Chapter 2: The Park

28.7K 637 127
                                    

I sat at the bench with a small bit of bread. The ducks were lined up around me quacking for bread. I smiled and stood. They quacked some more, thinking I wasn't going to feed them. I giggled and knelt down, and they gathered in front of me. I tore the bread and fed the ducks.

I dropped the pieces in front of them, and they gladly accepted the food. The wind picked up slightly, blowing my hair back from my face. I looked at my watch and saw in was a minute or so after nine.

I heard footsteps and a man call out, "Sierra Daniels?" I looked up from the ducklings and saw Doctor Spencer Reid.

He had a dark sweater along with a white button-down under it. His black tie peaked out of the sweater's collar a little bit, and had on dark pants. His hair blew slightly because of the wind and a messenger bag was slung across his torso.

He held up an envelope with his name scratched on it in a handwriting that I had memorized ever since I was twelve years old. I smiled and reached into my jacket pocket, pulling out mine from Jason. He smiled slightly and said, "I didn't think you'd actually come."

I laughed a bit, covering my mouth with my hand as I did.

"Me neither. That's why I brought this." I said as I held up the bread. I tore it in half and beckoned Doctor Reid to come over. He stepped timidly and stood next to me. I handed him a piece and I knelt down again. I tossed my piece to the youngest duckling. It quacked and rubbed against my hand, took the bread, and sped off back into the pond.

The same duckling waddled back to us and quacked, begging for more. Doctor Reid did the same thing and the duck rubbed it's head against his hand and left us alone. He stood and I sat on the bench. I opened my letter and said, "I can't believe he actually left."

He sighed and said, "Neither can I. The day I knew something was up, he had promised we'd play a game of chess. I fell asleep waiting for him." He sat down next to me, leaning on his forearms which were resting on his legs, and flipped the letter in his hands.

I looked around and saw a chess table not too far away. I stood and gestured toward it. "How about you play a game with me?" He looked up and that's when I got a good look at his eyes. They were brown, but they were actually more amber, with slight traces of dark green. I smiled and he stood. "Sure."

----

"I'll have you in three." He said thoughtfully. I giggled and moved my queen. "Checkmate!" Doctor Reid furrowed his eyebrows and he whispered, "Just like Gideon." I raised an eyebrow, confused. "Gideon?" He looked up and said, "In the BAU, we call each other by our last names. It's more formal and not too personal, although we still are like a family. But, actually-" I laughed and said, "I get the idea."

He smiled sheepishly and began to reset the game. "How did you learn?" He asked. I tilted my head. "Chess? I learned from Ja-" He shook his head and said, "N-Not that. How did you learn things." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Um..." He looked up and became flustered. "I-I have an eidetic memory, so all I did was read the material and-and memorized everything, so how did you learn?" I let out a breath and said, "Honestly, high school wasn't too terrible, I just made myself experience things. Like if there was a problem, I'd jump in and try to get a feel for everything. I did this even in math!"

He grinned and said, "That's different, but really clever!" I smiled and fumbled with my hands. "Well, I had plenty of experience in middle school. Took me two years to get that down." Doctor Reid raised an eyebrow. "You skipped a year?" I nodded.

"Skipped seventh grade." He made his move on the chess board and asked me, "How did you meet Gideon?" I moved a pawn, blocking his, and replied, "I was one of his cases." "Really?" My pawn was blocked by his.

"Yes. After he rescued me when I was kidnapped, he agreed to be my father figure. We wrote letters back and forth and often met up after school." Pawn moved. "My mother was more than happy to also put down his name as an emergency contact on my school papers." Doctor Reid moved his pawn.

"He came to all of my soccer games and pep rally's, even my graduation! When ever my mom was asked who the father was, she'd reply, 'Jason Gideon.' She was so happy that I had a male parental figure in my life." I moved a knight, and Doctor Reid moved his queen. "Checkmate." I laughed and said, "Alright, Doctor Reid, I can admit I have been defeated." I stood and so did he. "I better get to work." I began to walk towards the guitar store that was down the block.

"I'll walk you!"

I spun around to see him walking towards me. He offered his arm to escort me. I smiled and placed my hands around his arm.

"Thank you, Doctor Reid." He smiled down at me and said, "So, where are we going?" I giggled and he blushed ever so slightly. "The music store down the street." He nodded and began to lead the way, my arms still wrapped around his arm.

We walked and I asked, "Where did you live before Quantico?" He replied as the wind pushed his hair to the left side, "I lived in Las Vegas. I became pretty well-known within the team as to always win at cards." I laughed at his response and joked, "What did you do as a kid? Go to Casino's and learn the ways of Archia Karas?"

He laughed and said, "No, you'd probably find me with my nose in a book. Shakespeare to be precise." I smiled and we arrived at the store. "Thanks for walking me Doctor Reid. See you next Saturday?" He nodded. "Yes, I will. Oh, and Sierra?" I looked back as my hand touched the handle on the door. "Yes?"

He smiled softly and said, "Call me Spencer." I smiled and said, "See ya Spencer Reid!" I walked in and darted to clock myself in. I put my stuff down and looked out of the window. He was smiling and running a hand through his hair.

"Spencer..." I whispered. I smiled a small smile.

Until Saturday.

After The Letter UNDER EDITING!Where stories live. Discover now