Lockdown

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

23/06/2019. 09:00 hours. FBI Offices, Quantico, Virginia.

JJ was unable to hold the pit of unease in her stomach as she entered the bullpen, both hands firmly gripping the strap of her navy leather purse, when her cerulean eyes scanned the desks to find Spencer's desk empty. She knew he was due back at work, and yet he was not there. He had a stack of incomplete files in his tray, which she knew would bother him greatly. JJ approached her desk and set her purse down on top. She could smell his cologne, indicating that he had been there. She furrowed her brow and ran her fingers through her golden tresses in thought. She glanced up at Emily's office to find the lights on and the door open ajar. JJ slow climbed the few steps up to the platform to Emily's office and gently rapped on the door with the back of her knuckles. Emily's head shot up from where she had been nose deep in files.

"Hey, JJ. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, uhm. Have you seen Spence? He's normally here by now." JJ folded her arms across her chest, her fingertips mindlessly fiddling with the silver locket around her neck that sat daintily below the curve between her collarbones.

"Oh, yeah. He was here earlier. The director has sent him to interview a death row inmate in San Quentin. He should be due to board his flight soon." JJ's mouth gaped in horror.

"He's being sent to a prison? Alone?! Em, doesn't he realise what that's going to do to Spence? What if he loses it? What if he has a panic attack? I can't see him incarcerated again." Emily slumped back into her seat with a sigh.

"I tried to stop it, but the director threatened Reid's job if he didn't go. I can't lose him from this team. I just have to have faith that Reid can hold it together." Tears threatened JJ's lower lashes.

"Emily, I'm scared for him. I saw what happened last time he was in prison." Emily came to her feet and moved over to JJ, wrapping her arms around the blonde agent. Her chin rested on top of JJ's head.

"I know. I am, too." JJ's heart clenched in her chest. She could not see her best friend lose control and get locked up again. The last time he was in prison, it almost killed him. It brought out a feral rage within him. It made him dangerous.

...

23/06/2019. 15:35 hours. Oakland Airport, California.

Spencer was immensely grateful to escape the hive of activity that was Oakland Airport. The crowds of people, sounds, and overpowering scents were over stimulating, increasing the genius' dull throb in his temples. He had desperately tried to clear his mind on the plane but had been unable to do so courtesy of the crying infant in the row behind him and the cramped space in which he had been unable to stretch out his lanky legs. Spencer wrenched himself out of the automatic sliding doors and breathed in a sigh of relief as he stepped outside. The California air was humid. A petite, suited woman wearing sunglasses and her copper hair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck was stood rigidly near the door with a sign reading Dr Reid. She glanced up at the tall agent approaching her.

"Dr Spencer Reid? I am Agent Marks from the California office. I was directed to give you the keys to an SUV. You'll find it parked in the red zone, bay C," said Agent Marks, her face showing no expression. Spencer raised his eyebrows at the no-nonsense approach of the diminutive agent who held out a key fob in front of her.

"Oh, uh, thank you. Do you need a ride back to the office, Agent Marks?" asked Spencer.

"No, thank you, sir. One of my colleagues followed me here to take me back."

"Oh, okay." Agent Marks turned quickly on her heel and trotted away to an SUV parked a few vehicles along. The keys glinted in the light as Spencer held them in his palm, the keyring looped around his trigger finger. He pursed his lips and allowed his eyes to trace the expansive parking lot. He groaned outwardly when he realised that the red zone was the furthest away.