OTA

[dr_spencer_reid]

Everything had been so quiet lately. His work life, his home life, even his mind seemed unusually still lately- And it was, honestly, making Spencer uneasy. It wasn't that he was hoping for a serial killer or anything like that- Even when he was desperate for some mental stimulation and a challenge, he never got quite that dark. But something, anything, had to happen.

...And then it did, and Spencer- Spencer's heart ached, the guilt he felt for daring to wish for more work to do spilling over and weighing him down. And oh, it was always harder when it was children. Always.

Three bodies in two weeks, all between the ages of six and eight. Girls, still in their school uniforms. Dumped, without any signs of remorse from their killer. It was, honestly, the worst case he'd been assigned to since coming to London, and as he stood at the police barrier, having just spoken to the woman who'd spotted the body, he realized that this wouldn't be like it was at home. The police wanted a profile from them, but they hadn't been invited to be a part of the investigation- Leaving Spencer with nothing but photos and paperwork, and the occasional update from the field.

Sitting in a cafe he read the report on the first body for the tenth time, wondering if this was really the best use of his talents. ...Wondering if maybe it was finally time to look at his other options.

Comments

[dr_spencer_reid]

"I can't blame it all on the puzzle," Spencer admitted. "Some of it's me."

He closed the file and picked up his coffee, taking a sip and then pulling a face when he found it had grown cold.

[hardertohide]

Dutch smiled at his grimace, and hailed the nearby waitress. "Could we get the same again? Cheers."

[dr_spencer_reid]

Offering a lopsided smile, Spencer put his cold coffee down and looked at the file again.

[hardertohide]

"Not going with the taking your mind off it road, then?" Dutch asked, leaning back in her seat.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"It's hard to just put it aside," Spencer admitted. "It's hard when I know every moment I waste is another moment this person is out in the world- Hurting people, ruining lives, destroying families..."

[hardertohide]

Dutch made a thoughtful face, then nodded. "Yeah, you're putting far too much pressure on yourself. Hard to do your best by those families, doing that."

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer sighed, taking his glasses off and rubbing his face. "No, I know. I just- I don't know," he admitted, frowning at himself.

[hardertohide]

"I know," Dutch replied, and reached over to close the file in front of him, right as the waitress came back with their drinks. She paid for them and took a sip from hers, sighing happily. "What kind of films do you like?"

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer looked startled when she closed the file, and he was stunned silent for a beat before he spoke.

"Um, science fiction, mostly," he admitted.

[hardertohide]

"And I've been meaning to see Blade Runner on the silver screen," Dutch replied with a smirk, pulling her phone out of her pocket to check listings. "It's showing just down the street. The Final Cut - I've never seen it." And if he liked puzzles, it was probably a good choice.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"You want to just... go?" Spencer asked. He wasn't very good at being impulsive, unless he was buying a book or meandering right into danger on the job. The rest of the time Spencer was the sort of man who planned his day and didn't deviate unless he absolutely had to.

[hardertohide]

"Have you got something better to do?" Dutch asked, glancing at him but still figuring out the next showing on her phone.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Well, no, but... I don't know. I mean, we don't really know each other..." Spencer replied, looking a bit like a robot who'd just blown a fuse as he tried to adjust to what was happening.

[hardertohide]

"Oh, that's right," Dutch realised, and smiled at him, looking up from her phone. "I'm Dutch."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Spencer," he replied, still a little startled and overwhelmed.

[hardertohide]

"It's nice to meet you, Spencer," she told him, a little more gently as his genuine unease finally registered with her. She glanced back down at her phone, then looked up at him. "There's a showing in forty minutes, and it's five minutes away, tops. That gives you time to decide"

[dr_spencer_reid]

"I... Um... Okay," Spencer replied, still startled and slightly baffled by the forwardness of Dutch.

[hardertohide]

Dutch shrugged. "You need to take your mind off that, and it's an excellent film."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"It's hard to just shut it off," Spencer admitted quietly.

[hardertohide]

Dutch's tone had quieted as she asked, "You don't think Ridley Scott can do it?" It would be fair enough, really. She'd have tried, no skin off her nose.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Sometimes, with some cases, nothing does," he confessed.

[hardertohide]

"Well, if you wanna give it a shot, the offer's there," Dutch concluded after holding his gaze for a few seconds, leaning back with her mug cradled in her hands.

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer looked down at the file again, then decided to be bold.

He was never bold, but maybe it was time he started to try.

"Okay," he said finally. "Let's go," he added with a small smile.

[hardertohide]

Dutch raised her eyebrows, and then chuckled in surprise and approval. "All right, then."