Trails of a Psychopath (A Criminal Minds Fanfic)

Think

Chapter Twenty-Four

~Reid's POV~

I could tell this wasn't going to end well.

   You could feel the tension in the air, seeming to only build the longer Rachel and her mom stood there. I was confused at how to handle the situation. I was hoping the others would help me out, but only Hotch stood with me in the empty hallway. I stepped between them once again, seeing Rachel's hand tightly on the IV stand.

"You don't want to do this, trust me. Rachel deserves a rest from all of this, it's the least you can give her. The last person she wants to see right now is you. Haven't you already put her through enough? Now, I advise you to sit down and wait until further notice."

   I knew I wasn't being as professional as I should be, but I was too out of it to notice. Which wasn't me, at all. What was wrong with me? Hotch didn't seem to mind my little outburst, crossing his arms and watching.
   Rachel's mom didn't look too pleased as she stopped dead in her tracks. She glared at me and once she took a step towards me, I already knew what was going to happen. In a quick motion, I felt pain explode on my right cheek and blossom through my face. It stung and pricked at my skin, the force making me stumble back.
   Tears sprang in my eyes, my cheek brightened with heat. Hotch hooked an arm around the mother and started dragging her off down the hallway. I was still standing there, rubbing my face.
   She rushed to my side, the squeaking wheels of the IV stand filling my ears. She touched my arm, her eyes wide and her lips parted. I held my hand up, motioning towards the plastic chairs in front of us. I sat by her side, resting my hands in my lap. She grumbled under her breath, her knuckles turning white from gripping the sides too hard.

"I am so sorry she did that to you! Are you okay!? Look at your cheek!" She said, her voice shaking.

   Soon I felt the cool touch of her fingertips against my cheek, making me wince. She sharply pulled back and apologized. I smiled lightly at her and shook my head.

"It wasn't the most appropriate thing to say at the moment. I knew what I was getting into the minute I said it. It was very unprofessional of me to do."

   She scoffed out loud and shook her head, a cautious smile reaching her lips. I stared at her, not saying anything. Just staring. My cheek was throbbing, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle.
   She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the ground. When she glanced back up, she met her eyes with mine and immediantly looked away. I noticed her cheeks turning a scarlet red, she was blushing. Why did I have to make things so awkward?
   I looked around, hearing Hotch somewhere down the hallway and around the corner. It was just us out here. I gently grabbed her hand, I don't know why. I was glad that we were the only two out here. Her eyes trailed my face, examining. I was startled when I saw tears in her eyes and the grip on my hand tightened.

"I don't like crying in front of people Reid. Crying shows weakness, and it only causes more problems. I don't like feeling weak, please don't think I am."

   I nodded, giving her hand a squeeze. She scooted close to me, cautiously laying her head on my shoulder. I looked down at our hands, hearing her quiet breathing. She pulled her hand away, only to intertwine them with my fingers. The feeling was unfamiliar, but I liked it.
   We were both staring at our hands, my thumb absentmindedly running against the back of her hand. We stayed like that for a free minutes until she sat up straight and turned to me. I looked up after a few seconds, instantly caught off guard. She softly pressed her lips on mine, without any warning.
  Slowly, I deepened the kiss. Our hands remained clasped. I used my free hand to caress her cheek, pulling her towards me as we kissed. My stomach was churning and my head seemed to be spinning. Everything that I was ever taught and learned, was screaming at me to stop. This wasn't professional, this wasn't okay, this wasn't ME.