Chapter 2
„I am fine Molly, truly. I just started working out some more. Work requires it at the moment.“ Hermione truly wanted to tell Molly the reason why she started working out, but like Spencer had pointed out she was under a non-disclosure agreement. „If you’re sure dear. And how is your private life? Last month you were complaining about stupid muggle men, but now I am hearing none of that. Has something changed? Did you meet someone?“ Hermione blushed hotly. „I did…“ she mumbled. „What was that dear?“ Hermione sighed. Molly Weasley was truly going to make her say it out loud. „I did meet someone. Actually a week after our last call. His name is Spencer and I met him at the college I am currently getting my degree in philosophy in. He and another agent represented the FBI at a presentation lecture.“ Hermione summarised what the FBI was and the different departments there were. She also told Molly about Spencer’s age and that he was a certified genius.
„He sounds perfect for you Hermione.“ „You think?“ Molly chuckled. „He sounds like someone who will never bore you and vice versa. I think you should indulge in whatever you are feeling at the moment. Live a little Hermione. You haven’t taken care of yourself since you were a girl.“ Hermione understood what Molly meant and smiled shyly. „I met him yesterday at the local coffee shop and we talked for hours. I gave him a kiss good bye.“ Molly smirked at the girl she had come to see like a daughter. „Very brave my dear.“ „Well…It’s not like I know when I will see him again. Although, I did give him my phone number. Just wanted to take the chance before it’s too late though.“ „And it was the right thing to do.“
Her clock chimed, indicating that it was time to get ready for work. „I have to get ready Molly.“ „All right my dear. Stay safe and keep me updated on that Spencer boy.“ „I will.“ Hermione laughed. „Send everyone my love.“ Molly repeated her words: „I will.“ And they disconnected the floo call.
Spencer stared at the map he had gotten from a deputy officer to start the geographical profile. They had been in Atlanta for two days now and he still hadn’t called Hermione. „Reid?“ Hotch asked observing the genius’ side profile. „Hmmm?“ „You okay?“ „Not really.“ Spencer mumbled unconsciously as he kept staring at the map. „What’s up?“ Aaron put on his dad voice, noticing that his youngest co-worker was out of it and closed the open file in his hands to give the younger man his full attention. „She kissed me two days ago.“ Hotch frowned not knowing if Reid wanted him to congratulate him or report the woman that had caught his attention. His tone didn’t give his feelings away, so Hotch decided to approach it in a neutral way. „Did you like it?“ Now he could see Spencer smile. Congratulations were in order then, making Aaron smirk lightly. „I mean it was just on the cheek…“ „Still, she kissed you.“ „But what does it mean?“ ‚Ahhh the problems of having a crush.‘ Aaron thought and smirked wider, but tried to stay serious, so that Reid didn’t feel embarrassed. „Well, did she say anything afterwards?“ „Just to call her.“ „That’s good Reid.“ „It is?“ The slightly awkward genius turned his head towards his superior now, giving him his full attention. Hotch nodded and smiled warmly. „It means she’s interested in you and she’s trying to see if you are reciprocating.“ Spencer frowned. He hadn’t called though. Damn…
„I haven’t called her…I was so busy and -“ „Overthinking it?“ Spencer sighed dejected. „Yeah…“ „Go.“ Hotch normally wouldn’t encourage personal calls while at work, but this was Reid being in love possibly for the very first time and he didn’t want to be the reason of their relationship breaking before it could even begin. „What?“ „Go outside and call her now.“ „Are you sure?“ Spencer asked uncertainly. „Reid…“ „Alright going!“ Spencer left the conference room so quickly, Aaron was sure not even a bullet could have been faster than him at that moment.
Hermione’s phone ringing interrupted the silence of her work office so abruptly that she startled violently. „Jesus Christ…“ She cursed and searched for it in her hand bag, the ringing starting to slightly annoy her. „Aha!“ She didn’t recognise the number which made her hope that it was Spencer finally calling her. She had started to believe that her kiss had chased him away and she was saddened by that thought. He was such a sweet man. „Hermione Granger speaking.“ She answered the call and held her breath in anticipation. „Uhhh hello…This is Spencer Reid.“ „Spencer!“ She greeted him enthusiastically, her heart jumping in joy. She didn’t chase him away! „Hiiii“ He greeted her back and she laughed. „I was started to think that I might have chased you away with my good bye two days ago!“ „No!“ He almost shouted and she startled again. „Uhh what I meant was, no you didn’t chase me away. I just got wrapped up in the case and I kind of started over analysing your good bye that I also simply didn’t find the courage to call you.“
„What changed?“
„My boss forcing me to?“
Hermione started to laugh loudly. „Well tell your boss thank you for getting you to stop over analysing and finally call me.“ „I will.“ He chuckled. A comfortable silence fell between the two, but Hermione wanted to listen to his voice. „So how is the case going?“ The young genius groaned. „Not good. His profile seems to be all over the place.“ „I’m sorry to hear that.“ „Don’t be…How is your work going? I didn’t interrupt you in something did I?“ Spencer wasn’t really sure what she did for work exactly as she was prohibited from telling him, but he hoped that it wasn’t anything important. „No you didn’t. I am currently sitting in my office finishing up the paperwork from a recent case I worked on and maybe also getting a head start on some other paperwork. I don’t like it when the files start piling up on my desk.“ „Tell me about it.“ He related to her. „And my muscles hurt…“ Hermione wasn’t really sure why she said that but it seemed like a good way to keep the conversation going. „Oh?“
„Yeah this last case really had me start working out again. Maybe I should sign up at a gym. I have muscles aching in placing I didn’t even know I had muscles at.“
Spencer chuckled. „I know a great place where they do full body massages for a reasonable price. Maybe you can come to Quantico one weekend and book an appointment.“ „That sounds like heaven. Add some good coffee and a library and I’m game.“ „It’s a date.“ Spencer immediately tensed after he said those words. ‚Stupid Reid…’ He thought and fought the urge to smack his forehead in annoyance. But then he heard her words and all annoyance poofed away.
„I can’t wait. When do you have time?“
„Oh…OH! Uhhh if we can wrap up this case in the next few days I’ll be free this weekend?“ „I’m game…“ She agreed and he practically bounced around the place he found outside where not many people could be listening in. „Great! Should I pick you up from the train station? Or…“ He wasn’t sure if he was overstepping asking her to let him pick her up. „I have a friend in Quantico. I will stay with her. And I can text you when I arrive at her place?“ „Sure! Great. Uhhh, I-i should probably get back to work now.“ „See you this weekend Spencer.“ Gosh, his name sounded so much better when she said it. „I can’t wait, Hermione.“ She gave him a soft goodbye and he closed his phone.
„Damn…“ He mumbled as he stepped back into the station. Now he just needed to see if the massage place had a free space on Sunday and then he would take her there in the morning. And she mentioned good coffee and a library. He would need to ask Hotch if he knew of any good restaurants he could take her to in the evening. Thank god the others were on assignments.
„Hey Hotch?“ Spencer spoke directly the moment he entered the conference room again, making his superior turn in his direction from where he stood in front of the two white boards. „Do you know any good restaurants?“ Hotch smirked at him: „You got a date?“ „Yeah…I’d appreciate it though if you didn’t tell the team?“ Hotch frowned at Reid and the younger man ducked his head nervously. „I know they mean well…but I could use it if the teasing will be left to when I know what exactly this is between me and Dr. Granger.“ „Of course Reid.“ Hotch agreed. The team could be relentless when it came to teasing about someone’s love life. He could understand why Spencer didn’t want the others to know yet. „There is this great Italian restaurant…“
Hermione was putting her second heel on when someone knocked on her door. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at the clock. Spencer had knocked at exactly 5 p.m. She checked her appearance in the mirror next to her entrance door one last time before she opened it. Her breath got caught mid-way as she stared at the man in front of her. ‚Merlin fuck me now…‘ she thought and bit her lower lip. He was wearing a black button shirt, his sleeves pulled up to his elbows displaying the veins on his forearms wonderfully. His coat was thrown over one of his arms. He wore dark grey linen trousers with a black belt and black Chelsea dress boots. In short, this man in front of her looked so different from the one she met earlier this week, but also completely the same. „Hi…“ She whispered as she stared into his eyes. „Hi.“ He greeted her back and his gaze started to wander. „You look beautiful.“ „Thank you. You look very handsome too.“ He chuckled awkwardly and her eyes fell onto the flowers in his hand. She had been so busy checking him out that she hadn’t noticed them before. He followed her gaze and held the little bouquet upwards. „I picked them myself, I hope that is alright?“ She took them and took a deep breath in the smell of wild flowers hitting her nose and she smiled. „They’re perfect. Thank you Spencer.“ „You’re very welcome.“ He smiled back brightly at her, relieved that she appreciated them.
„They’re Carnations, Peony and Zinnia. They represent…“ „Fascination, beauty and respect.“ She finished his sentence and Spencer beamed. „Thank you, truly. Let me just put them in a vase. Would you like to come in? My friend is currently out.“ Hermione hated that she had to lie to him and couldn’t simply tell him that this was in fact her own flat, but then she would have to explain how she got to Loretta College every day and make it back home in time and that would include her explaining that she was a witch. And as long as they didn’t start a relationship, the laws were preventing her from doing so.
He stepped in and closed the door, but he didn’t move any further into the space and simply waited for her at the entrance. „How was your week?“ She asked from the kitchen as she filled the vase she had picked from one of her book shelves with fresh water. „Good. We finally got the Unsub after he kidnapped the bartender of one of the clubs he picked his victims from.“ „That’s good. How are they?“ „She is fine. Traumatised, but fine. I guess I ruined her career as bartender when I showed her a magic trick.“ „How come?“ Hermione chuckled as she stepped back into the lounge, flowers in the vase and put it on the coffee table between her couch and two love seats. „She called me after the case and told me that she wants to pursue magic now.“ Spencer smiled awkwardly, uncomfortable at the fact that he had flirted with another woman when in fact he was very much attracted to the one currently standing in front of him. But Hermione just smiled and said: „I’m glad she found the courage to do something new after a traumatising event.“ As she grabbed her coat from the hanger, Spencer held up his hand and asked: „Allow me?“ She looked at him surprised and gave him the coat. He helped her put it on and then opened the door.
„Where are we going anyways?“ She asked as they both stepped out of the flat and she took out her keys to lock it, before putting them back in her purse. „I seem to recall a lovely lady mentioning coffee and a library.“ He teased her lightly and she chuckled. „Afterwards, is a surprise.“
„Very well. Lead the way then, good Sir.“ She teased him back and followed him to his car, laughing lightly.