Je t'aime | Spencer Reid |

6

[ Evans ]

I walk into the bullpen, tired and stressed. My brothers kept me up all last night. They were fighting over some game they were playing. All I want to do is see Reid. He doesn't know what my brother's said, and frankly I hope he never does know. But my brothers were right. I do kind of like him, and I was being protective. For a good reason! Everything I said was true too, my brother's are jerks and have done nothing compared to what Reid has done. I plop down at my desk and rub my face. I pull out my half finished case file that Reid dropped off, and I scramble to finish the last half. Once it's done, I place it on Hotch's desk, and head to the break room. Reid and Rossi are getting coffee.

"Wow, you look terrible." Rossi comments. I grab my mug and the almost empty coffee pot. I pour the last of it in my mug and hold it there, trying to get the last few drops.

"Thanks. My brother's are in town." That's all the explanation he needs. He takes the coffee pot and puts it back.

"I'll start making another pot." He nods patting my back. I take my mug and head back to my desk. To my surprise, Reid is right behind me.

"Evans, about last night. I'm sorry to just show up like that. Especially when you had company over. Hotch gave those out to us right after you left and he-"

"Reid. It's cool. I appreciate you bringing it. Really. Thank you." He smiles.

"Your brother's seem nice." He adds. I sit at my desk, and he sit's at his; but we turn our chairs to face each other.

"Really?" I question, surprised and taken back. He nods taking a sip of his coffee.

"Yeah. How long are they staying with you."

"Oh, far too long. Yesterday was day one and I'm already counting down the days until they leave. I love them, but they're killing me."

"Till who leaves?" Morgan asked, as he walks through mine and Reid's conversation

"My brothers. They're in town for the next 5 days." he nods.

"What are they doing while you're at work?"

"They're probably out sight seeing, picking up girls. Or both. They're supposed to be setting up my new apartment, but I doubt they are."

"They wont miss you for one night. How about tonight, all of us go to that sweet bar down a few block." Morgan suggest. I agree, Reid reluctantly agrees and Morgan rounds up a group to come with.

+++

We all agree on the bar that Morgan was explaining. In our own cars, we drive to the bar. We all get out and make our way inside. I make sure to find and cling to him Reid before I go in. I'm not one to really go for the 'full bar' experience. I'm down for one good glass of wine, but nothing more. Reid strikes me as the same type, a causal drinker. Garcia and J.J take a table right next to the table of women Morgan invited himself into. Reid, Rossi, and I take the back corner and keep to ourselves staying in the corner with only the tree of us. After one drink, Rossi goes home leaving Reid and I alone.

"Hey, what's that behind your ear?" Reid points out. I get confused and move my head so he can grab it out. I feel him grab it, so I move back only to see colored scarves flying out from behind my head. I bust out laughing.

"Ah, he can do magic."

"It's not magic. That has been there the whole time, it's been annoying me all night."

"And he's funny too." I chuckle. He scoffs and shakes his head, a little embarrassed. He glances up at me with his big puppy dog eyes, and my heart melts. He quickly looks down and shakes his head. His body language changes and he looks more rigid. I may have just started profiling, but I know something's up. 

"I should uh... bars aren't really my thing. So," He starts to stand up, but I grab his arm. He looks down at my hand on his arm, but refuses to look me in the eyes.

"No. Stay. If you leave, I'll have nobody to talk to, and I'll have to go home to my brother's. Please. For me." I give a small smile at the end. He sits back down.

"Do you. Uh. There's this study I was reading about how the affects of alcohol change a person's feelings and emotions. There have been a lot of studies on this, but this one went into more detail about it. Alcohol can change moods in many ways, but one of the ways is letting people open up more. Specifically, this happens within just a few sips of a drink. When inhibitions are gone, it allows a person to express otherwise withheld emotions and alternately become more confident or outgoing. I also found another study, that says when two people are similar they find each other initially attractive, but opposite personalities have a better success rate in relationships. It was fascinating to see how many people reported-"

"Reid! You're rambling." I giggle. My heart feels warm and fuzzy when he talks about the science behind dating and relationships. He so smart, and funny, and sweet. My cheeks burn as they turn a bright red. I try to calm it down.

"S-sorry." He stutters as he begins to play with his hands anxiously. He looks down at his hands and watches them intertwine like gears.

"Hey. Is everything okay?" I asked putting my hand on his shoulder.

"It's a bit stuffy in here, can we go outside?" He asked. I stair into his eyes with concern painted on my face. I look from his left eye, to his right eye, back to his left trying to study his face. He looks miserable, but he's keeping it together. I nod quickly and hop up, walking out of the bar with him right beside me. Once we get outside, I turn around to look at him and wait for him to speak. He doesn't.

"Are you okay?" I question again, still waiting for the answer.

"Bars and loud crowds of drunk people aren't really my thing." He looks down avoiding eye contact.

"Sure. I'm not a really fan of 40 year old drunk guys doing karaoke to a Beatles song ether. Well, I don't want to go home yet so... can we take a walk?" I ask as I start picking my nails furiously. I've never been one to flirt too much, so asking him to go on a walk with me is a lot. He looks up at me and nods, a giddy smile across his face and a light shade of pink in his cheeks. We start walking up the street in the quiet part of town. A far amount of people still out on the town. We walk in silence a little ways until I break the silence.

"So when did you start working at the BAU? And how the hell did you decide the FBI was what you wanted to do? I mean you have so many PhD's, you could have done anything."

"Gideon. He found me and suggested I pursue joining the BAU."

"Gideon. I think I went to one of his lectures my first year in the academy. He started the BAU, right?" I question. Reid nods as he looks over at me.

"Yeah. He gave lectures some times. One of the best chess minds I think I've ever played ageist too."

"Wow. He challenged you? I though nothing could challenge the great Dr. Reid." I joke. I get a giggle out of Reid which makes my heart skip a beat. "We should play chess some time. I'm not very good, because it's been years since I've played. Maybe you could re-teach me."

"You play? Or, use to?"

"Yeah. Uh, high school I joined the chess team. That's where I met my boyfriend." I explain, my throat closing up and my legs feeling weak. I don't like thinking about high school. The painful memories of senior year creeps up my throat and threatens to make me throw up. I look at Reid for some sort of grounding or to distract me from my thoughts. I watch his face become sad, almost devastated. Oh crap, he thinks I have a boyfriend. "But uh, that... that was years ago. I haven't. Uh. I'm not with him now or anything." I stammer awkwardly as I push my hair behind my ear. I look back up at Reid and he chuckles as he nods.

"Okay. Uh, yeah. I'd love to play chess some time." After another hour of walking around and talking, we both decide to head back to the bar. I say a quick good bye before I head to my car and sit, finally relaxed. All the nervous and anxious energy just dying to be expelled somehow. When I see Reid drive off out of sight, I start stomping and shaking my arms as I squeak to get my nerves out. After a second I stop and lean back in my seat. My mind in a thousand places, but all I want to do is get home and sleep. I start my car and make my way back home.