Before The Beginning

Chapter 3: Make A Mark On Yourself

I yawned as I walked down the street. The lamps were lit, signaling the beginning of the night. It was probably around five when we got back, and I dropped my bags off at home. I didn't feel like cooking anything and planned on going to the coffee shop around the corner from my apartment. I got distracted when I thought Sierra's and my meeting last Saturday.

The idea of seeing her again in two days filled my veins with adrenaline.

I lifted my head from staring at my shoes and saw a familiar figure staring into the sky. "Sierra?" She spun around, gasped and smiled. "Doctor Reid! Hi!" Her excitement brought a smile my face. She was so adorable. "What are you doing out here so late?"

I walked up closer as she replied, "I worked late because one of the employees went home sick today. What about you?"

I said, "Just got back from a case." She gasped and grabbed my hands eagerly. "Really?! What was it about?" I gave her a confused look, wondering why she was so excited. She laughed nervously and released my hands. "Sorry, Jason obviously can't tell me about the cases, and got curious. I always got excited whenever I got a letter from him."

She fumbled her hands, and I couldn't help but say, "You know, the way you look down and mess with your hands, it shows you're insecure and nervous." She lifted her eyes up and bit her lip. "And you biting your lip means that you aren't sure how to reply, but you feel like you should say something." She laughed, but I quickly apologized.

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to say all of that. I tend to blabber supposedly useless facts, but really it's actually interesting! Like how the chemicals that are in chocolate increase the consumer's love chemicals, but it's not only found in chocolate! It's also found in-"

"Peas!" We said at the same time.

I grinned and said, "See what I mean?" She giggled, wow, her laugh was beautiful. "No, all information is good information." She smiled at me. She opened her mouth but closed it, then shook her head and laughed, "Um, I was going to get something to eat. D...do you want to join me?" I nodded, anything to be in her presence just a little while longer.. "Yeah!"

We walked together to the Italian place down the street. "I come here all the time. The owner is a friend of the family, so he tends to treat me as one of his nieces." She explained as we walked. A thought came to my head, and I said it without heaitation,

"Well, in Italy, the family is actually the centre of the social structure and provides a stabilizing influence for its members. In the north, generally only the nuclear family lives together; while in the south, the extended family often resides together in one house and he family provides, not only emotional support, but financial support as well to the members of the family!" I looked to see her gazing at me with her mouth open. "You remember all of that?" I replied sheepishly, "Well, I have an eidetic memory, so yeah...I remember all of that." She grinned and looked ahead of us.

"Well, that explains why he is always handing me a few dollars whenever I drop in."

I couldn't help but stare at her. She really just went along with what I said?

"Doctor Reid? Is something the matter?" I shook my head and looked down as the restaurant came into view. "It's just...usually, every one on the team would just say, 'Not now, Reid.' But...you aren't pushing me away."

She looked up at me as we approached the door. "I guess I just don't want to knock you on who you are. You are Doctor Reid, you need a little fun with your facts, even when those around you don't get it. Just be yourself, you'll be fine." She offered me a smile and walked into the room.

I looked down at my feet and smiled. Sierra really does have a lot of compassion. She is very careful with her words and is always lifting people up with them. I felt just a little shiver un up my spine at the thought of her. She really is amazing.

"Hey, you coming?"

I lifted my eyes to her. She was surely something. I wanted her to myself. It may be a little cruel, even selfish, but I think I've finally found the one.

And she's better than the girl of my dreams.

She's real.

"Yeah."

She laughed as I gave a lecture of how accurate Star Trek is. "Despite the time frame it was filmed in, it was pretty spot on!" Then she got a physics lesson on top of an English lecture on when Hamlet was written. She seemed to enjoy it, even though I didn't give her a chance to speak. "Reid, you're brilliant." Sierra said.

I blushed slightly and stuttered, "O-Oh, thank you." My hand was grabbed by her's and said sweetly, "I truly mean that, Doctor Reid." I smiled and said, "Call me Spencer." She shook her head. "You need someone to call you Doctor. Introduce yourself as a doctor, not an agent. You need people to realize that you aren't some kid who just got off of a desk job and into the field that day. Make a mark on yourself, okay?" I blinked, wondering why she wanted me to, but that was the lesson I needed to learn.

I nodded and the waitress came by our table, "Today's dinner is on us. Y'all take care!" "Thank you, Rebecca!" The waitress smiled and kissed Sierra's temple, then walked off. She stood and said, "I better get going. Goodnight, Doctor Reid."

"Goodnight Sierra."

I made sure Sierra got to her car safely before walking to mine. I smiled as I got in and groaned.

"Please let these two days go by fast."