Today 4 U
“Look who I found outside!” Kevin cried excitedly, throwing the loft door ajar. “It’s Santa Claus!” Morgan trailed behind him, a bandage on his head and a cardboard box filled with boxes, cans, and bottles under one arm. Under his other arm he carried a bundle of firewood.
“Your key.” Morgan said, tossing said item in Kevin’s direction.
“You were gone for hours!” Kevin said, catching the key. “And you look like hell. Are you alright?”
“Never been better!” Morgan replied, a goofy grin on his face. He limped over to the table in the center of the loft and unloaded his box of goodies.
“No way!” Kevin cried, rushing over. “Bananas, coffee, Captain Crunch, Stoli!” He held up the bottle of vodka triumphantly. “It’s a Christmas feast!”
“Did you strike gold at MIT?” Hotch asked, taking the firewood from Morgan and dumping it into the stove.
“They expelled me for my theory of actual reality.” Morgan said casually, throwing himself down on the threadbare couch. “I’ve got a new job starting soon. New York University.”
“Then where did you get all this?” Hotch said, grabbing a banana. “Did you hold up a grocery store?” Morgan grinned knowingly, getting up and walking toward the door.
“Nope! Got myself a sugar daddy. Or a benefactor as he would say. Gentlemen I am pleased to introduce the incomparable Spencer Reid!” He threw open the door with a flourish, revealing a shy looking, red faced Spencer.
“I’m not his sugar daddy.” The younger man said immediately, walking inside. “I just happen to have more money than usual and what good is money if you can’t share it. Which reminds me…” He reached into his coat pocket and retrieved several twenty dollar bills, which he handed to Hotch and Kevin.
“Did you rob a bank?” Hotch asked suspiciously, taking in the boy’s thin frame and slight build.
“No!” Spencer said indignantly. “I earned it!
“You earned THIS” Kevin said hesitantly, taking the offered money. “On the street?”
“Oh!” Spencer said, blushing even darker now. “No, not like that! I just got lucky actual. I was just walking down Avenue A when this woman in a limousine pulled up next to me and rolled her window down...”
“Darling, be a dear.” The older woman said before thrusting a small, angry looking dog at Spencer. Almost immediately the dog started growling and lunged toward him, tiny teeth bared.
“I need you to take Evita.” Spencer blinked at her in disbelief.
“Who?”
“My neighbors’ akita.” The woman said distastefully. “Evita. I swear I haven’t gotten a wink of sleep in a year. This stupid mutt barks all hours of the day and night. I’ve written them letters, made phone calls, nothing. So here we are.” She took advantage of Spencer’s surprise and pushed the dog into his arms. Evita took this as an invitation to snap at his fingers.
“What am I supposed to do with her?” Spencer squeaked, awkwardly holding the creature as far away from his body as possible. “I don’t want a dog. And dogs hate me.” As if to prove his point, Evita dug her nails into his arm.
“I couldn’t care less what you do with that curr.” The woman scoffed. “Just make her disappear.”
“No.” Spencer said, shaking his head. “This is all kinds of illegal. I’m not going to-.”
“I’ll give you a thousand dollars if you take her.” Spencer hesitated.
“...A thousand dollars?”
“Tax free.” The woman added, pulling a stack of twenties from her purse.
“So what did you do with the dog?” Kevin asked, stuffing half a banana in his mouth.
“I took her to my friend Ian’s on the Upper East Side.” Spencer said. “I had to take the subway. She wasn’t too happy about that.” He held up his hands, both covered in bandages, as proof. “He lives on the twenty-third floor. And when I finally got there and put her down she tore off and, well his window was open and…” He clapped his hands together. “Right into the courtyard of the Gracie Mews.”
“What happened then?” Hotch asked, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Spencer shrugged.
“No idea. I didn’t stick around to find out. Hey Morgan can you pass me a cup of coffee?”