Reid My Mind

9. SoCal (jealousy)

"Maybe I just need someone to show me around," I replied. Behind me, Reid coughed. Oops, I had almost forgotten he was there.
By now we were feet from body. I shook hands with the lead crime scene tech.

"No fingerprints or DNA. We found some fibers, not sure what they are yet. We'll send the to the lab," she told us.

"Send them to our lab. You'll get them back my tomorrow morning," I said. Reid bent down to get a closer look.

"Sure thing."

"She's missing jewelry," Reid observed.

"What kind?" I asked.

"At least two rings. Maybe more. There's one left, though." I bent down next to him. The ring in question was thin, and the tan line on the finger extended above it.

"It's not hers," I remarked.

"The murderer put a ring on her?" Bailey asked. I peered closer and, losing balance, put a hand on Reid's should to steady myself. He instinctively grabbed my arm to keep me upright.

"Looks like a promise ring," I said.

"So?" Prentiss asked when Reid and I walked back through the doors of the station.

"I already texted Hotch, didn't he tell you? The unsub put a promise ring–"

"No, I got that. How'd it go with Bailey?" she teased.

"It was fine. Nothing happened."

"Sure."

"He may have been flirting a little," I confided. She raised an eyebrow.

"He was definitely flirting," Reid injected. I turned on my heels to find him behind me.

"Don't be so loud!" I said, feeling very much like a highschooler with a crush.

"It's obvious that he likes you," Reid shrugged. Ouch. Even though I was totally over my thing for Reid, it hurt that he didn't bat an eye over me with another guy.

"Hey, Reid, has San Diego ever had a serial killer before this?"

"Seems like a question for Bailey," Reid returned coldly.

"Ok... You okay Reid?" He raised his eyes to meet mine and his expression softened and suddenly hardened again. I saw him clench his jaw.

"Did I hear my name?" Bailey asked from behind me. I nearly jumped in surprise.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"No, no, it's all good. I was just trying to remember if San Diego has had any documented serial  killers before," I asked.

"Oh sure. Samuel Little. They finally tried him when he was seventy four. Apparently, he was wanted in connection to something like fifty to eighty murders." Bailey made the classic face of someone simultaneously impressed and disgusted.

"Wow," I intoned. Was Reid mad at me? What did I do?

"Between fifty and ninety three murders," Reid corrected under his breath.

"I'll catch you guys later," I said, waving goodbye to the team, who was convening in the lobby, debating over where to go to dinner.

"Wow," Morgan said, impressed, "Who knew Davis wore regular human clothes?" I was dressed in blue jeans and a simple top. San Diego demanded a little more casual attire.

"Off to see your surfer?" JJ asked with a grin. I rolled my eyes.

"Where are you guys going?" Morgan asked.

"Sushi, along some beach," I replied.

"They say sushi is an aphrodisiac, you know," Prentiss said suggestively. In the background, Reid bristled. Fine by me, I didn't need Reid's praise or approval.

"They say everything is an aphrodisiac," I laughed, "I'll see y'all in the morning."

"Good luck!" Prentiss called after me while Morgan hooted.

"Hey," I said, opening the passenger door to Bailey's car.

"Nice to see you, Special Agent Davis," he said. So cocky.

"Maya," I corrected.

"Fine, but you still had to call me Detective Bailey. I need the ego boost," he said in a pseudo-serious tone. I laughed.

"Whatever, Luke."

"That really hurts, Maya." I remembered the first time I had called Reid "Spencer". He was so surprised, it was adorable. But, I reminded myself, that was just two friends joking around.

Sushi was great. The beach view was great. Luke Bailey was great. Regardless, I couldn't help, my mind from wandering to the exact places I was trying to keep it from going. I was worried that I'd offended Reid somehow, that maybe I should call him to ask what was wrong. Just because I had stamped out the spark of a full blown crush on him didn't mean I wanted him to be angry at me. Besides, I told myself, we still had to work together.

"I really enjoyed myself tonight," Luke said. We were walking out of the restaurant.

"Me too," I said, my thoughts still lingering elsewhere.  But I really had had a good time. Luke was funny, kind, and definitely attractive. We had hit it off. So it didn't surprise me when, after a gentle moment, he leaned in for a kiss. It didn't surprise me that I kissed him back. It didn't surprise me that it was a good kiss, the perfect intensity. What did surprise me was that I felt nothing.

After a few seconds I pulled back. He saw the swirl of emotion in my eyes and graciously backed off. Well, so much for not having a crush. I cursed myself for letting unrequited feelings get in the way of me and a beautiful Californian hunk.

"Maybe I'll see you around?" he asked.

"Maybe," I said with a smile.

"Let me drive you home."