The first time I met Reid was over a cadaver. It was his first time seeing a dead body and he was clearly in shock from seeing another human so dead and cold.
I pulled him aside, handing him a small white tablet. He looked at me questioningly, seemingly asking if what I was handing him was a drug.
I smiled a bit and showed him my extra minty Altoids mint box. "Focus on the pain. It kind of helps instead of only focusing on the victim."
He popped it in his mouth, his face scrunching up adorably when the taste hit. "Thanks..."
"Y/N. I'm Y/N. You're Dr. Spencer Reid right? I'm friends with the team. Big fan."
"Uh yeah. Nice to meet you." He avoided my outstretched hand, opting for a quick, awkward wave and nod instead before slipping past me and back into the examination room.
Over the course of a few months, with the BAU team constantly making trips back to my lab for reports on DNA and manners of death, I got to know Reid better. He was a germaphobe, explaining the hand-dodging the first time we met. He was a genius and had an eidetic memory which made sense seeing as how he rattled off facts under his breath as he analyzed the files I so often gave him.
We grew closer, especially after the team invited me to an end-of-the-year party.
(FLASH BACK TO PARTY this flashback is named gerald btw he says hi very shyly)
"Hey Y/N! Glad you could make it girl!" Emily was already half-drunk, stumbling around the place and giving people hugs. I laughed and let her drag me to where the other girls were huddled.
"Oh. My. God. Is that Hotch's brother?"
I glanced behind me in the direction Garcia was pointing. A tall blonde man wearing a leather biker jacket was slapping Morgan on the back as he gasped for air, laughing no doubt about some joke they had made.
I looked back at Garcia who was ogling him and probably imagining him naked.
"Why don't you go talk to him?"
Garcia gave me a look. "Who, me?"
"Yes you! You told me that you were looking for some fun earlier right? Now's your chance!"
Garcia hesitated for a little bit and then downed the shot of vodka she clenched in her hands. "You know what? I think I will."
The girls and I cheered her on as she walked confidently up to Hotch's brother (his name was Sean I think), talking for a bit before disappearing into the bathroom.
JJ went home early to get some rest for her flight to New Orleans the next day, leaving me with a very dazed Prentiss. The rest of the team, save for Hotch, was gathered at the table drinking god knows what in fancy little crystal glasses.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair and soaking in the room. It felt nice to be with people that were alive and moving instead of cold bodies in a dark room.
"Hey."
I twisted in my seat to face Reid. He gestured at the door with a raised eyebrow in question. I scooted out of the seat and followed him out of the warm bar, shivering when my body registered the freezing cold wind outside.
"What's up Big Brain?"
Out here in the harsh lighting of the street lamps, I noticed his red tinged cheeks, unsure of where it was because of the cold or because of the alcohol/nuts combination.
His eyes were foggy and he just kind of stared at me, not unlike a zombie.
"Hello? Earth to Reid?"
