Dream A Little Dream | Spencer Reid x OC

6. Ill Equipped

𝚃𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝚜𝚝, 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟻, 𝟷𝟶:𝟸𝟾 𝚊.𝚖.

"The irrationality of a thing is not an argument against its existence, rather, a condition of it."

-Nietzsche

Anneliese drummed her fingers on her desk. She was getting bored at work while she put away case files and waited for Reid to get back from his firearms exam. Halfheartedly, she scrawled out an assessment on a solved case for Gideon to go over. Her mind began to blur again when her phone buzzed, it was a text message from Reid.

The two had begun messaging more frequently since their recent outing, but it had not been followed by a second date. Anneliese was enjoying the leisurely pace, but wouldn't mind another evening of laughter with him.

She opened her phone to reveal the message; Failed. On my way back now.

Groaning, she leaned back in her chair and messaged back; I'm so sorry, Reid. Just two weeks until you can retest. Maybe we can go to the range and practice together.

Gideon walked through the bullpen on his way back from the coffee station. Anneliese called to him in a low voice, "Reid failed his qualifications."

"He can retest in two weeks," He responded simply. Hotch walked over and stood next to him.

"I know, but he's going to be embarrassed about it, so let's not mention it?" She flicked her eyes over to Morgan.

He raised his hands defensively, "Not a word."

She spotted Reid, his head hung low, as he stalked to his desk, dejectedly placing his things down. Morgan approached him, and leaned against Reid's desk.

"Hey, we're all here for you. I'm serious." Reid glared up at Morgan.

"If you ever need anything, just blow on that." He placed a whistle over Reid's neck and blew into it. Anneliese reached over and playfully shoved Morgan away from their desks.

As Reid fought to remove the whistle from his neck, JJ approached the team and began hanging out case files. "Franklin Park, Des Plaines, yesterday afternoon, three victims shot at distance. It's the third such shooting in two weeks."

"A sniper?" Anneliese asked, opening her file and examining its contents.

"We don't use that word," Morgan corrected.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Why not?"

"The public perception is that the FBI doesn't have an exemplary record with snipers." JJ replied.

"Besides, a sniper is a professional marksman. These guys aren't snipers." Hotch added. "LDSK is our term."

"Long distance serial killers," Reid said, meeting her eye. Anneliese was happy to see there was a twinkle hidden amongst his embarrassment.

"How many have we caught using a profile?" she asked.

"None." Gideon looked down at the two of them and pursed his lips.

JJ and Hotch quickly led the team to the conference room and debriefed them on the victims and timeline before the team loaded onto the jet. Anneliese was happy to see that a spot had been saved for her by Reid.

Hotch began, "LDSKs are so rare we haven't been able to build a standard profile, but here's what we do know: they're always male, they frequently have law enforcement or military experience, and they always contact the police or media."

"To take credit, or relive the experience? JJ asked, picking up a photo of the scene at Franklin Park.

"Both," Gideon replied. "All serial killers attempt to relive the ecstasy they get from their killings. Some use souvenirs taken from the victims and others return to the dump site to interact with the body. Both require modes require contact with the victim, contact which, by definition, long distance serial killers don't have."