Start again (a spencer reid fanfic)

Eleven: Phone Calls

KATRIN'S P.O.V

"With heavy heads, with tired hearts, with weary eyes, we slept"

~ Unknown

Books, so, so many books- lining the walls, on the floor, taking up the chairs- there's even a couple in the kitchen sink where the tap drips quietly onto the bench with a tink tink tink. There's a soft ticking on the far wall and I look over to see an off balance clock, the six on the left and the twelve on the right because of how wonky it is on account of the fact an old wooden chest of drawers is sitting underneath it. The walls are light olive green, a calming sort of color, and there's a long leather couch in the middle of the book overrun living room that is worn and comfortable looking. I pick up the old phone by the apartment door and get the dial tone, looking up at the roof. From now on this is how I will imagine Spencer's mind. Strange, and messy- but workable.

"Sorry it's so... so messy" Reid fumbles his way through the door, stacking books and shoving them out of the way but being careful not to ruin any. "I was trying to clean a-and then-"

"It's okay" I say quietly, venturing a little up the short hallway, flicking the lights on and then flicking them back off when they almost blind me. New globes. I shake my head and continue, gently pushing open a door and sticking my head in. There's clothes spilling out of the drawers against the far wall, light spilling through a big glass window and making the dust in the room visible. The double bed is unmade and messy, much like most of the apartment and I shut the door. Spencer's room. I move on to find the bathroom- small, but again, workable- then a laundry sort of room before I make my way back into the living room to find the team bringing in my boxes. About four of them fit on the floor before we have to start moving them elsewhere, stacking them atop cupboards and benches and what not. By the time all nine boxes are in there's nowhere to simply even get a cup from.

"This is what Reid cleaning looks like?" Hotch says and I smirk, my head aching with just the thought of laughter.

"Where is she going to sleep and hang her clothes!?" Garcia squeals and I shrug

"Most of my clothes got inevitably blown up. I have what I took with me on the case and whatever is in the boxes" Garcia's jaw drops and JJ just raises her eyebrows at me. Prentiss makes herself at home by sitting on what I'm guessing would normally be the TV unit, if Reid in fact had a TV that is.

"Well, we'll leave you to get settled in" Rossi says and Hotch nods, coming over to hug me. I stiffen at the human contact then relax, choosing normality over instinct as everyone else follows, telling me to take as much time as I need before coming back. When they're all outside I shut the door and sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Do you have any advil?" I ask and Reid frowns, disappearing into the kitchen. There's a loud rustle followed by a crash thud and then a mumbling sound before he reappears carrying a box, running a hand through his hair.

"Two" he tells me, handing me the box and I survey the apartment

"So.... Do we clean up my mess or yours first?"

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I place the last book on the shelf and sigh, leaning against Reid's back, making us fall over. "Never again" I breathe and he chuckles "Nevvvveeerrrr" it's dark outside, the cleaning job having taken all day. Reid owns so much stuff you'd think he's lived for centuries- millennia even- but it all seems to have a place, when he can be bothered putting it away. "Thank you for letting me stay with you" I say and he shrugs

"It's okay.... Did you know that statistically speaking there are over two million people coming in and out of the city tonight, staying and eating and conferencing?' it comes out of nowhere and I raise a tired eyebrow.

"No, I did not know that, thank you.... I'm tired" I sigh and he stands, leaving me to flop down against the light carpet tiredly, the sweat on my back clinging to my shirt, making my skin crawl.

"You can have my room and I'll.... I'll have the couch" he says awkwardly and I shake my head

"No Spence, sleep in your own room, I will take the couch and... be on round the clock BAU phone call duty" he looks at me, pondering the situation for a moment before conceding

"Okay.... Night" he walks across the living room, giving me a small wave before disappearing down the hall.

"Night!" I call, crawling my way over to the couch and sagging into it like it's heaven and my solace and the most amazing thing I've ever felt. Quite frankly, after days in a hospital bed, Reid's old couch is the best thing I've ever slept on. My back and head are aching beyond comprehension and before I've even had time to review how the world turned to crap I'm asleep, my neck niggling with dull pain. I'm awoken about an hour later by a loud ring, falling from the couch in a frenzy and hitting the floor with a jolt, wincing as my muscles scream in protest.

"If this is a foreign sales company at half past two I swear..."

"Coleman are you ready to come back to work?" Hotch's voice answers me and heat flushes my face, embarrassment making my throat close up.

"Um.... Yeah why?" I question, my head aching badly at the sound from the phone going into my ear.

"We have a case"

A/N: I'M BAAACCCCKKKKK.... Soooo soo so so so sorry it has taken me this long, but I promise I'll keep updating