You Are My Sunshine (Marcus Pike)

Chapter 2

Willow pranced into the new International Art Theft Unit ready for her first day on the job. She wondered if they had a case yet or if it would be quiet for a few days, but her money was on a busy day. When she started with the White Collar Crimes Unit, she was thrown in head first on her first day.

"You must be the analyst," a dark, smooth voice said.

She turned and saw her new boss.

Agent Marcus Pike.

"Yes! I'm Willow Reid."

Reid. That was a name he'd heard around Quantico.

"The genius?" Marcus asked her.

Willow laughed. "That would be my brother Spencer. He's upstairs in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. But it's an easy mistake to make. Oh! I brought you coffee. Wasn't sure how you liked it, so it's black." She handed him a coffee cup from her and Spencer's favorite coffee shop.

They had stopped there on the way into work. Spencer had also given her a ten-minute pep-talk before they entered the building.

"Thank you. I actually prefer it black, so this is perfect."

"Great! Um, could you show me where my office is?"

"Oh, yeah. It's just this way. Follow me."

Willow followed Marcus towards the back into a room filled with computers.

"Here it is."

"It's perfect!" Willow walked over to her chair and immediately started to pull out pictures and trinkets to decorate.

"I'll leave you to it then."

"Is there a case yet?"

Marcus laughed. "That eager to get to work?"

Willow blushed in embarrassment. "It's just...I've never known the FBI to be quiet."

"Be patient."

Willow nodded. "I guess I'll see you later then."

"Yeah." Marcus left her office and Willow plopped down in her seat.

She immediately called Penelope.

"What's going on, Sweet Pea?" Penelope asked.

"He's so cute!"

Penelope giggled. "Down girl. He's your boss."

"Doesn't mean I don't have eyes."

"So do you know when you're going to get your first case?"

Willow shrugged, even though she couldn't see it. "Marcus said to be patient. But I have a feeling if it's not today, it'll be tomorrow."

Willow was right. Her first case came on her second day at work. She put together the files and presented the case to the team, just like Penelope did for the BAU.

Most of her job was spent researching paintings and sculptures and learning to spot the real ones from the fakes. Spencer even took her to the art museum to get her more comfortable with certain artists' techniques and signature styles.

Willow's first month in the International Art Theft Unit went well. She came in every morning with a smile on her face and two coffees in her hand.

One for herself and one for Marcus.

She also made sure he ate lunch and went home at a decent hour. Her co-workers teased her and said she was sweet on Marcus, but it was no different from her bringing Hotch or Rossi coffee in the mornings. "Good morning, Marcus!" she sang, placing the coffee on his desk.

Marcus hated how much he liked the way she said his name in her sweet tone of voice.

She turned to leave when Marcus called her name.

"Willow?"

She turned back to him. "Yes, Marcus?"

"As much as I appreciate you bringing me coffee every morning..." Marcus trailed off, not sure how to break it to her. "Look, I did the whole office romance thing once and it didn't turn out so well. So if you could just stop. Please." Marcus hated how he saw the sadness creep into her eyes.

"Oh. Okay. Of course. No more coffee anymore. I understand." She gave him a smile, but he could tell it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll...um...I'll be in my office if you need me." Willow brushed past her co-workers and ran for her office. She shut the door and dissolved into tears. She didn't understand what she did wrong.

It was just coffee!

She didn't mean for it to come off as flirty. She was just being friendly. She liked pleasing people. Clearly he'd been hurt in the past, but that was no reason to take it out on her. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd made a mistake.