Dark Obsessions: A Criminal Minds Story

Part 02

Rachel had been feeling like an outsider ever since she joined the team. It seemed like no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't seem to find her place among the BAU agents. But she refused to give up. Rachel knew that this was the job she was meant to do, and she was determined to prove herself.

One day, the team was presented with a particularly tough case. They had been working on it for days, but they just couldn't seem to make any progress. Rachel had been working on the case on her own in her spare time, hoping to come up with a breakthrough. And finally, she did.

As she presented her findings to the team, she could feel their skepticism. But as she explained her reasoning and showed them the evidence she had uncovered, their doubt slowly began to fade. Soon, they were all gathered around her, poring over the details and brainstorming new ideas.

For the first time since Rachel had joined the team, she felt like she belonged here. She had earned their respect, and their trust. And as they worked together to solve the case, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. She had finally proven herself, and she knew that she had found her place among the BAU agents.

As the team closed their case it was time to celebrate. Morgan went to Rachel's desk and leaned on it. "We're going to the bar tonight, you're in?"

She appreciated to finally being truly part of the team, but it was to soon. She didn't want to allow herself to let people in yet. For now, she just wanted to have a good relationship with her colleagues not a group of friends.

"Maybe next time?", she felt bad to decline their invitation but she had to put herself first. Her job was dangerous, she couldn't get attached to people. She already lost too much.

"No problem", Morgan got up. "Just don't hesitate if you need company okay?"

Rachel gave him a little nod and went back to work. The office became more and more quiet as people exited.

"75% of Americans consider being late to be disrespectful, and 25% believe that it's a sign of being unreliable. A study published in the Journal of Social Psychology even found that people who are chronically late are perceived as less trustworthy and less competent than those who are punctual."

Rachel raised up her head to Spencer. "Sorry, what?"

"You were late on your first day of work and that's what most of the others including me thought of you"

She chuckled out of nervousness. "Should I get offended by that Dr Reid?", because she was.

"What? No! No no it's just that your constant need to prove yourself to the team may come from that. And if we add your past career into-"

She crossed her arms on her chest. "If we add my past career what?"

"Well the lost of your colleague, agent Tom-"

"My fiancé. Tom was my fiancé. So Dr Reid" She grabbed her stuff. "Next time you want to analyze me or whatever this was do it better" She started walking to the exit but turned to him. "Or just don't do anything"

She pulled out her phone as she exited the elevator in order to call a taxi. "Hey, Rachel! You changed your mind?"

"Morgan? What are you still doing here?"

"I'm waiting for pretty boy to get down", he looked at the girl more precisely. "What's going on?"

Morgan looked behind her quickly and saw Spencer on his way looking embarrassed.

"Let me guess Spencer did his usual statistics analysis on you?"

"Well that's great to learn that this is an usual thing", she said sarcastically.

"Listen Rachel", Morgan put his hand on her shoulder. "Spencer isn't really good at talking to other people. Most of the time when he does his thing it's because he feels comfortable bragging with you."

"I... I don't know why I overreacted", Rachel covered her face with her hands a few seconds and sighed. "I just wasn't ready to hear what he said, it's still a sore topic"

A small cough was heard as Derek smiled and went into his car.

Rachel turned around, now calm.

"I'm sorry", Rachel and Spencer both said resulting to small chuckles.

"I shouldn't have talked about your loss", Spencer said toying with his bag.

"No I shouldn't have reacted this way, i'm sorry", she said reaching his arms to then pull away immediately reminding his germs thing.

It was silence till Spencer spoke again. "You're going to the bar with us?"

"No, no I already declined to Derek", she said nodding her head softly.

"Oh... And hmm... Would you said yes if I invite you? I honestly feel really bad about earlier"

"I have a lot of work", she looked up at him. But why not? She was now feeling bad too to decline twice. "Let's go Doctor"

"Just Spencer", he said smiling and started walking to Derek's car with Rachel beside him.

"I bet you have a statistic thing about this in your head" Spencer looked at her smiling brightly. "Oh my god you really have one, go ahead tell me"

"Well if you insist, did you know that 80% of professionals in the United States prefer to be addressed by their first names, while only 20% prefer to be addressed by their last names?"

Rachel and Spencer got in the car as Derek send her a wink smiling and Spencer continued.

"And a fun fact about it, in some parts of the world, using last names to address colleagues is even considered impolite or even insulting."

Once at the bar everyone was laughing with each other. Soon everyone went dancing while Rachel and Spencer stayed at their table listening to all the statistics he found interesting to share.