New Hope

Chapter Six

A/N So as I got toward the middle of writing this chapter I realized that Zoraida is a natural flirt, like hard core. Which I didn't plan on happening. It was an accidental character trait. But I really like it and I think I'm gonna run with it. Hope it works

Also, I'm not sure if I had mentioned Zoraida's hair at all before this, but while writing I couldn't get the picture out of my head of how great a bob cut would look on her. So now she's got a short hair cut. Do with that as you will

After looking out the window she checked to make sure they were shut tight, then drew the blinds. Zoraida continued to check under the bed, lights, vents, nightstand, dresser drawers, closet, every nook and cranny the small room had. She had gone into the bathroom and checked the shower. As she knelt down to check cabinets under the sink she could no longer ignore the set of eyes watching her.

Looking sideways and up she found Spencer Reid's beautiful eyes filled with worry. "What?"

"You appear...paranoid."

Zoraida stuck her head under the sink, continuing her search, "Bugs mostly. Stay in one gross, roach infested hotel and you'll never trust hotels again either-Although I did find a good amount of c4 stuffed under my mattress one time." Coming out from under the sink she couldn't help laughing at how big his eyes had gotten. It's adorable. "Don't worry this room is clean."

Walking back into the room Zoraida threw her duffle on the bed and starts pulling items out. "Do you have a preference on who showers first or can I hop in?"

"Oh...no. Go right ahead."

"Thanks." Carrying her little black bag full of shower supplies and a change of clothes Zoraida strides past a very flustered Spencer Reid and takes a much needed hot shower.

When she leaves the bathroom in gray sweat pants and matching sports bra, towel drying the ends of her hair Zoraida finds Reid on his bed watching the news.
JJ's press conference was playing, "We are not calling him by any nickname. He is simply a murderer that the FBI is trying to apprehend. We're urging citizens to be hypervigilant at night. He is killing in different areas of the city, in public places."

"You know we're supposed to be letting our brains take a few hours off the case right?" Zoraida says.

Reid looks away from the tv to her. When he sees Zoraida's sparsley covered torso he immediately tries to keep his eyes on her face, not anywhere further down.

"I know. But it's hard to just turn it off when more people could be dying."

"You can never turn the work side of your brain off completely." Zoraida nods and slides the remote from him. "But we can distract ourselves for a short time."

She shut the tv off and tossed the towel onto a chair. "If we don't we'll just be ruining mental laps, never really getting anywhere."

Reid nodded. A parade of ideas where this conversation on distractions could lead to ran through Zoraida's head. Smiling at Reid she slowly turned back to the bathroom. "I've always found a steamy shower to be a great distraction."

She stepped back into the bathroom to collect her clothes. "Thanks for letting me borrow this." Zoraida handed Reid his cardigan as he started shuffling through his own bag.

"Your welcome." He answered, not looking at her. But Zoraida didn't miss the bright red of his ears.

Reid takes a shower while Zoraida sits on her bed cross legged with her bag in front of her, doing her in-depth Korean skin care routine. She revels in the silence, the only sounds the running water of Reid's shower. Finally able to relax and think without all the noise that surrounded her today. It was comfortably peaceful.