Agents with Kids (Spencer Reid x reader)

Part 25

"Sorta, I'm repainting my bedroom. What's going on?"

"I really need to talk- I can give you a hand?" you offer.

Her voice is softer when she responds. "Come on over. I'll leave the door unlocked so you can just come in, alright?"

You're ridiculously relieved at her response. You don't waste any time throwing your car into drive and taking off, making it to her door in under twenty minutes.

You've been to Garcia's apartment plenty of times, but it never fails to amaze you. It's full of exposed brick and the pinks and blues that compliment it. The parts of the walls with drywall are packed with photos and knicknacks. You pause for a moment to look at the photos beside the door, the last thing she sees before she leaves for the day. It's a black and white frame with pictures of the team. There's one of Morgan that must be from 2004 with how dated it looks, and he's sitting on top of his desk, laughing at the camera- no doubt he was really laughing at Garcia pulling out a camera in the middle of a conversation. Another shows Reid blowing out birthday candles on a cake with two melting candles reading "24". You must have 23 when that picture was taken. Somewhere, he was celebrating his birthday with your future family and you were probably writing a paper for your master's. It's weird to think that the team existed without you, but also comforting. It's nice to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Another shows JJ throwing darts at a bar in the lowest cut pair of 2000's jeans you've ever seen. She isn't looking at the camera, but at the board with her steely focus. Another shows Gideon and Hotch both turned and giving small smiles to the camera while a black and white movie is projected against the office wall. One shows Elle, who left the team only months before you joined, leaning over Garcia's kitchen counter, propping her head up with her fist on her chin. The palate of the kitchen includes a hell of a lot more lime green than it does now. There's one that's clearly taken with flash, lighting JJ and Emily as they push through a door that shows blue and purple lights behind it- a girls night, and by the drunk look on their faces, it must be the end of the night. There's one of Rossi on the jet, covering half of his face with a paperback and raising an eyebrow dramatically over the top as he peaks at Garcia. The last in the set shows you, laughing with your eyes shut tight, as Morgan holds both of your hands and playfully pulls you along with his back to the camera. In the background, you can see Emily and JJ laughing too. You remember that afternoon- it was your birthday last year and you were going to stay late at work. The entire team begged you to go out with them and you gave in after they herded you away from your desk.

The other walls include some snaps of the team, but there are plenty of people you don't recognize. Your heart aches, seeing how much joy she shares with so many people. One of the kitchen walls displays a frame dedicated to only one photo, larger than a standard photo size. It shows JJ, Will, Henry, Penelope, and Spencer. They're sitting on JJ's front porch, all wrapped up tight against the late november cold, and the winter sun beats down on them.

"I thought I heard something." She says, poking her head out from her bedroom doorway.

"Hey," you smile. "Sorry, I always get caught up looking at your stuff. These photos are beautiful, Penny. And the one from my birthday is new! I didn't know that photo existed."

"I know I got caught by the FBI, but I am fairly sneaky still." she winks at you. "Come on in, do you need water or anything?"

You shake your head and toss your bag on the bench by the door. You walk into her bedroom, which is half painted the palest shade of mint that you've ever seen.

"Never thought I'd see you pick a soft color." you tease.

"It's supposed to be calming. Apparently staring at a screen all day isn't good for your eyes, so this is my compromise. Soothing colors and I swore to my optometrist that I wouldn't bring any screens in here."