Playing Games by JuliaBC

Kate settled into her seat, winced, and finally came to terms with the fact that she just wasn't going to get comfortable in this chair.

She was even more grateful that they hadn't had to do much flying lately; what with staying behind with Reid during the IU case, and then staying in the area last time with Peter Lewis.

The thought of both cases made her shudder and she took a discreet look at Hotch, who was buried in a case file but...she supposed that was normal.

Maybe he was on the road to recovery.

She shifted again and JJ came by. "I remember this," she commiserated. "It's the sitting in these seats and feeling like your back is going to give out. That's not something to look forward to about pregnancy."

"It still isn't," Kate said.

"I could get a pillow or something to put behind your back," JJ offered. "I know it helped me."

"It's a five hour flight," Kate said. "I would really appreciate that."

JJ hurried off to find one, and in her absence Reid slid into the seat across from Kate. "I read the file," he said. "It really shouldn't have taken this long but it was hard to get to."

"Did you ask Garcia?" Kate asked, faintly amused but unsurprised that it wasn't more readily available.

"In the end, I had to," Reid explained. "But she said that she's been rocking the boat a bit too much lately and to ask someone else."

"So that leaves Rossi or Hotch," Kate said, watching as he propped his chin on his hands. "Which one?"

"Originally, Hotch," Reid said. "But then...it happened and I asked Rossi instead."

"Did Rossi ask why you wanted it?" Kate asked.

"He just assumed I was being my usual nosily charming self," Reid said. "I have a hard time minding my own business at times."

"I noticed," Kate grinned.

Reid smiled back. "Listen, there was more to it."

"I'm not sure I want to know this," Kate said, but again shifted in her seat. "It might interfere with my righteous anger."

"It's righteous still," Reid said. "There were victims directly because they pulled you from the case and didn't take your information. But higher ups were riding on them. You probably don't know this, and I probably shouldn't tell you, but the IU was on probation during that time. The terms were basically that they had to solve cases themselves. The Bureau wasn't seeing a need for them during that time, and budget cuts were affecting everyone. So they had to cut you out to prove that they could keep things in unit and still make their closed case quota."

Kate was silent for a moment.

"They didn't take the high road," Reid said. "But when your job is riding on it, maybe it's a little easier to look away."

"I hope it was harder," Kate said.

Reid shrugged. "I just wanted to say that. Since you probably hadn't read the full file."

Kate mimicked the motion, her shoulders rising instinctively. "Well, thank you, I suppose. The full story is always good to have."

"You aren't actuallly grateful, are you?" Reid asked gently.

"I think I am," Kate said softly. "It's an answer. It's nice to think they aren't complete jerks. Just mostly."

"Just mostly," Reid laughed.

JJ returned with a pillow and helped Kate slide it behind her back. "Hey, do you have a game to liven this flight back?"

Kate glanced up at the agent in surprise. "Um, yes, Meg packed something. It's in my carry-on, though, which Morgan kindly stowed in the overhead bins for me."

Reid jumped up to fetch it and returned in a moment with a battered box.

"That looks well played," JJ said approvingly. "I do like Scrabble."

"I'm not very good at it," Kate admitted. "This, and Monopoly, are the only games Chris will play with me, because they're the only he can beat me at."

"Typical man," JJ joked.

"He's just busy," Kate said. "He doesn't think playing games is a good way to bond. He'd prefer to talk or watch something together you can debate about afterwards. For instance, we have a years long feud about whether Darth Vader was just sexist regarding Leia, or whether it's simply a plot hole."

"What do you mean?" JJ asked, sitting down and opening the box.

"Well, with Luke he can tell right away that the force is strong with him. Why didn't he sense the same thing with Leia if she also has it?" Kate asked.

"Oh, good point!" Reid said. "Darn it, I've watched those movies so many times and missed that completely."

"I think he's sexist," JJ said simply, setting up the board and handing out the tile racks.

"Maybe," Reid said. "Maybe it wasn't as strong in her in Episode IV. Why wouldn't he notice?"

He shook his head. "I think you just extended this argument to me by default," he said regretfully. "Mm, what does Chris say?"

"He thinks it's one of Star Wars' many plot holes," Kate said, reaching her hand into the letter bag to withdraw seven tiles.

"Many?" Reid said, sounding slightly appalled.

"He's not the biggest fan of Star Wars," Kate said, and mischievously added, "I think episode II and III are his favorites."

"Why?" Reid exclaimed, sounding extremely appalled now. "I mean, I'm not one of the fans who refuses to watch them, but the original trilogy was so much better in quality!"

"Speaking of, do you have high hopes for the new trilogy coming out?" Kate asked. "They did get Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford back for it."

"It's kind of sad that Mark Hamill didn't do much else after Star Wars," JJ said. "I used to have the hugest crush on Luke Skywalker. Anakin just didn't do it for me."

"I'm torn about the new trilogy," Reid said, looking at his tiles. "It could be good. And I did like the trailer."

"I'd love to see it with Emily," JJ said. "She also had really strong opinions on it. God, did she love Leia. We were a match, with both of us liking one twin."

"Okay, the rule is the person who can make the longest word goes first, right?" Kate asked, surveying her letters. "I think I may have gotten lucky."

"That's my favorite rule," Reid said. "I have a five letter word."

"Mm, just four," JJ said.

"Six!" Kate exclaimed and placed them on the board. "Boreal."

"Nice one," JJ said. "It leaves room for this!" She added an 'is'.

"That's not cheating but I sometimes wish it were," Kate said. "You got a higher score than I did."

"Especially since I hit a double word score," JJ said smugly.

Reid played off of the 's'. "Operas. In a different language, of course."

"Of course," JJ agreed.

Game play commenced in seriousness now, and they stayed quiet, reserving their banter for when one played a particularly smashing word.

"I don't think I can play," JJ said suddenly, after the bag had been depleted. "I'm examining my words and the possibilities...no way in hell."

"If you have an 's'," Kate began.

"I would've already played," JJ said.

"What about a 'p'?" Reid asked.

"I do not have one, but I don't see where it's playable anyway," she said, worrying her lip.

"Well, I won't tell you then," Reid said, looking at his own tiles. "Holy crap. I think I just got my highest scoring word for the whole game."

"Oh, thank God," JJ said.

"Isn't that a bad thing for you?" Reid said, smirking.

"Not that," she said and dived to place her tiles down. "An 'r' in front of oar."

Reid stayed silent for such a long time that both women looked up, worried.

"You took my spot," he said.

"Excuse me?" JJ asked. "You can't reserve spots."

"It was a ninety-six point word," Reid said. "I'm sorry. I have to go mourn this loss."

"Spence!" JJ protested as he got up and walked to the back of the plane.

"I think that means the game is over?" Kate said. "At any rate, nature is calling. I need to use the restroom."

JJ scooted out of the way for her and Kate made a slow passage to the bathroom, and when she emerged, Reid was still in the kitchen, staring at a bag of coffee beans.

"Reid? You okay?" She asked, placing a hand on his arm.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "But Kate. It was ninety-six points. And I hate this brand of coffee."

She patted his arm. "We can stop for better coffee on the way home. Extra whipped cream, on me."

"I'd accept that," Reid said. "But we have to go in first."

"Then we can raincheck for next time," Kate said. "Now go back and let's finish the game. JJ is freaking out."

"I think she could use some whipped cream too," Reid said. "No, that's right, dairy made her sick during her first..."

"Pardon?" Kate asked, pausing on her way back to her seat.

"Never mind," Reid said hastily. "It's just a guess anyway."

"Hey, Kate?" JJ called. "I have some saltines at the office, if you're still in need of them. It's just a thought."

"I'd like some," Kate agreed. "I just wish I could have some now. My stomach is grumbling and all we have in peanut butter."

"Morgan might have something in his bags," JJ said. "He packs snacks in advance; he's the only one who thinks they're important enough. Me, I'd rather just pay airport fares than have snacks sitting around that I may or may not eat. And I don't want them sitting around for bored moments where I'm not hungry but feel like I have to do something."

She sighed. "I'm having serious cheeto cravings." She finished.

"I'll buy you some of those too," Kate joked.

But when they got back to the office, both offers turned into pizza.

And Kate's mind was taken elsewhere.

A/N: OH my God, Aisha Tyler, JLH's co-star from Ghost Whisperer, is joining Criminal Minds!

And JLH had her baby! Double Oh my God! It's a boy! Atticus James Hallisay.

And I KNOW, two updates in one day! LOL, please still review both chapters.

And this was nice and lighthearted before we get into the nitty-gritty of next time. It's not going to be fun.

But for this time, I really enjoyed adding more JJ. And little hints that Reid *might* know something.