Criminal Minds One Shots

Secrets

Note to Readers: I'm sure you'll probably notice this scene is stolen from one of the episodes, but that's why I didn't put it in the other one.  Also, again, some might be inconsistent with the actual plot of the other one.  Please feel free to comment and vote.

"McDowell's missing.  Her stalker has her.  He thinks he'll get away with this, and he might," Reid admitted, already sounding defeated. "I have a wealth of knowledge I should be applying to this case, behavioral patterns of violent stalkers, tactical recovery strategies, victim survival odds, but right now I can't focus on anything for more than four seconds at a time, which makes me the dumbest person in the room," he tried to rationalize all the thoughts flying through his brain.  "So," Reid paused before pleading, "Please help me.  Help me find her."

Silence filled the room, and then Rossi spoke for all of them, "We're not going to stop until we find her, Reid. I promise."

Everyone nodded solemnly in agreement, and a spark of hope flared up inside of him again.  Whatever it took, they were going to find McDowell.

Two hours later, they were going over the printed emails, creased letters, and crumpled notes Reid and Morgan had gathered from her apartment and Garcia was scrolling through the record of missed calls and voicemails on her phone, marking down the dates of all her stalker's correspondence with her.

"Reid, you know her best.  Are you sure she never mentioned anything about meeting someone new, noticing someone unusual following her?  Maybe an old boyfriend or someone she went on a date with?" JJ asked.

"No. With this job, she didn't have any time for a chance at a new relationship," he said, staring down at the tabletop.

"What about you, Reid?" Morgan asked after a beat.

"What?  No!  This isn't about me, this is about Charlie," Reid snapped.

"Kid, we all know there's something going on between the two of you, if you deny it or not.  The only way we can help her is if you tell us everything," Rossi stated.

Reid glowered at the floor, the tense silence building only to be shattered by him yelling, "Fine! I spent the night at her apartment a few times after she suspected someone was stalking her, and twice she was scared that he had broken into her apartment so she stayed with me.  It doesn't matter though because she made me promise not to tell you guys so no one knew about it anyways.  She didn't give me any details about it and now she's going to die because I kept her secret!" Reid exclaimed.

A brief second passed before he fell into an apology, "I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from.  I can't be very helpful right now,  I should leave," he muttered, heading for the door.

"Reid, Reid, yes you can," Morgan immediately insisted.

"Pick one of us and we'll go over it with you," Hotch said.

Reid seemed to stare blankly at all of them, his face downcast, his hands stuffed in his pockets, before he answered flatly, "JJ."

"All right. Let's go," she said, getting up and grabbing her stuff.

Reid followed, leaving the rest of the team to continue deciphering Charlie's life and all the secrets she kept from them.  But did she keep secrets to protect them, or herself?