I do not own Criminal Minds. My thanks to my sister for being my beta. Please read and review.

Chapter #34

Reid parked his Volvo in front of a drug store. He turned his head to see Bailey still lying down on the back seat of his car, now giving him the same pitiful look, trying to get him to take off the cone off of him.

"Cut that out," he said. "You know that this collar known as the Elizabethan collar or space collar which is shaped like a truncated cone, its purpose is to prevent you from biting or licking at your body or scratching at your head or neck while wounds or injuries heal." He stopped, when he saw the dog's eyes looking out the window, not really listening to him.

He turned around, shaking his head, realizing that he was giving a history lesson to a dog. He volunteered to take Bailey as he went out and get a few things while Ashley rested. He rolled down the window a bit before climbing out the car and locking the doors.

He returned in a half hour, carrying two shopping bags. He opened the bags, looking inside, gauze, more aspirins, latex gloves, and antibacterial ointment for her wounds. The second bag contains two lined notebooks, one for her songwriting, journaling and the other one was for her classes. He found a blank notebook, which wasn't the one that she used, but it was better than nothing. He also brought two packages of pens and pencils, a white eraser, ruler, pencil sharper and a few bags of gummy bears for her. As well as some shampoo, hair gel, ponytail holders for her hair and contact solution. He is going to have to call Garcia to ask her which yarn that she can recommend for Ashley to start working on her bears. He knew that Ashley wanted to get back to her routine.

He pulled out a box of condoms and lubricant and he felt himself going hot. But he knew that it was better safe than sorry, still it was really embarrassing for him to buy them. He slipped that box and the tube inside his messenger bag. He turned around to see Bailey, still sitting in the backseat.

"Dog park," he asked which Bailey didn't answer him. He buckled himself in and backed out of the parking space.

Bailey was pulling hard at his leash, nearly dragging Reid as he was carrying bags in both hands.

"Slow down," he said, pulling the boxer back.

Mary opened the door, "Goodness," she said, seeing them. Bailey climbed up the stairs, still pulling against Reid, only slowing down at the door.

Reid, out of breath, joined them. Bending over, setting his bags down on the floor, he placed both of his hands on his knees, catching his breath. He saw Rose unhooking Bailey's leash where he then wandered off in the house in a walk. He looked at that dog, shaking his head. He straightened himself up.

"Welcome home, Dr. Reid. Miss. Ashley is in," Mary started to say.

"I want that whore gone," they heard Rose in the living room that was right beside the front door.

"Now dear," Paul said.

"It is my house. You have no right to invite that drug addict whore and her pimp boyfriend to my house." Reid and Mary stood there at the entrance in the front door in frozen silence. He knew that he shouldn't eavesdrop, but this was about Ashley.

"She caused that explosion. By God, I don't know what Ryan saw in her. She is nothing more than a tramp."

"Mary," Paul said, loudly, silencing his wife. "And you, my lovely wife either have been drinking too much or not enough. Now, you will stop this nonsense right now or we will have some serious issues. You know Ashley is trying to be a good girl. She has made mistakes, but she is making them right. And her nice boy, Dr. Reid. He is still wet behind the ears. Him a pimp?" Paul chuckled before continuing, "I think the FBI would be very interested in hearing that notion."

There was a silence, but Reid could hear high heels clicking on the floor, where he guessed that Rose was pacing the living room. "In less than four months, she will have access to that trust fund, I will be damned if she gets her filthy paws on it."

Paul let out a sigh, "Sweetheart. It is not our trust fund; Ryan set it up for her. We are only the executors. And she can easily hire a lawyer to sue us. She has not asked us for any advancement, she has paid her way since we meet her. Hells bells, she paid for her own schooling and was researching on student loans for college. Ryan only paid for her medical bills."

Then both Reid and Mary saw Paul coming to the doorway where he saw them standing there. He wasn't going to apologize to him, this was his girlfriend. Paul was the one that assured that Ashley was going to be safe here. But now, he wasn't sure.

Not saying a word to them, Paul shut the door where they both heard them arguing.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Reid," he heard Mary. He looked down at her.

"It's ok," he said. "But I don't think we should tell Ashley this. She has a lot on her mind right now."

"Yes sir, but if you don't mind my asking, but I am fond of Miss. Ashley. How bad was the house? Everyone said that Miss. Ashley is lucky to be alive. Is that true?"

He gently rested his hand on her shoulder, looking at her apron which said, "Never Trust a Skinny Chef."

"It's true. If she was anywhere else in that house, she would have been seriously hurt."