she needed something, Harry and Darcy would get it for her, but she couldn't really see them going for a condom run. Hell, Darcy gets all wimpy when he sees a box of her tampons in her bathroom. Which she finds odd, she knew that there was a chance that he could be killed by a rival, arrested or even having his car bombed, which should scare the shit out of him, but it was a small cardboard box made him all squeamish.

The water stopped and she knew that he just stepped out of the shower where she could picture the water dripping off of his naked body.

She looked down at Bailey, "You know Lassie would go on a condom run for little Timmy." Bailey turned his head away, ignoring her request. She kinda figured that if she wasn't going to remove that cone from him, he wasn't going on that run.

She let out a sigh, knowing that she was going to need a cold shower if she wasn't going to stop with these thoughts. She saw Mary approaching them.

"Ah Miss. Ashley, are we waiting for Dr. Reid?"

She nodded, "Yeah, I wanted to know about the house, but I think it can wait. I am going to get a head start, it won't take Spencer long to catch up," she said as she started to make her way down with Bailey following her.