Chapter 1
It gets better.
Reid had been telling himself that every day, every Morning, for the past six months. After Tobias had kidnapped him, he'd heard it from Gideon, Hotch, and even Strauss(of course, at that time it had merely been protocol for her to talk to him); they all told him the stress, the anxiety from what he'd gone through would fade. And with time, it had. At his support group, they had told him "The cravings will get easier to handle. They never go away, but things get better." And it had. He still had cravings every once in a while, but he knew how to handle them now.
But he had a hard time believing that this pain would fade, that it would ever get better. It had been six months since Maeve died, and he still struggled to get out of bed most days. It had taken him weeks even dare to step out of his apartment, and sometimes he still had trouble acting normal (or as normal as he ever was) around his friends. It was a constant struggle to try and function correctly. He wondered if he ever really would be able to.
"Reid. Pretty boy, you in there?"
Reid raised his head, attempting to pay attention. "Sorry, What?"
Morgan gazed at the younger agent questionably. "You alright?"
"Just fine," he lied blatantly. There was no reason to let Morgan in on his depressing thoughts.
Morgan didn't seem to believe him, but he just shrugged. He didn't want to push Reid. "Ok well, Hotch wants us. Apparently, we've got a new case."
"Oh, Yeah. Ok." Reid stood and grabbed his travel cup of coffee. The two walked into the conference room right behind Prentiss. Morgan sat next to Garcia, while Reid took his spot next to JJ. He glanced around and saw that only Hotch was missing.
"What's Up?" Morgan asked.
"No clue," JJ said.
Hotch chose that moment to walk in, followed closely by a short blonde.
"Everyone, this is Agent Mellody Roughs. She's going to be with us for an undetermined amount of time. She's been with the FBI for about 8 years, and she's helped with many of the Secondary team's cases. She only been in the office so far, but Sam says she's got a talent for talking to families. "
This got everyone's attention on the girl. Reid studied her closely. Agent Roughs was a small, non-threatening woman. She had an odd air about her, seeming both young, and yet older than her real age, which Reid guessed to be about 28. Her eyes were a sea blue-green color that seemed to shine with a calm, happy light. Her hair was a corn-silk blonde, only a few shades darker than JJ's light blonde locks.
She blushed at Hotch's comment, face going a florid red. "It's very nice to meet all of you," She smiled hesitantly, then she sat on the other side of Garcia. Hotch sat too, and they all began to discuss the new case.
An hour later, Hotch dismissed them and Reid stood. Morgan came up to him. Everyone's eyes followed Roughs as she quickly left the room.
"How long do you think she'll last?" Morgan asked quietly.
"What? Who?"
"The Roughs girl. I doubt she'll make it through the year. Then she'll go running back to her office job."
"Do you even think she knows how to use a gun?" Prentiss asked, coming up beside them.
"The field will eat her alive," Morgan muttered. He followed the girl gown the stairs and to her desk. The others followed him and huddled at JJ's desk, watching Him approach her. "Hey," they heard him say.
Reid was puzzled. He knew the name Mellody Roughs, but could not remember where he had read about her. It had been recent…
Roughs looked at Morgan. "Um, hi."
"So," Morgan leaned up against her desk, flashing his usual Womanizer-grin he saved for pretty girls." this is your first field job? So, I bet you don't really know how to defend yourself right?"
"What's he doing?" Prentiss hissed.
"Trying to warm her up," JJ whispered back. "Does it with all of new girls. He won't date anyone who carries a gun, so if they leave the field, if he's played his cards right, He's got a shot at them. "
"He didn't do that with me!" Prentiss corrected.
"Oh really?" JJ laughed.
"He sent you a flower basket and bonded with you over a bad date. He totally got you." Reid reminded her.
Prentiss sat down, muttering angrily over how she got played, but JJ, Garcia, and Reid all watch Morgan Chat up the pretty blonde. As he watched, still trying to place her name, he saw a small gleam enter her eyes.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Morgan chuckled. "Well I just happen to teach a self-defense class, so if you need any help, just let me know."
"Really?" Her voice was eager. "Cause I've had a little training, but if your teaching a class then you probably know more about fighting than me. I'm not too good."
"She's falling for this crap, Hook, Line, and Sinker!" JJ said, shocked.
"Hmm" was all Reid replied, watching closely.
"Do you think I could show you what I can do sometime? Just so you can give some tips?" The girl asked, eyes shining.
Morgan chuckled again at her eagerness. This girl was too easy. "Well I'm not doing anything right know. Follow me." he beckoned and led her to an empty room. The other Agents followed closely.
The empty office was big enough to spar in, so Mellody Roughs and Morgan stood across the room from each other, Reid and the others standing in the corner.
"Alright, let's try some defensive." Morgan said. He rocked back and then launched himself at the small girl.
"Mellody Roughs!" Reid exclaimed quietly, so that only those around him heard. JJ shot him a questioning look, and Reid Quickly relayed all the information he had read about their newest addition.
Morgan had no intentions of hurting her. In fact, he was planning on just letting her think she had stopped him. But before he knew it, she had moved off to the side and was tripping him. He fell to the floor. Deciding to make it a little tougher, he stood and moved faster towards her. This time, she managed to catch his arm. Using Morgan's forward momentum, the girl threw Morgan over her shoulder and on to the floor on the other side of her.
Now Morgan was getting irritated. He ran at her again, more ferociously this time.
"Uh Morgan, You probably shloul-" Reid tried to warn. But he was too late. Mellody swung around and, in perfect stance, launched a round house kick into his gut.
Morgan sank to the ground, groaning. "I thought you only had a little training."
"Oh, I do. I did a little MMA for 17 years, which I have a 5th degree black belt in, and I've also trained a little in kendo, judo, and Tai Kwan Do."
The Look on Morgan's face was priceless, at least, underneath the pain. Reid chuckled, and then began laughing so hard he was leaning up against the door. It felt great! He hadn't really laughed since Maeve had died.
He let his laughter die off, wiping the tears from his eyes, and saw Mellody staring at him curiously. The shine in her eyes was an odd one; a curious shimmering light. That gaze caused an odd, fluttering feeling in his stomach. This shocked him. He wrote it off as nothing, but he couldn't help thinking, maybe, just maybe, things could get better.
