Catch-22| Spencer Reid

eleven

Grey and Reid sit on the couch, deep in conversation. The day had melted into a warm evening, or at least warmer than a usual October night.

Hotch had finally allowed the team to go home for the night, though everyone was sure he was just delaying another case. No one minded though, especially since Hotch had a home life he deserved to tend to.

"So, 23, am I right?" Grey jokes, smiling at Reid. "Feel any different?"

"Not exactly," he says, going on a small tangent."23 has actually been seen in numerous studies as the age of peak beauty."

She shrugs, quipping, "Eh, you're pretty cute I guess."

"Am I now?"

"Ja, extreme," Grey muses, her words dripping into another language. She sits up, tilting her head and looking at Reid.

He playfully smiles, replying, "Du bist lächerlich hübsch, du weißt das?"

She raises her eyebrows, the corners of her mouth rising. "Dein Akzent ist süß," she says, laughter in her voice. Grey had known that he understood German, but had never heard him use the language, so it came as a surprise.

He opens his mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone.

"Damn it!" Grey snaps, grabbing her phone off the coffee table. She doesn't recognize the number, but she still picks up, saying, "Dr. Grey," in a bland tone, as usual.

After hearing the voice on the other end, she goes rigid, listening carefully. "What? You're serious?"

Reid furrows his eyebrows, unable to hear the caller. From Grey's reaction, though, it didn't sound like good news at all.

"Alright, yeah, I'll get down there as soon as I can. Uh-huh, of course." She hangs up, quickly getting up and running her hands through her hair, going off to her bedroom to gather her things.

"Hey, what's going on?" Reid asks, immediately getting up as well and following after her.

Grey doesn't reply, seeming to have not heard him. She sits on her bed and puts on her shoes, standing up only to run straight into him, as she was unaware of his presence as well. Worry is painted all over her face, which was a look Reid had never seen from her.

"Hey, Anne, what is it?" he asks again, setting a hand on her shoulder.

She swallows, her lips setting into a hard line. "That was Jareau. She said someone sent a letter to the BAU that was addressed to me. When it was going through security someone noticed a bit of white powder on it. Then they opened it, as a precaution, and realized it was inside too. It's being tested right now. I have to go see what it's about."

"Seriously? I can drive you, if you want. You shouldn't be driving. Increased stress levels have been shown to be as deadly as being drunk when driving."

"No, no, it's okay. You can stay here, make some more coffee and just hang out, alright? I can drive," she assures, though they both know it wasn't just about her driving.

He rubs her shoulder slightly, nodding and moving out of her way. Reid could tell how apprehensive she was about leaving and didn't want to push it.

"Just, uh... drive safe, okay?"

"I will," Grey answers, grabbing her keys from her bag and heading out the doorway, "I'll see you when I get back."

"Yep," he acknowledges, watching her leave. He also wonders where she keeps her books, knowing he would need a distraction.