Undercover Murder

Three: I'm Giving Up On You...

Six months earlier...

"So, last day teaching a bunch of hard headed rookies." Ava smiled leaning against a wall. "What does the impeccable Dr. Spencer Reid do on such an occasion?"

Reid looked up from the book he'd been reading and gave her a small smile. "I don't know. Probably just go home and read."

"Reid, reading. Now that's original." Flipping her long hair over her shoulder she chuckled a little. "How about this? Take a break from reading just for one night and have some fun. Ya never know you might like it."

Reid just shrugged. "Reading is fun."

"Right, eidetic memory and all."

"Uh, yeah." He was confused by her behavior. At first Ava had been distant as had Reid. He just figured she wanted to keep things professional but over the last few weeks the pair had grown closer. They shared stories with one another about their lives and their work. "What was that song you were singing when you walked in today?"

"What?"

"The song. You sang it walking in, I think the words were, say something I'm giving up on you."

"Oh! That one. It's one of my favorites."

"Why? It sounds like a sad song."

"It is, it's something we've all been through. Losing someone you love, weather it's walking away or other wise. It's never easy."

"I know..." He looked down at his shuffling feet. He hadn't told her about Maeve. That's one thing he wasn't quite ready to share.

"What's eating Gilbert Grape?" She asked noticing his sudden change in behavior.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit. Come on you can't hide it for long. Profiler will be profiled."

"Please, don't. I don't want to have to do the same to you."

"Oh, ladies and gentlemen. The ever so coy Dr. Reid is getting brave. Pray tell, what's your profile of me?"

Reid shook his head. He didn't want to profile her.

"Don't think you're getting out of this Spencer." She mused watching him.

"If you insist. You're an only child raised by one parent whom you don't speak to anymore. Probably a difference in opinion about you becoming an FIB agent. Your last relationship didn't end well. Which is why you don't go out much. You're work is everything to you." He stopped watching her smile.

"No wonder they wanted you to teach this program! That's amazing. Yes, I'm an only child. My mom died when I was seven. Congenital heart defect. My dad didn't like it when I left to be here. But, this is what I wanted to do. After my last relationship went to hell my dad just told me not to call again. That was months ago, I don't know if he's alright." She chuckled. "Price I pay for being me. Come on. Let get this done." Ava patted his shoulder once as she got up walking into the training room. "Let's get to it grunts!" She giggled leaning on the table at front of the room as the rookies watched.

After they were done Reid stopped her outside. "Ava, you never explained that song."

She smiled her eyes glinting in the sunlight. "It's one lover to another. Say something, I'm giving up on you. Talk to me or I'm walking away. It's a cry for help. And at the end. You're the one that I love and I'm saying goodbye. That's the final resignation. Game over."

"And you like this song?" He was confused by her choice of music.

"Very much, like I said before. I can relate." She turned to go.

"Ava, umm would you like to go for a drink sometime?"

"I'm sorry, I can't. I don't feel ready for any kind of attachment."

"Oh, oh, ok. Yeah, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Keep trying Spence. One day I might just say yes."