Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"We need to lock down the Techco building down tight." Mara quickly said, heading to the door.
Reid followed after out of some kind of instinct. She was heading towards danger and Reid needed to follow her.
Mara and the rest of the team arrived at Techco, pulling out a blank piece of paper. He thinks they know what he looks like.
"Garcia, which floors did Michelle Carlucci remodel?" Rossi asked into his phone. "Got it, seven, eight, and nine."
"Morgan, Tate, take seven."
Mara followed Morgan to the elevator and up to the seventh floor. Morgan was trying to think of something to say to strike up a conversation but the elevator let them off at the floor before he said anything.
They found his desk, Mara speaking into the mic. "We got him. Max Pool. His desk is destroyed and the fliers are on his computer."
Morgan and Mara were making their way back down to the lobby where everyone had evacuated but as soon as the elevator dinged, the first thing they heard were, "down!"
Shots fired around them and Morgan quickly pulled Mara to the ground as bullets showered above them.
They managed to get Enid White alive and well. While Morgan and Prentiss went to get her, Reid and Mara headed right to the station to start cleaning up the mess and finishing reports.
"You know, you're too good to be here." Reid commented as he packed files into cardboard boxes.
Mara didn't say anything for a while, thinking about his statement. Deep down, she knew he was right. She was too qualified to be a small town detective but it was where she felt at home. She grew up in this town, she lost everything, and she built herself. Leaving the town now would be like a betrayal.
"Thanks." She muttered under her breath, not looking up at him.
"Why haven't you tried to find a higher position?"
Mara wanted to turn to him and snap "mind your business," but instead she looked up and met his eyes. He was trained to read behavior and detect lies, she wasn't going to lie to him.
"I don't know, I just-it's just that-" she struggled to find the right words. "I can't leave."
Reid nodded at the girl. "You did amazing work today. Willow City is lucky to have someone like you watching over them."
"Thank you," she smiled at him, biting down on her lip to keep the smile from spreading across her entire face. "Boy genius, your team is lucky to have a human dictionary."
"My abilities aren't actually limited to just vocabulary, I know-"
"I get it, Dr. Reid."
Reid smiled softly at her as the rest of the team arrived and packed up their things, leaving Willow City P.D. grateful for their amazing work.
Mara was bidding the talented team goodbye when Agent Hotchner stopped in front of her. She couldn't read his expression, one thing the man was incredibly talented at hiding.
"Mara," he addressed her with her first name, her ears perking up in curiosity with the incoming conversation. "The work you've done on this case has been exceptional. You're incredibly talented at your job."
"Thank you, sir."
"The FBI Academy is looking for new recruits and I've put in a recommendation for you," he said to her, Mara's mouth dropping and her eyebrows raising in shock. "I believe you will be a very important asset to the FBI and you have more than enough potential to exceed higher."
"Sir, I-I.." she trailed off, shocked. "I don't know what to say."
"Your future is completely up to you," he said, reaching out and patting her shoulder comfortingly. "But I hope to see you again one day."
"Thank you so much, sir."
Mara smiled gently as the man disappeared into the trucks, flying back to Quantico, Virginia.
