Remember Me

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

                The door opened, and Gayle smiled over at Melody.

“Come on, girl, get in the car, we’re going for food, on me.” Melody chuckled, and carefully lowered herself into the passenger seat, turning and dropping her cane into the backseat as Gayle shut the door, rounded the car, and climbed into the driver’s seat.

“So I take it…you got everything in order?” she asked, looking over.

“Definitely. He faked his death, he didn’t get a divorce…so I sold everything that is now mine. The house, his car, his truck, his computer…anything the police haven’t kept has been sold.”

“Good for you. I hate to say it, but I did try to tell you – you were too good for him.”

“I think it’s more that he was too psychotic for me,” Gayle said, shaking her head and pulling into the road. “I don’t wanna talk about him. Let’s just go eat with the team,” she added sheepishly, grinning as she drove down the street.

                She pulled the car into the lot, and shut it off, glancing over at Melody.

“Who all is supposed to be here?” Melody asked, reaching into the back for her cane.

“Reid…Morgan…Hotch…and Prentiss. Garcia and Rossi said they had…some other plans, I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head in uncertainty. She moved to Melody’s door, helping her from the car, and looked around the lot. “And I believe they are all there – that car is Reid’s…that’s Hotch’s…the bike is Morgan’s,” she said, which caused Melody to whistle.

“Nice bike.” Gayle laughed, and locked the doors, pocketing her keys.

“Come on, let’s go in.”

                Reid sat back in his chair, looking down at the chopsticks at his right hand, and the fork at his left.

“I’m just glad to see a fork already on the table,” he chuckled, eliciting laughter from the others at the table. He reached to his right, and picked up the chopsticks, tossing them across to Morgan.

“Ya know, Reid, you can do more with these than just eat.”

“Like what?” he asked, eyebrow raised. Morgan eyed the sticks for a second, before taking one in each hand.

“Girls wear ‘em in their hair, but I wouldn’t recommend these in your hair,” he laughed. “Or you could drum,” he finished, tapping the sticks rhythmically against the table top. Gayle stopped a few steps behind him, smiling.

“Usually the ones who wear them wear ones specially made for that use. And the ones who make music with them have a better sounding beat,” she teased, pulling out a chair for Melody. “Sorry we’re late. You guys remember Melody? Mel, this is Morgan, Prentiss, Hotch, and…you remember Dr. Reid.” A smile crossed Melody’s face as she nodded to each name, and, since he was closest, she reached a hand over and patted Reid’s arm as it rested on the table.

“How could I forget Reid? He came to see me in the hospital, and helped me relax by reading to me…” Reid chuckled, and nodded sheepishly. Morgan raised an eyebrow, but smiled, before moving and sliding out the empty chair next to him for Gayle.

“Thanks,” she said, lowering herself to the chair as he slid it in for her. “Have you ordered yet?”

“Not yet…we were waiting for you two.”

“Then let’s order – I know I’m starved,” she chuckled, pushing her hair off her face and looking at the menu at her place on the table.

                The food was gone. The clutter was minimal, as the waiter strolled off with a good portion of the plates and utensils that had been surrounding them. Gayle looked around the room, and pushed her hair behind her ear.