Profile // A Spencer Reid Love Story

Chapter 10 // As Friends

Chloe's POV.

The flight to Texas was about five hours, so once we finally arrived it was around 3 AM. Agent Hotchner decided that it would be best for us to all check into a hotel and wait until later in the morning to start the investigation. Since we were the only women, I shared a room with JJ.

As I was brushing my teeth, JJ came into the bathroom and started removing her makeup. "So, you and Reid seem to be getting along pretty well." The blonde smirked at me. I looked over at her and rolled my eyes, spitting the toothpaste into the sink before speaking, "I'll admit, he's definitely something." JJ laughed and nodded her head, "He can be pretty overwhelming, you know, with all of his talking. Then again, if I was as smart as he was, I don't think that I'd ever stop spitting out random facts whenever I had the chance." I nodded in agreement as I swished mouth wash around in my mouth before spitting it into the sink. 

I walked out of the bathroom and got under the covers of my bed, setting the alarm clock beside me to 8:00 AM. JJ came out shortly after and did the same in her bed that was beside mine. "I heard that the two of you went out for coffee after our case the other day." Even in the dark, I could practically hear the smirk on her lips. "Yes, we did. As friends. Actually, more like acquaintances. I haven't even know any of you for a full week yet. I don't believe that the F word shouldn't be used just yet." I rolled over in my bed so that I could face her, the light from the moon shining through the windows illuminated the smile on my face. 

"Oh, trust me, by next week you'll be joining me and Garcia for our weekly girls night full of nail painting, gossiping, and tons of junk food." JJ said, obviously kidding. We both laughed and talked for a few more minutes before finally drifting off, getting a much needed few hours of sleep.

9:00 AM || The crime scene.

After questioning witnesses and workers at a nearby bar where one of the victims had been abducted, we turned up pretty empty handed. Our next stop was the crime scene. This time, I knew that I actually had to look at the bodies instead of running off to question the sheriff or nearby deputies. Agent Hotchner had sent me, Reid, and Agent Rossi . JJ and Agent Hotchner went to talk to one of the victim's friends and a preacher. 

Once we arrived at the crime scene, a few deputies that had gotten there before us were getting ready to take away the dead body. Reid jumped out of the car and quickly made his way towards them.

"Woah, woah, woah, woah! What are you doing?" He shouted at the deputies. I followed closely behind him. "Do not disturb the crime scene." I joined in. "We took a bunch of pictures just like you ordered us to." One of the deputies turned to the sheriff that had brought us here. "I ordered you not to touch a damn thing." The sheriff retorted. "We need to look at this crime scene undisturbed, do you mind not standing there please?" Reid asked, or more like demanded, the deputies and they all backed up, leaving Reid, Agent Rossi, and I to investigate with the sheriff at our side.

"He has escalated his cuts." Agent Rossi observed. I looked down at the body, her hand were tied around a tree trunk with rope and the back of her shirt had been cut open, exposing the deep gashes on her back. "The cutting was done post-mortem. It was the gunshot that killed her." Reid said, bending down to closely observe the cuts. "How can you tell?" I asked, looking down at him. "There's a lack of blood flow and scar tissue, if she were alive when this was done then there would be a lot more blood on her back." He responded almost immediately, looking up at me. "Then this wasn't S&M, this was symbolic." I said to the others, although I held my eye contact with Reid. "Symbolic of what?" The sheriff asked as I finally looked back up at Agent Rossi. "We're not sure." He replied, shaking his head. 

"We need to deliver the profile." Agent Rossi stated before heading back towards the car, Reid and I quietly following behind. 

11:00 AM || Police station.

After Reid, Agent Rossi, and I went to investigate the crime scene and Agent Hotchner and JJ went to talk to the preacher and a school principal who they had suspected as having part in the case, we all met up at the police station to share information. I pulled Reid over to the side after we had finished so that I could apologize for what happened on the plane.

"What is this about?" He asked as we walked to an empty area of the station. "I just wanted to apologize for what happened on the plane." I sighed and looked down. I was never really the type of person who felt the need to apologize, or felt comfortable doing it. Apologizing always felt awkward to me. I guess that it was the narcissistic side of me, believing that there was no need for me to apologize. "Don't apologize, I shouldn't have bothered you." Reid replied, keeping his gaze on me. I finally lifted my head up, looking him in the eyes. "No, I was a complete bitch. You were only trying to help." I assured him. "It's fine, Chloe. Really, it is. We should probably get back to the team, though." He smiled at me before sliding his hand behind my shoulder, guiding me towards the others. I looked up at him and smiled in return before we both rejoined the rest of our team, who was now on the phone with Garcia.