Chapter Text
Spencer
My desk is a mess. I can’t think like this, can’t focus. Logically, I know all it would take is a simple ten minutes to get things back in order, but I can’t focus on that. Not when Hotch is calling us into the center of the bullpen.
“Team,” he starts, his voice authoritative. “We have two new agents joining us this week, and I want you to welcome them warmly. SSA Jason Gideon will be returning to the BAU and joining him will be SSA Dylan Brice. Reid, please get the desk set up across from yours for SSA Brice.”
“Yes sir,” I mutter.
“And Reid?” I raise a brow. “Clean up your desk.”
I rock on my heels as Morgan and JJ chuckle.
“Hear that, Pretty Boy? You’re gettin’ sloppy,” Morgan pokes fun at me, but I don’t mind so much. It’s all in good fun, right?
The following morning, I get up and shower, allowing my mind to wander to the possibilities of the day. Something about the air feels different. Maybe it’s the pollution, or maybe a new chemical in the water. Either way, something is different and I’m not entirely sure if it’s a good different.
I dress like I usually would: khakis, a button down, and one of my comfort cardigans. Can never go wrong with a cardigan.
The coffee stop is much needed this morning, but my order’s out quickly and I’m in the office 20 minutes before I need to be.
That’s when I see him. The legend. Jason Gideon.
He walks in and heads straight to Hotch’s office. I didn’t even get a chance to speak to him. Statistically, he’s solved more cases than almost any BAU official, though that doesn’t include his recent meltdown that I’m sure everyone is acutely aware of.
I settle at my desk, setting up a little welcome card for SSA Brice. I hope he’s not an incessant know-it-all. There’s only room for one of those.
Just then, a woman… no… the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, walks up to my desk. I’m the only one in the bullpen besides Hotch, so maybe I could be of some help. Her black hair bounces in wonderful curls, and her eyes… wow. The most perfect hazel eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Hi,” I stutter. “Can I.. Can I help you?”
She smiles at me and I swear my heart stops. Her little dimple pops through, the little freckle on her cheek standing out.
“Maybe,” she smiles. “I’m Dylan Brice, today’s my first day?”
Dylan.. Brice?
“Oh, the new agent?”
“Yeah,” she smiles again, and my heart quickens.
“Oh,” I say again. I just kind of nod at her.
“So,” she starts. She rocks on her heels, her eyes wander the bullpen. I can tell how hesitant and nervous she is based on her body language. She holds her things close- they give her comfort. She leans away from me and never puts her back to the wall. She’s nervous, but she’s smart. She can’t hold eye contact with me for more than a few seconds. Intimidated.
“Oh!” I gasp. I stand and pull out the chair at the desk opposite to mine. “This is your desk. I’m Dr. Spencer Reid.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Reid,” she smiles again. She sets her things down on her desk and sticks her hand out for me to shake. Gross.
“I don’t really-“
“Germs?” She asks. She has the decency to drop her hand and I chuckle.
“Something like that,” I smile. “Our Unit Chief, Agent Hotchner is meeting with Agent Gideon right now. I’m sure he’d like to speak to you.”
“There’s my favorite boy genius!” I hear Morgan exclaim. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Morgan,” I nod. I sit at my desk again, my eyes scanning the pages upon pages of paperwork I already have.
“And who do we have here?” He asks. He stops at Brice’s desk to examine her.
“Dylan Brice,” she beams at him. She doesn’t extend her hand, but Morgan does.
“Well, it is lovely to meet you, Dylan Brice,” Morgan smiles. I roll my eyes. What a flirt.
~
Dylan is slowly introduced to the rest of the team, and it doesn’t take long to find her footing here. She’s warm. Bright. Someone that I kind of detest. How can one person be so positive? There’s too much bad in the world.
“We have a case,” Hotch announces from the top of the bullpen.
We move quickly. Morgan hangs back with Dylan, giving her somewhat of a tour as they move to the round room. I can’t help but feel like he’s showing off, but why? Obviously he’s attracted to her. I mean, who wouldn’t be? But do the brains match the beauty?
We’re briefed quickly and soon after we’re on the jet to Seattle.
My heart hammers in my chest as I look over the case files. I try to make patterns, put together anything I can think of to help build the profile of the unsub.
“Look at this,” I say. I offer the file to Gideon. “Look at the strangle marks on her neck. There’s nothing personal about it. No sign of remorse, nothing.”
“You strangle someone, it’s personal,” he retorts.
“Do you think his targets are random?” Dylan asks. She points her question to me.
“I think so,” I say. I purse my lips. I can’t take my mind off the file. Something feels different… off.
~
“Everyone, this is Elle Greenaway. She’ll be joining us for this case, perhaps more in the future,” Hotch tells us.
“Hi,” Elle smiles. She has a hardness to her. A kindness that I can’t really place. Hopefully she won’t get in the way.
~
I’m assigned my room and immediately am disgusted by what I find. The sheets are crunchy. It smells like a morgue. The air doesn’t work, nor the heater. I thought Seattle was supposed to be nicer than this.
Nevertheless, I unpack and go through my usual process of setting the case files where I can see them, setting my books by my nightstand, and producing my own towels from my bag. There.
There’s a knock on my door.
I answer it quickly, and it’s none other than Dylan Brice.
“Hi,” she smiles. “Sorry to bother you, um.. I ordered some takeout and you’re my neighbor until we finish, and I thought it’d be nice to work on the case together, maybe?”
“Oh,” I nod. “Sure, yeah. That sounds good.”
I open the door and let her in. She sets the food down on the empty dresser housing the television.
“I know being the new kid kind of sucks for everyone, so I thought I’d extend the olive branch.”
“How’re you finding the BAU?” I ask. It’s more to be polite than anything.
“I mean,” she starts. “I’ve been here one day and I’m already using my go-bag. But so far I really like it! The people have all been really spectacular, too. Especially Penelope. She’s insanely sweet. Suspiciously sweet.”
I can’t help the laugh that comes out of my mouth at the mention of our favorite tech analyst, love guru, pastry chef, and nerd gamer, Penelope Garcia.
“Garcia is…” I start, trying to find the words. “Something.” I land on.
Dylan laughs, and I can’t help but laugh, too. She turns and pulls some Chinese takeout from the plastic bag.
“Chinese is my favorite,” she starts. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t,” I smile. I take a container of orange chicken from her and some chopsticks. “Did you know that Chinese food actually has the world’s largest variety of taste flavors?”
“I didn’t know that,” Dylan says. She takes a bite of her lo-mein and makes herself comfortable at the table. “What makes it so diverse?”
I’m immediately caught off guard. She wants to hear about this?...
“Traditional Chinese food has five flavor profiles that they work with: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy,” I ramble. “But that doesn’t take into account the different variations of the five through the separation of cuisines throughout the Northern and Southern parts of China.”
“I see,” Dylan says. She munches on her noodles quietly. “Any other interested facts, Dr. Reid?”
“You can call me Spencer,” I smile.
“Okay,” she smiles. “Spencer. That’s a nice name.”
“Thanks,” I nod. I should get better at taking compliments. God, she’s pretty.
~
In the field, we find clue after clue of the unsub, and it gives us the profile that we’re looking for. Gideon presents it to the local task force, and we set about, giving the profile to anyone that could be of use to our investigation.
To everyone’s (my) surprise, Agents Greenaway and Brice hold their own. For being new to the bureau, I think it’s only natural that I underestimated them both. I won’t ever make that mistake again.
As we board the jet, I find myself standing at the small coffee station with Morgan.
“What a case,” he sighs. Cases involving strangled or raped women hit him the hardest. He’s never told me why. “Glad it’s finally over.”
“Weekend plans?” I ask. I pour my cup of coffee and add my 6 cubes of sugar. He smiles into his own coffee cup.
“Oh, I’m working on those,” he looks over his shoulder to Dylan. “She’s incredible, isn’t she?”
“It’s been like three days, Derek,” I laugh. “You don’t know anything about her.”
“That’s why I’m going to ask her out,” he shrugs. “No better way to get to know each other than over a nice steak dinner.”
“Maybe she doesn’t like steak,” I mumble. Chinese is her favorite. Not that I care where he takes her. If she says yes.
“Only one way to find out, pretty boy,” Derek grins.
He turns and takes the open seat next to her. I watch for a moment as her face contorts. She’s interested alright, but maybe not entirely? Something’s off, but it’s not my business what.
Oh well. Just another woman swept away by Derek Morgan.