Thread: Love in the Time of Death (Mim and SithLordOfSnark)

Looks like someone was asleep at the brief, Garcia teased. Hey, you called us in at two in the morning! Rossi defended Reid. Back in D.C. it was now about 8, but here on the west coast it was only 5 and most of the team hadn't been able to sleep on the plane. Eyelids were getting heavy. Flayed body parts, remember? Bolt gun? he added to Reid. George slid the index card back over to Rube. So what d'ya think--? But when she looked up he was gone. Looking around, confused, she saw the back of his head disappearing out the door with the tinkle of the chime. JJ frowned and looked over Hotch's head. Hotch scowled back not that anyone could tell the difference between this and his regular scowl, and opened his mouth to ask what the matter was. JJ, however, was up before he could ask and jogging toward the door. The door tinkled a second time as she hurried out, but she could be seen through the window jogging only a few steps before slowing to a stop. Looking upset and confused, she came back in and flopped down into her seat. What was that about? Hotch asked, turning his scowl back to her. JJ kept her gaze on her menu, as though thinking very hard about something, before looking back up and around the table. Guys...I think I just saw Gideon. Rube? It's 530... Yeah, sorry to wake you up. It's an emergency. Rube didn't wait for an invitation to push his way through the door, past the house's occupant, and into the dark living room. He clicked on a colorfully shaded lamp and sat on the sofa, elbows on his knees and face in his hands. What's wrong? The woman who had opened the door closed and locked it again, frowning as she joined him in the living room, retying her robe as she sat in a chair across from him. I got my last reap. Rube looked up at her with that sort-of smile she knew all too well. It was a smile that was Rube trying to be happy. Really, really trying. Well that's good news isn't it? She stood and crossed to the kitchen to put on a pot of tea. She didn't drink coffee it made her feel weird. Well yeah, but... He sighed and shook his head. She came back in, looking concerned. But what? Rube handed the woman his index card with the name. She clicked on another lamp and frowned at it. S. Reid...Not...? Oh honey... Her expression softened and she sat next to Rube, robe billowing out behind her as she went to his side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He wasn't a hugger and she knew that, but he was. What the Hell is wrong with them? I dunno, Linda, Rube sighed, putting a hand on her forearm in an unprecedented physical contact. But they're a bunch of bastards. Linda sighed, not knowing what to say to comfort her friend. Rube had known the medium for years now since he'd come to Seattle, really. She wasn't a reaper, nor had her name come up on a list, but on an assignment Rube had noticed her following a couple of Gravelings with her eyes. The only other mortal to do that, that he'd known of, was George's almost-boyfriend a few months prior who happened to be schizophrenic. He had approached the young woman gently, cautiously, in case she was in the same fragile state of mind. She was open with him about her sensitivities, however, and over the years Rube had watched her grow and develop her abilities as well as a business. Linda ran a bulk-sale herb and tea supply store, but for those she sensed would need her or would believe in her abilities, she offered readings in a back room of the shop. Linda knew that Rube wasn't alive. She had known since she'd seen him. She had simply chosen to allow him to be open with her on his own terms, and it had been a great payoff to learn what he really was. For Rube it had been nice to have someone to talk to about his job. As the de-facto leader of their merry gang of Grim Reapers, he tried to always remain professional with them. Linda had become a good friend and confidante. I need you to do something for me, Lin, he said after taking his cup of tea with a word of thanks. Anything. Keep an eye on him for me, will ya? He's a very black-and-white, scientific, logical kinda guy. He'll have some major problems with all of this. Same as the others, Morgan observed grimly. White female, early-to-mid twenties... he rolled her over gingerly, bolt gun to the base of the skull. He sighed as he straightened. Morgan and Reid had been sent to the scene of a fresh dump while JJ and Rossi talked to the families, Hotch and Blake worked with the local authorities, and Garcia did her tech thing. Hey Reid, he said sotto voce , putting his hands on his hips as he appeared to look around the crime scene, two o'clock. That chick hasn't stopped staring the entire time we've been here. Sure enough, there was a red-headed young woman standing as close to the police tape as she could get, staring intently at the two investigators. If they were to look more closely, it appeared her attention was focused entirely on Reid. She looked harmless enough fringed brown hide jacket, long colorful skirt over brown hide boots, flowy white shirt which left her pale belly somewhat exposed. There was a keenness in her hazel eyes, however, a sort-of sharpness in her quiet observation which would have been disconcerting to anyone trying to keep what they were doing under wraps. It was almost as though she knew exactly what was going on, which made Morgan more than a little suspicious. It's okay. But just an FYI it's established in Dead Like Me canon that Reapers are not invisible.