the great war, spencer reid [ 2 ]

075. spectator slowing

Bedelia and Spencer make their way to the round table room, Penelope telling them about a new case.

"You know what wouldn't be hilarious? Leaking in the field." Spencer comments.

"Ew. Why would you--" Bedelia grimaces.

"I'm just making sure you're careful." Spencer says.

"Spence, I've been back for a week. I'm fine." She promises. "And the birth was fine. I have zero problems now. Everything's okay. I'm healthy, the kids are healthy, you're healthy. Stop freaking out about every little thing."

"I just want to make sure you don't push yourself past your limits." Spencer says. "Seeing you clammy and barely conscious was frightening."

"I know... and I'm sorry you had to worry. But I'm okay now. That was months ago. I had plenty of rest on maternity leave -- or at least as much as I could with feeding and having two children and a dog and everything. But I'm okay. I feel good, I promise."

"Okay." Spencer nods. "I believe you. But if you get tired--"

"I will tell you." Bedelia promises, leading him into the round table room. She stops when she sees JJ alone in the room.

"You're back." Spencer comments, getting the blonde's attention.

"Hey. Yeah, I thought I'd get in early, stake out my spot." JJ says, getting up.

"Good for you." Bedelia says, walking to the other side of the table, Spencer following her.

"JJ, oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God. JJ!" Penelope walks in as quickly as she can. "Oh, my God, look at that. Look at you."

"Ooh, hey." JJ hugs her.

"Hi." Penelope smiles.

"It's me." JJ says as Penelope walks to her seat. "Hi." She hugs Rossi. "Missed you. Hey, there." She tells Luke before hugging him.

"Hey. Welcome back. So good to have you back." Tara says, hugging JJ.

"Great to be here." JJ mumbles.

"We did discuss you maybe easing back into things slowly." Emily says.

"Emily, I'm good to go, really." JJ assures. "I even brought a permission slip from my doctor."

"Promise me, no jumping out of helicopters." Emily says.

"Only as a last resort. You have my word." JJ states, sitting back down in her seat.

"So what have we got?" Rossi asks.

"Well, the two mail bombing deaths we've been monitoring in Ohio and Kentucky, third one just happened in Memphis." Penelope says.

"We aren't monitoring anymore. This case is now our top priority." Emily says.

"Two victims are Rhonda Kirkman and her daughter, Sophia, but unlike Joseph Ainsworth and Sheila Stecher, both of these sweet souls have survived." Penelope says.

"Apparently that blast wasn't as strong as the others." Emily says. "Mother and daughter are in critical condition, though."

"And we still don't know how these bombs were sent?" Tara asks.

"None of the traditional mail carriers sent any packages to the victims on the days of the attacks." Penelope says.

"Well, good chance he dropped them off himself." Tara says.

"Well, that'd be a significant deviation from the traditional M.O. of a mail bomber." Spencer says. "Most don't get anywhere near their victims."

"And I wonder why the third bomb didn't pack the same punch." JJ says. "Device malfunction, maybe?"