Monsters & Men • A Spencer Reid Fanfiction •

CHAPTER EIGHT

To be prepared is half the victory.

Miguel de Cervantes

"Why didn't you call me?" Phoebe groaned, placing her weapon down.

She felt like she needed a drink, too.

Emily Prentiss shrugged, completely unfazed. She knew what Phoebe was going through. In their line of work, it was far better to be ready and prepared than to be taken by surprise. She watched as Phoebe grabbed herself a glass while Willow trotted into the kitchen and sat next to Prentiss's feet. Even though she wasn't a dog person, she had to admit, the beagle was a cutie.

"I wanted to surprise you. I know you probably have a lot on your mind," Prentiss finally answered.

But Phoebe knew that wasn't all of it. Emily wouldn't have flown all the way to London just to check up on her. Sure, she was a great friend, but the job never would've allowed it. No, she was here to see how Phoebe did on her first case.

And with a glass full of chilled Moscato from the refrigerator, Phoebe deemed herself ready for debriefing. "Let's talk in the living room," she suggested. After a second of hesitation, she took the bottle of Moscato with her before leading Prentiss to the couch.

Prentiss nodded her head and followed after her friend quietly, recalling how they'd met.

She had run into Phoebe on her first week of transferring to Interpol. It had been a difficult time, especially having to adjust being away from the BAU.
But then she met Phoebe.

It was an early morning, and Prentiss wanted to clear her head at the firing range. She was still adjusting to her new job, and all her responsibilities. It turned out she wasn't the only one who needed to clear their head. Phoebe had an even earlier start than she did.

At first, Emily mistook her for an agent even though Phoebe was younger than most of the people at Interpol. Instead, Prentiss was surprised to learn that Phoebe was there as a consultant. After grabbing breakfast together, t Phoebe revealed she was from a separate, special ops unit- recruited when she was still very young. And she was there to help Prentiss adjust to her new role.

"You could've told me about Dr. Reid," Phoebe began as soon as they sat down. She shook her head, recalling the way he had apologized right before she left. Just full of surprises, that one. "He really is something else."

"What happened?" Prentiss asked, fearing it would be something bad. Although, she could hardly imagine Reid ever doing something bad to someone.

But Phoebe smiled. And she rarely saw the younger woman smile a genuine smile. It wasn't a smile to appease other people. Or a pretend smile that she was okay. A real smile. "Did you know he apologized to me before I went home? He apologized. To me. When in fact, I thought he would hate me."

Phoebe took a big swig of her drink after saying this, but Prentiss just chuckled. "I don't think Reid can hate anyone."

Phoebe just widened her eyes in agreement as she took another drink. "Maybe because Hotch does it enough for all of them," the young woman grumbled, recalling the brusque manner of the Unit Chief.

"Aw," Prentiss said, wanting to argue, but also understanding where her friend was coming from. She placed a hand on Phoebe's shoulder, even though she knew that Phoebe wasn't open to physical contact, because once upon a time, Prentiss had also been subjected to Hotch's shrewd evaluation. "He's not so bad once you get to know him."

"That's the thing! I don't think I will ever get to know them like you have," Phoebe exclaimed, rising from her seat and effectively shakin off Prentiss's hand. Prentiss watched as the young woman began pacing the living room. Clearly, this was really bothering her. "They know I'm hiding something. And usually, I wouldn't care! I mean, you know me. I don't care about what other people think-"