Playing Games by JuliaBC

Reid looked up to see Derek walking across the bullpen, looking serious.

"Hey, you guys are back," he said, smiling big when he saw Reid. "You didn't tell me."

"We just got in," Reid said. "Thanks for those bomb tips. I think they cracked the case."

"It's just my job," Derek said. "It's weird, you know? To not be there?"

"Believe me, I know," Reid said seriously. "It's almost weirder to be the team without you than to be you without the team. Or so I'd assume. I can't actually quantify exactly how out of normal you feel."

Derek raised an eyebrow.

"I'll stop talking now," Reid said.

"I was thinking," Derek said. "You were talking about getting a roommate a few months ago, weren't you?"

"I was," Reid said. "But then everything happened. I didn't feel like concentrating on that, especially with your wedding coming up."

"I can definitely understand that," Derek sighed. "Damn, we're busy."

"Have you sent out invitations yet?" Reid asked. "I might have a few to add to your invitation list."

"We're keeping it small," Derek said.

"I know," Reid agreed. "But you'll get all the members of the team in, right? Past and present?"

"I've already sent invites to Jordan and Ashley," Derek admitted. "And I've got Garcia tracking down Elle's address. I...I'm not sure if she'll come, but I'd be happy just knowing she got the invitation. Just to know that she knows, that she had that chance, you know?"

"It would be cathartic to see her again," Reid said. "It could close old wounds."

Derek sighed. "I almost understand why she left," he began, before startling. "I didn't mean that."

"I think we all understand, from time to time," Reid said. "I think we even empathize."

He glanced over the bullpen to where JJ was sitting on her desk, flipping through a file.

"Sometimes we empathize more than we ever should," he murmured.

"Hmm?" Derek asked, but Reid shook his head.

"Never mind," he said, but his eyes shot to Hotch's office also, before returning to the man in front of him.

"Kate and Alex have already RSVPd," Derek continued. "I was so psyched to get Alex's. She doesn't come here often enough. I miss her."

"You've at least been spending a lot of time with Kate, though," Reid said. "She's been mentioning you a lot, and vice versa."

"Well, we've got more in common now than ever before," Derek said. "I find myself watching her, you know? More so than JJ. JJ, she's old hat. I know that Kate has technically been doing it longer with Meg, but with JJ it seems like second nature. She's smooth that it kind of scares me, makes me think that if it's not that effortless I won't be able to do it. But with Kate..." He chuckled. "It sounds bad, but you can see the struggle."

"That does sound bad," Reid said. "But I get what you mean."

"What are you two boys talking about?" JJ asked, as if sensing that they were talking about her. She slid off her desk and walked over.

"Your effortless parenting," Derek said. "I am in awe of you, Jayje. Even more than usual."

"Thank you, but it's not effortless by any means," JJ said.

"I think second nature would be a better word," Reid said. "You took to being a mother incredibly quickly."

"These are strange compliments," JJ said. "But I guess when someone is expecting, noticing things like that gets easier."

"And Hotch," Derek said. "I've been watching him too. He's been leaving earlier, and that's good to see."

JJ looked over her shoulder at Hotch's office. "Jack's had earlier soccer practice," JJ nodded, smiling. "He told me that he wants to make it to at least ten."

"That's a good goal," Derek said. "But I'd totally beat it." He paused, and Reid looked at his friend. JJ was distracted, looking at Hotch's office, but Reid was seeing something in Derek, something he hadn't noticed before.

"Well, you're a go getter," JJ said. "I'm not surprised." She smiled fondly at them. "Speaking of, I should be getting home. My file will wait until morning but seeing my boys' precious faces won't. See you," she said, giving Reid a quick hug and squeezing Morgan's hand.

Reid studied Morgan a second longer before dropping his gaze. "Has Savannah picked a maid of honor yet? I need to know who I need to plan my dance with."

"What do you mean?" Morgan chuckled.

"I need to plan for the worst, or the best," Reid said. "And I need to schedule some dance lessons. I just need to know if they'll be alone or with a partner."

"She's torn between her friend and her sister," Morgan said, shrugging. "You know, family or someone she'd actually want up there with her. Kidding. Mostly."

Morgan sighed. "And I should be getting home. Let me know how it goes on the roommate front, Pretty Boy."

"I will," Reid promised, and looked back down at his file.

As he read the words over, again, the door to Hotch's office opened and Reid smiled to see the Unit Chief leaving a bit earlier, but was surprised when Hotch's path changed and he walked into the bullpen, joining Reid.

"Hey, Reid," he greeted, sounding hurried.

"Leaving early for Jack's practice?" Reid asked.

"I am, yeah," Hotch said. "Did you finish the Latham file?"

"It's right here," Reid said, reaching for it.

"Thank you," Hotch said, taking the file and putting it in his briefcase. "I can do these at home, when I can't get to sleep tonight." He paused. "I can't believe Morgan's getting married," he suddenly confided. "It's bizarre to me."

"I agree," Reid said. "But they're so good together. I guess we shouldn't have been too surprised that he'd find someone eventually."

"I just can't imagine Morgan with a ring on his finger...or, I couldn't," Hotch amended. His gaze grew a bit wistful. "I always thought he and Garcia would...well, never mind. It's against team regulations anyway. I didn't need the headache."

Reid stifled a smile.

"Have any plans for tonight?" Hotch asked. "Besides rewriting your best man's speech for about the dozenth time?"

"You're uncannily accurate," Reid said with a grin. "Actually, I was thinking about going to see a friend."

"What friend?" Hotch asked.

"A potential roommate," Reid hedged. "But he doesn't know that yet."

Hotch raised an eyebrow. "Do tell," he said.

"I know JJ met him," Reid said. "He worked at the animal shelter Poe's from. I profiled him as an intelligent young man, one who hasn't been given many opportunities. I...I'd like to give him them."

"Travis," Hotch said.

"How do you know that?" Reid wondered, delighted.

"I think you've talked about him before, perhaps without even realizing it," Hotch said, smiling. "That's a good idea, Reid. Well, I have to be going. Thanks for the file."

Travis walked through the door of the cafe and Reid spotted him immediately. "Hey, Travis, I'm over here," he greeted with a hesitant wave.

Travis managed a smile before going to the counter to order, and then slowly walking to Reid's table.

"Hey, Dr. Reid," he greeted. "I was surprised to get your message. Is something wrong with Poe?"

"No, not at all," Reid said. "I was glad to hear that you're still volunteering there."

"It's a distraction," Travis said. "And I like animals."

"You're still in school, right?" Reid asked, and it took Travis too long to answer.

"No, I'm not," he said, voice quiet. "I lost my job and it got too expensive. I got another job but I have living expenses, so it had to go to that."

Reid considered his answer, sipping at the mug of coffee in front of him. "Have you thought about applying for a federal grant or a scholarship?"

"I'm not a genius, I couldn't make it," Travis said. "Who'd give a scholarship to me? Oh, thank you," he said to the waitress, taking his drink from her.

Reid smiled to see what Travis had ordered; hot cocoa, instead of coffee like Reid would have expected from a boy of Travis's age, trying to be older than he was at nineteen, almost twenty.

"I think you'd be surprised at who they give scholarship to," Reid began. "And federal grants don't depend on intelligence; they depend on income."

"I didn't think my parents would cooperate with filling out the form," Travis admitted and then his cheeks turned a dull red. "That came out wrong."

Reid nodded slowly. "I'd like to make you an offer, and I'd like you to consider it carefully. I don't need an answer now. I don't need an answer ever, if it comes to that. But when I met you last year, you seemed like a very intelligent young man. When I was younger, I was given opportunities without which I would not be here right now. And they were offers that I would never have dreamed of otherwise." He shook his head. "Most people like me don't make it into the FBI, Travis. I don't know what career path you're on right now, or want to consider. But I'd like to make it a little easier."

"How?" Travis asked.

"First things first," Reid said. "I'm looking for a roommate. I need someone who's good with dogs, in case my friend Kate can't take care of Poe sometimes. I need someone who will respect my work schedule and my privacy, and someone who's willing to, at times, seem a bit like a housekeeper. I'd...like company in the evenings. Someone to play Scrabble with."

Travis looked down at his cocoa. "And you're asking me?"

"Like I said, I don't need an answer now," Reid said. "And I can give you references to prove that I'm not an Ephebophilian."

"Well, who would be attracted to me, if you were?" Travis said.

Reid grinned. "That's one of the reasons I think you're smarter than you think. How many people do you think know the definition of that word?"

Travis stammered for a moment. "I...lucky guess? I watch a lot of crime shows?"

Reid nodded. "I can give you my card," he said. "You can take as long as you like to consider the question, but I have one more...offer for you. If you complete your college education, I have connections in the FBI. I can get you into the Academy. If that's what you wanted. The FBI can use guys like you."

"Like me?" Travis echoed, as Reid stood up, getting ready to go.

He was feeling slightly buzzed, and a bit unsure of himself; he definitely felt like Travis's answer would be a resounding no. Suddenly this didn't seem like such a good idea. Suddenly he felt like he hadn't rehearsed this very conversation a dozen times in the past week. Suddenly he felt like he'd moved too quickly, and yet Travis wasn't even in school anymore.

Reid didn't want Travis to lose any more of himself, through callous parents and teachers who said careless things, decimating the boy's self confidence. He wasn't going to label the boy a genius, but he most definitely had the potential to get him through the FBI academy, if only given a little push.

If that was what Travis wanted.

Reid made his farewell to Travis, leaving him sitting at the table, still looking stunned as he considered the card Reid had given him.

"Dr. Reid?"

The note in Travis's voice caused Reid to profile, and profile quickly. He whirled around, a grin already on his face.

"Travis, if we're going to be roommates, you should really call me Spencer," he replied.

A/N: I don't know, I guess I like the image of Hotch as a Morcia shipper, just a little bit. But I can ship Hotch/Garcia too. He's so respectful of her and it's amazing to watch when they work together on equal footing.

No game for this chapter.

And now I'm going to die until I get some feedback on how the Travis/Reid exchange went. Yes, it did go a little quickly but THAT DAMN TIME SKIP messed up all my plans and it was now or never.

Should I have the Savorgan wedding? Or at least part of it?