Coffee // Dr. Spencer Reid

coffee at the BAU

Eleanor's return to work came only a day later. She returned as chipper as always. Sometimes, when her eyes landed on the counter, in the spot Midnight normally was spread out, one could notice her utter sadness. It was those times when Nora and Sydney swooped in to distract her.

Whenever Spencer was visiting, distracting her thoughts from her loss was not at all hard. On the first day he came to the cafe, after Midnight's passing, Eleanor shouted a panicked, "Good morning!" that almost resulted in her dropping the dirty mugs in her arms.

"Hi, El. What's got you so excited?" laughed Spencer.

Eleanor paused to place each mug carefully into the sink. She shuffled to the end of the counter, where she hopped on top of it, sitting tall in front of him. She held his hands within her own mitten covered ones. She inhaled a deep breath, then said, "Dr. Spencer Reid, I have a proposition for you."

"You've got me intrigued. Do continue."

"Anytime we see each other has been in places I own."

"You are correct."

"More specifically, we really only see each other at my work. So, do you think, maybe, one of these days you can show me your work?"

Spencer's mouth opened and close for an alarming amount of time before he stuttered, "You want to come to Quantico."

"Oh," mumbled Eleanor, not pleased with his reaction. "I guess it was a stupid idea. Forget it."

Her pout broke his heart. He tightened his grip on her hands before she could pull away. "No, no, it's just that, uh, I haven't cleaned my desk in a while. I want everything to look nice the day I show you my work," he covered quickly.

"Really?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes. You work so hard to keep this place clean. The least I can do is clean up my own space for you when you come to visit."

"No, Spencer, it's fine. You don't have to take me. Forget I asked. Give me a few days, I'll probably forget I asked, too."

"Eleanor, come on."

"Did you know I forget how we met?" asked Eleanor suddenly. "I look at you right now, and I couldn't tell you for the life of me how I met you. How is that? I see you very close to every single day."

"Your mind is just special. It's making room for more memories," he tried.

"When I opened this place, I didn't need to write down the regulars' orders. Now, if you asked me what Christopher orders, I would have to look at my notes. Do you know how often Christopher comes in here?"

"Every day," said Spencer quietly. "Have you seen your Doctor lately?"

"You're a Doctor. Cure me," she said hopelessly. With a frustrated whimper, her head fell against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"All I can tell you is to keep doing what I showed you. Repetition is good for you. Frequent, reoccurring things stick in your mind, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"And I will make sure I stick," promised Spencer. He let go of her, then held out his hand. "Now, on that wonderful note, come on."